The Greeks--yes, that was what they talked about--how when all's
said and done, when one's rinsed one's mouth with every literature in the world,
including Chinese and Russian (but these Slavs aren't civilized), it's the
flavour of Greek that remains. Durrant quoted Aeschylus—Jacob Sophocles. It is
true that no Greek could have understood or professor refrained from pointing
out--Never mind; what is Greek for if not to be shouted on Haverstock Hill in
the dawn? Moreover, Durrant never listened to Sophocles, nor Jacob to
Aeschylus. They were boastful, triumphant; it seemed to both that they had read
every book in the world; known every sin, passion, and joy. Civilizations stood
round them like flowers ready for picking. Ages lapped at their feet like waves
fit for sailing. And surveying all this, looming through the fog, the
lamplight, the shades of London, the two young men decided in favour of Greece.
Jacob's Room (77)
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