登陆注册
5572400000034

第34章

Change that soap now. Mr Bloom's hand unbuttoned his hip pocket swiftly and transferred the paperstuck soap to his inner handkerchief pocket. He stepped out of the carriage, replacing the newspaper his other hand still held.

Paltry funeral: coach and three carriages. It's all the same. Pallbearers, gold reins, requiem mass, firing a volley. Pomp of death. Beyond the hind carriage a hawker stood by his barrow of cakes and fruit. Simnel cakes those are, stuck together: cakes for the dead. Dogbiscuits. Who ate them? Mourners coming out.

He followed his companions. Mr Kernan and Ned Lambert followed, Hynes walking after them. Corny Kelleher stood by the opened hearse and took out the two wreaths. He handed one to the boy.

Where is that child's funeral disappeared to?

A team of horses passed from Finglas with toiling plodding tread, dragging through the funereal silence a creaking waggon on which lay a granite block. The waggoner marching at their head saluted.

Coffin now. Got here before us, dead as he is. Horse looking round at it with his plume skeowways. Dull eye: collar tight on his neck, pressing on a bloodvessel or something. Do they know what they cart out here every day? Must be twenty or thirty funerals every day. Then Mount Jerome for the protestants. Funerals all over the world everywhere every minute. Shovelling them under by the cartload doublequick. Thousands every hour. Too many in the world.

Mourners came out through the gates: woman and a girl. Leanjawed harpy, hard woman at a bargain, her bonnet awry. Girl's face stained with dirt and tears, holding the woman's arm looking up at her for a sign to cry. Fish's face, bloodless and livid.

The mutes shouldered the coffin and bore it in through the gates. So much dead weight. Felt heavier myself stepping out of that bath. First the stiff: then the friends of the stiff. Corny Kelleher and the boy followed with their wreaths. Who is that beside them? Ah, the brother-in-law.

All walked after.

Martin Cunningham whispered:

-- I was in mortal agony with you talking of suicide before Bloom.

-- What? Mr Power whispered. How so?

-- His father poisoned himself, Martin Cunningham whispered. Had the Queen's hotel in Ennis. You heard him say he was going to Clare. Anniversary.

-- O God! Mr Power whispered. First I heard of it. Poisoned himself!

He glanced behind him to where a face with dark thinking eyes followed towards the cardinal's mausoleum. Speaking.

-- Was he insured? Mr Bloom asked.

-- I believe so, Mr Kernan answered, but the policy was heavily mortgaged. Martin is trying to get the youngster into Artane.

-- How many children did he leave?

-- Five. Ned Lambert says he'll try to get one of the girls into Todd's.

-- A sad case, Mr Bloom said gently. Five young children.

-- A great blow to the poor wife, Mr Kernan added.

-- Indeed yes, Mr Bloom agreed.

Has the laugh at him now.

He looked down at the boots he had blacked and polished. She had outlived him, lost her husband. More dead for her than for me. One must outlive the other. Wise men say. There are more women than men in the world. Condole with her. Your terrible loss. I hope you'll soon follow him. For Hindu widows only. She would marry another. Him? No. Yet who knows after? Widowhood not the thing since the old queen died. Drawn on a guncarriage. Victoria and Albert. Frogmore memorial mourning. But in the end she put a few violets in her bonnet. Vain in her heart of hearts. All for a shadow. Consort not even a king. Her son was the substance. Something new to hope for not like the past she wanted back, waiting. It never comes. One must go first: alone under the ground: and lie no more in her warm bed.

-- How are you, Simon? Ned Lambert said softly, clasping hands. Haven't seen you for a month of Sundays.

-- Never better. How are all in Cork's own town?

-- I was down there for the Cork park races on Easter Monday, Ned Lambert said. Same old six and eightpence. Stopped with Dick Tivy.

-- And how is Dick, the solid man?

-- Nothing between himself and heaven, Ned Lambert answered.

-- By the holy Paul! Mr Dedalus said in subdued wonder. Dick Tivy bald?

-- Martin is going to get up a whip for the youngsters, Ned Lambert said, pointing ahead. A few bob a skull. Just to keep them going till the insurance is cleared up.

-- Yes, yes, Mr Dedalus said dubiously. Is that the eldest boy in front?

-- Yes, Ned Lambert said, with the wife's brother. John Henry Menton is behind. He put down his name for a quid.

-- I'll engage he did, Mr Dedalus said. I often told poor Paddy he ought to mind that job. John Henry is not the worst in the world.

-- How did he lose it? Ned Lambert asked. Liquor, what?

-- Many a good man's fault, Mr Dedalus said with a sigh.

They halted about the door of the mortuary chapel. Mr Bloom stood behind the boy with the wreath, looking down at his sleek combed hair and the slender furrowed neck inside his brandnew collar. Poor boy! Was he there when the father? Both unconscious. Lighten up at the last moment and recognise for the last time. All he might have done. I owe three shillings to O'Grady. Would he understand? The mutes bore the coffin into the chapel. Which end is his head.

After a moment he followed the others in, blinking in the screened light. The coffin lay on its bier before the chancel, four tall yellow candles at its corners. Always in front of us. Corny Kelleher, laying a wreath at each fore corner, beckoned to the boy to kneel. The mourners knelt here and there in praying desks. Mr Bloom stood behind near the font and, when all had knelt dropped carefully his unfolded newspaper from his pocket and knelt his right knee upon it. He fitted his black hat gently on his left knee and, holding its brim, bent over piously.

A server, bearing a brass bucket with something in it, came out through a door. The whitesmocked priest came after him tidying his stole with one hand, balancing with the other a little book against his toad's belly. Who'll read the book? I, said the rook.

They halted by the bier and the priest began to read out of his book with a fluent croak.

同类推荐
  • 那些给我勇气的句子(每天读一点英文)

    那些给我勇气的句子(每天读一点英文)

    这是一套与美国人同步阅读的中英双语丛书,该丛书由美国英语教师协会推荐,特点有三:内文篇目取自世界上最经典、最有影响的寓言故事,适于诵读,“实战提升”部分,包括单词注解、实用句型和智慧点津。
  • 那些年,那些诗(每天读一点英文)

    那些年,那些诗(每天读一点英文)

    《每天读一点英文:那些年,那些诗(诗歌卷)(英汉对照)》精选《乡愁》、《面朝大海,春暖花开》、《西风颂》、《一见钟情》等中外名诗,让你在诵读名句中,感受隽永的情谊!
  • 听BBC学英语:英语10倍速增长学习法

    听BBC学英语:英语10倍速增长学习法

    本书内容丰富,讲解详细,书中每一篇热点新闻都配有BBC 原声音频,发音清晰流畅且现场感强,方便学习者利用闲暇时间随时随地学习,从而迅速提高听力水平。读者们在练习听力的同时还可以模仿原汁原味的语音语调,训练自己的发音,提高口语表达能力。学习地道英语,看这本就够了。
  • Never Give Up on Yourself 永不放弃自己

    Never Give Up on Yourself 永不放弃自己

    谁也不能改变你的容貌,但你能通过修炼自己变成一个魅力四射的女人。汪洋的经历就充分证明了这一点。《永不放弃自己》一书告诉大家,只要你不放弃希望,灰姑娘也会变成美丽的公主,你梦想的一切都会实现!
  • 大学英语六级词汇新解

    大学英语六级词汇新解

    本书对对新大纲中单词词义进行了英、汉两种释义。特别是英语释义,使学生更容易对词义有直观、深刻的理解,在无形中提高读者的英语表达能力。对大学六级考试中单词的用法进行了详细、全面的讲解。只有掌握了这些用法,才能真正学以致用,克服英语用词中不知所措的弱点。
热门推荐
  • 平天公子

    平天公子

    书中的主人公(平天公子)自母体出生以来身怀奇世异宝,由于异宝在体内得不到相有的克制,导致他全身浮肿,且双腿不能自主,使他成为一个整天以轮椅代步的残童,但他意志坚定从未放弃刻苦修炼,以求早日救醒沉睡多年的爹娘.在多次机缘巧合的奇遇中,使他不但因祸得福身体康复,而且还将自身的异宝收服.在身体复原法力大增后而他却不能以原身份现身,化身为一名劫后余孤,从新拜入青龙山修行,心爱的师姐近在咫尺却如隔万里之遥.为了能早日救醒爹娘他巧妙入得青龙山重地藏剑阁内暗自日夜苦修,在同门之中他是一个众所周知的书呆子,因此也成为同门之中的一大笑柄,可谁曾想到在一场选拔剑主的应试中,他却能一鸣惊人!从此引出他不平凡的一生
  • 双旋变之群雄并起

    双旋变之群雄并起

    一群特种兵穿越到了圣龙大陆,但他们不是主角。主角是他们的后人,而圣龙大陆也迎来了一个搅动风云的奇才
  • 我的世界之救世生存

    我的世界之救世生存

    几曾何时他怀念着曾经的一切,与她们在一起的时光,可惜已经无法回头了,自己的双手沾满了罪孽,而她们已经远去…
  • Outlines of Psychology

    Outlines of Psychology

    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。
  • 校园实用经典赠言寄语(实用一生的语言精华丛书)

    校园实用经典赠言寄语(实用一生的语言精华丛书)

    《实用一生的语言精华丛书:校园实用经典赠言寄语》是一本科普类读物。歇后语、座右铭、格言等无疑都是一种浓缩的语言精华,可能经过千百年来人们的不断提炼和传承,才得以流传至今。《实用一生的语言精华丛书:校园实用经典赠言寄语》主要内容包括赠言寄语类型的语言精华。集趣味性和知识性于一身,可以作为广大青少年朋友修身养性、努力学习的一个指路明灯。
  • 南有夫君不可休

    南有夫君不可休

    某日,一个容颜倾世女子匆匆丢下一个蛋,顾名思义,童养夫。刚接过蛋的某人,嘴角直抽,因为蛋,碎了…刚匆匆离去的美妇人携着自己的娘亲大人飞快返回。“浅浅,这将是你的夫君,虽说毛还没长齐,但好歹也是远古凤凰是不?”某人嫌弃的拎着这个称之为凤凰的小鸡,“你确定?今天我可是刚满三万岁了?”对面的美妇也是尴尬一笑,“没事,这是我家墨央的福分。”看着一旁辛灾乐货的自家娘亲,神色微冷,“那我要休夫!”不知是天生神兽还是其他,之前还是小鸡的凤凰摇身一变。一个三岁奶娃娃直接欺身而上,蘸着口水对着那红唇就是一口,“不可休!”刚破壳就知道撩妹,这可惊呆了一众的人…
  • 你好,虞先生!

    你好,虞先生!

    顾楠乔,一个集美貌与才华与一身的总裁助理,名牌大学的天之骄女。亲手培养出来的总裁谁敢有质疑?听说虞氏集团二少爷桀骜不驯,不可一世。没关系,她让他把蚂蚁供着,见到狗都绕着走。听说虞氏集团二少爷不学无术,是个草包。小问题,她让他悬梁刺股,昼夜不停勤奋学习。某日,再也受不了如此“惨无人道”生活的男人,插着腰怒吼:“顾楠乔,劳资在不教训你你就不知道谁才是一家之主。”某女推了推鼻梁上的眼镜,眼底闪过一丝精光:“哦?给你个机会再说一遍。”
  • 明伦汇编皇极典圣寿部

    明伦汇编皇极典圣寿部

    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。
  • 守妻如玉

    守妻如玉

    认识一段时间后,他说:我们在一起吧。她:可是你的朋友都说跟我在一起是进火坑。他:我怕冷,宁愿烫死,不愿意冻死。别人都以为他救她于水火之中,只有他知道,她才是他的救赎。
  • 增订医方歌诀

    增订医方歌诀

    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。