第10章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN",免费读到尾

  Thenhewonderedatthevaguenessofhiswonder,attheremotenessofhisownsoulfromwhathehadhithertoimaginedhersanctuary,atthefrailholdwhichsomanyyearsoforderandobediencehadofhimwhenonceadefiniteandirrevocableactofhisthreatenedtoendforever,intimeandineternity,hisfreedom。Thevoiceofthedirectorurginguponhimtheproudclaimsofthechurchandthemysteryandpowerofthepriestlyofficerepeateditselfidlyinhismemory。Hissoulwasnottheretohearandgreetitandheknewnowthattheexhortationhehadlistenedtohadalreadyfallenintoanidleformaltale。Hewouldneverswingthethuriblebeforethetabernacleaspriest。Hisdestinywastobeelusiveofsocialorreligiousorders。Thewisdomofthepriest\'sappealdidnottouchhimtothequick。Hewasdestinedtolearnhisownwisdomapartfromothersortolearnthewisdomofothershimselfwanderingamongthesnaresoftheworld。

  Thesnaresoftheworldwereitswaysofsin。Hewouldfall。Hehadnotyetfallenbuthewouldfallsilently,inaninstant。Nottofallwastoohard,toohard;andhefeltthesilentlapseofhissoul,asitwouldbeatsomeinstanttocome,falling,falling,butnotyetfallen,stillunfallen,butabouttofall。

  HecrossedthebridgeoverthestreamoftheTolkaandturnedhiseyescoldlyforaninstanttowardsthefadedblueshrineoftheBlessedVirginwhichstoodfowl-wiseonapoleinthemiddleofaham-shapedencampmentofpoorcottages。Then,bendingtotheleft,hefollowedthelanewhichleduptohishouse。Thefaintdourstinkofrottedcabbagescametowardshimfromthekitchengardensontherisinggroundabovetheriver。Hesmiledtothinkthatitwasthisdisorder,themisruleandconfusionofhisfather\'shouseandthestagnationofvegetablelife,whichwastowinthedayinhissoul。Thenashortlaughbrokefromhislipsashethoughtofthatsolitaryfarmhandinthekitchengardensbehindtheirhousewhomtheyhadnicknamedthemanwiththehat。Asecondlaugh,takingrisefromthefirstafterapause,brokefromhiminvoluntarilyashethoughtofhowthemanwiththehatworked,consideringinturnthefourpointsoftheskyandthenregretfullyplunginghisspadeintheearth。

  Hepushedopenthelatchlessdooroftheporchandpassedthroughthenakedhallwayintothekitchen。Agroupofhisbrothersandsisterswassittingroundthetable。Teawasnearlyoverandonlythelastofthesecondwateredtearemainedinthebottomsofthesmallglassjarsandjampotswhichdidserviceforteacups。Discardedcrustsandlumpsofsugaredbread,turnedbrownbytheteawhichhadbeenpouredoverthem,layscatteredonthetable。Littlewellsoftealayhereandthereontheboard,andaknifewithabrokenivoryhandlewasstuckthroughthepithofaravagedturnover。

  Thesadquietgrey-blueglowofthedyingdaycamethroughthewindowandtheopendoor,coveringoverandallayingquietlyasuddeninstinctofremorseinStephen\'sheart。Allthathadbeendeniedthemhadbeenfreelygiventohim,theeldest;butthequietglowofeveningshowedhimintheirfacesnosignofrancour。

  Hesatnearthematthetableandaskedwherehisfatherandmotherwere。Oneanswered:——

  Goneborotoborolookboroatboroaborohouseboro。

  Stillanotherremoval!AboynamedFalloninBelvederehadoftenaskedhimwithasillylaughwhytheymovedsooften。Afrownofscorndarkenedquicklyhisforeheadasheheardagainthesillylaughofthequestioner。

  Heasked:——

  Whyareweonthemoveagainifit\'safairquestion?——

  Becauseborotheborolandborolordborowillboroputborousborooutboro。

  ThevoiceofhisyoungestbrotherfromthefarthersideofthefireplacebegantosingtheairOftintheStillyNight。Onebyonetheotherstookuptheairuntilafullchoirofvoiceswassinging。Theywouldsingsoforhours,melodyaftermelody,gleeafterglee,tillthelastpalelightdieddownonthehorizon,tillthefirstdarknightcloudscameforthandnightfell。

  Hewaitedforsomemoments,listening,beforehetootookuptheairwiththem。Hewaslisteningwithpainofspirittotheovertoneofwearinessbehindtheirfrailfreshinnocentvoices。Evenbeforetheysetoutonlife\'sjourneytheyseemedwearyalreadyoftheway。

  Heheardthechoirofvoicesinthekitchenechoedandmultipliedthroughanendlessreverberationofthechoirsofendlessgenerationsofchildrenandheardinalltheechoesanechoalsooftherecurringnoteofwearinessandpain。Allseemedwearyoflifeevenbeforeenteringuponit。AndherememberedthatNewmanhadheardthisnotealsointhebrokenlinesofVirgil,givingutterance,likethevoiceofNatureherselftothatpainandwearinessyethopeofbetterthingswhichhasbeentheexperienceofherchildrenineverytime。

  Hecouldwaitnolonger。

  FromthedoorofByron\'spublic-housetothegateofClontarfChapel,fromthegateofClontailChapeltothedoorofByron\'spublic-houseandthenbackagaintothechapelandthenbackagaintothepublic-househehadpacedslowlyatfirst,plantinghisstepsscrupulouslyinthespacesofthepatchworkofthefootpath,thentimingtheirfalltothefallofverses。AfullhourhadpassedsincehisfatherhadgoneinwithDanCrosby,thetutor,tofindoutforhimsomethingabouttheuniversity。Forafullhourhehadpacedupanddown,waiting:buthecouldwaitnolonger。

  HesetoffabruptlyfortheBull,walkingrapidlylesthisfather\'sshrillwhistlemightcallhimback;andinafewmomentshehadroundedthecurveatthepolicebarrackandwassafe。

  Yes,hismotherwashostiletotheidea,ashehadreadfromherlistlesssilence。Yethermistrustprickedhimmorekeenlythanhisfather\'sprideandhethoughtcoldlyhowhehadwatchedthefaithwhichwasfadingdowninhissoulageingandstrengtheninginhereyes。Adimantagonismgatheredforcewithinhimanddarkenedhismindasacloudagainstherdisloyaltyandwhenitpassed,cloud-like,leavinghismindsereneanddutifultowardsheragain,hewasmadeawaredimlyandwithoutregretofafirstnoiselesssunderingoftheirlives。

  Theuniversity!Sohehadpassedbeyondthechallengeofthesentrieswhohadstoodasguardiansofhisboyhoodandhadsoughttokeephimamongthemthathemightbesubjecttothemandservetheirends。Prideaftersatisfactionupliftedhimlikelongslowwaves。Theendhehadbeenborntoserveyetdidnotseehadledhimtoescapebyanunseenpathandnowitbeckonedtohimoncemoreandanewadventurewasabouttobeopenedtohim。Itseemedtohimthatheheardnotesoffitfulmusicleapingupwardsatoneanddownwardsadiminishedfourth,upwardsatoneanddownwardsamajorthird,liketriple-branchingflamesleapingfitfully,flameafterflame,outofamidnightwood。Itwasanelfinprelude,endlessandformless;

  and,asitgrewwilderandfaster,theflamesleapingoutoftime,heseemedtohearfromundertheboughsandgrasseswildcreaturesracing,theirfeetpatteringlikerainupontheleaves。Theirfeetpassedinpatteringtumultoverhismind,thefeetofharesandrabbits,thefeetofhartsandhindsandantelopes,untilheheardthemnomoreandrememberedonlyaproudcadencefromNewman:——

  Whosefeetareasthefeetofhartsandunderneaththeeverlastingarms。

  Theprideofthatdimimagebroughtbacktohismindthedignityoftheofficehehadrefused。Allthroughhisboyhoodhehadmuseduponthatwhichhehadsooftenthoughttobehisdestinyandwhenthemomenthadcomeforhimtoobeythecallhehadturnedaside,obeyingawaywardinstinct。

  Nowtimelaybetween:theoilsofordinationwouldneveranointhisbody。

  Hehadrefused。Why?

  HeturnedseawardfromtheroadatDollymountandashepassedontothethinwoodenbridgehefelttheplanksshakingwiththetrampofheavilyshodfeet。AsquadofchristianbrotherswasonitswaybackfromtheBullandhadbeguntopass,twobytwo,acrossthebridge。Soonthewholebridgewastremblingandresounding。Theuncouthfacespassedhimtwobytwo,stainedyelloworredorlividbythesea,and,ashestrovetolookatthemwitheaseandindifference,afaintstainofpersonalshameandcommiserationrosetohisownface。Angrywithhimselfhetriedtohidehisfacefromtheireyesbygazingdownsidewaysintotheshallowswirlingwaterunderthebridgebuthestillsawareflectionthereinoftheirtop-heavysilkhatsandhumbletape-likecollarsandloosely-hangingclericalclothes——

  BrotherHickey。

  BrotherQuaid。

  BrotherMacArdle。

  BrotherKeogh——

  Theirpietywouldbeliketheirnames,liketheirfaces,liketheirclothes,anditwasidleforhimtotellhimselfthattheirhumbleandcontritehearts,itmightbe,paidafarrichertributeofdevotionthanhishadeverbeen,agifttenfoldmoreacceptablethanhiselaborateadoration。

  Itwasidleforhimtomovehimselftobegeneroustowardsthem,totellhimselfthatifheevercametotheirgates,strippedofhispride,beatenandinbeggar\'sweeds,thattheywouldbegeneroustowardshim,lovinghimasthemselves。Idleandembittering,finally,toargue,againsthisowndispassionatecertitude,thatthecommandmentoflovebadeusnottoloveourneighbourasourselveswiththesameamountandintensityoflovebuttolovehimasourselveswiththesamekindoflove。

  Hedrewforthaphrasefromhistreasureandspokeitsoftlytohimself:——

  Adayofdappledseaborneclouds。

  Thephraseandthedayandthesceneharmonizedinachord。Words。Wasittheircolours?Heallowedthemtoglowandfade,hueafterhue:sunrisegold,therussetandgreenofappleorchards,azureofwaves,thegrey-fringedfleeceofclouds。No,itwasnottheircolours:itwasthepoiseandbalanceoftheperioditself。Didhethenlovetherhythmicriseandfallofwordsbetterthantheirassociationsoflegendandcolour?Orwasitthat,beingasweakofsightashewasshyofmind,hedrewlesspleasurefromthereflectionoftheglowingsensibleworldthroughtheprismofalanguagemany-colouredandrichlystoriedthanfromthecontemplationofaninnerworldofindividualemotionsmirroredperfectlyinalucidsuppleperiodicprose?

  Hepassedfromthetremblingbridgeontofirmlandagain。Atthatinstant,asitseemedtohim,theairwaschilledand,lookingaskancetowardsthewater,hesawaflyingsqualldarkeningandcrispingsuddenlythetide。

  Afaintclickathisheart,afaintthrobinhisthroattoldhimoncemoreofhowhisfleshdreadedthecoldinfrahumanodourofthesea;yethedidnotstrikeacrossthedownsonhisleftbutheldstraightonalongthespineofrocksthatpointedagainsttheriver\'smouth。

  Aveiledsunlightlitupfaintlythegreysheetofwaterwheretheriverwasembayed。Inthedistancealongthecourseoftheslow-flowingLiffeyslendermastsfleckedtheskyand,moredistantstill,thedimfabricofthecitylayproneinhaze。Likeasceneonsomevaguearras,oldasman\'sweariness,theimageoftheseventhcityofchristendomwasvisibletohimacrossthetimelessair,nooldernormorewearynorlesspatientofsubjectionthaninthedaysofthethingmote。

  Disheartened,heraisedhiseyestowardstheslow-driftingclouds,dappledandseaborne。Theywerevoyagingacrossthedesertsofthesky,ahostofnomadsonthemarch,voyaginghighoverIreland,westwardbound。TheEuropetheyhadcomefromlayouttherebeyondtheIrishSea,Europeofstrangetonguesandvalleyedandwoodbegirtandcitadelledandofentrenchedandmarshalledraces。Heheardaconfusedmusicwithinhimasofmemoriesandnameswhichhewasalmostconsciousofbutcouldnotcaptureevenforaninstant;thenthemusicseemedtorecede,torecede,torecede,andfromeachrecedingtrailofnebulousmusictherefellalwaysonelongdrawncallingnote,piercinglikeastartheduskofsilence。Again!Again!Again!

  Avoicefrombeyondtheworldwascalling——

  Hello,Stephanos!——

  HerecomesTheDedalus!——

  Ao!Eh,giveitover,Dwyer,I\'mtellingyou,orI\'llgiveyouastuffinthekisserforyourselfAo!——

  Goodman,Towser!Duckhim!——

  Comealong,Dedalus!BousStephanoumenos!BousStephaneforos!——

  Duckhim!Guzzlehimnow,Towser!——

  Help!Help!Ao!

  Herecognizedtheirspeechcollectivelybeforehedistinguishedtheirfaces。Themeresightofthatmedleyofwetnakednesschilledhimtothebone。Theirbodies,corpse-whiteorsuffusedwithapallidgoldenlightorrawlytannedbythesun,gleamedwiththewetofthesea。Theirdiving-stone,poisedonitsrudesupportsandrockingundertheirplunges,andtherough-hewnstonesoftheslopingbreakwateroverwhichtheyscrambledintheirhorseplaygleamedwithcoldwetlustre。Thetowelswithwhichtheysmackedtheirbodieswereheavywithcoldseawater;anddrenchedwithcoldbrinewastheirmattedhair。

  Hestoodstillindeferencetotheircallsandparriedtheirbanterwitheasywords。Howcharacterlesstheylooked:Shuleywithouthisdeepunbuttonedcollar,Enniswithouthisscarletbeltwiththesnakyclasp,andConnollywithouthisNorfolkcoatwiththeflaplessside-pockets!Itwasapaintoseethem,andasword-likepaintoseethesignsofadolescencethatmaderepellenttheirpitiablenakedness。Perhapstheyhadtakenrefugeinnumberandnoisefromthesecretdreadintheirsouls。Buthe,apartfromthemandinsilence,rememberedinwhatdreadhestoodofthemysteryofhisownbody——

  StephanosDedalos!BousStephanoumenos!BousStephaneforos!

  Theirbanterwasnotnewtohimandnowitflatteredhismildproudsovereignty。Now,asneverbefore,hisstrangenameseemedtohimaprophecy。

  Sotimelessseemedthegreywarmair,sofluidandimpersonalhisownmood,thatallageswereasonetohim。AmomentbeforetheghostoftheancientkingdomoftheDaneshadlookedforththroughthevestureofthehazewrappedCity。Now,atthenameofthefabulousartificer,heseemedtohearthenoiseofdimwavesandtoseeawingedformflyingabovethewavesandslowlyclimbingtheair。Whatdiditmean?Wasitaquaintdeviceopeningapageofsomemedievalbookofpropheciesandsymbols,ahawk-likemanflyingsunwardabovethesea,aprophecyoftheendhehadbeenborntoserveandhadbeenfollowingthroughthemistsofchildhoodandboyhood,asymboloftheartistforginganewinhisworkshopoutofthesluggishmatteroftheearthanewsoaringimpalpableimperishablebeing?

  Hishearttrembled;hisbreathcamefasterandawildspiritpassedoverhislimbsasthoughhewassoaringsunward。Hishearttrembledinanecstasyoffearandhissoulwasinflight。Hissoulwassoaringinanairbeyondtheworldandthebodyheknewwaspurifiedinabreathanddeliveredofincertitudeandmaderadiantandcommingledwiththeelementofthespirit。Anecstasyofflightmaderadianthiseyesandwildhisbreathandtremulousandwildandradianthiswindsweptlimbs——

  One!Two!Lookout!——

  Oh,Cripes,I\'mdrownded!——

  One!Two!Threeandaway!——

  Thenext!Thenext!——

  One!UK!——

  Stephaneforos!

  Histhroatachedwithadesiretocryaloud,thecryofahawkoreagleonhigh,tocrypiercinglyofhisdeliverancetothewinds。Thiswasthecalloflifetohissoulnotthedullgrossvoiceoftheworldofdutiesanddespair,nottheinhumanvoicethathadcalledhimtothepaleserviceofthealtar。Aninstantofwildflighthaddeliveredhimandthecryoftriumphwhichhislipswithheldclefthisbrain——

  Stephaneforos!

  Whatweretheynowbutcerementsshakenfromthebodyofdeath-thefearhehadwalkedinnightandday,theincertitudethathadringedhimround,theshamethathadabasedhimwithinandwithout-cerements,thelinensofthegrave?

  Hissoulhadarisenfromthegraveofboyhood,spurninghergrave-clothes。

  Yes!Yes!Yes!Hewouldcreateproudlyoutofthefreedomandpowerofhissoul,asthegreatartificerwhosenamehebore,alivingthing,newandsoaringandbeautiful,impalpable,imperishable。

  Hestartedupnervouslyfromthestone-blockforhecouldnolongerquenchtheflameinhisblood。Hefelthischeeksaflameandhisthroatthrobbingwithsong。Therewasalustofwanderinginhisfeetthatburnedtosetoutfortheendsoftheearth。On!On!hisheartseemedtocry。

  Eveningwoulddeepenabovethesea,nightfallupontheplains,dawnglimmerbeforethewandererandshowhimstrangefieldsandhillsandfaces。Where?

  HelookednorthwardtowardsHowth。Theseahadfallenbelowtheline0ofseawrackontheshallowsideofthebreakwaterandalreadythetidewasrunningoutfastalongtheforeshore。Alreadyonelongovalbankofsandlaywarmanddryamidthewavelets。Hereandtherewarmislesofsandgleamedabovetheshallowtideandabouttheislesandaroundthelongbankandamidtheshallowcurrentsofthebeachwerelightcladfigures,wadinganddelving。

  Incafewmomentshewasbarefoot,hisstockingsfoldedinhispocketsandhiscanvasshoesdanglingbytheirknottedlacesoverhisshouldersand,pickingapointedsalt-eatenstickoutofthejetsamamongtherocks,heclambereddowntheslopeofthebreakwater。

  Therewasalongrivuletinthestrandand,ashewadedslowlyupitscourse,hewonderedattheendlessdriftofseaweed。Emeraldandblackandrussetandolive,itmovedbeneaththecurrent,swayingandturning。

  Thewateroftherivuletwasdarkwithendlessdriftandmirroredthehigh-driftingclouds。Thecloudsweredriftingabovehimsilentlyandsilentlytheseatanglewasdriftingbelowhimandthegreywarmairwasstillandanewwildlifewassinginginhisveins。

  Wherewashisboyhoodnow?Wherewasthesoulthathadhungbackfromherdestiny,tobroodaloneupontheshameofherwoundsandinherhouseofsqualorandsubterfugetoqueenitinfadedcerementsandinwreathsthatwitheredatthetouch?Orwherewashe?

  Hewasalone。Hewasunheeded,happyandneartothewildheartoflife。

  Hewasaloneandyoungandwilfulandwildhearted,aloneamidawasteofwildairandbrackishwatersandthesea-harvestofshellsandtangleandveiledgreysunlightandgaycladlightcladfiguresofchildrenandgirlsandvoiceschildishandgirlishintheair。

  Agirlstoodbeforehiminmidstream,aloneandstill,gazingouttosea。Sheseemedlikeonewhommagichadchangedintothelikenessofastrangeandbeautifulseabird。Herlongslenderbarelegsweredelicateasacrane\'sandpuresavewhereanemeraldtrailofseaweedhadfashioneditselfasasignupontheflesh。Herthighs,fullerandsoft-huedasivory,werebaredalmosttothehips,wherethewhitefringesofherdrawerswerelikefeatheringofsoftwhitedown。Herslate-blueskirtswerekiltedboldlyaboutherwaistanddovetailedbehindher。Herbosomwasasabird\'s,softandslight,slightandsoftasthebreastofsomedark-plumageddove。Butherlongfairhairwasgirlish:andgirlish,andtouchedwiththewonderofmortalbeauty,herface。

  Shewasaloneandstill,gazingouttosea;andwhenshefelthispresenceandtheworshipofhiseyeshereyesturnedtohiminquietsufferanceofhisgaze,withoutshameorwantonness。Long,longshesufferedhisgazeandthenquietlywithdrewhereyesfromhisandbentthemtowardsthestream,gentlystirringthewaterwithherfoothitherandthither。Thefirstfaintnoiseofgentlymovingwaterbrokethesilence,lowandfaintandwhispering,faintasthebellsofsleep;hitherandthither,hitherandthither;andafaintflametrembledonhercheek——

  HeavenlyGod!criedStephen\'ssoul,inanoutburstofprofanejoy。

  Heturnedawayfromhersuddenlyandsetoffacrossthestrand。Hischeekswereaflame;hisbodywasaglow;hislimbsweretrembling。Onandonandonandonhestrode,faroutoverthesands,singingwildlytothesea,cryingtogreettheadventofthelifethathadcriedtohim。

  Herimagehadpassedintohissoulforeverandnowordhadbrokentheholysilenceofhisecstasy。Hereyeshadcalledhimandhissoulhadleapedatthecall。Tolive,toerr,tofall,totriumph,torecreatelifeoutoflife!Awildangelhadappearedtohim,theangelofmortalyouthandbeauty,anenvoyfromthefaircourtsoflife,tothrowopenbeforehiminaninstantofecstasythegatesofallthewaysoferrorandglory。

  Onandonandonandon!

  Hehaltedsuddenlyandheardhisheartinthesilence。Howfarhadhewalked?Whathourwasit?

  Therewasnohumanfigurenearhimnoranysoundbornetohimovertheair。Butthetidewasneartheturnandalreadythedaywasonthewane。

  Heturnedlandwardandrantowardstheshoreand,runninguptheslopingbeach,recklessofthesharpshingle,foundasandynookamidaringoftuftedsandknollsandlaydowntherethatthepeaceandsilenceoftheeveningmightstilltheriotofhisblood。

  Hefeltabovehimthevastindifferentdomeandthecalmprocessesoftheheavenlybodies;andtheearthbeneathhim,theearththathadbornehim,hadtakenhimtoherbreast。

  Heclosedhiseyesinthelanguorofsleep。Hiseyelidstrembledasiftheyfeltthevastcyclicmovementoftheearthandherwatchers,trembledasiftheyfeltthestrangelightofsomenewworld。Hissoulwasswooningintosomenewworld,fantastic,dim,uncertainasundersea,traversedbycloudyshapesandbeings。Aworld,aglimmeroraflower?Glimmeringandtrembling,tremblingandunfolding,abreakinglight,anopeningflower,itspreadinendlesssuccessiontoitself,breakinginfullcrimsonandunfoldingandfadingtopalestrose,leafbyleafandwaveoflightbywaveoflight,floodingalltheheavenswithitssoftflushes,everyflushdeeperthantheother。

  Eveninghadfallenwhenhewokeandthesandandaridgrassesofhisbedglowednolonger。Heroseslowlyand,recallingtheraptureofhissleep,sighedatitsjoy。

  Heclimbedtothecrestofthesandhillandgazedabouthim。Eveninghadfallen。Arimoftheyoungmooncleftthepalewasteofskyline,therimofasilverhoopembeddedingreysand;andthetidewasflowinginfasttothelandwithalowwhisperofherwaves,islandingafewlastfiguresindistantpools。

  Chapter5Hedrainedhisthirdcupofwateryteatothedregsandsettochewingthecrustsoffriedbreadthatwerescatterednearhim,staringintothedarkpoolofthejar。Theyellowdrippinghadbeenscoopedoutlikeabogholeandthepoolunderitbroughtbacktohismemorythedarkturf-colouredwaterofthebathinClongowes。Theboxofpawnticketsathiselbowhadjustbeenrifledandhetookupidlyoneafteranotherinhisgreasyfingerstheblueandwhitedockets,scrawledandsandedandcreasedandbearingthenameofthepledgerasDalyorMacEvoy。

  1PairBuskins。

  1D。Coat。

  3ArticlesandWhite。

  1Man\'sPants。

  Thenheputthemasideandgazedthoughtfullyatthelidofthebox,speckledwithlousemarks,andaskedvaguely:——

  Howmuchistheclockfastnow?

  Hismotherstraightenedthebatteredalarmclockthatwaslyingonitssideinthemiddleofthemantelpieceuntilitsdialshowedaquartertotwelveandthenlaiditoncemoreonitsside——

  Anhourandtwenty-fiveminutes,shesaid。Therighttimenowistwentypastten。Thedearknowsyoumighttrytobeintimeforyourlectures——

  Fillouttheplaceformetowash,saidStephen——

  Katey,fillouttheplaceforStephentowash——

  Boody,fillouttheplaceforStephentowash——

  Ican\'t,I\'mgoingforblue。Fillitout,you,Maggy。

  Whentheenamelledbasinhadbeenfittedintothewellofthesinkandtheoldwashinggloveflungonthesideofitheallowedhismothertoscrubhisneckandrootintothefoldsofhisearsandintotheintersticesatthewingsofhisnose——

  Well,it\'sapoorcase,shesaid,whenauniversitystudentissodirtythathismotherhastowashhim——

  Butitgivesyoupleasure,saidStephencalmly。

  Anear-splittingwhistlewasheardfromupstairsandhismotherthrustadampoverallintohishands,saying:——

  Dryyourselfandhurryoutfortheloveofgoodness。

  Asecondshrillwhistle,prolongedangrily,broughtoneofthegirlstothefootofthestaircase——

  Yes,father?——

  Isyourlazybitchofabrothergoneoutyet?——

  Yes,father——

  Sure?——

  Yes,father——

  Hm!

  Thegirlcameback,makingsignstohimtobequickandgooutquietlybytheback。Stephenlaughedandsaid:——

  Hehasacuriousideaofgendersifhethinksabitchismasculine——

  Ah,it\'sascandalousshameforyou,Stephen,saidhismother,andyou\'lllivetoruethedayyousetyourfootinthatplace。Iknowhowithaschangedyou——

  Goodmorning,everybody,saidStephen,smilingandkissingthetipsofhisfingersinadieu。

  Thelanebehindtheterracewaswaterloggedandashewentdownitslowly,choosinghisstepsamidheapsofwetrubbish,heheardamadnunscreechinginthenuns\'

  madhousebeyondthewall——

  Jesus!OJesus!Jesus!

  Heshookthesoundoutofhisearsbyanangrytossofhisheadandhurriedon,stumblingthroughthemoulderingoffal,hisheartalreadybittenbyanacheofloathingandbitterness。Hisfather\'swhistle,hismother\'smutterings,thescreechofanunseenmaniacweretohimnowsomanyvoicesoffendingandthreateningtohumbletheprideofhisyouth。Hedrovetheirechoesevenoutofhisheartwithanexecration;but,ashewalkeddowntheavenueandfeltthegreymorninglightfallingabouthimthroughthedrippingtreesandsmeltthestrangewildsmellofthewetleavesandbark,hissoulwasloosedofhermiseries。

  Therain-ladentreesoftheavenueevokedinhim,asalways,memoriesofthegirlsandwomenintheplaysofGerhartHauptmann;andthememoryoftheirpalesorrowsandthefragrancefallingfromthewetbranchesmingledinamoodofquietjoy。Hismorningwalkacrossthecityhadbegun,andheforeknewthatashepassedthesloblandsofFairviewhewouldthinkofthecloistralsilver-veinedproseofNewman;thatashewalkedalongtheNorthStrandRoad,glancingidlyatthewindowsoftheprovisionshops,hewouldrecallthedarkhumourofGuidoCavalcantiandsmile;thatashewentbyBaird\'sstonecuttingworksinTalbotPlacethespiritofIbsenwouldblowthroughhimlikeakeenwind,aspiritofwaywardboyishbeauty;

  andthatpassingagrimymarinedealer\'sshopbeyondtheLiffeyhewouldrepeatthesongbyBenJonsonwhichbegins:IwasnotwearierwhereIlay。HismindwhenweariedofitssearchfortheessenceofbeautyamidthespectralwordsofAristotleorAquinasturnedoftenforitspleasuretothedaintysongsoftheElizabethans。Hismind,inthevestureofadoubtingmonk,stoodofteninshadowunderthewindowsofthatage,tohearthegraveandmockingmusicofthelutenistsorthefranklaughterofwaist-coateersuntilalaughtoolow,aphrase,tarnishedbytime,ofchamberingandfalsehonourstunghismonkishprideanddrovehimonfromhislurking-place。

  ThelorewhichhewasbelievedtopasshisdaysbroodinguponsothatithadrapthimfromthecompanionshipofyouthwasonlyagarnerofslendersentencesfromAristotle\'spoeticsandpsychologyandaSynopsisPhilosophiaeScholasticaeadmentemdiviThomae。Histhinkingwasaduskofdoubtandself-mistrust,litupatmomentsbythelightningsofintuition,butlightningsofsoclearasplendourthatinthosemomentstheworldperishedabouthisfeetasifithadbeenfire-consumed;andthereafterhistonguegrewheavyandhemettheeyesofotherswithunansweringeyes,forhefeltthatthespiritofbeautyhadfoldedhimroundlikeamantleandthatinreveryatleasthehadbeenacquaintedwithnobility。Butwhenthisbriefprideofsilenceupheldhimnolongerhewasgladtofindhimselfstillinthemidstofcommonlives,passingonhiswayamidthesqualorandnoiseandslothofthecityfearlesslyandwithalightheart。

  Nearthehoardingsonthecanalhemettheconsumptivemanwiththedoll\'sfaceandthebrimlesshatcomingtowardshimdowntheslopeofthebridgewithlittlesteps,tightlybuttonedintohischocolateovercoat,andholdinghisfurledumbrellaaspanortwofromhimlikeadiviningrod。Itmustbeeleven,hethought,andpeeredintoadairytoseethetime。Theclockinthedairytoldhimthatitwasfiveminutestofivebut,asheturnedaway,heheardaclocksomewherenearhim,butunseen,beatingelevenstrokesinswiftprecision。HelaughedashehearditforitmadehimthinkofMcCann,andhesawhimasquatfigureinashootingjacketandbreechesandwithafairgoatee,standinginthewindatHopkins\'

  corner,andheardhimsay:——

  Dedalus,you\'reanantisocialbeing,wrappedupinyourself。I\'mnot。I\'mademocratandI`IlworkandactforsociallibertyandequalityamongallclassesandsexesintheUnitedStatesoftheEuropeofthefuture。

  Eleven!Thenhewaslateforthatlecturetoo。Whatdayoftheweekwasit?Hestoppedatanewsagent\'storeadtheheadlineofaplacard。

  Thursday。Tentoeleven,English;eleventotwelve,French;twelvetoone,physics。HefanciedtohimselftheEnglishlectureandfelt,evenatthatdistance,restlessandhelpless。Hesawtheheadsofhisclassmatesmeeklybentastheywroteintheirnotebooksthepointstheywerebiddentonote,nominaldefinitions,essentialdefinitionsandexamplesordatesofbirthordeath,chiefworks,afavourableandanunfavourablecriticismsidebyside。Hisownheadwasunbentforhisthoughtswanderedabroadandwhetherhelookedaroundthelittleclassofstudentsoroutofthewindowacrossthedesolategardensofthegreenanodourassailedhimofcheerlesscellar-dampanddecay。Anotherheadthanhis,rightbeforehiminthefirstbenches,waspoisedsquarelyaboveitsbendingfellowsliketheheadofapriestappealingwithouthumilitytothetabernacleforthehumbleworshippersabouthim。WhywasitthatwhenhethoughtofCranlyhecouldneverraisebeforehismindtheentireimageofhisbodybutonlytheimageoftheheadandface?Evennowagainstthegreycurtainofthemorninghesawitbeforehimlikethephantomofadream,thefaceofaseveredheadordeath-mask,crownedonthebrowsbyitsstiffblackuprighthairasbyanironcrown。Itwasapriest-likeface,priest-likeinitspalor,inthewidewingednose,intheshadowingsbelowtheeyesandalongthejaws,priest-likeinthelipsthatwerelongandbloodlessandfaintlysmiling;

  andStephen,rememberingswiftlyhowhehadtoldCranlyofallthetumultsandunrestandlongingsinhissoul,dayafterdayandnightbynight,onlytobeansweredbyhisfriend\'slisteningsilence,wouldhavetoldhimselfthatitwasthefaceofaguiltypriestwhoheardconfessionsofthosewhomhehadnotpowertoabsolvebutthathefeltagaininmemorythegazeofitsdarkwomanisheyes。

  Throughthisimagehehadaglimpseofastrangedarkcavernofspeculationbutatonceturnedawayfromit,feelingthatitwasnotyetthehourtoenterit。Butthenightshadeofhisfriend\'slistlessnessseemedtobediffusingintheairaroundhimatenuousanddeadlyexhalationandbefoundhimselfglancingfromonecasualwordtoanotheronhisrightorleftinstolidwonderthattheyhadbeensosilentlyemptiedofinstantaneoussenseuntileverymeanshoplegendboundhismindlikethewordsofaspellandhissoulshrivelledupsighingwithageashewalkedoninalaneamongheapsofdeadlanguage。Hisownconsciousnessoflanguagewasebbingfromhisbrainandtricklingintotheverywordsthemselveswhichsettobandanddisbandthemselvesinwaywardrhythms:Theivywhinesuponthewall,Andwhinesandtwinesuponthewall,Theyellowivyuponthewall,Ivy,ivyupthewall。Didanyoneeverhearsuchdrivel?LordAlmighty!Whoeverheardofivywhiningonawall?Yellowivy;thatwasallright。Yellowivoryalso。Andwhataboutivoryivy?

  Thewordnowshoneinhisbrain,clearerandbrighterthananyivorysawnfromthemottledtusksofelephants。Ivory,ivoire,avorio,ebur。

  OneofthefirstexamplesthathehadlearntinLatinhadrun:Indiamittitebur;andherecalledtheshrewdnorthernfaceoftherectorwhohadtaughthimtoconstruetheMetamorphosesofOvidinacourtlyEnglish,madewhimsicalbythementionofporkersandpotsherdsandchinesofbacon。

  HehadlearntwhatlittleheknewofthelawsofLatinversefromaraggedbookwrittenbyaPortuguesepriest。Contrahitorator,variantincarminevates。ThecrisesandvictoriesandsecessionsinRomanhistorywerehandedontohiminthetritewordsintantodiscrimineandhehadtriedtopeerintothesociallifeofthecityofcitiesthroughthewordsimplereollamdenariorumwhichtherectorhadrenderedsonorouslyasthefillingofapotwithdenaries。Thepagesofhistime-wornHoraceneverfeltcoldtothetouchevenwhenhisownfingerswerecold;theywerehumanpagesandfiftyyearsbeforetheyhadbeenturnedbythehumanfingersofJohnDuncanInverarityandbyhisbrother,WilliamMalcolmInverarity。Yes,thosewerenoblenamesontheduskyflyleafand,evenforsopooraLatinistashe,theduskyverseswereasfragrantasthoughtheyhadlainallthoseyearsinmyrtleandlavenderandvervain;butyetitwoundedhimtothinkthathewouldneverbebutashyguestatthefeastoftheworld\'scultureandthatthemonkishlearning,intermsofwhichhewasstrivingtoforgeoutanestheticphilosophy,washeldnohigherbytheagehelivedinthanthesubtleandcuriousjargonsofheraldryandfalconry。

  ThegreyblockofTrinityonhisleft,setheavilyinthecity\'signorancelikeadullstonesetinacumbrousring,pulledhisminddownwardandwhilehewasstrivingthiswayandthattofreehisfeetfromthefettersofthereformedconsciencehecameuponthedrollstatueofthenationalpoetofIreland。

  Helookedatitwithoutanger;for,thoughslothofthebodyandofthesoulcreptoveritlikeunseenvermin,overtheshufflingfeetandupthefoldsofthecloakandaroundtheservilehead,itseemedhumblyconsciousofitsindignity。ItwasaFirbolgintheborrowedcloakofaMilesian;andhethoughtofhisfriendDavin,thepeasantstudent。Itwasajestingnamebetweenthem,buttheyoungpeasantborewithitlightly:——

  Goon,Stevie,Ihaveahardhead,youtellme。Callmewhatyouwill。

  ThehomelyversionofhischristiannameonthelipsofhisfriendhadtouchedStephenpleasantlywhenfirstheardforhewasasformalinspeechwithothersastheywerewithhim。Often,ashesatinDavin\'sroomsinGranthamStreet,wonderingathisfriend\'swell-madebootsthatflankedthewallpairbypairandrepeatingforhisfriend\'ssimpleeartheversesandcadencesofotherswhichweretheveilsofhisownlonginganddejection,therudeFirbolgmindofhislistenerhaddrawnhismindtowardsitandflungitbackagain,drawingitbyaquietinbredcourtesyofattentionorbyaquaintturnofoldEnglishspeechorbytheforceofitsdelightinrudebodilyskill-forDavinhadsatatthefeetofMichaelCusack,theGael-repellingswiftlyandsuddenlybyagrossnessofintelligenceorbyabluntnessoffeelingorbyadullstareofterrorintheeyes,theterrorofsoulofastarvingIrishvillageinwhichthecurfewwasstillanightlyfear。

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