Портрет Дориана Грея

           Thisisgoingtobemymasterpiece.Itismymasterpieceasitstands." LordHenrywentouttothegarden,andfoundDorianGrayburyinghisfaceinthegreatcoollilac-blossoms, feverishlydrinkingintheirperfumeasifithadbeenwine. Hecameclosetohim,andputhishanduponhisshoulder. "Youarequiterighttodothat,"hemurmured."Nothingcancurethesoulbutthesenses,justasnothingcancurethesensesbutthesoul." 

           Theladstartedanddrewback. Hewasbareheaded,andtheleaveshadtossedhisrebelliouscurlsandtangledalltheirgildedthreads. Therewasalookoffearinhiseyes,suchaspeoplehavewhentheyaresuddenlyawakened. Hisfinely-chisellednostrilsquivered,andsomehiddennerveshookthescarletofhislipsandleftthemtrembling. 

           "Yes,"continuedLordHenry, "thatisoneofthegreatsecretsoflife—tocurethesoulbymeansofthesenses,andthesensesbymeansofthesoul. Youareawonderfulcreation. Youknowmorethanyouthinkyouknow,justasyouknowlessthanyouwanttoknow." 

           DorianGrayfrownedandturnedhisheadaway. Hecouldnothelplikingthetall,gracefulyoungmanwhowasstandingbyhim. Hisromanticolive-colouredfaceandwornexpressioninterestedhim. Therewassomethinginhislow,languidvoicethatwasabsolutelyfascinating. Hiscool,white,flower-likehands,even,hadacuriouscharm. Theymoved,ashespoke,likemusic,andseemedtohavealanguageoftheirown. Buthefeltafraidofhim,andashamedofbeingafraid. Whyhaditbeenleftforastrangertorevealhimtohimself? HehadknownBasilHallwardformonths,butthefriendshipbetweenthemhadneveralteredhim. Suddenlytherehadcomesomeoneacrosshislifewhoseemedtohavedisclosedtohimlife’smystery. And,yet,whatwastheretobeafraidof?Hewasnotaschoolboyoragirl. Itwasabsurdtobefrightened.