Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 5
Cranlylaughed,tighteninghisgriponStephen’sarm,andsaid:
—Thedistilleryisdamngood.
—Isthereanythingelseyouwanttoknow?Stephenasked.
—Areyouingoodcircumstancesatpresent?
—Do,lookit?Stephenaskedbluntly.
—Sothen,Cranlywentonmusingly,youwereborninthelapofluxury.
Heusedthephrasebroadlyandloudlyasheoftenusedtechnicalexpressions,asifhewishedhishearertounderstandthattheywereusedbyhimwithoutconviction.
—Yourmothermusthavegonethroughagooddealofsuffering,hesaidthen.Wouldyounottrytosaveherfromsufferingmoreeveniforwouldyou?
—IfIcould,Stephensaid,thatwouldcostmeverylittle.
—Thendoso,Cranlysaid.Doasshewishesyoutodo.Whatisitforyou?Youdisbelieveinit.Itisaform:nothingelse.Andyouwillsethermindatrest.
Heceasedand,asStephendidnotreply,remainedsilent.Then,asifgivingutterancetotheprocessofhisownthought,hesaid:
—Whateverelseisunsureinthisstinkingdunghillofaworldamother’sloveisnot.Yourmotherbringsyouintotheworld,carriesyoufirstinherbody.Whatdoweknowaboutwhatshefeels?Butwhatevershefeels,it,atleast,mustbereal.Itmustbe.Whatareourideasorambitions?Play.Ideas!Why,thatbloodybleatinggoatTemplehasideas.MacCannhasideastoo.