Улісс
Chapter 1
Itwouldbeimmortal,Iunderstand,butforthepossibilityofitsannihilationbyitsFirstCauseWho,fromallIcanhear,isquitecapableofaddingthattothenumberofHisotherpracticaljokes,corruptioperseandcorruptioperaccidensbothbeingexcludedbycourtetiquette.
MrBloomthoroughlyacquiescedinthegeneralgistofthisthoughthemysticalfinesseinvolvedwasabitoutofhissublunarydepthstillhefeltboundtoenterademurrerontheheadofsimple,promptlyrejoining:
—Simple?Ishouldn’tthinkthatistheproperword.Ofcourse,Igrantyou,toconcedeapoint,youdoknockacrossasimplesoulonceinabluemoon.ButwhatIamanxioustoarriveatisitisonethingforinstancetoinventthoseraysRöntgendidorthetelescopelikeEdison,thoughIbelieveitwasbeforehistimeGalileowastheman,Imean,andthesameappliestothelaws,forexample,ofafarreachingnaturalphenomenonsuchaselectricitybutit’sahorseofquiteanothercolourtosayyoubelieveintheexistenceofasupernaturalGod.
—Othat,Stephenexpostulated,hasbeenprovedconclusivelybyseveralofthebestknownpassagesinHolyWrit,apartfromcircumstantialevidence.
Onthisknottypointhowevertheviewsofthepair,polesapartastheywerebothinschoolingandeverythingelsewiththemarkeddifferenceintheirrespectiveages,clashed.
—Hasbeen?themoreexperiencedofthetwoobjected,stickingtohisoriginalpointwithasmileofunbelief.I’mnotsosureaboutthat.
