Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 5
HestoodtowardsthemythuponwhichnoindividualmindhadeverdrawnoutalineofbeautyandtoitsunwieldytalesthatdividedagainstthemselvesastheymoveddownthecyclesinthesameattitudeastowardstheRomancatholicreligion,theattitudeofadull-wittedloyalserf.WhatsoeverofthoughtoroffeelingcametohimfromEnglandorbywayofEnglishculturehismindstoodarmedagainstinobediencetoapassword;andoftheworldthatlaybeyondEnglandheknewonlytheforeignlegionofFranceinwhichhespokeofserving.
Couplingthisambitionwiththeyoungman’shumourStephenhadoftencalledhimoneofthetamegeeseandtherewasevenapointofirritationinthenamepointedagainstthatveryreluctanceofspeechanddeedinhisfriendwhichseemedsooftentostandbetweenStephen’smind,eagerofspeculation,andthehiddenwaysofIrishlife.
Onenighttheyoungpeasant,hisspiritstungbytheviolentorluxuriouslanguageinwhichStephenescapedfromthecoldsilenceofintellectualrevolt,hadcalledupbeforeStephen’smindastrangevision.ThetwowerewalkingslowlytowardsDavin’sroomsthroughthedarknarrowstreetsofthepoorerjews.
—Athinghappenedtomyself,Stevie,lastautumn,comingonwinter,andInevertoldittoalivingsoulandyouarethefirstpersonnowIevertolditto.IdisrememberifitwasOctoberorNovember.ItwasOctoberbecauseitwasbeforeIcameupheretojointhematriculationclass.
