登陆注册
5572400000011

第11章

-- I want that to be printed and read, Mr Deasy said. You will see at the next outbreak they will put an embargo on Irish cattle. And it can be cured. It is cured. My cousin, Blackwood Price, writes to me it is regularly treated and cured in Austria by cattledoctors there. They offer to come over here. I am trying to work up influence with the department. Now I'm going to try publicity. I am surrounded by difficulties, by... intrigues, by... backstairs influence, by...

He raised his forefinger and beat the air oldly before his voice spoke.

-- Mark my words, Mr Dedalus, he said. England is in the hands of the jews. In all the highest places: her finance, her press. And they are the signs of a nation's decay. Wherever they gather they eat up the nation's vital strength. I have seen it Coming these years. As sure as we are standing here the jew merchants are already at their work of destruction. Old England is dying.

He stepped swiftly off, his eyes coming to blue life as they passed a broad sunbeam. He faced about and back again.

-- Dying, he said, if not dead by now.

The harlot's cry from street to street

Shall weave old England's winding sheet.

His eyes open wide in vision stared sternly across the sunbeam in which he halted.

-- A merchant, Stephen said, is one who buys cheap and sells dear, jew or gentile, is he not?

-- They sinned against the light, Mr Deasy said gravely. And you can see the darkness in their eyes. And that is why they are wanderers on the earth to this day.

On the steps of the Paris Stock Exchange the goldskinned men quoting prices on their gemmed fingers. Gabbles of geese. They swarmed loud, uncouth about the temple, their heads thickplotting under maladroit silk hats. Not theirs: these clothes, this speech, these gestures. Their full slow eyes belied the words, the gestures eager and unoffending, but knew the rancours massed about them and knew their zeal was vain. Vain patience to heap and hoard. Time surely would scatter all. A hoard heaped by the roadside: plundered and passing on. Their eyes knew the years of wandering and, patient, knew the dishonours of their flesh.

-- Who has not? Stephen said.

-- What do you mean? Mr Deasy asked.

He came forward a pace and stood by the table. His underjaw fell sideways open uncertainly. Is this old wisdom? He waits to hear from me.

-- History, Stephen said, is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.

From the playfield the boys raised a shout. A whirring whistle: goal. What if that nightmare gave you a back kick?

-- The ways of the Creator are not our ways, Mr Deasy said. All history moves towards one great goal, the manifestation of God.

Stephen jerked his thumb towards the window, saying:

-- That is God.

Hooray! Ay! Whrrwhee!

-- What? Mr Deasy asked.

-- A shout in the street, Stephen answered, shrugging his shoulders.

Mr Deasy looked down and held for a while the wings of his nose tweaked between his fingers. Looking up again he set them free.

-- I am happier than you are, he said. We have committed many errors and many sins. A woman brought sin into the world. For a woman who was no better than she should be, Helen, the runaway wife of Menelaus, ten years the Greeks made war on Troy. A faithless wife first brought the strangers to our shore here, MacMurrough's wife and her leman O'Rourke, prince of Breffni. A woman too brought Parnell low. Many errors, many failures but not the one sin. I am a struggler now at the end of my days. But I will fight for the right till the end.

For Ulster will fight

And Ulster will be right.

Stephen raised the sheets in his hand.

-- Well, sir, he began.

-- I foresee, Mr Deasy said, that you will not remain here very long at this work. You were not born to be a teacher, I think. Perhaps I am wrong.

-- A learner rather, Stephen said.

And here what will you learn more?

Mr Deasy shook his head.

-- Who knows? he said. To learn one must be humble. But life is the great teacher.

Stephen rustled the sheets again.

-- As regards these, he began.

-- Yes, Mr Deasy said. You have two copies there. If you can have them published at once.

Telegraph. Irish Homestead.

-- I will try, Stephen said, and let you know tomorrow. I know two editors slightly.

That will do, Mr Deasy said briskly. I wrote last night to Mr Field, M.P. There is a meeting of the cattletraders' association today at the City Arms Hotel. I asked him to lay my letter before the meeting. You see if you can get it into your two papers. What are they?

-- The Evening Telegraph...

-- That will do, Mr Deasy said. There is no time to lose. Now I have to answer that letter from my cousin.

-- Good morning, sir, Stephen said, putting the sheets in his pocket. Thank you.

-- Not at all, Mr Deasy said as he searched the papers on his desk. I like to break a lance with you, old as I am.

-- Good morning, sir, Stephen said again, bowing to his bent back.

He went out by the open porch and down the gravel path under the trees, hearing the cries of voices and crack of sticks from the playfield. The lions couchant on the pillars as he passed out through the gate; toothless terrors. Still I will help him in his fight. Mulligan will dub me a new name: the bullockbefriending bard.

-- Mr Dedalus!

Running after me. No more letters, I hope.

-- Just one moment.

-- Yes, sir, Stephen said, turning back at the gate.

Mr Deasy halted, breathing hard and swallowing his breath.

-- I just wanted to say, he said. Ireland, they say, has the honour of being the only country which never persecuted the jews. Do you know that? No. And do you know why?

He frowned sternly on the bright air.

-- Why, sir? Stephen asked, beginning to smile.

-- Because she never let them in, Mr Deasy said solemnly.

A coughball of laughter leaped from his throat dragging after it a rattling chain of phlegm. He turned back quickly, coughing, laughing, his lifted arms waving to the air.

-- She never let them in, he cried again through his laughter as he stamped on gaitered feet over the gravel of the path. That's why.

On his wise shoulders through the checkerwork of leaves the sun flung spangles, dancing coins.

Proteus

同类推荐
  • Tales from Tibet 阿里阿里

    Tales from Tibet 阿里阿里

    《阿里阿里》以一个女作家的独特视角完成了对西藏阿里地区的另一种书写,她把目光对准其他作品极少涉及的内地援疆干部,记录了他们与阿里人之间的悲欢离合,凸显了高原上人性的真实与纯粹。
  • 一句话让老美刮目相看

    一句话让老美刮目相看

    想要练就炉火纯青的英语口语,就要将复杂的话说得简单易懂,就要将简单的话说得有模有样。人们常说:“难者不会,会者不难。”学习英语,也是同样的道理,找到方法,掐准要点,你也就不会在面对老外时结结巴巴,甚至是哑口无言了。本书就将带你进入一个轻松快乐的学习氛围,一点一滴、举一反三地破解英语口语密码。本书涉及情感表达、工作学习、社交娱乐三个方面,以发散、拓展的思维方式,亮出英语日常应用口语。本书由阳程主编。
  • 竞选风波(Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work)

    竞选风波(Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work)

    《竞选风波》是纯爱英文馆?少女成长系列的第四本,讲述了约翰叔叔带着三个心爱的侄女——帕齐、贝丝和露易丝去帮助他们的朋友肯尼思竞选议员的故事。在帮助他竞选的过程中,三个女孩受到其对手的一再抨击,她们会坚持下来吗?此外,她们还帮助一对老夫妇寻找到了一个受刺激后精神失常而失踪的少女,这又是怎么回事呢?
  • 用英语介绍中国这里是广州

    用英语介绍中国这里是广州

    外国人面前,你能否用一口流利的英文介绍自己所在的城市呢?走出国门,你是否能够让更多的外国人了解广州灿烂悠久的文化?本书为读者奉上原汁原味的人文阅读精华,详细介绍了人们最感兴趣的广州历史文化、城市风景、广州生活、名人逸事等,带您全方位地了解广州。读者在学习英语的同时,又能品味这座南方文化名城的独特魅力。
  • 当英语成为时尚:我与妈妈有个约会

    当英语成为时尚:我与妈妈有个约会

    有一种语言,无处不在,它被用来撰写了大多数对人类文明产生过影响的重要文献,它不仅成为全球沟通中被一致认可的明星品牌,更是当今社会深受追捧的时尚.它的名字叫英语。
热门推荐
  • 前方学院请绕行Ⅲ

    前方学院请绕行Ⅲ

    被千年蛊王夺去意识的习若瑶,成了江湖学院里的危险分子,人人喊打,却又神秘失踪。醒来时,她已经身在苗寨,四周被熊熊烈火包围。危急时刻,一个银发少年冲入刑场,将习若瑶救了下来。他自称独孤遥,对习若瑶非常温柔,却唤习若瑶作“晴儿”。他到底是谁?一场暴雨让苗寨陷入灭顶之灾,小金球背后的真相揭开,原来这一切都是大巫祝的阴谋,蛊王的复活不过是一场戏。终于摆脱了被追杀命运的习若瑶,回到江湖学院后,发现早已人心不再,老师们纷纷辞职,很多同学也转学到了普通学校,南谦泽重伤未愈,在实践课上又添新伤。江湖曾经的乐土,如今危机四伏。是谁在背后操纵这一切?
  • 海药本草

    海药本草

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 首席傅少:宠妻太霸道

    首席傅少:宠妻太霸道

    传闻中的帝都傅少,神秘,优雅,腹黑,高贵。然而,宋依一在惹上这男人之后,她惊悚的发现,这人居然是她的未来姐夫!天!她要怎么办!傅爵枭在见到宋依一第一眼的时候,就相中了这只小白兔。跑?那就遛遛。闹?那就逗逗。哭?那就哄哄!总之,这辈子,她宋依一,只能是他的傅太太!
  • 洞玄灵宝五老摄召北酆鬼魔赤书玉诀

    洞玄灵宝五老摄召北酆鬼魔赤书玉诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 繁星星辰不如你

    繁星星辰不如你

    百分之一的爱情,我也愿意为了你去博,哪怕粉身碎骨,遍体鳞伤,我也在所不辞。——沐羽无论是夜晚还是白昼,是冬天还是夏天,是寂寞还是喧嚣,是精彩还是平淡,我们都相守在一起,这说明不管怎样,你——永远是我的。——幻煜轩 作者是个简介废,希望大家支持支持!
  • 冥祥记

    冥祥记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 灯下黑(第二册)

    灯下黑(第二册)

    尸家客栈、白蛇传说、冥婚、情蛊、龙穴、人脸花、桃木钉、凶路、绣花鞋、闯王宝藏、右眼皮跳……《灯下黑》,又名《中国异闻录》,是“悬疑怪才”羊行屮继《泰国异闻录》畅销10万册后的全新作品,讲的是发生在我们身边的异闻、怪事。那些你原本以为天经地义的事,也许并不像你认识的那样……“异途行者”南晓楼、月无华再度启程,揭秘华夏文明古老的异闻、怪事!
  • 限制级穿越

    限制级穿越

    穿越在无尽的世界,为了自身的理想,有所得就有所放弃,限制自身的野望,方可得到更多。---菠萝坑友群:231605329---
  • 从一人之下开始穿越

    从一人之下开始穿越

    新书《我在狐妖当奶爸》已经上传,喜欢的可以去看一看,不是后宫文,只想要安安静静的当个奶爸。 穿越一人之下,获得梦境系统,梦境当中,我既是无敌,王蔼,虽然现实中你比我强,但是我还是能够在梦境里虐你,一切,从一人之下开始……群号:977368548
  • 一婚又一婚

    一婚又一婚

    高承爵想跟梁馨求婚,可偏偏每次都张不开口,每次都是被虐后摔门离开,求婚失败。腹黑毒舌,冷漠深沉,别扭傲娇……高承爵最常说的一句话便是:“梁馨,你给我等着,我早晚能把你娶回家,让你给我们老高家生一窝孙子!”为此,在想要把梁馨娶回家的路上,他做了很多荒唐事……