Портрет художника в юности

           Whoisthegreatestwriter,Dedalus?

           Stephennotedthemockeryinthequestionandsaid:

           —Ofprosedoyoumean?

           —Yes.

           —Newman,Ithink.

           —IsitCardinalNewman?askedBoland.

           —Yes,answeredStephen.

           ThegrinbroadenedonNash’sfreckledfaceasheturnedtoStephenandsaid:

           —AnddoyoulikeCardinalNewman,Dedalus?

           —O,manysaythatNewmanhasthebestprosestyle,Heronsaidtotheothertwoinexplanation,ofcoursehe’snotapoet.

           —Andwhoisthebestpoet,Heron?askedBoland.

           —LordTennyson,ofcourse,answeredHeron.

           —O,yes,LordTennyson,saidNash.Wehaveallhispoetryathomeinabook.

           AtthisStephenforgotthesilentvowshehadbeenmakingandburstout:

           —Tennysonapoet!Why,he’sonlyarhymester!

           —O,getout!saidHeron.EveryoneknowsthatTennysonisthegreatestpoet.

           —Andwhodoyouthinkisthegreatestpoet?askedBoland,nudginghisneighbour.

           —Byron,ofcourse,answeredStephen.

           Herongavetheleadandallthreejoinedinascornfullaugh.

           —Whatareyoulaughingat?askedStephen.

           —You,saidHeron.Byronthegreatestpoet!He’sonlyapoetforuneducatedpeople.