`` But I think they must have been a great deal broader than mine , or than your father 's , or than almost any shoulders which one sees nowadays . '' `` I wish , '' whispered Sweet Fern , with his mouth close to the student 's ear , `` that you would tell me how big were some of the oak-trees that grew between the giant 's toes . '' `` They were bigger , '' said Eustace , `` than the great chestnut-tree which stands beyond Captain Smith 's house . '' `` Eustace , '' remarked Mr. Pringle , after some deliberation , `` I find it impossible to express such an opinion of this story as will be likely to gratify , in the smallest degree , your pride of authorship . Pray let me advise you never more to meddle with a classical myth . Your imagination is altogether Gothic , and will inevitably Gothicize everything that you touch . The effect is like bedaubing a marble statue with paint . This giant , now ! How can you have ventured to thrust his huge , disproportioned mass among the seemly outlines of Grecian fable , the tendency of which is to reduce even the extravagant within limits , by its pervading elegance ? '' `` I described the giant as he appeared to me , '' replied the student , rather piqued . `` And , sir , if you would only bring your mind into such a relation with these fables as is necessary in order to remodel them , you would see at once that an old Greek had no more exclusive right to them than a modern Yankee has . They are the common property of the world , and of all time . The ancient poets remodelled them at pleasure , and held them plastic in their hands ; and why should they not be plastic in my hands , as well ? '' Mr. Pringle could not forbear a smile . `` And besides , '' continued Eustace , `` the moment you put any warmth of heart , any passion or affection , any human or divine morality , into a classic mould , you make it quite another thing from what it was before . My own opinion is , that the Greeks , by taking possession of these legends -LRB- which were the immemorial birthright of mankind -RRB- , and putting them into shapes of indestructible beauty , indeed , but cold and heartless , have done all subsequent ages an incalculable injury . '' `` Which you , doubtless , were born to remedy , '' said Mr. Pringle , laughing outright . `` Well , well , go on ; but take my advice , and never put any of your travesties on paper . And , as your next effort , what if you should try your hand on some one of the legends of Apollo ? '' `` Ah , sir , you propose it as an impossibility , '' observed the student , after a moment 's meditation ; `` and , to be sure , at first thought , the idea of a Gothic Apollo strikes one rather ludicrously .
But I will turn over your suggestion in my mind , and do not quite despair XXXXX success . ''
after among as besides between from of on than within