Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 5
SIMILITERATQUESENISBACULUS,hewas,asthefounderwouldhavehadhim,likeastaffinanoldman’shand,tobeleanedonintheroadatnightfallorinstressofweather,toliewithalady’snosegayonagardenseat,toberaisedinmenace.
Thedeanreturnedtothehearthandbegantostrokehischin.
—Whenmayweexpecttohavesomethingfromyouontheestheticquestion?heasked.
—Fromme!saidStepheninastonishment.IstumbleonanideaonceafortnightifIamlucky.
—Thesequestionsareveryprofound,MrDedalus,saidthedean.ItislikelookingdownfromthecliffsofMoherintothedepths.Manygodownintothedepthsandnevercomeup.Onlythetraineddivercangodownintothosedepthsandexplorethemandcometothesurfaceagain.
—Ifyoumeanspeculation,sir,saidStephen,Ialsoamsurethatthereisnosuchthingasfreethinkinginasmuchasallthinkingmustbeboundbyitsownlaws.
—Ha!
—FormypurposeIcanworkonatpresentbythelightofoneortwoideasofAristotleandAquinas.
—Isee.Iquiteseeyourpoint.
—IneedthemonlyformyownuseandguidanceuntilIhavedonesomethingformyselfbytheirlight.IfthelampsmokesorsmellsIshalltrytotrimit.IfitdoesnotgivelightenoughIshallsellitandbuyanother.
—Epictetusalsohadalamp,saidthedean,whichwassoldforafancypriceafterhisdeath.
