尤利西斯-第53章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ss　of　India；　even　she；　who　bore　rule；　a　victress　over　many　peoples；　the　well…beloved；　for　they　knew　and　loved　her　from　the　rising　of　the　sun　to　the　going　down　thereof；　the　pale；　the　dark；　the　ruddy　and　the　ethiop。　
　What's　that　bloody　freemason　doing；　says　the　citizen；　prowling　up　and　down　outside？　
　What's　that？　says　Joe。　
　Here　you　are；　says　Alf；　chucking　out　the　rhino。　Talking　about　hanging。　I'll　show　you　something　you　never　saw。　Hangmen's　letters。　Look　at　here。　
So　he　took　a　bundle　of　wisps　of　letters　and　envelopes　out　of　his　pocket。　
　Are　you　codding？　says　I。　
　Honest　injun；　says　Alf。　Read　them。　
So　Joe　took　up　the　letters。　
　Who　are　you　laughing　at？　says　Bob　Doran。　
So　I　saw　there　was　going　to　be　bit　of　a　dust。　Bob's　a　queer　chap　when　the　porter's　up　in　him　so　says　I　just　to　make　talk：　
　How's　Willy　Murray　those　times；　Alf？　
　I　don't　know；　says　Alf。　I　saw　him　just　now　in　Capel　Street　with　Paddy　Dignam。　Only　I　was　running　after　that。　
　You　what？　says　Joe；　throwing　down　the　letters。　With　who？　
　With　Dignam；　says　Alf。　
　Is　it　Paddy？　says　Joe。　
　Yes；　says　Alf。　Why？　
　Don't　you　know　he's　dead？　says　Joe。　
　Paddy　Dignam　dead？　says　Alf。　
　Ay；　says　Joe。　
　Sure　I'm　after　seeing　him　not　five　minutes　ago；　says　Alf；　as　plain　as　a　pikestaff。　
　Who's　dead？　says　Bob　Doran。　
　You　saw　his　ghost　then；　says　Joe；　God　between　us　and　harm。　
　What？　says　Alf。　Good　Christ；　only　five。。。　What？。。。　and　Willie　Murray　with　him；　the　two　of　them　there　near　what…doyoucallhim's。。。　What？　Dignam　dead？　
　What　about　Dignam？　says　Bob　Doran。　Who's　talking　about。。。　？　
　Dead！　says　Alf。　He　is　no　more　dead　than　you　are。　
　Maybe　so；　says　Joe。　They　took　the　liberty　of　burying　him　this　morning　anyhow。　
　Paddy？　says　Alf。　
　Ay；　says　Joe。　He　paid　the　debt　of　nature；　God　be　merciful　to　him。　
　Good　Christ！　says　Alf。　
Begob　he　was　what　you　might　call　flabbergasted。　
In　the　darkness　spirit　hands　were　felt　to　flutter　and　when　prayer　by　tantras　had　been　directed　to　the　proper　quarter　a　faint　but　increasing　luminosity　of　ruby　light　became　gradually　visible；　the　apparition　of　the　etheric　double　being　particularly　lifelike　owing　to　the　discharge　of　jivic　rays　from　the　crown　of　the　head　and　face。　munication　was　effected　through　the　pituitary　body　and　also　by　means　of　the　orangefiery　and　scarlet　rays　emanating　from　the　sacral　region　and　solar　plexus。　Questioned　by　his　earthname　as　to　his　whereabouts　in　the　heaven…world　he　stated　that　he　was　now　on　the　path　of　pralaya　or　return　but　was　still　submitted　to　trial　at　the　hands　of　certain　bloodthirsty　entities　on　the　lower　astral　levels。　In　reply　to　a　question　as　to　his　first　sensations　in　the　great　divide　beyond　he　stated　that　previously　he　had　seen　as　in　a　glass　darkly　but　that　those　who　had　passed　over　had　summit　possibilities　of　atmic　development　opened　up　to　them。　Interrogated　as　to　whether　life　there　resembled　our　experience　in　the　flesh　he　stated　that　he　had　heard　from　more　favoured　beings　now　in　the　spirit　that　their　abodes　were　equipped　with　every　modern　home　fort　such　as　talafana；　alavatar；　hatakalda；　wataklasat　and　that　the　highest　adepts　were　steeped　in　waves　of　volupcy　of　the　very　purest　nature。　Having　requested　a　quart　of　buttermilk　this　was　brought　and　evidently　afforded　relief。　Asked　if　he　had　any　message　for　the　living　he　exhorted　all　who　were　still　at　the　wrong　side　of　Maya　to　acknowledge　the　true　path　for　it　was　reported　in　devanic　circles　that　Mars　and　Jupiter　were　out　for　mischief　on　the　eastern　angle　where　the　ram　has　power。　It　was　then　queried　whether　there　were　any　special　desires　on　the　part　of　the　defunct　and　the　reply　was：　We　greet　you；　friends　of　earth；　who　are　still　in　the　body。　Mind　C。K。　doesn't　pile　it　on。　It　was　ascertained　that　the　reference　was　to　Mr　Cornelius　Kelleher；　manager　of　Messrs　H。J。　O'Neill's　popular　funeral　establishment；　a　personal　friend　of　the　defunct；　who　had　been　responsible　for　the　carrying　out　of　the　interment　arrangements。　Before　departing　he　requested　that　it　should　be　told　to　his　dear　son　Patsy　that　the　other　boot　which　he　had　been　looking　for　was　at　present　under　the　mode　in　the　return　room　and　that　the　pair　should　be　sent　to　Cullen's　to　be　soled　only　as　the　heels　were　still　good。　He　stated　that　this　had　greatly　perturbed　his　peace　of　mind　in　the　other　region　and　earnestly　requested　that　his　desire　should　be　made　known。　
Assurances　were　given　that　the　matter　would　be　attended　to　and　it　was　intimated　that　this　had　given　satisfaction。　
He　is　gone　from　mortal　haunts：　O'Dignam；　sun　of　our　morning。　Fleet　was　his　foot　on　the　bracken：　Patrick　of　the　beamy　brow。　Wail；　Banba；　with　your　wind：　and　wail；　O　ocean；　with　your　whirlwind。　
　There　he　is　again；　says　the　citizen；　staring　out。　
　Who？　says　I。　
　Bloom；　says　he。　He's　on　point　duty　up　and　down　there　for　the　last　ten　minutes。　
And；　begob；　I　saw　his　physog　do　a　peep　in　and　then　slidder　off　again。　
Little　Alf　was　knocked　bawways。　Faith；　he　was。　
　Good　Christ！　says　he。　I　could　have　sworn　it　was　him。　
And　says　Bob　Doran；　with　the　hat　on　the　back　of　his　poll；　lowest　blackguard　in　Dublin　when　he's　under　the　influence：　
　Who　said　Christ　is　good？　
　I　beg　your　parsnips；　says　Alf。　
　Is　that　a　good　Christ；　says　Bob　Doran；　to　take　away　poor　little　Willy　Dignam？　
　Ah；　well；　says　Alf；　trying　to　pass　it　off。　He's　over　all　his　troubles。　
But　Bob　Doran　shouts　out　of　him。　
　He's　a　bloody　ruffian　I　say；　to　take　away　poor　little　Willy　Dignam。　
Terry　came　down　and　tipped　him　the　wink　to　keep　quiet；　that　they　didn't　want　that　kind　of　talk　in　a　respectable　licensed　premises。　And　Bob　Doran　starts　doing　the　weeps　about　Paddy　Dignam；　true　as　you're　there。　
　The　finest　man；　says　he；　snivelling；　the　finest　purest　character。　
The　tear　is　bloody　near　your　eye。　Talking　through　his　bloody　hat。　Fitter　for　him　to　go　home　to　the　little　sleepwalking　bitch　he　married；　Mooney；　the　bumbailiff's　daughter。　Mother　kept　a　kip　in　Hardwicke　street　that　used　to　be　stravaging　about　the　landings　Bantam　Lyons　told　me　that　was　stopping　there　at　two　in　the　morning　without　a　stitch　on　her；　exposing　her　person；　open　to　all　ers；　fair　field　and　no　favour。　
　The　noblest；　the　truest；　says　he。　And　he's　gone；　poor　little　Willy；　poor　little　Paddy　Dignam。　
And　mournful　and　with　a　heavy　heart　he　bewept　the　extinction　of　that　beam　of　heaven。　
Old　Garryowen　started　growling　again　at　Bloom　that　was　skeezing　round　the　door。　
　e　in；　e　on；　he　won't　eat　you；　says　the　citizen。　
So　Bloom　slopes　in　with　his　cod's　eye　on　the　dog　and　he　asks　Terry　was　Martin　Cunningham　there。　
　O；　Christ　M'Keown；　says　Joe；　reading　one　of　the　letters。　Listen　to　this；　will　you？　
And　he　starts　reading　out　one。　
7；　Hunter　Street；　Liverpool。
To　the　High　Sheriff　of　Dublin；　Dublin。
Honoured　sir　i　beg　to　offer　my　services　in　the　above…mentioned　painful　case　i　hanged　Joe　Gann　in　Bootle　jail　on　the　12　of　February　1900　and　i　hanged。。。　
　Show　us；　Joe；　says　I。
　。。。　private　Arthur　Chace　for　fowl　murder　of　Jessie　Tilsit　in　Pentonville　prison　and　i　was　assistant　when。。。　
　Jesus；　says　I。
　。。。　Billington　executed　the　awful　murderer　Toad　Smith。。。　
The　citizen　made　a　grab　at　the　letter。
　Hold　hard；　says　Joe；　i　have　a　special　nack　of　putting　the　noose　once　in　he　can't　get　out　hoping　to　be　favoured　i　remain；　honoured　sir'　my　teas　is　five　ginnese。
H。　Rumbold；
Master　Barber。
　And　a　barbarous　bloody　barbarian　he　is　too；　says　the　citizen。　
　And　the　dirty　scrawl　of　the　wretch；　says　Joe。　Here；　says　he；　take　them　to　hell　out　of　my　sight；　Alf。　Hello；　Bloom；　says　he；　what　will　you　have？　
So　they　started　arguing　about　the　point；　Bloom　saying　he　wouldn't　and　couldn't　and　excuse　him　no　offence　and　all　to　that　and　then　he　said　well　he'd　just　take　a　cigar。　Gob；　he's　a　prudent　member　and　no　mistake。　
　Give　us　one　of　your　prime　stinkers；　Terry；　says　Joe。　
And　Alf　was　telling　us　there　was　one　chap　sent　in　a　mourning　card　with　a　black　border　round　it。　
　They're　all　barbers；　says　he；　from　the　black　country　that　would　hang　their　own　fathers　for　five　quid　down　and　travelling　expenses。　
And　he　was　telling　us　there's　two　fellows　waiting　below　to　pull　his　heels　down　when　he　gets　the　drop　and　choke　him　properly　and　then　they　chop　up　the　rope　after　and　sell　the　bits　for　a　few　bob　a　skull。　
In　the　dark　land　they　bide；　the　vengeful　knights　of　the　razor。　Their　deadly　coil　they　grasp：　yea；　and　therein　they　lead　to　Erebus　whatsoever　wight　hath　done　a　deed　of　blood　for　I　will　on　nowise　suffer　it　even　so　saith　the　Lord。　
So　they　started　talking　about　capital　punishment　and　of　course　Bloom　es　out　with　the　why　and　the　wherefore　and　all　the　codology　of　the　business　and　the　old　dog　smelling　him　all　the　time　I'm　told　those　Jewies　does　have　a　sort　of　a　queer　odour　ing　off　them　for　dogs　about　I　don't　know　what　all　deterrent　effect　and　so　forth　and　so　on。　
　There's　one　thing　it　hasn't　a　deterrent　effect　on；　says　Alf。　
　What's　that？　says　Joe。　
　The　poor　bugger's　tool　that's　being　hanged；　says　Alf。　
　That　so？　says　Joe。　
　God's　truth；　says　Alf。　I　heard　that　from　the　head　warder　that　was　in　Kilmainham　when　they　hanged　Joe　Brady；　the　invincible。　He　told　me　when　they　cut　him　down　after　the　drop　it　was　standing　up　in　their　faces　like　a　poker。　
　Ruling　passion　strong　in　death；　says　Joe；　as　someone　said。　
　That　can　be　explained　by　science；　says　Bloom。　It's　only　a　natural　phenomenon；　don't　you　see；　because　on　account　of　the。。。　
And　then　he　starts　with　his　jawbreakers　about　phenomenon　and　science　and　this　phenomenon　and　the　other　phenomenon。　
The　distinguished　scientist　Herr　Professor　Luitpold　Blumenduft　tendered　medical　evidence　to　the　effect　that　the　instantaneous　fracture　of　the　cervical　vertebrae　and　consequent　scission　of　the　spinal　cord　would；　according　to　the　best　approved　traditions　of　medical　science；　be　calculated　to　inevitably　produce　in　the　human　subject　a　violent　ganglionic　stimulus　of　the　nerve　centres；　causing　the　pores　of　the　cobra　cavernosa　to　rapidly　dilate　in　such　a　way　as　to　instantaneously　facilitate　the　flow　of　blood　to　that　part　of　the　human　anatomy　known　as　the　penis　or　male　organ　resulting　in　the　phenomenon　which　has　been　dominated　by　the　faculty　a　morbid　upwards　and　outwards　philoprogenitive　erection　in　articulo　mortis　per　diminutionem　capitis。　
So　of　course　the　citizen　was　only　waiting　for　the　wink　of　the　word　and　he　starts　gassing　out　of　him　about　the　invincibles　and　the　old　guard　and　the　men　of　sixtyseven　and　who　fears　to　speak　of　ninetyeight　and　Joe　with　him　about　all　the　fellows　that　were　hanged；　drawn　and　transported　for　the　cause　by　drumhead　courtmartial　and　a　new　Ireland　and　new　this；　that　and　the　other。　Talking　about　new　Ireland　he　ought　to　go　and　get　a　new　dog　so　he　ought。　Mangy　ravenous　brute　sniffling　and　sneezing　all　round　the　place　and　scratching　his　scabs　and　round　he　goes　to　Bob　Doran　that　was　standing　Alf　a　half　one　sucking　up　for　what　he　could　get。　So　of　course　Bob　Doran　starts　doing　the　bloody　fool　with　him：　
　Give　us　the　paw！　Give　the　paw；　doggy！　Good　old　doggy。　Give　us　the　paw　here！　Give　us　the　paw！　
Arrah！　bloody　end　to　the　paw　he'd　paw　and　Alf　trying　to　keep　him　from　tumbling　off　the　bloody　stool　atop　of　the　bloody　old　dog　and　he　talking　all　kinds　of　drivel　about　training　by　kindness　and　thoroughbred　dog　and　intelligent　dog：　give　you　the　bloody　pip。　Then　he　starts　scraping　a　few　bits　of　old