Портрет Дориана Грея

           DorianGrayhurriedalongthequaythroughthedrizzlingrain. HismeetingwithAdrianSingletonhadstrangelymovedhim,andhewonderediftheruinofthatyounglifewasreallytobelaidathisdoor,asBasilHallwardhadsaidtohimwithsuchinfamyofinsult. Hebithislip,andforafewsecondshiseyesgrewsad. Yet,afterall,whatdiditmattertohim? One’sdaysweretoobrieftotaketheburdenofanother’serrorsonone’sshoulders. Eachmanlivedhisownlife,andpaidhisownpriceforlivingit. Theonlypitywasonehadtopaysooftenforasinglefault. Onehadtopayoverandoveragain,indeed. InherdealingswithmanDestinyneverclosedheraccounts. 

           Therearemoments,psychologiststellus,whenthepassionforsin,orforwhattheworldcallssin,sodominatesanature,thateveryfibreofthebody,aseverycellofthebrain,seemstobeinstinctwithfearfulimpulses. Menandwomenatsuchmomentslosethefreedomoftheirwill. Theymovetotheirterribleendasautomatonsmove,Choiceistakenfromthem,andconscienceiseitherkilled,or,ifitlivesatall,livesbuttogiverebellionitsfascination,anddisobedienceitscharm. Forallsins,astheologianswearynotofremindingus,aresinsofdisobedience. Whenthathighspirit,thatmorning-starofevil,fellfromheaven,itwasasarebelthathefell. 

           Callous,concentratedonevil,withstainedmind,andsoulhungryforrebellion,DorianGrayhastenedon,quickeninghisstepashewent, butashedartedasideintoadimarchway,thathadservedhimoftenasashortcuttotheill-famedplacewherehewasgoing, hefelthimselfsuddenlyseizedfrombehind,andbeforehehadtimetodefendhimselfhewasthrustbackagainstthewall,withabrutalhandroundhisthroat.