Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 1
ThatwaslikethetwobrushesinDante’spress,thebrushwiththegreenvelvetbackforParnellandthebrushwiththemaroonvelvetbackforMichaelDavitt.ButhehadnottoldFlemingtocolourthemthosecolours.Fleminghaddoneithimself.
Heopenedthegeographytostudythelesson;buthecouldnotlearnthenamesofplacesinAmerica.Stilltheywerealldifferentplacesthathaddifferentnames.Theywereallindifferentcountriesandthecountrieswereincontinentsandthecontinentswereintheworldandtheworldwasintheuniverse.
Heturnedtotheflyleafofthegeographyandreadwhathehadwrittenthere:himself,hisnameandwherehewas.
StephenDedalusClassofElementsClongowesWoodCollegeSallinsCountyKildareIrelandEuropeTheWorldTheUniverse
Thatwasinhiswriting:andFlemingonenightforacodhadwrittenontheoppositepage:
StephenDedalusismyname,
Irelandismynation.
Clongowesismydwellingplace
Andheavenmyexpectation.
Hereadtheversesbackwardsbutthentheywerenotpoetry.Thenhereadtheflyleaffromthebottomtothetoptillhecametohisownname.Thatwashe:andhereaddownthepageagain.Whatwasaftertheuniverse?
Nothing.