Портрет художника в юності

           —

           Theirpietywouldbeliketheirnames,liketheirfaces,liketheirclothes,anditwasidleforhimtotellhimselfthattheirhumbleandcontritehearts,itmightbe,paidafarrichertributeofdevotionthanhishadeverbeen,agifttenfoldmoreacceptablethanhiselaborateadoration.Itwasidleforhimtomovehimselftobegeneroustowardsthem,totellhimselfthatifheevercametotheirgates,strippedofhispride,beatenandinbeggar’sweeds,thattheywouldbegeneroustowardshim,lovinghimasthemselves.Idleandembittering,finally,toargue,againsthisowndispassionatecertitude,thatthecommandmentoflovebadeusnottoloveourneighbourasourselveswiththesameamountandintensityoflovebuttolovehimasourselveswiththesamekindoflove.

           Hedrewforthaphrasefromhistreasureandspokeitsoftlytohimself:

           —Adayofdappledseaborneclouds.

           Thephraseandthedayandthesceneharmonizedinachord.Words.Wasittheircolours?Heallowedthemtoglowandfade,hueafterhue:sunrisegold,therussetandgreenofappleorchards,azureofwaves,thegrey-fringedfleeceofclouds.No,itwasnottheircolours:itwasthepoiseandbalanceoftheperioditself.