Портрет художника в юности

           Everyjackassgoingtheroadsthinkshehasideas.

           Stephen,whohadbeenlisteningtotheunspokenspeechbehindthewords,saidwithassumedcarelessness:

           —Pascal,ifIrememberrightly,wouldnotsufferhismothertokisshimashefearedthecontactofhersex.

           —Pascalwasapig,saidCranly.

           —AloysiusGonzaga,Ithink,wasofthesamemind,Stephensaid.

           —Andhewasanotherpigthen,saidCranly.

           —Thechurchcallshimasaint,Stephenobjected.

           -Idon’tcareaflamingdamnwhatanyonecallshim,Cranlysaidrudelyandflatly.Icallhimapig.

           Stephen,preparingthewordsneatlyinhismind,continued:

           —Jesus,too,seemstohavetreatedhismotherwithscantcourtesyinpublicbutSuarez,ajesuittheologianandSpanishgentleman,hasapologizedforhim.

           —Didtheideaeveroccurtoyou,Cranlyasked,thatJesuswasnotwhathepretendedtobe?

           —Thefirstpersontowhomthatideaoccurred,Stephenanswered,wasJesushimself.

           —Imean,Cranlysaid,hardeninginhisspeech,didtheideaeveroccurtoyouthathewashimselfaconscioushypocrite,whathecalledthejewsofhistime,awhitedsepulchre?Or,toputitmoreplainly,thathewasablackguard?

           —Thatideaneveroccurredtome,Stephenanswered.