Улисс

           —Shelieslaidoutinstarkstiffnessinthatsecondbestbed,themobledqueen,eventhoughyouprovethatabedinthosedayswasasrareasamotorcarisnowandthatitscarvingswerethewonderofsevenparishes.Inoldageshetakesupwithgospellers(onestayedwithheratNewPlaceanddrankaquartofsackthetowncouncilpaidforbutinwhichbedhesleptitskillsnottoask)andheardshehadasoul.ShereadorhadreadtoherhischapbookspreferringthemtotheMerryWivesand,loosinghernightlywatersonthejordan,shethoughtoverHooksandEyesforBelievers’BreechesandThemostSpiritualSnuffboxtoMaketheMostDevoutSoulsSneeze.Venushastwistedherlipsinprayer.Agenbiteofinwit:remorseofconscience.Itisanageofexhaustedwhoredomgropingforitsgod.

           —Historyshowsthattobetrue,inquitEglintonusChronolologos.Theagessucceedoneanother.Butwehaveitonhighauthoritythataman’sworstenemiesshallbethoseofhisownhouseandfamily.IfeelthatRussellisright.Whatdowecareforhiswifeorfather?Ishouldsaythatonlyfamilypoetshavefamilylives.Falstaffwasnotafamilyman.Ifeelthatthefatknightishissupremecreation.

           Lean,helayback.Shy,denythykindred,theuncoguid.Shy,suppingwiththegodless,hesneaksthecup.AsireinUltonianAntrimbadeithim.Visitshimhereonquarterdays.MrMagee,sir,there’sagentlemantoseeyou.Me?Sayshe’syourfather,sir.GivememyWordsworth.