Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 5
PerhapssomeofyougentlemenmaybefamiliarwiththeworksofMrW.S.Gilbert.Inoneofhissongshespeaksofthebilliardsharpwhoiscondemnedtoplay:
Onaclothuntrue
Withatwistedcue
Andellipticalbilliardballs.
—HemeansaballhavingtheformoftheellipsoidoftheprincipalaxesofwhichIspokeamomentago.
MoynihanleaneddowntowardsStephen’searandmurmured:
—Whatpriceellipsoidalballs!chaseme,ladies,I’minthecavalry!
Hisfellowstudent’srudehumourranlikeagustthroughthecloisterofStephen’smind,shakingintogaylifelimppriestlyvestmentsthathunguponthewalls,settingthemtoswayandcaperinasabbathofmisrule.Theformsofthecommunityemergedfromthegust-blownvestments,thedeanofstudies,theportlyfloridbursarwithhiscapofgreyhair,thepresident,thelittlepriestwithfeatheryhairwhowrotedevoutverses,thesquatpeasantformoftheprofessorofeconomics,thetallformoftheyoungprofessorofmentalsciencediscussingonthelandingacaseofconsciencewithhisclasslikeagiraffecroppinghighleafageamongaherdofantelopes,thegravetroubledprefectofthesodality,theplumpround-headedprofessorofItalianwithhisrogue’seyes.
