登陆注册
5572400000041

第41章

I could ask him perhaps about how to pronounce that voglio. But then if he didn't know only make it awkward for him. Better not.

-- We can do that, the foreman said. Have you the design?

-- I can get it, Mr Bloom said. It was in a Kilkenny paper. He has a house there too. I'll just run out and ask him. Well, you can do that and just a little par calling attention. You know the usual. High class licensed premises. Longfelt want. So on.

The foreman thought for an instant.

-- We can do that, he said. Let him give us a three months' renewal.

A typesetter brought him a limp galleypage. He began to check it silently. Mr Bloom stood by, hearing the loud throbs of cranks, watching the silent typesetters at their cases.

Orthographical

Want to be sure of his spelling. Proof fever. Martin Cunningham forgot to give us his spellingbee conundrum this morning. It is amusing to view the unpar one ar alleled embarra two ars is it? double ess ment of a harassed pedlar while gauging au the symmetry of a peeled pear under a cemetery wall. Silly, isn't it? Cemetery put in of course on account of the symmetry.

I could have said when he clapped on his topper. Thank you. I ought to have said something about an old hat or something. No, I could have said. Looks as good as new now. See his phizthen.

Sllt. The nethermost deck of the first machine jogged forwards its flyboard with slit the first batch of quirefolded papers. Sllt. Almost human the way it sllt to call attention. Doing its level best to speak. That door too slit creaking, asking to be shut. Everything speaks in its own way. Sllt.

Noted Churchman an Occasional ContributorThe foreman handed back the galleypage suddenly, saying:

-- Wait. Where's the archbishop's letter? It's to be repeated in the Telegraph. Where's what's his name?

He looked about him round his loud unanswering machines.

-- Monks, sir? a voice asked from the castingbox.

-- Ay. Where's Monks?

-- Monks!

Mr Bloom took up his cutting. Time to get out.

-- Then I'll get the design, Mr Nannetti, he said, and you'll give it a good place I know.

-- Monks!

-- Yes, sir.

Three months' renewal. Want to get some wind off my chest first. Try it anyhow. Rub in August: good idea: horseshow month. Ballsbridge. Tourists over for the show.

A Dayfather

He walked on through the caseroom, passing an old man, bowed, spectacled, aproned. Old Monks, the dayfather. Queer lot of stuff he must have put through his hands in his time: obituary notices, pubs' ads, speeches, divorce suits, found drowned. Nearing the end of his tether now. Sober serious man with a bit in the savings-bank I'd say. Wife a good cook and washer. Daughter working the machine in the parlour. Plain Jane, no damn nonsense.

And it was the Feast of the Passover

He stayed in his walk to watch a typesetter neatly distributing type. Reads it backwards first. Quickly he does it. Must require some practice that. mangiD. kcirtaP. Poor papa with his hagadah book, reading backwards with his finger to me. Pessach. Next year in Jerusalem. Dear, O dear! All that long business about that brought us out of the land of Egypt and into the house of bondage alleluia. Shema Israel Adonai Elohenu. No, that's the other. Then the twelve brothers, Jacob's sons. And then the lamb and the cat and the dog and the stick and the water and the butcher and then the angel of death kills the butcher and he kills the ox and the dog kills the cat. Sounds a bit silly till you come to look into it well. Justice it means but it's everybody eating everyone else. That's what life is after all. How quickly he does that job. Practice makes perfect. Seems to see with his fingers.

Mr Bloom passed on out of the clanking noises through the gallery on to the landing. Now am I going to tram it out all the way and then catch him out perhaps? Better phone him up first. Number? Same as Citron's house. Twentyeight. Twentyeight double four.

Only once more that soap

He went down the house staircase. Who the deuce scrawled all over these walls with matches? Looks as if they did it for a bet. Heavy greasy smell there always is in those works. Lukewarm glue in Thom's next door when I was there.

He took out his handkerchief to dab his nose. Citronlemon? Ah, the soap I put there. Lose it out of that pocket. Putting back his handkerchief he took out the soap and stowed it away, buttoned into the hip pocket of his trousers.

What perfume does your wife use? I could go home still: tram: something I forgot. Just to see before dressing. No. Here. No.

A sudden screech of laughter came from the Evening Telegraph office. Know who that is. What's up? Pop in a minute to phone. Ned Lambert it is.

He entered softly.

Erin, Green Gem of the Silver Sea

-- The ghost walks, professor Macllugh murmured softly, biscuitfully to the dusty windowpane.

Mr Dedalus, staring from the empty fireplace at Ned Lambert's quizzing face, asked of it sourly:

-- Agonising Christ, wouldn't it give you a heartburn on your arse?

Ned Lambert, seated on the table, read on:

-- Or again, note the meanderings of some purling rill as it babbles on its way, fanned by gentlest zephyrs tho' quarrelling with the stony obstacles, to the tumbling waters of Neptune's blue domain, mid mossy banks, played on by the glorious sunlight or 'neath the shadows cast o'er its pensive bosom by the overarching leafage of the giants of the forest. What about that, Simon? he asked over the fringe of his newspaper. How's that for high?

-- Changing his drink, Mr Dedalus said.

Ned Lambert, laughing, struck the newspaper on his knees, repeating:

-- The pensive bosom and the overarsing leafage. O boys! O boys!

-- And Xenophon looked upon Marathon, Mr Dedalus said, looking again on the fireplace and to the window, and Marathon looked on the sea.

-- That will do, professor MacHugh cried from the window. I don't want to hear any more of the stuff.

He ate off the crescent of water biscuit he had been nibbling and, hungered, made ready to nibble the biscuit in his other hand.

同类推荐
  • 出行英语会话想说就会说

    出行英语会话想说就会说

    本书通过真实的对话情景以及旅游过程中可能遇到的各类问题,帮助大家掌握英语口语交流的基本技能,内容涉及交通、旅游观光等。本书借鉴了国内外的实用旅游用书,使读者在学习英语口语的同时,能够充分了解各个国家的国家概况、风土人情、异国礼仪等与旅游密不可分的相关信息。
  • 寻找人生的坐标(英文爱藏双语系列)

    寻找人生的坐标(英文爱藏双语系列)

    本书汇聚了众多励志佳作,通过这小短小精悍的美文,潜移默化中让读者明白自己的位置,如何寻找到自己的位置,定位自己,是一部不可多得的励志双语读物。
  • 英文爱藏:我在回忆里等你

    英文爱藏:我在回忆里等你

    杨一兰编著的《我在回忆里等你》是英文爱藏丛书之一,为中英双语 对照版,《我在回忆里等你》既是英语学习爱好者、文学爱好者的必备读 物,也是忙碌现代人的一片憩息心灵的家园,让读者在欣赏原法原味和凝 练生动的英文时,还能多角度、深层次地品读语言特色与艺术之美,再配 合文章后附加的多功能、全方位巩固题型,更有助于理解并学习英……
  • 如花的托斯卡纳(心如花园双语悦读)

    如花的托斯卡纳(心如花园双语悦读)

    《如花的托斯卡纳(心如花园双语悦读)》是一本读五分钟就能让你享用一生的书!五分钟——你完全可以读完一篇心灵美文;五分钟——你完全可以了解一个充满智慧的人生故事;五分钟——你完全可以感悟出一段深入浅出的处世哲理;五分钟——这本书可以帮助我们以感恩的积极心态,面对那些阴雨连绵、没有鲜花和掌声的生命时光。
  • 那些激励我前行的身影(每天读一点英文)

    那些激励我前行的身影(每天读一点英文)

    精选历史名人、商界骄子、演艺明星的演说,让你在诵读名句中,领略成功之道!《每天读一点英文》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
热门推荐
  • 皇明九边考

    皇明九边考

    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。
  • 黑夜玩家

    黑夜玩家

    一群守夜人的故事。-新书《这号有毒》已上传,欢迎品尝。
  • 春日灞亭同苗员外寄

    春日灞亭同苗员外寄

    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。
  • 前夫别太坏

    前夫别太坏

    清冷阴邪的语气,她随手一拨,看着男人清俊的脸,心是如此的贴近,“所求就你一人,今生,同我共枕眠。”当她摒弃一切只为和他在一起时,却不想订婚的当天,他竟挽着另外一个女人出现在她的面前。原来,他所做的一切,只因为报复!忆当初,他说:“看什么并不重要,重要的是你在身边。”已恍若隔世。回首,相望,今生,谁能伴我共枕眠……
  • 乱世元后之棒下出皇帝

    乱世元后之棒下出皇帝

    天生凤命,宇文悦注定为后,嫁得如意夫郎,花信之年,终成开国元后,六宫盛宠集于一身;不想君心莫测,本是鲜花着锦,忽尔大厦已倾,一双儿女惨死,娘家满门被诛,一杯毒酒,元后蒙冤屈死;废帝司马昶临终始知真相,原来一切都是骗局,唯一真心对他的只有元后和一双儿女,悔恨无极,司马昶以血为誓,以命为祭,向天乞得爱妻一世重生。重生一世,宇文悦只求废婚约,绝情爱,得自由,于乱世中护家人一世平安;奈何朵朵桃花不请自来,个个俱是情意深深,宇文悦左躲右退,端地好生辛苦!偏偏前世负心人又来苦苦纠缠,打死不退婚。还双手奉上五色花棒为做诚意之礼,宁可日日棍棒加身,也要再结鸳盟。重生一世,司马昶不要后宫三千,只愿与一人相守,定要万事以妻为重,宁做妻奴,胜为帝君;可是为何前世至交左膀右臂都变成情敌?司马昶左阻右挡,不得不再入乱局,为求佳人而攻略天下。得天下以献佳人,司马昶左手天子之宝,右手五色花棒,中间一片至诚之心,只问一声:“卿卿,可愿再信朕一回,许朕一生?”
  • 韩国总统的中国“御医”

    韩国总统的中国“御医”

    韩国总统称他是“了不起的中国人”,外国情报机关称他是“中国奇人”。他在刑场上陪过绑,从枪口下脱逃,当过野人;当过台湾高级间谍,受过蒋家父子的召见与嘉奖;与韩国四位总统是至交,打开了中韩秘密通道。他一身铮铮傲骨、嫉恶如仇,多次遭歹人暗算。在他身上,凝聚着一个时代的缩影,透过他多灾多难而又波澜壮阔的人生,我们将领略到成大业者无坚不摧的个性与品格。
  • 豆汁记

    豆汁记

    本书精选了作者所创作的部分优秀中篇小说作品,《豆汁记》故事的背景为旧时老北京,主要讲了作者小时候家里一个很会做饭的女仆的故事,文中仆人莫姜一个旧时中国妇女的典型形象被作者刻画的非常鲜明。
  • 师为君倾

    师为君倾

    前生亦后世一生一世一双人共看繁华落尽共享世间柔情
  • 总有刁民想抢我老公

    总有刁民想抢我老公

    她爱哭,眼泪说来就来,他只能带着疼惜以吻封印,让她忘了哭!她胆小,受惊吓后抱着他才能睡着,她睡得好,他却备受煎熬,忍无可忍。他心狠手辣,六亲不认,为求目的不择手段,对送上门投怀送抱的妖艳美女不屑一顾,却偏偏对她硬不起心肠,狠不下心,只想宠着她、护着她!
  • 女人与猫

    女人与猫

    有的人是狼,还是个白眼狼,你对他再好,也喂不熟他。有的人是狗,还是自己养的那种,不管你怎么对他,他都死心塌地的对你好。有的人是猫,是家猫也是野猫,你必须对他好,他才理理你,可是他永远不会为你主动付出。猫是最没心没肺的动物,女人亦如此。