Улісс

           Ithatsinnedandprayedandfasted.

           AchildConmeesavedfrompandies.

           I,IandI.I.

           A.E.I.O.U.

           —Doyoumeantoflyinthefaceofthetraditionofthreecenturies?JohnEglinton’scarpingvoiceasked.Herghostatleasthasbeenlaidforever.Shedied,forliteratureatleast,beforeshewasborn.

           —Shedied,Stephenretorted,sixtysevenyearsaftershewasborn.Shesawhimintoandoutoftheworld.Shetookhisfirstembraces.Sheborehischildrenandshelaidpenniesonhiseyestokeephiseyelidsclosedwhenhelayonhisdeathbed.

           Mother’sdeathbed.Candle.Thesheetedmirror.Whobroughtmeintothisworldliesthere,bronzelidded,underfewcheapflowers.Liliatarutilantium.

           Iweptalone.

           JohnEglintonlookedinthetangledglowwormofhislamp.

           —TheworldbelievesthatShakespearemadeamistake,hesaid,andgotoutofitasquicklyandasbesthecould.

           —Bosh!Stephensaidrudely.Amanofgeniusmakesnomistakes.Hiserrorsarevolitionalandaretheportalsofdiscovery.

           Portalsofdiscoveryopenedtoletinthequakerlibrarian,softcreakfooted,bald,earedandassiduous.

           —Ashrew,JohnEglintonsaidshrewdly,isnotausefulportalofdiscovery,oneshouldimagine.WhatusefuldiscoverydidSocrateslearnfromXanthippe?

           —Dialectic,Stephenanswered:andfromhismotherhowtobringthoughtsintotheworld.WhathelearntfromhisotherwifeMyrto(absitnomen!),Socratididion’sEpipsychidion,noman,notawoman,willeverknow.Butneitherthemidwife’slorenorthecaudlelecturessavedhimfromthearchonsofSinnFeinandtheirnagginofhemlock.