Портрет художника в юності

           I’mademocratandI‘IlworkandactforsociallibertyandequalityamongallclassesandsexesintheUnitedStatesoftheEuropeofthefuture.

           Eleven!Thenhewaslateforthatlecturetoo.Whatdayoftheweekwasit?Hestoppedatanewsagent’storeadtheheadlineofaplacard.Thursday.Tentoeleven,English;eleventotwelve,French;twelvetoone,physics.HefanciedtohimselftheEnglishlectureandfelt,evenatthatdistance,restlessandhelpless.Hesawtheheadsofhisclassmatesmeeklybentastheywroteintheirnotebooksthepointstheywerebiddentonote,nominaldefinitions,essentialdefinitionsandexamplesordatesofbirthordeath,chiefworks,afavourableandanunfavourablecriticismsidebyside.Hisownheadwasunbentforhisthoughtswanderedabroadandwhetherhelookedaroundthelittleclassofstudentsoroutofthewindowacrossthedesolategardensofthegreenanodourassailedhimofcheerlesscellar-dampanddecay.Anotherheadthanhis,rightbeforehiminthefirstbenches,waspoisedsquarelyaboveitsbendingfellowsliketheheadofapriestappealingwithouthumilitytothetabernacleforthehumbleworshippersabouthim.WhywasitthatwhenhethoughtofCranlyhecouldneverraisebeforehismindtheentireimageofhisbodybutonlytheimageoftheheadandface?Evennowagainstthegreycurtainofthemorninghesawitbeforehimlikethephantomofadream,thefaceofaseveredheadordeath-mask,crownedonthebrowsbyitsstiffblackuprighthairasbyanironcrown.