Dear Dr. Culbreth: Some years ago I published a criticism of a translation
from Lucian. When I met the translatrix a few months afterwards,
she said to me: "You reflected on my moral character and bore lightly on
my Greek. So I suppose I must thank you for I am certain of my moral
character; of my Greek I am not certain." Now I am just the other way
except that no Greek scholar is very certain of his Greek. At any rate
I am glad that in your congratulatory letter you emphasize the value of
my example, for when we reach the age of maturity we lay more stress
on character than on talent. And if my old students think that I have
exemplified any of the cardinal virtues I become reconciled to the part
I have played despite the many shortcomings of which I am conscious.
Accept my best thanks for all the kind words you have written to your
old teacher and friend, and all the kind thoughts you have cherished of
him and his colleagues of the University of Virginia.
Yours faithfully,
B. L. Gildersleeve.
