Портрет Дориана Грея

           Hepossessedagorgeouscopeofcrimsonsilkandgold-threaddamask,figuredwitharepeatingpatternofgoldenpomegranatessetinsix-petalledformalblossoms, beyondwhichoneithersidewasthepine-appledevicewroughtinseed-pearls. TheorphreysweredividedintopanelsrepresentingscenesfromthelifeoftheVirgin,andthecoronationoftheVirginwasfiguredincolouredsilksuponthehood. ThiswasItalianworkofthefifteenthcentury. Anothercopewasofgreenvelvet,embroideredwithheart-shapedgroupsofacanthus-leaves,fromwhichspreadlong-stemmedwhiteblossoms,thedetailsofwhichwerepickedoutwithsilverthreadandcolouredcrystals. Themorseboreaseraph’sheadingold-threadraisedwork. Theorphreyswerewoveninadiaperofredandgoldsilk,andwerestarredwithmedallionsofmanysaintsandmartyrs,amongwhomwasSt.Sebastian. Hehadchasubles,also,ofamber-colouredsilk,andbluesilkandgoldbrocade,andyellowsilkdamaskandclothofgold, figuredwithrepresentationsofthePassionandCrucifixionofChrist,andembroideredwithlionsandpeacocksandotheremblems; dalmaticsofwhitesatinandpinksilkdamask,decoratedwithtulipsanddolphinsandfleursdelys; altarfrontalsofcrimsonvelvetandbluelinen; andmanycorporals,chalice-veils,andsudaria. Inthemysticofficestowhichsuchthingswereput,therewassomethingthatquickenedhisimagination. 

           Forthesetreasures,andeverythingthathecollectedinhislovelyhouse,weretobetohimmeansofforgetfulness, modesbywhichhecouldescape,foraseason,fromthefearthatseemedtohimattimestobealmosttoogreattobeborne. Uponthewallsofthelonelylockedroomwherehehadspentsomuchofhisboyhood,hehadhungwithhisownhandstheterribleportrait whosechangingfeaturesshowedhimtherealdegradationofhislife,andinfrontofithaddrapedthepurple-and-goldpallasacurtain.