Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 5
Then,blushingslightly,helaidhishandonLynch’sthicktweedsleeve.
—Weareright,hesaid,andtheothersarewrong.Tospeakofthesethingsandtotrytounderstandtheirnatureand,havingunderstoodit,totryslowlyandhumblyandconstantlytoexpress,topressoutagain,fromthegrossearthorwhatitbringsforth,fromsoundandshapeandcolourwhicharetheprisongatesofoursoul,animageofthebeautywehavecometounderstand—thatisart.
Theyhadreachedthecanalbridgeand,turningfromtheircourse,wentonbythetrees.Acrudegreylight,mirroredinthesluggishwaterandasmellofwetbranchesovertheirheadsseemedtowaragainstthecourseofStephen’sthought.
—Butyouhavenotansweredmyquestion,saidLynch.Whatisart?Whatisthebeautyitexpresses?
—ThatwasthefirstdefinitionIgaveyou,yousleepy-headedwretch,saidStephen,whenIbegantotrytothinkoutthematterformyself.Doyourememberthenight?CranlylosthistemperandbegantotalkaboutWicklowbacon.
—Iremember,saidLynch.Hetoldusaboutthemflamingfatdevilsofpigs.
—Art,saidStephen,isthehumandispositionofsensibleorintelligiblematterforanestheticend.Yourememberthepigsandforgetthat.Youareadistressingpair,youandCranly.