Улісс
Chapter 2
AnancienthaggadahbookinwhichapairofhornrimmedconvexspectaclesinsertedmarkedthepassageofthanksgivingintheritualprayersforPessach(Passover):aphotocardoftheQueen’sHotel,Ennis,proprietor,RudolphBloom:anenvelopeaddressed:ToMyDearSonLeopold.
Whatfractionsofphrasesdidthelectureofthosefivewholewordsevoke?
TomorrowwillbeaweekthatIreceived...itisnouseLeopoldtobe...withyourdearmother...thatisnotmoretostand...toher...allformeisout...bekindtoAthos,Leopold...mydearson...always...ofme...dasHerz...Gott...dein...
WhatreminiscencesofahumansubjectsufferingfromprogressivemelancholiadidtheseobjectsevokeinBloom?
Anoldman,widower,unkemptofhair,inbed,withheadcovered,sighing:aninfirmdog,Athos:aconite,resortedtobyincreasingdosesofgrainsandscruplesasapalliativeofrecrudescentneuralgia:thefaceindeathofaseptuagenarian,suicidebypoison.
WhydidBloomexperienceasentimentofremorse?
Becauseinimmatureimpatiencehehadtreatedwithdisrespectcertainbeliefsandpractices.
As?
Theprohibitionoftheuseoffleshmeatandmilkatonemeal:thehebdomadarysymposiumofincoordinatelyabstract,perfervidlyconcretemercantilecoexreligionistexcompatriots:thecircumcisionofmaleinfants:thesupernaturalcharacterofJudaicscripture:theineffabilityofthetetragrammaton:thesanctityofthesabbath.
Howdidthesebeliefsandpracticesnowappeartohim?
Notmorerationalthantheyhadthenappeared,notlessrationalthanotherbeliefsandpracticesnowappeared.
