Улісс

           Arewegoingtoberead?Ifeelweare.TheGaelicleaguewantssomethinginIrish.Ihopeyouwillcomeroundtonight.BringStarkey.

           Stephensatdown.

           Thequakerlibrariancamefromtheleavetakers.Blushing,hismasksaid:

           —MrDedalus,yourviewsaremostilluminating.

           Hecreakedtoandfro,tiptoingupnearerheavenbythealtitudeofachopine,and,coveredbythenoiseofoutgoing,saidlow:

           —Isityourview,then,thatshewasnotfaithfultothepoet?

           Alarmedfaceasksme.Whydidhecome?Courtesyoraninwardlight?

           —Wherethereisareconciliation,Stephensaid,theremusthavebeenfirstasundering.

           —Yes.

           Christfoxinleathertrews,hiding,arunawayinblightedtreeforks,fromhueandcry.Knowingnovixen,walkinglonelyinthechase.Womenhewontohim,tenderpeople,awhoreofBabylon,ladiesofjustices,bullytapsters’wives.Foxandgeese.AndinNewPlaceaslackdishonouredbodythatoncewascomely,onceassweet,asfreshascinnamon,nowherleavesfalling,all,bare,frightedofthenarrowgraveandunforgiven.

           —Yes.Soyouthink...

           Thedoorclosedbehindtheoutgoer.

           Restsuddenlypossessedthediscreetvaultedcell,restofwarmandbroodingair.

           Avestal’slamp.

           Herehepondersthingsthatwerenot:whatCæsarwouldhavelivedtodohadhebelievedthesoothsayer:whatmighthavebeen:possibilitiesofthepossibleaspossible:thingsnotknown:whatnameAchillesborewhenhelivedamongwomen.

           Coffinedthoughtsaroundme,inmummycases,embalmedinspiceofwords.Thoth,godoflibraries,abirdgod,moonycrowned.AndIheardthevoiceofthatEgyptianhighpriest.