Дублінці
The Dead
Butgrantedeventhat,itis,tomymind,aprincelyfailing,andonethatItrustwilllongbecultivatedamongus.Ofonething,atleast,Iamsure.Aslongasthisoneroofsheltersthegoodladiesaforesaid—andIwishfrommyheartitmaydosoformanyandmanyalongyeartocome—thetraditionofgenuinewarm-heartedcourteousIrishhospitality,whichourforefathershavehandeddowntousandwhichweinturnmusthanddowntoourdescendants,isstillaliveamongus.”
Aheartymurmurofassentranroundthetable.ItshotthroughGabriel’smindthatMissIvorswasnotthereandthatshehadgoneawaydiscourteously:andhesaidwithconfidenceinhimself:
“LadiesandGentlemen,
“Anewgenerationisgrowingupinourmidst,agenerationactuatedbynewideasandnewprinciples.Itisseriousandenthusiasticforthesenewideasanditsenthusiasm,evenwhenitismisdirected,is,Ibelieve,inthemainsincere.Butwearelivinginascepticaland,ifImayusethephrase,athought-tormentedage:andsometimesIfearthatthisnewgeneration,educatedorhypereducatedasitis,willlackthosequalitiesofhumanity,ofhospitality,ofkindlyhumourwhichbelongedtoanolderday.Listeningtonighttothenamesofallthosegreatsingersofthepastitseemedtome,Imustconfess,thatwewerelivinginalessspaciousage.
