Портрет Доріана Грея
Chapter 5
WhenyouseeSibylVaneyouwillfeelthatthemanwhocouldwrongherwouldbeabeast,abeastwithoutaheart. Icannotunderstandhowanyonecanwishtoshamethethingheloves. IloveSibylVane.Iwanttoplaceheronapedestalofgold,andtoseetheworldworshipthewomanwhoismine. Whatismarriage?Anirrevocablevow.Youmockatitforthat.Ah!don’tmock. ItisanirrevocablevowthatIwanttotake.Hertrustmakesmefaithful,herbeliefmakesmegood. WhenIamwithher,Iregretallthatyouhavetaughtme.Ibecomedifferentfromwhatyouhaveknownmetobe. Iamchanged,andthemeretouchofSibylVane’shandmakesmeforgetyouandallyourwrong,fascinating,poisonous,delightfultheories."
"Andthoseare...?"askedLordHenry,helpinghimselftosomesalad.
"Oh,yourtheoriesaboutlife,yourtheoriesaboutlove,yourtheoriesaboutpleasure.Allyourtheories,infact,Harry."
"Pleasureistheonlythingworthhavingatheoryabout,"heanswered,inhisslow,melodiousvoice. "ButIamafraidIcannotclaimmytheoryasmyown.ItbelongstoNature,nottome. PleasureisNature’stest,hersignofapproval. Whenwearehappywearealwaysgood,butwhenwearegoodwearenotalwayshappy."
"Ah!butwhatdoyoumeanbygood?"criedBasilHallward.
"Yes,"echoedDorian,leaningbackinhischair,andlookingatLordHenryovertheheavyclustersofpurple-lippedirises thatstoodinthecentreofthetable,"whatdoyoumeanbygood,Harry?"
"Tobegoodistobeinharmonywithone’sself,"hereplied, touchingthethinstemofhisglasswithhispale,fine-pointedfingers.