Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 4
Thefirstfaintnoiseofgentlymovingwaterbrokethesilence,lowandfaintandwhispering,faintasthebellsofsleep;hitherandthither,hitherandthither;andafaintflametrembledonhercheek.
—HeavenlyGod!criedStephen’ssoul,inanoutburstofprofanejoy.
Heturnedawayfromhersuddenlyandsetoffacrossthestrand.Hischeekswereaflame;hisbodywasaglow;hislimbsweretrembling.Onandonandonandonhestrode,faroutoverthesands,singingwildlytothesea,cryingtogreettheadventofthelifethathadcriedtohim.
Herimagehadpassedintohissoulforeverandnowordhadbrokentheholysilenceofhisecstasy.Hereyeshadcalledhimandhissoulhadleapedatthecall.Tolive,toerr,tofall,totriumph,torecreatelifeoutoflife!Awildangelhadappearedtohim,theangelofmortalyouthandbeauty,anenvoyfromthefaircourtsoflife,tothrowopenbeforehiminaninstantofecstasythegatesofallthewaysoferrorandglory.Onandonandonandon!
Hehaltedsuddenlyandheardhisheartinthesilence.Howfarhadhewalked?Whathourwasit?
Therewasnohumanfigurenearhimnoranysoundbornetohimovertheair.Butthetidewasneartheturnandalreadythedaywasonthewane.
