道林格雷的画像_奥斯卡·王尔德-第3章

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〃　he　said；　〃dorian　gray　is　to　me　simply　a　motive　in　art。　you　might　see　nothing　in　him。　i　see　everything　in　him。　he　is　never　more　present　in　my　work　than　when　no　image　of　him　is　there。　he　is　a　suggestion；　as　i　have　said；　of　a　new　manner。　i　find　him　in　the　curves　of　certain　lines；　in　the　loveliness　and　subtleties　of　certain　colours。　that　is　all。〃

〃then　why　wont　you　exhibit　his　portrait？〃　asked　lord　henry。

〃because；　without　intending　it；　i　have　put　into　it　some　expression　of　all　this　curious　artistic　idolatry；　of　which；　of　course；　i　have　never　cared　to　speak　to　him。　he　knows　nothing　about　it。　he　shall　never　know　anything　about　it。　but　the　world　might　guess　it；　and　i　will　not　bare　my　soul　to　their　shallow　prying　eyes。　my　heart　shall　never　be　put　under　their　microscope。　there　is　too　much　of　myself　in　the　thing；　harrytoo　much　of　myself！〃

〃poets　are　not　so　scrupulous　as　you　are。　they　know　how　useful　passion　is　for　publication。　nowadays　a　broken　heart　will　run　to　many　editions。〃

〃i　hate　them　for　it；〃　cried　hallward。　〃an　artist　should　create　beautiful　things；　but　should　put　nothing　of　his　own　life　into　them。　we　live　in　an　age　when　men　treat　art　as　if　it　were　meant　to　be　a　form　of　autobiography。　we　have　lost　the　abstract　sense　of　beauty。　some　day　i　will　show　the　world　what　it　is；　and　for　that　reason　the　world　shall　never　see　my　portrait　of　dorian　gray。〃

〃i　think　you　are　wrong；　basil；　but　i　wont　argue　with　you。　it　is　only　the　intellectually　lost　who　ever　argue。　tell　me；　is　dorian　gray　very　fond　of　you？〃

the　painter　considered　for　a　few　moments。　〃he　likes　me；〃　he　answered　after　a　pause；　〃i　know　he　likes　me。　of　course　i　flatter　him　dreadfully。　i　find　a　strange　pleasure　in　saying　things　to　him　that　i　know　i　shall　be　sorry　for　having　said。　as　a　rule；　he　is　charming　to　me；　and　we　sit　in　the　studio　and　talk　of　a　thousand　things。　now　and　then；　however；　he　is　horribly　thoughtless；　and　seems　to　take　a　real　delight　in　giving　me　pain。　then　i　feel；　harry；　that　i　have　given　away　my　whole　soul　to　some　one　who　treats　it　as　if　it　were　a　flower　to　put　in　his　coat；　a　bit　of　decoration　to　charm　his　vanity；　an　ornament　for　a　summers　day。〃

〃days　in　summer；　basil；　are　apt　to　linger；〃　murmured　lord　henry。　〃perhaps　you　will　tire　sooner　than　he　will。　it　is　a　sad　thing　to　think　of；　but　there　is　no　doubt　that　genius　lasts　longer　than　beauty。　that　accounts　for　the　fact　that　we　all　take　such　pains　to　over…educate　ourselves。　in　the　wild　struggle　for　existence；　we　want　to　have　something　that　endures；　and　so　we　fill　our　minds　with　rubbish　and　facts；　in　the　silly　hope　of　keeping　our　place。　the　thoroughly　well…informed　manthat　is　the　modern　ideal。　and　the　mind　of　the　thoroughly　well…informed　man　is　a　dreadful　thing。　it　is　like　a　bric…a…brac　shop；　all　monsters　and　dust；　with　everything　priced　above　its　proper　value。　i　think　you　will　tire　first；　all　the　same。　some　day　you　will　look　at　your　friend；　and　he　will　seem　to　you　to　be　a　little　out　of　drawing；　or　you　wont　like　his　tone　of　colour；　or　something。　you　will　bitterly　reproach　him　in　your　own　heart；　and　seriously　think　that　he　has　behaved　very　badly　to　you。　the　next　time　he　calls；　you　will　be　perfectly　cold　and　indifferent。　it　will　be　a　great　pity；　for　it　will　alter　you。　what　you　have　told　me　is　quite　a　romance；　a　romance　of　art　one　might　call　it；　and　the　worst　of　having　a　romance　of　any　kind　is　that　it　leaves　one　so　unromantic。〃

〃harry；　dont　talk　like　that。　as　long　as　i　live；　the　personality　of　dorian　gray　will　dominate　me。　you　cant　feel　what　i　feel。　you　change　too　often。〃

〃ah；　my　dear　basil；　that　is　exactly　why　i　can　feel　it。　those　who　are　faithful　know　only　the　trivial　side　of　love：　it　is　the　faithless　who　know　loves　tragedies。〃　and　lord　henry　struck　a　light　on　a　dainty　silver　case　and　began　to　smoke　a　cigarette　with　a　self…conscious　and　satisfied　air；　as　if　he　had　summed　up　the　world　in　a　phrase。　there　was　a　rustle　of　chirruping　sparrows　in　the　green　lacquer　leaves　of　the　ivy；　and　the　blue　cloud…shadows　chased　themselves　across　the　grass　like　swallows。　how　pleasant　it　was　in　the　garden！　and　how　delightful　other　peoples　emotions　were！　much　more　delightful　than　their　ideas；　it　seemed　to　him。　ones　own　soul；　and　the　passions　of　ones　friendsthose　were　the　fascinating　things　in　life。　he　pictured　to　himself　with　silent　amusement　the　tedious　luncheon　that　he　had　missed　by　staying　so　long　with　basil　hallward。　had　he　gone　to　his　aunts；　he　would　have　been　sure　to　have　met　lord　goodbody　there；　and　the　whole　conversation　would　have　been　about　the　feeding　of　the　poor　and　the　necessity　for　model　lodging…houses。　each　class　would　have　preached　the　importance　of　those　virtues；　for　whose　exercise　there　was　no　necessity　in　their　own　lives。　the　rich　would　have　spoken　on　the　value　of　thrift；　and　the　idle　grown　eloquent　over　the　dignity　of　labour。　it　was　charming　to　have　escaped　all　that！　as　he　thought　of　his　aunt；　an　idea　seemed　to　strike　him。　he　turned　to　hallward　and　said；　〃my　dear　fellow；　i　have　just　remembered。〃

〃remembered　what；　harry？〃

〃where　i　heard　the　name　of　dorian　gray。〃

〃where　was　it？〃　asked　hallward；　with　a　slight　frown。

〃dont　look　so　angry；　basil。　it　was　at　my　aunt；　lady　agathas。　she　told　me　she　had　discovered　a　wonderful　young　man　who　was　going　to　help　her　in　the　east　end；　and　that　his　name　was　dorian　gray。　i　am　bound　to　state　that　she　never　told　me　he　was　good…looking。　women　have　no　appreciation　of　good　looks；　at　least；　good　women　have　not。　she　said　that　he　was　very　earnest　and　had　a　beautiful　nature。　i　at　once　pictured　to　myself　a　creature　with　spectacles　and　lank　hair；　horribly　freckled；　and　tramping　about　on　huge　feet。　i　wish　i　had　known　it　was　your　friend。〃

〃i　am　very　glad　you　didnt；　harry。〃

〃why？〃

〃i　dont　want　you　to　meet　him。〃

〃you　dont　want　me　to　meet　him？〃

〃no。〃

〃mr。　dorian　gray　is　in　the　studio；　sir；〃　said　the　butler；　ing　into　the　garden。

〃you　must　introduce　me　now；〃　cried　lord　henry；　laughing。

the　painter　turned　to　his　servant；　who　stood　blinking　in　the　sunlight。　〃ask　mr。　gray　to　wait；　parker：　i　shall　be　in　in　a　few　moments。〃　the　man　bowed　and　went　up　the　walk。

then　he　looked　at　lord　henry。　〃dorian　gray　is　my　dearest　friend；〃　he　said。　〃he　has　a　simple　and　a　beautiful　nature。　your　aunt　was　quite　right　in　what　she　said　of　him。　dont　spoil　him。　dont　try　to　influence　him。　your　influence　would　be　bad。　the　world　is　wide；　and　has　many　marvellous　people　in　it。　dont　take　away　from　me　the　one　person　who　gives　to　my　art　whatever　charm　it　possesses：　my　life　as　an　artist　depends　on　him。　mind；　harry；　i　trust　you。〃　he　spoke　very　slowly；　and　the　words　seemed　wrung　out　of　him　almost　against　his　will。

〃what　nonsense　you　talk！〃　said　lord　henry；　smiling；　and　taking　hallward　by　the　arm；　he　almost　led　him　into　the　house。

　ww銆�w。x锛゛oshuotxt。銆�



Chapter　2

灏忚�碸t*xt…澶�。鍫�
chapter　2

as　they　entered　they　saw　dorian　gray。　he　was　seated　at　the　piano；　with　his　back　to　them；　turning　over　the　pages　of　a　volume　of　schumanns　〃forest　scenes。〃　〃you　must　lend　me　these；　basil；〃　he　cried。　〃i　want　to　learn　them。　they　are　perfectly　charming。〃

〃that　entirely　depends　on　how　you　sit　to…day；　dorian。〃

〃oh；　i　am　tired　of　sitting；　and　i　dont　want　a　life…sized　portrait　of　myself；〃　answered　the　lad；　swinging　round　on　the　music…stool　in　a　wilful；　petulant　manner。　when　he　caught　sight　of　lord　henry；　a　faint　blush　coloured　his　cheeks　for　a　moment；　and　he　started　up。　〃i　beg　your　pardon；　basil；　but　i　didnt　know　you　had　any　one　with　you。〃

〃this　is　lord　henry　wotton；　dorian；　an　old　oxford　friend　of　mine。　i　have　just　been　telling　him　what　a　capital　sitter　you　were；　and　now　you　have　spoiled　everything。〃

〃you　have　not　spoiled　my　pleasure　in　meeting　you；　mr。　gray；〃　said　lord　henry；　stepping　forward　and　extending　his　hand。　〃my　aunt　has　often　spoken　to　me　about　you。　you　are　one　of　her　favourites；　and；　i　am　afraid；　one　of　her　victims　also。〃

〃i　am　in　lady　agathas　black　books　at　present；〃　answered　dorian　with　a　funny　look　of　penitence。　〃i　promised　to　go　to　a　club　in　whitechapel　with　her　last　tuesday；　and　i　really　forgot　all　about　it。　we　were　to　have　played　a　duet　togetherthree　duets；　i　believe。　i　dont　know　what　she　will　say　to　me。　i　am　far　too　frightened　to　call。〃

〃oh；　i　will　make　your　peace　with　my　aunt。　she　is　quite　devoted　to　you。　and　i　dont　think　it　really　matters　about　your　not　being　there。　the　audience　probably　thought　it　was　a　duet。　when　aunt　agatha　sits　down　to　the　piano；　she　makes　quite　enough　noise　for　two　people。〃

〃that　is　very　horrid　to　her；　and　not　very　nice　to　me；〃　answered　dorian；　laughing。

lord　henry　looked　at　him。　yes；　he　was　certainly　wonderfully　handsome；　with　his　finely　curved　scarlet　lips；　his　frank　blue　eyes；　his　crisp　gold　hair。　there　was　something　in　his　face　that　made　one　trust　him　at　once。　all　the　candour　of　youth　was　there；　as　well　as　all　youths　passionate　purity。　one　felt　that　he　had　kept　himself　unspotted　from　the　world。　no　wonder　basil　hallward　worshipped　him。

〃you　are　too　charming　to　go　in　for　philanthropy；　mr。　grayfar　too　charming。〃　and　lord　henry　flung　himself　down　on　the　divan　and　opened　his　cigarette…case。

the　painter　had　been　busy　mixing　his　colours　and　getting　his　brushes　ready。　he　was　looking　worried；　and　when　he　heard　lord　henrys　last　remark；　he　glanced　at　him；　hesitated　for　a　moment；　and　then　said；　〃harry；　i　want　to　finish　this　picture　to…day。　would　you　think　it　awfully　rude　of　me　if　i　asked　you　to　go　away？〃

lord　henry　smiled　and　looked　at　dorian　gray。　〃am　i　to　go；　mr。　gray？〃　he　asked。

〃oh；　please　dont；　lord　henry。　i　see　that　basil　is　in　one　of　his　sulky　moods；　and　i　cant　bear　him　when　he　sulks。　besides；　i　want　you　to　tell　me　why　i　should　not　go　in　for　philanthropy。〃

〃i　dont　know　that　i　shall　tell　you　that；　mr。　gray。　it　is　so　tedious　a　subject　that　one　would　have　to　talk　seriously　about　it。　but　i　certainly　shall　not　run　away；　now　that　you　have　asked　me　to　stop。　you　dont　really　mind；　basil；　do　you？　you　have　often　told　me　that　you　liked　your　sitters　to　have　some　one　to　chat　to。〃

hallward　bit　his　lip。　〃if　dorian　wishes　it；　of　course　you　must　stay。　dorians　whims　are　laws　to　everybody；　except　himself。〃

lord　henry　took　up　his　hat　and　gloves。　〃you　are　very　pressing；　basil；　but　i　am　afraid　i　must　go。　i　have　promised　to　meet　a　man　at　the　orleans。　good…bye；　mr。　gray。　e　and　see　me　some　afternoon　in　curzon　street。　i　am　nearly　always　at　home　at　five　oclock。　write　to　me　when　you　are　ing。　i　should　be　sorry　to　miss　you。〃

〃basil；〃　cried　dorian　gray；　〃if　lord　henry　wotton　goes；　i　shall　go；　too。　you　never　open　your　lips　while　you　are　painting；　and　it　is　horribly　dull　standing　on　a　platform　and　trying　to　look　pleasant。　ask　him　to　stay。　i　insist　upon　it。〃

〃stay；　harry；　to　oblige　dorian；　and　to　oblige　me；〃　said　hallward；　gazing　intently　at　his　picture。　〃it　is　quite　true；　i　never　talk　when　i　am　working；　and　never　listen　either；　and　it　must　be　dreadfully　tedious　for　my　unfortunate　sitters。　i　beg　you　to　stay。〃

〃but　what　about　my　man　at　the　orleans？〃

the　painter　laughed。　〃i　dont　think　there　will　be　any　difficulty　about　that。　sit　down　again；　harry。　and　now；　dorian；　get　up　on　the　platform；　and　dont　move　about　too　much；　or　pay　any　attention　to　what　lord　henry　says。　he　has　a　very　bad　influence　over　all　his　friends；　with　the　single　exception　o