Georges Seurat Sunday Afternoon on the Island of la Grande Jatte paintingWilliam Blake Songs of Innocence paintingVincent van Gogh Red vineyards painting
right: these young fellows nowadays read the most wretched stuff. Not another word, please: I agree that I've lost the bet. Here are ten gold pieces of my own and I'm glad to pay them."
Pollio appealed to me. "Now, sir-I don't know who you are but you seem to be a lad of sense-have you read our friend Livy's work? I appeal to you, isn't that at least trashier writing than mine?"
I smiled. "Well, at least it's easier to read."
"Easier, eh. How's that?"
"He makes the people of Ancient Rome behave and talk as if they were alive now."
Pollio was delighted. "He has you there, Livy, on your weakest spot. You credit the Romans of seven centuries ago with impossibly modern motives and habits and speeches. Yes, it's readable all right, but it's not history."
Before I record more of this conversation I must say a few words about old Pollio, perhaps the most gifted man of his day, not even excepting
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