Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 5
Hisownconsciousnessoflanguagewasebbingfromhisbrainandtricklingintotheverywordsthemselveswhichsettobandanddisbandthemselvesinwaywardrhythms:
Theivywhinesuponthewall,
Andwhinesandtwinesuponthewall,
Theyellowivyuponthewall,
Ivy,ivyupthewall.
Didanyoneeverhearsuchdrivel?LordAlmighty!Whoeverheardofivywhiningonawall?Yellowivy;thatwasallright.Yellowivoryalso.Andwhataboutivoryivy?
Thewordnowshoneinhisbrain,clearerandbrighterthananyivorysawnfromthemottledtusksofelephants.IVORY,IVOIRE,AVORIO,EBUR.OneofthefirstexamplesthathehadlearntinLatinhadrun:INDIAMITTITEBUR;andherecalledtheshrewdnorthernfaceoftherectorwhohadtaughthimtoconstruetheMetamorphosesofOvidinacourtlyEnglish,madewhimsicalbythementionofporkersandpotsherdsandchinesofbacon.HehadlearntwhatlittleheknewofthelawsofLatinversefromaraggedbookwrittenbyaPortuguesepriest.
Contrahitorator,variantincarminevates.
ThecrisesandvictoriesandsecessionsinRomanhistorywerehandedontohiminthetritewordsINTANTODISCRIMINEandhehadtriedtopeerintothesociallifeofthecityofcitiesthroughthewordsIMPLEREOLLAMDENARIORUMwhichtherectorhadrenderedsonorouslyasthefillingofapotwithdenaries.
