Портрет Дориана Грея

           "Howsaditis!"murmuredDorianGray,withhiseyesstillfixeduponhisownportrait. "Howsaditis!Ishallgrowold,andhorrible,anddreadful. Butthispicturewillremainalwaysyoung. ItwillneverbeolderthanthisparticulardayofJune.... Ifitwereonlytheotherway!IfitwereIwhowastobealwaysyoung,andthepicturethatwastogrowold! Forthat—forthat—Iwouldgiveeverything!Yes,thereisnothinginthewholeworldIwouldnotgive!Iwouldgivemysoulforthat!" 

           "Youwouldhardlycareforsuchanarrangement,Basil,"criedLordHenry,laughing. "Itwouldberatherhardlinesonyourwork." 

           "Ishouldobjectverystrongly,Harry,"saidHallward. 

           DorianGrayturnedandlookedathim. "Ibelieveyouwould,Basil.Youlikeyourartbetterthanyourfriends. Iamnomoretoyouthanagreenbronzefigure.Hardlyasmuch,Idaresay." 

           Thepainterstaredinamazement.ItwassounlikeDoriantospeaklikethat.Whathadhappened? Heseemedquiteangry.Hisfacewasflushedandhischeeksburning. 

           "Yes,"hecontinued,"IamlesstoyouthanyourivoryHermesoryoursilverFaun. Youwilllikethemalways.Howlongwillyoulikeme?TillIhavemyfirstwrinkle,Isuppose. Iknow,now,thatwhenonelosesone’sgoodlooks,whatevertheymaybe,oneloseseverything.Yourpicturehastaughtmethat. LordHenryWottonisperfectlyright.Youthistheonlythingworthhaving. WhenIfindthatIamgrowingold,Ishallkillmyself." 

           Hallwardturnedpale,andcaughthishand. "Dorian!Dorian!"hecried,"don’ttalklikethat.Ihaveneverhadsuchafriendasyou,andIshallneverhavesuchanother. Youarenotjealousofmaterialthings,areyou? —youwhoarefinerthananyofthem!"