Портрет Доріана Грея

           Youhaveonlyafewyearsinwhichtolivereally,perfectly,andfully. Whenyouryouthgoes,yourbeautywillgowithit,andthenyouwillsuddenlydiscover thattherearenotriumphsleftforyou,orhavetocontentyourselfwiththosemeantriumphs thatthememoryofyourpastwillmakemorebitterthandefeats. Everymonthasitwanesbringsyounearertosomethingdreadful. Timeisjealousofyou,andwarsagainstyourliliesandyourroses. Youwillbecomesallow,andhollow-cheeked,anddull-eyed.Youwillsufferhorribly.... Ah!realiseyouryouthwhileyouhaveit. Don’tsquanderthegoldofyourdays,listeningtothetedious,tryingtoimprovethehopelessfailure,orgivingawayyourlifetotheignorant,thecommon,andthevulgar. Thesearethesicklyaims,thefalseideals,ofourage.Live!Livethewonderfullifethatisinyou! Letnothingbelostuponyou.Bealwayssearchingfornewsensations.Beafraidofnothing.... AnewHedonism—thatiswhatourcenturywants.Youmightbeitsvisiblesymbol. Withyourpersonalitythereisnothingyoucouldnotdo. Theworldbelongstoyouforaseason.... ThemomentImetyouIsawthatyouwerequiteunconsciousofwhatyoureallyare,ofwhatyoureallymightbe. TherewassomuchinyouthatcharmedmethatIfeltImusttellyousomethingaboutyourself. Ithoughthowtragicitwouldbeifyouwerewasted. Forthereissuchalittletimethatyouryouthwilllast—suchalittletime. Thecommonhill-flowerswither,buttheyblossomagain. ThelaburnumwillbeasyellownextJuneasitisnow. Inamonththerewillbepurplestarsontheclematis,andyearafteryearthegreennightofitsleaveswillholditspurplestars. Butwenevergetbackouryouth. Thepulseofjoythatbeatsinusattwenty,becomessluggish.Ourlimbsfail,oursensesrot. Wedegenerateintohideouspuppets,hauntedbythememoryofthepassionsofwhichweweretoomuchafraid,andtheexquisitetemptationsthatwehadnotthecouragetoyieldto. Youth!Youth!Thereisabsolutelynothingintheworldbutyouth!" 

           DorianGraylistened,open-eyedandwondering. Thesprayoflilacfellfromhishanduponthegravel.