It is the fate of heroes to ruin themselves by conquering of countries which they suddenly lose again, or by subduing of nations which they themselves are obliged to destroy; like that madman who ruined himself by buying statues which he threw into the sea, and glasses which he broke as soon as he had purchased them.
Heroien fatu gaitza da, berehala galtzen dituzten herrialdeak konkistatzen beren buruak hondatzea, edo uztartzera behartuak izatea suntsitzen dituztenak: estatuak, berehala itsasoratzeko, edo ispiluak mila puzketan hausteko erosten zituen zoro hark bezalaxe.