第10章

Thenhewonderedatthevaguenessofhiswonder，attheremotenessofhisownsoulfromwhathehadhithertoimaginedhersanctuary，atthefrailholdwhichsomanyyearsoforderandobediencehadofhimwhenonceadefiniteandirrevocableactofhisthreatenedtoendforever，intimeandineternity，hisfreedom。Thevoiceofthedirectorurginguponhimtheproudclaimsofthechurchandthemysteryandpowerofthepriestlyofficerepeateditselfidlyinhismemory。Hissoulwasnottheretohearandgreetitandheknewnowthattheexhortationhehadlistenedtohadalreadyfallenintoanidleformaltale。Hewouldneverswingthethuriblebeforethetabernacleaspriest。Hisdestinywastobeelusiveofsocialorreligiousorders。Thewisdomofthepriest"sappealdidnottouchhimtothequick。Hewasdestinedtolearnhisownwisdomapartfromothersortolearnthewisdomofothershimselfwanderingamongthesnaresoftheworld。

Thesnaresoftheworldwereitswaysofsin。Hewouldfall。Hehadnotyetfallenbuthewouldfallsilently，inaninstant。Nottofallwastoohard，toohard；andhefeltthesilentlapseofhissoul，asitwouldbeatsomeinstanttocome，falling，falling，butnotyetfallen，stillunfallen，butabouttofall。

HecrossedthebridgeoverthestreamoftheTolkaandturnedhiseyescoldlyforaninstanttowardsthefadedblueshrineoftheBlessedVirginwhichstoodfowl-wiseonapoleinthemiddleofaham-shapedencampmentofpoorcottages。Then，bendingtotheleft，hefollowedthelanewhichleduptohishouse。Thefaintdourstinkofrottedcabbagescametowardshimfromthekitchengardensontherisinggroundabovetheriver。Hesmiledtothinkthatitwasthisdisorder，themisruleandconfusionofhisfather"shouseandthestagnationofvegetablelife，whichwastowinthedayinhissoul。Thenashortlaughbrokefromhislipsashethoughtofthatsolitaryfarmhandinthekitchengardensbehindtheirhousewhomtheyhadnicknamedthemanwiththehat。Asecondlaugh，takingrisefromthefirstafterapause，brokefromhiminvoluntarilyashethoughtofhowthemanwiththehatworked，consideringinturnthefourpointsoftheskyandthenregretfullyplunginghisspadeintheearth。

Hepushedopenthelatchlessdooroftheporchandpassedthroughthenakedhallwayintothekitchen。Agroupofhisbrothersandsisterswassittingroundthetable。Teawasnearlyoverandonlythelastofthesecondwateredtearemainedinthebottomsofthesmallglassjarsandjampotswhichdidserviceforteacups。Discardedcrustsandlumpsofsugaredbread，turnedbrownbytheteawhichhadbeenpouredoverthem，layscatteredonthetable。Littlewellsoftealayhereandthereontheboard，andaknifewithabrokenivoryhandlewasstuckthroughthepithofaravagedturnover。

Thesadquietgrey-blueglowofthedyingdaycamethroughthewindowandtheopendoor，coveringoverandallayingquietlyasuddeninstinctofremorseinStephen"sheart。Allthathadbeendeniedthemhadbeenfreelygiventohim，theeldest；butthequietglowofeveningshowedhimintheirfacesnosignofrancour。

Hesatnearthematthetableandaskedwherehisfatherandmotherwere。Oneanswered:——

Goneborotoborolookboroatboroaborohouseboro。

Stillanotherremoval!AboynamedFalloninBelvederehadoftenaskedhimwithasillylaughwhytheymovedsooften。Afrownofscorndarkenedquicklyhisforeheadasheheardagainthesillylaughofthequestioner。

Heasked:——

Whyareweonthemoveagainifit"safairquestion？——

Becauseborotheborolandborolordborowillboroputborousborooutboro。

ThevoiceofhisyoungestbrotherfromthefarthersideofthefireplacebegantosingtheairOftintheStillyNight。Onebyonetheotherstookuptheairuntilafullchoirofvoiceswassinging。Theywouldsingsoforhours，melodyaftermelody，gleeafterglee，tillthelastpalelightdieddownonthehorizon，tillthefirstdarknightcloudscameforthandnightfell。

Hewaitedforsomemoments，listening，beforehetootookuptheairwiththem。Hewaslisteningwithpainofspirittotheovertoneofwearinessbehindtheirfrailfreshinnocentvoices。Evenbeforetheysetoutonlife"sjourneytheyseemedwearyalreadyoftheway。

Heheardthechoirofvoicesinthekitchenechoedandmultipliedthroughanendlessreverberationofthechoirsofendlessgenerationsofchildrenandheardinalltheechoesanechoalsooftherecurringnoteofwearinessandpain。Allseemedwearyoflifeevenbeforeenteringuponit。AndherememberedthatNewmanhadheardthisnotealsointhebrokenlinesofVirgil，givingutterance，likethevoiceofNatureherselftothatpainandwearinessyethopeofbetterthingswhichhasbeentheexperienceofherchildrenineverytime。

Hecouldwaitnolonger。

FromthedoorofByron"spublic-housetothegateofClontarfChapel，fromthegateofClontailChapeltothedoorofByron"spublic-houseandthenbackagaintothechapelandthenbackagaintothepublic-househehadpacedslowlyatfirst，plantinghisstepsscrupulouslyinthespacesofthepatchworkofthefootpath，thentimingtheirfalltothefallofverses。AfullhourhadpassedsincehisfatherhadgoneinwithDanCrosby，thetutor，tofindoutforhimsomethingabouttheuniversity。Forafullhourhehadpacedupanddown，waiting:buthecouldwaitnolonger。

HesetoffabruptlyfortheBull，walkingrapidlylesthisfather"sshrillwhistlemightcallhimback；andinafewmomentshehadroundedthecurveatthepolicebarrackandwassafe。

Yes，hismotherwashostiletotheidea，ashehadreadfromherlistlesssilence。Yethermistrustprickedhimmorekeenlythanhisfather"sprideandhethoughtcoldlyhowhehadwatchedthefaithwhichwasfadingdowninhissoulageingandstrengtheninginhereyes。Adimantagonismgatheredforcewithinhimanddarkenedhismindasacloudagainstherdisloyaltyandwhenitpassed，cloud-like，leavinghismindsereneanddutifultowardsheragain，hewasmadeawaredimlyandwithoutregretofafirstnoiselesssunderingoftheirlives。

Theuniversity!Sohehadpassedbeyondthechallengeofthesentrieswhohadstoodasguardiansofhisboyhoodandhadsoughttokeephimamongthemthathemightbesubjecttothemandservetheirends。Prideaftersatisfactionupliftedhimlikelongslowwaves。Theendhehadbeenborntoserveyetdidnotseehadledhimtoescapebyanunseenpathandnowitbeckonedtohimoncemoreandanewadventurewasabouttobeopenedtohim。Itseemedtohimthatheheardnotesoffitfulmusicleapingupwardsatoneanddownwardsadiminishedfourth，upwardsatoneanddownwardsamajorthird，liketriple-branchingflamesleapingfitfully，flameafterflame，outofamidnightwood。Itwasanelfinprelude，endlessandformless；

and，asitgrewwilderandfaster，theflamesleapingoutoftime，heseemedtohearfromundertheboughsandgrasseswildcreaturesracing，theirfeetpatteringlikerainupontheleaves。Theirfeetpassedinpatteringtumultoverhismind，thefeetofharesandrabbits，thefeetofhartsandhindsandantelopes，untilheheardthemnomoreandrememberedonlyaproudcadencefromNewman:——

Whosefeetareasthefeetofhartsandunderneaththeeverlastingarms。

Theprideofthatdimimagebroughtbacktohismindthedignityoftheofficehehadrefused。Allthroughhisboyhoodhehadmuseduponthatwhichhehadsooftenthoughttobehisdestinyandwhenthemomenthadcomeforhimtoobeythecallhehadturnedaside，obeyingawaywardinstinct。

Nowtimelaybetween:theoilsofordinationwouldneveranointhisbody。

Hehadrefused。Why？

HeturnedseawardfromtheroadatDollymountandashepassedontothethinwoodenbridgehefelttheplanksshakingwiththetrampofheavilyshodfeet。AsquadofchristianbrotherswasonitswaybackfromtheBullandhadbeguntopass，twobytwo，acrossthebridge。Soonthewholebridgewastremblingandresounding。Theuncouthfacespassedhimtwobytwo，stainedyelloworredorlividbythesea，and，ashestrovetolookatthemwitheaseandindifference，afaintstainofpersonalshameandcommiserationrosetohisownface。Angrywithhimselfhetriedtohidehisfacefromtheireyesbygazingdownsidewaysintotheshallowswirlingwaterunderthebridgebuthestillsawareflectionthereinoftheirtop-heavysilkhatsandhumbletape-likecollarsandloosely-hangingclericalclothes——

BrotherHickey。

BrotherQuaid。

BrotherMacArdle。

BrotherKeogh——

Theirpietywouldbeliketheirnames，liketheirfaces，liketheirclothes，anditwasidleforhimtotellhimselfthattheirhumbleandcontritehearts，itmightbe，paidafarrichertributeofdevotionthanhishadeverbeen，agifttenfoldmoreacceptablethanhiselaborateadoration。

Itwasidleforhimtomovehimselftobegeneroustowardsthem，totellhimselfthatifheevercametotheirgates，strippedofhispride，beatenandinbeggar"sweeds，thattheywouldbegeneroustowardshim，lovinghimasthemselves。Idleandembittering，finally，toargue，againsthisowndispassionatecertitude，thatthecommandmentoflovebadeusnottoloveourneighbourasourselveswiththesameamountandintensityoflovebuttolovehimasourselveswiththesamekindoflove。

Hedrewforthaphrasefromhistreasureandspokeitsoftlytohimself:——

Adayofdappledseaborneclouds。

Thephraseandthedayandthesceneharmonizedinachord。Words。Wasittheircolours？Heallowedthemtoglowandfade，hueafterhue:sunrisegold，therussetandgreenofappleorchards，azureofwaves，thegrey-fringedfleeceofclouds。No，itwasnottheircolours:itwasthepoiseandbalanceoftheperioditself。Didhethenlovetherhythmicriseandfallofwordsbetterthantheirassociationsoflegendandcolour？Orwasitthat，beingasweakofsightashewasshyofmind，hedrewlesspleasurefromthereflectionoftheglowingsensibleworldthroughtheprismofalanguagemany-colouredandrichlystoriedthanfromthecontemplationofaninnerworldofindividualemotionsmirroredperfectlyinalucidsuppleperiodicprose？

Hepassedfromthetremblingbridgeontofirmlandagain。Atthatinstant，asitseemedtohim，theairwaschilledand，lookingaskancetowardsthewater，hesawaflyingsqualldarkeningandcrispingsuddenlythetide。

Afaintclickathisheart，afaintthrobinhisthroattoldhimoncemoreofhowhisfleshdreadedthecoldinfrahumanodourofthesea；yethedidnotstrikeacrossthedownsonhisleftbutheldstraightonalongthespineofrocksthatpointedagainsttheriver"smouth。

Aveiledsunlightlitupfaintlythegreysheetofwaterwheretheriverwasembayed。Inthedistancealongthecourseoftheslow-flowingLiffeyslendermastsfleckedtheskyand，moredistantstill，thedimfabricofthecitylayproneinhaze。Likeasceneonsomevaguearras，oldasman"sweariness，theimageoftheseventhcityofchristendomwasvisibletohimacrossthetimelessair，nooldernormorewearynorlesspatientofsubjectionthaninthedaysofthethingmote。

Disheartened，heraisedhiseyestowardstheslow-driftingclouds，dappledandseaborne。Theywerevoyagingacrossthedesertsofthesky，ahostofnomadsonthemarch，voyaginghighoverIreland，westwardbound。TheEuropetheyhadcomefromlayouttherebeyondtheIrishSea，Europeofstrangetonguesandvalleyedandwoodbegirtandcitadelledandofentrenchedandmarshalledraces。Heheardaconfusedmusicwithinhimasofmemoriesandnameswhichhewasalmostconsciousofbutcouldnotcaptureevenforaninstant；thenthemusicseemedtorecede，torecede，torecede，andfromeachrecedingtrailofnebulousmusictherefellalwaysonelongdrawncallingnote，piercinglikeastartheduskofsilence。Again!Again!Again!

Avoicefrombeyondtheworldwascalling——

Hello，Stephanos!——

HerecomesTheDedalus!——

Ao!Eh，giveitover，Dwyer，I"mtellingyou，orI"llgiveyouastuffinthekisserforyourselfAo!——

Goodman，Towser!Duckhim!——

Comealong，Dedalus!BousStephanoumenos!BousStephaneforos!——

Duckhim!Guzzlehimnow，Towser!——

Help!Help!Ao!

Herecognizedtheirspeechcollectivelybeforehedistinguishedtheirfaces。Themeresightofthatmedleyofwetnakednesschilledhimtothebone。Theirbodies，corpse-whiteorsuffusedwithapallidgoldenlightorrawlytannedbythesun，gleamedwiththewetofthesea。Theirdiving-stone，poisedonitsrudesupportsandrockingundertheirplunges，andtherough-hewnstonesoftheslopingbreakwateroverwhichtheyscrambledintheirhorseplaygleamedwithcoldwetlustre。Thetowelswithwhichtheysmackedtheirbodieswereheavywithcoldseawater；anddrenchedwithcoldbrinewastheirmattedhair。

Hestoodstillindeferencetotheircallsandparriedtheirbanterwitheasywords。Howcharacterlesstheylooked:Shuleywithouthisdeepunbuttonedcollar，Enniswithouthisscarletbeltwiththesnakyclasp，andConnollywithouthisNorfolkcoatwiththeflaplessside-pockets!Itwasapaintoseethem，andasword-likepaintoseethesignsofadolescencethatmaderepellenttheirpitiablenakedness。Perhapstheyhadtakenrefugeinnumberandnoisefromthesecretdreadintheirsouls。Buthe，apartfromthemandinsilence，rememberedinwhatdreadhestoodofthemysteryofhisownbody——

StephanosDedalos!BousStephanoumenos!BousStephaneforos!

Theirbanterwasnotnewtohimandnowitflatteredhismildproudsovereignty。Now，asneverbefore，hisstrangenameseemedtohimaprophecy。

Sotimelessseemedthegreywarmair，sofluidandimpersonalhisownmood，thatallageswereasonetohim。AmomentbeforetheghostoftheancientkingdomoftheDaneshadlookedforththroughthevestureofthehazewrappedCity。Now，atthenameofthefabulousartificer，heseemedtohearthenoiseofdimwavesandtoseeawingedformflyingabovethewavesandslowlyclimbingtheair。Whatdiditmean？Wasitaquaintdeviceopeningapageofsomemedievalbookofpropheciesandsymbols，ahawk-likemanflyingsunwardabovethesea，aprophecyoftheendhehadbeenborntoserveandhadbeenfollowingthroughthemistsofchildhoodandboyhood，asymboloftheartistforginganewinhisworkshopoutofthesluggishmatteroftheearthanewsoaringimpalpableimperishablebeing？

Hishearttrembled；hisbreathcamefasterandawildspiritpassedoverhislimbsasthoughhewassoaringsunward。Hishearttrembledinanecstasyoffearandhissoulwasinflight。Hissoulwassoaringinanairbeyondtheworldandthebodyheknewwaspurifiedinabreathanddeliveredofincertitudeandmaderadiantandcommingledwiththeelementofthespirit。Anecstasyofflightmaderadianthiseyesandwildhisbreathandtremulousandwildandradianthiswindsweptlimbs——

One!Two!Lookout!——

Oh，Cripes，I"mdrownded!——

One!Two!Threeandaway!——

Thenext!Thenext!——

One!UK!——

Stephaneforos!

Histhroatachedwithadesiretocryaloud，thecryofahawkoreagleonhigh，tocrypiercinglyofhisdeliverancetothewinds。Thiswasthecalloflifetohissoulnotthedullgrossvoiceoftheworldofdutiesanddespair，nottheinhumanvoicethathadcalledhimtothepaleserviceofthealtar。Aninstantofwildflighthaddeliveredhimandthecryoftriumphwhichhislipswithheldclefthisbrain——

Stephaneforos!

Whatweretheynowbutcerementsshakenfromthebodyofdeath-thefearhehadwalkedinnightandday，theincertitudethathadringedhimround，theshamethathadabasedhimwithinandwithout-cerements，thelinensofthegrave？

Hissoulhadarisenfromthegraveofboyhood，spurninghergrave-clothes。

Yes!Yes!Yes!Hewouldcreateproudlyoutofthefreedomandpowerofhissoul，asthegreatartificerwhosenamehebore，alivingthing，newandsoaringandbeautiful，impalpable，imperishable。

Hestartedupnervouslyfromthestone-blockforhecouldnolongerquenchtheflameinhisblood。Hefelthischeeksaflameandhisthroatthrobbingwithsong。Therewasalustofwanderinginhisfeetthatburnedtosetoutfortheendsoftheearth。On!On!hisheartseemedtocry。

Eveningwoulddeepenabovethesea，nightfallupontheplains，dawnglimmerbeforethewandererandshowhimstrangefieldsandhillsandfaces。Where？

HelookednorthwardtowardsHowth。Theseahadfallenbelowtheline0ofseawrackontheshallowsideofthebreakwaterandalreadythetidewasrunningoutfastalongtheforeshore。Alreadyonelongovalbankofsandlaywarmanddryamidthewavelets。Hereandtherewarmislesofsandgleamedabovetheshallowtideandabouttheislesandaroundthelongbankandamidtheshallowcurrentsofthebeachwerelightcladfigures，wadinganddelving。

Incafewmomentshewasbarefoot，hisstockingsfoldedinhispocketsandhiscanvasshoesdanglingbytheirknottedlacesoverhisshouldersand，pickingapointedsalt-eatenstickoutofthejetsamamongtherocks，heclambereddowntheslopeofthebreakwater。

Therewasalongrivuletinthestrandand，ashewadedslowlyupitscourse，hewonderedattheendlessdriftofseaweed。Emeraldandblackandrussetandolive，itmovedbeneaththecurrent，swayingandturning。

Thewateroftherivuletwasdarkwithendlessdriftandmirroredthehigh-driftingclouds。Thecloudsweredriftingabovehimsilentlyandsilentlytheseatanglewasdriftingbelowhimandthegreywarmairwasstillandanewwildlifewassinginginhisveins。

Wherewashisboyhoodnow？Wherewasthesoulthathadhungbackfromherdestiny，tobroodaloneupontheshameofherwoundsandinherhouseofsqualorandsubterfugetoqueenitinfadedcerementsandinwreathsthatwitheredatthetouch？Orwherewashe？

Hewasalone。Hewasunheeded，happyandneartothewildheartoflife。

Hewasaloneandyoungandwilfulandwildhearted，aloneamidawasteofwildairandbrackishwatersandthesea-harvestofshellsandtangleandveiledgreysunlightandgaycladlightcladfiguresofchildrenandgirlsandvoiceschildishandgirlishintheair。

Agirlstoodbeforehiminmidstream，aloneandstill，gazingouttosea。Sheseemedlikeonewhommagichadchangedintothelikenessofastrangeandbeautifulseabird。Herlongslenderbarelegsweredelicateasacrane"sandpuresavewhereanemeraldtrailofseaweedhadfashioneditselfasasignupontheflesh。Herthighs，fullerandsoft-huedasivory，werebaredalmosttothehips，wherethewhitefringesofherdrawerswerelikefeatheringofsoftwhitedown。Herslate-blueskirtswerekiltedboldlyaboutherwaistanddovetailedbehindher。Herbosomwasasabird"s，softandslight，slightandsoftasthebreastofsomedark-plumageddove。Butherlongfairhairwasgirlish:andgirlish，andtouchedwiththewonderofmortalbeauty，herface。

Shewasaloneandstill，gazingouttosea；andwhenshefelthispresenceandtheworshipofhiseyeshereyesturnedtohiminquietsufferanceofhisgaze，withoutshameorwantonness。Long，longshesufferedhisgazeandthenquietlywithdrewhereyesfromhisandbentthemtowardsthestream，gentlystirringthewaterwithherfoothitherandthither。Thefirstfaintnoiseofgentlymovingwaterbrokethesilence，lowandfaintandwhispering，faintasthebellsofsleep；hitherandthither，hitherandthither；andafaintflametrembledonhercheek——

HeavenlyGod!criedStephen"ssoul，inanoutburstofprofanejoy。

Heturnedawayfromhersuddenlyandsetoffacrossthestrand。Hischeekswereaflame；hisbodywasaglow；hislimbsweretrembling。Onandonandonandonhestrode，faroutoverthesands，singingwildlytothesea，cryingtogreettheadventofthelifethathadcriedtohim。

Herimagehadpassedintohissoulforeverandnowordhadbrokentheholysilenceofhisecstasy。Hereyeshadcalledhimandhissoulhadleapedatthecall。Tolive，toerr，tofall，totriumph，torecreatelifeoutoflife!Awildangelhadappearedtohim，theangelofmortalyouthandbeauty，anenvoyfromthefaircourtsoflife，tothrowopenbeforehiminaninstantofecstasythegatesofallthewaysoferrorandglory。

Onandonandonandon!

Hehaltedsuddenlyandheardhisheartinthesilence。Howfarhadhewalked？Whathourwasit？

Therewasnohumanfigurenearhimnoranysoundbornetohimovertheair。Butthetidewasneartheturnandalreadythedaywasonthewane。

Heturnedlandwardandrantowardstheshoreand，runninguptheslopingbeach，recklessofthesharpshingle，foundasandynookamidaringoftuftedsandknollsandlaydowntherethatthepeaceandsilenceoftheeveningmightstilltheriotofhisblood。

Hefeltabovehimthevastindifferentdomeandthecalmprocessesoftheheavenlybodies；andtheearthbeneathhim，theearththathadbornehim，hadtakenhimtoherbreast。

Heclosedhiseyesinthelanguorofsleep。Hiseyelidstrembledasiftheyfeltthevastcyclicmovementoftheearthandherwatchers，trembledasiftheyfeltthestrangelightofsomenewworld。Hissoulwasswooningintosomenewworld，fantastic，dim，uncertainasundersea，traversedbycloudyshapesandbeings。Aworld，aglimmeroraflower？Glimmeringandtrembling，tremblingandunfolding，abreakinglight，anopeningflower，itspreadinendlesssuccessiontoitself，breakinginfullcrimsonandunfoldingandfadingtopalestrose，leafbyleafandwaveoflightbywaveoflight，floodingalltheheavenswithitssoftflushes，everyflushdeeperthantheother。

Eveninghadfallenwhenhewokeandthesandandaridgrassesofhisbedglowednolonger。Heroseslowlyand，recallingtheraptureofhissleep，sighedatitsjoy。

Heclimbedtothecrestofthesandhillandgazedabouthim。Eveninghadfallen。Arimoftheyoungmooncleftthepalewasteofskyline，therimofasilverhoopembeddedingreysand；andthetidewasflowinginfasttothelandwithalowwhisperofherwaves，islandingafewlastfiguresindistantpools。

Chapter5Hedrainedhisthirdcupofwateryteatothedregsandsettochewingthecrustsoffriedbreadthatwerescatterednearhim，staringintothedarkpoolofthejar。Theyellowdrippinghadbeenscoopedoutlikeabogholeandthepoolunderitbroughtbacktohismemorythedarkturf-colouredwaterofthebathinClongowes。Theboxofpawnticketsathiselbowhadjustbeenrifledandhetookupidlyoneafteranotherinhisgreasyfingerstheblueandwhitedockets，scrawledandsandedandcreasedandbearingthenameofthepledgerasDalyorMacEvoy。

1PairBuskins。

1D。Coat。

3ArticlesandWhite。

1Man"sPants。

Thenheputthemasideandgazedthoughtfullyatthelidofthebox，speckledwithlousemarks，andaskedvaguely:——

Howmuchistheclockfastnow？

Hismotherstraightenedthebatteredalarmclockthatwaslyingonitssideinthemiddleofthemantelpieceuntilitsdialshowedaquartertotwelveandthenlaiditoncemoreonitsside——

Anhourandtwenty-fiveminutes，shesaid。Therighttimenowistwentypastten。Thedearknowsyoumighttrytobeintimeforyourlectures——

Fillouttheplaceformetowash，saidStephen——

Katey，fillouttheplaceforStephentowash——

Boody，fillouttheplaceforStephentowash——

Ican"t，I"mgoingforblue。Fillitout，you，Maggy。

Whentheenamelledbasinhadbeenfittedintothewellofthesinkandtheoldwashinggloveflungonthesideofitheallowedhismothertoscrubhisneckandrootintothefoldsofhisearsandintotheintersticesatthewingsofhisnose——

Well，it"sapoorcase，shesaid，whenauniversitystudentissodirtythathismotherhastowashhim——

Butitgivesyoupleasure，saidStephencalmly。

Anear-splittingwhistlewasheardfromupstairsandhismotherthrustadampoverallintohishands，saying:——

Dryyourselfandhurryoutfortheloveofgoodness。

Asecondshrillwhistle，prolongedangrily，broughtoneofthegirlstothefootofthestaircase——

Yes，father？——

Isyourlazybitchofabrothergoneoutyet？——

Yes，father——

Sure？——

Yes，father——

Hm!

Thegirlcameback，makingsignstohimtobequickandgooutquietlybytheback。Stephenlaughedandsaid:——

Hehasacuriousideaofgendersifhethinksabitchismasculine——

Ah，it"sascandalousshameforyou，Stephen，saidhismother，andyou"lllivetoruethedayyousetyourfootinthatplace。Iknowhowithaschangedyou——

Goodmorning，everybody，saidStephen，smilingandkissingthetipsofhisfingersinadieu。

Thelanebehindtheterracewaswaterloggedandashewentdownitslowly，choosinghisstepsamidheapsofwetrubbish，heheardamadnunscreechinginthenuns"

madhousebeyondthewall——

Jesus!OJesus!Jesus!

Heshookthesoundoutofhisearsbyanangrytossofhisheadandhurriedon，stumblingthroughthemoulderingoffal，hisheartalreadybittenbyanacheofloathingandbitterness。Hisfather"swhistle，hismother"smutterings，thescreechofanunseenmaniacweretohimnowsomanyvoicesoffendingandthreateningtohumbletheprideofhisyouth。Hedrovetheirechoesevenoutofhisheartwithanexecration；but，ashewalkeddowntheavenueandfeltthegreymorninglightfallingabouthimthroughthedrippingtreesandsmeltthestrangewildsmellofthewetleavesandbark，hissoulwasloosedofhermiseries。

Therain-ladentreesoftheavenueevokedinhim，asalways，memoriesofthegirlsandwomenintheplaysofGerhartHauptmann；andthememoryoftheirpalesorrowsandthefragrancefallingfromthewetbranchesmingledinamoodofquietjoy。Hismorningwalkacrossthecityhadbegun，andheforeknewthatashepassedthesloblandsofFairviewhewouldthinkofthecloistralsilver-veinedproseofNewman；thatashewalkedalongtheNorthStrandRoad，glancingidlyatthewindowsoftheprovisionshops，hewouldrecallthedarkhumourofGuidoCavalcantiandsmile；thatashewentbyBaird"sstonecuttingworksinTalbotPlacethespiritofIbsenwouldblowthroughhimlikeakeenwind，aspiritofwaywardboyishbeauty；

andthatpassingagrimymarinedealer"sshopbeyondtheLiffeyhewouldrepeatthesongbyBenJonsonwhichbegins:IwasnotwearierwhereIlay。HismindwhenweariedofitssearchfortheessenceofbeautyamidthespectralwordsofAristotleorAquinasturnedoftenforitspleasuretothedaintysongsoftheElizabethans。Hismind，inthevestureofadoubtingmonk，stoodofteninshadowunderthewindowsofthatage，tohearthegraveandmockingmusicofthelutenistsorthefranklaughterofwaist-coateersuntilalaughtoolow，aphrase，tarnishedbytime，ofchamberingandfalsehonourstunghismonkishprideanddrovehimonfromhislurking-place。

ThelorewhichhewasbelievedtopasshisdaysbroodinguponsothatithadrapthimfromthecompanionshipofyouthwasonlyagarnerofslendersentencesfromAristotle"spoeticsandpsychologyandaSynopsisPhilosophiaeScholasticaeadmentemdiviThomae。Histhinkingwasaduskofdoubtandself-mistrust，litupatmomentsbythelightningsofintuition，butlightningsofsoclearasplendourthatinthosemomentstheworldperishedabouthisfeetasifithadbeenfire-consumed；andthereafterhistonguegrewheavyandhemettheeyesofotherswithunansweringeyes，forhefeltthatthespiritofbeautyhadfoldedhimroundlikeamantleandthatinreveryatleasthehadbeenacquaintedwithnobility。Butwhenthisbriefprideofsilenceupheldhimnolongerhewasgladtofindhimselfstillinthemidstofcommonlives，passingonhiswayamidthesqualorandnoiseandslothofthecityfearlesslyandwithalightheart。

Nearthehoardingsonthecanalhemettheconsumptivemanwiththedoll"sfaceandthebrimlesshatcomingtowardshimdowntheslopeofthebridgewithlittlesteps，tightlybuttonedintohischocolateovercoat，andholdinghisfurledumbrellaaspanortwofromhimlikeadiviningrod。Itmustbeeleven，hethought，andpeeredintoadairytoseethetime。Theclockinthedairytoldhimthatitwasfiveminutestofivebut，asheturnedaway，heheardaclocksomewherenearhim，butunseen，beatingelevenstrokesinswiftprecision。HelaughedashehearditforitmadehimthinkofMcCann，andhesawhimasquatfigureinashootingjacketandbreechesandwithafairgoatee，standinginthewindatHopkins"

corner，andheardhimsay:——

Dedalus，you"reanantisocialbeing，wrappedupinyourself。I"mnot。I"mademocratandI`IlworkandactforsociallibertyandequalityamongallclassesandsexesintheUnitedStatesoftheEuropeofthefuture。

Eleven!Thenhewaslateforthatlecturetoo。Whatdayoftheweekwasit？Hestoppedatanewsagent"storeadtheheadlineofaplacard。

Thursday。Tentoeleven，English；eleventotwelve，French；twelvetoone，physics。HefanciedtohimselftheEnglishlectureandfelt，evenatthatdistance，restlessandhelpless。Hesawtheheadsofhisclassmatesmeeklybentastheywroteintheirnotebooksthepointstheywerebiddentonote，nominaldefinitions，essentialdefinitionsandexamplesordatesofbirthordeath，chiefworks，afavourableandanunfavourablecriticismsidebyside。Hisownheadwasunbentforhisthoughtswanderedabroadandwhetherhelookedaroundthelittleclassofstudentsoroutofthewindowacrossthedesolategardensofthegreenanodourassailedhimofcheerlesscellar-dampanddecay。Anotherheadthanhis，rightbeforehiminthefirstbenches，waspoisedsquarelyaboveitsbendingfellowsliketheheadofapriestappealingwithouthumilitytothetabernacleforthehumbleworshippersabouthim。WhywasitthatwhenhethoughtofCranlyhecouldneverraisebeforehismindtheentireimageofhisbodybutonlytheimageoftheheadandface？Evennowagainstthegreycurtainofthemorninghesawitbeforehimlikethephantomofadream，thefaceofaseveredheadordeath-mask，crownedonthebrowsbyitsstiffblackuprighthairasbyanironcrown。Itwasapriest-likeface，priest-likeinitspalor，inthewidewingednose，intheshadowingsbelowtheeyesandalongthejaws，priest-likeinthelipsthatwerelongandbloodlessandfaintlysmiling；

andStephen，rememberingswiftlyhowhehadtoldCranlyofallthetumultsandunrestandlongingsinhissoul，dayafterdayandnightbynight，onlytobeansweredbyhisfriend"slisteningsilence，wouldhavetoldhimselfthatitwasthefaceofaguiltypriestwhoheardconfessionsofthosewhomhehadnotpowertoabsolvebutthathefeltagaininmemorythegazeofitsdarkwomanisheyes。

Throughthisimagehehadaglimpseofastrangedarkcavernofspeculationbutatonceturnedawayfromit，feelingthatitwasnotyetthehourtoenterit。Butthenightshadeofhisfriend"slistlessnessseemedtobediffusingintheairaroundhimatenuousanddeadlyexhalationandbefoundhimselfglancingfromonecasualwordtoanotheronhisrightorleftinstolidwonderthattheyhadbeensosilentlyemptiedofinstantaneoussenseuntileverymeanshoplegendboundhismindlikethewordsofaspellandhissoulshrivelledupsighingwithageashewalkedoninalaneamongheapsofdeadlanguage。Hisownconsciousnessoflanguagewasebbingfromhisbrainandtricklingintotheverywordsthemselveswhichsettobandanddisbandthemselvesinwaywardrhythms:Theivywhinesuponthewall，Andwhinesandtwinesuponthewall，Theyellowivyuponthewall，Ivy，ivyupthewall。Didanyoneeverhearsuchdrivel？LordAlmighty!Whoeverheardofivywhiningonawall？Yellowivy；thatwasallright。Yellowivoryalso。Andwhataboutivoryivy？

Thewordnowshoneinhisbrain，clearerandbrighterthananyivorysawnfromthemottledtusksofelephants。Ivory，ivoire，avorio，ebur。

OneofthefirstexamplesthathehadlearntinLatinhadrun:Indiamittitebur；andherecalledtheshrewdnorthernfaceoftherectorwhohadtaughthimtoconstruetheMetamorphosesofOvidinacourtlyEnglish，madewhimsicalbythementionofporkersandpotsherdsandchinesofbacon。

HehadlearntwhatlittleheknewofthelawsofLatinversefromaraggedbookwrittenbyaPortuguesepriest。Contrahitorator，variantincarminevates。ThecrisesandvictoriesandsecessionsinRomanhistorywerehandedontohiminthetritewordsintantodiscrimineandhehadtriedtopeerintothesociallifeofthecityofcitiesthroughthewordsimplereollamdenariorumwhichtherectorhadrenderedsonorouslyasthefillingofapotwithdenaries。Thepagesofhistime-wornHoraceneverfeltcoldtothetouchevenwhenhisownfingerswerecold；theywerehumanpagesandfiftyyearsbeforetheyhadbeenturnedbythehumanfingersofJohnDuncanInverarityandbyhisbrother，WilliamMalcolmInverarity。Yes，thosewerenoblenamesontheduskyflyleafand，evenforsopooraLatinistashe，theduskyverseswereasfragrantasthoughtheyhadlainallthoseyearsinmyrtleandlavenderandvervain；butyetitwoundedhimtothinkthathewouldneverbebutashyguestatthefeastoftheworld"scultureandthatthemonkishlearning，intermsofwhichhewasstrivingtoforgeoutanestheticphilosophy，washeldnohigherbytheagehelivedinthanthesubtleandcuriousjargonsofheraldryandfalconry。

ThegreyblockofTrinityonhisleft，setheavilyinthecity"signorancelikeadullstonesetinacumbrousring，pulledhisminddownwardandwhilehewasstrivingthiswayandthattofreehisfeetfromthefettersofthereformedconsciencehecameuponthedrollstatueofthenationalpoetofIreland。

Helookedatitwithoutanger；for，thoughslothofthebodyandofthesoulcreptoveritlikeunseenvermin，overtheshufflingfeetandupthefoldsofthecloakandaroundtheservilehead，itseemedhumblyconsciousofitsindignity。ItwasaFirbolgintheborrowedcloakofaMilesian；andhethoughtofhisfriendDavin，thepeasantstudent。Itwasajestingnamebetweenthem，buttheyoungpeasantborewithitlightly:——

Goon，Stevie，Ihaveahardhead，youtellme。Callmewhatyouwill。

ThehomelyversionofhischristiannameonthelipsofhisfriendhadtouchedStephenpleasantlywhenfirstheardforhewasasformalinspeechwithothersastheywerewithhim。Often，ashesatinDavin"sroomsinGranthamStreet，wonderingathisfriend"swell-madebootsthatflankedthewallpairbypairandrepeatingforhisfriend"ssimpleeartheversesandcadencesofotherswhichweretheveilsofhisownlonginganddejection，therudeFirbolgmindofhislistenerhaddrawnhismindtowardsitandflungitbackagain，drawingitbyaquietinbredcourtesyofattentionorbyaquaintturnofoldEnglishspeechorbytheforceofitsdelightinrudebodilyskill-forDavinhadsatatthefeetofMichaelCusack，theGael-repellingswiftlyandsuddenlybyagrossnessofintelligenceorbyabluntnessoffeelingorbyadullstareofterrorintheeyes，theterrorofsoulofastarvingIrishvillageinwhichthecurfewwasstillanightlyfear。