Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 5
Hismorningwalkacrossthecityhadbegun,andheforeknewthatashepassedthesloblandsofFairviewhewouldthinkofthecloistralsilver-veinedproseofNewman;thatashewalkedalongtheNorthStrandRoad,glancingidlyatthewindowsoftheprovisionshops,hewouldrecallthedarkhumourofGuidoCavalcantiandsmile;thatashewentbyBaird’sstonecuttingworksinTalbotPlacethespiritofIbsenwouldblowthroughhimlikeakeenwind,aspiritofwaywardboyishbeauty;andthatpassingagrimymarinedealer’sshopbeyondtheLiffeyhewouldrepeatthesongbyBenJonsonwhichbegins:
IwasnotwearierwhereIlay.
HismindwhenweariedofitssearchfortheessenceofbeautyamidthespectralwordsofAristotleorAquinasturnedoftenforitspleasuretothedaintysongsoftheElizabethans.Hismind,inthevestureofadoubtingmonk,stoodofteninshadowunderthewindowsofthatage,tohearthegraveandmockingmusicofthelutenistsorthefranklaughterofwaist-coateersuntilalaughtoolow,aphrase,tarnishedbytime,ofchamberingandfalsehonourstunghismonkishprideanddrovehimonfromhislurking-place.
ThelorewhichhewasbelievedtopasshisdaysbroodinguponsothatithadrapthimfromthecompanionshipofyouthwasonlyagarnerofslendersentencesfromAristotle’spoeticsandpsychologyandaSYNOPSISPHILOSOPHIAESCHOLASTICAEADMENTEMDIVITHOMAE.
