Улисс

           Then,withthewaterrunningoffhim,hegotintoanoldsmockandskirtthathadbelongedtohisgrandmotherandboughtagrammarofthebulls’languagetostudybuthecouldneverlearnawordofitexceptthefirstpersonalpronounwhichhecopiedoutbigandgotoffbyheartandifeverhewentoutforawalkhefilledhispocketswithchalktowriteituponwhattookhisfancy,thesideofarockorateahousetableorabaleofcottonoracorkfloat.Inshort,heandthebullofIrelandweresoonasfastfriendsasanarseandashirt.Theywere,saysMrStephen,andtheendwasthatthemenoftheislandseeingnohelpwastoward,astheungratewomenwereallofonemind,madeawherryraft,loadedthemselvesandtheirbundlesofchattelsonshipboard,setallmastserect,mannedtheyards,sprangtheirluff,heavedto,spreadthreesheetsinthewind,putherheadbetweenwindandwater,weighedanchor,portedherhelm,ranupthejollyRoger,gavethreetimesthree,letthebullginerun,pushedoffintheirbumboatandputtoseatorecoverthemainofAmerica.Whichwastheoccasion,saysMrVincent,ofthecomposingbyaboatswainofthatrollickingchanty:

           —PopePeter’sbutapissabed.

           Aman’samanfora’that.

           OurworthyacquaintanceMrMalachiMulligannowappearedinthedoorwayasthestudentswerefinishingtheirapologueaccompaniedwithafriendwhomhehadjustrencountered,ayounggentleman,hisnameAlecBannon,whohadlatecometotown,itbeinghisintentiontobuyacolouroracornetcyinthefenciblesandlistforthewars.