Портрет художника в юності

           Lynchlaughed.

           —Itamusesmevastly,hesaid,tohearyouquotinghimtimeaftertimelikeajollyroundfriar.Areyoulaughinginyoursleeve?

           —MacAlister,answeredStephen,wouldcallmyesthetictheoryappliedAquinas.Sofarasthissideofestheticphilosophyextends,Aquinaswillcarrymeallalongtheline.Whenwecometothephenomenaofartisticconception,artisticgestation,andartisticreproductionIrequireanewterminologyandanewpersonalexperience.

           —Ofcourse,saidLynch.AfterallAquinas,inspiteofhisintellect,wasexactlyagoodroundfriar.Butyouwilltellmeaboutthenewpersonalexperienceandnewterminologysomeotherday.Hurryupandfinishthefirstpart.

           —Whoknows?saidStephen,smiling.PerhapsAquinaswouldunderstandmebetterthanyou.Hewasapoethimself.HewroteahymnforMaundyThursday.ItbeginswiththewordsPANGELINGUAGLORIOSI.Theysayitisthehighestgloryofthehymnal.Itisanintricateandsoothinghymn.Ilikeit;butthereisnohymnthatcanbeputbesidethatmournfulandmajesticprocessionalsong,theVEXILLAREGISofVenantiusFortunatus.

           Lynchbegantosingsoftlyandsolemnlyinadeepbassvoice:

           IMPLETASUNTQUAECONCINIT

           DAVIDFIDELICARMINE

           DICENDONATIONIBUS

           REGNAVITALIGNODEUS.

           —That’sgreat!hesaid,wellpleased.