Портрет Доріана Грея
Chapter 1
"Howsaditis!"murmuredDorianGray,withhiseyesstillfixeduponhisownportrait. "Howsaditis!Ishallgrowold,andhorrible,anddreadful. Butthispicturewillremainalwaysyoung. ItwillneverbeolderthanthisparticulardayofJune.... Ifitwereonlytheotherway!IfitwereIwhowastobealwaysyoung,andthepicturethatwastogrowold! Forthat—forthat—Iwouldgiveeverything!Yes,thereisnothinginthewholeworldIwouldnotgive!Iwouldgivemysoulforthat!"
"Youwouldhardlycareforsuchanarrangement,Basil,"criedLordHenry,laughing. "Itwouldberatherhardlinesonyourwork."
"Ishouldobjectverystrongly,Harry,"saidHallward.
DorianGrayturnedandlookedathim. "Ibelieveyouwould,Basil.Youlikeyourartbetterthanyourfriends. Iamnomoretoyouthanagreenbronzefigure.Hardlyasmuch,Idaresay."
Thepainterstaredinamazement.ItwassounlikeDoriantospeaklikethat.Whathadhappened? Heseemedquiteangry.Hisfacewasflushedandhischeeksburning.
"Yes,"hecontinued,"IamlesstoyouthanyourivoryHermesoryoursilverFaun. Youwilllikethemalways.Howlongwillyoulikeme?TillIhavemyfirstwrinkle,Isuppose. Iknow,now,thatwhenonelosesone’sgoodlooks,whatevertheymaybe,oneloseseverything.Yourpicturehastaughtmethat. LordHenryWottonisperfectlyright.Youthistheonlythingworthhaving. WhenIfindthatIamgrowingold,Ishallkillmyself."
Hallwardturnedpale,andcaughthishand. "Dorian!Dorian!"hecried,"don’ttalklikethat.Ihaveneverhadsuchafriendasyou,andIshallneverhavesuchanother. Youarenotjealousofmaterialthings,areyou? —youwhoarefinerthananyofthem!"