Портрет художника в юности

           Lynchmadeagrimaceattherawgreyskyandsaid:

           —IfIamtolistentoyourestheticphilosophygivemeatleastanothercigarette.Idon’tcareaboutit.Idon’tevencareaboutwomen.Damnyouanddamneverything.Iwantajoboffivehundredayear.Youcan’tgetmeone.

           Stephenhandedhimthepacketofcigarettes.Lynchtookthelastonethatremained,sayingsimply:

           —Proceed!

           —Aquinas,saidStephen,saysthatisbeautifultheapprehensionofwhichpleases.

           Lynchnodded.

           —Irememberthat,hesaid,PULCRASUNTQUAEVISAPLACENT.—HeusesthewordVISA,saidStephen,tocoverestheticapprehensionsofallkinds,whetherthroughsightorhearingorthroughanyotheravenueofapprehension.Thisword,thoughitisvague,isclearenoughtokeepawaygoodandevilwhichexcitedesireandloathing.Itmeanscertainlyastasisandnotakinesis.Howaboutthetrue?Itproducesalsoastasisofthemind.Youwouldnotwriteyournameinpencilacrossthehypotenuseofaright-angledtriangle.

           —No,saidLynch,givemethehypotenuseoftheVenusofPraxiteles.

           —Statictherefore,saidStephen.Plato,Ibelieve,saidthatbeautyisthesplendouroftruth.Idon’tthinkthatithasameaning,butthetrueandthebeautifulareakin.