Улісс
Chapter 1
WhathewantedtoascertainwaswhythatshipranbangagainsttheonlyrockinGalwaybaywhentheGalwayharbourschemewasmootedbyaMrWorthingtonorsomenamelikethat,eh?Askthethencaptain,headvisedthem,howmuchpalmoiltheBritishgovernmentgavehimforthatday’swork,CaptainJohnLeveroftheLeverLine.
—AmIright,skipper?hequeriedofthesailor,nowreturningafterhisprivatepotationandtherestofhisexertions.
Thatworthypickingupthescentofthefagendofthesongorwordsgrowledinwouldbemusicbutwithgreatvimsomekindofchantyorotherinsecondsorthirds.MrBloom’ssharpearsheardhimthenexpectoratetheplugprobably(whichitwas),sothathemusthavelodgeditforthetimebeinginhisfistwhilehedidthedrinkingandmakingwaterjobsandfounditabitsouraftertheliquidfireinquestion.Anyhowinherolledafterhissuccessfullibation-cum-potation,introducinganatmosphereofdrinkintothesoirée,boisterouslytrolling,likeaveritablesonofaseacook:
—Thebiscuitswasashardasbrass
AndthebeefassaltasLot’swife’sarse.
O,JohnnyLever!
JohnnyLever,O!
Afterwhicheffusiontheredoubtablespecimendulyarrivedonthesceneandregaininghisseathesankratherthansatheavilyontheformprovided.
