Дублінці
The Dead
Thosedaysmight,withoutexaggeration,becalledspaciousdays:andiftheyaregonebeyondrecallletushope,atleast,thatingatheringssuchasthisweshallstillspeakofthemwithprideandaffection,stillcherishinourheartsthememoryofthosedeadandgonegreatoneswhosefametheworldwillnotwillinglyletdie.”
“Hear,hear!”saidMr.Browneloudly.
“Butyet,”continuedGabriel,hisvoicefallingintoasofterinflection,“therearealwaysingatheringssuchasthissadderthoughtsthatwillrecurtoourminds:thoughtsofthepast,ofyouth,ofchanges,ofabsentfacesthatwemissheretonight.Ourpaththroughlifeisstrewnwithmanysuchsadmemories:andwerewetobrooduponthemalwayswecouldnotfindthehearttogoonbravelywithourworkamongtheliving.Wehaveallofuslivingdutiesandlivingaffectionswhichclaim,andrightlyclaim,ourstrenuousendeavours.
“Therefore,Iwillnotlingeronthepast.Iwillnotletanygloomymoralisingintrudeuponusheretonight.Herewearegatheredtogetherforabriefmomentfromthebustleandrushofoureverydayroutine.Wearemethereasfriends,inthespiritofgood-fellowship,ascolleagues,alsotoacertainextent,inthetruespiritofcamaraderie,andastheguestsof—whatshallIcallthem?—theThreeGracesoftheDublinmusicalworld.”
Thetableburstintoapplauseandlaughteratthisallusion.
