Портрет Доріана Грея

           ShallyouseeBasilbetweenthisandthen?OrshallIwritetohim?" 

           "DearBasil!Ihavenotlaideyesonhimforaweek. Itisratherhorridofme,ashehassentmemyportraitinthemostwonderfulframe,speciallydesignedbyhimself, and,thoughIamalittlejealousofthepictureforbeingawholemonthyoungerthanIam,ImustadmitthatIdelightinit. Perhapsyouhadbetterwritetohim.Idon’twanttoseehimalone.Hesaysthingsthatannoyme.Hegivesmegoodadvice." 

           LordHenrysmiled. "Peopleareveryfondofgivingawaywhattheyneedmostthemselves. ItiswhatIcallthedepthofgenerosity." 

           "Oh,Basilisthebestoffellows,butheseemstometobejustabitofaPhilistine. SinceIhaveknownyou,Harry,Ihavediscoveredthat." 

           "Basil,mydearboy,putseverythingthatischarminginhimintohiswork. Theconsequenceisthathehasnothingleftforlifebuthisprejudices,hisprinciples,andhiscommon-sense. TheonlyartistsIhaveeverknown,whoarepersonallydelightful,arebadartists. Goodartistsexistsimplyinwhattheymake,andconsequentlyareperfectlyuninterestinginwhattheyare. Agreatpoet,areallygreatpoet,isthemostunpoeticalofallcreatures.Butinferiorpoetsareabsolutelyfascinating. Theworsetheirrhymesare,themorepicturesquetheylook.Themerefactofhavingpublishedabookofsecond-ratesonnetsmakesamanquiteirresistible. Helivesthepoetrythathecannotwrite.Theotherswritethepoetrythattheydarenotrealise." 

           "Iwonderisthatreallyso,Harry?"saidDorianGray,puttingsomeperfumeonhishandkerchiefoutofalargegold-toppedbottlethatstoodonthetable. "Itmustbe,ifyousayit.AndnowIamoff.Imogeniswaitingforme. Don’tforgetaboutto-morrow.Good-bye."