Улисс

           Viningheldthattheprincewasawoman.Hasno-onemadehimouttobeanIrishman?JudgeBarton,Ibelieve,issearchingforsomeclues.Heswears(HisHighnessnotHisLordship)bysaintPatrick.

           —ThemostbrilliantofallisthatstoryofWilde’s,MrBestsaid,liftinghisbrilliantnotebook.ThatPortraitofMrW.H.whereheprovesthatthesonnetswerewrittenbyaWillieHughes,amanallhues.

           —ForWillieHughes,isitnot?thequakerlibrarianasked.

           OrHughieWills?MrWilliamHimself.W.H.:whoamI?

           —Imean,forWillieHughes,MrBestsaid,amendinghisglosseasily.Ofcourseit’sallparadox,don’tyouknow,Hughesandhewsandhues,thecolour,butit’ssotypicalthewayheworksitout.It’stheveryessenceofWilde,don’tyouknow.Thelighttouch.

           Hisglancetouchedtheirfaceslightlyashesmiled,ablondephebe.TameessenceofWilde.

           You’redarnedwitty.ThreedramsofusquebaughyoudrankwithDanDeasy’sducats.

           HowmuchdidIspend?O,afewshillings.

           Foraplumpofpressmen.Humourwetanddry.

           Wit.Youwouldgiveyourfivewitsforyouth’sproudliveryhepranksin.Lineamentsofgratifieddesire.

           Therebemanymo.Takeherforme.Inpairingtime.Jove,acoolruttimesendthem.Yea,turtledoveher.

           Eve.Nakedwheatbelliedsin.Asnakecoilsher,fangin’skiss.

           —Doyouthinkitisonlyaparadox?thequakerlibrarianwasasking.Themockerisnevertakenseriouslywhenheismostserious.

           Theytalkedseriouslyofmocker’sseriousness.

           BuckMulligan’sagainheavyfaceeyedStephenawhile.