Портрет Дориана Грея

           Howevilhelooked!Thefacewassaturnineandswarthy,andthesensuallipsseemedtobetwistedwithdisdain. Delicatelacerufflesfellovertheleanyellowhandsthatweresoover-ladenwithrings. Hehadbeenamacaronioftheeighteenthcentury,andthefriend,inhisyouth,ofLordFerrars. WhatofthesecondLordBeckenham,thecompanionofthePrinceRegentinhiswildestdays,andoneofthewitnessesatthesecretmarriagewithMrs. Fitzherbert? Howproudandhandsomehewas,withhischestnutcurlsandinsolentpose! Whatpassionshadhebequeathed? Theworldhadlookeduponhimasinfamous. HehadledtheorgiesatCarltonHouse. ThestaroftheGarterglittereduponhisbreast. Besidehimhungtheportraitofhiswife,apallid,thin-lippedwomaninblack. Herblood,also,stirredwithinhim. Howcuriousitallseemed! AndhismotherwithherLadyHamiltonface,andhermoistwine-dashedlips—heknewwhathehadgotfromher. Hehadgotfromherhisbeauty,andhispassionforthebeautyofothers. ShelaughedathiminherlooseBacchantedress. Therewerevineleavesinherhair. Thepurplespilledfromthecupshewasholding. Thecarnationsofthepaintinghadwithered,buttheeyeswerestillwonderfulintheirdepthandbrilliancyofcolour. Theyseemedtofollowhimwhereverhewent. 

           Yetonehadancestorsinliterature,aswellasinone’sownrace, nearerperhapsintypeandtemperament,manyofthem,andcertainlywithaninfluenceofwhichonewasmoreabsolutelyconscious. ThereweretimeswhenitappearedtoDorianGraythatthewholeofhistorywasmerelytherecordofhisownlife, notashehadliveditinactandcircumstance,butashisimaginationhadcreateditforhim,asithadbeeninhisbrainandinhispassions.