Улисс

           Themidnightsunisdarkened.Theearthtrembles.ThedeadofDublinfromProspectandMountJeromeinwhitesheepskinovercoatsandblackgoatfellcloaksariseandappeartomany.Achasmopenswithanoiselessyawn.TomRochford,winner,inathlete’ssingletandbreeches,arrivesattheheadofthenationalhurdlehandicapandleapsintothevoid.Heisfollowedbyaraceofrunnersandleapers.Inwildattitudestheyspringfromthebrink.Theirbodiesplunge.FactorylasseswithfancyclothestossredhotYorkshirebaraabombs.Societyladieslifttheirskirtsabovetheirheadstoprotectthemselves.Laughingwitchesinredcuttysarksridethroughtheaironbroomsticks.Quakerlysterplastersblisters.Itrainsdragons’teeth.Armedheroesspringupfromfurrows.Theyexchangeinamitythepassofknightsoftheredcrossandfightduelswithcavalrysabres:WolfeToneagainstHenryGrattan,SmithO’BrienagainstDanielO’Connell,MichaelDavittagainstIsaacButt,JustinM’CarthyagainstParnell,ArthurGriffithagainstJohnRedmond,JohnO’LearyagainstLearO’Johnny,LordEdwardFitzgeraldagainstLordGeraldFitzedward,TheO’DonoghueoftheGlensagainstTheGlensofTheO’Donoghue.Onaneminence,thecentreoftheearth,risesthefieldaltarofSaintBarbara.Blackcandlesrisefromitsgospelandepistlehorns.Fromthehighbarbacansofthetowertwoshaftsoflightfallonthesmokepalledaltarstone.OnthealtarstoneMrsMinaPurefoy,goddessofunreason,lies,naked,fettered,achalicerestingonherswollenbelly.