第11章

SidebysidewithhismemoryofthedeedsofprowessofhisuncleMatDavin，theathlete，theyoungpeasantworshippedthesorrowfullegendofIreland。Thegossipofhisfellow-studentswhichstrovetorendertheflatlifeofthecollegesignificantatanycostlovedtothinkofhimasayoungfenian。HisnursehadtaughthimIrishandshapedhisrudeimaginationbythebrokenlightsofIrishmyth。HestoodtowardsthemythuponwhichnoindividualmindhadeverdrawnoutalineofbeautyandtoitsunwieldytalesthatdividedagainstthemselvesastheymoveddownthecyclesinthesameattitudeastowardstheRomancatholicreligion，theattitudeofadull-wittedloyalserf。WhatsoeverofthoughtoroffeelingcametohimfromEnglandorbywayofEnglishculturehismindstoodarmedagainstinobediencetoapassword；andoftheworldthatlaybeyondEnglandheknewonlytheforeignlegionofFranceinwhichhespokeofserving。

Couplingthisambitionwiththeyoungman"shumourStephenhadoftencalledhimoneofthetamegeeseandtherewasevenapointofirritationinthenamepointedagainstthatveryreluctanceofspeechanddeedinhisfriendwhichseemedsooftentostandbetweenStephen"smind，eagerofspeculation，andthehiddenwaysofIrishlife。

Onenighttheyoungpeasant，hisspiritstungbytheviolentorluxuriouslanguageinwhichStephenescapedfromthecoldsilenceofintellectualrevolt，hadcalledupbeforeStephen"smindastrangevision。ThetwowerewalkingslowlytowardsDavin"sroomsthroughthedarknarrowstreetsofthepoorerjews——

Athinghappenedtomyself，Stevie，lastautumn，comingonwinter，andInevertoldittoalivingsoulandyouarethefirstpersonnowI

evertolditto。IdisrememberifitwasOctoberorNovember。ItwasOctoberbecauseitwasbeforeIcameupheretojointhematriculationclass。

Stephenhadturnedhissmilingeyestowardshisfriend"sface，flatteredbyhisconfidenceandwonovertosympathybythespeaker"ssimpleaccent——

IwasawayallthatdayfrommyownplaceoverinButtevant——

Idon"tknowifyouknowwherethatis-atahurlingmatchbetweentheCroke"sOwnBoysandtheFearlessThurlesandbyGod，Stevie，thatwasthehardfight。Myfirstcousin，FonsyDavin，wasstrippedtohisbuffthatdaymindingcoolfortheLimericksbuthewasupwiththeforwardshalfthetimeandshoutinglikemad。Ineverwillforgetthatday。OneoftheCrokesmadeawoefulwipeathimonetimewithhiscamanandIdeclaretoGodhewaswithinanaim"saceofgettingitatthesideofhistemple。

Oh，honesttoGod，ifthecrookofitcaughthimthattimehewasdonefor——

Iamgladheescaped，Stephenhadsaidwithalaugh，butsurelythat"snotthestrangethingthathappenedyou？-Well，Isupposethatdoesn"tinterestyou，butleastwaystherewassuchnoiseafterthematchthatI

missedthetrainhomeandIcouldn"tgetanykindofayoketogivemealiftfor，asluckwouldhaveit，therewasamassmeetingthatsamedayoverinCastletownrocheandallthecarsinthecountrywerethere。Sotherewasnothingforitonlytostaythenightortofootitout。Well，IstartedtowalkandonIwentanditwascomingonnightwhenIgotintotheBallyhourahills，that"sbetterthantenmilesfromKilmallockandthere"salonglonelyroadafterthat。Youwouldn"tseethesignofachristianhousealongtheroadorhearasound。Itwaspitchdarkalmost。OnceortwiceIstoppedbythewayunderabushtoreddenmypipeandonlyforthedewwasthickI"dhavestretchedoutthereandslept。Atlast，afterabendoftheroad，Ispiedalittlecottagewithalightinthewindow。

Iwentupandknockedatthedoor。AvoiceaskedwhowasthereandIansweredIwasoveratthematchinButtevantandwaswalkingbackandthatI"dbethankfulforaglassofwater。Afterawhileayoungwomanopenedthedoorandbroughtmeoutabigmugofmilk。ShewashalfundressedasifshewasgoingtobedwhenIknockedandshehadherhairhangingandI

thoughtbyherfigureandbysomethinginthelookofhereyesthatshemustbecarryingachild。Shekeptmeintalkalongwhileatthedoor，andIthoughtitstrangebecauseherbreastandhershoulderswerebare。

SheaskedmewasItiredandwouldIliketostopthenightthere。ShesaidshewasallaloneinthehouseandthatherhusbandhadgonethatmorningtoQueenstownwithhissistertoseeheroff。Andallthetimeshewastalking，Stevie，shehadhereyesfixedonmyfaceandshestoodsoclosetomeIcouldhearherbreathing。WhenIhandedherbackthemugatlastshetookmyhandtodrawmeinoverthethresholdandsaid:`Comeinandstaythenighthere。You"venocalltobefrightened。There"snooneinitbutourselves。"Ididn"tgoin，Stevie。Ithankedherandwentonmywayagain，allinafever。AtthefirstbendoftheroadIlookedbackandshewasstandingatthedoor。

ThelastwordsofDavin"sstorysanginhismemoryandthefigureofthewomaninthestorystoodforthreflectedinotherfiguresofthepeasantwomenwhomhehadseenstandinginthedoorwaysatClaneasthecollegecarsdroveby，asatypeofherraceandofhisown，abat-likesoulwakingtotheconsciousnessofitselfindarknessandsecrecyandlonelinessand，throughtheeyesandvoiceandgestureofawomanwithoutguile，callingthestrangertoherbed。

Ahandwaslaidonhisarmandayoungvoicecried:——

Ah，gentleman，yourowngirl，sir!Thefirsthandseltoday，gentleman。

Buythatlovelybunch。Willyou，gentleman？

Theblueflowerswhichsheliftedtowardshimandheryoungblueeyesseemedtohimatthatinstantimagesofguilelessness，andhehaltedtilltheimagehadvanishedandhesawonlyherraggeddressanddampcoarsehairandhoydenishface——

Do，gentleman!Don"tforgetyourowngirl，sir!——

Ihavenomoney，saidStephen——

Buythemlovelyones，willyou，sir？Onlyapenny——

DidyouhearwhatIsaid？askedStephen，bendingtowardsher。

ItoldyouIhadnomoney。Itellyouagainnow——

Well，sure，youwillsomeday，sir，pleaseGod，thegirlansweredafteraninstant——

Possibly，saidStephen，butIdon"tthinkitlikely——

Heleftherquickly，fearingthatherintimacymightturntojibingandwishingtobeoutofthewaybeforesheofferedherwaretoanother，atouristfromEnglandorastudentofTrinity。GraftonStreet，alongwhichhewalked，prolongedthatmomentofdiscouragedpoverty。IntheroadwayattheheadofthestreetaslabwassettothememoryofWolfeToneandherememberedhavingbeenpresentwithhisfatheratitslaying。Herememberedwithbitternessthatsceneoftawdrytribute。TherewerefourFrenchdelegatesinabrakeandone，aplumpsmilingyoungman，held，wedgedonastick，acardonwhichwereprintedthewords:Vivel"Irlande!

ButthetreesinStephen"sGreenwerefragrantofrainandtherain-soddenearthgaveforthitsmortalodour，afaintincenserisingupwardthroughthemouldfrommanyhearts。ThesoulofthegallantvenalcitywhichhiseldershadtoldhimofhadshrunkwithtimetoafaintmortalodourrisingfromtheearthandheknewthatinamomentwhenheenteredthesombrecollegehewouldbeconsciousofacorruptionotherthanthatofBuckEganandBurnchapelWhaley。

ItwastoolatetogoupstairstotheFrenchclass。Hecrossedthehallandtookthecorridortotheleftwhichledtothephysicstheatre。Thecorridorwasdarkandsilentbutnotunwatchful。Whydidhefeelthatitwasnotunwatchful？WasitbecausehehadheardthatinBuckWhaley"stimetherewasasecretstaircasethere？Orwasthejesuithouseextra-territorialandwashewalkingamongaliens？TheIrelandofToneandofParnellseemedtohaverecededinspace。

Heopenedthedoorofthetheatreandhaltedinthechillygreylightthatstruggledthroughthedustywindows。Afigurewascrouchingbeforethelargegrateandbyitsleannessandgreynessheknewthatitwasthedeanofstudieslightingthefire。Stephenclosedthedoorquietlyandapproachedthefireplace——

Goodmorning，sir!CanIhelpyou？

Thepriestlookedupquicklyandsaid:——

Onemomentnow，MrDedalus，andyouwillsee。Thereisanartinlightingafire。Wehavetheliberalartsandwehavetheusefularts。

Thisisoneoftheusefularts——

Iwilltrytolearnit，saidStephen——

Nottoomuchcoal，saidthedean，workingbrisklyathistask，thatisoneofthesecrets。

Heproducedfourcandle-buttsfromtheside-pocketsofhissoutaneandplacedthemdeftlyamongthecoalsandtwistedpapers。Stephenwatchedhiminsilence。Kneelingthusontheflagstonetokindlethefireandbusiedwiththedispositionofhiswispsofpaperandcandle-buttsheseemedmorethaneverahumbleservermakingreadytheplaceofsacrificeinanemptytemple，aleviteoftheLord。Likealevite"srobeofplainlinenthefadedwornsoutanedrapedthekneelingfigureofonewhomthecanonicalsorthebell-borderedephodwouldirkandtrouble。HisverybodyhadwaxedoldinlowlyserviceoftheLord-intendingthefireuponthealtar，inbearingtidingssecretly，inwaitinguponworldlings，instrikingswiftlywhenbidden-andyethadremainedungracedbyaughtofsaintlyorofprelaticbeauty。Nay，hisverysoulhadwaxedoldinthatservicewithoutgrowingtowardslightandbeautyorspreadingabroadasweetodourofhersanctity-amortifiedwillnomoreresponsivetothethrillofitsobediencethanwastothethrillofloveorcombathisageingbody，spareandsinewy，greyedwithasilver-pointeddown。

Thedeanrestedbackonhishunkersandwatchedthestickscatch。Stephen，tofillthesilence，said:——

IamsureIcouldnotlightafire——

Youareanartist，areyounot，MrDedalus？saidthedean，glancingupandblinkinghispaleeyes。Theobjectoftheartististhecreationofthebeautiful。Whatthebeautifulisisanotherquestion。

Herubbedhishandsslowlyanddrilyoverthedifficulty——

Canyousolvethatquestionnow？heasked——

Aquinas，answeredStephen，sayspulcrasuntquaevisaplacent——

Thisfirebeforeus，saidthedean，willbepleasingtotheeye。

Willitthereforebebeautiful？——

Insofarasitisapprehendedbythesight，whichIsupposemeanshereestheticintellection，itwillbebeautiful。ButAquinasalsosaysBonumestinquodtenditappetitus。Insofarasitsatisfiestheanimalcravingforwarmthfireisagood。Inhell，however，itisanevil——

Quiteso，saidthedean，youhavecertainlyhitthenailonthehead。

Herosenimblyandwenttowardsthedoor，setitajarandsaid:——

Adraughtissaidtobeahelpinthesematters。

Ashecamebacktothehearth，limpingslightlybutwithabriskstep，Stephensawthesilentsoulofajesuitlookoutathimfromthepalelovelesseyes。LikeIgnatiushewaslamebutinhiseyesburnednosparkofIgnatius"senthusiasm。Eventhelegendarycraftofthecompany，acraftsubtlerandmoresecretthanitsfabledbooksofsecretsubtlewisdom，hadnotfiredhissoulwiththeenergyofapostleship。Itseemedasifheusedtheshiftsandloreandcunningoftheworld，asbiddentodo，forthegreatergloryofGod，withoutjoyintheirhandlingorhatredofthatinthemwhichwasevilbutturningthem，withafirmgestureofobediencebackuponthemselvesandforallthissilentserviceitseemedasifhelovednotatallthemasterandlittle，ifatall，theendsheserved。Similiteratquesenisbaculus，hewas，asthefounderwouldhavehadhim，likeastaffinanoldman"shand，tobeleanedonintheroadatnightfallorinstressofweather，toliewithalady"snosegayonagardenseat，toberaisedinmenace。

Thedeanreturnedtothehearthandbegantostrokehischin——

Whenmayweexpecttohavesomethingfromyouontheestheticquestion？

heasked——

Fromme!saidStepheninastonishment。IstumbleonanideaonceafortnightifIamlucky——

Thesequestionsareveryprofound，MrDedalus，saidthedean。ItislikelookingdownfromthecliffsofMoherintothedepths。Manygodownintothedepthsandnevercomeup。Onlythetraineddivercangodownintothosedepthsandexplorethemandcometothesurfaceagain——

Ifyoumeanspeculation，sir，saidStephen，Ialsoamsurethatthereisnosuchthingasfreethinkinginasmuchasallthinkingmustbeboundbyitsownlaws——

Ha!——

FormypurposeIcanworkonatpresentbythelightofoneortwoideasofAristotleandAquinas——

Isee。Iquiteseeyourpoint——

IneedthemonlyformyownuseandguidanceuntilIhavedonesomethingformyselfbytheirlight。IfthelampsmokesorsmellsIshalltrytotrimit。IfitdoesnotgivelightenoughIshallsellitandbuyanother——

Epictetusalsohadalamp，saidthedean，whichwassoldforafancypriceafterhisdeath。Itwasthelamphewrotehisphilosophicaldissertationsby。YouknowEpictetus？——

Anoldgentleman，saidStephencoarsely，whosaidthatthesoulisverylikeabucketfulofwater——

Hetellsusinhishomelyway，thedeanwenton，thatheputanironlampbeforeastatueofoneofthegodsandthatathiefstolethelamp。

Whatdidthephilosopherdo？Hereflectedthatitwasinthecharacterofathieftostealanddeterminedtobuyanearthenlampnextdayinsteadoftheironlamp。

Asmellofmoltentallowcameupfromthedean"scandlebuttsandfuseditselfinStephen"sconsciousnesswiththejingleofthewords，bucketandlampandlampandbucket。Thepriest"svoice，too，hadahardjinglingtone。Stephen"smindhaltedbyinstinct，checkedbythestrangetoneandtheimageryandbythepriest"sfacewhichseemedlikeanunlitlamporareflectorhunginafalsefocus。Whatlaybehinditorwithinit？Adulltorporofthesoulorthedullnessofthethundercloud，chargedwithintellectionandcapableofthegloomofGod？——

Imeantadifferentkindoflamp，sir，saidStephen——

Undoubtedly，saidthedean——

Onedifficulty，saidStephen，inestheticdiscussionistoknowwhetherwordsarebeingusedaccordingtotheliterarytraditionoraccordingtothetraditionofthemarketplace。IrememberasentenceofNewman"sinwhichhesaysoftheBlessedVirginthatshewasdetainedinthefullcompanyofthesaints。Theuseofthewordinthemarketplaceisquitedifferent。IhopeIamnotdetainingyou——

Notintheleast，saidthedeanpolitely——

No，no，saidStephen，smiling，Imean——

Yes，yes；Isee，saidthedeanquickly，Iquitecatchthepoint:detain。

Hethrustforwardhisunderjawandutteredadryshortcough——

Toreturntothelamp，hesaid，thefeedingofitisalsoaniceproblem。Youmustchoosethepureoilandyoumustbecarefulwhenyoupouritinnottooverflowit，nottopourinmorethanthefunnelcanhold——

Whatfunnel？askedStephen——

Thefunnelthroughwhichyoupourtheoilintoyourlamp——

That？saidStephen。Isthatcalledafunnel？Isitnotatundish？——

Whatisatundish？——

That。Thefunnel——

IsthatcalledatundishinIreland？askedthedean。Ineverheardthewordinmylife——

ItiscalledatundishinLowerDrumcondra，saidStephen，laughing，wheretheyspeakthebestEnglish——

Atundish，saidthedeanreflectively。Thatisamostinterestingword。Imustlookthatwordup。UponmywordImust。

HiscourtesyofmannerrangalittlefalseandStephenlookedattheEnglishconvertwiththesameeyesastheelderbrotherintheparablemayhaveturnedontheprodigal。Ahumblefollowerinthewakeofclamorousconversions，apoorEnglishmaninIreland，heseemedtohaveenteredonthestageofjesuithistorywhenthatstrangeplayofintrigueandsufferingandenvyandstruggleandindignityhadbeenallbutgiventhrough-alate-comer，atardyspirit。Fromwhathadhesetout？Perhapshehadbeenbornandbredamongseriousdissenters，seeingsalvationinJesusonlyandabhorringthevainpompsoftheestablishment。Hadhefelttheneedofanimplicitfaithamidthewelterofsectarianismandthejargonofitsturbulentschisms，sixprinciplemen，peculiarpeople，seedandsnakebaptists，supralapsariandogmatists？Hadhefoundthetruechurchallofasuddeninwindinguptotheendlikeareelofcottonsomefine-spunlineofreasoninguponinsufflationontheimpositionofhandsortheprocessionoftheHolyGhost？OrhadLordChristtouchedhimandbiddenhimfollow，likethatdisciplewhohadsatatthereceiptofcustom，ashesatbythedoorofsomezinc-roofedchapel，yawningandtellingoverhischurchpence？

Thedeanrepeatedthewordyetagain——

Tundish!Wellnow，thatisinteresting!——

Thequestionyouaskedmeamomentagoseemstomemoreinteresting。

Whatisthatbeautywhichtheartiststrugglestoexpressfromlumpsofearth，saidStephencoldly——

Thelittlewordseemedtohaveturnedarapierpointofhissensitivenessagainstthiscourteousandvigilantfoe。HefeltwithasmartofdejectionthatthemantowhomhewasspeakingwasacountrymanofBenJonson。Hethought:——

Thelanguageinwhichwearespeakingishisbeforeitismine。Howdifferentarethewordshome，Christ，ale，master，onhislipsandonmine!Icannotspeakorwritethesewordswithoutunrestofspirit。Hislanguage，sofamiliarandsoforeign，willalwaysbeformeanacquiredspeech。Ihavenotmadeoraccepteditswords。Myvoiceholdsthematbay。Mysoulfretsintheshadowofhislanguage——

Andtodistinguishbetweenthebeautifulandthesublime，thedeanadded，todistinguishbetweenmoralbeautyandmaterialbeauty。Andtoinquirewhatkindofbeautyispropertoeachofthevariousarts。Thesearesomeinterestingpointswemighttakeup。

Stephen，disheartenedsuddenlybythedean"sfirm，drytone，wassilent；

andthroughthesilenceadistantnoiseofmanybootsandconfusedvoicescameupthestaircase——

Inpursuingthesespeculations，saidthedeanconclusively，thereis，however，thedangerofperishingofinanition。Firstyoumusttakeyourdegree。Setthatbeforeyouasyourfirstaim。Then，littlebylittle，youwillseeyourway。Imeanineverysense，yourwayinlifeandinthinking。

Itmaybeuphillpedallingatfirst。TakeMrMoonan。Hewasalongtimebeforehegottothetop。Buthegotthere——

Imaynothavehistalent，saidStephenquietly——

Youneverknow，saidthedeanbrightly。Wenevercansaywhatisinus。Imostcertainlyshouldnotbedespondent。Perasperaadastra。

Heleftthehearthquicklyandwenttowardsthelandingtooverseethearrivalofthefirstarts"class。

LeaningagainstthefireplaceStephenheardhimgreetbrisklyandimpartiallyeveryStudentoftheclassandcouldalmostseethefranksmilesofthecoarserstudents。Adesolatingpitybegantofalllikedewuponhiseasilyembitteredheartforthisfaithfulserving-manoftheknightlyLoyola，forthishalf-brotheroftheclergy，morevenalthantheyinspeech，moresteadfastofsoulthanthey，onewhomhewouldnevercallhisghostlyfather；

andhethoughthowthismanandhiscompanionshadearnedthenameofworldlingsatthehandsnotoftheunworldlyonlybutoftheworldlyalsoforhavingpleaded，duringalltheirhistory，atthebarofGod"sjusticeforthesoulsofthelaxandthelukewarmandtheprudent。

TheentryoftheprofessorwassignalledbyafewroundsofKentishfirefromtheheavybootsofthosestudentswhosatonthehighesttierofthegloomytheatreunderthegreycobwebbedwindows。ThecallingoftherollbeganandtheresponsestothenamesweregivenoutinalltonesuntilthenameofPeterByrnewasreached——

Here!

Adeepbassnoteinresponsecamefromtheuppertier，followedbycoughsofprotestalongtheotherbenches。

Theprofessorpausedinhisreadingandcalledthenextname:——

Cranly!

Noanswer——

MrCranly!

AsmileflewacrossStephen"sfaceashethoughtofhisfriend"sstudies——

TryLeopardstown!Saidavoicefromthebenchbehind。StephenglancedupquicklybutMoynihan"ssnoutishface，outlinedonthegreylight，wasimpassive。Aformulawasgivenout。AmidtherustlingofthenotebooksStephenturnedbackagainandsaid:——

GivemesomepaperforGod"ssake。

Areyouasbadasthat？askedMoynihanwithabroadgrin。

Hetoreasheetfromhisscribblerandpasseditdown，whispering:——

Incaseofnecessityanylaymanorwomancandoit。

Theformulawhichhewroteobedientlyonthesheetofpaper，thecoilinganduncoilingcalculationsoftheprofessor，thespectre-likesymbolsofforceandvelocityfascinatedandjadedStephen"smind。Hehadheardsomesaythattheoldprofessorwasanatheistfreemason。Othegreydullday!

Itseemedalimboofpainlesspatientconsciousnessthroughwhichsoulsofmathematiciansmightwander，projectinglongslenderfabricsfromplanetoplaneofeverrarerandpalertwilight，radiatingswifteddiestothelastvergesofauniverseevervaster，fartherandmoreimpalpable——

Sowemustdistinguishbetweenellipticalandellipsoidal。PerhapssomeofyougentlemenmaybefamiliarwiththeworksofMrW。S。Gilbert。

Inoneofhissongshespeaksofthebilliardsharpwhoiscondemnedtoplay:OnaclothuntrueWithatwistedcueAndellipticalbilliardballs——HemeansaballhavingtheformoftheellipsoidoftheprincipalaxesofwhichIspokeamomentago。

MoynihanleaneddowntowardsStephen"searandmurmured:——

Whatpriceellipsoidalballs!chaseme，ladies，I"minthecavalry!

Hisfellowstudent"srudehumourranlikeagustthroughthecloisterofStephen"smind，shakingintogaylifelimppriestlyvestmentsthathunguponthewalls，settingthemtoswayandcaperinasabbathofmisrule。

Theformsofthecommunityemergedfromthegust-blownvestments，thedeanofstudies，theportlyfloridbursarwithhiscapofgreyhair，thepresident，thelittlepriestwithfeatheryhairwhowrotedevoutverses，thesquatpeasantformoftheprofessorofeconomics，thetallformoftheyoungprofessorofmentalsciencediscussingonthelandingacaseofconsciencewithhisclasslikeagiraffecroppinghighleafageamongaherdofantelopes，thegravetroubledprefectofthesodality，theplumpround-headedprofessorofItalianwithhisrogue"seyes。Theycameamblingandstumbling，tumblingandcapering，kiltingtheirgownsforleapfrog，holdingoneanotherback，shakenwithdeepfalselaughter，smackingoneanotherbehindandlaughingattheirrudemalice，callingtooneanotherbyfamiliarnicknames，protestingwithsuddendignityatsomeroughusage，whisperingtwoandtwobehindtheirhands。

Theprofessorhadgonetotheglasscasesonthesidewall，fromashelfofwhichhetookdownasetofcoils，blewawaythedustfrommanypointsand，bearingitcarefullytothetable，heldafingeronitwhileheproceededwithhislecture。HeexplainedthatthewiresinmoderncoilswereofacompoundcalledplatinoidlatelydiscoveredbyF。W。Martino。

Hespokeclearlytheinitialsandsurnameofthediscoverer。Moynihanwhisperedfrombehind:——

GoodoldFreshWaterMartin!——

Askhim，Stephenwhisperedbackwithwearyhumour，ifhewantsasubjectforelectrocution。Hecanhaveme。

Moynihan，seeingtheprofessorbendoverthecoils，roseinhisbenchand，clackingnoiselesslythefingersofhisrighthand，begantocallwiththevoiceofaslobberingurchin——

Pleaseteacher!Thisboyisaftersayingabadword，teacher——

Platinoid，theprofessorsaidsolemnly，ispreferredtoGermansilverbecauseithasalowercoefficientofresistancebychangesoftemperature。

Theplatinoidwireisinsulatedandthecoveringofsilkthatinsulatesitiswoundontheebonitebobbinsjustwheremyfingeris。Ifitwerewoundsingleanextracurrentwouldbeinducedinthecoils。ThebobbinsaresaturatedinhotparaffinwaxAsharpUlstervoicesaidfromthebenchbelowStephen:——

Arewelikelytobeaskedquestionsonappliedscience？

Theprofessorbegantojugglegravelywiththetermspurescienceandappliedscience。Aheavy-builtstudent，wearinggoldspectacles，staredwithsomewonderatthequestioner。Moynihanmurmuredfrombehindinhisnaturalvoice:——

Isn"tMacAlisteradevilforhispoundofflesh？

StephenlookedcoldlyontheoblongSkullbeneathhimovergrownwithtangledtwine-colouredhair。Thevoice，theaccent，themindofthequestioneroffendedhimandheallowedtheoffencetocarryhimtowardswilfulunkindness，biddinghismindthinkthatthestudent"sfatherwouldhavedonebetterhadhesenthissontoBelfasttostudyandhavesavedsomethingonthetrainfarebysodoing。

Theoblongskullbeneathdidnotturntomeetthisshaftofthoughtandyettheshaftcamebacktoitsbowstring；forhesawinamomentthestudent"swhey-paleface——

Thatthoughtisnotmine，hesaidtohimselfquickly。ItcamefromthecomicIrishmaninthebenchbehind。Patience。CanyouSaywithcertitudebywhomthesoulofyourracewasbarteredanditselectbetrayed-bythequestionerorbythemocker？Patience。RememberEpictetus。Itisprobablyinhischaractertoasksuchaquestionatsuchamomentinsuchatoneandtopronouncethewordscienceasamonosyllable。

Thedroningvoiceoftheprofessorcontinuedtowinditselfslowlyroundandroundthecoilsitspokeof，doubling，trebling，quadruplingitssomnolentenergyasthecoilmultiplieditsohmsofresistance。

Moynihan"svoicecalledfrombehindinechotoadistantbell:——

Closingtime，gents!

Theentrancehallwascrowdedandloudwithtalk。Onatablenearthedoorweretwophotographsinframesandbetweenthemalongrollofpaperbearinganirregulartailofsignatures。MacCannwentbrisklytoandfroamongthestudents，talkingrapidly，answeringrebuffsandleadingoneafteranothertothetable。Intheinnerhallthedeanofstudiesstoodtalkingtoayoungprofessor，strokinghischingravelyandnoddinghishead。

Stephen，checkedbythecrowdatthedoor，haltedirresolutely。FromunderthewidefallingleafofasofthatCranly"sdarkeyeswerewatchinghim——

Haveyousigned？Stephenasked。

Cranlyclosedhislongthin-lippedmouth，communedwithhimselfaninstantandanswered:——

Egohabeo——

Whatisitfor？——

Quod？——

Whatisitfor？

CranlyturnedhispalefacetoStephenandsaidblandlyandbitterly:——

Perpaxuniversalis——

StephenpointedtotheTsar"sphotographandsaid:——

HehasthefaceofabesottedChrist。

ThescornandangerinhisvoicebroughtCranly"seyesbackfromacalmsurveyofthewallsofthehall——

Areyouannoyed？heasked——

No，answeredStephen——

Areyouinbadhumour？——

No——

Credoutvossanguinariusmendaxestis，saidCranly，quiafaciesvostramonstratutvosindamnomalohumoreestis。

Moynihan，onhiswaytothetable，saidinStephen"sear:——

MacCannisintiptopform。Readytoshedthelastdrop。Brandnewworld。Nostimulantsandvotesforthebitches。

Stephensmiledatthemannerofthisconfidenceand，whenMoynihanhadpassed，turnedagaintomeetCranly"seyes——

Perhapsyoucantellme，hesaid，whyhepourshissoulsofreelyintomyear。Canyou？

AdullscowlappearedonCranly"sforehead。HestaredatthetablewhereMoynihanhadbenttowritehisnameontheroll，andthensaidflatly:——

Asugar!——

Quisestinmalohumore，saidStephen，egoautvos？

Cranlydidnottakeupthetaunt。Hebroodedsourlyonhisjudgementandrepeatedwiththesameflatforce:——

Aflamingbloodysugar，that"swhatheis!

ItwashisepitaphforalldeadfriendshipsandStephenwonderedwhetheritwouldeverbespokeninthesametoneoverhismemory。Theheavylumpishphrasesankslowlyoutofhearinglikeastonethroughaquagmire。Stephensawitsinkashehadseenmanyanother，feelingitsheavinessdepresshisheart。Cranly"sspeech，unlikethatofDavin，hadneitherrarephrasesofElizabethanEnglishnorquaintlyturnedversionsofIrishidioms。ItsdrawlwasanechoofthequaysofDublingivenbackbyableakdecayingseaport，itsenergyanechoofthesacredeloquenceofDublingivenbackflatlybyaWicklowpulpit。

TheheavyscowlfadedfromCranly"sfaceasMacCannmarchedbrisklytowardsthemfromtheothersideofthehall——

Hereyouare!saidMacCanncheerily——

HereIam!saidStephen——

Lateasusual。Canyounotcombinetheprogressivetendencywitharespectforpunctuality？——

Thatquestionisoutoforder，saidStephen。Nextbusiness。Hissmilingeyeswerefixedonasilver-wrappedtabletofmilkchocolatewhichpeepedoutofthepropagandist"sbreast-pocket。

Alittleringoflistenersclosedroundtohearthewarofwits。Aleanstudentwitholiveskinandlankblackhairthrusthisfacebetweenthetwo，glancingfromonetotheotherateachphraseandseemingtotrytocatcheachflyingphraseinhisopenmoistmouth。Cranlytookasmallgreyhandballfromhispocketandbegantoexamineitclosely，turningitoverandover——

Nextbusiness？saidMacCann。Hom!

Hegavealoudcoughoflaughter，smiledbroadlyandtuggedtwiceatthestraw-colouredgoateewhichhungfromhisbluntchin——

Thenextbusinessistosignthetestimonial——

WillyoupaymeanythingifIsign？askedStephen——

Ithoughtyouwereanidealist，saidMacCann。

Thegipsy-likestudentlookedabouthimandaddressedtheonlookersinanindistinctbleatingvoice——

Byhell，that"saqueernotion。Iconsiderthatnotiontobeamercenarynotion。

Hisvoicefadedintosilence。Noheedwaspaidtohiswords。Heturnedhisoliveface，equineinexpression，towardsStephen，invitinghimtospeakagain。

MacCannbegantospeakwithfluentenergyoftheTsar"srescript，ofStead，ofgeneraldisarmamentarbitrationincasesofinternationaldisputes，ofthesignsofthetimes，ofthenewhumanityandthenewgospeloflifewhichwouldmakeitthebusinessofthecommunitytosecureascheaplyaspossiblethegreatestpossiblehappinessofthegreatestpossiblenumber。

Thegipsystudentrespondedtothecloseoftheperiodbycrying:——

Threecheersforuniversalbrotherhood!——

Goon，Temple，saidastoutruddystudentnearhim。I"llstandyouapintafter——

I"mabelieverinuniversalbrotherhood，saidTemple，glancingabouthimoutofhisdarkovaleyes。Marxisonlyabloodycod。

Cranlygrippedhisarmtightlytocheckhistongue，smilinguneasily，andrepeated:——

Easy，easy，easy!

Templestruggledtofreehisarmbutcontinued，hismouthfleckedbyathinfoam:——

SocialismwasfoundedbyanIrishmanandthefirstmaninEuropewhopreachedthefreedomofthoughtwasCollins。Twohundredyearsago。

Hedenouncedpriestcraft，thephilosopherofMiddlesex。ThreecheersforJohnAnthonyCollins!

Athinvoicefromthevergeoftheringreplied:——

Pip!pip!

MoynihanmurmuredbesideStephen"sear:——

AndwhataboutJohnAnthony"spoorlittlesister:LottieCollinslostherdrawers；