Портрет Доріана Грея

           Andsohewouldnowstudyperfumes,andthesecretsoftheirmanufacture, distillingheavily-scentedoils,andburningodorousgumsfromtheEast. Hesawthattherewasnomoodofthemindthathadnotitscounterpartinthesensuouslife,andsethimselftodiscovertheirtruerelations, wonderingwhattherewasinfrankincensethatmadeonemystical,andinambergristhatstirredone’spassions, andinvioletsthatwokethememoryofdeadromances,andinmuskthattroubledthebrain,andinchampakthatstainedtheimagination; andseekingoftentoelaboratearealpsychologyofperfumes,andtoestimatetheseveralinfluencesofsweet-smellingroots, andscentedpollen-ladenflowers,oraromaticbalms,andofdarkandfragrantwoods,ofspikenardthatsickens,ofhovenia thatmakesmenmad,andofaloesthataresaidtobeabletoexpelmelancholyfromthesoul. 

           Atanothertimehedevotedhimselfentirelytomusic,andinalonglatticedroom,withavermilion-and-goldceilingandwallsofolive-greenlacquer, heusedtogivecuriousconcerts,inwhichmadgypsiestorewildmusicfromlittlezithers,orgraveyellow-shawledTunisianspluckedatthestrainedstringsofmonstrouslutes, whilegrinningnegroesbeatmonotonouslyuponcopperdrums,and,crouchinguponscarletmats, slimturbanedIndiansblewthroughlongpipesofreedorbrass,andcharmed,orfeignedtocharm,greathoodedsnakesandhorriblehornedadders. TheharshintervalsandshrilldiscordsofbarbaricmusicstirredhimattimeswhenSchubert’sgrace, andChopin’sbeautifulsorrows,andthemightyharmoniesofBeethovenhimself,fellunheededonhisear. Hecollectedtogetherfromallpartsoftheworldthestrangestinstrumentsthatcouldbefound,eitherinthetombsofdeadnations oramongthefewsavagetribesthathavesurvivedcontactwithWesterncivilisations,andlovedtotouchandtrythem.