Портрет Дориана Грея

           Hefeltthathehadknownthemall,thosestrangeterriblefiguresthathadpassedacrossthestageoftheworldandmadesinsomarvellous,andevilsofullofsubtlety. Itseemedtohimthatinsomemysteriouswaytheirliveshadbeenhisown. 

           Theheroofthewonderfulnovelthathadsoinfluencedhislifehadhimselfknownthiscuriousfancy. Intheseventhchapterhetellshow,crownedwithlaurel,lestlightningmightstrikehim,hehadsat,asTiberius, inagardenatCapri,readingtheshamefulbooksofElephantis,whiledwarfsandpeacocksstruttedroundhim,andtheflute-playermockedtheswingerofthecenser; and,asCaligula,hadcarousedwiththegreen-shirtedjockeysintheirstablesandsuppedinanivorymangerwithajewel-frontletedhorse; and,asDomitian,hadwanderedthroughacorridorlinedwithmarblemirrors,lookingroundwithhaggardeyesforthereflectionofthedaggerthatwastoendhisdays, andsickwiththatennui,thatterribletædiumvitæ,thatcomesonthosetowhomlifedeniesnothing; andhadpeeredthroughaclearemeraldattheredshamblesoftheCircus,andthen,inalitterofpearlandpurpledrawnbysilver-shodmules, beencarriedthroughtheStreetofPomegranatestoaHouseofGold,andheardmencryonNeroCæsarashepassedby; and,asElagabalus,hadpaintedhisfacewithcolours,andpliedthedistaffamongthewomen,andbroughttheMoonfromCarthage,andgivenherinmysticmarriagetotheSun. 

           OverandoveragainDorianusedtoreadthisfantasticchapter,andthetwochaptersimmediatelyfollowing, inwhich,asinsomecurioustapestriesorcunningly-wroughtenamels,werepicturedtheawfulandbeautifulformsofthosewhomViceandBloodandWearinesshadmademonstrousormad: Filippo,DukeofMilan,whoslewhiswife,andpaintedherlipswithascarletpoisonthatherlovermightsuckdeathfromthedeadthinghefondled;