Портрет Дориана Грея

           CharlesofEnglandhadriddeninstirrupshungwithfourhundredandtwenty-onediamonds. RichardII.hadacoat,valuedatthirtythousandmarks,whichwascoveredwithbalasrubies. HalldescribedHenryVIII.,onhiswaytotheTowerprevioustohiscoronation,aswearing "ajacketofraisedgold,theplacardembroideredwithdiamondsandotherrichstones,andagreatbauderikeabouthisneckoflargebalasses. "ThefavouritesofJamesI.woreearringsofemeraldssetingoldfiligrane. EdwardII.gavetoPiersGavestonasuitofred-goldarmourstuddedwithjacinths,acollarofgoldrosessetwithturquoise-stones,andaskull-capparseméwithpearls. HenryII.worejewelledglovesreachingtotheelbow,andhadahawk-glovesewnwithtwelverubiesandfifty-twogreatorients. TheducalhatofCharlestheRash,thelastDukeofBurgundyofhisrace,washungwithpear-shapedpearls,andstuddedwithsapphires. 

           Howexquisitelifehadoncebeen! Howgorgeousinitspompanddecoration! Eventoreadoftheluxuryofthedeadwaswonderful. 

           Thenheturnedhisattentiontoembroideries,andtothetapestriesthatperformedtheofficeoffrescoesinthechillroomsoftheNorthernnationsofEurope. Asheinvestigatedthesubject—andhealwayshadanextraordinaryfacultyofbecomingabsolutelyabsorbed forthemomentinwhateverhetookup—hewasalmostsaddenedbythereflectionoftheruinthatTimebroughtonbeautifulandwonderfulthings. He,atanyrate,hadescapedthat. Summerfollowedsummer,andtheyellowjonquilsbloomedanddiedmanytimes, andnightsofhorrorrepeatedthestoryoftheirshame,buthewasunchanged. Nowintermarredhisfaceorstainedhisflower-likebloom.