Personalities of Modern Spain 59
mass of detail work; then you have others following the
French, with their light touch and logical treatment. It is
only in these last twenty-six or twenty-eight years that we
find this active work done on the old texts of Spanish litera-
ture. Before that Spanish scholarship labored under very
great disadvantages. In Spain now the scholars are produc-
ing each year good texts for students to work with, and this
example is an inspiration to Hispanic schools all over the
world.
I have shown you the external background of Spain, and
have outlined generally its progress in modern days, and I
would like to deal now with certain personalities belonging
to the country in our days. As I said before, we find in the
modern Spaniard the same qualities that I described at the
beginning. Take, for instance, the personality of the King
of Spain. He is characteristic of the Spanish people; he
acts the King from case to case ; that is to say, he is always
adapting himself plastically to the needs of his own country.
He has always been a King in his life, therefore, he is devoid
of any uncertainty as to his own prerogatives ; he has always
been able to adapt his personality to the essentially Spanish
soul. He is true to the mediaeval characteristics, and also
to that concept of nobleza I spoke of—a King among his
people, but when he plays polo, he puts himself on a level
with his subjects, and the nobles with whom he plays do not
permit him to win simply because he is a King.1 It is as in
the ancient tournaments—a battle of equal people. Then
also you find in whatever he does there is reflected the spirit
of a King. With his kingship is linked his personal courage.
You all know the terrible adventures he has had—the at-
tempted assassinations ; yet, all the time he was respected by
the Spanish for his courage. On one occasion at Barcelona,
1Cf. H. Keyserling, Europe.