登陆注册
5572400000261

第261章

-- Our lives are in peril tonight. Beware of the steamroller.

They thereupon stopped. Bloom looked at the head of a horse not worth anything like sixtyfive guineas, suddenly in evidence in the dark quite near, so that it seemed new, a different grouping of bones and even flesh, because palpably it was a fourwalker, a hipshaker, a blackbuttocker, a taildangler, a headhanger, putting his hind foot foremost the while the lord of his creation sat on the perch, busy with his thoughts. But such a good poor brute, he was sorry he hadn't a lump of sugar but, as he wisely reflected, you could scarcely be prepared for every emergency that might crop up. He was just a big foolish nervous noodly kind of a horse, without a second care in the world. But even a dog, he reflected, take that mongrel in Barney Kiernan's, of the same size, would be a holy horror to face. But it was no animal's fault in particular if he was built that way like the camel, ship of the desert, distilling grapes into potheen in his hump. Nine tenths of them all could be caged or trained, nothing beyond the art of man barring the bees; whale with a harpoon hairpin, alligator, tickle the small of his back and he sees the joke; chalk a circle for a rooster; tiger, my eagle eye. These timely reflections anent the brutes of the field occupied his mind, somewhat distracted from Stephen's words, while the ship of the street was manoeuvring and Stephen went on about the highly interesting old...

-- What's this I was saying? Ah, yes! My wife, he intimated, plunging in medias res, would have the greatest of pleasure in making your acquaintance as she is passionately attached to music of any kind.

He looked sideways in a friendly fashion at the sideface of Stephen, image of his mother, which was not quite the same as the usual blackguard type they unquestionably had an indubitable hankering after as he was perhaps not that way built.

Still, supposing he had his father's gift, as he more than suspected, it opened up new vistas in his mind, such as Lady Fingall's Irish industries concert on the preceding Monday, and aristocracy in general.

Exquisite variations he was now describing on an air Youth here has End by Jans Pieter Sweelinck, a Dutchman of Amsterdam where the frows come from. Even more he liked an old German song of Johannes Jeep about the clear sea and the voices of sirens, sweet murderers of men, which boggled Bloom a bit:

Von der Sirenen Listigkeit

Tun die Poeten dichten.

These opening bars he sang and translated extempore. Bloom, nodding, said he perfectly understood and begged him to go on by all means, which he did.

A phenomenally beautiful tenor voice like that, the rarest of boons, which Bloom appreciated at the very first note he got out, could easily, if properly handled by some recognised authority on voice production such as Barraclough and being able to read music into the bargain, command its own price where baritones were ten a penny and procure for its fortunate possessor in the near future an entrée into fashionable houses in the best residential quarters, of financial magnates in a large way of business and titled people where, with his university degree of B. A. (a huge ad in its way) and gentlemanly bearing to all the more influence the good impression he would infallibly score a distinct success, being blessed with brains which also could be utilised for the purpose and other requisites, if his clothes were properly attended to, so as to the better worm his way into their good graces as he, a youthful tyro in society's sartorial niceties, hardly understood how a little thing like that could militate against you. It was in fact only a matter of months and he could easily foresee him participating in their musical and artistic conversaziones during the festivities of the Christmas season, for choice, causing a slight flutter in the dovecotes of the fair sex and being made a lot of by ladies out for sensation, cases of which, as he happened to know, were on record, in fact, without giving the show away, he himself once upon a time, if he cared to, could easily have... Added to which of course, would be the pecuniary emolument by no means to be sneezed at, going hand in hand with his tuition fees. Not, he parenthesised, that for the sake of filthy lucre he need necessarily embrace the lyric platform as a walk in life for any lengthy space of time but a step in the required direction it was, beyond yea or nay, and both monetarily and mentally it contained no reflection on his dignity in the smallest and it often turned in uncommonly handy to be handed a cheque at a muchneeded moment when every little helped. Besides, though taste latterly had deteriorated to a degree, original music like that, different from the conventional rut, would rapidly have a great vogue, as it would be a decided novelty for Dublin's musical world after the usual hackneyed run of catchy tenor solos foisted on a confiding public by Ivan St Austell and Hilton St Just and their genus omne. Yes, beyond a shadow of a doubt, he could, with all the cards in his hand and he had a capital opening to make a name for himself and win a high place in the city's esteem where he could command a stiff figure and, booking ahead, give a grand concert for the patrons of the King street house, given a backerup, if one were forthcoming to kick him upstairs, so to speak - a big if, however - with some impetus of the goahead sort to obviate the inevitable procrastination which often tripped up a too much feted prince of good fellows and it need not detract from the other by one iota as, being his own master, he would have heaps of time to practise literature in his spare moments when desirous of so doing without its clashing with his vocal career or containing anything derogatory whatsoever as it was a matter for himself alone. In fact, he had the ball at his feet and that was the very reason why the other, possessed of a remarkably sharp nose for smelling a rat of any sort, hung on to him at all.

同类推荐
  • 出国英语对答如流

    出国英语对答如流

    内容涉及出国过程中的各种典型场景,从出入境、住宿、交通、用餐、购物、娱乐、出国求学、境外旅游、出国参展和商务出行等方面来展现出国过程中的各种真实情景,语言简洁明快,易学好记,实用性强。格式分为互动问答、高频精句、场景会话、金词放送和精彩片段等部分,结构清晰,设计活泼,突出场景,实用性强。
  • The Parson's Daughter of Oxney Colne

    The Parson's Daughter of Oxney Colne

    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
  • 被侮辱与被损害的人

    被侮辱与被损害的人

    陀思妥耶夫斯基是一位超越时空的作家,又是一位充满矛盾的作家。正如世界有多复杂,人有多复杂,陀思妥耶夫斯基本人也有多复杂一样。现在,俄罗斯和全世界已悄然兴起一门新的学问——陀思妥耶夫斯基学。陀思妥耶夫斯基本人是个谜,他的作品也是个谜。破译这个谜,是全世界陀思妥耶夫斯基学家研究的基本课题。专家们把陀思妥耶夫斯基的生平与创作,一般分为两个时期:西伯利亚之前和西伯利亚之后。本书《被侮辱与被损害的人》(一八六一)则处于这两个时期之间,带有明显的过渡性质:既保留了四十年代作品的思想、内容和风格,又承上启下,开创了作家后期以探索社会秘密、人心秘密为主的社会-心理-哲理小说的先河。
  • 儿子与情人(英文版)

    儿子与情人(英文版)

    《儿子与情人》D.H.劳伦斯的成名作,是其早期创作中成熟且有影响力的作品。最初,《儿子与情人》因为被斥为“有伤风化”的色情文学而先后在英美等国被禁止发行。20世纪60年代,经过轰动性的法庭审判方才解禁。随着人们对其作品认识的深入,这部《儿子与情人》已被誉为世界文学名著长廊中独具特色的佳作,1999年,《儿子与情人》被评为“20世纪英国百佳小说”。
  • 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。
热门推荐
  • 网游之幻想年代

    网游之幻想年代

    一个意外,他成了精神分裂。一次错手,他进了网游。一个误会,他成了废柴。一本邪书,改变了他跟整块大陆的历史。宅男亡灵,恋父刺客,蛮力精灵,闷棍法师,乌鸦骑士,龙战牧师……看我怎样玩转世界,一切尽在本书!总之,这是一个得了精神分裂的人在女儿(?)的帮助下在游戏内外大肆泡妞的故事。(天音:疑?故事怎么成这样了?)
  • 孙中山与中国同盟会的建立

    孙中山与中国同盟会的建立

    《孙中山与中国同盟会的建立》旨在传播中华五千年优秀传统文化,提高全民文化修养。该书在深入挖掘和整理中华优秀传统文化成果的同时,结合社会发展,注入了时代精神。书中优美生动的文字、简明通俗的语言、图文并茂的形式,把中国文化中的物态文化、制度文化、行为文化、精神文化等知识要点全面展示给读者。
  • 都市女修仙之九天玄女

    都市女修仙之九天玄女

    穆天歌,本是都市中一名普通的高中生,父母双亡的她,独自一人辛苦地生活着。一天晚上,意外救下一银发男子,从此改变了她的一生。拜师,修仙,寻宝,契约神兽…修仙界,她是人们眼中的天才;都市中,她是老师眼中的乖乖女,好学生;殊不知,她单纯的外表下,有的是一颗不服输的心!她是谁?嗜血杀手?商界奇才?医学神话?乐界奇迹?军界异类?…这一切,其实都是偶然也是必然。当七千万年的封印开启,魔族王者再度归来,她,真实的身份究竟为何?真相将一步步揭开。当记忆恢复,牵引出的又是怎样一段刻骨的三世爱恋?今生的他们,又能否厮守?精彩片段:片段一:看到自家未来主人发傻的神情,它彻底不淡定了。一转身,穆天歌就看见一个用白色玉冠束着及腰青发,穿着月白色长衫的俊美男子出现在自己面前。在她的惊愕下,疾滦踱步到穆天歌面前,单膝下跪,淡黄色的瞳仁里闪烁着思念和相见的激动,执起她的左手,在她还没反应过来的情况下轻吻了一下手背,然后滑到指尖。…看见又成为自己主人的女子,眼里闪过心痛。果然,即使契约了依旧想不起来吗,他抓紧柔若无骨的小手。不过,没关系,这一次,说什么他也不会让她再次一个人去面对一切,不要一个人体会这种等候千万年的孤独寂寞,他宁愿与其同生共死!片段二:湿暗的牢笼内,女子往日的秀发凌乱脏污,身穿的白色里衣已经被鲜血染红,破烂的衣襟内,隐隐看到已经血肉模糊的身体。殇睁着鲜血似的红眸,两手紧握金钢牢笼,眼睛里满满的都是痛苦。他不相信,那风华绝代、默默守护的人儿,如今怎会有如此凄惨的模样。他怪,怪自己不能保她无损;他恨,恨是谁弄得她遍体鳞伤。“你…你还好吗?”他强忍着眼泪,可发颤喑哑的声音早已出卖了他。听到声音,女子颤抖着身子,费了半天力气才支撑起身子转过头。当看到牢外的人时,牵强地扯了扯嘴角。“嗯…啊…咳咳…”刚想说话,可试了几次也发不出声音,最后剧烈地咳了起来,直到咳出几口血,才好些。“殇…你…你怎么…来了?”当看到那张脸时,殇的手上青筋暴突。如今的那张脸上,除了那双没了光彩的淡紫色眼睛,其他地方全是血肉模糊,恐怖至极。而如牛奶般丝滑的声线,像砂纸磨玻璃般嘶哑难听,更是说一句话都费力。“我…我给了他们一些东西,特准我进来看你一次。”穆天歌明白,那些东西定是关键时刻可以保命的珍贵物。
  • 影响女人40岁后的55个转折点

    影响女人40岁后的55个转折点

    40岁时的很多想法、做法直接影响后半生的生活质量,《影响女人40岁后的55个转折点》告诉你:40岁的很多事情直接决定你能否收获一个圆满的人生!每个人都会怕老,成长过程是每个人都要经历的,其实每个年龄阶段都有不同的美,关键是要看你自己如何面对。烂漫少女会说:“到40岁我就不活了。”其实她们到了40岁也一样活得好好的。没准儿心里还在偷着乐:“没想到到了40岁,我这朵鲜花才彻底盛放……”每个年龄段都有每个年龄段的美好,好好享受当下的生活,才不枉当一回女人。
  • 论语一日一读

    论语一日一读

    本书以随笔和札记的形式来解读论语,针对当前在人们的生活中普遍存在又不得不面对的问题:为人处世、工作求学、人与人的关系、生命的目标和价值等等,提出了源自中国古典文化精髓的解决方法和参考思路。
  • 营养保健粥

    营养保健粥

    要健康,多吃粥。《本草纲目》中李时珍有云:"每日起食粥一大碗,空腹虚,谷气便作,所补不细,又极柔腻,与肠胃相得,最为饮食之妙也。
  • 女生理工宿舍

    女生理工宿舍

    汇集当前高校女生理工宿舍最惊奇、最不可思议的事件。不到最后一秒,你一定无法知晓真相。风门鬼村,通灵梦的故事是诡话连篇,还是真实事件簿?游园惊魂,第三教研室的秘密还能掩盖多久?被毁坏的头颅、永不消逝的电波,女生理工宿舍夜谈实录再次拉开帷幕。
  • 特工王妃:王爷,别装了

    特工王妃:王爷,别装了

    别人穿越不是成为妃子就是公主,最不济还能混个庶出受气的小姐,凭啥她却成了一个细作?还是一个睁开眼就吃了剧毒的细作!于是乎,苏湮的生活只有两个字,那就是“保命”。第一个任务,嫁给傻王爷。苏湮决定看在这傻王爷颜值高的份上,她还是哄哄他吧。新婚之夜,傻王爷趁她睡着时扒了她的衣服,被她扇了一个巴掌:“谁让你脱我衣服的?”“是管家说的啊,叫我等睡觉的时候和王妃脱衣服玩亲亲,他说可好玩了!”傻王爷一脸无辜……接近太子,接近五皇子,接近世子……咳咳,为毛给她的任务都是这样……带有桃花色彩的呢?【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 善见律毗婆沙

    善见律毗婆沙

    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。
  • 调教恶妃

    调教恶妃

    这是一个貌似忠诚无害的腹黑男侍卫,一步步将他心高气傲的女将军主人扑到的故事!【情节一】忽然——凤惊燕感觉背后有一个东西顶着自己……意识到那是什么,风惊燕猛然睁开眼睛,语气里忍不住带上一些愤怒:“燕非离,没用的东西,管好自己的身体!”“是……主子。”身后的少年声音有些沙哑,然后吐着气,以一股强大的指控力,近乎自虐地将自己身上的那一股热压下!强行压下!【情节二】“我有了你的孩子,”凤惊燕冷漠开口,“但是,我不想要他,所以他死了。”少年的脸上的表情瞬息万变,从兴奋到愉悦,到如今的痛苦而冷漠。凤惊燕突然有了种想把他搂在怀里的情愫,于是朝他伸出手。然后手上传来的却全然是另外一种力道,觉察到不对,她立刻本能地迅速加以拆解,短短几秒里过了两、三招,双臂最终还是被制住了。凤惊燕有些吃惊,惯了燕非离的俯首听命,料不到燕非离居然会有快过她的身手。“你做什么?燕非离!”燕非离一言不发,一把就将她狠狠地扔在床上!【情节三】“是谁?”败势就在眼前,凤惊燕从来不是自欺欺人的人物。只是,她隐约感觉到那一个赵国的敌细或者就在她身边,或许还与自己亲密无间。四周慢慢散开,那个少年从人群里走出来。看着眼前的人,凤惊燕呆了呆,很快了然地点一点头:“小离果然是长大了,有本事了。”顿一顿又抬起眼皮自嘲地说:“是主子小看你了。”