Портрет Доріана Грея
Chapter 13
"L’esquifabordeetmedépose,
Jetantsonamarreaupilier,
Devantunefaçaderose,
Surlemarbred’unescalier."
Howexquisitetheywere! Asonereadthem,oneseemedtobefloatingdownthegreenwater-waysofthepinkandpearlcity,seatedinablackgondolawithsilverprowandtrailingcurtains. Themerelineslookedtohimlikethosestraightlinesofturquoise-bluethatfollowoneasonepushesouttotheLido. Thesuddenflashesofcolourremindedhimofthegleamoftheopal-and-iris-throatedbirdsthatflutterroundthetallhoney-combedCampanile,orstalk,withsuchstatelygrace,throughthedim,dust-stainedarcades. Leaningbackwithhalf-closedeyes,hekeptsayingoverandovertohimself:—
"Devantunefaçaderose,
Surlemarbred’unescalier."
ThewholeofVenicewasinthosetwolines. Herememberedtheautumnthathehadpassedthere,andawonderfullovethathadstirredhimtomad,delightfulfollies. Therewasromanceineveryplace. ButVenice,likeOxford,hadkeptthebackgroundforromance,and,tothetrueromantic,backgroundwaseverything,oralmosteverything. Basilhadbeenwithhimpartofthetime,andhadgonewildoverTintoret. PoorBasil! whatahorriblewayforamantodie!