Улисс

           —ButAnnHathaway?MrBest’squietvoicesaidforgetfully.Yes,weseemtobeforgettingherasShakespearehimselfforgother.

           Hislookwentfrombrooder’sbeardtocarper’sskull,toremind,tochidethemnotunkindly,thentothebaldpinklollardcostard,guiltlessthoughmaligned.

           —Hehadagoodgroatsworthofwit,Stephensaid,andnotruantmemory.HecarriedamemoryinhiswalletashetrudgedtoRomevillewhistlingThegirlIleftbehindme.IftheearthquakedidnottimeitweshouldknowwheretoplacepoorWat,sittinginhisform,thecryofhounds,thestuddedbridleandherbluewindows.Thatmemory,VenusandAdonis,layinthebedchamberofeverylight-of-loveinLondon.IsKatharinetheshrewillfavoured?Hortensiocallsheryoungandbeautiful.DoyouthinkthewriterofAntonyandCleopatra,apassionatepilgrim,hadhiseyesinthebackofhisheadthathechosetheugliestdoxyinallWarwickshiretoliewithal?Good:heleftherandgainedtheworldofmen.Buthisboywomenarethewomenofaboy.Theirlife,thought,speecharelentthembymales.Hechosebadly?Hewaschosen,itseemstome.IfothershavetheirwillAnnhathaway.Bycock,shewastoblame.Sheputthecometheronhim,sweetandtwentysix.ThegreyeyedgoddesswhobendsovertheboyAdonis,stoopingtoconquer,asprologuetotheswellingact,isaboldfacedStratfordwenchwhotumblesinacornfieldaloveryoungerthanherself.

           Andmyturn?When?

           Come!

           —Ryefield,MrBestsaidbrightly,gladly,raisinghisnewbook,gladly,brightly.