Портрет художника в юности

           —Thisraceandthiscountryandthislifeproducedme,hesaidIshallexpressmyselfasIam.

           —Trytobeoneofus,repeatedDavin.InheartyouareanIrishmanbutyourprideistoopowerful.

           —MyancestorsthrewofftheirlanguageandtookanotherStephensaid.Theyallowedahandfulofforeignerstosubjectthem.DoyoufancyIamgoingtopayinmyownlifeandpersondebtstheymade?Whatfor?

           —Forourfreedom,saidDavin.

           —Nohonourableandsincereman,saidStephen,hasgivenuptoyouhislifeandhisyouthandhisaffectionsfromthedaysofTonetothoseofParnell,butyousoldhimtotheenemyorfailedhiminneedorreviledhimandlefthimforanother.Andyouinvitemetobeoneofyou.I’dseeyoudamnedfirst.

           —Theydiedfortheirideals,Stevie,saidDavin.Ourdaywillcomeyet,believeme.

           Stephen,followinghisownthought,wassilentforaninstant.

           —Thesoulisborn,hesaidvaguely,firstinthosemomentsItoldyouof.Ithasaslowanddarkbirth,moremysteriousthanthebirthofthebody.Whenthesoulofamanisborninthiscountrytherearenetsflungatittoholditbackfromflight.Youtalktomeofnationality,language,religion.Ishalltrytoflybythosenets.

           Davinknockedtheashesfromhispipe.

           —Toodeepforme,Stevie,hesaid.Butaman’scountrycomesfirst.Irelandfirst,Stevie.