th certainty. Of one thing, however, I have
little doubt, that an infinite service will soon be done to a large
body of our engravers; namely, the making them draughtsmen (in black
and white) on paper instead of steel.

[49] I mean art in its highest sense. All that men do ingeniously is
art, in one sense. In fact, we want a definition of the word "art"
much more accurate than any in our minds at present. For, strictly
speaking, there is no such thing as "fine" or "high" art. All _art_
is a low and common thing, and what we indeed respect is not art at
all, but _instinct_ or _inspiration_ expressed by the help of art.

[50] "_Socrates_. This, then, was what I asked you; whether that
which puts anything else to service, and the thing which is put to
service by it, are always two different things?

_Alcibiades._ I think so.

_Socrates._ What shall we then say of the leather-cutter? Does he
cut his leather with his instruments only, or with his hands also?

_Alcibiades._ With his hands also.

_Socrates._ Does he not use his eyes as well as his hands?

_Alcibiades._ Yes.

_Socrates._ And we agreed that the thing which uses and the thing
which is used, were different things?

_Alcibiades._ Yes.

_Socrates._ Then the leather-cutter is not the same thing as his
eyes or hands?

_Alcibiades._ So it appears.

_Socrates._ Does not, then, man make use of his whole body?

_Alcibiades._ Assuredly.

_Socrates._ Then the man is not the same thing as his body?

_Alcibiades._ It seems so.

_Socrates._ What, then, _is_ the man?

_Alcibiades._ I know not."

_Plato_, Alcibiades I.

[51] Thus the grapes pressed by Excesse are partly golden (Spenser,
book ii. cant. 12.):

"Which did themselves amongst the leaves enfold,
As lurking from the view of covetous guest,
That the weake boughes, with so rich load opprest
Did bow adowne as overburdened."

[52] The reader must not suppose that the use of gold, in this manner,
is confined to early art. Tintoret, the greatest master of pictorial
effect that ever existed, has gilded the ribs of the fig-leaves in
his "Resurrection," in the Scuola di San Rocco.

[53] Nothing is more wonderful to me than to hear the pleasure of the
eye, in color, spoken of with disdain as "sensual," while