Волны

           Theguardblowshiswhistle;theflagisdipped;withoutaneffort,ofitsownmomentum,likeanavalanchestartedbyagentlepush,westartforward.Bernardspreadsarugandplaysknuckle-bones.Nevillereads.Londoncrumbles.Londonheavesandsurges.Thereisabristlingofchimneysandtowers.Thereawhitechurch;thereamastamongthespires.Thereacanal.Nowthereareopenspaceswithasphaltpathsuponwhichitisstrangethatpeopleshouldnowbewalking.Thereisahillstripedwithredhouses.Amancrossesabridgewithadogathisheels.Nowtheredboybeginsfiringatapheasant.Theblueboyshoveshimaside."MyuncleisthebestshotinEngland.MycousinisMasterofFoxhounds."Boastingbegins.AndIcannotboast,formyfatherisabankerinBrisbane,andIspeakwithanAustralianaccent.’

           ’Afterallthishubbub,’saidNeville,’allthisscufflingandhubbub,wehavearrived.Thisisindeedamoment--thisisindeedasolemnmoment.Icome,likealordtohishallsappointed.Thatisourfounder;ourillustriousfounder,standinginthecourtyardwithonefootraised.Isaluteourfounder.AnobleRomanairhangsovertheseausterequadrangles.Alreadythelightsarelitintheformrooms.Thosearelaboratoriesperhaps;andthatalibrary,whereIshallexploretheexactitudeoftheLatinlanguage,andstepfirmlyuponthewell-laidsentences,andpronouncetheexplicit,thesonoroushexametersofVirgil,ofLucretius;andchantwithapassionthatisneverobscureorformlessthelovesofCatullus,readingfromabigbook,aquartowithmargins.