Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 5
Damnthedeanofstudiesandhisfunnel!Whatdidhecomeherefortoteachushisownlanguageortolearnitfromus.Damnhimonewayortheother!
APRIL14.JohnAlphonsusMulrennanhasjustreturnedfromthewestofIreland.EuropeanandAsiaticpaperspleasecopy.Hetoldushemetanoldmanthereinamountaincabin.Oldmanhadredeyesandshortpipe.OldmanspokeIrish.MulrennanspokeIrish.ThenoldmanandMulrennanspokeEnglish.Mulrennanspoketohimaboutuniverseandstars.Oldmansat,listened,smoked,spat.Thensaid:
—Ah,theremustbeterriblequeercreaturesatthelatterandoftheworld.
Ifearhim.Ifearhisred-rimmedhornyeyes.ItiswithhimImuststruggleallthroughthisnighttilldaycome,tillheorIliedead,grippinghimbythesinewythroattill.
Tillwhat?Tillheyieldtome?No.Imeannoharm.
APRIL15.MethertodaypointblankinGraftonStreet.Thecrowdbroughtustogether.Webothstopped.SheaskedmewhyInevercame,saidshehadheardallsortsofstoriesaboutme.Thiswasonlytogaintime.AskedmewasIwritingpoems?Aboutwhom?Iaskedher.ThisconfusedhermoreandIfeltsorryandmean.Turnedoffthatvalveatonceandopenedthespiritual-heroicrefrigeratingapparatus,inventedandpatentedinallcountriesbyDanteAlighieri.Talkedrapidlyofmyselfandmyplans.InthemidstofitunluckilyImadeasuddengestureofarevolutionarynature
