Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 5
Andhetastedinthelanguageofmemoryamberedwines,dyingfallingsofsweetairs,theproudpavan,andsawwiththeeyesofmemorykindgentlewomeninCoventGardenwooingfromtheirbalconieswithsuckingmouthsandthepox-fouledwenchesofthetavernsandyoungwivesthat,gailyyieldingtotheirravishers,clippedandclippedagain.
Theimageshehadsummonedgavehimnopleasure.Theyweresecretandinflamingbutherimagewasnotentangledbythem.Thatwasnotthewaytothinkofher.Itwasnoteventhewayinwhichhethoughtofher.Couldhismindthennottrustitself?Oldphrases,sweetonlywithadisinterredsweetnesslikethefigseedsCranlyrootedoutofhisgleamingteeth.
Itwasnotthoughtnorvisionthoughheknewvaguelythatherfigurewaspassinghomewardthroughthecity.Vaguelyfirstandthenmoresharplyhesmeltherbody.Aconsciousunrestseethedinhisblood.Yes,itwasherbodyhesmelt,awildandlanguidsmell,thetepidlimbsoverwhichhismusichadfloweddesirouslyandthesecretsoftlinenuponwhichherfleshdistilledodourandadew.
Alousecrawledoverthenapeofhisneckand,puttinghisthumbandforefingerdeftlybeneathhisloosecollar,hecaughtit.Herolleditsbody,tenderyetbrittleasagrainofrice,betweenthumbandfingerforaninstantbeforeheletitfallfromhimandwonderedwoulditliveordie.
