登陆注册
16075200000080

第80章

Stephen Dedalus watched through the webbed window the lapidary's fingers prove a timedulled chain. Dust webbed the window and the showtrays. Dust darkened the toiling fingers with their vulture nails. Dust slept on dull coils of bronze and silver, lozenges of cinnabar, on rubies, leprous and winedark stones.

Born all in the dark wormy earth, cold specks of fire, evil lights shining in the darkness. Where fallen archangels flung the stars of their brows. Muddy swinesnouts, hands, root and root, gripe and wrest them.

She dances in a foul gloom where gum burns with garlic. A sailorman, rustbearded, sips from a beaker rum and eyes her. A long and seafed silent rut. She dances, capers, wagging her sowish haunches and her hips, on her gross belly flapping a ruby egg.

Old Russell with a smeared shammy rag burnished again his gem, turned it and held it at the point of his Moses' beard. Grandfather ape gloating on a stolen hoard.

And you who wrest old images from the burial earth! The brainsick words of sophists: Antisthenes. A lore of drugs. Orient and immortal wheat standing from everlasting to everlasting.

Two old women fresh from their whiff of the briny trudged through Irishtown along London bridge road, one with a sanded umbrella, one with a midwife's bag in which eleven cockles rolled.

The whirr of flapping leathern bands and hum of dynamos from the powerhouse urged Stephen to be on. Beingless beings. Stop! Throb always without you and the throb always within. Your heart you sing of. I between them. Where? Between two roaring worlds where they swirl, I. Shatter them, one and both. But stun myself too in the blow. Shatter me you who can. Bawd and butcher, were the words. I say! Not yet awhile. A look around.

Yes, quite true. Very large and wonderful and keeps famous time. You say right, sir. A Monday morning, 'twas so, indeed.

Stephen went down Bedford row, the handle of the ash clacking against his shoulderblade. In Clohissey's window a faded 1860 print of Heenan boxing Sayers held his eye. Staring backers with square hats stood round the roped prizering. The heavyweights in light loincloths proposed gently each to other his bulbous fists. And they are throbbing: heroes' hearts.

He turned and halted by the slanted bookcart.

-- Twopence each, the huckster said. Four for sixpence.

Tattered pages. The Irish Beekeeper. Life and Miracles of the Curé of Ars. Pocket Guide to Killarney.

I might find here one of my pawned schoolprizes. Stephano Dedalo, alumno optimo, palmam ferenti.

Father Conmee, having read his little hours, walked through the hamlet of Donnycarney, murmuring vespers.

Binding too good probably, what is this? Eighth and ninth book of Moses. Secret of all secrets. Seal of King David. Thumbed pages: read and read. Who has passed here before me? How to soften chapped hands. Recipe for white wine vinegar. How to win a woman's love. For me this. Say the following talisman three times with hands folded:

-- Se et yilo nebrakada femininum! Amor me solo! Sanktus! Amen.

Who wrote this? Charms and invocations of the most blessed abbot Peter Salanka to all true believers divulged. As good as any other abbot's charms, as mumbling Joachim's. Down, baldynoddle, or we'll wool your wool.

-- What are you doing here, Stephen.

Dilly's high shoulders and shabby dress.

Shut the book quick. Don't let see.

-- What are you doing? Stephen said.

A Stuart face of nonesuch Charles, lank locks falling at its sides. It glowed as she crouched feeding the fire with broken boots. I told her of Paris. Late lieabed under a quilt of old overcoats, fingering a pinchbeck bracelet, Dan Kelly's token. Nebrakada femininum.

-- What have you there? Stephen asked.

-- I bought it from the other cart for a penny, Dilly said, laughing nervously. Is it any good?

My eyes they say she has. Do others see me so? Quick, far and daring. Shadow of my mind.

He took the coverless book from her hand. Chardenal's French primer.

-- What did you buy that for? he asked. To learn French?

She nodded, reddening and closing tight her lips.

Show no surprise. Quite natural.

-- Here, Stephen said. It's all right. Mind Maggy doesn't pawn it on you. I suppose all my books are gone.

-- Some, Dilly said. We had to.

She is drowning. Agenbite. Save her. Agenbite. All against us. She will drown me with her, eyes and hair. Lank coils of seaweed hair around me, my heart, my soul. Salt green death.

We.

Agenbite of inwit. Inwit's agenbite.

Misery! Misery!

-- Hello, Simon, Father Cowley said. How are things?

-- Hello, Bob, old man, Mr Dedalus answered, stopping.

They clasped hands loudly outside Reddy and Daughter's. Father Cowley brushed his moustache often downward with a scooping hand.

-- What's the best news? Mr Dedalus said.

-- Why then not much, Father Cowley said. I'm barricaded up, Simon, with two men prowling around the house trying to effect an entrance.

-- Jolly, Mr Dedalus said. Who is it?

-- O, Father Cowley said. A certain gombeen man of our acquaintance.

-- With a broken back, is it? Mr Dedalus asked.

-- The same, Simon, Father Cowley answered. Reuben of that ilk. I'm just waiting for Ben Dollard. He's going to say a word to Long John to get him to take those two men off. All I want is a little time.

He looked with vague hope up and down the quay, a big apple bulging in his neck.

-- I know, Mr Dedalus said, nodding. Poor old bockedy Ben! He's always doing a good turn for someone. Hold hard!

He put on his glasses and gazed towards the metal bridge an instant.

-- There he is, by God, he said, arse and pockets.

Ben Dollard's loose blue cutaway and square hat above large slops crossed the quay in full gait from the metal bridge. He came towards them at an amble, scratching actively behind his coattails.

As he came near Mr Dedalus greeted:

-- Hold that fellow with the bad trousers.

-- Hold him now, Ben Dollard said.

Mr Dedalus eyed with cold wandering scorn various points of Ben Dollard's figure. Then, turning to Father Cowley with a nod, he muttered sneeringly:

同类推荐
  • 我的第一本英语百科全书

    我的第一本英语百科全书

    本书的特色:全!全到不能再全的英语百科,内容涵盖口语、俚语、句型、短语、希腊神话一应俱全细!每个常识讲解非常的详尽,深入浅出,很好地解决了读者学习时的“输出”问题!酷!课堂上很少能接触到的美式英语。英语最实用常识一网打尽!值!超长美语录音MP3免费下载,标准美音,地道表达,犹如外教在身边,给读者以超值的学习体验!练口语,会俚语,学句型,知短语,晓故事,这些基础知识是学习好英语的基础,而《 我的第一本英语百科全书》已完整收录了所有功能,相信读者在使用本书后,英文能力肯定能够得到全面提升!
  • 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。
  • 美国名家短篇小说赏析(高级)

    美国名家短篇小说赏析(高级)

    本书精选了八位美国文学巨匠的8篇美国短篇小说的精华之作,每篇文章前有简短的引言,文中还附有编者的评注和分析及作者简介。
  • 翻开就能用 出国旅游英语

    翻开就能用 出国旅游英语

    本书收录了10个与本单元密切相关的单词。汇集了20个与对话相关的短语,包含上一部分的单词。经典、贴切、鲜活的两段对话。网罗了10到20个使用频率最高的句子,分门别类,增加读者的句式储备量。在英语学习的同时,增加一些与话题相关的小知识。活跃学习气氛。
热门推荐
  • 神王溺宠:亲亲娘子来入怀

    神王溺宠:亲亲娘子来入怀

    “救她,就要失去性命,而且永世活不过18岁,你可愿意?”“愿意!”“人妖殊途,他的寿元只到18岁,你可是天猫,拥有无尽的岁月,何苦为了一介凡人,放弃一切。”“不怕,我有9条命,分他一条又如何。”
  • 英雄联盟在漫威

    英雄联盟在漫威

    瓦罗兰遭遇灭顶之灾,各路英雄齐聚地球。男主龙神与漫威、lol的英雄们又会擦出怎样的火花?尽在《英雄联盟在漫威》
  • 我是霸王

    我是霸王

    少年知耻后勇,以绝世武姿,携霸王传承,骑顶级妖兽,斩破所有阻碍,夺回属于自家的基业,踏上武力巅峰,傲视苍穹天骄!
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 吸血鬼校草守护日记

    吸血鬼校草守护日记

    传说,美人鱼以腰部为界,上半身是女人,下半身是披着鳞片的漂亮的鱼尾,整个躯体,既富有诱惑力,又便于迅速逃遁。她们没有灵魂,像海水一样无情;声音通常像其外表一样,具有欺骗性;一身兼有诱惑、虚荣、美丽、残忍和绝望的爱情等多种特性。
  • 乱道封神

    乱道封神

    少年古枫,自幼被师父收留在山中修行,却因一次下山历练而被卷入到一场巨大的阴谋之中;向来在海外活动的魔道中人屡现大陆,被打入幽冥世界数万年之久的上古之国重现世间。暗流涌动的乱世,生死之交的友情,神奇精妙的法术,冥冥之中的定数,这一切都只为一个封神的传说…...
  • 通天神井

    通天神井

    (南山寻鹤新书《九洲武帝》已发,欢迎捧场)九重天井,隐藏着古老传说;一度人生,完结了一本传奇。至强之路,必定艰辛曲折,但又热血非常。红颜相伴,更添几多柔肠。少年萧云拥有着残缺记忆,一步步踏上巅峰之路,去找寻九口通天神井背后的惊世秘密……力量进阶层次:内力、脉力、元力、灵力、神力修为境界层次:先武、后武,通脉、脉门,御元、元魂,涅槃、灵尊,坤神、乾神、帝境!
  • 七国艳华

    七国艳华

    一睁眼,河水淹没了她的视线。面前妖冶男子救她上岸,却也狠心推她入河。七国乱世,阴谋与诡计,相互争斗相互联盟。曲一映穿越至异时空,成为绝美女子兰芝,发现自己是乱世之中的交际花?南楚驸马爱她如命,却两次抛弃她。魏国四皇子装成护卫为她等候三年,连与她说话的机会都没有?然而第一眼所见,往往不能信以为真。
  • 一世独宠腹黑世子淡定妃

    一世独宠腹黑世子淡定妃

    齐国秦王世子,一个出了名的药罐子美男,偏偏对一个闷葫芦一般的小丫头着了迷。第一次见面,他便霸道宣布:“我便是你的主子,秦王世子秦云朗。”他赐她一字曰”绾“,‘青云教绾头上髻,明月与作耳边釭’的绾。云疏朗朗绾卿卿,从此,绾卿便是秦云朗的掌上宝,含在嘴里怕化了,捧在手里怕摔了。然而秦云朗还是没想到,饶是如此,他的卿卿竟会在大婚之日落跑。为了逮回他的世子妃,云朗不惜以身涉险来到大周。为复仇,绾卿一步一谋划,一局一运筹。待得良机已到,凤凰还朝,大周公主华耀九洲。云朗站在她身后,温柔如旧。
  • 白色眷恋

    白色眷恋

    因为不满皇马6比2的比分,中国青年律师沈星怒砸啤酒瓶,结果电光火石间,他穿越成了佛罗伦蒂诺的儿子,且看来自09年的小伙子如何玩转03年的欧洲足坛