Улисс
Chapter 2
Forifmymasterhedidhear
He’dmakeitasorryball.”
Shetookhimbythelilywhitehand
Andledhimalongthehall
Untilsheledhimtoaroom
Wherenonecouldhearhimcall.
Shetookapenknifeoutofherpocket
Andcutoffhislittlehead.
Andnowhe’llplayhisballnomore
Forheliesamongthedead.
HowdidthefatherofMillicentreceivethissecondpart?
Withmixedfeelings.Unsmiling,heheardandsawwithwonderajew’sdaughter,alldressedingreen.
CondenseStephen’scommentary.
Oneofall,theleastofall,isthevictimpredestined.Oncebyinadvertencetwicebydesignhechallengeshisdestiny.Itcomeswhenheisabandonedandchallengeshimreluctantand,asanapparitionofhopeandyouth,holdshimunresisting.Itleadshimtoastrangehabitation,toasecretinfidelapartment,andthere,implacable,immolateshim,consenting.
Whywasthehost(victimpredestined)sad?
Hewishedthatataleofadeedshouldbetoldofadeednotbyhimshouldbyhimnotbetold.
Whywasthehost(reluctant,unresisting)still?
Inaccordancewiththelawoftheconservationofenergy.
Whywasthehost(secretinfidel)silent?
Heweighedthepossibleevidencesforandagainstritualmurder:theincitationsofthehierarchy,thesuperstitionofthepopulace,thepropagationofrumourincontinuedfractionofveridicity,theenvyofopulence,theinfluenceofretaliation,thesporadicreappearanceofatavisticdelinquency,themitigatingcircumstancesoffanaticism,hypnoticsuggestionandsomnambulism.
