Портрет Дориана Грея
Chapter 1
"Letusgoandsitintheshade,"saidLordHenry. "Parkerhasbroughtoutthedrinks,andifyoustayanylongerinthisglareyouwillbequitespoiled,andBasilwillneverpaintyouagain. Youreallymustnotallowyourselftobecomesunburnt.Itwouldbeunbecoming."
"Whatcanitmatter?"criedDorianGray,laughing,ashesatdownontheseatattheendofthegarden.
"Itshouldmattereverythingtoyou,Mr.Gray."
"Why?"
"Becauseyouhavethemostmarvellousyouth,andyouthistheonethingworthhaving."
"Idon’tfeelthat,LordHenry."
"No,youdon’tfeelitnow. Someday,whenyouareoldandwrinkledandugly,whenthoughthassearedyourforeheadwithitslines, andpassionbrandedyourlipswithitshideousfires,youwillfeelit,youwillfeelitterribly. Now,whereveryougo,youcharmtheworld.Willitalwaysbeso?... Youhaveawonderfullybeautifulface,Mr.Gray.Don’tfrown.Youhave. AndBeautyisaformofGenius—ishigher,indeed,thanGenius,asitneedsnoexplanation. Itisofthegreatfactsoftheworld,likesunlight,orspring-time,orthereflectionindarkwatersofthatsilvershellwecallthemoon. Itcannotbequestioned.Ithasitsdivinerightofsovereignty.Itmakesprincesofthosewhohaveit.Yousmile? Ah!whenyouhavelostityouwon’tsmile....PeoplesaysometimesthatBeautyisonlysuperficial. Thatmaybeso.ButatleastitisnotsosuperficialasThoughtis. Tome,Beautyisthewonderofwonders.Itisonlyshallowpeoplewhodonotjudgebyappearances. Thetruemysteryoftheworldisthevisible,nottheinvisible....Yes,Mr.Gray,thegodshavebeengoodtoyou. Butwhatthegodsgivetheyquicklytakeaway.