Портрет художника в юности

           Donovanagainlaidhishandonhischestandsaid:

           —Ourendistheacquisitionofknowledge.Thenhesaidquickly:

           —Ihearyouarewritingsomeessaysaboutesthetics.Stephenmadeavaguegestureofdenial.

           —GoetheandLessing,saidDonovan,havewrittenalotonthatsubject,theclassicalschoolandtheromanticschoolandallthat.TheLaocooninterestedmeverymuchwhenIreadit.Ofcourseitisidealistic,German,ultra-profound.

           Neitheroftheothersspoke.Donovantookleaveofthemurbanely.

           —Imustgo,hesaidsoftlyandbenevolently,Ihaveastrongsuspicion,amountingalmosttoaconviction,thatmysisterintendedtomakepancakestodayforthedinneroftheDonovanfamily.

           —Goodbye,Stephensaidinhiswake.Don’tforgettheturnipsformeandmymate.

           Lynchgazedafterhim,hislipcurlinginslowscorntillhisfaceresembledadevil’smask:

           —Tothinkthatthatyellowpancake-eatingexcrementcangetagoodjob,hesaidatlength,andIhavetosmokecheapcigarettes!

           TheyturnedtheirfacestowardsMerrionSquareandwentforalittleinsilence.

           —TofinishwhatIwassayingaboutbeauty,saidStephen,themostsatisfyingrelationsofthesensiblemustthereforecorrespondtothenecessaryphasesofartisticapprehension.Findtheseandyoufindthequalitiesofuniversalbeauty.