GILBERT。Yes，anationofart-critics。ButIdon’twishtodestroythedelightfullyunrealpicturethatyouhavedrawnoftherelationoftheHellenicartisttotheintellectualspiritofhisage。Togiveanaccuratedescriptionofwhathasneveroccurredisnotmerelytheproperoccupationofthehistorian，buttheinalienableprivilegeofanymanofpartsandculture。StilllessdoIdesiretotalklearnedly。Learnedconversationiseithertheaffectationoftheignorantortheprofessionofthementallyunemployed。And，asforwhatiscalledimprovingconversation，thatismerelythefoolishmethodbywhichthestillmorefoolishphilanthropistfeeblytriestodisarmthejustrancourofthecriminalclasses。No：letmeplaytoyousomemadscarletthingbyDvorek。Thepallidfiguresonthetapestryaresmilingatus，andtheheavyeyelidsofmybronzeNarcissusarefoldedinsleep。
Don’tletusdiscussanythingsolemnly。Iambuttooconsciousofthefactthatweareborninanagewhenonlythedullaretreatedseriously，andIliveinterrorofnotbeingmisunderstood。Don’tdegrademeintothepositionofgivingyouusefulinformation。
Educationisanadmirablething，butitiswelltorememberfromtimetotimethatnothingthatisworthknowingcanbetaught。
ThroughthepartedcurtainsofthewindowIseethemoonlikeaclippedpieceofsilver。Likegildedbeesthestarsclusterroundher。Theskyisahardhollowsapphire。Letusgooutintothenight。Thoughtiswonderful，butadventureismorewonderfulstill。WhoknowsbutwemaymeetPrinceFlorizelofBohemia，andhearthefairCubantellusthatsheisnotwhatsheseems？
ERNEST。Youarehorriblywilful。Iinsistonyourdiscussingthismatterwithme。YouhavesaidthattheGreekswereanationofart-critics。Whatart-criticismhavetheyleftus？