They were the vulgar, therefore.
-- True! But you must know that I did not trust to others exclusively.
I trusted also to myself--to what I saw.

I saw the Stoics going through the world after a seemly manner, neatly clad, never in excess, always collected, ever faithful to the mean which all pronounce 'golden.' -- You are trying an experiment on me.

You would fain see how far you can mislead [151] me as to your real ground.

The kind of probation you describe is applicable, indeed, to works of art, which are rightly judged by their appearance to the eye.

There is something in the comely form, the graceful drapery, which tells surely of the hand of Pheidias or Alcamenes.