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INTRODUO
PREFCIO
O RETRATO DE DORIAN GRAY
CAPTULO I
CAPTULO 2
CAPTULO 3
CAPTULO 4
CAPTULO 5
CAPTULO 6
CAPTULO 7
CAPTULO 8
CAPTULO 9
CAPTULO 10
CAPTULO 11
CAPTULO 12
CAPTULO 13
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY
PREFACE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
OSCAR WILDE
OSCAR WILDE
E DIO BILNGUE
2012
EDITORA LANDMARK
RUA ALFREDO PUJOL, 285 - 12 ANDAR - SANTANA
02017-010 - SO PAULO - SP
TEL.: +55 (11) 2711-2566 / 2950-9095
E-MAIL: EDITORA@EDITORALANDMARK.COM.BR
WWW. EDITORALANDMARK.COM.BR
IMPRESSO NO BRASIL
PRINTED IN BRAZIL
2012
Introduo
A verso apresentada nesta edio uma verso bilngue da primeira publicao
impressa pela Lippincotts Monthly Magazine e escrita por Oscar Wilde, em
1890, sem as alteraes inseridas na verso inglesa de 1891.
O Retrato de Dorian Gray o nico romance produzido por Oscar Wilde,
escrito inicialmente para uma revista literria norte-americana, a Lippincotts
Monthly Magazine, em 1890. Oscar Wilde j era muito conhecido do pblico
norte-americano desde 1882 quando foi convidado para ir aos Estados Unidos da
Amrica e palestrar sobre o recm criado movimento do Esteticismo, uma vez
que se tornara o principal divulgador das ideias de renovao artstica.
As bases do Esteticismo foram desenvolvidas principalmente por Walter Pater,
professor de Esttica da Universidade de Oxford, cuja obra Studies in the
History of the Renaissance, de 1873, influenciaria toda uma gerao de
escritores, pintores e artistas, entre eles o prprio Wilde. O movimento defendia o
belo como nica soluo contra tudo o que considerava denegrir a sociedade da
poca, onde em suas manifestaes mais fortes, os valores estticos tm
predominncia sobre todos os demais aspectos da vida, numa atitude elitista em
relao arte. Esse movimento, que contava com grande influncia sobre toda
uma nova gerao de intelectuais e artistas britnicos, visava transformar o
tradicionalismo na poca vitoriana, dando um tom de vanguarda s artes. Alm
de Wilde, seus principais representantes eram os pintores pr-rafaelistas, Dante
Gabriel Rossetti, Edward Burne-Jones, alm de James Whistler e os tericos John
Ruskin e William Morris.
Oscar Wilde conquistou sua fama atravs de suas obras para o teatro e o modo
escolhido de expresso literria foi a stira de costumes, uma forma que lhe
permitia exibir seu estilo e suas crenas estticas, bem como seu domnio
sofisticado sobre a vida intelectual e a literatura de sua poca. inegvel a
presena da stira na maioria de suas peas, entretanto no se pode deixar de
observar a extenso pelo qual o Esteticismo moldou a estrutura dramtica bem
como os temas de suas obras. Wilde defendia amplamente atravs de sua
produo as teses do movimento: a funo primordial da arte seria a de criar
beleza e harmonia, e no apresentar de forma principal uma mensagem social
ou moral. Frequentemente, citava uma mxima proferida pelo poeta do
romantismo ingls, John Keats (1795-1821) A Beleza corresponde Verdade
e a Verdade bela como sendo o marco inicial do movimento esttico, um
verdadeiro renascimento das artes na Inglaterra. A oportunidade de construir o
movimento esttico precisamente e combin-lo com os grande temas sociais,
levou Wilde a enveredar pelo drama.
Um artista, meu caro senhor, no possui afinidade tica com tudo. A virtude e a
fraqueza so para ele simplesmente o que as cores de uma paleta so para um
pintor.
O pblico ingls no possui qualquer interesse em uma obra de arte at que lhe
O lanamento de O Retrato de Dorian Gray fez com que seu autor se tornasse
ainda mais admirado e famoso. No entanto, em seu apogeu literrio, comearam
a surgir os problemas pessoais, aliados aos seus posicionamentos audaciosos para
a poca, o que desafiavam a moralidade da aristocracia inglesa. Seu
envolvimento com lorde Alfred Douglas o levaria runa: o pai de lorde Douglas,
o marqus de Queensberry , sabendo do envolvimento de seu filho com o
escritor, enviou uma carta ao escritor endereada a Oscar Wilde, o conhecido
Sodomita. O escritor decidiu processar o marqus por difamao; em seguida,
tentou mudar de ideia e desistir do processo, visto que muitos rumores pairavam
sobre sua prpria conduta, mas j era tarde demais: as provas apresentadas sobre
seu comportamento comearam a surgir e um novo processo foi instaurado
contra ele. Nesse processo, o tribunal tambm se valeu das ideias apresentadas
em O Retrato de Dorian Gray como forma de justificar o carter corruptor
dos ideais de Oscar Wilde, principalmente entre a juventude aristocrtica inglesa.
O Retrato de Dorian Gray uma obra que pode ser considerada
imprescindvel, no apenas pelo ser carter genial, digno dos mais constantes
louvores, mas sobretudo por possuir uma histria que acabou por se tornar um
dos cnones da literatura ocidental, sendo impossvel no se degustar o tempo
ganho ao se ler este adorvel romance.
PRE FCIO
O arti s ta o cri ador de coi s as bel as . Revel ar a arte e ocul tar o arti s ta o
obj eti vo da arte. O cr ti co aquel e que pode traduzi r de outro modo, ou em um
novo materi al , as s uas i mpres s es s obre as coi s as bel as .
As formas mai s el evadas ou bai xas da cr ti ca um modo de
autobi ografi a. Aquel es que encontram s i gni fi cados fei os nas coi s as bel as s o
corruptos e s em s erem encantadores . Is to um defei to.
Aquel es que encontram s i gni fi cados bel os nas coi s as bel as s o
aquel es que as cul ti vam. Para es s es h es perana. E l es s o os el ei tos para
quem as coi s as bel as s i gni fi cam apenas bel eza.
No exi s tem fatos morai s ou i morai s em um l i vro. Os l i vros s o
apenas bem ou mal es cri tos . Is to tudo.
O di o do s cul o 19 pel o Real i s mo a rai va de Cal i b[1] ao ver o s eu
prpri o ros to di ante de um es pel ho.
O di o do s cul o 19 pel o Romanti s mo a rai va de Cal i b ao no poder
ver o s eu prpri o ros to em um es pel ho. A vi da moral dos homens cons ti tui
partes do tema us ado por um arti s ta, mas a moral i dade da arte cons i s te do us o
perfei to de um mei o i mperfei to. Nenhum arti s ta des ej a provar nada. M es mo
as coi s as que s o verdadei ras podem s er provadas . Nenhum arti s ta pos s ui
compreens o da ti ca. Uma compreens o ti ca em um arti s ta um
manei ri s mo i mperdovel de es ti l o. Do mes mo modo, nenhum arti s ta
mrbi do. O arti s ta pode expres s ar todas as coi s as . O pens amento e a
l i nguagem s o os i ns trumentos art s ti cos de uma arte. O v ci o e a vi rtude s o
os materi ai s art s ti cos para a arte. A parti r do ponto de vi s ta da forma, a
ti pol ogi a de todas as artes a arte do ms i co. Do ponto de vi s ta do s enti mento, o
of ci o do ator a ti pol ogi a. Toda arte em s i s uperf ci e e s mbol o. Aquel es que
vo al m da s uperf ci e o fazem s ob s eu prpri o ri s co. Aquel es que des vendam
o s mbol o o fazem s ob s eu prpri o ri s co. o es pectador e no a vi da que a Arte
real mente es pel ha. A di vers i dade de opi ni o s obre o trabal ho da arte
demons tra que o trabal ho novo, compl exo e vi tal . Quando os cr ti cos di vergem,
o arti s ta permanece de acordo com s i mes mo. Ns podemos perdoar um homem
por tornar al go ti l , mes mo que el e no a admi re. A ni ca des cul pa para s e
produzi r al go i nti l aqui l o que s e admi ra i ntens amente.
Toda forma de Arte completamente i nti l.
OSCAR WILDE
CAPT ULO 1
O es tdi o es tava tomado pel o profundo perfume das ros as e quando o
s uave vento es ti val corri a por entre as rvores do j ardi m trazi a porta a dentro a
fragrnci a carregada das l i l i ceas ou ai nda o perfume del i cado do es pi nhei ro
ros a.
E s tendi do s obre um di v pers a de l argas al mofadas , col ocado a canto,
fumando como era de s eu cos tume i nmeros ci garros , l orde Henry Wotton s
cons egui a vi s l umbrar as fl ores adoci cadas e da cor-de-mel de um l aburno,
cuj os ramos trmul os di fi ci l mente pareci am s er capazes de s us tentar o pes o
de uma bel eza to ful gurante quanto a del es ; e de vez em quando, as
fants ti cas s ombras dos ps s aros em voo proj etavam-s e s obre o grande
corti nado de s eda que s e es tendi a s obre a enorme j anel a, produzi ndo como que
um momentneo efei to j apons , l evando-o a pens ar naquel es pi ntores de
Tqui o, de ros tos pl i dos e da cor de j ade que atravs de uma arte que
neces s ari amente i mvel , procuram trans mi ti r a s ens ao da vel oci dade e do
movi mento. O l ento murmri o das abel has que abri am cami nho por entre a
l onga rel va cres ci da, ou que voavam com uma montona i ns i s tnci a em torno
das has tes douradas e empoei radas de uma madres s i l va des garrada, pareci a
tornar o s i l nci o ai nda mai s opres s i vo. Ao l onge, os i ndi s ti ntos ru dos de
Londres s oavam como a nota grave de um rgo di s tante.
No centro da s al a, fi xado em um caval ete col ocado de p, es tava o retrato
compl eto de um j ovem homem de extraordi nri a bel eza pes s oal e, di ante del e,
pouca coi s a mai s di s tante, s entava-s e o prpri o arti s ta, Bas i l Hal l ward, cuj o
s bi to des apareci mento h al guns anos caus ou ao pbl i co, naquel e momento,
tanta exci tao e deu ori gem a tantas hi ptes es es tranhas .
E nquanto el e obs ervava a graci os a e bel a forma que ti nha es pel hado
com tanta maes tri a em s ua arte, um s orri s o de prazer pas s ou atravs de s eu
ros to e pareceu s e deter al i . M as el e i nes peradamente s e l evantou e,
fechando os ol hos , col ocou os dedos s obre as pl pebras , como s e bus cas s e
apri s i onar em s eu crebro al gum s onho curi os o do qual temi a des pertar.
o s eu mel hor trabal ho, Bas i l , a mel hor coi s a que j fez, di s s e
l orde Henry, l angui damente. Certamente voc deve envi -l o a Gros venor no
ano que vem. A Academi a mui to grande e vul gar. Gros venor o ni co l ugar.
Acho que no mandarei para l ugar nenhum, el e res pondeu, j ogando
s ua cabea para trs naquel e modo es qui s i to que cos tumava fazer s eus ami gos
ri rem del e em Oxford. No: no vou mand-l o para l ugar nenhum.
Lorde Henry el evou s uas s obrancel has e ol hou para el e com s urpres a,
atravs das fi nas es pi rai s azul adas que s ubi am em i rreai s meandros de s eu
forte ci garro bas e de pi o. No vai envi -l o a l ugar nenhum? M eu queri do
ami go, por qu? Voc pos s ui al gum moti vo para i s s o? Vocs , pi ntores , s o uns
s uj ei tos es qui s i tos ! Vocs fazem qual quer coi s a no mundo para ganhar fama.
As s i m que a conqui s tam, parecem querer s e l i vrar del a. Voc um tol o, poi s
mi nha vi da. Voc mes mo s abe, Harry, quo i ndependente s ou por natureza.
M eu pai des ti nou-me para o exrci to. Ins i s ti em i r para Oxford. E nto, el e fez
com que eu me i ns creves s e em M i ddl e Templ e[1]. Antes de ter aprovei tado
metade dos doze j antares [2], l arguei a advocaci a e anunci ei mi nha i nteno
de me tornar um pi ntor. Sempre fui meu prpri o mes tre; e teri a s i do as s i m,
pel o menos , at encontrar Dori an Gray. E nto... M as no s ei como l he expl i car
i s s o. Al go pareceu me di zer que eu es tava bei ra de uma terr vel cri s e em
mi nha vi da. E u ti nha uma es tranho s ens ao de que o Des ti no ti nha
guardado para mi m i ntens as al egri as e i ntens as mgoas . E u s abi a que s e
convers as s e com Dori an tornari a-me abs ol utamente devotado a el e e, des te
modo, no deveri a fal ar com el e. O medo cres ci a em mi m e me vi rei para
dei xar a s al a. No foi a cons ci nci a que me i mpel i u a agi r as s i m: foi a
covardi a. No atri buo nenhum crdi to a mi m mes mo por tentar es capar.
Cons ci nci a e covardi a s o, de fato, as mes mas coi s as , Bas i l .
Cons ci nci a o nome fantas i a da companhi a. Is s o tudo.
No acredi to ni s s o, Harry. Porm, s ej a qual for meu moti vo e
poderi a s er orgul ho, poi s eu cos tumava s er mui to orgul hos o certamente corri
para a porta. L, cl aro, tropecei em l ady Brandon. Voc no vai fugi r as s i m to
cedo, s enhor Hal l ward, el a excl amou. Voc conhece a voz es tri dente e
horrenda del a?
Si m; el a um pavo em tudo, menos na bel eza, di s s e l orde Henry,
des pedaando a margari da com s eus dedos l ongos e nervos os .
E u no pude me des vi nci l har del a. E l a me l evou aos nobres e s
pes s oas condecoradas [3] e s s enhoras i dos as com ti aras gi gantes cas e nari zes
empi nados . E l a s e referi a a mi m como s eu mai s queri do ami go. E u a havi a
encontrado apenas uma vez, mas el a col ocou em s ua cabea que deveri a me
tratar como uma cel ebri dade. Acredi to que al guma pi ntura mi nha tenha fei to
um grande s uces s o naquel e tempo ou pel o menos tenha s i do comentada pel os
j ornai s baratos , que o padro do s cul o 19 de i mortal i dade. Logo me encontrei
frente a frente com o j ovem rapaz, cuj a pers onal i dade ti nha to es tranhamente
me ati ado. E s tvamos mui to prxi mos , quas e nos tocando. Nos s os ol hos s e
encontraram novamente. Foi l oucura mi nha, mas pedi a l ady Brandon que me
apres entas s e a el e. Tal vez no tenha s i do tanta l oucura, no fi nal das contas .
E ra s i mpl es mente i nevi tvel . Ter amos nos fal ado mes mo s em qual quer
apres entao. E s tou certo di s s o. Dori an me di s s e i s s o depoi s . E l e tambm
s enti ra que es tvamos des ti nados a nos conhecer um ao outro.
E como l ady Brandon des creveu es te maravi l hos o j ovem rapaz? Sei que
el a cos tuma dar um rpi do e detal hado res umo de todos os s eus convi dados .
Lembro-me del a me l evando a um vel ho caval hei ro, mui to trucul ento e de ros to
avermel hado, todo recoberto com medal has e fai xas , e s i bi l ando em meus
ouvi dos um s us s urro trgi co que deve ter s i do perfei tamente aud vel para todos
na s al a, al go como Senhor Ful ano de Tal ... voc s abe... frontei ra afeg...
i ntri gas rus s as : um homem de mui to s uces s o... es pos a morta por um
el efante... mui to i ncons ol vel ... quer s e cas ar com uma bel a vi va norteameri cana... todos fazem i s s o hoj e em di a... odei a o s enhor Gl ads tone... mas
tem mui to i nteres s e em bes ouros : pergunte-l he o que acha de Schouval off.
E u s i mpl es mente fugi . Gos to de des cobri r as pes s oas por mi m mes mo. M as a
pobre l ady Brandon trata as pes s oas exatamente como um l ei l oei ro trata as
s uas mercadori as . Ou el a os des venda por compl eto ou di z a al gum tudo s obre
el es exceto o que s e quer real mente s aber. M as o que el a di s s e s obre o s enhor
Dori an Gray?
Oh, el a murmurou, Rapaz encantador... eu e a pobre e queri da me
s omos i ns eparvei s ... comprometi das a nos cas ar com o mes mo homem... quero
di zer, cas ar no mes mo di a... como s ou tol a! J es queci o que el e faz temo que
el e... no faa nada... ah, s i m, toca pi ano... ou s eri a vi ol i no, s enhor Gray?
Nenhum de ns pde s egurar o ri s o e nos tornamos ami gos de vez.
Ri r no um mau comeo para uma ami zade e o mel hor mei o de por
trmi no a uma, di s s e l orde Henry, arrancando outra margari da.
Hal l ward enterrou s eu ros to entre as mos . Voc no entende o que
uma ami zade, Henry, el e murmurou, ou que a i ni mi zade, nes te cas o.
Voc como todos ; ou s ej a, i ndi ferente a qual quer um.
Voc terri vel mente i nj us to!, excl amou l orde Henry, i ncl i nando s eu
chapu para trs e ol hando para as pequenas nuvens aci ma que vadi avam
atravs do i nexpres s i vo azul -turques a do cu de vero, como novel os des fi ados
de bri l hante s eda branca. Si m; horri vel mente i nj us to. E u di ferenci o mui to
bem as pes s oas . E s col ho meus ami gos pel a boa aparnci a, meus conheci dos ,
pel o carter e meus i ni mi gos , pel a i ntel i gnci a. No ando com nenhum
i mbeci l . Todos s o homens de al guma fora i ntel ectual e, cons equentemente,
todos gos tam de mi m. Is s o me faz um vai dos o? E u acho que mai s que
vai dade.
Deveri a pens ar que s i m, Harry. M as , de acordo com as s uas
categori as , devo s er apenas um conheci do.
M eu bom vel ho Bas i l , voc mui to mai s do que um conheci do.
E mui to menos que um ami go. Uma es pci e de i rmo, tal vez?
Ah, i rmos ! E u no me i mporto com el es . M eu i rmo mai s vel ho no
morrer e os mai s j ovens parecem nunca fazer outra coi s a.
Harry!
M eu caro rapaz, no es tou s endo mui to s ri o. M as no pos s o evi tar
detes tar meus parentes . Suponho que i s s o venha do fato de que no podemos
s uportar outras pes s oas que tm as mes mas fal has que ns mes mos .
Si mpati zo mui to com a fri a da democraci a i ngl es a contra o que el es chamam
de v ci os das el i tes . E l es s entem que a bebedei ra, a es tupi dez e a
i moral i dade devem s er propri edades es peci ai s del es , e que s e al gum de ns
s e faz de bobo, es t i nvadi ndo uma propri edade pri vada. Quando o pobre
Southwark entrou na Corte de Di vrci os , a i ndi gnao del es era quas e
maravi l hos a. E , ai nda as s i m, no s uponho que dez por cento das ordens
i nferi ores vi vam corretamente.
No concordo com uma ni ca pal avra do que voc di s s e, Henry, e
ai nda mai s , no acredi to que voc tambm concorde.
Lorde Henry acari ci ou s ua barba ponti aguda marrom e bateu na ponta
da s ua bota de couro bri l hante com uma vara de j unco com franj as . Como voc
i ngl s , Bas i l ! Se al gum prope uma i dei a para um verdadei ro i ngl s
s empre al go i mprudente de s e fazer el e s equer s onha em cons i derar s e a
i dei a es t certa ou errada. A ni ca coi s a que el e cons i dera de al guma
i mportnci a s e al gum acredi ta no s eu prpri o nti mo. Agora, o val or de uma
i dei a no tem abs ol utamente nada a ver com a s i nceri dade do homem que a
expres s a. Com efei to, quanto mai s prepotente o homem for, mai s chances h
de a i dei a s er mai s puramente i ntel ectual , j que nes te cas o, a i dei a no
s er pi ntada pel a s uas vontades , des ej os ou pel o orgul ho. Porm, no proponho
di s cuti r pol ti ca, s oci ol ogi a ou metaf s i ca com voc. Gos to mai s das pes s oas do
que dos pri nc pi os . Fal e mai s s obre Dori an Gray. Voc o v mui to
frequentemente?
Todos os di as . E u no poderi a s er fel i z s e no o pudes s e ver todos os
di as . Cl aro que s vezes s por al guns mi nutos . M as poucos mi nutos com uma
pes s oa que al gum cul tua mui ta coi s a.
M as voc real mente no o cul tua?
Si m.
Que extraordi nri o! Pens ei que voc nunca s e i mportas s e com
qual quer coi s a mai s al m de s ua pi ntura, s ua arte, devo di zer. Arte s oa
mel hor, no ?
E l e toda a mi nha arte para mi m agora. s vezes acho, Harry, que
h apenas duas eras de al guma i mportnci a na hi s tri a do mundo. A
pri mei ra a apari o de um novo mei o para a arte e a s egunda o s urgi mento
de uma nova pers onal i dade tambm para a arte. O que a i nveno da pi ntura a
l eo foi para os venezi anos e o ros to de Ant noo foi para a fi nada es cul tura
grega, a face de Dori an Gray s er al gum di a para mi m. No s omente porque
pi nto a parti r del e, des enho a parti r del e, model o a parti r del e. Cl aro que fi z
tudo i s s o. E l e pos ou como Pri s em del i cada armadura e como Adni s com
tni ca de caador e uma pol i da l ana para j aval i s . Coroado com fl ores de l tus ,
el e s e s entou proa da barca de Adri ano, ol hando para o verde e turvo Ni l o. E l e
s e apoi ou s obre al gum pl ci do l ago em al gum bos que na Grci a e vi u nas
cal mas guas prateadas a maravi l ha de s ua prpri a bel eza. M as el e mai s
para mi m do que i s s o. No l he di rei que es tou i ns ati s fei to com o que fi z del e,
que a s ua bel eza tamanha que a arte no pode expres s -l a. No h nada que
a arte no pos s a expres s ar, e s ei que o trabal ho que tenho fei to des de que
encontrei Dori an Gray de boa qual i dade; o mel hor trabal ho que fi z na
mi nha vi da. M as , de al guma manei ra curi os a pergunto-me s e voc i r
compreender a pers onal i dade del e me s ugeri u um mtodo compl etamente
[1] Uma das ni cas quatro i ns ti tui es acadmi cas que formam barri s ters
( advogados que di vi dem uma caus a com os s ol i ci tors , que tm contato com
o cl i ente, enquanto os barri s ters fazem a defes a do cl i ente na corte).
CAPT ULO 2
Vi ram Dori an Gray as s i m que entraram. E l e es tava s entado ao pi ano,
de cos tas para el es , fol heando um vol ume das Ki nders cenen, de
Schumann[1]. Voc tem de me empres t-l as , Bas i l , el e excl amou. Tenho de
aprend-l as . So perfei tamente encantadoras .
Is s o depende i ntei ramente de como voc pos ar hoj e, Dori an.
Oh, es tou cans ado de pos ar e no quero um retrato meu de tamanho
natural , res pondeu o rapazote, bal anando s obre o banco do pi ano, de modo
determi nado e petul ante. Quando el e s e apercebeu de l orde Henry, um l eve
rubor pi ntou s eu ros to por um momento e el e s e l evantou. Des cul pe-me,
Bas i l , mas no s abi a que havi a al gum com voc.
E s te l orde Henry Wotton, Dori an, um vel ho ami go meu de Oxford.
E s tava j us tamente l he contando que voc era um model o i mportante, mas
agora voc es tragou tudo.
Voc no es tragou meu prazer em conhec-l o, s enhor Gray, di s s e
l orde Henry, adi antando-s e e apertando-l he s ua mo. M i nha ti a
frequentemente fal a de voc para mi m. Voc um dos predi l etos del a e, temo
eu, uma de s uas v ti mas tambm.
E s tou na l i s ta negra de Lady Agatha no momento, res pondeu Dori an,
com um ol har di verti do de peni tnci a. Prometi acompanh-l a ao cl ube del a,
em Whi techapel na l ti ma tera-fei ra e real mente me es queci
compl etamente di s s o. Dever amos tocar um dueto j untos trs duetos , acho.
No s ei o que el a di r de mi m. E s tou mui to amedrontado para vi s i t-l a.
Oh, eu o reconci l i arei com mi nha ti a. E l a mui to devotada a voc. E
no acredi to que i mportava mui to voc no es tar l . O pbl i co provavel mente
pens ou que era um dueto. Quando ti a Agatha s enta-s e ao pi ano, el a faz
barul ho s ufi ci ente por duas pes s oas .
Is s o ps s i mo para el a e no mui to bom para mi m, res pondeu
Dori an, ri ndo.
Lorde Henry ol hou para el e. Si m, de fato el e era maravi l hos amente
boni to, com s eus l bi os es carl ates fi namente encurvados , s eus ol hos azui s
di retos e s eu cabel o dourado e revol to. Havi a al go em s eu ros to que fazi a
al gum confi ar nel e i medi atamente. Toda a candura da j uventude es tava al i ,
as s i m como toda a j ovem pureza apai xonada. Podi a-s e s enti r que el e s e
manti vera i ntacto pel o mundo. No era de s urpreender que Bas i l Hal l ward o
veneras s e. E l e fora fei to para s er cul tuado.
Voc mui to encantador para s e dedi car fi l antropi a, s enhor Gray
por demai s encantador. E l orde Henry ati rou-s e ao di v, abri ndo a s ua
ci garrei ra.
Hal l ward es tava ocupado em mi s turar s uas cores e em aprontar s eus
Por qu?
Porque i nfl uenci ar al gum dar-l he s ua prpri a al ma. E l e j no
tem s eus pens amentos naturai s ou arde com s uas pai xes naturai s . Suas
vi rtudes no l he s o mai s verdadei ras . Seus pecados , s e que exi s te al go como
pecados , s o empres tados . E l e s e torna o eco da ms i ca de outro al gum, um
ator em um papel que no l he foi es cri to. O obj eti vo da vi da o
autodes envol vi mento. E ntender a natureza de al gum perfei tamente ei s o
porqu de es tarmos aqui . As pes s oas temem a s i mes mas , hoj e em di a. E l as
s e es queceram da mai or de todas as tarefas , aquel a que al gum deve a s i
mes mo. Cl aro que s o bondos as . E l as al i mentam aos fami ntos e ves tem os
mendi gos . M as a prpri a al ma del as tem fome e es t nua. A coragem s e
evadi u de nos s a raa. Tal vez nunca a ti vs s emos . O terror da s oci edade, que
a bas e da moral , o terror de Deus , que o s egredo da rel i gi o... es s as s o as
duas coi s as que nos governam. E , ai nda...
Vi re s ua cabea apenas um pouco mai s para a es querda, Dori an,
como um bom garoto, di s s e Hal l ward, concentrado em s eu trabal ho e ci ente
apenas de um ar que s e i ns taurara no ros to do rapazote que el e nunca vi ra
antes .
E , ai nda, conti nuou l orde Henry, em s ua voz bai xa e mus i cal , e com
um graci os o ondear de mos que era s empre to caracter s ti co del e e que el e j
ti nha em s eus di as em E ton[2], acredi to que s e um homem fos s e vi ver s ua
vi da i ntens a e compl etamente, dari a forma a qual quer s enti mento, expres s o
a cada pens amento, real i dade a todos os s onhos acredi to que o mundo
ganhari a tal i mpul s o de al egri a que es quecer amos todas as tri s tezas do
medi eval i s mo e vol tar amos ao i deal hel ni co, a al go mai s fi no, mai s ri co do
que o i deal hel ni co, tal vez. M as o homem mai s coraj os o entre ns teme a s i
mes mo. A muti l ao do s el vagem tem s ua trgi ca s obrevi vnci a na autorrecus a
que des fi gura nos s as vi das . Somos puni dos pel as nos s as recus as . Cada
i mpul s o que l utamos para es trangul ar remi em nos s as mentes e nos
envenena. O corpo peca uma vez e s e contenta com s eu pecado, poi s a ao um
modo de puri fi cao. Nada permanece ento al m da l embrana do prazer ou da
l uxri a de um remors o. O ni co modo de s e l i vrar da tentao ceder a el a.
Res i s ta e s ua al ma cada vez mai s adoece com o ans ei o pel as coi s as que el a
mes ma s e proi bi u com o des ej o pel o o que s uas l ei s mons truos as tornaram
mons truos as e i l egai s . J s e di s s e que os grandes eventos do mundo ocorrem
no crebro. no crebro, e apenas l , que os grandes pecados do mundo
tambm ocorrem. Voc, s enhor Gray, voc mes mo, com s ua j uventude de ros as
vermel has e s ua adol es cnci a de ros as brancas , voc teve pai xes que l he
deram medo, pens amentos que l he encheram de terror, del ri os e s onhos cuj a
mera memri a poderi am ti ngi r s eu ros to de vergonha...
Pare!, murmurou Dori an Gray, pare! Voc me des nortei a. No s ei o
que di zer. H al guma res pos ta para i s s o, mas no pos s o encontr-l a. No fal e.
Dei xe-me pens ar, ou mel hor, dei xe que eu no pens e.
com s eus ol hos nebul os os e as pl pebras pes adas . Irei ao j ardi m com voc.
E s t terri vel mente quente no es tdi o. Bas i l , s i rva-nos al go gel ado para beber,
al go com morangos .
Cl aro, Harry. Apenas toque a s i neta e quando Parker chegar l he di rei
o que querem. Tenho de trabal har nes te fundo, as s i m, j untar-me-ei a vocs
l ogo mai s . No s egure Dori an por mui to tempo. Nunca es ti ve em mel hor forma
para pi ntar como es tou hoj e. E s ta s er mi nha obra-pri ma. J mi nha obrapri ma, como es t agora.
Lorde Henry s ai u para o j ardi m e encontrou Dori an Gray enterrando
s eu ros to nas grandes e fri as fl ores de l i l s , bebendo febri l mente s eu
perfume como s e fos s e vi nho. E l e s e aproxi mou del e e col ocou a mo em s eu
ombro. Voc es t mui to certo em fazer i s s o, el e murmurou. Nada pode curar a
al ma al m dos s enti dos , as s i m como nada pode curar os s enti dos al m da
al ma.
O rapazote pul ou e recuou. E l e no us ava chapu e as fol has ti nham
j ogado s eus cachos rebel des e emaranhado todos os s eus fi os dourados . Havi a
um ol har de medo em s eus ol hos , como as pes s oas tm quando s o
repenti namente des pertadas . Suas nari nas fi namente es cul pi das agi tavams e e al gum nervo ocul to abal ava o es carl ate de s eus l bi os e os dei xava
trmul os .
Si m, conti nuou l orde Henry, es te um dos grandes s egredos da vi da
curar a al ma por mei o dos s enti dos e os s enti dos por mei o da al ma. Voc
uma cri atura maravi l hos a. Voc s abe mai s do que pens a que s abe, as s i m
como s abe menos do que des ej a s aber.
Dori an Gray fechou a cara e vi rou s ua cabea. E l e no podi a evi tar
gos tar do j ovem al to e graci os o s ua frente. Seu ros to romnti co e cor de ol i va,
com s ua expres s o des gas tada, o i nteres s ava. Havi a al go em s ua voz bai xa e
l ngui da que era abs ol utamente fas ci nante. Suas mos fri as e brancas , como
uma fl or, ti nham ai nda um encanto curi os o. E l as s e movi am, enquanto el e
fal ava, como ms i ca, e pareci am ter uma l i nguagem prpri a. M as el e o temi a
e s e envergonhava por temer. Por que fora dei xado a um es tranho revel -l o a s i
mes mo? E l e conheci a Bas i l Hal l ward h mes es , mas a ami zade entre el es
nunca o al terara. De repente, al gum que cruzara s ua vi da pareci a ter l he
des vendado o mi s tri o da exi s tnci a. E , ai nda, o que havi a para s e temer? E l e
no era um garoto de es col a ou uma meni na. E ra abs urdo es tar as s us tado.
Vamos nos s entar s ob a s ombra, di s s e l orde Henry. Parker trouxe
nos s as bebi das e s e voc fi car mai s tempo nes ta cl ari dade, fi car bem
prej udi cado e Bas i l nunca mai s l he pi ntar. Voc real mente no deve s e
dei xar quei mar pel o s ol . Seri a mui to i napropri ado de s ua parte.
E o que i s s o i mporta?, excl amou Dori an, ri ndo, enquanto s e s entava
no as s ento ao fi m do j ardi m.
Tudo deve i mportar para voc, s enhor Gray.
Por qu?
Porque agora voc tem a mai s maravi l hos a j uventude e a j uventude
a ni ca coi s a que val e a pena s e ter.
No s i nto i s s o, l orde Henry.
No, voc no s ente i s s o agora. Al gum di a, quando es ti ver vel ho,
enrugado e fei o, quando o pens amento ti ver s ul cado s ua tes ta com s uas l i nhas
e a pai xo ti ver marcado os s eus l bi os com s eu fogo repugnante, voc s enti r
i s s o, s enti r terri vel mente. Agora, onde quer que v, voc encanta o mundo.
Sempre s er as s i m? Voc tem um ros to maravi l hos amente bel o, s enhor Gray.
No o feche. Voc o tem. E a Bel eza uma forma de Ins pi rao mai or, s em
dvi da, que a Ins pi rao, poi s no neces s i ta expl i car-s e. um dos grandes
fatos do mundo, como a l uz do s ol ou a pri mavera, ou o refl exo nas guas
es curas daquel e es cudo prateado a que chamamos de l ua. No pode s er
ques ti onada. Tem s eu di rei to di vi no de s oberani a. Torna pr nci pes todos
aquel es que a tm. Voc s orri ? Ah! Quando a ti ver perdi do, voc no s orri r. As
pes s oas di zem, s vezes , que a Bel eza apenas s uperfi ci al . Pode s er que
s ej a. M as , pel o menos , no to s uperfi ci al quanto o Pens amento. Para mi m,
a Bel eza a maravi l ha das maravi l has . So apenas as pes s oas s uperfi ci ai s
que no j ul gam pel as aparnci as . O verdadei ro mi s tri o do mundo o vi s vel ,
no o i nvi s vel . Si m, s enhor Gray, os deus es foram bondos os com voc. M as o
que os deus es do, tambm ti ram rapi damente. Voc tem s omente poucos anos
com o que real mente vi ver. Quando s ua j uventude s e es vai r, s ua bel eza i r
com el a e voc s ubi tamente des cobri r que no h mui tos tri unfos que l he
res taro ou ter de s e contentar com aquel es med ocres tri unfos que a
memri a de s eu pas s ado tornar mai s amargo do que as derrotas . Cada ms
que m ngua l he trar mai s prxi mo de al go terr vel . O tempo tem ci mes de
voc e l uta contra s eus l ri os e s uas ros as . Voc s e tornar pl i do e de ros to
murcho, e s eus ol hos fi caro i nertes . Voc s ofrer horri vel mente. Compreenda
s ua j uventude enquanto a tem. No des perdi ce o ouro dos s eus di as , ouvi ndo
aos tedi os os , tentando corri gi r a fal ha des es peranada ou dando s ua vi da ao
i gnorante, ao comum, ao vul gar, que s o os obj eti vos , os fal s os i deai s , de
nos s a poca. Vi va! Vi va a maravi l hos a vi da que h em voc! No dei xe que
nada s e perca s obre voc. Procure s empre por novas s ens aes . No tema nada.
Um novo hedoni s mo i s s o o que nos s o s cul o des ej a. Voc poderi a s er s eu
s mbol o vi s vel . Com a s ua pers onal i dade, no h nada que voc no pos s a
fazer. O mundo pertence a voc por uma temporada. No momento em que o
conheci , vi que voc es tava bem i ncons ci ente do que real mente , do que
poderi a s er. H tanto em voc que me encanta que eu s enti o dever de l he fal ar
tudo s obre s i mes mo. Pens ei em como s eri a trgi co s e voc fos s e des perdi ado.
Poi s s er por um tempo mui to pequeno que s ua j uventude durar um tempo
mui to pequeno. As comuns fl ores da montanha murcham, mas fl ores cem
novamente. O l aburno s er to dourado em j unho quanto o hoj e. E m um
ms , haver es trel as prpuras nas cl emati s e, ano aps ano, a verde noi te de
s uas fol has ganhar s uas es trel as prpuras . M as ns nunca recuperamos
Depoi s de uns qui nze mi nutos , Hal l ward parou de pi ntar, ol hou por
um bom tempo para Dori an Gray e depoi s por mui to tempo para a pi ntura; e
mordendo a ponta de um de s eus enormes pi nci s , s orri u. E s t
compl etamente termi nado, el e excl amou, por fi m, e i ncl i nando-s e, es creveu
s eu nome em pequenas l etras bem vermel has no canto es querdo da tel a.
Lorde Henry s e aproxi mou e exami nou o retrato. Certamente era um
trabal ho de arte maravi l hos o e uma maravi l hos a s emel hana tambm.
M eu caro ami go, eu l he fel i ci to efus i vamente, el e di s s e. Senhor
Gray, venha e ol he voc mes mo.
O rapaz pul ou, como s e des pertado de al gum s onho. E s t real mente
termi nado?, el e murmurou, des cendo da pl ataforma.
Compl etamente termi nado, di s s e
es pl endi damente hoj e. Devo-l he mui to.
Hal l ward.
voc
pos ou
el e res pondeu.
No .
Se no for, o que eu tenho a ver com i s s o?
Voc deveri a ter i do embora quando l he pedi .
Fi quei quando voc me pedi u.
Harry, no pos s o di s cuti r com meus doi s mel hores ami gos de uma s
vez, mas entre vocs doi s , foi voc que me fez odi ar o mel hor trabal ho que eu j
fi z e o des trui rei . O que i s s o, al m de tel a e cores ? No dei xarei que el e
atraves s e nos s as trs vi das e as embote.
Dori an Gray ergueu s ua cabea dourada do traves s ei ro e ol hou para el e
com o ros to pl i do e os ol hos mareados de l gri mas , enquanto el e cami nhava
para a prpri a mes a de pi ntura que es tava s ob a grande j anel a acorti nada. O
que el e i ri a fazer l ? Seus dedos vadi avam por entre os res tos de tubos de l ata e
pi nci s s ecos , procurando por al go. Si m, era a grande faca de pal eta, com s ua
fi na l mi na de ao fl ex vel . E l e a encontrara, por fi m. E l e i a ras gar a tel a.
Com um s ol uo repri mi do, el e pul ou do s of e, correndo at Hal l ward,
ti rou a faca de s ua mo e a arremes s ou para a outra parte do atel i . No,
Bas i l , no!, el e excl amou. Seri a as s as s i nato!
E s tou fel i z que fi nal mente voc tenha apreci ado meu trabal ho,
Dori an, di s s o Hal l ward, fri amente, quando s e recuperou de s ua s urpres a.
Nunca pens ei que voc gos tari a.
Apreci ado? E s tou apai xonado por el e, Bas i l . Si nto que parte de mi m
mes mo.
Bem, as s i m que voc s ecar, dever s er enverni zado, emol durado e
envi ado para cas a. E nto, voc poder fazer o que qui s er cons i go mes mo. E
cami nhando pel a s al a, tocou a s i neta para pedi r ch. Voc quer ch, no
Dori an? E voc tambm, Harry? Ch o ni co prazer s i mpl es que nos res tou.
No gos to de prazeres s i mpl es , di s s e l orde Henry. E no gos to de
cenas , exceto no pal co. Que pes s oas abs urdas vocs doi s s o! E u me pergunto
quem defi ni u o homem como ani mal raci onal . Foi a defi ni o mai s
prematura j dada. O homem mui tas coi s as , mas no raci onal . Fi co fel i z
por no s er, no fi m das contas : embora eu gos tari a que vocs rapazes no s e
al voroas s em pel o retrato. Voc fari a mui to mel hor em me d-l o, Bas i l . E s s e
garoto tol o real mente no o quer, mas eu s i m.
Se voc der o retrato para qual quer outra pes s oa al m de mi m, Bas i l ,
eu nunca o perdoarei !, excl amou Dori an Gray. E eu no permi to que as
pes s oas me chamem de garoto tol o.
Voc s abe que o retrato s eu, Dori an. E u l he dei antes de faz-l o.
E voc s abe que tem s i do um pouco tol o, s enhor Gray e que real mente
no s e i mporta que o chamem de garoto.
[1] Cenas das Fl ores tas , obra para pi ano s ol o de Robert Al exander Schumann,
compos ta em 1838.
[2] E ton Col l ege, fundado por Henri que IV em 1440, um col gi o apenas para
garotos e l ocal i za-s e no mes mo l ocal at os di as de hoj e, nas
proxi mi dades do Cas tel o de Wi nds or, tendo formado dezoi to pri mei ros mi ni s tros bri tni cos e i nmeros membros da nobreza, al m dos
herdei ros da cas a real i ngl es a.
CAPT ULO 3
Uma tarde, um ms depoi s , Dori an Gray es tava s e recl i nando em
uma l uxuos a pol trona na pequena bi bl i oteca da cas a de l orde Henry em
Curzon Street. E ra, a s eu modo, uma s al a bem encantadora, com s eu al to
l ambri l al mofadado, de carval ho manchado de ol i va, s eu fri s o cor de creme, o
teto de el evado trabal ho em ges s o, e s eu carpete de vel udo cor de ti j ol o al ternado
com tapetes pers as de s eda e l ongas franj as . E m uma pequena mes a de
ceti m, havi a uma es tatueta de Cl odi on[1] e ao s eu l ado es tava uma cpi a de
Les Cent Nouvel l es [2], compi l ado para M argaret de Val oi s por Cl ovi s E ve,
pol vi l hado com margari das douradas que a rai nha s el eci onou para s eu l i vro.
Al guns grandes j arros chi nes es , chei os de tul i pas cor de cenoura, es tavam
es pal hados pel o cons ol o da l arei ra, e atravs das pequenas vi draas
chumbadas , j orrava a l uz cor de damas co de um di a de vero em Londres .
Lorde Henry ai nda no chegara. E l e s empre s e atras ava a pri nc pi o,
s eu pri nci pi o s endo que a pontual i dade o l adro do tempo. As s i m que o
rapazote pareci a bem i rri tado, enquanto que com dedos i ndi ferentes el e
fol heava as pgi nas de uma edi o de M anon Les caut[3] que el e encontrara
em uma das es tantes . O ti que formal e montono de um rel gi o Lui s XIV o
perturbava. E l e cons i derou i r embora uma ou duas vezes .
Por fi m, el e ouvi u l eves pas s os ao l ado de fora e a porta s e abri u. Como
voc es t atras ado, Harry!, el e murmurou.
Temo no s er Harry, s enhor Gray, di s s e a voz de uma mul her.
E l e rel anceou rapi damente ao s eu redor e s e l evantou. Peo-l he
perdo. Pens ei ...
Voc pens ou que fos s e meu mari do. apenas s ua es pos a. Dei xe-me
que eu me apres ente. Conheo-o mui to bem pel as s uas fotografi as . Acho que
meu mari do tem vi nte e s ete del as .
Certa de que s o vi nte e s ete, l ady Henry?
Bem, vi nte e s ei s , ento. E eu o vi com el e outra noi te na pera. E l a
ri u nervos amente, enquanto fal ava, e o obs ervava com s eus vagos ol hos de
mi os ti s . E l a era uma mul her curi os a, cuj os ves ti dos s empre pareci am como
s e fos s em des enhados em fri a e col ocados em uma tempes tade. E l a s empre
es tava apai xonada por al gum e, como s ua pai xo nunca era corres pondi da,
el a manti nha todas as s uas i l us es . E l a tentava s oar pi tores ca, mas apenas
cons egui a parecer des arrumada. Seu nome era Vi ctori a e el a ti nha uma
mani a perfei ta de i r i grej a.
Is s o foi em Lohengri n[4], l ady Henry, pens o eu.
Si m; foi na queri da Lohengri n. Gos to mai s da ms i ca de Wagner do
que qual quer outra ms i ca. to al ta que s e pode convers ar por todo o tempo,
s em que as pes s oas ouam o que s e di z. E s ta uma grande vantagem: no
concorda, s enhor Gray?
E u no acho que es tou propens o a me cas ar, Harry. E s tou por demai s
apai xonado. E s te um dos s eus afori s mos . E s tou col ocando-o em prti ca, poi s
fao tudo o que fal o.
Por quem voc es t apai xonado?, qui s s aber l orde Henry, ol hando
para el e com um s orri s o curi os o.
Por uma atri z, di s s e Dori an Gray, corando.
Lorde Henry deu de ombros . E s ta uma es trei a bem l ugar-comum,
el e murmurou.
E u no di ri a i s s o s e voc a vi s s e, Harry.
Quem el a?
Seu nome Sybi l Vane.
Nunca ouvi fal ar del a.
Ni ngum ouvi u. M as pes s oas um di a ouvi ro, porm. E l a
tal entos a.
M eu caro garoto, nenhuma mul her tal entos a: as mul heres s o um
s exo decorati vo. E l as nunca tm nada a di zer, mas o di zem encantadoramente.
E l as repres entam o tri unfo da matri a s obre a mente, as s i m como os homens
repres entam a vi tri a da mente s obre a moral . H apenas doi s ti pos de
mul her, a comum e a col ori da. As mul heres comuns s o bem tei s . Se voc
qui s er ganhar reputao por res pei tabi l i dade, voc apenas tem de l ev-l as
para j antar. As outras mul heres s o mui to encantadoras . E l as cometem um
engano, porm. E l as s e pi ntam para parecerem mai s j ovens . Nos s as avs s e
pi ntavam para tentar fal ar bri l hantemente. Rouge e es p ri to cos tumavam
andar j untos . Tudo i s s o s e foi , agora. E nquanto uma mul her puder aparentar
s er dez anos mai s j ovem que s ua prpri a fi l ha, el a es t perfei tamente
s ati s fei ta. Quanto convers a, h apenas ci nco mul heres em Londres com
quem val e a pena convers ar e duas del as no podem s er admi ti das s oci edade
decente. Porm, di ga-me s obre a s ua tal entos a. H quanto tempo voc a
conhece?
Cerca de trs s emanas . Nem tanto. Cerca de duas s emanas e doi s
di as .
Como voc a conheceu?
E u l he contarei , Harry; mas voc no deve fi car contrari ado por caus a
di s s o. Afi nal , i s s o nunca teri a aconteci do s e eu no o ti ves s e conheci do. Voc
me encheu de um des ej o s el vagem de conhecer tudo s obre a vi da. Di as depoi s
que o encontrei , al go pareceu pul s ar em mi nhas vei as . E nquanto eu me
demorava no Parque ou pas s eava por Pi ccadi l l y, cos tumava ol har para qual quer
um que pas s ava por mi m e me perguntar, com i ns ana curi os i dade, que ti po
de vi das el es l evavam. Al guns del es me fas ci naram. Outros me encheram de
terror. Havi a um del i cado veneno no ar. E u ti nha uma pai xo pel as s ens aes .
Uma noi te, perto das s ete horas , deci di s ai r em bus ca de al guma aventura.
Senti que es ta ci nza e mons truos a Londres , com s ua mi r ade de pes s oas , s eus
pecadores es pl ndi dos e s eus s rdi dos pecados , como voc bem di s s e uma vez,
ti nha al guma coi s a guardada para mi m. Imagi nei mi l coi s as . O mero peri go
me dava uma s ens ao de prazer. Lembrei do que voc me di s s e naquel a
maravi l hos a noi te quando j antamos j untos pel a pri mei ra vez, s obre a bus ca
pel a bel eza s er o s egredo venenos o da vi da. No s ei o que eu es perava, mas s a
e vagueei a oes te, l ogo me perdendo em um l abi ri nto de s ombri as ruas e
praas negras e s em gramado. Cerca de oi to e mei a, pas s ei por um pequeno
teatro de tercei ra categori a, com grandes e bri l hantes j atos de gs e berrantes
cartazes . Um j udeu horri pi l ante, no mai s s urpreendente col ete que j vi em
mi nha vi da, es tava parado porta, fumando um vi l ci garro. E l e ti nha cachos
s ebos os e um enorme di amante res pl andecendo no mei o de uma cami s eta
i munda. Quer um i ngres s o, meu s enhor?, el e di s s e ao me ver e ti rou s eu
chapu com um ato de bel a s ervi do. Havi a al go nel e, Harry, que me
s urpreendeu. E l e era um mons tro. Voc ri r de mi m, eu s ei , mas real mente
entrei e paguei um gui nu[5] por um camarote. At agora no cons i go
compreender porque fi z i s s o; e, ai nda, s e eu no ti ves s e... meu caro Harry, s e
eu no ti ves s e, teri a perdi do o grande romance de mi nha vi da. Vej o que es t
ri ndo. Is s o horr vel de s ua parte!
No es tou ri ndo, Dori an; pel o menos , no de voc. M as voc no
deveri a di zer o mai or romance de s ua vi da. Voc deveri a di zer o pri mei ro
romance de s ua vi da. Voc s empre s er amado e voc s empre es tar apai xonado
pel o amor. H coi s as del i cadas guardadas para voc. Is to s omente o i n ci o.
Voc acha que a mi nha natureza mui to s uperfi ci al ?, perguntou
Dori an Gray, nervos o.
No; acho que a s ua natureza mui to profunda.
O que voc quer di zer?
M eu caro garoto, as pes s oas que apenas amam uma vez em s uas
vi das s o real mente pes s oas s uperfi ci ai s . O que el as chamam de l eal dade e
de fi del i dade, eu chamo tanto de l etargi a do cos tume ou fal ta de i magi nao. A
fal ta de f es t para a vi da emoci onal tanto quanto a cons i s tnci a es t para a
vi da i ntel ectual s i mpl es mente uma confi s s o de erro. M as no quero
i nterromp-l o. Conti nue s ua hi s tri a.
Bem, encontrei -me s entado em um tenebros o e pequeno camarote
pri vado, com um pano de cena vul gar encarando-me o ros to. Ol hei atrs da
corti na e i ns peci onei a cas a. E ra um negci o de mau gos to, todos os cupi dos e
as cornucpi as pareci am s er de um bol o de cas amento de tercei ra categori a. A
gal eri a e o fos s o es tavam bem chei os , mas as duas fi l ei ras de encardi das
cabi nas es tavam total mente vazi as e mal havi a uma pes s oa no que eu
s uponho chamarem pri mei ra fi l ei ra. As mul heres entraram com l aranj as e
cervej a de gengi bre, e havi a um terr vel cons umo de nozes em andamento.
Devi a ter s i do como os fl ores centes di as do drama i ngl s .
comprados .
Acho que el e es tava bem certo nes te ponto. M as , por outro l ado, a
mai ori a del es no nem um pouco cara.
Bem, el e pareci a pens ar que es tavam aci ma dos s eus mei os . Nes te
momento, es tavam acendendo as l uzes do teatro e eu ti nha de i r. E l e queri a
que eu provas s e al guns ci garros que recomendava enfati camente. Decl i nei .
Na noi te s egui nte, cl aro, vol tei ao teatro. Quando el e me vi u, fez-me uma
pequena revernci a e me as s egurou que eu era um patrono da arte. E l e era
um bruto dos mai s ofens i vos , embora ti ves s e uma extraordi nri a pai xo por
Shakes peare. E l e me di s s e uma vez, com um ar de orgul ho, que as s uas trs
fal nci as foram por caus a do poeta, a quem el e i ns i s ti a em chamar de O
Bardo. E l e pareci a achar i s s o uma di s ti no.
E ra uma di s ti no, meu caro Dori an uma grande di s ti no. M as
quando voc fal ou pel a pri mei ra vez com a s enhori ta Sybi l Vane?
Na tercei ra noi te. E l a es tava i nterpretando Ros al i nda. No pude evi tar
de me aproxi mar. E u havi a j ogado para el a al gumas fl ores e el a ol hara para
mi m; pel o menos , i magi nei que s i m. O vel ho j udeu era pers i s tente. E l e
pareci a determi nado a me l evar para trs e, as s i m, eu cons enti . E ra curi os o
que eu no qui s es s e conhec-l a, no ?
No, no acho.
M eu caro Harry, por qu?
Vou di zer-l he em al guma outra ocas i o. Agora, quero s aber mai s
s obre a garota.
Sybi l ? Oh, el a es tava to t mi da e foi to genti l . H al go de i nfanti l
nel a. Seus ol hos s e abri ram i mens os em del i cada s urpres a quando l he di s s e
o que eu pens ava de s eu des empenho e el a pareci a bem i gnorante de s eu
poder. Acho que es tvamos os doi s bem nervos os . O vel ho j udeu permaneceu
ri ndo no corredor do camari m, fazendo el aborados di s curs os s obre ns doi s ,
enquanto fi cvamos nos ol hando fei to cri anas . E l e i ns i s ti a em me chamar de
M eu Lorde, as s i m eu as s egurei a Sybi l que eu no era nada do ti po. E l a
di s s e bem s i mpl es mente para mi m, Voc parece mai s com um pr nci pe.
Dou-l he a mi nha pal avra, Dori an, a s enhori ta Sybi l s abe como
retri bui r um el ogi o.
Voc no a compreende, Harry. E l a me cons i derou apenas como uma
pes s oa em uma pea. E l a nada s abe da vi da. E l a vi ve com a me, uma
mul her des botada e cans ada que i nterpretou l ady Capul eto, us ando um ti po de
roupo cor de magenta na pri mei ra noi te, mes mo aparentando ter j vi vi do di as
mel hores .
Conheo es ta aparnci a. Sempre me depri me.
O j udeu qui s me contar a hi s tri a del a, mas eu di s s e que no es tava
i nteres s ado.
recus ar o reconheci mento de s eu tal ento. E nto, teremos de ti r-l a das mos do
j udeu. E l a es t pres a a el e por trs anos pel o menos doi s anos e oi to mes es
a parti r de agora. Terei de pagar-l he al go, cl aro. Quando tudo es ti ver aj us tado,
tomarei um teatro em Wes t E nd e a apres entarei apropri adamente. E l a
enl ouquecer o mundo, as s i m como fez comi go.
Impos s vel , meu caro garoto!
Si m, el a o far. E l a no tem apenas arte, o i ns ti nto cons umado da
arte, dentro del a, mas tambm tem pers onal i dade; e voc frequentemente me
di z que s o as pers onal i dades , no os pri nc pi os , que movem o tempo.
Bem, em qual noi te deveremos i r?
Vej amos . Hoj e tera-fei ra. Vamos combi nar amanh. E l a i nterpreta
Jul i eta amanh.
Certo. No Bri s tol , s oi to; e eu l evarei Bas i l .
No s oi to, por favor. Sei s e mei a. Deveremos es tar l antes que as
corti nas s e abram. Voc deve v-l a no pri mei ro ato, quando el a s e encontra com
Romeu.
Sei s e mei a! Que horri o! Ser como tomar um ch tardi o. Porm, s ej a
como voc quer. Voc ver Bas i l nes te mei o tempo? Ou devo es crever para el e?
Queri do Bas i l ! No o tenho vi s to j h uma s emana. bas tante
horr vel de mi nha parte, j que el e me envi ou o retrato em uma mol dura
mui to boni ta, des enhada por el e mes mo e, embora eu es tej a um pouco
enci umado por el e s er um ms i ntei ro mai s j ovem que eu, devo admi ti r que
tenho mui to prazer com el e. Tal vez s ej a mel hor que voc es creva para el e. No
quero v-l o s ozi nho. E l e me di z coi s as que me perturbam.
Lorde Henry s orri u. E l e l he d bons cons el hos , s uponho. As pes s oas
s o apai xonadas em dar o que el as mai s preci s am.
Voc no quer di zer que Bas i l tenha al guma pai xo, ou al gum
romance, dentro del e?
No s ei s e el e tem al guma pai xo, mas certamente el e tem
romance, di s s e Lorde Henry, com um ol har di verti do. E l e nunca l he contou
i s s o?
Nunca. Perguntarei a el e. E s tou bem s urpres o por ouvi r i s s o. E l e o
mel hor dos ami gos , mas , a mi m, parece s er um pouco fi l i s teu. Des de que o
conheci , Harry, eu fi z es ta cons tatao.
Bas i l , meu caro garoto, col oca tudo o que encantador nel e em s eu
trabal ho. A cons equnci a que el e nada dei xa para a vi da s eno s eus
orgul hos , s eus pri nc pi os e s eu s ens o comum. Os ni cos arti s tas que eu
conheci que s o pes s oal mente prazeros os s o os maus arti s tas . Os bons do
tudo s ua arte e, cons equentemente, s o perfei tamente des i nteres s antes em
s i mes mos . Um grande poeta, um verdadei ro grande poeta, a cri atura mai s
s em poes i a de todas . M as os poetas i nferi ores s o de fato fas ci nantes . Quanto
pi ores forem as s uas ri mas , mai s pi tores cos el es s ero. O s i mpl es fato de ter
publ i cado um l i vro com s onetos de s egunda categori a torna um homem bem
i rres i s t vel . E l e vi ve a poes i a que no cons egue es crever. Os outros es crevem a
poes i a que no ous am empreender.
E u me pergunto s e real mente as s i m, Harry, di s s e Dori an Gray,
des pej ando um pouco de perfume de um grande fras co de tampa dourada, que
es tava s obre a mes a, s obre o s eu l eno. Deve s er, s e voc as s i m o di z. E agora
devo i r. Imogni a me aguarda. No s e es quea de amanh. Adeus .
E nquanto el e dei xava a s al a, as pes adas pl pebras de l orde Henry s e
fecharam e el e comeou a pens ar. Certamente poucas pes s oas l he
i nteres s aram tanto quanto Dori an Gray e, ai nda as s i m, a l ouca adorao do
rapaz por outro al gum no l he trazi a a menor pontada de i rri tao ou de
ci mes . E l e es tava s ati s fei to com i s s o. Is s o o tornava um es tudo ai nda mai s
i nteres s ante. E l e s empre fora fas ci nado pel os mtodos ci ent fi cos , mas os
temas comuns de pes qui s a da ci nci a l he pareci am tri vi ai s e s em
i mportnci a. E , as s i m, el e comeara fazendo uma vi vi s s eo em s i mes mo e
termi nara repeti ndo a experi nci a nos outros . A vi da humana pareci a s er para
el e a ni ca coi s a val i os a a s er i nves ti gada. Comparado a el a, no havi a nada
mai s de val or. E ra verdade que para aquel e que obs ervava a vi da em s eu
curi os o cadi nho de dor e prazer, no era pos s vel cobri r o ros to com uma
ms cara de vi dro, ou evi tar que os s ul furos os fumos perturbas s em o s eu
crebro, tornando a i magi nao turva com mons truos as fantas i as e s onhos
deformados . Havi a venenos to s uti s que, para s aber s uas propri edades , era
neces s ri o s e envenenar com el es . Havi a doenas to es tranhas que al gum
teri a de pas s ar por el as , s e bus cas s e entender s ua natureza. E , mes mo
as s i m, que grande recompens a s e recebi a! Quo maravi l hos o o mundo i ntei ro
s e pareceri a! Notar a curi os a e i ntri ncada l gi ca da pai xo, e a vi da col ori da e
emoci onal do i ntel ecto... obs ervar onde s e encontraram e onde s e s epararam,
em que ponto s e tornaram una e em qual ponto entraram em di s crdi a... havi a
um prazer ni s s o! Que i mporta a que cus to? Ni ngum poderi a pagar um preo
to al to por qual quer s ens ao.
E l e s abi a e a i dei a trouxera-l he um l ampej o de prazer em s eus
ol hos de gata es cura que era por mei o de certas pal avras del e, pal avras
mus i cai s di tas com expres s o mus i cal , que a al ma de Dori an Gray s e vol tara
para aquel a garota pura, i ncl i nando-s e em revernci a por el a. O rapaz era a
prpri a cri ao del e, em grande parte. E l e o fi zera prematuro. Is s o era al guma
coi s a. As pes s oas comuns es peravam at que a vi da l hes revel as s e os s eus
s egredos , mas aos poucos , aos el ei tos , os mi s tri os da vi da eram revel ados
antes que o vu fos s e reti rado. s vezes , es te era o efei to da arte e
pri nci pal mente da arte da l i teratura, que l i dava i medi atamente com as
pai xes e com o i ntel ecto. M as , de vez em quando, uma pers onal i dade
compl exa ocupava o l ugar e as s umi a o trabal ho da arte, cl aro, de s eu modo, um
trabal ho verdadei ro de arte, a Vi da tendo s uas obras pri mas el aboradas , as s i m
como fazi a a poes i a, ou a es cul tura ou a pi ntura.
CAPT ULO 4
Suponho que j s ai ba das novas , Bas i l , di s s e l orde Henry na noi te
s egui nte, enquanto Hal l ward era l evado pequena s al a parti cul ar no Bri s tol ,
onde o j antar fora pos to para trs .
No, Harry, res pondeu Hal l ward, entregando s eu chapu e s eu
cas aco ao reverente garom. O que ? Nada s obre pol ti ca, es pero. Is s o no me
i nteres s a. No h uma ni ca pes s oa na Cmara dos Comuns que val ha a pena
pi ntar; embora que para mui tos del es fos s e mel hor um pouco de cai adura.
Dori an Gray es t comprometi do a s e cas ar, di s s e l orde Henry,
ol hando-o enquanto fal ava.
Hal l ward fi cou perfei tamente pl i do e um ol har curi os o pul s ou por
um momento em s eus ol hos , e ento s umi u, dei xando-os embotados . Dori an
comprometi do a s e cas ar!, el e excl amou. Impos s vel !
compl etamente verdade.
Com quem?
Com al guma atri z des s as .
No pos s o acredi tar. Dori an bem mai s s ens vel que i s to.
Dori an bem mai s es perto para no fazer tol i ces de vez em quando,
meu caro Bas i l .
O cas amento di fi ci l mente al go que s e pos s a fazer de vez em
quando, Harry, di s s e Hal l ward, s orri ndo.
M enos nos E s tados Uni dos . M as eu no di s s e que el e es tava cas ado.
Di s s e que el e es tava comprometi do a s e cas ar. H uma grande di ferena.
Tenho uma l embrana di s ti nta de ter me cas ado, mas no tenho nenhuma
l embrana de um di a es tar comprometi do. E s tou i ncl i nado a pens ar que
nunca es ti ve.
M as pens e no bero, na pos i o e na ri queza de Dori an. Seri a abs urdo
s e cas ar com al gum to abai xo del e.
Se voc quer que el e s e cas e com es ta garota, di ga-l he exatamente
i s to, Bas i l . E l e es t di s pos to a faz-l o. Toda vez que um homem faz uma coi s a
compl etamente es tpi da, s empre a parti r dos mai s nobres moti vos .
E s pero que es s a garota s ej a boa, Harry. No quero ver Dori an pres o a
uma cri atura vi l , que poderi a degradar s ua natureza e arrui nar s eu i ntel ecto.
Oh, el a mai s que boa... el a boni ta, murmurou l orde Henry,
beberi cando um copo com vermute com l aranj as amargas . Dori an di z que el a
boni ta; e el e no s e engana frequentemente com coi s as des te ti po. O retrato
que pi ntou del e apres s ou nel e a apreci ao das aparnci as pes s oai s de toda a
gente. Teve es te excel ente efei to, dentre outros . Iremos v-l a es ta noi te, s e
aquel e garoto no s e es quecer do s eu compromi s s o.
Amo a i nterpretao. mui to mai s real que a vi da. Vamos . Dori an, venha
comi go. Lamento, Bas i l , mas h l ugar apenas para doi s na s ege. Voc deve nos
s egui r em uma trol e.
Levantaram-s e e ves ti ram s eus cas acos , tomando o caf j de p.
Hal l ward es tava qui eto e preocupado. Havi a s ombras es curas s obre el e. E l e
no podi a s uportar aquel e cas amento e ai nda l he pareci a s er mel hor do que
mui tas outras coi s as que havi a aconteci do. Depoi s de al guns momentos ,
des ceram as es cadas . E l e foi s ozi nho, como combi nado e obs ervava as l uzes
bri l hantes da pequena s ege di ante del e. Uma es tranha s ens ao de perda
tomou-l he conta. Senti a que Dori an Gray nunca s eri a novamente para el e tudo
o que fora antes . Seus ol hos s e es cureceram, e as ruas rel uzentes e l otadas s e
tornaram borres para el e. Quando o cabri ol es taci onou di ante das portas do
teatro, pareci a-l he que envel hecera anos .
CAPT ULO 5
Por uma razo ou outra, a cas a es tava chei a naquel a noi te, e o gordo
gerente j udeu que os recepci onou porta os tentava um s orri s o ol eos o e trmul o
de orel ha orel ha. E l e os conduzi u ao camarote com um ti po de pompos a
humi l dade, bal anando s uas mos rechonchudas e chei as de j oi as , e fal ando
o mai s al to que podi a. Dori an Gray es tava mai s aves s o a el e do que nunca. E l e
s enti a como s e ti ves s e vi ndo procurar por M i randa e fora des coberto por
Cal i b[1]. Lorde Henry, por outro l ado, gos tou bas tante del e. Pel o menos foi o
que di s s e e i ns i s ti a em tomar s uas mos , cumpri mentando-l he e
as s egurando que es tava orgul hos o de encontrar um homem que des cobri ra um
verdadei ro tal ento e fora fal nci a por Shakes peare. Hal l ward s e di verti a vendo
os ros tos na pl atei a. O cal or era terri vel mente opres s i vo e a enorme l uz do s ol
bri l hava como uma dl i a mons truos a com ptal as de fogo. Os j ovens na gal eri a
ti raram s eus cas acos e col etes , e os penduravam ao l ado. Fal avam uns com os
outros atravs do teatro e di vi di am s uas l aranj as com as es pal hafatos as garotas
maqui adas que s e s entavam ao l ado del es . Al gumas mul heres ri am na
pl atei a; as s uas vozes eram horri vel mente agudas e des afi nadas . O s om do
ti rar das rol has chegava do bar.
Que l ugar para al gum encontrar s ua deus a!, di s s e l orde Henry.
Si m!, res pondeu Dori an Gray. Foi aqui que eu a encontrei e el a
di vi na, al m de todas as coi s as vi vas . Quando el a i nterpretar, voc es quecer
todas as coi s as . E s tas pes s oas comuns aqui , com s eus ros tos gros s ei ros e
modos brutai s , s e tornam bem di ferentes quando el a es t no pal co. Sentam-s e
em s i l nci o e a obs ervam. E l as choram e ri em quando el a des ej a que as s i m
faam. E l a as torna to res pons i vas quanto a um vi ol i no. E l a as es pi ri tual i za
e pode s e s enti r como s e fos s em da mes ma carne e do mes mo s angue quanto a
s i prpri o.
Oh, es pero que no!, murmurou l orde Henry, que es tava
exami nando os ocupantes da gal eri a por mei o de s eu cul o de pera.
No pres te ateno nel e, Dori an, di s s e Hal l ward. E ntendo o que voc
di z e acredi to nes ta garota. Qual quer pes s oa que voc ame deve s er
maravi l hos a e qual quer garota que tenha o efei to que voc des creve deve s er
fi na e nobre. E s pi ri tual i zar a poca de al gum i s s o al go vl i do de s e fazer.
Se es ta garota pode dar al ma a es tes que tm vi vi do s em uma, s e el a pode cri ar
o s enti do de bel eza em pes s oas cuj as vi das tm s i do s rdi das e fei as , s e el a
pode arranc-l os do s eu ego s mo e trocar-l hes l gri mas por mgoas que no
s o prpri as del es , ento el a val e toda a s ua adorao, val e toda a adorao do
mundo. E s te cas amento mui to certo. No o achava no comeo, mas admi to o
s er agora. Deus fez Sybi l Vane para voc. Sem el a, voc s eri a bem i ncompl eto.
Obri gado, Bas i l , res pondeu Dori an Gray, apertando-l he a mo. Sabi a
que voc me compreenderi a. Harry mui to c ni co, el e me as s us ta. M as ei s a
orques tra. bem horr vel , mas dura apenas cerca de ci nco mi nutos . E nto a
corti na s e l evanta e vocs vero a garota a quem darei toda a mi nha vi da, a
quem darei tudo o que exi s te de bom em mi m.
Qui nze mi nutos depoi s , entre uma confus o extraordi nri a de
apl aus os , Sybi l Vane pi s ou no pal co. Si m, el a era por certo encantadora de s e
ol har uma das mai s encantadoras cri aturas , pens ou l orde Henry, que el e j
vi ra. Havi a al go de cervo em s ua t mi da graa e ol hos as s us tados . Um l eve
rubor, como a s ombra de uma ros a em um es pel ho de prata, vei o ao s eu ros to
quando el a rel anceou para a cas a l otada e entus i s ti ca. E l a recuou al guns
pas s os e s eus l bi os pareceram tremer. Bas i l Hal l ward l evantou-s e e comeou
a apl audi r. Dori an Gray s entava-s e i mvel ol hando fi xamente para el a, como
um homem a s onhar. Lorde Henry es prei tava pel o s eu moncul o,
murmurando, E ncantador, encantador.
A cena era no corredor da cas a dos Capul eto e Romeu, em s uas ves tes
de peregri no, entrara com M ercuti o e s eus ami gos . O grupo, tal como es tava,
cantou al guns compas s os de ms i ca e a dana comeou. Atravs da turba de
atores tos cos e mal ves ti dos , Sybi l Vane movi a-s e como uma cri atura de um
mundo mai s s ofi s ti cado. Seu corpo s e i ncl i nava, enquanto el a danava, como
uma pl anta que os ci l a s obre a gua. As curvas de s ua garganta eram como as
curvas de um l ri o branco. Suas mos pareci am s er fei tas de fri o marfi m.
Ai nda as s i m, el a es tava curi os amente i ndi ferente. E l a no exi bi a
nenhum s i nal de al egri a quando s eus ol hos pous aram em Romeu. As poucas
l i nhas que el a ti nha de fal ar:
B ompereg ri no, emexcesso ag i stes mal comvossa mo,
Que demonstraste corts devoo;
Poi s santos possuemmos que as mos de pereg ri nos de fato tocam,
E uni r as palmas comas palmas das mos o sag rado bei j o dos mrti res,
com o breve di l ogo que s egue, foram pronunci adas de manei ra
compl etamente arti fi ci al . A voz era del i cada, mas do ponto de vi s ta do tom, era
abs ol utamente fal s a. E s tava com a cor errada. E xtrai a toda a vi da dos vers os .
Tornava a pai xo i rreal .
Dori an Gray empal i deci a enquanto a obs ervava. Nenhum dos s eus
ami gos ous ou di zer nada para el e. E l a l hes pareci a total mente i ncompetente.
E s tavam terri vel mente des apontados .
Porm, el es s enti am que o verdadei ro tes te de qual quer Jul i eta era a
cena da s acada no s egundo ato. E s peraram por el a. Se fal has s e al i , no havi a
nada nel a.
E l a pareci a encantadora enquanto s a a ao l uar. Is s o no poderi a s er
negado. M as a teatral i dade de s ua i nterpretao era i ns uportvel e fi cava pi or
na medi da em que el a pros s egui a. Seus ges tos s e tornaram abs urdamente
s ubs tnci a s s ombras da arte. Voc j ogou tudo fora. Voc s uperfi ci al e
es tpi da. M eu Deus ! Como eu fui l ouco em am-l a! Como fui tol o! Voc no
nada para mi m agora. Nunca mai s i rei v-l a. Nunca mai s pens arei em voc.
Nunca mai s menci onarei s eu nome. Voc defi ni ti vamente no s abe o que era
para mi m. Ora, uma vez... Oh, mal pos s o s uportar pens ar ni s s o! Qui s era eu
nunca ter col ocado meus ol hos em voc! Voc arrui nou o romance de mi nha
vi da. Quo pouco voc pode s aber s obre o amor, s e di z que el e embota a s ua arte!
O que voc s em s ua arte? Nada. E u a teri a fei to famos a, es pl ndi da,
magn fi ca. O mundo teri a l he cul tuado e voc pertenceri a a mi m. O que
voc, agora? Uma atri z de tercei ra categori a com um ros to boni to.
A garota empal i deci a e tremi a. E l a apertava s uas mos e s ua voz
pareci a pres a na garganta. Voc no es t s endo s ri o, Dori an, el a murmurou.
Voc es t i nterpretando.
Interpretando! E u dei xo i s s o para voc. Voc faz i s s o to bem, el e
res pondeu, amargamente.
E l a s e l evantou e, com uma expres s o condo da de dor em s eu ros to,
atraves s ou a s al a na di reo del e. E l a col ocou a mo s obre brao del e e ol hou
para os s eus ol hos . E l e a empurrou. No me toque!, el e excl amou.
Um i mpercept vel l amento s ol tou-s e del a e el a j ogou-s e aos ps del e,
e dei tou-s e al i como uma fl or atropel ada. Dori an, Dori an, no me dei xe!, el a
s us s urrou. Lamento mui to no ter atuado bem. E u pens ava em voc todo o
tempo. M as tentarei ... de verdade eu tentarei . M eu amor por voc i rrompeu
repenti namente em mi m. Acho que nunca teri a s abi do s e voc no me
bei j as s e s e ns no ti vs s emos nos bei j ado. Bei j e-me de novo, meu amor.
No me dei xe. E u no poderi a s uportar. Voc no pode me perdoar por es ta
noi te? Trabal harei duro e tentarei mel horar. No s ej a cruel comi go, porque eu
o amo mai s do que qual quer coi s a no mundo. Afi nal de contas , foi s a
pri mei ra vez que no l he agradei . M as voc es t mui to certo, Dori an. E u
deveri a ter me mos trado mai s como uma arti s ta. Foi tol i ce mi nha; e ai nda, no
pude evi tar. Oh, no me dei xe, no me dei xe. Um aces s o de s ol uos
apai xonados a s ufocou. E l a contrai u-s e no cho como al go feri do e Dori an Gray,
com s eus bel os ol hos , abai xou s eu ol har para el a e s eus l bi os es cul pi dos s e
contorceram em um del i cado des dm. Sempre h al go de ri d cul o s obre as
pai xes das pes s oas quando al gum dei xou de amar. Sybi l Vane l he s oava
abs urdamente mel odramti ca. Suas l gri mas e s ol uos o perturbavam.
E s tou i ndo, el e di s s e, com s ua voz cal ma e l mpi da. No quero s er
rude, mas no pos s o v-l a novamente. Voc me des apontou.
E l a chorava s i l enci os amente e no res pondeu, mas arras tou-s e para
mai s perto del e. Suas pequenas mos es tendi am-s e a es mo, parecendo
procurar por el e. E l e gi rou em s eus cal canhares e dei xou a s al a. Poucos
momentos depoi s , es tava fora do teatro.
Para onde el e foi , el e mal s abi a. E l e s e l embrava de perambul ar por
ruas es curas , com frgei s arcos enegreci dos e cas as com as pecto demon aco.
vol tari a para Sybi l Vane, fari a as pazes , a des pos ari a, tentari a am-l a
novamente. Si m, era s eu dever agi r as s i m. E l a deve ter s ofri do mai s do que
el e. Pobre cri ana! E l e fora ego s ta e cruel com el a. A fas ci nao que el a
des envol vera s obre el e vol tari a. E l es s eri am fel i zes j untos . Sua vi da com el a
s eri a bel a e pura.
E l e l evantou-s e de s ua cadei ra e puxou uma l onga tel a para frente do
retrato, tremendo enquanto o contempl ava. Que horr vel !, el e murmurou para
s i mes mo e, cami nhando em di reo j anel a, a abri u. Quando el e pi s ou
s obre a grama, res pi rou fundo. O ar fres co da manh pareci a l evar embora
todas as s uas s ombri as pai xes . E l e pens ava apenas em Sybi l Vane. Um
dbi l eco de s eu amor retornava at el e. E l e repeti a s eu nome, e repeti a e
repeti a novamente. Os ps s aros que es tavam cantando no j ardi m encharcado
de orval ho pareci am es tar contando s fl ores s obre el a.
CAPT ULO 6
J pas s ara mui to do mei o-di a quando el e des pertou. Seu cri ado havi a
des l i zado vri as vezes para dentro do quarto, na ponta dos ps , para ver s e el e
es tava l evantando e s e perguntava o que fi zera s eu j ovem patro dormi r at
tarde. Fi nal mente s ua campai nha s oou e Vi ctor entrou s uavemente com uma
x cara de ch e uma pi l ha de cartas , em uma pequena bandej a de vel ha
porcel ana Svres , e abri u as corti nas de ceti m ol i va, com s eu ci nti l ante forro
azul , que pendi a defronte a trs al tas j anel as .
M ons i eur es teve dormi ndo por toda a manh, el e di s s e, s orri dente.
Que horas s o, Vi ctor?, perguntou Dori an Gray, s onol ento.
Uma e qui nze, mons i eur.
Como era tarde! E l e s e l evantou e, tendo bebi do um pouco de ch,
vol tou-s e para as s uas cartas . Uma del as era de l orde Henry e fora entregue
em mos naquel a manh. E l e hes i tou por um momento e ento a dei xou de
l ado. E l e abri u as outras i ndi ferentemente. Conti nham a habi tual col eo de
cartes , convi tes para j antar, i ngres s os para verni s s ages , programas para
concertos de cari dade e s i mi l ares , des pej ados em el egantes e j ovens rapazes a
cada manh durante a es tao. Havi a uma conta bem s al gada, de um conj unto
para banho Loui s XV de prata, gravado em rel evo, que el e ai nda no ti vera a
coragem de envi ar para os s eus guardi es , que eram pes s oas extremamente
anti quadas e no entendi am que vi vemos em uma poca onde apenas as
coi s as s uprfl uas nos s o extremamente neces s ri as ; e havi a vri as
mens agens em tom mui to cordi al dos fi nanci s tas de Jermyn Street oferecendo
o adi antamento de qual quer s oma de di nhei ro a qual quer momento e com as
mai s razovei s taxas de j uros .
Depoi s de quas e dez mi nutos el e s e l evantou e, ves ti ndo um el aborado
roupo, pas s ou para o banhei ro de pi s o de ni x. A gua fri a o refres cou depoi s
de um l ongo s ono. E l e pareci a ter s e es queci do de tudo o que pas s ara. Um vago
s ens o de ter tomado parte de al guma es tranha tragdi a l he ocorreu uma ou
duas vezes , mas era a i rreal i dade de um s onho tudo aqui l o.
As s i m que termi nou de s e ves ti r, foi at a bi bl i oteca e s entou-s e para
um l eve des j ej um francs , que fora di s pos to para el e em uma pequena mes a
ci rcul ar prxi ma de uma j anel a aberta. E ra um bel o di a. O ar cl i do pareci a
carregar temperos . Uma abel ha voou adentro, zumbi ndo ao redor de uma ces ta
azul no formato de drago, chei a de ros as amarel o-enxofre, que es tava frente
del e. E l e s e s enti a perfei tamente fel i z.
De repente, s eus ol hos pous aram s obre a tel a que el e col ocara defronte
ao retrato e s e as s us tou.
M ui to fri o para o M ons i eur?, perguntou s eu cri ado, col ocando uma
omel ete s obre a mes a. Devo fechar a j anel a?
Dori an bal anou s ua cabea. No es tou com fri o, el e murmurou.
era, mas era ci do prs s i co[1] ou al vai ade. Imagi no que s ej a ci do prs s i co,
poi s parece que el a morreu i ns tantaneamente. mui to trgi co, cl aro, mas
voc no pode s e envol ver ni s s o. Li no Standard que el a ti nha dezes s ete anos .
Pens ava que el a fos s e mai s j ovem ai nda. E l a aparentava s er cri ana e pareci a
s aber to pouco s obre i nterpretao. Dori an, voc no deve dei xar que i s s o o
acometa. Voc deve vi r j antar comi go e depoi s i remos pera. noi te de Patti e
todos es taro l . Voc poder fi car no camarote de mi nha i rm. E l a l evar
al gumas mul heres es pertas com el a.
E nto, as s as s i nei Sybi l Vane, di s s e Dori an Gray, quas e como para
s i mes mo as s as s i nei -a, to certamente quanto ti ves s e cortado s ua pequena
garganta com uma faca. E as ros as no s o menos encantadoras por caus a
di s to. Os ps s aros gorj ei am i gual mente fel i zes em meu j ardi m. E es ta noi te
j antarei com voc e ento i remos pera e beberemos depoi s , s uponho. Como a
vi da extraordi nari amente dramti ca! Se eu ti ves s e l i do tudo i s s o em um
l i vro, Harry, acho que teri a chorado. De al guma forma, j que i s s o real mente
aconteceu, e a mi m, parece mui to maravi l hos o para l gri mas . E i s mi nha
pri mei ra apai xonada carta de amor que es crevi em mi nha vi da. E s tranho que
mi nha pri mei ra carta de amor apai xonada tenha s i do para uma garota que
tenha morri do. E l es podem s enti r, me pergunto, es tas pl i das e s i l entes
pes s oas que chamamos de mortos ? Sybi l ! E l a pode s enti r ou s aber, ou es cutar?
Oh, Harry, como eu a amei uma vez! Parece-me que foi h anos , agora. E l a
era tudo para mi m. E nto chegou es ta noi te terr vel foi real mente apenas a
noi te pas s ada? quando el a i nterpretou de manei ra to rui m e meu corao
quas e s e parti u. E l a me expl i cou tudo. Foi terri vel mente patti co. M as eu no
fi quei nem um pouco emoci onado. E u pens ei que el a fos s e s uperfi ci al . E nto
al go aconteceu que me deu medo. No pos s o l he di zer o que era, mas foi
tenebros o. E u di s s e que vol tari a para el a. Senti a que fi z errado. E agora el a
es t morta. M eu Deus ! M eu Deus ! Harry, o que devo fazer? Voc no s abe o
peri go que corro e no h nada para me manter no prumo. E l a teri a fei to i s s o
por mi m. E l a no ti nha o di rei to de s e matar. Foi mui to ego s mo da parte del a.
M eu caro Dori an, o ni co modo pel o qual uma mul her s empre pode
cons ertar um homem entedi -l o to compl etamente que el e perde todo o
i nteres s e pos s vel na vi da. Se voc ti ves s e des pos ado es ta garota, es tari a
arrui nado. Cl aro que voc a teri a tratado bem. Sempre s e pode s er bondos o com
as pes s oas com as quai s no nos i mportamos . M as el a l ogo teri a des coberto
que voc s eri a i nfi ni tamente i ndi ferente a el a. E , quando uma mul her faz
tal des coberta s obre s eu mari do, el a ou s e torna terri vel mente des l ei xada ou
us a al gumas toucas mui to s ofi s ti cadas que o mari do de outra mul her ter de
comprar tambm. Nada di go s obre o erro s oci al , mas l he as s eguro que, em todo
cas o, a coi s a toda s eri a um fracas s o compl eto.
Suponho que s i m, res mungou o rapaz, cami nhando a es mo pel a s al a
e com uma aparnci a terri vel mente pl i da. M as pens ava que era meu dever.
No mi nha cul pa que es ta horr vel tragdi a tenha evi tado que eu fi zes s e o
que era correto. Lembro que me di s s e uma vez que havi a uma fatal i dade s obre
as boas res ol ues ... que el as eram s empre deci di das mui to tarde. A mi nha
certamente o foi .
As boas res ol ues s o s i mpl es mente tentati vas i ntei s de i nterferi r
em l ei s ci ent fi cas . Sua ori gem pura vai dade. Seu res ul tado, abs ol utamente
nul o. E l as nos do, de vez em quando, al gumas daquel as l uxuos as e es trei s
emoes que nos proporci onam certo charme. Is to tudo o que s e pode di zer
s obre el as .
Harry, excl amou Dori an Gray, aproxi mando-s e e s entando ao s eu
l ado, por que no cons i go s enti r es ta tragdi a tanto quanto eu quero? No acho
que eu s ej a i ns ens vel . Voc acha?
Voc fez mui tas coi s as tol as em s ua vi da para ter o di rei to de s e dar s e
atri bui r es te nome, Dori an, res pondeu l orde Henry, com s eu s orri s o doce e
mel ancl i co.
O rapaz fez cara fei a. No gos to des ta expl i cao, Harry, el e repl i cou,
mas es tou fel i z por voc no pens ar que s ou i ns ens vel . No s ou nada des te
ti po. Sei que no s ou. E admi to, porm, que es ta coi s a que aconteceu no me
afeta como deveri a. Parece-me apenas que foi s i mpl es mente um fi m
maravi l hos o para uma pea maravi l hos a. Tem toda a terr vel bel eza de uma
grande tragdi a, uma tragdi a na qual atuei , mas pel a qual no fui feri do.
uma ques to i nteres s ante, di s s e l orde Henry, que des cobri u um
del i cado prazer em bri ncar com o ego s mo i ncons ci ente do rapaz, uma ques to
extremamente i nteres s ante. Imagi no que a expl i cao s ej a es ta.
Frequentemente acontece que as tragdi as reai s da vi da ocorram de manei ra
to s em arte que el as nos machucam pel a s ua vi ol nci a crua, s ua abs ol uta
i ncoernci a, s eu des ej o abs urdo de s enti do, s ua compl eta fal ta de es ti l o. E l a
nos afeta da mes ma manei ra que a vul gari dade. E l a nos d a i mpres s o de
uma fora bruta e abrupta e nos revol tamos contra i s s o. s vezes , entretanto,
uma tragdi a que apres enta el ementos art s ti cos de bel eza atraves s a as
nos s as vi das . Se es s es el ementos de bel eza s o reai s , a coi s a toda
s i mpl es mente apel a ao nos s o s ens o de efei to dramti co. Repenti namente,
des cobri mos que no s omos mai s os atores , mas os es pectadores da pea. Ou
mel hor, s omos ambos . Obs ervamo-nos e a mera maravi l ha do es petcul o nos
encanta. No cas o pres ente, o que real mente aconteceu? Al gum s e matou pel o
s eu amor. Qui s era eu ter ti do tal experi nci a. Teri a me fei to apai xonado pel o
amor pel o res to da mi nha vi da. As pes s oas que me adoraram no foram
tantas , mas foram al gumas s empre i ns i s ti ram em conti nuar vi vendo, mui to
tempo aps eu ter dei xado de me i mportar com el as ou el as por mi m.
Tornaram-s e val entes e tedi os as , e quando as encontro, s eguem di reto para as
remi ni s cnci as . Que pavoros a memri a es ta as das mul heres ! Que coi s a
temeros a el a ! E que extrema es tagnao i ntel ectual el a revel a! Al gum
deveri a abs orver a cor da vi da, mas nunca s e l embrar dos s eus detal hes . Os
detal hes s o s empre vul gares .
Cl aro, s vezes as coi s as s e detm. Uma vez, no us ei nada al m de
vi ol etas por uma temporada i ntei ra, como l uto por um romance que no
morreri a. No fi m das contas , porm, el e morreu. E s queci o que o matou. Acho
que foi a propos ta del a de s acri fi car todo o mundo por mi m. E s te s empre um
momento terr vel . E nche al gum com o terror da eterni dade. Bem voc
acredi tari a? uma s emana atrs , na cas a de l ady Hamps hi re, encontrei -me
mes a com a dama em ques to e el a i ns i s ti a em vol tar s obre a coi s a toda outra
vez, e a es cavar o pas s ado e remexer o futuro. E nterrei meu romance em uma
cama de papoul as . E l a o puxou novamente e me as s egurou que arrui nei s ua
vi da. E s tou i ncl i nado a afi rmar que el a comeu um j antar enorme, as s i m, eu
no s enti nenhuma ans i edade. M as que fal ta de gos to el a demons trou! O
ni co encanto do pas s ado que el e pertence ao pas s ado. M as as mul heres
nunca s abem quando as corti nas caem. Sempre querem um s exto ato e, as s i m
que o i nteres s e na pea acaba por compl eto, el as propem conti nu-l a. Se
fos s em permi ti das a fazer do s eu modo, toda comdi a teri a um fi nal trgi co e
toda tragdi a termi nari a em uma fars a. E l as s o encantadoramente
arti fi ci ai s , mas no tm s ens o de arte. Voc mai s afortunado do que eu. E u
l he as s eguro, Dori an, que nenhuma das mul heres que conheci teri a fei to por
mi m o que Sybi l Vane fez por voc. As mul heres ordi nri as s empre cons ol am
a s i mes mas . Al gumas del as o fazem bus cando cores s enti mentai s . Nunca
confi e em uma mul her que us a l i l s , s ej a qual for a i dade del a ou uma
mul her com mai s de tri nta e ci nco anos que s ej a apai xonada por fai xas cor de
ros a. Is s o s empre s i gni fi ca que el as tm hi s tri a. Outras encontram grande
cons ol o em des cobri r repenti namente as boas qual i dades de s eus mari dos .
E l as os tentam s ua fel i ci dade conj ugal na frente de outras , como s e fos s e o
mai s fas ci nante dos pecados . A rel i gi o conforta al gumas . Seus mi s tri os tm
todo o charme do fl erte, uma mul her uma vez me di s s e; e pos s o entender i s s o
mui to bem. Al m di s s o, nada torna al gum to vo quanto s aber que al gum
pecador. Real mente, no h fi m para o cons ol o que uma mul her pode obter na
vi da moderna. De fato, nem menci onei o mai s i mportante de todos .
O que , Harry?, perguntou Dori an Gray, i ndi ferente.
Oh, o mai s bvi o. Roubar a admi radora de al gum quando s e perde a
prpri a. E m boa companhi a que s empre d uma cai ao a uma mul her. M as ,
real mente, Dori an, como Sybi l Vane deveri a s er di ferente de todas as
mul heres que s e pode encontrar! H al go que me mui to boni to em s ua morte.
E s tou fel i z por vi ver em um s cul o em que tai s maravi l has ocorrem. E l as nos
fazem crer na real i dade das coi s as com as quai s pes s oas s uperfi ci ai s e
modernas bri ncam, como romance, pai xo e amor.
Fui terri vel mente cruel com el a. Voc es quece-s e di s s o.
Acredi to que as mul heres apreci am a cruel dade mai s do que
ni ngum. E l as tm i ns ti ntos maravi l hos amente pri mi ti vos . Ns as
l i bertamos , mas el as permanecem es cravas procurando por s eus amos , do
mes mo modo. E l as amam s er domi nadas . E s tou certo de que voc foi
es pl ndi do. E u nunca o vi nervos o, mas pos s o i magi nar como voc pareci a
prazeros o. E , no fi m das contas , voc me di s s e al go anteontem que me
adol es cente zombari a Narci s o, el e bei j ara ou fi ngi ra bei j ar, aquel es l bi os
pi ntados que agora s orri am to cruel mente para el e. M anh aps manh, el e
s e s entara di ante do retrato maravi l hado com s ua bel eza, quas e enamorado por
el a, como l he pareci a s vezes . Deveri a i s s o mudar agora, a cada s ens ao que
el e cedes s e? Deveri a s e tornar uma coi s a pavoros a e repul s i va a s er es condi da
em uma s al a trancada, a s er afas tada da l uz do s ol que ti nha to
frequentemente trans formado em outro ai nda mai s bri l hante a maravi l ha
ondul ada de s eu cabel o? Que pena! Que pena!
Por um momento, el e pens ou em pedi r que a terr vel s i mpati a que
exi s ti a entre el e e o retrato pudes s e ces s ar. O retrato mudou em res pos ta a um
pedi do; tal vez, em res pos ta a um pedi do, pudes s e permanecer i nal terado. E ,
ai nda, quem, que s abi a tudo s obre a Vi da, renunci ari a oportuni dade de
fi car s empre j ovem, embora es ta oportuni dade fos s e fants ti ca ou de quai s
cons equnci as fatai s el a poderi a es tar carregada? Al m do mai s , i s s o es tava
real mente s ob s eu control e? Ti nha s i do de fato um pedi do que produzi ra as
mudanas ? No poderi a haver al guma razo ci ent fi ca para i s s o? Se o
pens amento pudes s e exercer s ua i nfl unci a s obre um organi s mo vi vo, no
poderi a exercer al guma i nfl unci a s ob coi s as i nertes e i norgni cas ? No, s em
um pens amento ou um des ej o cons ci ente, no poderi am as coi s as externas a
ns vi brar em un s s ono com nos s as s ens aes e pai xes , tomo convocando
tomo, em amor s ecreto ou es tranha afi ni dade? M as o moti vo era
i ns i gni fi cante. E l e nunca mai s tentari a, por um pedi do, qual quer fora
terr vel . Se o quadro ti ves s e de mudar, que mudas s e. Is s o era tudo. Por que
pes qui s ar i s s o to a fundo?
Poi s havi a um verdadei ro prazer em obs erv-l o. E l e s eri a capaz de
s egui r s ua mente at s eus recndi tos s ecretos . E s te retrato l he s eri a o mai s
mgi co dos es pel hos . As s i m como l he revel ara s eu prpri o corpo, agora l he
revel ari a s ua prpri a al ma. E , quando o i nverno chegas s e, el e es tari a ai nda
onde a pri mavera treme com a i mi nnci a do vero. Quando o s angue
es corres s e de s eu ros to e dei xas s e uma pl i da ms cara de gi z com ol hos
pes ados , el e manteri a o gl amour da adol es cnci a. Nenhum dos botes de s eu
encanto des vaneceri a. Nenhum pul s o de s ua vi da s eri a mes mo enfraqueci do.
Como os deus es dos gregos , el e s eri a forte, l i gei ro e al egre. O que i mportava o
que aconteci a i magem col ori da s obre a tel a? E l e es tari a a s al vo. Is s o era tudo.
E l e puxou a tel a de vol ta para o s eu l ugar ori gi nal , defronte ao quadro,
s orri ndo como es tava e pas s ou para o s eu quarto, onde s eu cri ado j es tava l he
es perando. Uma hora depoi s el e es tava na pera e l orde Henry es tava s e
debruando s obre s ua pol trona.
CAPT ULO 7
Quando el e es tava s e s entando para o des j ej um, na manh s egui nte,
Bas i l Hal l ward foi conduzi do para a s al a.
E s tou to fel i z por t-l o encontrado, Dori an, el e di s s e, gravemente.
Vi m aqui na noi te pas s ada e me di s s eram que voc es tava na pera. Cl aro
que eu s abi a que i s s o era i mpos s vel . M as eu des ej ei que voc ti ves s e
avi s ado onde es tari a de fato. Pas s ei uma noi te terr vel , mei o temeros o que
uma tragdi a s e s egui s s e outra. Pens o que voc deveri a ter me envi ado um
tel egrama quando voc s oube a pri nc pi o. Li s obre o cas o aci dental mente na
l ti ma edi o do The Gl obe, que peguei no cl ube. Vi m aqui i medi atamente e
fi quei tri s te por no encontr-l o. No pos s o l he di zer como es tou des ol ado com a
coi s a toda. Sei que voc deve es tar s ofrendo. M as onde voc es tava? Voc foi at
l para ver a me da garota? Por um momento, pens ei em s egui -l o at l .
Deram o endereo no j ornal . Al gum l ugar em E us ton Road, no ? M as temi
me i ntrometer em uma mgoa que eu no poderi a al i vi ar. Pobre mul her! E m
que es tado el a deve es tar! E s ua fi l ha ni ca, tambm! O que el a di s s e s obre
i s s o tudo?
M eu caro Bas i l , como pos s o s aber?, murmurou Dori an, beberi cando
um pouco de vi nho amarel o pl i do de uma del i cada taa em bol has douradas
eferves centes e aparentando es tar terri vel mente entedi ado. E u es tava na
pera. Voc deveri a ter i do l . E ncontrei l ady Gwendol en, a i rm de Harry,
pel a pri mei ra vez. E s tvamos em s eu camarote. E l a perfei tamente
encantadora; e Patti cantou di vi namente. No fal e de as s untos horr vei s . Se
al gum no menci ona uma coi s a, el a nunca exi s ti u. a s i mpl es expres s o,
como Harry di z, que d real i dade s coi s as . Fal e-me s obre voc e o que es t
pi ntando.
Voc foi pera?, di s s e Hal l ward, fal ando bem devagar e com um
tens o toque de dor em s ua voz. Voc foi pera, enquanto Sybi l Vane es tava
ca da, morta em al gum s rdi do al oj amento? Voc pode me contar de outras
mul heres s endo encantadoras e de Patti cantando di vi namente, antes que a
garota que voc amou ti ves s e mes mo o s i l nci o de uma tumba para dormi r?
Ora, rapaz, h horrores res ervados para aquel e pequeno corpo branco del a!
Pare, Bas i l ! No ouvi rei i s s o!, excl amou Dori an, pondo-s e de p em
um s al to. Voc no deve me contar as coi s as . O que es t fei to, es t fei to. O que
pas s ado, pas s ado.
Voc chama ontem de pas s ado?
O que o verdadei ro l aps o de tempo tem a ver com i s to? Apenas as
pes s oas s uperfi ci ai s que preci s am de anos para s e l i vrar de uma emoo. Um
homem que mes tre de s i mes mo pode l i qui dar uma mgoa to faci l mente
quanto pode i nventar um prazer. No quero es tar s ob o j ugo de mi nhas
emoes . Quero us ar, apreci ar e domi n-l as .
Dori an, i s s o terr vel ! Al go o trans formou por compl eto. Voc parece o
mes mo maravi l hos o garoto que cos tumava frequentar meu atel i , di a aps di a,
para o s eu retrato. M as voc era ento s i mpl es , natural e cari nhos o. Voc era a
mai s i mpol uta cri atura de todo o mundo. Agora, no s ei o que s e apoderou de
voc. Voc fal a como s e no ti ves s e nenhum corao, nem comi s erao. tudo
i nfl unci a de Harry. E u percebo i s s o.
O rapaz corou e, i ndo j anel a, ol hou para o gramado verde e ci nti l ante
por al guns momentos . Devo mui to a Harry, Bas i l , el e di s s e, por fi m, mai s
do que devo a voc. Tudo o que voc me ens i nou foi s er vai dos o.
Bom, s ou puni do por i s s o, Dori an... ou s erei al gum di a.
No s ei o que voc quer di zer, Bas i l , el e excl amou, vol tando-s e. No
s ei o que voc des ej a. O que voc quer?
Quero o Dori an Gray que eu cos tumava conhecer.
Bas i l , di s s e o rapaz, cami nhando at el e e col ocando s ua mo s obre
s eu ombro, voc chegou mui to tarde. Ontem, quando s oube que Sybi l Vane
ti nha s e s ui ci dado...
Sui ci dado! Pel os cus ! No h dvi das s obre i s s o?, excl amou
Hal l ward, ol hando para el e com uma expres s o de horror.
M eu caro Bas i l ! E s t certo de no pens ar que foi um aci dente vul gar?
Cl aro que el a s e matou. uma das grandes tragdi as romnti cas da nos s a
era. Vi a de regra, as pes s oas que agem l evam a mai s ordi nri a das vi das . So
bons mari dos ou devotadas es pos as , ou al go tedi os o. Voc s abe o que quero di zer
a vi rtude da cl as s e mdi a e todo es s e ti po de coi s a. Como Sybi l era di ferente!
E l a vi veu s ua mel hor tragdi a. E l a s empre foi uma hero na. A l ti ma noi te
em que el a i nterpretou a noi te em que voc a vi u el a foi ps s i ma porque
des cobri ra a real i dade do amor. Quando el a s oube que era i rreal , morreu,
as s i m como Jul i eta poderi a ter morri do. E l a pas s ou novamente para a es fera
da arte. H al go de mrti r nel a. Sua morte tem toda a patti ca i nuti l i dade do
mart ri o, toda a s ua bel eza des perdi ada. M as , como eu di zi a, voc no deve
pens ar que no s ofri . Se voc ti ves s e vi ndo ontem, em um momento parti cul ar
perto das ci nco e mei a, tal vez, ou qui nze para as s ei s voc teri a me
encontrado em l gri mas . M es mo Harry, que es tava aqui , que me trouxe a
not ci a, de fato, no fazi a i dei a do que eu pas s ava. Sofri i mens amente e ento
pas s ou. No pos s o repeti r uma emoo. Ni ngum pode, exceto os
s enti mental i s tas . E voc terri vel mente i nj us to, Bas i l . Voc vei o aqui para
me cons ol ar. Is s o encantador de s ua parte. Voc me encontra cons ol ado e fi ca
furi os o. Igual a uma pes s oa s ol i dri a! Voc me l embra uma hi s tri a que
Harry me contou s obre um certo fi l ntropo que pas s ou vi nte anos de s ua vi da
tentando reparar uma i nj us ti a ou al terar uma l ei i nj us ta es queci
exatamente o que era. Fi nal mente el e cons egui u e nada podi a exceder s eu
des apontamento. E l e no ti nha abs ol utamente nada para fazer, quas e morreu
de fas ti o e s e tornou um mi s antropo efeti vo. E , al m di s s o, meu caro Bas i l , s e
voc real mente quer me cons ol ar, mel hor ens i nar-me a es quecer o que de
Hal l ward fi xou s eus ol hos nel e. M eu caro garoto, que bobagem!, el e
excl amou. Voc quer di zer que no gos tou do que eu fi z de voc? Onde es t? Por
que voc col ocou uma tel a na frente del e? Dei xe-me ol h-l o. a mel hor coi s a
que eu j pi ntei . Ti re a tel a, Dori an. s i mpl es mente horr vel que s eu cri ado
es conda meu trabal ho des ta manei ra. Senti que a s al a pareci a di ferente
as s i m que entrei .
M eu cri ado nada tem a ver com i s s o, Bas i l . Voc no i magi na que eu
o dei xe arrumar a s al a para mi m, no ? E l e col oca as fl ores para mi m, s
vezes i s s o tudo. No; eu mes mo o es condi . A l uz es tava mui to forte s obre o
retrato.
M ui to forte! Impos s vel , meu caro ami go! um l ugar admi rvel para
el e. Dei xe-me v-l o. E Hal l ward cami nhou para o canto da s al a.
Um gri to de terror i rrompeu dos l bi os de Dori an Gray e el e correu
para s e col ocar entre Hal l ward e o retrato. Bas i l , el e di s s e, mui to pl i do, voc
no deve ol h-l o. E u no quero.
No ol har meu prpri o trabal ho! Voc no fal a s ri o. Por que eu no
deveri a ol h-l o?, excl amou Hal l ward, ri ndo.
Se voc tentar ol h-l o, Bas i l , dou-l he mi nha pal avra de honra, nunca
convers arei com voc novamente enquanto eu vi ver. Fal o mui to s ri o. No l he
dou nenhuma expl i cao e voc no deve pedi r-me uma. M as , l embre-s e, s e
tocar es ta tel a, tudo acabar entre ns .
Hal l ward es tava atni to. E l e ol hava para Dori an Gray tomado por uma
abs ol uta s urpres a. E l e nunca o vi ra daquel e j ei to antes . O rapaz es tava
compl etamente pl i do de rai va. Suas mos es tavam agarradas e as pupi l as de
s eus ol hos eram di s cos de puro fogo. E l e tremi a por i ntei ro.
Dori an!
Fi que qui eto!
M as qual o probl ema? Cl aro que no ol harei para el e s e voc no
qui s er, el e di s s e, agora com fri eza, vol tando-s e e i ndo para a j anel a. M as ,
real mente, parece bas tante abs urdo que eu no pos s a ol har meu prpri o
trabal ho, es peci al mente quando i rei exi bi -l o em Pari s , no outono.
Provavel mente terei de dar outra mo de verni z antes di s s o, portanto tenho de
v-l o al gum di a e por que no hoj e?
E xi bi -l o! Voc quer exi bi -l o?, excl amou Dori an Gray, um es tranho
s enti mento de terror s e apoderando del e. Seu s egredo s eri a exi bi do ao mundo?
As pes s oas engas gari am com o mi s tri o de s ua vi da? Is s o era i mpos s vel . Al go
el e no s abi a bem o qu ti nha de s er fei to i medi atamente.
Si m; s uponho que voc no pro ba i s s o. Georges Peti t i r reuni r todas
as mi nhas mel hores pi nturas para uma exi bi o es peci al na Rue de Szes [1],
que s er i naugurada na pri mei ra s emana de outubro. O retrato fi car l onge
apenas por um ms . Acho que voc poderi a fi car s em el e por es te per odo. Na
abs urdamente. E u ti nha ci mes de qual quer um com quem voc fal ava.
Queri a voc i ntei ro para mi m. E u s fi cava fel i z quando es tava com voc.
Quando es tava l onge, ai nda havi a voc pres ente em mi nha arte. Tudo era erro
e tol i ce. Tudo ai nda erro e tol i ce. Cl aro que nunca dei xei que voc s oubes s e
nada di s s o. Teri a s i do i mpos s vel . Voc no entenderi a; nem mes mo eu
entenderi a. Um di a, deci di pi ntar um maravi l hos o retrato s eu. Deveri a s er
mi nha obra-pri ma. mi nha obra-pri ma. M as , medi da que eu trabal hava
nel e, cada part cul a e pel cul a de cor me pareci a revel ar meu s egredo. Fi quei
cada vez mai s temeros o de que o mundo s oubes s e do meu s egredo. Senti ,
Dori an, que eu ti nha fal ado demai s . Foi ento que res ol vi nunca permi ti r que
o retrato fos s e exi bi do. Voc es tava um pouco i rri tado; mas ento no
compreendi a tudo o que aqui l o s i gni fi cava para mi m. Harry, a quem pri mei ro
contei a res pei to, ri u de mi m. M as no me i mporto com i s s o. Quando o quadro
fi cou pronto e me s entei s ozi nho com el e, s enti que eu es tava certo. Bem,
depoi s de al guns di as que o retrato s ai u de meu atel i e, as s i m que me l i vrei
da i ntol ervel fas ci nao de s ua pres ena, pareceu-me que fui i ngnuo ao
i magi nar que eu di s s era qual quer coi s a nel e, mai s do que voc era
extremamente boni to e que eu poderi a pi ntar. Ai nda agora no pos s o evi tar
achar que um erro pens ar que a pai xo que al gum s ente na cri ao
real mente exi bi da no trabal ho que s e cri a. A arte mai s abs trata do que
fantas i amos . A forma e a cor nos di zem s obre a forma e a cor i s s o tudo.
Parece-me, com frequnci a, que a arte ocul ta o arti s ta bem mai s
compl etamente do que o revel a. E as s i m, quando recebi es ta oferta de Pari s ,
deci di fazer de s eu retrato a pea pri nci pal da expos i o. Nunca me ocorreu que
voc recus ari a. Vej o agora que voc es tava certo. O retrato no deve s er exi bi do.
Voc no deve fi car bravo comi go, Dori an, pel o o que l he contei . Como eu di s s e
para Harry, uma vez, voc foi fei to para s er cul tuado.
Dori an Gray res pi rou fundo. Sua cor vol tou ao ros to e um s orri s o bri ncou
com s eus l bi os . O peri go pas s ara. E l e es tava a s al vo naquel e momento.
Porm, el e no podi a evi tar s enti r uma mi s eri crdi a i nfi ni ta pel o j ovem rapaz
que acabara de l he fazer es s a es tranha confi s s o. E l e s e perguntava s e
poderi a fi car to domi nado pel a pers onal i dade de um ami go. Lorde Henry
ti nha o encanto de s er mui to peri gos o. M as aqui l o era tudo. E l e era mui to
i ntel i gente e mui to c ni co para real mente s e apai xonar. Haveri a al gum que
l he encheri a com uma es qui s i ta i dol atri a? Seri a es ta uma das coi s as que a
vi da l he res ervara?
Is s o extraordi nri o para mi m, Dori an, di s s e Hal l ward, que voc
tenha vi s to o quadro. Voc real mente o vi u?
Cl aro que s i m.
Bem, voc no s e i mporta que eu o ol he agora?
Dori an bal anou s ua cabea. Voc no deve me pedi r i s s o, Bas i l .
Pos s i vel mente eu no poderi a dei xar que fi que di ante daquel e quadro.
Voc dei xar al gum di a, no?
Nunca.
Bem, tal vez voc es tej a certo. E agora, adeus , Dori an. Voc foi a ni ca
pes s oa em mi nha vi da por quem real mente es ti ve apai xonado. No s uponho
que eu deva v-l o com frequnci a novamente. Voc no s abe o que me cus tou
l he di zer tudo o que l he contei .
M eu caro Bas i l , excl amou Dori an, o que voc me contou?
Si mpl es mente que voc acredi tava gos tar mui to de mi m. Is s o nem mes mo
um el ogi o.
No ti nha a i nteno de que fos s e um el ogi o. Foi uma confi s s o.
Uma confi s s o mui to des apontadora.
Ora, o que voc es perava, Dori an? Voc no vi a nada di s s o na pi ntura,
no ? No havi a nada mai s para ver?
No: nada mai s havi a para ver. Por que voc pergunta? M as voc no
deveri a fal ar em no me encontrar mai s ou qual quer coi s a do ti po. Voc e eu
s omos ami gos , Bas i l , e s empre deveremos conti nuar as s i m.
Voc tem Harry, di s s e Hal l ward, tri s temente.
Oh, Harry!, excl amou o rapaz, com uma onda de ri s os . Harry pas s a
s eus di as di zendo o que i ncr vel e s uas noi tes a fazer o que i mprovvel .
Apenas o ti po de vi da que eu queri a l evar. M as , contudo, no acho que eu
recorreri a a Harry s e eu es ti ves s e com probl emas . Ao contrri o, i ri a at voc,
Bas i l .
M as voc no pos ari a para mi m novamente?
Impos s vel !
Voc arru na mi nha vi da como arti s ta por es ta recus a, Dori an.
Ni ngum des cobre duas coi s as i deai s . Poucos des cobrem uma.
No pos s o l he expl i car, Bas i l , mas nunca mai s devo pos ar para voc.
Irei beber ch com voc. Is to s er mai s agradvel .
M ai s agradvel para voc, temo, murmurou Hal l ward,
arrependi damente. E , agora, adeus . Lamento que voc no me dei xar ol har
para o quadro mai s uma vez. M as i s s o no pode s er evi tado. E ntendo bem como
voc s e s ente por el e.
As s i m que el e dei xou a s al a, Dori an Gray s orri u para s i mes mo.
Pobre Bas i l ! Quo pouco el e s abi a do verdadei ro moti vo! E como era es tranho
que, ao i nvs de ter s i do forado a revel ar s eu prpri o s egredo, el e l ograra,
quas e por aci dente, extrai r um s egredo de s eu ami go! Os abs urdos aces s os de
ci mes de Bas i l , s ua l ouca devoo, s uas extravagantes apol ogi as , s uas
curi os as reti cnci as ... el e entendi a tudo agora e s e s enti a des gos tos o. Havi a
al go trgi co em uma ami zade to col ori da pel o romance.
E l e s us pi rou e tocou a s i neta. O retrato ti nha de s er es condi do a
qual quer cus to. E l e no poderi a correr tal ri s co de s er des coberto novamente.
Seri a l oucura s ua manter a coi s a, mes mo por uma hora, em uma s al a onde
todos os s eus ami gos ti nham aces s o.
[1] A gal eri a de fato exi s te, as s i m como Georges Peti t. O endereo compl eto 8,
Rue de Szes , Pari s . Peti t ( 18561920) foi um nome-chave no mundo
art s ti co de Pari s , l i gado pri nci pal mente aos Impres s i oni s tas . Sua
gal eri a foi aberta i ni ci al mente no nmero 12 da rue Godot de M auroy,
em 1881, s endo fechada em 1933.
CAPT ULO 8
Quando s eu cri ado entrou, el e o ol hou fi rmemente e s e perguntou s e
el e pens ara em bi s bi l hotar atrs da tel a. O homem es tava bem i mpas s vel e
es perou pel as s uas ordens . Dori an acendeu um ci garro, cami nhou at a
j anel a e ol hou para el a. E l e podi a ver o refl exo do ros to de Vi ctor cl aramente.
E ra como uma pl ci da ms cara de s ervi do. Nada havi a a temer al i . M es mo
as s i m, el e achou s er mel hor vi gi -l o.
Fal ando mui to devagar, el e l he pedi u para que di s s es s e governanta
que el e queri a v-l a e ento que fos s e ao mol durei ro e envi as s e doi s de s eus
empregados de uma vez s . Parecera-l he que o homem, ao dei xar a s al a, dera
uma ol hadel a na di reo da tel a. Ou era apenas s ua i magi nao?
Depoi s de al guns momentos , a s enhora Leaf, uma genti l e i dos a
s enhora, portando um grande ves ti do negro de s eda, com uma fotografi a do
fi nado s enhor Leaf emol durada em um grande broche dourado em torno de s eu
pes coo, e anti quadas l uvas de fi o em s uas mos enrugadas , apres s ou-s e
pel a s al a.
Bem, M es tre Dori an, el a di s s e, em que pos s o aj udar? Peo
des cul pas , s enhor l vi nha a cortes i a no pude vi s i tar o M es tre Dori an
mai s . M as , que Deus o abenoe, s enhor, eu o conheo des de que era um beb
e as mui tas traves s uras que pregou no pobre e vel ho s enhor Leaf. No que voc
nunca fos s e um bom garoto, s enhor; mas os garotos s o garotos , M es tre
Dori an, e a traves s ura uma tentao para os j ovens , no , s enhor?
E l e ri u. Voc deve me chamar de M es tre Dori an, s empre, Leaf.
Fi carei mui to bravo s e no o fi zer. E eu l he as s eguro que gos to tanto de
traves s uras agora quanto cos tumava antes . Apenas que hoj e, quando me
convi dam para o ch, eu nunca ofereo um retri bui o. Quero que me d a
chave da s al a do andar de ci ma da cas a.
A vel ha s al a de aul a, M es tre Dori an? Ora, es t total mente
empoei rada. Deverei arrumar e l i mp-l a antes que entre. No es t adequada
para que a vej a, M es tre Dori an. De manei ra al guma.
No a quero l i mpa, Leaf. Apenas quero a chave.
Bem, M es tre Dori an, voc s er coberto por tei as de aranha s e entrar
l . Ora, a s al a no foi aberta por quas e ci nco anos des de que s ua s enhori a
fal eceu.
E l e recuou com a meno do nome de s eu fal eci do ti o. E l e ti nha
memri as odi os as del e. Is s o no i mporta, Leaf, el e repl i cou. Tudo o que
quero a chave.
E aqui es t a chave, M es tre Dori an, di s s e a vel ha s enhora, depoi s
de remexer o contedo de s eu mol ho de chaves , com mos trmul as e i ncertas .
E i s a chave. Vou ti r-l a da argol a em um i ns tante. M as voc no pens a em
morar l , M es tre Dori an, es tando to confortvel aqui ?
No, Leaf, no pens o. Apenas quero ver o l ugar e, tal vez, guardar al go
l ... tudo. Obri gado, Leaf. E s pero que s eu reumati s mo es tej a mel hor; e vej a
s e me traga gel ei a para o caf da manh.
A s enhora Leaf bal anou a cabea. E s tes es trangei ros no
compreendem gel ei a, M es tre Dori an. E l es a chamam de compota. M as eu
mes ma l he trarei uma manh des tas , s e me permi ti r.
Seri a mui ta bondade de s ua parte, Leaf, el e res pondeu, ol hando para
a chave; e, tendo fei to-l he uma el aborada cortes i a, a vel ha s enhora dei xou a
s al a, s eu ros to coroado de s orri s os . E l a ti nha uma forte obj eo contra o cri ado
francs . E ra uma pobreza, el a s enti a, para qual quer um que nas ces s e
es trangei ro.
As s i m que a porta s e fechou, Dori an guardou a chave em s eu bol s o e
ol hou ao redor da s al a. Seu ol ho deteve-s e em um grande cobertor de ceti m
prpura pes adamente bordado de ouro, uma es pl ndi da pea venezi ana do
fi nal do s cul o 17 que s eu ti o des cobri ra em um convento perto de Bol onha. Si m,
aqui l o s ervi ri a para embrul har a coi s a. Tal vez ti ves s e s ervi do com frequnci a
como um pl i o para os mortos . Agora, deveri a es conder al go que ti nha a
corrupo del e prpri o, pi or que a prpri a corrupo da morte al go que dari a
l uz a horrores e, mes mo as s i m, nunca morreri a. O que o verme era para o
cadver, s eus pecados s eri am para a i magem pi ntada s obre a tel a. E l as
embotari am s ua bel eza e corroeri am s ua graa. E l as a pol ui ri am, a tornari am
vergonhos a. E , ai nda as s i m, a coi s a vi veri a. Seri a s empre vi va.
E l e tremeu e por um momento s e arrependeu de no ter contado a
Bas i l o verdadei ro moti vo de querer ocul tar o quadro. Bas i l o teri a aj udado a
res i s ti r i nfl unci a de l orde Henry e s i nfl unci as ai nda mai s venenos as
que vi nham do s eu prpri o temperamento. O amor que Bas i l carregava por el e
poi s era real mente amor ti nha al go de nobre e i ntel ectual em s i . No era
meramente a admi rao f s i ca da bel eza que nas ce dos s enti dos e que morre
quando os s enti dos s e cans am. E ra o mes mo amor que M i chel angel o
conhecera e M ontai gne, e Wi nckel mann, e o prpri o Shakes peare. Si m, Bas i l
poderi a t-l o s al vado. M as agora, era mui to tarde. O pas s ado s empre poderi a
s er ani qui l ado. O arrependi mento, a recus a ou o es queci mento poderi am fazer
i s s o. M as o futuro era i nevi tvel . Havi a pai xes dentro del e que nunca
encontrari am s ua terr vel s a da, s onhos que fari am verdadei ra a s ombra do
s eu mal .
E l e ti rou do s of a grande textura prpura e dourada que o cobri a e,
s egurando-a nas mos , pas s ou por trs da tel a. E s tari a o ros to no quadro ai nda
mai s vi l que antes ? Pareci a-l he i nal terado; mes mo as s i m, s eu as co por el e s e
i ntens i fi cou. Cabel os dourados , ol hos azui s e l bi os avermel hados es tavam
todos al i . E ra s i mpl es mente a expres s o que mudara. E s tava horr vel em s ua
cruel dade. Comparado ao que vi ra nel e de cens ura ou reprovao, como foram
ras as as reprovaes de Bas i l s obre Sybi l Vane! Como foram s uperfi ci ai s e de
pequena monta! Sua prpri a al ma ol hava para el e, a parti r do quadro e o
por al gum cri ado que l era uma carta, es cutara uma convers a ou pegara um
carto com um endereo, ou encontrara s ob o traves s ei ro uma fl or res s ecada ou
um pequeno l ao amarrotado.
E l e s us pi rou e, tendo des pej ado um pouco de ch, abri u o bi l hete de
l orde Henry. E ra s i mpl es mente para di zer que el e l he envi ara um j ornal
ves perti no, um l i vro que poderi a i nteres s -l o e que es tari a no cl ube s oi to e
qui nze. E l e abri u o j ornal l angui damente e o ol hou por ci ma. Uma marca de
caneta vermel ha na pgi na ci nco chamou s ua ateno. E l e l eu o s egui nte
pargrafo:
INQURITO SOB RE A ATRIZ.
Umi nquri to foi reali zado nesta manh na Taverna B ell, Hoxton Road, pelo
senhor Danby, o deleg ado do di stri to, sobre o corpo de Sybi l Vane, uma j ovem
atri z recentemente empreg ada no Teatro Royal, Holborn. Umveredi to de morte
por aci dente foi a concluso. Si mpati a consi dervel foi expressada pela me da
faleci da, que foi mui to afetada durante seu depoi mento e pelo doutor B i rrell, que
executou a autpsi a do cadver.
E l e franzi u o ros to l evemente e, ras gando o j ornal , atraves s ou a s al a e
arremes s ou os pedaos em uma ces ta dourada. Como era fei o aqui l o! E como a
verdadei ra fei ura horri vel mente fazi a s uas coi s as ! E l e s e s enti a um pouco
i ncomodado com l orde Henry por ter-l he envi ado a not ci a. E , certamente, fora
es tpi do da parte del e t-l a marcado com caneta vermel ha. Vi ctor poderi a ter
l i do. O homem s abi a mai s que o i ngl s mdi o para compreender aqui l o.
Tal vez el e o l era e comeara a s us pei tar de al go. M as , mes mo as s i m,
o que i s s o i mportava? O que Dori an Gray ti nha a ver com a morte de Sybi l Vane?
No havi a nada a temer. Dori an Gray no a havi a as s as s i nado.
Seus ol hos ca ram s obre o l i vro amarel o que l orde Henry l he envi ara.
E l e s e perguntou s obre o que s eri a aquel e l i vro. E l e foi at o pequeno caval ete
octogonal cor de prol a, que s empre l he parecera o trabal ho de al guma
es tranha abel ha eg pci a que el aborava em prata e pegou o vol ume. E l e s e
j ogou em uma pol trona e comeou a vi rar as pgi nas . Depoi s de al guns
mi nutos , el e foi abs orvi do. E ra o l i vro mai s es tranho que j amai s l era. Pareci al he que, em del i cado traj e e ao s uave s om de fl autas , os pecados do mundo
des fi l avam es tupi damente di ante del e. Coi s as que el e mal havi a s onhado
repenti namente l he eram tornadas real . Coi s as que el e nunca s onhara eram
gradual mente revel adas .
E ra um romance s em uma trama e com apenas um pers onagem,
s endo, de fato, s i mpl es mente um es tudo ps i col gi co de certo j ovem pari s i ens e
que pas s ou s ua vi da tentando real i zar, no s cul o 19, todas as pai xes e modos
de pens amento que pertenci am a todos os s cul os menos o del e, e para
concentrar em s i mes mo, como eram, os vri os cl i mas pel os quai s o es p ri to do
mundo pas s ara, enamorado pel a s i mpl es arti fi ci al i dade aquel as rennci as
que os homens i mbeci l mente chamara de vi rtude, tanto quanto as rebel i es
naturai s que os s bi os ai nda chamam de pecado. O es ti l o em que foi es cri to
era aquel e curi os o e rebus cado es ti l o, v vi do e obs curo de uma s vez, chei o de
g ri as e arca s mos , de expres s es tcni cas e de el aboradas parfras es que
caracteri za o trabal ho de al guns dos mel hores arti s tas da es col a frances a dos
Dcadents . Havi a metforas to mons truos as quanto orqu deas e to ms
quanto todas as cores . A vi da dos s enti dos era des cri ta em termos de fi l os ofi a
m s ti ca. M al s e podi a s aber, s vezes , s e s e l i a s obre o xtas e es pi ri tual de
um al gum s anto medi eval ou s obre as mrbi das confi s s es de um pecador
contemporneo. E ra um l i vro venenos o. O carregado odor de i ncens o pareci a
prender-s e s s uas pgi nas e a perturbar o crebro. A s i mpl es cadnci a das
fras es , a s uti l monotoni a de s ua ms i ca, to chei a quanto es tava de compl exos
refres e movi mentos el aboradamente repeti dos , produzi a na mente do rapaz,
enquanto el e pas s ava de cap tul o em cap tul o, uma forma de del ri o, uma
doena de s onho, que o fazi a des l i gado do di a que ca a e das s ombras s e
arras tando.
Sem nuvens e perfurado por uma ni ca es trel a s ol i tri a, um cu de
um verde azi nabrado i rradi ava pel as j anel as . E l e l i a pel a s ua l uz pl i da at
que no pde mai s . E nto, depoi s de s eu cri ado t-l o l embrado vri as vezes do
tardi o da hora, el e s e l evantou e, i ndo ao quarto s egui nte, col ocou o l i vro na
pequena mes a fl orenti na que s empre fi cava ao l ado de s ua cama e comeou a
s e ves ti r para o j antar.
J era quas e nove quando el e chegou ao cl ube, onde encontrou l orde
Henry s entado, s ozi nho, na s al a de es pera, aparentando mui to tdi o.
Lamento mui to, Harry, el e excl amou, mas , de fato, a cul pa toda
s ua. Aquel e l i vro que voc envi ou me fas ci nou tanto que me es queci do
horri o.
Achei que voc i ri a gos tar, repl i cou s eu anfi tri o, erguendo-s e da
cadei ra.
E u no di s s e que gos tei , Harry. Di s s e que me fas ci nou. H uma
grande di ferena.
Ah, s e voc des cobri u i s s o, ento fez uma grande des coberta,
murmurou l orde Henry, com s eu curi os o s orri s o. Venha, vamos entrar para
j antar. E s t terri vel mente tarde e temo que o champanhe es tej a mui to gel ado.
CAPT ULO 9
Por anos , Dori an Gray no pde s e l i bertar da memri a des s e l i vro.
Ou, tal vez, s eri a mai s preci s o di zer que el e nunca procurou s e l i bertar del e.
E l e s ol i ci tou, de Pari s , nada menos que ci nco cpi as em tamanho grande da
pri mei ra edi o e as encadernou em cores di ferentes , para que pudes s em
combi nar com s eus vri os humores e mutantes fantas i as de uma natureza
s obre a qual el e pareci a, s vezes , ter perdi do i ntei ramente o control e. O heri ,
o maravi l hos o j ovem pari s i ens e, no qual o temperamento romnti co e o
temperamento ci ent fi co eram to es tranhamente mes cl ados , tornou-s e uma
es pci e de ti po i magi nado de s i mes mo. E , de fato, todo o l i vro pareci a-l he
conter a hi s tri a de s ua prpri a vi da, es cri ta antes que el e a vi ves s e.
E m um ponto, el e foi mai s afortunado do que o fants ti co heri do
l i vro. E l e nunca teve nunca, de fato, ti vera al gum moti vo para ter aquel e
certo temor grotes co de es pel hos e s uperf ci es de metal pol i do, e ai nda a gua,
que s e abatera s obre o j ovem pari s i ens e to cedo em s ua vi da e foi ocas i onado
pel a s bi ta decadnci a de s ua bel eza que, uma vez, aparentemente, foi to
notvel . E ra como uma al egri a prati camente cruel e, tal vez, em quas e todas
as al egri as , to certamente quanto em todos os prazeres , a cruel dade tem s eu
l ugar que el e cos tumava l er a parte fi nal do l i vro, com s eu real mente
trgi co, s eno exagerado, rel ato s obre a tri s teza e o des es pero de al gum que
perdera aqui l o que, nos outros e no mundo, el e mai s apreci ava.
E l e, de qual quer forma, no ti nha moti vo para es s e temor. A bel eza
adol es cente que tanto fas ci nara Bas i l Hal l ward e mui tos outros depoi s del e,
pareci a nunca dei x-l o. M es mo aquel es que ouvi am as pi ores coi s as a s eu
res pei to ( e, de tempos em tempos , es tranhos boatos s obre s eu modo de vi da
es pal havam-s e s obre Londres e tornavam-s e as s unto pri nci pal nos cl ubes )
no podi am acredi tar em nada que o des abonas s e quando o vi am. E l e ti nha
s empre o ar de quem s e manti nha i macul ado do mundo. Os homens de fal a
gros s ei ra s e cal avam quando Dori an Gray entrava na s al a. Havi a al go, na
pureza de s eu ros to, que os reprovava. Sua s i mpl es pres ena pareci a l embrarl hes da i nocnci a que el es macul avam. E l es s e perguntavam como al gum
to encantador e graci os o como el e poderi a es capar da mcul a de uma poca que
era, por us a vez, s rdi da e s ens ual .
E l e mes mo, ao retornar para cas a de uma des s as mi s teri os as e
prol ongadas aus nci as que davam ocas i o a tal es tranha conj etura entre
aquel es que eram s eus ami gos ou pens avam s er, s ubi ri a as es cadas at o
quarto fechado, abri a a porta com a chave que nunca o dei xava e, permaneci a,
com um es pel ho, em frente ao retrato que Bas i l Hal l ward pi ntara del e,
ol hando agora para o ros to envel heci do e mau na tel a, e ento para a bel a e
j ovem face ri ndo-l he de vol ta atravs do vi dro pol i do. A prpri a agudeza do
contras te cos tumava ani mar s eu s enti mento de prazer. E l e s e tornava cada vez
mai s enamorado de s ua prpri a bel eza e cada vez mai s i nteres s ado na
corrupo de s ua al ma. E l e exami nava com um cui dado i ntens o, e
frequentemente com um prazer mons truos o e terr vel , as abomi nvei s l i nhas
que endureci am a enrugada tes ta ou s e es pal havam pel a forte e s ens ual boca,
s e perguntando s vezes quai s eram os mai s horr vei s , os s i nai s de pecado ou
os s i nai s da vel hi ce. E l e col ocava s uas mos brancas ao l ado das mos
gros s ei ras e i nchadas do retrato, e s orri a. E l e zombava do corpo deformado e dos
membros derrotados .
Havi a momentos , na verdade, durante a noi te, quando, dei tado i ns one
em s ua prpri a cmara del i cadamente perfumada ou no quarto s rdi do da
pequena taverna de m fama prxi ma s Docas , a qual , com um nome fal s o e
di s farado, era s eu hbi to frequentar, el e pens ava na ru na que trouxera
s obre s ua al ma, com uma mi s eri crdi a que era ai nda mai s pungente porque
era compl etamente ego s ta. M as , momentos como es te eram raros . Aquel a
curi os i dade s obre a vi da que, mui tos anos antes , l orde Henry ti nha pri mei ro
eri ado nel e, enquanto s entavam-s e j untos no j ardi m de s eu ami go, pareci a
aumentar com a s ati s fao. Quanto mai s el e s abi a, mai s des ej ava s aber. E l e
ti nha uma fome i ns ana que s e tornava mai s voraz medi da que a al i mentava.
M es mo as s i m, el e no era real mente i mpul s i vo, de qual quer forma
em s uas rel aes s oci ai s . Uma ou duas vezes em todos os mes es durante o
i nverno e em cada noi te de quarta-fei ra enquanto a es tao durava, el e abri a
ao mundo s ua bel a cas a e ti nha os ms i cos mai s cel ebrados do momento para
encantar s eus convi dados com as maravi l has de s ua arte. Seus pequenos
j antares , em cuj a arrumao l orde Henry s empre o aj udava, eram comentados
tanto pel a cui dados a s el eo e di s pos i o daquel es que eram convi dados ,
quanto pel o s ofi s ti cado gos to exi bi do na decorao da mes a, com s eus s uti s e
s i nfni cos arranj os de fl ores exti cas e toal has bordadas , e l ouas anti gas de
ouro e de prata. De fato, eram mui tos , es peci al mente entre os rapazes bem
j ovens , que vi am ou i magi navam ver, em Dori an Gray a real i zao verdadei ra
de um ti po que el es frequentemente s onhavam em s eus di as de E ton ou de
Oxford, um ti po que deveri a combi nar al go da cul tura real do acadmi co com
toda a graa e a di s ti no e modos perfei tos de um ci dado do mundo. Para el es ,
el e pareci a pertencer quel es a quem Dante des creve como tendo s e es forado a
fazer de s i mes mos perfei tos pel o cul to bel eza. Como Gauti er, el e era
aquel e por quem o mundo vi s vel exi s ti a.
E , certamente, para el e a prpri a vi da era a pri mei ra, a mai or das
artes , e para el a todas as outras artes pareci am s er apenas uma preparao. A
moda, pel a qual o que era real mente fants ti co s e torna por um momento
uni vers al e o Dandi s mo que, de s ua prpri a forma, uma tentati va de
expres s ar a moderni dade abs ol uta da bel eza, ti nham, cl aramente, s ua
fas ci nao por el e. Seu modo de s e ves ti r e os es ti l os parti cul ares que el e
fi ngi a de vez em quando ti nham s ua i nfl unci a marcada nos j ovens del i cados
nas j anel as dos bai l es de M ayfai r[1] e do cl ube de Pal l M al l [2], que o
copi avam em tudo o que fazi a e tentavam reproduzi r o encanto aci dental de
s uas graci os as , embora para el e apenas mei o s ri as , gal anteri as .
Poi s , embora el e es ti ves s e mui to pronto a acei tar a pos i o que quas e
pel as corti nas e parecem tremer. Fants ti cas s ombras negras es pal ham-s e
pel os cantos do quarto e s e ani nham l . Do l ado de fora, h o eri ar dos
ps s aros entre as fol has ou o s om dos homens i ndo para o trabal ho, ou o
s us pi ro e o s ol uo do vento des cendo a col i na e vagando pel a cas a s i l enci os a,
embora temendo des pertar os que dormem. Vu aps vu de fi na renda
es cureci da s e ergue e, gradual mente, as formas e as cores das coi s as l hes
s o devol vi das , e obs ervamos a aurora refazer o mundo em s eu padro anti go.
Os cans ados es pel hos retornam s ua vi da de i mi tao. Os cas ti ai s s em
chama fi cam onde os dei xamos e, ao l ado del es , s e dei ta o l i vro l i do pel a
metade que es ti vemos es tudando ou a fl or com s eu cabo que us amos no bai l e,
ou a carta que tememos l er, ou que l emos com mui ta frequnci a. Nada nos
parece al terado. Al m das s ombras i rreai s da noi te, retorna a vi da que
conhec amos . Temos de retom-l a de onde paramos e l nos domi na um
terr vel s enti mento de neces s i dade pel a conti nui dade de energi a na mes ma
vol ta cans ati va de hbi tos es tereoti pados ou uma l ouca ns i a, pode s er, que
nos s as pl pebras s e abram em al guma manh para um mundo que fora
renovado para o nos s o prazer, na es curi do, um mundo no qual as coi s as
teri am formas e cores novas , e s er al terado ou ter outros s egredos , um mundo
no qual o pas s ado teri a um l ugar pequeno, s e al gum, ou s obrevi ve, de
qual quer forma, em uma forma i ncons ci ente de d vi da ou l amento, a
l embrana mes mo da al egri a tendo s eu amargor e as memri as de prazer, s ua
dor.
E ra a cri ao de mundos como aquel es que pareci am s er para Dori an
Gray o verdadei ro obj eti vo ou entre os verdadei ros obj eti vos da vi da; e, em s ua
bus ca por s ens aes que s eri am por s ua vez novas e prazeros as , e pos s ui r
aquel e el emento de es tranheza que era to es s enci al para o romance, el e
frequentemente adotava certos modos de pens amento que el e s abi a s erem
compl etamente al hei os s ua natureza, abandonava a s i mes mo s s uas s uti s
i nfl unci as e ento tendo, como aconteci a, apreendi do s uas cores e s ati s fei to
s ua curi os i dade i ntel ectual , as dei xava com aquel a curi os a i ndi ferena que
no i ncompat vel com um real ardor de temperamento e que, de fato, de
acordo com al guns ps i cl ogos modernos , normal mente uma condi o del a.
Corri am boatos de que el e es tava pres tes a s e j untar comunho
catl i ca romana; e, certamente, o ri tual romano s empre exercera uma grande
atrao s obre el e. O s acri f ci o di ri o, mai s pavoros o, de fato, do que todos os
s acri f ci os do mundo anti go, o exci tava tanto quanto pel a extraordi nri a
rej ei o da evi dnci a dos s enti dos por caus a da pri mi ti va s i mpl i ci dade dos
s eus el ementos e o pathos eterno da tragdi a humana que bus cava s i mbol i zar.
E l e amava s e aj oel har no fri o pavi mento de mrmore, e com o padre, em s ua
r gi da cas ul a fl ori da, l entamente e com mos brancas , mover-s e para al m do
vu do taberncul o, e erguer aci ma do rebus cado os tens ri o em forma de
l anterna com aquel a pl i da hs ti a que s vezes , poderi a pens ar-s e com
res i gnao que de fato o pani s cael es ti s , o po dos anj os ou, s e ves ti r com os
traj es da Pai xo de Cri s to, quebrando a hs ti a dentro do cl i ce e gol peando s eu
cri atura compl exa e mul ti forme que trazi a em s i mes ma es tranhos l egados de
pens amentos e pai xes , e cuj a prpri a carne es tava cons purcada com as
mons truos as doenas dos mortos . E l e amava pas s ear pel a s ombri a gal eri a de
quadros de s ua cas a de campo e ol har aos vri os retratos daquel es cuj o s angue
corri a em s uas vei as . Al i es tava Phi l i p Herbert, des cri to por Franci s Os borne,
em s uas M emri as dos Rei nados da rai nha E l i zabeth e do rei Jai me, como
al gum que era papari cado pel a corte por caus a de s eu bel o ros to, que no l he
dava companhi as mui to l ongas . Foi a vi da do j ovem Herbert que el e s vezes
l evava? Teri a al gum es tranho e venenos o germe s e arras tado de corpo para corpo
at que chegas s e ao del e prpri o? Teri a s i do aquel e obs curo s enti mento de
arrui nada graa que teri a fei to el e, to repenti namente, e quas e s em
props i to, dar expres s o, no es tdi o de Bas i l Hal l ward, quel e pedi do i ns ano
que tanto mudara s ua vi da? Aqui , em gi bo vermel ho com rendas douradas ,
s obretudo s ofi s ti cado, rufo e punhos com bordas douradas , es tava s i r Anthony
Sherard, com s ua armadura prateada e negra empi l hada a s eus ps . Qual fora
o l egado des te homem? Teri a o amante de Gi ovanna de Npol es l he dei xado
al guma herana de pecado e de vergonha? Seri am as s uas aes s i mpl es mente
os s onhos que aquel e l ouco homem no ti nha ous ado real i zar? Aqui , da tel a
des gas tada, s orri a l ady E l i zabeth Devereux, em s ua touca di fus a, s eu corpete
de prol as e s uas l uvas cor de ros a, cortadas . Uma fl or em s ua mo di rei ta e a
es querda s egurando um col ar es mal tado de ros as brancas e adamas cadas . E m
uma mes a, ao s eu l ado, es tavam um bandol i m e uma ma. Havi a grandes
ros etas verdes s obre s eus s apatos de ponta pequena. E l e conheci a a vi da del a e
as es tranhas hi s tri as que s e contavam s obre s eus amantes . Teri a el e al go do
temperamento del a? Aquel es ol hos ovai s , de pl pebras pes adas , pareci am
ol har de modo curi os o para el e. E George Wi l l oughby, com s eu cabel o es pars o
e s eus fants ti cos s i nai s ? Como el e pareci a mau! O ros to era mel ancl i co e
tri guei ro, e os l bi os s ens uai s pareci am s e contorcer de des prezo. Del i cados
l aos ondul ados ca am s obre as pequenas mos amarel as que es tavam to
s obrecarregadas de ani s . E l e fora um macaroni do s cul o 18, e ami go, em
s ua j uventude, de l orde Ferrars . E o s egundo l orde Sherard, o companhei ro do
Pr nci pe Regente em s eus di as mai s l oucos , e uma das tes temunhas do
cas amento s ecreto com a s enhora Fi tzherbert? Como el e era orgul hos o e bel o,
com s eus cachos cas tanhos e pos e i ns ol ente! Quai s pai xes el e l egara? O
mundo o vi a como i nfame. E l e conduzi ra as orgi as em Carl ton Hous e. A
E s trel a da Jarretei ra bri l hava em s eu pei to. Ao l ado del e es tava o retrato de s ua
es pos a, uma mul her pl i da e de l bi os fi nos , ves ti da de preto. O s angue
del a, tambm, s e l evantava dentro del e. Como tudo aqui l o pareci a curi os o!
Ai nda ti nha ances trai s na l i teratura, as s i m como na prpri a
des cendnci a de outros , mai s prxi mo tal vez em ti po e temperamento, mui tos
del es , e certamente com uma i nfl unci a da qual era ai nda mai s cons ci ente.
Havi a momentos que pareci a a Dori an Gray que toda a hi s tri a era apenas o
regi s tro de s ua prpri a vi da, no como el e a vi vera em ato e ci rcuns tnci a, mas
como a s ua i magi nao as cri ara, como teri a s i do em s eu crebro e em s uas
pai xes . E l e s enti a que conheci a a todos , aquel as es tranhas e terr vei s
fi guras que ti nham pas s ado pel o pal co do mundo e tornado o pecado to
maravi l hos o e o mau to chei o de s urpres as . Pareci a-l he que, de al gum modo
mi s teri os o, s uas vi das ti nham s i do a del e prpri o.
O heri do peri gos o romance que tanto ti nha i nfl uenci ado s ua vi da
tambm ti nha, el e mes mo, es ta curi os a fantas i a. E m um cap tul o do l i vro el e
conta como, coroado com l aurel , a menos que um rel mpago l he ati ngi s s e, el e
s e s entara, como Ti bri o, em um j ardi m em Capri , l endo os vergonhos os l i vros
de E l efanti s , enquanto anes e paves andavam e danavam ao s eu redor, e o
fl auti s ta i mi tava o bal ano do tur bul o; e, como Cal gul a, ti nha farreado com os
montadores de cami s a verde em s eus es tbul os e j antado em uma
manj edoura de marfi m com um caval o que ti nha uma j oi a na fronte; e, como
Domi ci ano, ti nha perambul ado por um corredor l adeado de es pel hos de
mrmore, ol hando ao redor com ol hos perturbados com o refl exo do punhal que
deveri a dar cabo de s eus di as , e farto daquel e fas ti o, daquel e tdi o vi tal que
vem quel es a quem a vi da nada recus a; e ti nha pers crutado atravs de uma
es meral da verde no pi cadei ro vermel ho do ci rco e ento, em uma l i tei ra
prpura de prol as , carregada por mul as de ferradura de prata, fora l evado
pel as Ruas das Roms at a Cas a de Ouro, e ouvi ra os homens chorarem por
Nero Cs ar enquanto el e pas s ava; e, como Hel i ogbal o, pi ntara s ua face e
pregara o fus o entre as mul heres , e trouxe ra a Lua de Cartagena e a concedera
em m s ti co cas amento com o Sol .
Dori an cos tumava l er es te fants ti co cap tul o repeti damente e o
cap tul o i medi atamente s egui nte, no qual o heri des creve as curi os as
tapeari as que l he havi am teci do pel os des gni os de Gus tave M oreau, e nos
quai s eram retratados as formas terr vei s e bel as daquel es que o V ci o, o
Sangue e o Cans ao ti nham tornado mons tros ou l oucos : Fi l i ppo, Duque de
M i l o, que es fol ou s ua es pos a e pi ntou s eus l bi os com um veneno es carl ate;
Pi etro Barbi , o Venezi ano, conheci do como Paul o, o Segundo, que bus cou em
s ua vai dade as s umi r o t tul o de Formos o, e cuj a ti ara, aval i ada em duzentos
mi l fl ori ns , foi adqui ri da ao preo de um terr vel pecado; Gi an M ari a
Vi s conti , que us ava ces de caa para pers egui r homens vi vos e cuj o corpo
as s as s i nado foi coberto de ros as por uma pros ti tuta que o amava; o Borgi a em
s eu caval o branco, com o Fratri ci da erguendo-s e ao s eu l ado e s eu manto
manchado com o s angue de Perotto; Pi etro Ri ari o, o j ovem Cardeal Arcebi s po de
Fl orena, fi l ho e s ubordi nado de Si s to IV, cuj a bel eza era i gual ada apenas
pel a s ua l i berti nagem e que recebera Leonor de Arago em um pavi l ho de
s edas brancas e carmes i ns , chei as de ni nfas e centauros , e ornou um garoto
para que el e pudes s e s ervi -l a na fes ta como Gani medes ou Hyl as ; E zzel i n,
cuj a mel ancol i a podi a s er curada apenas pel o es petcul o da morte e que ti nha
uma pai xo por s angue vermel ho, como outros homens teri am pel o vi nho ti nto
o fi l ho do Demni o, como s e di zi a, e aquel e que roubara s eu pai no j ogo de
dados quando apos tara com el e s ua prpri a al ma; Gi anbatti s ta Ci bo, que por
zombari a adotou o nome de Inocente e em cuj as torpes vei as o s angue de trs
rapazes foi i nfundi do por um mdi co j udeu; Si gi s mondo M al ates ta, o amante
CAPT ULO 10
E ra 7 de novembro, a vs pera de s eu tri gs i mo s egundo ani vers ri o,
como el e frequentemente s e l embrari a depoi s .
E l e es tava vol tando para cas a, perto das onze horas , vi ndo da
res i dnci a de l orde Henry, onde el e j antara e es tava envol to em pes adas
pel es , poi s a noi te es tava fri a e chei a de nebl i na. Na es qui na de Gros venor
Square e South Adl ey Street, um homem pas s ou por el e pel a nvoa,
cami nhando apres s adamente e com a gol a de s eu s obretudo l evantada. E l e
ti nha uma s acol a em s ua mo. E l e o reconhecera. E ra Bas i l Hal l ward. Um
es tranho s enti mento de medo, que el e no podi a entender, s e apoderou del e.
E l e no fez nenhum s i nal de reconheci mento e conti nuou l entamente, na
di reo de s ua prpri a cas a.
M as Hal l ward o vi ra. Dori an es cutou pri mei ro el e parar e ento s e
apres s ar em s ua di reo. E m poucos momentos , s ua mo es tava s obre o brao
del e.
Dori an! Que s orte extraordi nri a! E s ti ve es perando por voc des de as
nove horas em s ua bi bl i oteca. Fi nal mente, me api edei de s eu cri ado cans ado
e di s s e-l he para i r dormi r, enquanto el e me dei xava s ai r. E s tou i ndo para
Pari s no trem da mei a-noi te e queri a v-l o em parti cul ar antes de parti r.
Pens ei que era voc, ou mel hor, s eu cas aco de pel es , quando pas s ou por mi m.
M as eu no es tava mui to certo. Voc no me reconheceu?
Nes ta nebl i na, meu caro Bas i l ? Ora, no pude nem reconhecer
Gros venor Square. Acho que mi nha cas a es t por aqui , mas no me s i nto
mui to s eguro a res pei to. Lamento que voc es tej a i ndo embora, poi s no o vej o
h mui to tempo. M as s uponho que vol te l ogo?
No: es tou s ai ndo da Ingl aterra por s ei s mes es . Pretendo ocupar um
es tdi o em Pari s e me trancar l at termi nar um grande retrato que tenho em
mente. Porm, no era s obre mi m que queri a convers ar. Aqui es tamos , em
s ua porta. Dei xe-me entrar por um momento. Tenho al go a l he di zer.
Fi carei encantado. M as voc no i r perder s eu trem?, di s s e Dori an
Gray l angui damente, enquanto el e s ubi a os degraus e abri a a porta com s ua
chave de ferrol ho.
A l uz do l ampi o l utava contra a nebl i na e Hal l ward ol hou para s eu
rel gi o. Tenho mui to tempo, el e res pondeu. O trem no s ai r at mei a-noi te
e qui nze, e ai nda s o onze horas . Na verdade, eu es tava i ndo ao cl ube para
procur-l o, quando o encontrei . Voc v, nem deverei me atras ar com as
bagagens , poi s j des pachei as coi s as pes adas . Tudo o que tenho comi go es ta
s acol a e pos s o chegar tranqui l amente Vi ctori a[1] em vi nte mi nutos .
Dori an ol hou para el e e s orri u. Que manei ra para um pi ntor
s ofi s ti cado vi aj ar! Uma bol s a Gl ads tone e um s obretudo! E ntre ou a nebl i na
i nvadi r a cas a. E vej a s e no fal ar al go s ri o. Nada, hoj e em di a, s ri o.
e um hi s tri co bom. Quero que voc s e l i vre das terr vei s pes s oas com quem
anda. No d de ombros des ta manei ra. No s ej a to i ndi ferente. Voc tem
uma i nfl unci a maravi l hos a. Dei xe que s ej a boa, e no m. E l es di zem que
voc corrompe qual quer um com quem s e torna nti mo e que i s s o bas tante
s ufi ci ente para entrar em uma cas a, pel a vergonha de al gum ti po em s egui l o. No s ei s e as s i m ou no. Como poderi a s aber? M as o que s e di z de voc.
Ouo coi s as que parecem i mpos s vei s de duvi dar. Lorde Gl ouces ter era um de
meus mai ores ami gos em Oxford. E l e me mos trou uma carta que s ua es pos a
l he es crevera quando es tava morrendo s ozi nha, em s ua vi l l a em M entone.
Seu nome es tava i mpl i cado na mai s terr vel confi s s o que j l i . E u l he di s s e
que era um abs urdo que eu o conheci a compl etamente e que voc era i ncapaz
de al go do ti po. Conheo voc? E u me pergunto, eu o conheo? Antes de eu poder
res ponder a i s s o, teri a de ver s ua al ma.
Ver mi nha al ma!, proferi u Dori an Gray, pul ando do s of e fi cando
quas e branco de medo.
Si m, res pondeu Hal l ward, gravemente, e com uma mgoa i nfi ni ta
em s ua voz ver s ua al ma. M as apenas Deus pode fazer i s s o.
Um ri s o amargo i rrompeu dos l bi os do j ovem rapaz. Voc tem de v-l a
voc mes mo, es ta noi te!, el e excl amou, pegando um l ampi o da mes a.
Venha: o s eu prpri o trabal ho. Por que voc no deveri a ol har para el e? Voc
pode di zer ao mundo depoi s , s e qui s er. Ni ngum acredi tar em voc. E , s e
acredi tarem, gos tari am ai nda mai s de mi m. Conheo es te tempo mel hor que
voc, embora tagarel e a res pei to to tedi os amente. Venha, eu l he di rei . Voc j
parol ou o s ufi ci ente s obre corrupo. Agora, voc deve encar-l a frente frente.
Havi a a l oucura do orgul ho em cada pal avra que el e emi ti a. E l e bateu
s eu p s obre o cho em s eu modo adol es cente e i ns ol ente. E l e s enti a uma
terr vel al egri a com a i dei a de que al gum mai s i ri a comparti l har s eu
s egredo e que o homem que pi ntara o retrato era a ori gem de toda a s ua
vergonha, que deveri a s er carregada pel o res to de s ua vi da com a repugnante
memri a do que el e fi zera.
Si m, el e conti nuou, chegando perto del e e ol hando fi xamente em
s eus ol hos r s pi dos , eu l he mos trarei mi nha al ma. Voc ver a coi s a que
i magi na apenas Deus s er capaz de ver.
Hal l ward recuou. Is s o bl as fmi a, Dori an!, el e excl amou. Voc no
deve di zer i s s o. E l as s o horr vei s e s em s i gni fi cado al gum.
Voc acha?, el e ri u novamente.
Sei que s i m. E , quanto ao que l he di s s e es ta noi te, di s s e-o para o s eu
bem. Voc s abe que s empre fui devotado a voc.
No me toque. Termi ne o que tem a di zer.
Um retorci do aces s o de dor varreu o ros to de Hal l ward. E l e parou por
um momento e um l ouco s enti mento de d abateu s obre el e. Afi nal de contas ,
que di rei to el e ti nha de s e i ntrometer na vi da de Dori an Gray? Se el e ti nha
fei to um dci mo do que s e di zi a a s eu res pei to, quanto deveri a ter s ofri do!
E nto el e s e endi rei tou e cami nhou para a l arei ra, e l fi cou, ol hando as
achas ardentes com s uas ci nzas i guai s neve e s eus pul s antes ncl eos de
fogo.
E s tou es perando, Bas i l , di s s e o j ovem rapaz, com uma voz l mpi da e
fi rme.
E l e s e vol tou. O que tenho a di zer i s to, el e excl amou. Voc deve me
dar uma res pos ta a es tas acus aes horr vei s que s o fei tas contra voc. Se me
di s s er que s o compl etamente fal s as , do i n ci o ao fi m, acredi tarei em voc.
Negue-as , Dori an, negue-as ! Voc no pode ver pel o o que es tou pas s ando?
M eu Deus ! No me di ga que voc i nfame!
Dori an Gray s orri u. Havi a uma curva de des prezo em s eus l bi os .
Suba as es cadas , Bas i l , el e di s s e, cal mamente. Tenho um di ri o de mi nha
vi da, di a aps di a e el e nunca s ai da s al a em que es cri to. E u l he mos trarei
s e vi er comi go.
Irei com voc, Dori an, s e as s i m des ej ar. Vej o que perdi meu trem.
Is s o no me i mporta. Pos s o i r amanh. M as no me pea para l er nada es ta
noi te. Tudo o que quero uma res pos ta di reta mi nha pergunta.
E l a s er dada l em ci ma. No pos s o res ponder aqui . Voc no ter de
l er mui to. No me faa es perar.
[1] Pri nci pal es tao ferrovi ri a de Londres naquel e momento. Hoj e, uma
es tao ferrovi ri a com parti das e chegadas apenas l ocai s .
[2] Vi nho branco di l u do com gua gas ei fi cada. Bebi da mui to popul ar na
Ingl aterra vi tori ana.
CAPT ULO 11
E l e atraves s ou a s al a e comeou a s ubi r as es cadas , Bas i l Hal l ward
s egui ndo-o de perto. Cami nhavam s uavemente, como os homens agem
i ns ti nti vamente noi te. O l ampi o l anava s ombras fants ti cas s obre a
parede e a es cadari a. Um vento cres cente fazi a al gumas j anel as chacoal har.
Quando chegaram ao fi m da es cada, Dori an col ocou o l ampi o s obre o
cho e, ti rando a chave, vi rou-a na fechadura. Voc i ns i s te em s aber, Bas i l ?,
el e perguntou com voz bai xa.
Si m.
E s tou contente, el e murmurou, s orri ndo. E nto el e acres centou, um
pouco amargo, Voc o ni co homem no mundo habi l i tado a s aber tudo s obre
mi m. Voc tem mai s a ver com a mi nha vi da do que pens a. E , pegando o
l ampi o, abri u a porta e entrou. Uma fri a corrente de ar pas s ou por el es e a l uz
bal anou por um momento, com uma chama de tri s te l aranj a. E l e tremeu.
Feche a porta atrs de voc, el e di s s e, enquanto punha o l ampi o s obre a
mes a.
Hal l ward ol hou ao s eu redor, com uma expres s o i ntri gada. A s al a
pareci a como s e no fos s e habi tada h anos . Uma gas ta tapeari a fl amenga,
um quadro acorti nado, uma vel ha cas s one i tal i ana e uma es tante quas e vazi a
era tudo o que pareci a conter, al m de uma pol trona e uma mes a. E nquanto
Dori an Gray es tava acendendo uma vel a mei o gas ta que es tava s obre uma
pratel ei ra de corni j a, el e vi u que todo o l ugar es tava recoberto de poei ra e que o
carpete es tava furado. Um rato correu tumul tuos amente atrs dos l ambri s .
Havi a o mi do odor de fungos .
E nto voc acha que apenas Deus enxerga a al ma, Bas i l ? Puxe a
corti na e voc ver a mi nha.
A voz que fal ava era fri a e cruel . Voc es t l ouco, Dori an, ou pregando
uma pea, murmurou Hal l ward, carrancudo.
No o far? E nto deverei faz-l o eu, di s s e o j ovem; e el e arras tou a
corti na de s ua has te e a j ogou s obre o cho.
Uma excl amao de horror s ai u dos l bi os de Hal l ward enquanto vi a
na parca l uz a repugnante coi s a s obre a tel a ol hando de s os l ai o para el e. Havi a
al go em s ua expres s o que o enchi a de des gos to e di o. Bons cus ! E ra a
prpri a face de Dori an Gray que el e es tava ol hando! O horror, s ej a qual fos s e,
ai nda no ti nha embotado aquel a bel eza maravi l hos a. Havi a ai nda um pouco
de dourado no cabel o que rareava e al gum es carl ate nos l bi os s ens uai s . Os
ol hos s aturados ai nda manti nham al go do encanto do s eu azul , as curvas
nobres no ti nham ai nda s e es va do das nari nas es cul pi das e da pl s ti ca
garganta. Si m, era o prpri o Dori an. M as quem o fi zera? E l e pareci a
reconhecer s uas pi ncel adas e a mol dura era de s eu prpri o des enho. A i dei a
era mons truos a, e as s i m, el e tremi a de medo. E l e agarrou a vel a aces a e a
s eu prpri o s angue. Os braos es tendi dos bal anaram trs vezes , ondul ando
as grotes cas mos com os dedos r gi dos pel o ar. E l e o es faqueou uma vez mai s ,
mas o homem no s e moveu. Al go comeou a gotej ar s obre o cho. E l e es perou
um momento, ai nda pres s i onando a cabea para bai xo. E nto el e j ogou a faca
s obre a mes a e ouvi u.
E l e nada podi a es cutar al m do gotej ar, as gotas cai ndo s obre o carpete
pu do. E l e abri u a porta e foi para o al to da es cada. A cas a es tava bem qui eta.
Ni ngum s e l evantara.
E l e ti rou a chave e vol tou para o quarto, trancando-s e l dentro.
A coi s a ai nda es tava s entada na cadei ra, ca da s obre a mes a com a
cabea bai xa, as cos tas corcundas e l ongos e fants ti cos braos . No fos s e pel o
ras go dentado e vermel ho no pes coo, e a pi s ci na coagul ada negra que
l entamente s e al argava s obre a mes a, al gum teri a di to que o homem es tava
s i mpl es mente dormi ndo.
Como tudo fora fei to to rpi do! E l e s e s enti a es tranhamente cal mo e,
cami nhando at a j anel a, a abri u e s ai u para a s acada. O vento di s s i para a
nebl i na e o cu era como uma cauda mons truos a de pavo, es trel ada com uma
mi r ade de ol hos dourados . E l e ol hou para bai xo e vi u o pol i ci al fazendo s ua
ronda e acendendo s ua l anterna ol ho de boi contra a porta das cas as
s i l enci os as . A mancha carmes i m de uma carruagem bri l hou na es qui na e
ento s e des vaneceu. Uma mul her, us ando um xal e es garado, arras tava-s e
pel a bal aus trada, cambal eando enquanto andava. E l a parava de vez em
quando e ol hava para trs . Uma hora, el a comeou a cantar com uma voz rouca.
O pol i ci al s e aproxi mou e di s s e al go para el a. E l a retomou o s eu cami nhar
trpego, ri ndo. Uma raj ada de vento amarga varreu a praa. As l uzes dos pos tes
danaram e s e tornaram azui s , e as rvores nuas s acudi ram s eus gal hos de
ao negro como s e es ti ves s em doendo. E l e tremeu e vol tou para dentro,
fechando a j anel a.
E l e pas s ou pel a porta, vi rou a chave e a abri u. E l e nem mes mo ol hava
para o homem as s as s i nado. E l e s enti a que o s egredo da coi s a toda era no
compreender a s i tuao. O ami go que pi ntara o retrato fatal , o retrato ao qual
toda a s ua mi s ri a s e devi a, s a ra de s ua vi da. Is s o bas tava.
E nto, el e s e l embrou do l ampi o. E ra um bem curi os o, de artes anato
mouro, fei to de prata opaca marchetado com arabes cos de ao pol i do. Tal vez o
cri ado s enti s s e fal ta del e, e fi zes s e perguntas . E l e s e vol tou e o pegou da
mes a. Como o homem es tava r gi do! Como s uas mos enormes pareci am
brancas ! E l e era como uma terr vel i magem de cera.
E l e trancou a porta e des ceu cal mamente pel as es cadas . A madei ra
rangeu e pareci a gri tar de dor. E l e parou vri as vezes e es perou. No: tudo
es tava i mvel . E ra apenas o s om de s uas pas s adas .
Ao chegar bi bl i oteca, el e vi u a s acol a e o cas aco em um canto.
Deveri am s er es condi dos em al gum l ugar. E l e des trancou um armri o s ecreto
que es tava entre os l ambri s e col ocou as coi s as dentro. E l e poderi a quei m-l os
faci l mente, depoi s . E m s egui da, el e tomou o s eu rel gi o. Fal tavam vi nte
mi nutos para as duas .
E l e s e s entou e comeou a pens ar. A cada ano cada ms , tal vez
homens eram enforcados na Ingl aterra pel o o que el e acabara de ter fei to.
Havi a a l oucura de um as s as s i nato pel o ar. Al guma es trel a vermel ha ti nha
chegado mui to perto da terra.
Provas ? Quai s provas havi a contra el e? Bas i l Hal l ward dei xara a cas a
s onze horas . Ni ngum o vi ra vol tar. A mai ori a dos cri ados es tava em Sel by
Royal . Seu paj em ti nha i do dormi r.
Pari s ! Si m. E ra para Pari s que Bas i l ti nha i do, no trem da mei a-noi te,
como pl anej ara. Com s eus curi os os hbi tos res ervados , l evari a mes es at que
as s us pei tas s urgi s s em. M es es ? Tudo poderi a s er des tru do antes di s s o.
Uma i dei a repenti na l he ocorreu. E l e col ocou s eu cas aco de pel es e
s eu chapu, s ai u para o corredor. L el e parou, ouvi ndo o l ento e pes ado andar
do pol i ci al do l ado de fora, na rua e vendo o refl exo da l uz da l anterna na
j anel a. E l e es perou, s egurando a res pi rao.
Depoi s de al guns momentos , el e abri u a porta e des l i zou para fora,
fechando-a bem l evemente. E nto, el e comeou a tocar a s i neta. Cerca de dez
mi nutos depoi s , s eu paj em apareceu, mei o ves ti do e aparentando es tar mui to
modorrento.
Des cul pe-me por ter de acord-l o, Franci s , el e di s s e, adi antando-s e;
mas es queci mi nhas chaves . Que horas s o?
Duas e ci nco, s enhor, res pondeu o homem, ol hando para o rel gi o e
bocej ando.
Duas e ci nco? Como es t terri vel mente tarde! Voc deve me acordar s
nove, amanh. Tenho trabal ho a fazer.
E s t bem s enhor.
Al gum vei o me vi s i tar nes ta noi te?
O s enhor Hal l ward, meu s enhor. E l e fi cou aqui at s onze e ento
s ai u para pegar s eu trem.
Oh! Lamento no t-l o encontrado. E l e dei xou al guma mens agem?
No, s enhor, exceto que el e l he es crever.
E s t bem, Franci s . No s e es quea de me acordar s nove, amanh.
Si m, s enhor
O homem bambol eou pel a pas s agem em s eus chi nel os .
Dori an Gray j ogou s eu chapu e s eu cas aco s obre a mes a de mrmore
amarel a e pas s ou para a bi bl i oteca. E l e cami nhou a es mo por qui nze
mi nutos , mordendo os l bi os e pens ando. E nto, el e pegou o regi s tro s oci al
das pes s oas i mportantes de uma das es tantes e comeou a vi rar as fol has .
Al an Campbel l , 152, Hertford Street, M ayfai r. Si m; es te era o homem que el e
bus cava.
CAPT ULO 12
s nove horas da manh s egui nte, s eu cri ado vei o com uma x cara de
chocol ate em uma bandej a e abri u as corti nas . Dori an dormi a paci fi camente,
dei tado ao l ado di rei to, com uma mo debai xo de s eu ros to. E l e pareci a um
garoto cans ado de bri ncar ou de es tudar.
O homem teve de toc-l o duas vezes no ombro antes que el e acordas s e,
e enquanto abri a os ol hos , um dbi l s orri s o pas s ou pel os s eus l bi os , como s e
el e es ti ves s e tendo al gum s onho del i ci os o. Porm, el e no s onhara nada. Sua
noi te no fora i ncomodada por quai s quer i magens de prazer ou de dor. M as o
j ovem s orri a s em nenhuma razo. E ra um dos s eus pri nci pai s encantos .
E l e s e vi rou e, apoi ando-s e no cotovel o, comeou a beber s eu chocol ate.
O s uave s ol de novembro i rradi ava-s e pel o quarto. O cu era de um azul
bri l hante e havi a um cal or ameno no ar. Pareci a quas e uma manh de mai o.
Aos poucos , os eventos da noi te pas s ada s e ergui am em s i l enci os os
ps manchados de s angue em s eu crebro e s e recons tru am l com uma
terr vel cl areza. E l e es tremeceu com a memri a de tudo o que ti nha pas s ado e,
por um momento, o mes mo s enti mento curi os o de amal di oar Bas i l Hal l ward,
que l he fi zera mat-l o enquanto es tava s entado na cadei ra, vol tou a s i e
es fri ou a s ua pai xo. O homem morto es tava s entado l , tambm com o s ol da
manh s obre el e. Como era horr vel aqui l o! Coi s as repugnantes como es s as
eram pertenci am es curi do, no ao di a.
E l e s enti u que s e pens as s e s obre o que el e ti nha pas s ado, adoeceri a
ou enl ouqueceri a. Havi a pecados cuj a fas ci nao es tava mai s na memri a do
que em comet-l os , es tranhos tri unfos que s ati s fazi am o orgul ho mai s do que
as pai xes e davam ao i ntel ecto um exci tado s enti mento de al egri a, mai or que
a al egri a proporci onada ou que poderi am s er proporci onadas por el es , aos
s enti dos . M as aquel e no era o cas o. E ra uma coi s a a s er reti rada da mente, a
s er entorpeci da com pi o, a s er es trangul ada antes que el a mes ma pudes s e
es trangul ar al gum.
E l e pas s ou s ua mo pel a tes ta e ento s e l evantou apres s adamente e
s e ves ti u com ai nda mai s ateno do que a habi tual , s e dedi cando bas tante
s el eo de s ua gravata e ao al fi nete de s eu l eno, e trocando s eus ani s mai s
de uma vez.
E l e fi cou mui to tempo no caf da manh, provando os vri os pratos ,
convers ando com s eu paj em s obre novos uni formes que el e es tava pens ando
em confecci onar para os cri ados em Sel by e veri fi cando s ua corres pondnci a.
E l e s orri u com al gumas de s uas cartas . Trs del as o entedi aram. Uma el e
rel eu vri as vezes e ento ras gou com um l eve ar de i rri tao em s eu ros to.
Que coi s a horr vel , a memri a de uma mul her!, como di s s era uma vez l orde
Henry.
Quando termi nou de beber s eu caf, el e s entou-s e mes a e es creveu
duas cartas . Uma, el e col ocou em s eu bol s o, a outra, entregou para s eu paj em.
Leve i s to para o nmero 152 da Hertford Street, Franci s , e s e o s enhor
Campbel l es ti ver fora da ci dade, obtenha s eu endereo.
As s i m que fi cou s ozi nho, el e acendeu um ci garro e comeou a
rabi s car em um pedao de papel , des enhando fl ores , um pouco de arqui tetura,
pri mei ro, e depoi s ros tos . Logo el e notou que cada ros to que des enhava pareci a
ter uma extraordi nri a s emel hana com Bas i l Hal l ward. E l e fechou a cara e,
s e l evantando, foi at a es tante e reti rou um vol ume qual quer. E l e s e
determi nara a no pens ar s obre o que acontecera, at que fos s e abs ol utamente
neces s ri o faz-l o.
Quando el e s e es ti cou s obre o s of, ol hou para o t tul o do l i vro. E ra
E maux et Cames , de Gauti er[1], em uma edi o de papel -arroz da
Carpenti er, com o ental he de Jacquemart. A encadernao era de couro verdeci dra, com um des enho de trel i as douradas e roms ponti l hadas . Fora l he
dado por Adri an Si ngl eton. E nquanto el e vi rava as pgi nas , s eus ol hos
des cobri ram o poema s obre as mos de Lacenai re, a mo amarel a e fri a du
s uppl i ce encore mal l ave[2], com s eus abundantes pl os rui vos e s eus dedos
de fauno[3]. E l e ol hava para os s eus prpri os dedos fi nos e conti nuou, at
chegar a es tes v vi dos vers os s obre Veneza:
Sur une g amme chromati que,
Le sei n de perles rui sselant,
La Vnus de lAdri ati que
Sort de leau son corps rose et blanc.
Les dmes, sur lazur des ondes
Sui vant la phrase au pur contour,
Senflent comme des g org es rondes
Que soulve un soupi r damour.
Lesqui f aborde et me dpose,
Jetant son amarre au pi li er,
Devant une faade rose,
Sur le marbre dun escali er.[4]
Como eram s ofi s ti cados ! E nquanto os l i a, pareci a que s e fl utuava
s obre os cami nhos de guas verdes da ci dade ros a e perol ada, dei tado em uma
gndol a negra com a proa de prata e um ras tro de tel a. As s i mpl es l i nhas l he
pareci am como aquel as l i nhas di retas de azul turques a que s eguem al gum
enquanto s e s egue para o Li do[5]. Os cl ares repenti nos de cor o rel embravam
do bri l ho dos ps s aros e garganta cor de opal a e ri s que voavam ao redor do al to
e tocava tanto o vi ol i no quanto o pi ano mel hor que mui tos amadores . Na
verdade, fora a ms i ca que pri mei ro uni ra-o a Dori an Gray ms i ca e aquel a
i ndefi n vel atrao que Dori an pareci a s er capaz de exercer s empre quem el e
qui s es s e e que de fato a exerci a frequentemente, s em es tar cons ci ente di s s o.
E ncontraram-s e na cas a de l ady Berks hi re, na noi te em que Rubi ns tei n
tocara l e, depoi s di s s o, cos tumavam s er vi s tos s empre j untos na pera e
s empre onde s e tocava boa ms i ca. A i nti mi dade del es durou dezoi to mes es .
Campbel l es tava s empre em Sel by Royal ou em Gros venor Square. Para el e,
as s i m como para mui tos outros , Dori an Gray era o exempl o de tudo que
maravi l hos o e fas ci nante na vi da. Se uma di s cus s o entre os doi s ocorreu ou
no, ni ngum s abi a. M as , de repente, as pes s oas notaram que el es mal s e
fal avam quando s e encontravam e que Campbel l pareci a s empre s ai r mai s
cedo de qual quer fes ta na qual Dori an Gray es tava pres ente. E l e mudara,
tambm fi cava es tranhamente mel ancl i co, s vezes , pareci a quas e detes tar
ouvi r ms i ca de al gum carter apai xonado e nunca tocava, dando como
des cul pa, quando era convi dado, que es tava to abs orto na ci nci a que no
ti nha tempo para prati car. E i s s o era certamente verdade. A cada di a, el e
pareci a s e tornar mai s i nteres s ado em bi ol ogi a e s eu nome aparecera uma ou
duas vezes em al gumas revi s tas ci ent fi cas , vi ncul ado a certas experi nci as
curi os as .
E s te era o homem que Dori an Gray es perava, andando a es mo pel a
s al a, ol hando a cada momento para o rel gi o e s e tornando horri vel mente
agi tado enquanto os mi nutos s e pas s avam. Por fi m, a porta abri u e s eu cri ado
entrou.
O s enhor Al an Campbel l , s enhor.
Um s us pi ro de al vi o i rrompeu de s eus l bi os s eparados e a cor vol tou
ao s eu ros to.
Pea para que el e entre de uma vez, Franci s .
O homem s e i ncl i nou e s e reti rou. E m poucos momentos , Al an
Campbel l s urgi u, com um ar aus tero e bem pl i do, s ua brancura fi cando
i ntens i fi cada pel o s eu cabel o cor de carvo e s uas s obrancel has es curas .
Al an! M ui ta bondade s ua. Agradeo por ter vi ndo.
E u pretendi a nunca mai s entrar em s ua cas a, Gray. M as voc di s s e
que era uma ques to de vi da e morte. Sua voz era dura e fri a. E l e fal ava com
l enta del i berao. Havi a um ar de des prezo no ol har fi xo e i ntri gante que el e
dei tava s obre Dori an. E l e manti nha s uas mos nos bol s os de s eu cas aco
As trakhan e no pareci a ter notado o ges to com que fora cumpri mentado.
uma ques to de vi da ou morte, Al an, e para mai s de uma pes s oa.
Sente-s e.
Campbel l pegou uma cadei ra j unto da mes a e Dori an s entou-s e ao
l ado opos to del e. Os ol hos dos doi s homens s e encontraram. Nos de Dori an,
havi a uma i nfi ni ta tri s teza. E l e s abi a que i ri a fazer al go terr vel .
l a, do que o pobre Harry teve. E l e pode no ter ti do a i nteno, mas o res ul tado
foi o mes mo.
As s as s i nato! Bom Deus , Dori an, voc chegou a es te ponto? No i rei
denunci -l o. No probl ema meu. Al m di s s o, certamente voc s er pres o,
s em que eu me meta ni s to. Ni ngum nunca comete um as s as s i nato s em
fazer al go es tpi do. M as eu no terei nada a ver com i s to.
Tudo o que l he peo que real i ze um certo experi mento ci ent fi co.
Voc vai a hos pi tai s e a necrotri os , e os horrores que faz l no o afetam. Se
em al guma repugnante s al a de di s s ecao ou em um fti do l aboratri o, voc
encontras s e es te homem dei tado s obre uma mes a de chumbo, com canal etas
vermel has es cavadas , voc s i mpl es mente ol hari a para el e como um admi rvel
obj eto. Voc no l evantari a um fi o de cabel o. Voc no acredi tari a que es tava
fazendo al go errado. Ao contrri o, voc provavel mente s e s enti ri a aj udando a
raa humana, ou aumentando a s oma de conheci mento no mundo, ou
s ati s fazendo uma curi os i dade i ntel ectual , ou al go do ti po. O que eu quero que
faa s i mpl es mente o que voc j tem fei to com frequnci a, antes . De fato,
des trui r um corpo deve s er menos horr vel do que as coi s as com que s e
acos tumou a trabal har. E , l embre-s e, apenas uma prova contra mi m. Se for
des coberta, es tou perdi do; e certamente s er des coberta, a menos que me
aj ude.
No tenho des ej o de aj ud-l o. E s quea i s to. E s tou s i mpl es mente
i ndi ferente coi s a toda. Is s o no tem nada a ver comi go.
Al an, eu l he i mpl oro. Pens e na pos i o em que es tou. Pouco antes de
voc chegar, quas e des mai ei de terror. No! No pens e ni s to. Ol he para a
ques to apenas do ponto de vi s ta ci ent fi co. Voc no pergunta de onde vi eram
as coi s as mortas nas quai s voc faz os s eus experi mentos . No pergunte agora.
O que eu l he di s s e j o bas tante. M as eu l he rogo que faa i s to. Fomos
ami gos uma vez, Al an.
No fal e des tes di as , Dori an: el es es to mortos .
Os mortos permanecem, s vezes . O homem l em ci ma no i r
embora. E l e es t s entado mes a com a cabea i ncl i nada e braos es tendi dos .
Al an! Al an! Se voc no me aj udar, es tarei arrui nado. Ora, el es i ro me
enforcar, Al an! Voc no compreende? E l es i ro me enforcar pel o o que eu fi z.
No h nenhum benef ci o em prol ongar es ta cena. E u me recus o
termi nantemente a fazer qual quer coi s a a res pei to. l oucura s ua me pedi r
i s to.
Voc s e recus a termi nantemente?
Si m.
O mes mo ar de tri s teza ati ngi u os ol hos de Dori an, ento el e es ti cou
s ua mo, pegou um pedao de papel e es creveu al go nel e. E l e o l eu duas
vezes , dobrou-o cui dados amente e o empurrou pel a mes a. Tendo fei to i s s o, el e
s e l evantou e foi at a j anel a.
pureza e no refi namento daquel e ros to tri s te que pareci a enfurec-l o. Voc
i nfame, abs ol utamente i nfame!, el e murmurou.
Qui eto, Al an: voc s al vou mi nha vi da, di s s e Dori an.
Sua vi da? Bons cus ! Que vi da es s a! Voc foi de corrupo em
corrupo, e agora cul mi nou em um cri me. Ao fazer o que es tou pres te a fazer,
ao que voc me fora fazer, no em s ua vi da que es tou pens ando.
Ah, Al an, murmurou Dori an, com um s us pi ro, queri a que voc
ti ves s e por mi m um mi l i ons i mo da mi s eri crdi a que tenho por voc. E l e s e
afas tou, enquanto fal ava e permaneceu ol hando para o j ardi m. Campbel l no
res pondeu.
Depoi s de uns dez mi nutos , bateram na porta e o cri ado entrou,
carregando um ces to de mogno chei o de materi ai s qu mi cos , com uma
pequena bateri a el tri ca em ci ma de tudo. E l e o col ocou s obre a mes a e s ai u
novamente, vol tando com uma l onga mol a de ao e pl ati na e duas braadei ras
de ferro, com um formato curi os o.
Devo dei xar as coi s as aqui , s enhor?, el e perguntou a Campbel l .
Si m, di s s e Dori an. E crei o, Franci s , que eu tenha outra
i ncumbnci a para voc. Qual o nome do homem, em Ri chmond, que fornece
orqu deas para Sel by?
Harden, s enhor.
Si m... Harden. Voc deve i r at Ri chmond de i medi ato, ver Harden
pes s oal mente e di zer-l he que envi e duas vezes mai s orqu deas do que eu
pedi , e i ncl ua al gumas brancas , s e pos s vel . Na verdade, no quero
nenhuma branca. E s t um di a encantador, Franci s , e Ri chmond um l ugar
bem boni to, cas o contrri o eu no l he i mportunari a com i s s o.
Sem probl emas , s enhor. A que horas devo vol tar?
Dori an ol hou para Campbel l . Quanto tempo s ua experi nci a vai l evar,
Al an?, el e di s s e com uma voz cal ma e i ndi ferente. A pres ena de uma
tercei ra pes s oa na s al a l he dava uma coragem extraordi nri a.
Campbel l franzi u o ros to e mordeu o l bi o. Levar umas ci nco horas ,
el e res pondeu.
Ser o s ufi ci ente, ento, s e vol tar s s ete e mei a, Franci s . Ou fi que:
apenas arrume mi nhas coi s as para ves ti r. Voc pode ti rar a noi te para voc.
No j antarei em cas a, portanto, no preci s arei de voc.
Obri gado, s enhor, di s s e o homem, dei xando a s al a.
Agora, Al an, no h um momento a perder. Como es ta ces ta es t
pes ada! E u a l evarei para voc. Leve o res to. E l e fal ava rapi damente, de modo
autori tri o. Campbel l s e s enti a domi nado por el e. Dei xaram a s al a j untos .
Ao chegarem ao fi nal da es cada, Dori an ti rou a chave e a vi rou na
fechadura. E nto el e parou e um ol har perturbado apoderou-s e de s eus ol hos .
[1] Li vro que rene 18 poemas , depoi s expandi do para 37, de autori a de Pi erre
Jul es
Thephi l e
Gauti er
( 1811-1872),
francs
precurs or
do
Parnas i ani s mo. O l i vro foi es cri to enquanto Gauti er vi aj ava pel o Ori ente
M di o e cons i derado a s ua obra-pri ma.
[2] Ai nda i mpura pel o tormento.
[3] Dedos de fauno. Ambos os trechos s o do poema tudes de M ai ns
( E s tudo s obre as mos ).
[4] Sobre uma es cal a cromti ca / Seu pei to gotej ando prol as / A Vnus do
Adri ti co / E rgue s eu corpo das guas ros a e branca. / Os domos , s obre o
azul das guas / Seguem o puro contorno da fras e, / Bal anam como s ei os
redondos , / E rgui dos por um s us pi ro de amor. / O es qui fe aterra e eu
des embarco, / Amarro s ua corda ao pi l ar, / Defronte uma fachada ros a,
/ No mrmore de uma es cada.
( Trecho do poema Sur l es l agunes ).
[5] Il ha prxi ma Veneza, onde s e l ocal i za um bal neri o de vero, de grande
reputao entre o s cul o XIX e a pri mei ra metade do s cul o XX,
frequentando pri nci pal mente pel a el i te europei a.
[6] M ons tro encantador.
CAPT ULO 13
No h nenhuma vantagem em me di zer que voc s er bom, Dori an,
excl amou l orde Henry, mergul hando s eus dedos brancos em um pote de cobre
vermel ho chei o de gua ros ada. Voc bas tante perfei to. Por favor, no mude.
Dori an bal anou a cabea. No, Harry, j fi z mui tas coi s as terr vei s
em mi nha vi da. No i rei faz-l as mai s . Comecei mi nhas boas aes ontem.
Onde voc es tava ontem?
No campo, Harry. Fi quei s ozi nho em uma pequena es tal agem.
M eu caro rapaz, di s s e l orde Henry, s orri ndo, qual quer um pode s er
bom no campo. No h tentaes l . E s ta a razo pel a qual as pes s oas que
no vi vem na ci dade s o to rs ti cas . H apenas doi s modos , voc s abe, de s e
tornar ci vi l i zado. Um obter cul tura, o outro s e tornar corrupto. Os
campones es no tm a oportuni dade de um nem de outro, portanto fi cam
es tagnados .
Cul tura e corrupo, murmurou Dori an. Conheo um pouco de ambas .
Parece-me curi os o agora que s ej am encontradas j untas . Poi s eu tenho um novo
i deal , Harry. M udarei . Acho que j mudei .
Voc ai nda no me di s s e qual foi a s ua boa ao. Ou voc di s s e que
foi mai s de uma?
Pos s o l he contar, Harry. No uma hi s tri a que poderi a di zer a mai s
ni ngum. Poupei uma pes s oa. Soa vo, mas voc entende o que eu quero di zer.
E l a era mui to boni ta e maravi l hos a, tanto quanto Sybi l Vane. Acho que i s to foi
o que me atrai u pri mei ro nel a. Voc s e l embra de Sybi l , no? Como parece que
faz tempo! Bem, Hetty no era al gum da nos s a prpri a cl as s e, cl aro. E l a era
s i mpl es mente uma garota de um vi l arej o. M as eu real mente a amei . E s tou
bem certo de que a amei . Durante todo es te maravi l hos o mai o que ti vemos , eu
cos tumava correr para v-l a duas ou trs vezes por s emana. Ontem, el a me
encontrou em um pequeno pomar. Os botes de ma ca am s obre s eus cabel os
e el a ri a. Dever amos ter fugi do j untos no rai ar des ta manh. De repente,
deci di dei x-l a to i gual a uma fl or quando a conheci .
Acho que a novi dade da emoo deve ter l he dado uma emoo do prazer
verdadei ro, Dori an, i nterrompeu l orde Henry. M as pos s o concl ui r s eu i d l i o
por voc. Voc deu a el a um bom cons el ho e parti u o corao del a. E s te foi o
i n ci o de s ua regenerao.
Harry, voc horr vel ! Voc no deve di zer es tas coi s as terr vei s . O
corao de Hetty no es t parti do. Cl aro que el a chorou e tudo o mai s . M as no
houve des graa s obre el a. E l a pode vi ver, como Perdi ta, em s eu j ardi m.
E chorar s obre um Fl ori zel i nfi el [1], di s s e l orde Henry, ri ndo. M eu
caro Dori an, voc tem os mai s curi os os humores adol es centes . Voc acha que
es ta garota fi car real mente s ati s fei ta com al gum de s ua prpri a pos i o
Bas i l Hal l ward l he pareci a mui to pequena. E l e es tava pens ando em Hetty
M erton.
E ra um es pel ho i nj us to, es te es pel ho de s ua al ma para qual es tava
ol hando. Vai dade? Curi os i dade? Hi pocri s i a? No havi a nada mai s em s ua
rennci a do que i s s o? Houvera al go mai s . Pel o menos , era o que el e achava.
M as quem podi a di zer?
E es te as s as s i nato i ri a pers egui -l o por toda a s ua vi da? Nunca el e
es tari a l i vre do pas s ado? Deveri a real mente confes s ar? No. Havi a apenas uma
ni ca prova dei xada contra el e. O prpri o retrato era aquel a prova.
E l e o des trui ri a. Por que o manti vera por tanto tempo? Is s o l he dera
prazer uma vez, ao v-l o mudar e envel hecer. Nos l ti mos tempos , el e no
s enti a tal prazer. Is s o o manti nha acordado de noi te. Quando vi aj ava, era
tomado de terror com o recei o que outros ol hos ca s s em s obre el e. O retrato
l anara a mel ancol i a s obre as s uas pai xes . Sua s i mpl es l embrana embotara
mui tos momentos de al egri a. Fora como a cons ci nci a, para el e. Si m, era a
cons ci nci a. E l e o des trui ri a.
E l e ol hou ao redor e vi u a faca que havi a gol peado Bas i l Hal l ward. E l e
a l i mpara mui tas vezes , at que no ti ves s e mancha al guma dei xada s obre
el a. E s tava bri l hante e rel uzente. Como ti nha as s as s i nado o pi ntor, a faca
matari a o trabal ho do pi ntor e tudo o que el e s i gni fi cava. M atari a o pas s ado e
quando o pas s ado es ti ves s e morto, el e es tari a l i vre. E l e a agarrou e es faqueou
a tel a com el a, ras gando a coi s a de ci ma a bai xo.
Ouvi u-s e um gri to e um es trondo. O gri to foi to horr vel em s ua
agoni a, que os cri ados as s us tados des pertaram e s a ram de s eus quartos . Doi s
caval hei ros que pas s avam pel a praa embai xo pararam e ol haram para a
grande cas a. Cami nharam at encontrar um pol i ci al , que os s egui u de vol ta
at l . O homem tocou a s i neta vri as vezes , mas no houve res pos ta. A cas a
es tava toda es cura, exceto por uma l uz em uma das j anel as s uperi ores . Depoi s
de um tempo, el e foi embora, fi cou no prti co da cas a ao l ado e aguardou.
De quem aquel a cas a, guarda?, perguntou o mai s vel ho dos doi s
caval hei ros .
De Dori an Gray, s enhor, res pondeu o pol i ci al .
E l es s e entreol haram, enquanto cami nhavam, com um ol har de
s arcas mo. Um del es era o ti o de s i r Henry As hton.
L dentro, na al a dos empregados , os cri ados s emi ves ti dos fal avam
entre s i em s us s urros quas e i naud vei s . A vel ha s enhora Leaf es tava
chorando e torcendo as mos . Franci s es tava pl i do como a morte.
Depoi s de uns qui nze mi nutos , el e j untou-s e ao cochei ro e um dos
l acai os e s ubi ram as es cadas . Bateram porta, mas no houve res pos ta.
Chamaram. Tudo es tava em s i l nci o. Fi nal mente, depoi s de tentar arrombar a
porta em vo, s ubi ram ao tel hado e pul aram para a varanda. As j anel as
cederam faci l mente: os parafus os es tavam vel hos .
FIM
PRE FACE
The arti s t i s the creator of beauti ful thi ngs . To reveal art and conceal
the arti s t i s arts ai m. The cri ti c i s he who can trans l ate i nto another manner
or a new materi al hi s i mpres s i on of beauti ful thi ngs .
The hi ghes t as the l owes t form of cri ti ci s m i s a mode of
autobi ography. Thos e who fi nd ugl y meani ngs i n beauti ful thi ngs are corrupt
wi thout bei ng charmi ng. Thi s i s a faul t.
Thos e who fi nd beauti ful meani ngs i n beauti ful thi ngs are the
cul ti vated. For thes e there i s hope. They are the el ect to whom beauti ful
thi ngs mean onl y beauty.
There i s no s uch thi ng as a moral or an i mmoral book. Books are wel l
wri tten, or badl y wri tten. That i s al l .
The ni neteenth century di s l i ke of real i s m i s the rage of Cal i ban
s eei ng hi s own face i n a gl as s .
The ni neteenth century di s l i ke of romanti ci s m i s the rage of Cal i ban
not s eei ng hi s own face i n a gl as s . The moral l i fe of man forms part of the
s ubj ect-matter of the arti s t, but the moral i ty of art cons i s ts i n the perfect us e
of an i mperfect medi um. No arti s t des i res to prove anythi ng. E ven thi ngs that
are true can be proved. No arti s t has ethi cal s ympathi es . An ethi cal s ympathy
i n an arti s t i s an unpardonabl e manneri s m of s tyl e. No arti s t i s ever morbi d.
The arti s t can expres s everythi ng. Thought and l anguage are to the arti s t
i ns truments of an art. Vi ce and vi rtue are to the arti s t materi al s for an art.
From the poi nt of vi ew of form, the type of al l the arts i s the art of the
mus i ci an. From the poi nt of vi ew of feel i ng, the actors craft i s the type. Al l art
i s at once s urface and s ymbol . Thos e who go beneath the s urface do s o at thei r
peri l . Thos e who read the s ymbol do s o at thei r peri l . It i s the s pectator, and not
l i fe, that art real l y mi rrors . Di vers i ty of opi ni on about a work of art s hows that
the work i s new, compl ex, and vi tal . When cri ti cs di s agree, the arti s t i s i n
accord wi th hi ms el f. We can forgi ve a man for maki ng a us eful thi ng as l ong
as he does not admi re i t. The onl y excus e for maki ng a us el es s thi ng i s that
one admi res i t i ntens el y.
ALLART IS QUITE USELESS.
OSCAR WILDE
CHAPT E R 1
The s tudi o was fi l l ed wi th the ri ch odor of ros es , and when the l i ght
s ummer wi nd s ti rred ami ds t the trees of the garden there came through the
open door the heavy s cent of the l i l ac, or the more del i cate perfume of the
pi nk-fl oweri ng thorn.
From the corner of the di van of Pers i an s addl e-bags on whi ch he was
l yi ng, s moki ng, as us ual , i nnumerabl e ci garettes , l ord Henry Wotton coul d
j us t catch the gl eam of the honey-s weet and honey-col ored bl os s oms of the
l aburnum, whos e tremul ous branches s eemed hardl y abl e to bear the burden
of a beauty s o fl ame-l i ke as thei rs ; and now and then the fantas ti c s hadows of
bi rds i n fl i ght fl i tted acros s the l ong tus s ore-s i l k curtai ns that were s tretched
i n front of the huge wi ndow, produci ng a ki nd of momentary Japanes e effect,
and maki ng hi m thi nk of thos e pal l i d j ade-faced pai nters who, i n an art that
i s neces s ari l y i mmobi l e, s eek to convey the s ens e of s wi ftnes s and moti on.
The s ul l en murmur of the bees s houl deri ng thei r way through the l ong
unmown gras s , or ci rcl i ng wi th monotonous i ns i s tence round the bl ackcrocketed s pi res of the earl y June hol l yhocks , s eemed to make the s ti l l nes s
more oppres s i ve, and the di m roar of London was l i ke the bourdon note of a
di s tant organ.
In the centre of the room, cl amped to an upri ght eas el , s tood the ful l l ength portrai t of a young man of extraordi nary pers onal beauty, and i n front
of i t, s ome l i ttl e di s tance away, was s i tti ng the arti s t hi ms el f, Bas i l
Hal l ward, whos e s udden di s appearance s ome years ago caus ed, at the ti me,
s uch publ i c exci tement, and gave ri s e to s o many s trange conj ectures .
As he l ooked at the graci ous and comel y form he had s o s ki l ful l y
mi rrored i n hi s art, a s mi l e of pl eas ure pas s ed acros s hi s face, and s eemed
about to l i nger there. But he s uddenl y s tarted up, and, cl os i ng hi s eyes ,
pl aced hi s fi ngers upon the l i ds , as though he s ought to i mpri s on wi thi n hi s
brai n s ome curi ous dream from whi ch he feared he mi ght awake.
It i s your bes t work, Bas i l , the bes t thi ng you have ever done, s ai d
Lord Henry, l angui dl y. You mus t certai nl y s end i t next year to the Gros venor.
The Academy i s too l arge and too vul gar. The Gros venor i s the onl y pl ace.
I dont thi nk I wi l l s end i t anywhere, he ans wered, tos s i ng hi s head
back i n that odd way that us ed to make hi s fri ends l augh at hi m at Oxford.
No: I wont s end i t anywhere.
Lord Henry el evated hi s eyebrows , and l ooked at hi m i n amazement
through the thi n bl ue wreaths of s moke that curl ed up i n s uch fanci ful
whorl s from hi s heavy opi um-tai nted ci garette. Not s end i t anywhere? M y
dear fel l ow, why? Have you any reas on? What odd chaps you pai nters are! You
do anythi ng i n the worl d to gai n a reputati on. As s oon as you have one, you
s eem to want to throw i t away. It i s s i l l y of you, for there i s onl y one thi ng i n
the worl d wors e than bei ng tal ked about, and that i s not bei ng tal ked about. A
portrai t l i ke thi s woul d s et you far above al l the young men i n E ngl and, and
make the ol d men qui te j eal ous , i f ol d men are ever capabl e of any emoti on.
I know you wi l l l augh at me, he repl i ed, but I real l y cant exhi bi t i t.
I have put too much of mys el f i nto i t.
Lord Henry s tretched hi s l ong l egs out on the di van and s hook wi th
l aughter.
Yes , I knew you woul d l augh; but i t i s qui te true, al l the s ame.
Too much of yours el f i n i t! Upon my word, Bas i l , I di dnt know you
were s o vai n; and I real l y cant s ee any res embl ance between you, wi th your
rugged s trong face and your coal -bl ack hai r, and thi s young Adoni s , who l ooks
as i f he was made of i vory and ros e-l eaves . Why, my dear Bas i l , he i s a
Narci s s us , and you wel l , of cours e you have an i ntel l ectual expres s i on, and
al l that. But beauty, real beauty, ends where an i ntel l ectual expres s i on
begi ns . Intel l ect i s i n i ts el f an exaggerati on, and des troys the harmony of
any face. The moment one s i ts down to thi nk, one becomes al l nos e, or al l
forehead, or s omethi ng horri d. Look at the s ucces s ful men i n any of the
l earned profes s i ons . How perfectl y hi deous they are! E xcept, of cours e, i n the
Church. But then i n the Church they dont thi nk. A bi s hop keeps on s ayi ng at
the age of ei ghty what he was tol d to s ay when he was a boy of ei ghteen, and
cons equentl y he al ways l ooks abs ol utel y del i ghtful . Your mys teri ous young
fri end, whos e name you have never tol d me, but whos e pi cture real l y
fas ci nates me, never thi nks . I feel qui te s ure of that. He i s a brai nl es s ,
beauti ful thi ng, who s houl d be al ways here i n wi nter when we have no
fl owers to l ook at, and al ways here i n s ummer when we want s omethi ng to
chi l l our i ntel l i gence. Dont fl atter yours el f, Bas i l : you are not i n the l eas t
l i ke hi m.
You dont unders tand me, Harry. Of cours e I am not l i ke hi m. I know
that perfectl y wel l . Indeed, I s houl d be s orry to l ook l i ke hi m. You s hrug your
s houl ders ? I am tel l i ng you the truth. There i s a fatal i ty about al l phys i cal
and i ntel l ectual di s ti ncti on, the s ort of fatal i ty that s eems to dog through
hi s tory the fal teri ng s teps of ki ngs . It i s better not to be di fferent from ones
fel l ows . The ugl y and the s tupi d have the bes t of i t i n thi s worl d. They can s i t
qui etl y and gape at the pl ay. If they know nothi ng of vi ctory, they are at l eas t
s pared the knowl edge of defeat. They l i ve as we al l s houl d l i ve, undi s turbed,
i ndi fferent, and wi thout di s qui et. They nei ther bri ng rui n upon others nor
ever recei ve i t from al i en hands . Your rank and weal th, Harry; my brai ns ,
s uch as they are my fame, whatever i t may be worth; Dori an Grays good
l ooks we wi l l al l s uffer for what the gods have gi ven us , s uffer terri bl y.
Dori an Gray? i s that hi s name? s ai d Lord Henry, wal ki ng acros s the
s tudi o towards Bas i l Hal l ward.
Yes ; that i s hi s name. I di dnt i ntend to tel l i t to you.
But why not?
Harry, s ai d Bas i l Hal l ward, l ooki ng hi m s trai ght i n the face, every
portrai t that i s pai nted wi th feel i ng i s a portrai t of the arti s t, not of the s i tter.
The s i tter i s merel y the acci dent, the occas i on. It i s not he who i s reveal ed by
the pai nter; i t i s rather the pai nter who, on the col ored canvas , reveal s
hi ms el f. The reas on I wi l l not exhi bi t thi s pi cture i s that I am afrai d that I
have s hown wi th i t the s ecret of my own s oul .
Lord Harry l aughed. And what i s that? he as ked.
I wi l l tel l you, s ai d Hal l ward; and an expres s i on of perpl exi ty came
over hi s face.
I am al l expectati on, Bas i l , murmured hi s compani on, l ooki ng at
hi m.
Oh, there i s real l y very l i ttl e to tel l , Harry, ans wered the young
pai nter; and I am afrai d you wi l l hardl y unders tand i t. Perhaps you wi l l
hardl y bel i eve i t.
Lord Henry s mi l ed, and, l eani ng down, pl ucked a pi nk-petal l ed
dai s y from the gras s , and exami ned i t. I am qui te s ure I s hal l unders tand
i t, he repl i ed, gazi ng i ntentl y at the l i ttl e gol den whi te-feathered di s k, and I
can bel i eve anythi ng, provi ded that i t i s i ncredi bl e.
The wi nd s hook s ome bl os s oms from the trees , and the heavy l i l ac
bl ooms , wi th thei r cl us teri ng s tars , moved to and fro i n the l angui d ai r. A
gras s hopper began to chi rrup i n the gras s , and a l ong thi n dragon-fl y fl oated
by on i ts brown gauze wi ngs . Lord Henry fel t as i f he coul d hear Bas i l
Hal l wards heart beati ng, and he wondered what was comi ng.
Wel l , thi s i s i ncredi bl e, repeated Hal l ward, rather bi tterl y
i ncredi bl e to me at ti mes . I dont know what i t means . The s tory i s s i mpl y
thi s . Two months ago I went to a crus h at Lady Brandons . You know we poor
pai nters have to s how ours el ves i n s oci ety from ti me to ti me, j us t to remi nd
the publ i c that we are not s avages . Wi th an eveni ng coat and a whi te ti e, as
you tol d me once, anybody, even a s tock-broker, can gai n a reputati on for bei ng
ci vi l i zed. Wel l , after I had been i n the room about ten mi nutes , tal ki ng to
huge overdres s ed dowagers and tedi ous Academi ci ans , I s uddenl y became
cons ci ous that s ome one was l ooki ng at me. I turned hal f-way round, and s aw
Dori an Gray for the fi rs t ti me. When our eyes met, I fel t that I was growi ng
pal e. A curi ous i ns ti nct of terror came over me. I knew that I had come face to
face wi th s ome one whos e mere pers onal i ty was s o fas ci nati ng that, i f I
al l owed i t to do s o, i t woul d abs orb my whol e nature, my whol e s oul , my very
art i ts el f. I di d not want any external i nfl uence i n my l i fe. You know
yours el f, Harry, how i ndependent I am by nature. M y father des ti ned me for
the army. I i ns i s ted on goi ng to Oxford. Then he made me enter my name at
the M i ddl e Templ e. Before I had eaten hal f a dozen di nners I gave up the
Bar, and announced my i ntenti on of becomi ng a pai nter. I have al ways been
my own mas ter; had at l eas t al ways been s o, ti l l I met Dori an Gray. Then
But I dont know how to expl ai n i t to you. Somethi ng s eemed to tel l me that I was
on the verge of a terri bl e cri s i s i n my l i fe. I had a s trange feel i ng that Fate
had i n s tore for me exqui s i te j oys and exqui s i te s orrows . I knew that i f I s poke
to Dori an I woul d become abs ol utel y devoted to hi m, and that I ought not to
s peak to hi m. I grew afrai d, and turned to qui t the room. It was not cons ci ence
that made me do s o: i t was cowardi ce. I take no credi t to mys el f for tryi ng to
es cape.
Cons ci ence and cowardi ce are real l y the s ame thi ngs , Bas i l .
Cons ci ence i s the trade-name of the fi rm. That i s al l .
I dont bel i eve that, Harry. However, whatever was my moti ve and i t
may have been pri de, for I us ed to be very proud I certai nl y s truggl ed to the
door. There, of cours e, I s tumbl ed agai ns t Lady Brandon. You are not goi ng to
run away s o s oon, M r. Hal l ward? s he s creamed out. You know her s hri l l
horri d voi ce?
Yes ; s he i s a peacock i n everythi ng but beauty, s ai d Lord Henry,
pul l i ng the dai s y to bi ts wi th hi s l ong, nervous fi ngers .
I coul d not get ri d of her. She brought me up to Royal ti es , and peopl e
wi th Stars and Garters , and el derl y l adi es wi th gi ganti c ti aras and hooked
nos es . She s poke of me as her deares t fri end. I had onl y met her once before,
but s he took i t i nto her head to l i oni ze me. I bel i eve s ome pi cture of mi ne had
made a great s ucces s at the ti me, at l eas t had been chattered about i n the
penny news papers , whi ch i s the ni neteenth-century s tandard of i mmortal i ty.
Suddenl y I found mys el f face to face wi th the young man whos e pers onal i ty
had s o s trangel y s ti rred me. We were qui te cl os e, al mos t touchi ng. Our eyes
met agai n. It was mad of me, but I as ked Lady Brandon to i ntroduce me to hi m.
Perhaps i t was not s o mad, after al l . It was s i mpl y i nevi tabl e. We woul d have
s poken to each other wi thout any i ntroducti on. I am s ure of that. Dori an tol d me
s o afterwards . He, too, fel t that we were des ti ned to know each other.
And how di d Lady Brandon des cri be thi s wonderful young man? I
know s he goes i n for gi vi ng a rapi d prci s of al l her gues ts . I remember her
bri ngi ng me up to a mos t trucul ent and red-faced ol d gentl eman covered al l
over wi th orders and ri bbons , and hi s s i ng i nto my ear, i n a tragi c whi s per
whi ch mus t have been perfectl y audi bl e to everybody i n the room, s omethi ng
l i ke Si r Humpty Dumpty you know -- Afghan fronti er Rus s i an i ntri gues :
very s ucces s ful man wi fe ki l l ed by an el ephant qui te i ncons ol abl e
wants to marry a beauti ful Ameri can wi dow everybody does nowadays hates
M r. Gl ads tone but very much i nteres ted i n beetl es : as k hi m what he thi nks
of Schouval off. I s i mpl y fl ed. I l i ke to fi nd out peopl e for mys el f. But poor Lady
Brandon treats her gues ts exactl y as an aucti oneer treats hi s goods . She ei ther
expl ai ns them enti rel y away, or tel l s one everythi ng about them except what
one wants to know. But what di d s he s ay about M r. Dori an Gray?
Oh, s he murmured, Charmi ng boy poor dear mother and I qui te
i ns eparabl e engaged to be marri ed to the s ame man I mean marri ed on
the s ame day how very s i l l y of me! Qui te forget what he does afrai d he
i ns i ncere the man i s , the more purel y i ntel l ectual wi l l the i dea be, as i n
that cas e i t wi l l not be col ored by ei ther hi s wants , hi s des i res , or hi s
prej udi ces . However, I dont propos e to di s cus s pol i ti cs , s oci ol ogy, or
metaphys i cs wi th you. I l i ke pers ons better than pri nci pl es . Tel l me more
about Dori an Gray. How often do you s ee hi m?
E very day. I coul dnt be happy i f I di dnt s ee hi m every day. Of cours e
s ometi mes i t i s onl y for a few mi nutes . But a few mi nutes wi th s omebody one
wors hi ps mean a great deal .
But you dont real l y wors hi p hi m?
I do.
How extraordi nary! I thought you woul d never care for anythi ng but
your pai nti ng, your art, I s houl d s ay. Art s ounds better, does nt i t?
He i s al l my art to me now. I s ometi mes thi nk, Harry, that there are
onl y two eras of any i mportance i n the hi s tory of the worl d. The fi rs t i s the
appearance of a new medi um for art, and the s econd i s the appearance of a
new pers onal i ty for art al s o. What the i nventi on of oi l -pai nti ng was to the
Veneti ans , the face of Anti nos was to l ate Greek s cul pture, and the face of
Dori an Gray wi l l s ome day be to me. It i s not merel y that I pai nt from hi m,
draw from hi m, model from hi m. Of cours e I have done al l that. He has s tood
as Pari s i n dai nty armor, and as Adoni s wi th hunts mans cl oak and pol i s hed
boar-s pear. Crowned wi th heavy l otus -bl os s oms , he has s at on the prow of
Adri ans barge, l ooki ng i nto the green, turbi d Ni l e. He has l eaned over the
s ti l l pool of s ome Greek woodl and, and s een i n the waters s i l ent s i l ver the
wonder of hi s own beauty. But he i s much more to me than that. I wont tel l you
that I am di s s ati s fi ed wi th what I have done of hi m, or that hi s beauty i s s uch
that art cannot expres s i t. There i s nothi ng that art cannot expres s , and I know
that the work I have done s i nce I met Dori an Gray i s good work, i s the bes t work
of my l i fe. But i n s ome curi ous way I wonder wi l l you unders tand me? hi s
pers onal i ty has s ugges ted to me an enti rel y new manner i n art, an enti rel y
new mode of s tyl e. I s ee thi ngs di fferentl y, I thi nk of them di fferentl y. I can
now re-create l i fe i n a way that was hi dden from me before. A dream of form
i n days of thought who i s i t who s ays that? I forget; but i t i s what Dori an
Gray has been to me. The merel y vi s i bl e pres ence of thi s l ad for he s eems
to me l i ttl e more than a l ad, though he i s real l y over twenty hi s merel y
vi s i bl e pres ence ah! I wonder can you real i ze al l that that means ?
Uncons ci ous l y he defi nes for me the l i nes of a fres h s chool , a s chool that i s to
have i n i ts el f al l the pas s i on of the romanti c s pi ri t, al l the perfecti on of the
s pi ri t that i s Greek. The harmony of s oul and body, how much that i s ! We i n
our madnes s have s eparated the two, and have i nvented a real i s m that i s
bes ti al , an i deal i ty that i s voi d. Harry! Harry! i f you onl y knew what Dori an
Gray i s to me! You remember that l ands cape of mi ne, for whi ch Agnew offered
me s uch a huge pri ce, but whi ch I woul d not part wi th? It i s one of the bes t
thi ngs I have ever done. And why i s i t s o? Becaus e, whi l e I was pai nti ng i t,
and dus t, and everythi ng pri ced above i ts proper val ue. I thi nk you wi l l ti re
fi rs t, al l the s ame. Some day you wi l l l ook at Gray, and he wi l l s eem to you to
be a l i ttl e out of drawi ng, or you wont l i ke hi s tone of col or, or s omethi ng. You
wi l l bi tterl y reproach hi m i n your own heart, and s eri ous l y thi nk that he has
behaved very badl y to you. The next ti me he cal l s , you wi l l be perfectl y col d
and i ndi fferent. It wi l l be a great pi ty, for i t wi l l al ter you. The wors t of havi ng
a romance i s that i t l eaves one s o unromanti c.
Harry, dont tal k l i ke that. As l ong as I l i ve, the pers onal i ty of Dori an
Gray wi l l domi nate me. You cant feel what I feel . You change too often.
Ah, my dear Bas i l , that i s exactl y why I can feel i t. Thos e who are
fai thful know onl y the pl eas ures of l ove: i t i s the fai thl es s who know l oves
tragedi es . And Lord Henry s truck a l i ght on a dai nty s i l ver cas e, and began to
s moke a ci garette wi th a s el f-cons ci ous and s el f-s ati s fi ed ai r, as i f he had
s ummed up l i fe i n a phras e. There was a rus tl e of chi rrupi ng s parrows i n
the i vy, and the bl ue cl oud-s hadows chas ed thems el ves acros s the gras s l i ke
s wal l ows . How l eas ant i t was i n the garden! And how del i ghtful other peopl es
emoti ons were! much more del i ghtful than thei r i deas , i t s eemed to hi m.
Ones own s oul , and the pas s i ons of ones fri ends thos e were the
fas ci nati ng thi ngs i n l i fe. He thought wi th pl eas ure of the tedi ous l uncheon
that he had mi s s ed by s tayi ng s o l ong wi th Bas i l Hal l ward. Had he gone to hi s
aunts , he woul d have been s ure to meet Lord Goodbody there, and the whol e
convers ati on woul d have been about the hous i ng of the poor, and the neces s i ty
for model l odgi ng-hous es . It was charmi ng to have es caped al l that! As he
thought of hi s aunt, an i dea s eemed to s tri ke hi m. He turned to Hal l ward, and
s ai d, M y dear fel l ow, I have j us t remembered.
Remembered what, Harry?
Where I heard the name of Dori an Gray.
Where was i t? as ked Hal l ward, wi th a s l i ght frown.
Dont l ook s o angry, Bas i l . It was at my aunts , Lady Agathas . She tol d
me s he had di s covered a wonderful young man, who was goi ng to hel p her i n
the E as t E nd, and that hi s name was Dori an Gray. I am bound to s tate that
s he never tol d me he was good-l ooki ng. Women have no appreci ati on of good
l ooks . At l eas t, good women have not. She s ai d that he was very earnes t, and
had a beauti ful nature. I at once pi ctured to mys el f a creature wi th s pectacl es
and l ank hai r, horri dl y freckl ed, and trampi ng about on huge feet. I wi s h I
had known i t was your fri end.
I am very gl ad you di dnt, Harry.
Why?
I dont want you to meet hi m.
M r. Dori an Gray i s i n the s tudi o, s i r, s ai d the butl er, comi ng i nto
the garden.
CHAPT E R 2
As they entered they s aw Dori an Gray. He was s eated at the pi ano,
wi th hi s back to them, turni ng over the pages of a vol ume of Schumanns
Fores t Scenes . You mus t l end me thes e, Bas i l , he cri ed. I want to l earn
them. They are perfectl y charmi ng.
That enti rel y depends on how you s i t today, Dori an.
Oh, I am ti red of s i tti ng, and I dont want a l i fe-s i zed portrai t of
mys el f, ans wered the l ad, s wi ngi ng round on the mus i c-s tool , i n a wi l ful ,
petul ant manner. When he caught s i ght of Lord Henry, a fai nt bl us h col ored
hi s cheeks for a moment, and he s tarted up. I beg your pardon, Bas i l , but I
di dnt know you had any one wi th you.
Thi s i s Lord Henry Wotton, Dori an, an ol d Oxford fri end of mi ne. I
have j us t been tel l i ng hi m what a capi tal s i tter you were, and now you have
s poi l ed everythi ng.
You have not s poi l ed my pl eas ure i n meeti ng you, M r. Gray, s ai d
Lord Henry, s teppi ng forward and s haki ng hi m by the hand. M y aunt has
often s poken to me about you. You are one of her favori tes , and, I am afrai d,
one of her vi cti ms al s o.
I am i n Lady Agathas bl ack books at pres ent, ans wered Dori an, wi th
a funny l ook of peni tence. I promi s ed to go to her cl ub i n Whi techapel wi th
her l as t Tues day, and I real l y forgot al l about i t. We were to have pl ayed a
duet together three duets , I bel i eve. I dont know what s he wi l l s ay to me. I
am far too fri ghtened to cal l .
Oh, I wi l l make your peace wi th my aunt. She i s qui te devoted to you.
And I dont thi nk i t real l y matters about your not bei ng there. The audi ence
probabl y thought i t was a duet. When Aunt Agatha s i ts down to the pi ano s he
makes qui te enough noi s e for two peopl e.
That i s very horri d to her, and not very ni ce to me, ans wered Dori an,
l aughi ng.
Lord Henry l ooked at hi m. Yes , he was certai nl y wonderful l y
hands ome, wi th hi s fi nel y-curved s carl et l i ps , hi s frank bl ue eyes , hi s cri s p
gol d hai r. There was s omethi ng i n hi s face that made one trus t hi m at once.
Al l the candor of youth was there, as wel l as al l youths pas s i onate puri ty.
One fel t that he had kept hi ms el f uns potted from the worl d. No wonder Bas i l
Hal l ward wors hi pped hi m. He was made to be wors hi pped.
You are too charmi ng to go i n for phi l anthropy, M r. Gray far too
charmi ng. And Lord Henry fl ung hi ms el f down on the di van, and opened hi s
ci garette-cas e.
Hal l ward had been bus y mi xi ng hi s col ors and getti ng hi s brus hes
ready. He was l ooki ng worri ed, and when he heard Lord Henrys l as t remark
are not real to hi m. Hi s s i ns , i f there are s uch thi ngs as s i ns , are borrowed.
He becomes an echo of s ome one el s es mus i c, an actor of a part that has not
been wri tten for hi m. The ai m of l i fe i s s el f-devel opment. To real i ze ones
nature perfectl y that i s what each of us i s here for. Peopl e are afrai d of
thems el ves , nowadays . They have forgotten the hi ghes t of al l duti es , the duty
that one owes to ones s el f. Of cours e they are chari tabl e. They feed the
hungry, and cl othe the beggar. But thei r own s oul s s tarve, and are naked.
Courage has gone out of our race. Perhaps we never real l y had i t. The terror of
s oci ety, whi ch i s the bas i s of moral s , the terror of God, whi ch i s the s ecret of
rel i gi on, thes e are the two thi ngs that govern us . And yet...
Jus t turn your head a l i ttl e more to the ri ght, Dori an, l i ke a good boy,
s ai d Hal l ward, deep i n hi s work, and cons ci ous onl y that a l ook had come i nto
the l ads face that he had never s een there before.
And yet, conti nued Lord Henry, i n hi s l ow, mus i cal voi ce, and wi th
that graceful wave of the hand that was al ways s o characteri s ti c of hi m, and
that he had even i n hi s E ton days , I bel i eve that i f one man were to l i ve hi s
l i fe out ful l y and compl etel y, were to gi ve form to every feel i ng, expres s i on to
every thought, real i ty to every dream I bel i eve that the worl d woul d gai n s uch
a fres h i mpul s e of j oy that we woul d forget al l the mal adi es of medi aeval i s m,
and return to the Hel l eni c i deal to s omethi ng fi ner, ri cher, than the
Hel l eni c i deal , i t may be. But the braves t man among us i s afrai d of hi ms el f.
The muti l ati on of the s avage has i ts tragi c s urvi val i n the s el f-deni al that
mars our l i ves . We are puni s hed for our refus al s . E very i mpul s e that we
s tri ve to s trangl e broods i n the mi nd, and poi s ons us . The body s i ns once, and
has done wi th i ts s i n, for acti on i s a mode of puri fi cati on. Nothi ng remai ns
then but the recol l ecti on of a pl eas ure, or the l uxury of a regret. The onl y way
to get ri d of a temptati on i s to yi el d to i t. Res i s t i t, and your s oul grows s i ck wi th
l ongi ng for the thi ngs i t has forbi dden to i ts el f, wi th des i re for what i ts
mons trous l aws have made mons trous and unl awful . It has been s ai d that the
great events of the worl d take pl ace i n the brai n. It i s i n the brai n, and the
brai n onl y, that the great s i ns of the worl d take pl ace al s o. You, M r. Gray, you
yours el f, wi th your ros e-red youth and your ros e-whi te boyhood, you have had
pas s i ons that have made you afrai d, thoughts that have fi l l ed you wi th terror,
day-dreams and s l eepi ng dreams whos e mere memory mi ght s tai n your
cheek wi th s hame...
Stop! murmured Dori an Gray, s top! you bewi l der me. I dont know
what to s ay. There i s s ome ans wer to you, but I cannot fi nd i t. Dont s peak. Let
me thi nk, or, rather, l et me try not to thi nk.
For nearl y ten mi nutes he s tood there moti onl es s , wi th parted l i ps ,
and eyes s trangel y bri ght. He was di ml y cons ci ous that enti rel y fres h
i mpul s es were at work wi thi n hi m, and they s eemed to hi m to have come
real l y from hi ms el f. The few words that Bas i l s fri end had s ai d to hi m
words s poken by chance, no doubt, and wi th wi l l ful paradox i n them had yet
touched s ome s ecret chord, that had never been touched before, but that he fel t
needs no expl anati on. It i s one of the great facts of the worl d, l i ke s unl i ght, or
s pri ng-ti me, or the refl ecti on i n dark waters of that s i l ver s hel l we cal l the
moon. It cannot be ques ti oned. It has i ts di vi ne ri ght of s overei gnty. It makes
pri nces of thos e who have i t. You s mi l e? Ah! when you have l os t i t you wont
s mi l e.
Peopl e s ay s ometi mes that Beauty i s onl y s uperfi ci al . That may be
s o. But at l eas t i t i s not s o s uperfi ci al as Thought. To me, Beauty i s the wonder
of wonders . It i s onl y s hal l ow peopl e who do not j udge by appearances . The
true mys tery of the worl d i s the vi s i bl e, not the i nvi s i bl e.
Yes , M r. Gray, the gods have been good to you. But what the gods gi ve
they qui ckl y take away. You have onl y a few years i n whi ch real l y to l i ve.
When your youth goes , your beauty wi l l go wi th i t, and then you wi l l
s uddenl y di s cover that there are no tri umphs l eft for you, or have to content
yours el f wi th thos e mean tri umphs that the memory of your pas t wi l l make
more bi tter than defeats . E very month as i t wanes bri ngs you nearer to
s omethi ng dreadful . Ti me i s j eal ous of you, and wars agai ns t your l i l i es and
your ros es . You wi l l become s al l ow, and hol l ow-cheeked, and dul l -eyed. You
wi l l s uffer horri bl y.
Real i ze your youth whi l e you have i t. Dont s quander the gol d of your
days , l i s teni ng to the tedi ous , tryi ng to i mprove the hopel es s fai l ure, or
gi vi ng away your l i fe to the i gnorant, the common, and the vul gar, whi ch are
the ai ms , the fal s e i deal s , of our age. Li ve! Li ve the wonderful l i fe that i s i n
you! Let nothi ng be l os t upon you. Be al ways s earchi ng for new s ens ati ons . Be
afrai d of nothi ng.
A new hedoni s m that i s what our century wants . You mi ght be i ts
vi s i bl e s ymbol . Wi th your pers onal i ty there i s nothi ng you coul d not do. The
worl d bel ongs to you for a s eas on.
The moment I met you I s aw that you were qui te uncons ci ous of what
you real l y are, what you real l y mi ght be. There was s o much about you that
charmed me that I fel t I mus t tel l you s omethi ng about yours el f. I thought how
tragi c i t woul d be i f you were was ted. For there i s s uch a l i ttl e ti me that your
youth wi l l l as t s uch a l i ttl e ti me.
The common hi l l -fl owers wi ther, but they bl os s om agai n. The
l aburnum wi l l be as gol den next June as i t i s now. In a month there wi l l be
purpl e s tars on the cl emati s , and year after year the green ni ght of i ts l eaves
wi l l have i ts purpl e s tars . But we never get back our youth. The pul s e of j oy
that beats i n us at twenty, becomes s l uggi s h. Our l i mbs fai l , our s ens es rot.
We degenerate i nto hi deous puppets , haunted by the memory of the pas s i ons
of whi ch we were too much afrai d, and the exqui s i te temptati ons that we di d
not dare to yi el d to. Youth! Youth! There i s abs ol utel y nothi ng i n the worl d but
youth!
Dori an Gray l i s tened, open-eyed and wonderi ng. The s pray of l i l ac
fel l from hi s hand upon the gravel . A furry bee came and buzzed round i t for a
You woul d hardl y care for that arrangement, Bas i l , cri ed Lord Henry,
l aughi ng. It woul d be rather hard l i nes on you.
I s houl d obj ect very s trongl y, Harry.
Dori an Gray turned and l ooked at hi m. I bel i eve you woul d, Bas i l . You
l i ke your art better than your fri ends . I am no more to you than a green bronze
fi gure. Hardl y as much, I dare s ay.
Hal l ward s tared i n amazement. It was s o unl i ke Dori an to s peak l i ke
that. What had happened? He s eemed al mos t angry. Hi s face was fl us hed and
hi s cheeks burni ng.
Yes , he conti nued, I am l es s to you than your i vory Hermes or your
s i l ver Faun. You wi l l l i ke them al ways . How l ong wi l l you l i ke me? Ti l l I
have my fi rs t wri nkl e, I s uppos e. I know, now, that when one l os es ones good
l ooks , whatever they may be, one l os es everythi ng. Your pi cture has taught me
that. Lord Henry i s perfectl y ri ght. Youth i s the onl y thi ng worth havi ng.
When I fi nd that I am growi ng ol d, I wi l l ki l l mys el f.
Hal l ward turned pal e, and caught hi s hand. Dori an! Dori an! he
cri ed, dont tal k l i ke that. I have never had s uch a fri end as you, and I s hal l
never have s uch another. You are not j eal ous of materi al thi ngs , are you?
I am j eal ous of everythi ng whos e beauty does not di e. I am j eal ous of
the portrai t you have pai nted of me. Why s houl d i t keep what I mus t l os e?
E very moment that pas s es takes s omethi ng from me, and gi ves s omethi ng to
i t. Oh, i f i t was onl y the other way! If the pi cture coul d change, and I coul d be
al ways what I am now! Why di d you pai nt i t? It wi l l mock me s ome day mock
me horri bl y! The hot tears wel l ed i nto hi s eyes ; he tore hi s hand away, and,
fl i ngi ng hi ms el f on the di van, he buri ed hi s face i n the cus hi ons , as i f he
was prayi ng.
Thi s i s your doi ng, Harry, s ai d Hal l ward, bi tterl y.
M y doi ng?
Yes , yours , and you know i t.
Lord Henry s hrugged hi s s houl ders . It i s the real Dori an Gray that
i s al l he ans wered.
It i s not.
If i t i s not, what have I to do wi th i t?
You s houl d have gone away when I as ked you.
I s tayed when you as ked me.
Harry, I cant quarrel wi th my two bes t fri ends at once, but between
you both you have made me hate the fi nes t pi ece of work I have ever done, and
I wi l l des troy i t. What i s i t but canvas and col or? I wi l l not l et i t come acros s our
three l i ves and mar them.
Dori an Gray l i fted hi s gol den head from the pi l l ow, and l ooked at hi m
wi th pal l i d face and tear-s tai ned eyes , as he wal ked over to the deal pai nti ngtabl e that was s et beneath the l arge curtai ned wi ndow. What was he doi ng
there? Hi s fi ngers were s trayi ng about among the l i tter of ti n tubes and dry
brus hes , s eeki ng for s omethi ng. Yes , i t was the l ong pal ette-kni fe, wi th i ts
thi n bl ade of l i the s teel . He had found i t at l as t. He was goi ng to ri p up the
canvas .
Wi th a s ti fl ed s ob he l eaped from the couch, and, rus hi ng over to
Hal l ward, tore the kni fe out of hi s hand, and fl ung i t to the end of the s tudi o.
Dont, Bas i l , dont! he cri ed. It woul d be murder!
I am gl ad you appreci ate my work at l as t, Dori an, s ai d Hal l ward,
col dl y, when he had recovered from hi s s urpri s e. I never thought you woul d.
Appreci ate i t? I am i n l ove wi th i t, Bas i l . It i s part of mys el f, I feel
that.
Wel l , as s oon as you are dry, you s hal l be varni s hed, and framed,
and s ent home. Then you can do what you l i ke wi th yours el f. And he wal ked
acros s the room and rang the bel l for tea. You wi l l have tea, of cours e, Dori an?
And s o wi l l you, Harry? Tea i s the onl y s i mpl e pl eas ure l eft to us .
I dont l i ke s i mpl e pl eas ures , s ai d Lord Henry. And I dont l i ke
s cenes , except on the s tage. What abs urd fel l ows you are, both of you! I wonder
who i t was defi ned man as a rati onal ani mal . It was the mos t premature
defi ni ti on ever gi ven. M an i s many thi ngs , but he i s not rati onal . I am gl ad
he i s not, after al l : though I wi s h you chaps woul d not s quabbl e over the
pi cture. You had much better l et me have i t, Bas i l . Thi s s i l l y boy does nt
real l y want i t, and I do.
If you l et any one have i t but me, Bas i l , I wi l l never forgi ve you!
cri ed Dori an Gray. And I dont al l ow peopl e to cal l me a s i l l y boy.
You know the pi cture i s yours , Dori an. I gave i t to you before i t
exi s ted.
And you know you have been a l i ttl e s i l l y, M r. Gray, and that you
dont real l y mi nd bei ng cal l ed a boy.
I s houl d have mi nded very much thi s morni ng, Lord Henry.
Ah! thi s morni ng! You have l i ved s i nce then.
There came a knock to the door, and the butl er entered wi th the teatray and s et i t down upon a s mal l Japanes e tabl e. There was a rattl e of cups
and s aucers and the hi s s i ng of a fl uted Georgi an urn. Two gl obe-s haped
chi na di s hes were brought i n by a page. Dori an Gray went over and poured the
tea out. The two men s auntered l angui dl y to the tabl e, and exami ned what
was under the covers .
Let us go to the theatre toni ght, s ai d Lord Henry. There i s s ure to be
s omethi ng on, s omewhere. I have promi s ed to di ne at Whi tes , but i t i s onl y
wi th an ol d fri end, s o I can s end hi m a wi re and s ay that I am i l l , or that I am
CHAPT E R 3
One afternoon, a month l ater, Dori an Gray was recl i ni ng i n a
l uxuri ous arm-chai r, i n the l i ttl e l i brary of Lord Henrys hous e i n Curzon
Street. It was , i n i ts way, a very charmi ng room, wi th i ts hi gh panel l ed
wai ns coti ng of ol i ve-s tai ned oak, i ts cream-col ored fri eze and cei l i ng of rai s ed
pl as ter-work, and i ts bri ck-dus t fel t carpet s trewn wi th l ong-fri nged s i l k
Pers i an rugs . On a ti ny s ati nwood tabl e s tood a s tatuette by Cl odi on, and
bes i de i t l ay a copy of Les Cent Nouvel l es , bound for M argaret of Val oi s by
Cl ovi s E ve, and powdered wi th the gi l t dai s i es that the queen had s el ected for
her devi ce. Some l arge bl ue chi na j ars , fi l l ed wi th parrot-tul i ps , were ranged
on the mantel -s hel f, and through the s mal l l eaded panes of the wi ndow
s treamed the apri cot-col ored l i ght of a s ummers day i n London.
Lord Henry had not come i n yet. He was al ways l ate on pri nci pl e, hi s
pri nci pl e bei ng that punctual i ty i s the thi ef of ti me. So the l ad was l ooki ng
rather s ul ky, as wi th l i s tl es s fi ngers he turned over the pages of an
el aboratel y-i l l us trated edi ti on of M anon Les caut that he had found i n one of
the bookcas es . The formal monotonous ti cki ng of the Loui s Quatorze cl ock
annoyed hi m. Once or twi ce he thought of goi ng away.
At l as t he heard a l i ght s tep outs i de, and the door opened. How l ate
you are, Harry! he murmured.
I am afrai d i t i s not Harry, M r. Gray, s ai d a womans voi ce.
He gl anced qui ckl y round, and ros e to hi s feet. I beg your pardon. I
thought...
You thought i t was my hus band. It i s onl y hi s wi fe. You mus t l et me
i ntroduce mys el f. I know you qui te wel l by your photographs . I thi nk my
hus band has got twenty-s even of them.
Not twenty-s even, Lady Henry?
Wel l , twenty-s i x, then. And I s aw you wi th hi m the other ni ght at the
Opera. She l aughed nervous l y, as s he s poke, and watched hi m wi th her
vague forget-me-not eyes . She was a curi ous woman, whos e dres s es al ways
l ooked as i f they had been des i gned i n a rage and put on i n a tempes t. She
was al ways i n l ove wi th s omebody, and, as her pas s i on was never returned,
s he had kept al l her i l l us i ons . She tri ed to l ook pi ctures que, but onl y
s ucceeded i n bei ng unti dy. Her name was Vi ctori a, and s he had a perfect
mani a for goi ng to church.
That was at Lohengri n, Lady Henry, I thi nk?
Yes ; i t was at dear Lohengri n. I l i ke Wagners mus i c better than
any other mus i c. It i s s o l oud that one can tal k the whol e ti me, wi thout peopl e
heari ng what one s ays . That i s a great advantage: dont you thi nk s o, M r.
Gray?
The s ame nervous s taccato l augh broke from her thi n l i ps , and her
fi ngers began to pl ay wi th a l ong paper-kni fe.
Dori an s mi l ed, and s hook hi s head: I am afrai d I dont thi nk s o, Lady
Henry. I never tal k duri ng mus i c at l eas t duri ng good mus i c. If one hears
bad mus i c, i t i s ones duty to drown i t by convers ati on.
Ah! that i s one of Harrys vi ews , i s nt i t, M r. Gray? But you mus t not
thi nk I dont l i ke good mus i c. I adore i t, but I am afrai d of i t. It makes me too
romanti c. I have s i mpl y wors hi pped pi ani s ts two at a ti me, s ometi mes . I
dont know what i t i s about them. Perhaps i t i s that they are forei gners . They
al l are, arent they? E ven thos e that are born i n E ngl and become forei gners
after a ti me, dont they? It i s s o cl ever of them, and s uch a compl i ment to art.
M akes i t qui te cos mopol i tan, does nt i t? You have never been to any of my
parti es , have you, M r. Gray? You mus t come. I cant afford orchi ds , but I s pare
no expens e i n forei gners . They make ones rooms l ook s o pi ctures que. But
here i s Harry! Harry, I came i n to l ook for you, to as k you s omethi ng, I
forget what i t was , and I found M r. Gray here. We have had s uch a pl eas ant
chat about mus i c. We have qui te the s ame vi ews . No; I thi nk our vi ews are
qui te di fferent. But he has been mos t pl eas ant. I am s o gl ad Ive s een hi m.
I am charmed, my l ove, qui te charmed, s ai d Lord Henry, el evati ng
hi s dark cres cent-s haped eyebrows and l ooki ng at them both wi th an amus ed
s mi l e. So s orry I am l ate, Dori an. I went to l ook after a pi ece of ol d brocade i n
Wardour Street, and had to bargai n for hours for i t. Nowadays peopl e know the
pri ce of everythi ng, and the val ue of nothi ng.
I am afrai d I mus t be goi ng, excl ai med Lady Henry, after an
awkward s i l ence, wi th her s i l l y s udden l augh. I have promi s ed to dri ve wi th
the duches s . Good-bye, M r. Gray. Good-bye, Harry. You are di ni ng out, I
s uppos e? So am I. Perhaps I s hal l s ee you at Lady Thornburys .
I dare s ay, my dear, s ai d Lord Henry, s hutti ng the door behi nd her,
as s he fl i tted out of the room, l ooki ng l i ke a bi rd-of-paradi s e that had been out
i n the rai n, and l eavi ng a fai nt odor of patchoul i behi nd her. Then he s hook
hands wi th Dori an Gray, l i t a ci garette, and fl ung hi ms el f down on the s ofa.
Never marry a woman wi th s traw-col ored hai r, Dori an, he s ai d, after
a few puffs .
Why, Harry?
Becaus e they are s o s enti mental .
But I l i ke s enti mental peopl e.
Never marry at al l , Dori an. M en marry becaus e they are ti red;
women, becaus e they are curi ous : both are di s appoi nted.
I dont thi nk I am l i kel y to marry, Harry. I am too much i n l ove. That
i s one of your aphori s ms . I am putti ng i t i nto practi ce, as I do everythi ng you
s ay.
l abyri nth of gri my s treets and bl ack, gras s l es s s quares . About hal f-pas t ei ght
I pas s ed by a l i ttl e thi rd-rate theatre, wi th great fl ari ng gas -j ets and gaudy
pl ay-bi l l s . A hi deous Jew, i n the mos t amazi ng wai s tcoat I ever behel d i n my
l i fe, was s tandi ng at the entrance, s moki ng a vi l e ci gar. He had greas y
ri ngl ets , and an enormous di amond bl azed i n the centre of a s oi l ed s hi rt. Ave
a box, my l ord? he s ai d, when he s aw me, and he took off hi s hat wi th an act
of gorgeous s ervi l i ty. There was s omethi ng about hi m, Harry, that amus ed
me. He was s uch a mons ter. You wi l l l augh at me, I know, but I real l y went
i n and pai d a whol e gui nea for the s tage-box. To the pres ent day I cant make
out why I di d s o; and yet i f I hadnt! my dear Harry, i f I hadnt, I woul d have
mi s s ed the greates t romance of my l i fe. I s ee you are l aughi ng. It i s horri d of
you!
I am not l aughi ng, Dori an; at l eas t I am not l aughi ng at you. But you
s houl d not s ay the greates t romance of your l i fe. You s houl d s ay the fi rs t
romance of your l i fe. You wi l l al ways be l oved, and you wi l l al ways be i n l ove
wi th l ove. There are exqui s i te thi ngs i n s tore for you. Thi s i s merel y the
begi nni ng.
Do you thi nk my nature s o s hal l ow? cri ed Dori an Gray, angri l y.
No; I thi nk your nature s o deep.
How do you mean?
M y dear boy, peopl e who onl y l ove once i n thei r l i ves are real l y
s hal l ow peopl e. What they cal l thei r l oyal ty, and thei r fi del i ty, I cal l ei ther
the l ethargy of cus tom or the l ack of i magi nati on. Fai thl es s nes s i s to the
emoti onal l i fe what cons i s tency i s to the i ntel l ectual l i fe s i mpl y a
confes s i on of fai l ure. But I dont want to i nterrupt you. Go on wi th your s tory.
Wel l , I found mys el f s eated i n a horri d l i ttl e pri vate box, wi th a
vul gar drop-s cene s tari ng me i n the face. I l ooked out behi nd the curtai n, and
s urveyed the hous e. It was a tawdry affai r, al l Cupi ds and cornucopi as , l i ke a
thi rd-rate weddi ng-cake. The gal l ery and pi t were fai rl y ful l , but the two rows
of di ngy s tal l s were qui te empty, and there was hardl y a pers on i n what I
s uppos e they cal l ed the dres s -ci rcl e. Women went about wi th oranges and
gi nger-beer, and there was a terri bl e cons umpti on of nuts goi ng on.
It mus t have been j us t l i ke the pal my days of the Bri ti s h Drama.
Jus t l i ke, I s houl d fancy, and very horri d. I began to wonder what on
earth I s houl d do, when I caught s i ght of the pl ay-bi l l . What do you thi nk the
pl ay was , Harry?
I s houl d thi nk The Idi ot Boy, or Dumb but Innocent. Our fathers
us ed to l i ke that s ort of pi ece, I bel i eve. The l onger I l i ve, Dori an, the more
keenl y I feel that whatever was good enough for our fathers i s not good enough
for us . In art, as i n pol i ti cs , l es grand pres ont touj ours tort.
Thi s pl ay was good enough for us , Harry. It was Romeo and Jul i et. I
mus t admi t I was rather annoyed at the i dea of s eei ng Shakes peare done i n
s uch a wretched hol e of a pl ace. Sti l l , I fel t i nteres ted, i n a s ort of way. At any
rate, I determi ned to wai t for the fi rs t act. There was a dreadful orches tra,
pres i ded over by a young Jew who s at at a cracked pi ano, that nearl y drove me
away, but at l as t the drop-s cene was drawn up, and the pl ay began. Romeo was
a s tout el derl y gentl eman, wi th corked eyebrows , a hus ky tragedy voi ce, and a
fi gure l i ke a beer-barrel . M ercuti o was al mos t as bad. He was pl ayed by the
l ow-comedi an, who had i ntroduced gags of hi s own and was on mos t fami l i ar
terms wi th the pi t. They were as grotes que as the s cenery, and that l ooked as
i f i t had come out of a pantomi me of fi fty years ago. But Jul i et! Harry, i magi ne
a gi rl , hardl y s eventeen years of age, wi th a l i ttl e fl ower-l i ke face, a s mal l
Greek head wi th pl ai ted coi l s of dark-brown hai r, eyes that were vi ol et wel l s of
pas s i on, l i ps that were l i ke the petal s of a ros e. She was the l ovel i es t thi ng I
had ever s een i n my l i fe. You s ai d to me once that pathos l eft you unmoved,
but that beauty, mere beauty, coul d fi l l your eyes wi th tears . I tel l you, Harry,
I coul d hardl y s ee thi s gi rl for the mi s t of tears that came acros s me. And her
voi ce I never heard s uch a voi ce. It was very l ow at fi rs t, wi th deep mel l ow
notes , that s eemed to fal l s i ngl y upon ones ear. Then i t became a l i ttl e
l ouder, and s ounded l i ke a fl ute or a di s tant hautboi s . In the garden-s cene i t
had al l the tremul ous ecs tas y that one hears j us t before dawn when
ni ghti ngal es are s i ngi ng. There were moments , l ater on, when i t had the
wi l d pas s i on of vi ol i ns . You know how a voi ce can s ti r one. Your voi ce and the
voi ce of Si byl Vane are two thi ngs that I s hal l never forget. When I cl os e my
eyes , I hear them, and each of them s ays s omethi ng di fferent. I dont know
whi ch to fol l ow. Why s houl d I not l ove her? Harry, I do l ove her. She i s
everythi ng to me i n l i fe. Ni ght after ni ght I go to s ee her pl ay. One eveni ng
s he i s Ros al i nd, and the next eveni ng s he i s Imogen. I have s een her di e i n
the gl oom of an Ital i an tomb, s ucki ng the poi s on from her l overs l i ps . I have
watched her wanderi ng through the fores t of Arden, di s gui s ed as a pretty boy
i n hos e and doubl et and dai nty cap. She has been mad, and has come i nto the
pres ence of a gui l ty ki ng, and gi ven hi m rue to wear, and bi tter herbs to tas te
of. She has been i nnocent, and the bl ack hands of j eal ous y have crus hed her
reed-l i ke throat. I have s een her i n every age and i n every cos tume. Ordi nary
women never appeal to ones i magi nati on. They are l i mi ted to thei r century.
No gl amour ever trans fi gures them. One knows thei r mi nds as eas i l y as one
knows thei r bonnets . One can al ways fi nd them. There i s no mys tery i n one
of them. They ri de i n the Park i n the morni ng, and chatter at tea-parti es i n
the afternoon. They have thei r s tereotyped s mi l e, and thei r fas hi onabl e
manner. They are qui te obvi ous . But an actres s ! How di fferent an actres s i s !
Why di dnt you tel l me that the onl y thi ng worth l ovi ng i s an actres s ?
Becaus e I have l oved s o many of them, Dori an.
Oh, yes , horri d peopl e wi th dyed hai r and pai nted faces .
Dont run down dyed hai r and pai nted faces . There i s an
extraordi nary charm i n them, s ometi mes .
I wi s h now I had not tol d you about Si byl Vane.
You coul d not have hel ped tel l i ng me, Dori an. Al l through your l i fe
you wi l l tel l me everythi ng you do.
Yes , Harry, I bel i eve that i s true. I cannot hel p tel l i ng you thi ngs .
You have a curi ous i nfl uence over me. If I ever di d a cri me, I woul d come and
confi de i t to you. You woul d unders tand me.
Peopl e l i ke you the wi l ful s unbeams of l i fe dont commi t cri mes ,
Dori an. But I am much obl i ged for the compl i ment, al l the s ame. And now tel l
me reach me the matches , l i ke a good boy: thanks tel l me, what are your
rel ati ons wi th Si byl Vane?
Dori an Gray l eaped to hi s feet, wi th fl us hed cheeks and burni ng
eyes . Harry, Si byl Vane i s s acred!
It i s onl y the s acred thi ngs that are worth touchi ng, Dori an, s ai d Lord
Henry, wi th a s trange touch of pathos i n hi s voi ce. But why s houl d you be
annoyed? I s uppos e s he wi l l be yours s ome day. When one i s i n l ove, one
al ways begi ns by decei vi ng ones s el f, and one al ways ends by decei vi ng
others . That i s what the worl d cal l s romance. You know her, at any rate, I
s uppos e?
Of cours e I know her. On the fi rs t ni ght I was at the theatre, the
horri d ol d Jew came round to the box after the performance was over, and
offered to bri ng me behi nd the s cenes and i ntroduce me to her. I was furi ous
wi th hi m, and tol d hi m that Jul i et had been dead for hundreds of years , and
that her body was l yi ng i n a marbl e tomb i n Verona. I thi nk, from hi s bl ank
l ook of amazement, that he thought I had taken too much champagne, or
s omethi ng.
I am not s urpri s ed.
I was not s urpri s ed ei ther. Then he as ked me i f I wrote for any of the
news papers . I tol d hi m I never even read them. He s eemed terri bl y
di s appoi nted at that, and confi ded to me that al l the dramati c cri ti cs were i n a
cons pi racy agai ns t hi m, and that they were al l to be bought.
I bel i eve he was qui te ri ght there. But, on the other hand, mos t of
them are not at al l expens i ve.
Wel l , he s eemed to thi nk they were beyond hi s means . By thi s ti me
the l i ghts were bei ng put out i n the theatre, and I had to go. He wanted me to
try s ome ci gars whi ch he s trongl y recommended. I decl i ned. The next ni ght,
of cours e, I arri ved at the theatre agai n. When he s aw me he made me a l ow
bow, and as s ured me that I was a patron of art. He was a mos t offens i ve brute,
though he had an extraordi nary pas s i on for Shakes peare. He tol d me once,
wi th an ai r of pri de, that hi s three bankruptci es were enti rel y due to the poet,
whom he i ns i s ted on cal l i ng The Bard. He s eemed to thi nk i t a di s ti ncti on.
It was a di s ti ncti on, my dear Dori an a great di s ti ncti on. But when
di d you fi rs t s peak to M i s s Si byl Vane?
The thi rd ni ght. She had been pl ayi ng Ros al i nd. I coul d not hel p
goi ng round. I had thrown her s ome fl owers , and s he had l ooked at me; at
l eas t I fanci ed that s he had. The ol d Jew was pers i s tent. He s eemed
determi ned to bri ng me behi nd, s o I cons ented. It was curi ous my not wanti ng
to know her, was nt i t?
No; I dont thi nk s o.
M y dear Harry, why?
I wi l l tel l you s ome other ti me. Now I want to know about the gi rl .
Si byl ? Oh, s he was s o s hy, and s o gentl e. There i s s omethi ng of a
chi l d about her. Her eyes opened wi de i n exqui s i te wonder when I tol d her
what I thought of her performance, and s he s eemed qui te uncons ci ous of her
power. I thi nk we were both rather nervous . The ol d Jew s tood gri nni ng at the
door-way of the dus ty greenroom, maki ng el aborate s peeches about us both,
whi l e we s tood l ooki ng at each other l i ke chi l dren. He woul d i ns i s t on cal l i ng
me M y Lord, s o I had to as s ure Si byl that I was not anythi ng of the ki nd. She
s ai d qui te s i mpl y to me, You l ook more l i ke a pri nce.
Upon my word, Dori an, M i s s Si byl knows how to pay compl i ments .
You dont unders tand her, Harry. She regarded me merel y as a
pers on i n a pl ay. She knows nothi ng of l i fe. She l i ves wi th her mother, a faded
ti red woman who pl ayed Lady Capul et i n a s ort of magenta dres s i ng-wrapper
on the fi rs t ni ght, and who l ooks as i f s he had s een better days .
I know that l ook. It al ways depres s es me.
The Jew wanted to tel l me her hi s tory, but I s ai d i t di d not i nteres t
me.
You were qui te ri ght. There i s al ways s omethi ng i nfi ni tel y mean
about other peopl es tragedi es .
Si byl i s the onl y thi ng I care about. What i s i t to me where s he came
from? From her l i ttl e head to her l i ttl e feet, s he i s abs ol utel y and enti rel y
di vi ne. I go to s ee her act every ni ght of my l i fe, and every ni ght s he i s more
marvel l ous .
That i s the reas on, I s uppos e, that you wi l l never di ne wi th me now. I
thought you mus t have s ome curi ous romance on hand. You have; but i t i s not
qui te what I expected.
M y dear Harry, we ei ther l unch or s up together every day, and I have
been to the Opera wi th you s everal ti mes .
You al ways come dreadful l y l ate.
Wel l , I cant hel p goi ng to s ee Si byl pl ay, even i f i t i s onl y for an act.
I get hungry for her pres ence; and when I thi nk of the wonderful s oul that i s
hi dden away i n that l i ttl e i vory body, I am fi l l ed wi th awe.
You can di ne wi th me toni ght, Dori an, cant you?
mal adi es s o s trange that one had to pas s through them i f one s ought to
unders tand thei r nature. And, yet, what a great reward one recei ved! How
wonderful the whol e worl d became to one! To note the curi ous hard l ogi c of
pas s i on, and the emoti onal col ored l i fe of the i ntel l ect to obs erve where they
met, and where they s eparated, at what poi nt they became one, and at what
poi nt they were at di s cord there was a del i ght i n that! What matter what the
cos t was ? One coul d never pay too hi gh a pri ce for any s ens ati on.
He was cons ci ous and the thought brought a gl eam of pl eas ure i nto
hi s brown agate eyes that i t was through certai n words of hi s , mus i cal words
s ai d wi th mus i cal utterance, that Dori an Grays s oul had turned to thi s whi te
gi rl and bowed i n wors hi p before her. To a l arge extent, the l ad was hi s own
creati on. He had made hi m premature. That was s omethi ng. Ordi nary peopl e
wai ted ti l l l i fe di s cl os ed to them i ts s ecrets , but to the few, to the el ect, the
mys teri es of l i fe were reveal ed before the vei l was drawn away. Someti mes
thi s was the effect of art, and chi efl y of the art of l i terature, whi ch deal t
i mmedi atel y wi th the pas s i ons and the i ntel l ect. But now and then a compl ex
pers onal i ty took the pl ace and as s umed the offi ce of art, was i ndeed, i n i ts
way, a real work of art, Li fe havi ng i ts el aborate mas terpi eces , j us t as poetry
has , or s cul pture, or pai nti ng.
Yes , the l ad was premature. He was gatheri ng hi s harves t whi l e i t
was yet s pri ng. The pul s e and pas s i on of youth were i n hi m, but he was
becomi ng s el f-cons ci ous . It was del i ghtful to watch hi m. Wi th hi s beauti ful
face, and hi s beauti ful s oul , he was a thi ng to wonder at. It was no matter how
i t al l ended, or was des ti ned to end. He was l i ke one of thos e graci ous fi gures
i n a pageant or a pl ay, whos e j oys s eem to be remote from one, but whos e
s orrows s ti r ones s ens e of beauty, and whos e wounds are l i ke red ros es . Soul
and body, body and s oul how mys teri ous they were! There was ani mal i s m
i n the s oul , and the body had i ts moments of s pi ri tual i ty. The s ens es coul d
refi ne, and the i ntel l ect coul d degrade. Who coul d s ay where the fl es hl y
i mpul s e ceas ed, or the ps ychi cal i mpul s e began? How s hal l ow were the
arbi trary defi ni ti ons of ordi nary ps ychol ogi s ts ! And yet how di ffi cul t to deci de
between the cl ai ms of the vari ous s chool s ! Was the s oul a s hadow s eated i n
the hous e of s i n? Or was the body real l y i n the s oul , as Gi ordano Bruno
thought? The s eparati on of s pi ri t from matter was a mys tery, and the uni on of
s pi ri t wi th matter was a mys tery al s o.
He began to wonder whether we s houl d ever make ps ychol ogy s o
abs ol ute a s ci ence that each l i ttl e s pri ng of l i fe woul d be reveal ed to us . As i t
was , we al ways mi s unders tood ours el ves , and rarel y unders tood others .
E xperi ence was of no ethi cal val ue. It was merel y the name we gave to our
mi s takes . M en had, as a rul e, regarded i t as a mode of warni ng, had cl ai med
for i t a certai n moral effi cacy i n the formati on of character, had prai s ed i t as
s omethi ng that taught us what to fol l ow and s howed us what to avoi d. But there
was no moti ve power i n experi ence. It was as l i ttl e of an acti ve caus e as
cons ci ence i ts el f. Al l that i t real l y demons trated was that our future woul d be
the s ame as our pas t, and that the s i n we had done once, and wi th l oathi ng,
we woul d do many ti mes , and wi th j oy.
It was cl ear to hi m that the experi mental method was the onl y method
by whi ch one coul d arri ve at any s ci enti fi c anal ys i s of the pas s i ons ; and
certai nl y Dori an Gray was a s ubj ect made to hi s hand, and s eemed to promi s e
ri ch and frui tful res ul ts . Hi s s udden mad l ove for Si byl Vane was a
ps ychol ogi cal phenomenon of no s mal l i nteres t. There was no doubt that
curi os i ty had much to do wi th i t, curi os i ty and the des i re for new experi ences ;
yet i t was not a s i mpl e but rather a very compl ex pas s i on. What there was i n i t
of the purel y s ens uous i ns ti nct of boyhood had been trans formed by the
worki ngs of the i magi nati on, changed i nto s omethi ng that s eemed to the boy
hi ms el f to be remote from s ens e, and was for that very reas on al l the more
dangerous . It was the pas s i ons about whos e ori gi n we decei ved ours el ves that
tyranni zed mos t s trongl y over us . Our weakes t moti ves were thos e of whos e
nature we were cons ci ous . It often happened that when we thought we were
experi menti ng on others we were real l y experi menti ng on ours el ves .
Whi l e Lord Henry s at dreami ng on thes e thi ngs , a knock came to the
door, and hi s val et entered, and remi nded hi m i t was ti me to dres s for di nner.
He got up and l ooked out i nto the s treet. The s uns et had s mi tten i nto s carl et
gol d the upper wi ndows of the hous es oppos i te. The panes gl owed l i ke pl ates of
heated metal . The s ky above was l i ke a faded ros e. He thought of Dori an
Grays young fi ery-col ored l i fe, and wondered how i t was al l goi ng to end.
When he arri ved home, about hal f-pas t twel ve ocl ock, he s aw a
tel egram l yi ng on the hal l -tabl e. He opened i t and found i t was from Dori an. It
was to tel l hi m that he was engaged to be marri ed to Si byl Vane.
CHAPT E R 4
I s uppos e you have heard the news , Bas i l ? s ai d Lord Henry on the
fol l owi ng eveni ng, as Hal l ward was s hown i nto a l i ttl e pri vate room at the
Bri s tol where di nner had been l ai d for three.
No, Harry, ans wered Hal l ward, gi vi ng hi s hat and coat to the bowi ng
wai ter. What i s i t? Nothi ng about pol i ti cs , I hope? They dont i nteres t me.
There i s hardl y a s i ngl e pers on i n the Hous e of Commons worth pai nti ng;
though many of them woul d be the better for a l i ttl e whi tewas hi ng.
Dori an Gray i s engaged to be marri ed, s ai d Lord Henry, watchi ng
hi m as he s poke.
Hal l ward turned perfectl y pal e, and a curi ous l ook fl as hed for a
moment i nto hi s eyes , and then pas s ed away, l eavi ng them dul l . Dori an
engaged to be marri ed! he cri ed. Impos s i bl e!
It i s perfectl y true.
To whom?
To s ome l i ttl e actres s or other.
I cant bel i eve i t. Dori an i s far too s ens i bl e.
Dori an i s far too wi s e not to do fool i s h thi ngs now and then, my dear
Bas i l .
M arri age i s hardl y a thi ng that one can do now and then, Harry,
s ai d Hal l ward, s mi l i ng.
E xcept i n Ameri ca. But I di dnt s ay he was marri ed. I s ai d he was
engaged to be marri ed. There i s a great di fference. I have a di s ti nct
remembrance of bei ng marri ed, but I have no recol l ecti on at al l of bei ng
engaged. I am i ncl i ned to thi nk that I never was engaged.
But thi nk of Dori ans bi rth, and pos i ti on, and weal th. It woul d be
abs urd for hi m to marry s o much beneath hi m.
If you want hi m to marry thi s gi rl , tel l hi m that, Bas i l . He i s s ure to
do i t then. Whenever a man does a thoroughl y s tupi d thi ng, i t i s al ways from
the nobl es t moti ves .
I hope the gi rl i s good, Harry. I dont want to s ee Dori an ti ed to s ome
vi l e creature, who mi ght degrade hi s nature and rui n hi s i ntel l ect.
Oh, s he i s more than good s he i s beauti ful , murmured Lord
Henry, s i ppi ng a gl as s of vermouth and orange-bi tters .Dori an s ays s he i s
beauti ful ; and he i s not often wrong about thi ngs of that ki nd. Your portrai t of
hi m has qui ckened hi s appreci ati on of the pers onal appearance of other
peopl e. It has had that excel l ent effect, among others . We are to s ee her
toni ght, i f that boy does nt forget hi s appoi ntment.
But do you approve of i t, Harry? as ked Hal l ward, wal ki ng up and down
CHAPT E R 5
For s ome reas on or other, the hous e was crowded that ni ght, and the
fat Jew manager who met them at the door was beami ng from ear to ear wi th an
oi l y, tremul ous s mi l e. He es corted them to thei r box wi th a s ort of pompous
humi l i ty, wavi ng hi s fat j ewel l ed hands , and tal ki ng at the top of hi s voi ce.
Dori an Gray l oathed hi m more than ever. He fel t as i f he had come to l ook for
M i randa and had been met by Cal i ban. Lord Henry, upon the other hand,
rather l i ked hi m. At l eas t he decl ared he di d, and i ns i s ted on s haki ng hi m
by the hand, and as s ured hi m that he was proud to meet a man who had
di s covered a real geni us and gone bankrupt over Shakes peare. Hal l ward
amus ed hi ms el f wi th watchi ng the faces i n the pi t. The heat was terri bl y
oppres s i ve, and the huge s unl i ght fl amed l i ke a mons trous dahl i a wi th
petal s of fi re. The youths i n the gal l ery had taken off thei r coats and
wai s tcoats and hung them over the s i de. They tal ked to each other acros s the
theatre, and s hared thei r oranges wi th the tawdry pai nted gi rl s who s at by
them. Some women were l aughi ng i n the pi t; thei r voi ces were horri bl y s hri l l
and di s cordant. The s ound of the poppi ng of corks came from the bar.
What a pl ace to fi nd ones di vi ni ty i n! s ai d Lord Henry.
Yes ! ans wered Dori an Gray. It was here I found her, and s he i s
di vi ne beyond al l l i vi ng thi ngs . When s he acts you wi l l forget everythi ng.
Thes e common peopl e here, wi th thei r coars e faces and brutal ges tures ,
become qui te di fferent when s he i s on the s tage. They s i t s i l entl y and watch
her. They weep and l augh as s he wi l l s them to do. She makes them as
res pons i ve as a vi ol i n. She s pi ri tual i zes them, and one feel s that they are of
the s ame fl es h and bl ood as ones s el f.
Oh, I hope not! murmured Lord Henry, who was s canni ng the
occupants of the gal l ery through hi s opera-gl as s .
Dont pay any attenti on to hi m, Dori an, s ai d Hal l ward. I unders tand
what you mean, and I bel i eve i n thi s gi rl . Any one you l ove mus t be
marvel l ous , and any gi rl that has the effect you des cri be mus t be fi ne and
nobl e. To s pi ri tual i ze ones age that i s s omethi ng worth doi ng. If thi s gi rl
can gi ve a s oul to thos e who have l i ved wi thout one, i f s he can create the s ens e
of beauty i n peopl e whos e l i ves have been s ordi d and ugl y, i f s he can s tri p
them of thei r s el fi s hnes s and l end them tears for s orrows that are not thei r
own, s he i s worthy of al l your adorati on, worthy of the adorati on of the worl d.
Thi s marri age i s qui te ri ght. I di d not thi nk s o at fi rs t, but I admi t i t now. God
made Si byl Vane for you. Wi thout her you woul d have been i ncompl ete.
Thanks , Bas i l , ans wered Dori an Gray, pres s i ng hi s hand. I knew
that you woul d unders tand me. Harry i s s o cyni cal , he terri fi es me. But here
i s the orches tra. It i s qui te dreadful , but i t onl y l as ts for about fi ve mi nutes .
Then the curtai n ri s es , and you wi l l s ee the gi rl to whom I am goi ng to gi ve
al l my l i fe, to whom I have gi ven everythi ng that i s good i n me.
moral s to s ee bad acti ng. Bes i des , I dont s uppos e you wi l l want your wi fe to
act. So what does i t matter i f s he pl ays Jul i et l i ke a wooden dol l ? She i s very
l ovel y, and i f s he knows as l i ttl e about l i fe as s he does about acti ng, s he wi l l
be a del i ghtful experi ence. There are onl y two ki nds of peopl e who are real l y
fas ci nati ng, peopl e who know abs ol utel y everythi ng, and peopl e who know
abs ol utel y nothi ng. Good heavens , my dear boy, dont l ook s o tragi c! The s ecret
of remai ni ng young i s never to have an emoti on that i s unbecomi ng. Come to
the cl ub wi th Bas i l and mys el f. We wi l l s moke ci garettes and dri nk to the
beauty of Si byl Vane. She i s beauti ful . What more can you want?
Pl eas e go away, Harry, cri ed the l ad. I real l y want to be al one. Bas i l ,
you dont mi nd my as ki ng you to go? Ah! cant you s ee that my heart i s
breaki ng? The hot tears came to hi s eyes . Hi s l i ps trembl ed, and, rus hi ng to
the back of the box, he l eaned up agai ns t the wal l , hi di ng hi s face i n hi s
hands .
Let us go, Bas i l , s ai d Lord Henry, wi th a s trange tendernes s i n hi s
voi ce; and the two young men pas s ed out together.
A few moments afterwards the footl i ghts fl ared up, and the curtai n
ros e on the thi rd act. Dori an Gray went back to hi s s eat. He l ooked pal e, and
proud, and i ndi fferent. The pl ay dragged on, and s eemed i ntermi nabl e. Hal f
of the audi ence went out, trampi ng i n heavy boots , and l aughi ng. The whol e
thi ng was a fi as co. The l as t act was pl ayed to al mos t empty benches .
As s oon as i t was over, Dori an Gray rus hed behi nd the s cenes i nto the
greenroom. The gi rl was s tandi ng al one there, wi th a l ook of tri umph on her
face. Her eyes were l i t wi th an exqui s i te fi re. There was a radi ance about her.
Her parted l i ps were s mi l i ng over s ome s ecret of thei r own.
When he entered, s he l ooked at hi m, and an expres s i on of i nfi ni te
j oy came over her. How badl y I acted toni ght, Dori an! s he cri ed.
Horri bl y! he ans wered, gazi ng at her i n amazement, horri bl y! It was
dreadful . Are you i l l ? You have no i dea what i t was . You have no i dea what I
s uffered.
The gi rl s mi l ed.Dori an, s he ans wered, l i ngeri ng over hi s name
wi th l ong-drawn mus i c i n her voi ce, as though i t were s weeter than honey to
the red petal s of her l i ps . Dori an, you s houl d have unders tood. But you
unders tand now, dont you?
Unders tand what? he as ked, angri l y.
Why I was s o bad toni ght. Why I s hal l al ways be bad. Why I s hal l
never act wel l agai n.
He s hrugged hi s s houl ders . You are i l l , I s uppos e. When you are i l l
you s houl dnt act. You make yours el f ri di cul ous . M y fri ends were bored. I was
bored.
She s eemed not to l i s ten to hi m. She was trans fi gured wi th j oy. An
magni fi cent. The worl d woul d have wors hi pped you, and you woul d have
bel onged to me. What are you now? A thi rd-rate actres s wi th a pretty face.
The gi rl grew whi te, and trembl ed. She cl i nched her hands together,
and her voi ce s eemed to catch i n her throat. You are not s eri ous , Dori an? s he
murmured. You are acti ng.
Acti ng! I l eave that to you. You do i t s o wel l , he ans wered, bi tterl y.
She ros e from her knees , and, wi th a pi teous expres s i on of pai n i n
her face, came acros s the room to hi m. She put her hand upon hi s arm, and
l ooked i nto hi s eyes . He thrus t her back. Dont touch me! he cri ed.
A l ow moan broke from her, and s he fl ung hers el f at hi s feet, and l ay
there l i ke a trampl ed fl ower. Dori an, Dori an, dont l eave me! s he whi s pered.
I am s o s orry I di dnt act wel l . I was thi nki ng of you al l the ti me. But I wi l l try
i ndeed, I wi l l try. It came s o s uddenl y acros s me, my l ove for you. I thi nk I
s houl d never have known i t i f you had not ki s s ed me i f we had not ki s s ed
each other. Ki s s me agai n, my l ove. Dont go away from me. I coul dnt bear i t.
Cant you forgi ve me for toni ght? I wi l l work s o hard, and try to i mprove. Dont be
cruel to me becaus e I l ove you better than anythi ng i n the worl d. After al l , i t i s
onl y once that I have not pl eas ed you. But you are qui te ri ght, Dori an. I s houl d
have s hown mys el f more of an arti s t. It was fool i s h of me; and yet I coul dnt
hel p i t. Oh, dont l eave me, dont l eave me. A fi t of pas s i onate s obbi ng choked
her. She crouched on the fl oor l i ke a wounded thi ng, and Dori an Gray, wi th
hi s beauti ful eyes , l ooked down at her, and hi s chi s el l ed l i ps curl ed i n
exqui s i te di s dai n. There i s al ways s omethi ng ri di cul ous about the pas s i ons
of peopl e whom one has ceas ed to l ove. Si byl Vane s eemed to hi m to be
abs urdl y mel odramati c. Her tears and s obs annoyed hi m.
I am goi ng, he s ai d at l as t, i n hi s cal m, cl ear voi ce. I dont wi s h to
be unki nd, but I cant s ee you agai n. You have di s appoi nted me.
She wept s i l entl y, and made no ans wer, but crept nearer to hi m. Her
l i ttl e hands s tretched bl i ndl y out, and appeared to be s eeki ng for hi m. He
turned on hi s heel , and l eft the room. In a few moments he was out of the
theatre.
Where he went to, he hardl y knew. He remembered wanderi ng
through di ml y-l i t s treets wi th gaunt bl ack-s hadowed archways and evi l l ooki ng hous es . Women wi th hoars e voi ces and hars h l aughter had cal l ed
after hi m. Drunkards had reel ed by curs i ng, and chatteri ng to thems el ves
l i ke mons trous apes . He had s een grotes que chi l dren huddl ed upon doors teps , and had heard s hri eks and oaths from gl oomy courts .
When the dawn was j us t breaki ng he found hi ms el f at Covent
Garden. Huge carts fi l l ed wi th noddi ng l i l i es rumbl ed s l owl y down the
pol i s hed empty s treet. The ai r was heavy wi th the perfume of the fl owers , and
thei r beauty s eemed to bri ng hi m an anodyne for hi s pai n. He fol l owed i nto
the market, and watched the men unl oadi ng thei r wagons .A whi te-s mocked
CHAPT E R 6
It was l ong pas t noon when he awoke. Hi s val et had crept s everal ti mes
i nto the room on ti ptoe to s ee i f he was s ti rri ng, and had wondered what made
hi s young mas ter s l eep s o l ate. Fi nal l y hi s bel l s ounded, and Vi ctor came i n
s oftl y wi th a cup of tea, and a pi l e of l etters , on a s mal l tray of ol d Svres
chi na, and drew back the ol i ve-s ati n curtai ns , wi th thei r s hi mmeri ng bl ue
l i ni ng, that hung i n front of the three tal l wi ndows .
M ons i eur has wel l s l ept thi s morni ng, he s ai d, s mi l i ng.
What ocl ock i s i t, Vi ctor? as ked Dori an Gray, s l eepi l y.
One hour and a quarter, mons i eur.
How l ate i t was ! He s at up, and, havi ng s i pped s ome tea, turned over
hi s l etters . One of them was from Lord Henry, and had been brought by hand
that morni ng. He hes i tated for a moment, and then put i t as i de. The others he
opened l i s tl es s l y. They contai ned the us ual col l ecti on of cards , i nvi tati ons to
di nner, ti ckets for pri vate vi ews , programmes of chari ty concerts , and the l i ke,
that are s howered on fas hi onabl e young men every morni ng duri ng the
s eas on. here was a rather heavy bi l l , for a chas ed s i l ver Loui s -Qui nze toi l ets et, that he had not yet had the courage to s end on to hi s guardi ans , who were
extremel y ol d-fas hi oned peopl e and di d not real i ze that we l i ve i n an age
when onl y unneces s ary thi ngs are abs ol utel y neces s ary to us ; and there were
s everal very courteous l y worded communi cati ons from Jermyn Street moneyl enders offeri ng to advance any s um of money at a moments noti ce and at the
mos t reas onabl e rates of i nteres t.
After about ten mi nutes he got up, and, throwi ng on an el aborate
dres s i ng-gown, pas s ed i nto the onyx-paved bath-room. The cool water
refres hed hi m after hi s l ong s l eep. He s eemed to have forgotten al l that he
had gone through. A di m s ens e of havi ng taken part i n s ome s trange tragedy
came to hi m once or twi ce, but there was the unreal i ty of a dream about i t.
As s oon as he was dres s ed, he went i nto the l i brary and s at down to a
l i ght French breakfas t, that had been l ai d out for hi m on a s mal l round tabl e
cl os e to an open wi ndow. It was an exqui s i te day. The warm ai r s eemed l aden
wi th s pi ces . A bee fl ew i n, and buzzed round the bl ue-dragon bowl , fi l l ed wi th
s ul phur-yel l ow ros es , that s tood i n front of hi m. He fel t perfectl y happy.
Suddenl y hi s eye fel l on the s creen that he had pl aced i n front of the
portrai t, and he s tarted.
Too col d for M ons i eur? as ked hi s val et, putti ng an omel ette on the
tabl e. I s hut the wi ndow?
Dori an s hook hi s head. I am not col d, he murmured.
Was i t al l true? Had the portrai t real l y changed? Or had i t been
s i mpl y hi s own i magi nati on that had made hi m s ee a l ook of evi l where there
had been a l ook of j oy? Surel y a pai nted canvas coul d not al ter? The thi ng was
abs urd. It woul d s erve as a tal e to tel l Bas i l s ome day. It woul d make hi m
s mi l e.
And, yet, how vi vi d was hi s recol l ecti on of the whol e thi ng! Fi rs t i n
the di m twi l i ght, and then i n the bri ght dawn, he had s een the touch of
cruel ty i n the warped l i ps . He al mos t dreaded hi s val et l eavi ng the room. He
knew that when he was al one he woul d have to exami ne the portrai t. He was
afrai d of certai nty. When the coffee and ci garettes had been brought and the
man turned to go, he fel t a mad des i re to tel l hi m to remai n. As the door cl os ed
behi nd hi m he cal l ed hi m back. The man s tood wai ti ng for hi s orders . Dori an
l ooked at hi m for a moment. I am not at home to any one, Vi ctor, he s ai d, wi th
a s i gh. The man bowed and reti red.
He ros e from the tabl e, l i t a ci garette, and fl ung hi ms el f down on a
l uxuri ous l y-cus hi oned couch that s tood faci ng the s creen. The s creen was an
ol d one of gi l t Spani s h l eather, s tamped and wrought wi th a rather fl ori d
Loui s -Quatorze pattern. He s canned i t curi ous l y, wonderi ng i f i t had ever
before conceal ed the s ecret of a mans l i fe.
Shoul d he move i t as i de, after al l ? Why not l et i t s tay there? What was
the us e of knowi ng? If the thi ng was true, i t was terri bl e. If i t was not true,
why troubl e about i t? But what i f, by s ome fate or deadl i er chance, other eyes
than hi s s pi ed behi nd, and s aw the horri bl e change? What s houl d he do i f
Bas i l Hal l ward came and as ked to l ook at hi s own pi cture? He woul d be s ure to
do that. No; the thi ng had to be exami ned, and at once. Anythi ng woul d be
better than thi s dreadful s tate of doubt.
He got up, and l ocked both doors . At l eas t he woul d be al one when he
l ooked upon the mas k of hi s s hame. Then he drew the s creen as i de, and s aw
hi ms el f face to face. It was perfectl y true. The portrai t had al tered.
As he often remembered afterwards , and al ways wi th no s mal l
wonder, he found hi ms el f at fi rs t gazi ng at the portrai t wi th a feel i ng of
al mos t s ci enti fi c i nteres t. That s uch a change s houl d have taken pl ace was
i ncredi bl e to hi m. And yet i t was a fact. Was there s ome s ubtl e affi ni ty
between the chemi cal atoms , that s haped thems el ves i nto form and col or on
the canvas , and the s oul that was wi thi n hi m? Coul d i t be that what that s oul
thought, they real i zed? that what i t dreamed, they made true? Or was there
s ome other, more terri bl e reas on? He s huddered, and fel t afrai d, and, goi ng
back to the couch, l ay there, gazi ng at the pi cture i n s i ckened horror.
One thi ng, however, he fel t that i t had done for hi m. It had made hi m
cons ci ous how unj us t, how cruel , he had been to Si byl Vane. It was not too l ate
to make reparati on for that. She coul d s ti l l be hi s wi fe. Hi s unreal and s el fi s h
l ove woul d yi el d to s ome hi gher i nfl uence, woul d be trans formed i nto s ome
nobl er pas s i on, and the portrai t that Bas i l Hal l ward had pai nted of hi m woul d
be a gui de to hi m through l i fe, woul d be to hi m what hol i nes s was to s ome,
and cons ci ence to others , and the fear of God to us al l . There were opi ates for
remors e, drugs that coul d l ul l the moral s ens e to s l eep. But here was a vi s i bl e
s ymbol of the degradati on of s i n. Here was an ever-pres ent s i gn of the rui n
men brought upon thei r s oul s .
Three ocl ock s truck, and four, and hal f-pas t four, but he di d not s ti r.
He was tryi ng to gather up the s carl et threads of l i fe, and to weave them i nto a
pattern; to fi nd hi s way through the s angui ne l abyri nth of pas s i on through
whi ch he was wanderi ng. He di d not know what to do, or what to thi nk. Fi nal l y,
he went over to the tabl e and wrote a pas s i onate l etter to the gi rl he had l oved,
i mpl ori ng her forgi venes s , and accus i ng hi ms el f of madnes s . He covered
page afterpage wi th wi l d words of s orrow, and wi l der words of pai n. There i s a
l uxury i n s el f-reproach. When we bl ame ours el ves we feel that no one el s e
has a ri ght to bl ame us . It i s the confes s i on, not the pri es t, that gi ves us
abs ol uti on. When Dori an Gray had fi ni s hed the l etter, he fel t that he had
been forgi ven.
Suddenl y there came a knock to the door, and he heard Lord Henrys
voi ce outs i de. M y dear Dori an, I mus t s ee you. Let me i n at once. I cant bear
your s hutti ng yours el f up l i ke thi s .
He made no ans wer at fi rs t, but remai ned qui te s ti l l . The knocki ng
s ti l l conti nued, and grew l ouder. Yes , i t was better to l et Lord Henry i n, and to
expl ai n to hi m the new l i fe he was goi ng to l ead, to quarrel wi th hi m i f i t
became neces s ary to quarrel , to part i f parti ng was i nevi tabl e. He j umped up,
drew the s creen has ti l y acros s the pi cture, and unl ocked the door.
I am s o s orry for i t al l , my dear boy, s ai d Lord Henry, comi ng i n. But
you mus t not thi nk about i t too much.
Do you mean about Si byl Vane? as ked Dori an.
Yes , of cours e, ans wered Lord Henry, s i nki ng i nto a chai r, and
s l owl y pul l i ng hi s gl oves off. It i s dreadful , from one poi nt of vi ew, but i t was
not your faul t. Tel l me, di d you go behi nd and s ee her after the pl ay was over?
Yes .
I fel t s ure you had. Di d you make a s cene wi th her?
I was brutal , Harry, perfectl y brutal . But i t i s al l ri ght now. I am not
s orry for anythi ng that has happened. It has taught me to know mys el f better.
Ah, Dori an, I am s o gl ad you take i t i n that way! I was afrai d I woul d
fi nd you pl unged i n remors e, and teari ng your ni ce hai r.
I have got through al l that, s ai d Dori an, s haki ng hi s head, and
s mi l i ng. I am perfectl y happy now. I know what cons ci ence i s , to begi n wi th.
It i s not what you tol d me i t was . It i s the di vi nes t thi ng i n us . Dont s neer at
i t, Harry, any more at l eas t not before me. I want to be good. I cant bear the
i dea of my s oul bei ng hi deous .
A very charmi ng arti s ti c bas i s for ethi cs , Dori an! I congratul ate you
on i t. But how are you goi ng to begi n?
ni ght, and everybody wi l l be there. You can come to my s i s ters box. She has
got s ome s mart women wi th her.
So I have murdered Si byl Vane, s ai d Dori an Gray, hal f to hi ms el f
murdered her as certai nl y as i f I had cut her l i ttl e throat wi th a kni fe. And
the ros es are not l es s l ovel y for al l that. The bi rds s i ng j us t as happi l y i n my
garden. And toni ght I am to di ne wi th you, and then go on to the Opera, and
s up s omewhere, I s uppos e, afterwards . How extraordi nari l y dramati c l i fe i s !
If I had read al l thi s i n a book, Harry, I thi nk I woul d have wept over i t.
Somehow, now that i t has happened actual l y, and to me, i t s eems far too
wonderful for tears . Here i s the fi rs t pas s i onate l ove-l etter I have ever wri tten
i n my l i fe. Strange, that my fi rs t pas s i onate l ove-l etter s houl d have been
addres s ed to a dead gi rl . Can they feel , I wonder, thos e whi te s i l ent peopl e we
cal l the dead? Si byl ! Can s he feel , or know, or l i s ten? Oh, Harry, how I l oved
her once! It s eems years ago to me now. She was everythi ng to me. Then came
that dreadful ni ght was i t real l y onl y l as t ni ght? when s he pl ayed s o
badl y, and my heart al mos t broke. She expl ai ned i t al l to me. It was terri bl y
patheti c. But I was not moved a bi t. I thought her s hal l ow. Then s omethi ng
happened that made me afrai d. I cant tel l you what i t was , but i t was awful . I
s ai d I woul d go back to her. I fel t I had done wrong. And now s he i s dead. M y
God! my God! Harry, what s hal l I do? You dont know the danger I am i n, and
there i s nothi ng to keep me s trai ght. She woul d have done that for me. She had
no ri ght to ki l l hers el f. It was s el fi s h of her.
M y dear Dori an, the onl y way a woman can ever reform a man i s by
bori ng hi m s o compl etel y that he l os es al l pos s i bl e i nteres t i n l i fe. If you had
marri ed thi s gi rl you woul d have been wretched. Of cours e you woul d have
treated her ki ndl y. One can al ways be ki nd to peopl e about whom one cares
nothi ng. But s he woul d have s oon found out that you were abs ol utel y
i ndi fferent to her. And when a woman fi nds that out about her hus band, s he
ei ther becomes dreadful l y dowdy, or wears very s mart bonnets that s ome other
womans hus band has to pay for. I s ay nothi ng about the s oci al mi s take, but I
as s ure you that i n any cas e the whol e thi ng woul d have been an abs ol ute
fai l ure.
I s uppos e i t woul d, muttered the l ad, wal ki ng up and down the room,
and l ooki ng horri bl y pal e. But I thought i t was my duty. It i s not my faul t that
thi s terri bl e tragedy has prevented my doi ng what was ri ght. I remember your
s ayi ng once that there i s a fatal i ty about good res ol uti ons , that they are
al ways made too l ate. M i ne certai nl y were.
Good res ol uti ons are s i mpl y a us el es s attempt to i nterfere wi th
s ci enti fi c l aws . Thei r ori gi n i s pure vani ty. Thei r res ul t i s abs ol utel y ni l .
They gi ve us , now and then, s ome of thos e l uxuri ous s teri l e emoti ons that
have a certai n charm for us . That i s al l that can be s ai d for them.
Harry, cri ed Dori an Gray, comi ng over and s i tti ng down bes i de hi m,
why i s i t that I cannot feel thi s tragedy as much as I want to? I dont thi nk I
am heartl es s . Do you?
You have done too many fool i s h thi ngs i n your l i fe to be enti tl ed to
gi ve yours el f that name, Dori an, ans wered Lord Henry, wi th hi s s weet,
mel anchol y s mi l e.
The l ad frowned. I dont l i ke that expl anati on, Harry, he rej oi ned,
but I am gl ad you dont thi nk I am heartl es s . I am nothi ng of the ki nd. I know
I am not. And yet I mus t admi t that thi s thi ng that has happened does not
affect me as i t s houl d. It s eems to me to be s i mpl y l i ke a wonderful endi ng to
a wonderful pl ay. It has al l the terri bl e beauty of a great tragedy, a tragedy i n
whi ch I took part, but by whi ch I have not been wounded.
It i s an i nteres ti ng ques ti on, s ai d Lord Henry, who found an
exqui s i te pl eas ure i n pl ayi ng on the l ads uncons ci ous egoti s m an
extremel y i nteres ti ng ques ti on. I fancy that the expl anati on i s thi s . It often
happens that the real tragedi es of l i fe occur i n s uch an i narti s ti c manner that
they hurt us by thei r crude vi ol ence, thei r abs ol ute i ncoherence, thei r abs urd
want of meani ng, thei r enti re l ack of s tyl e. They affect us j us t as vul gari ty
affects us . They gi ve us an i mpres s i on of s heer brute force, and we revol t
agai ns t that. Someti mes , however, a tragedy that has arti s ti c el ements of
beauty cros s es our l i ves . If thes e el ements of beauty are real , the whol e thi ng
s i mpl y appeal s to our s ens e of dramati c effect. Suddenl y we fi nd that we are
no l onger the actors , but the s pectators of the pl ay. Or rather we are both. We
watch ours el ves , and the mere wonder of the s pectacl e enthral l s us . In the
pres ent cas e, what i s i t that has real l y happened? Some one has ki l l ed hers el f
for l ove of you. I wi s h I had ever had s uch an experi ence. It woul d have made
me i n l ove wi th l ove for the res t of my l i fe. The peopl e who have adored me
there have not been very many, but there have been s ome have al ways
i ns i s ted on l i vi ng on, l ong after I had ceas ed to care for them, or they to care
for me. They have become s tout and tedi ous , and when I meet them they go i n
at once for remi ni s cences . That awful memory of woman! What a fearful
thi ng i t i s ! And what an utter i ntel l ectual s tagnati on i t reveal s ! One s houl d
abs orb the col or of l i fe, but one s houl d never remember i ts detai l s . Detai l s are
al ways vul gar.
Of cours e, now and then thi ngs l i nger. I once wore nothi ng but vi ol ets
al l through one s eas on, as mourni ng for a romance that woul d not di e.
Ul ti matel y, however, i t di d di e. I forget what ki l l ed i t. I thi nk i t was her
propos i ng to s acri fi ce the whol e worl d for me. That i s al ways a dreadful
moment. It fi l l s one wi th the terror of eterni ty. Wel l woul d you bel i eve i t? a
week ago, at Lady Hamps hi res , I found mys el f s eated at di nner next the l ady
i n ques ti on, and s he i ns i s ted on goi ng over the whol e thi ng agai n, and
di ggi ng up the pas t, and raki ng up the future. I had buri ed my romance i n a
bed of poppi es . She dragged i t out agai n, and as s ured me that I had s poi l ed
her l i fe. I am bound to s tate that s he ate an enormous di nner, s o I di d not feel
any anxi ety. But what a l ack of tas te s he s howed! The one charm of the pas t i s
that i t i s the pas t. But women never know when the curtai n has fal l en. They
al ways want a s i xth act, and as s oon as the i nteres t of the pl ay i s enti rel y over
they propos e to conti nue i t. If they were al l owed to have thei r way, every comedy
woul d have a tragi c endi ng, and every tragedy woul d cul mi nate i n a farce.
They are charmi ngl y arti fi ci al , but they have no s ens e of art. You are more
fortunate than I am. I as s ure you, Dori an, that not one of the women I have
known woul d have done for me what Si byl Vane di d for you. Ordi nary women
al ways cons ol e thems el ves . Some of them do i t by goi ng i n for s enti mental
col ors . Never trus t a woman who wears mauve, whatever her age may be, or a
woman over thi rty-fi ve who i s fond of pi nk ri bbons . It al ways means that they
have a hi s tory. Others fi nd a great cons ol ati on i n s uddenl y di s coveri ng the
good qual i ti es of thei r hus bands . They fl aunt thei r conj ugal fel i ci ty i n ones
face, as i f i t was the mos t fas ci nati ng of s i ns . Rel i gi on cons ol es s ome. Its
mys teri es have al l the charm of a fl i rtati on, a woman once tol d me; and I can
qui te unders tand i t. Bes i des , nothi ng makes one s o vai n as bei ng tol d that one
i s a s i nner. There i s real l y no end to the cons ol ati ons that women fi nd i n
modern l i fe. Indeed, I have not menti oned the mos t i mportant one of al l .
What i s that, Harry? s ai d Dori an Gray, l i s tl es s l y.
Oh, the obvi ous one. Taki ng s ome one el s es admi rer when one l os es
ones own. In good s oci ety that al ways whi tewas hes a woman. But real l y,
Dori an, how di fferent Si byl Vane mus t have been from al l the women one
meets ! There i s s omethi ng to me qui te beauti ful about her death. I am gl ad I
am l i vi ng i n a century when s uch wonders happen. They make one bel i eve i n
the real i ty of the thi ngs that s hal l ow, fas hi onabl e peopl e pl ay wi th, s uch as
romance, pas s i on, and l ove.
I was terri bl y cruel to her. You forget that.
I bel i eve that women appreci ate cruel ty more than anythi ng el s e.
They have wonderful l y pri mi ti ve i ns ti ncts . We have emanci pated them, but
they remai n s l aves l ooki ng for thei r mas ters , al l the s ame. They l ove bei ng
domi nated. I am s ure you were s pl endi d. I have never s een you angry, but I
can fancy how del i ghtful you l ooked. And, after al l , you s ai d s omethi ng to me
the day before yes terday that s eemed to me at the ti me to be merel y fanci ful ,
but that I s ee now was abs ol utel y true, and i t expl ai ns everythi ng.
What was that, Harry?
You s ai d to me that Si byl Vane repres ented to you al l the heroi nes of
romance that s he was Des demona one ni ght, and Ophel i a the other; that i f
s he di ed as Jul i et, s he came to l i fe as Imogen.
She wi l l never come to l i fe agai n now, murmured the l ad, buryi ng
hi s face i n hi s hands .
No, s he wi l l never come to l i fe. She has pl ayed her l as t part. But you
mus t thi nk of that l onel y death i n the tawdry dres s i ng-room s i mpl y as a
s trange l uri d fragment from s ome Jacobean tragedy, as a wonderful s cene
from Webs ter or Ford or Cyri l Tourneur. The gi rl never real l y l i ved, and s o
s he has never real l y di ed. To you at l eas t s he was al ways a dream, a phantom
that fl i tted through Shakes peares pl ays and l eft them l ovel i er for i ts
pres ence, a reed through whi ch Shakes peares mus i c s ounded ri cher and
more ful l of j oy. The moment s he touched actual l i fe, s he marred i t, and i t
marred her, and s o s he pas s ed away. M ourn for Ophel i a, i f you l i ke. Put
as hes on your head becaus e Cordel i a was s trangl ed. Cry out agai ns t Heaven
becaus e the daughter of Brabanti o di ed. But dont was te your tears over Si byl
Vane. She was l es s real than they are.
There was a s i l ence. The eveni ng darkened i n the room. Noi s el es s l y,
and wi th s i l ver feet, the s hadows crept i n from the garden. The col ors faded
weari l y out of thi ngs .
After s ome ti me Dori an Gray l ooked up. You have expl ai ned me to
mys el f, Harry, he murmured, wi th s omethi ng of a s i gh of rel i ef. I fel t al l
that you have s ai d, but s omehow I was afrai d of i t, and I coul d not expres s i t to
mys el f. How wel l you know me! But we wi l l not tal k agai n of what has
happened. It has been a marvel ous experi ence. That i s al l . I wonder i f l i fe
has s ti l l i n s tore for me anythi ng as marvel l ous .
Li fe has everythi ng i n s tore for you, Dori an. There i s nothi ng that
you, wi th your extraordi nary good l ooks , wi l l not be abl e to do.
But s uppos e, Harry, I became haggard, and gray, and wri nkl ed?
What then?
Ah, then, s ai d Lord Henry, ri s i ng to go, then, my dear Dori an, you
woul d have to fi ght for your vi ctori es . As i t i s , they are brought to you. No, you
mus t keep your good l ooks . We l i ve i n an age that reads too much to be wi s e,
and that thi nks too much to be beauti ful . We cannot s pare you. And now you
had better dres s , and dri ve down to the cl ub. We are rather l ate, as i t i s .
I thi nk I s hal l j oi n you at the Opera, Harry. I feel too ti red to eat
anythi ng. What i s the number of your s i s ters box?
Twenty-s even, I bel i eve. It i s on the grand ti er. You wi l l s ee her
name on the door. But I am s orry you wont come and di ne.
I dont feel up to i t, s ai d Dori an, weari l y. But I am awful l y obl i ged to
you for al l that you have s ai d to me. You are certai nl y my bes t fri end. No one
has ever unders tood me as you have.
We are onl y at the begi nni ng of our fri ends hi p, Dori an, ans wered
Lord Henry, s haki ng hi m by the hand. Good-bye. I s hal l s ee you before ni nethi rty, I hope. Remember, Patti i s s i ngi ng.
As he cl os ed the door behi nd hi m, Dori an Gray touched the bel l , and
i n a few mi nutes Vi ctor appeared wi th the l amps and drew the bl i nds down.
He wai ted i mpati entl y for hi m to go. The man s eemed to take an i ntermi nabl e
ti me about everythi ng.
As s oon as he had l eft, he rus hed to the s creen, and drew i t back. No;
there was no further change i n the pi cture. It had recei ved the news of Si byl
Vanes death before he had known of i t hi ms el f. It was cons ci ous of the events
of l i fe as they occurred. The vi ci ous cruel ty that marred the fi ne l i nes of the
mouth had, no doubt, appeared at the very moment that the gi rl had drunk the
poi s on, whatever i t was . Or was i t i ndi fferent to res ul ts ? Di d i t merel y take
cogni zance of what pas s ed wi thi n the s oul ? he wondered, and hoped that s ome
day he woul d s ee the change taki ng pl ace before hi s very eyes , s hudderi ng as
he hoped i t.
Poor Si byl ! what a romance i t had al l been! She had often mi mi cked
death on the s tage, and at l as t Death hi ms el f had touched her, and brought
her wi th hi m. How had s he pl ayed that dreadful s cene? Had s he curs ed hi m,
as s he di ed? No; s he had di ed for l ove of hi m, and l ove woul d al ways be a
s acrament to hi m now. She had atoned for everythi ng, by the s acri fi ce s he had
made of her l i fe. He woul d not thi nk any more of what s he had made hi m go
through, that horri bl e ni ght at the theatre. When he thought of her, i t woul d
be as a wonderful tragi c fi gure to s how Love had been a great real i ty. A
wonderful tragi c fi gure? Tears came to hi s eyes as he remembered her chi l dl i ke l ook and wi ns ome fanci ful ways and s hy tremul ous grace. He wi ped
them away has ti l y, and l ooked agai n at the pi cture.
He fel t that the ti me had real l y come for maki ng hi s choi ce. Or had
hi s choi ce al ready been made? Yes , l i fe had deci ded that for hi m l i fe, and
hi s own i nfi ni te curi os i ty about l i fe. E ternal youth, i nfi ni te pas s i on,
pl eas ures s ubtl e and s ecret, wi l d j oys and wi l der s i ns he was to have al l
thes e thi ngs . The portrai t was to bear the burden of hi s s hame: that was al l .
A feel i ng of pai n came over hi m as he thought of the des ecrati on that
was i n s tore for the fai r face on the canvas . Once, i n boyi s h mockery of
Narci s s us , he had ki s s ed, or fei gned to ki s s , thos e pai nted l i ps that now
s mi l ed s o cruel l y at hi m. M orni ng after morni ng he had s at before the
portrai t wonderi ng at i ts beauty, al mos t enamoured of i t, as i t s eemed to hi m
at ti mes . Was i t to al ter now wi th every mood to whi ch he yi el ded? Was i t to
become a hi deous and l oaths ome thi ng, to be hi dden away i n a l ocked room, to
be s hut out from the s unl i ght that had s o often touched to bri ghter gol d the
wavi ng wonder of the hai r? The pi ty of i t! the pi ty of i t!
For a moment he thought of prayi ng that the horri bl e s ympathy that
exi s ted between hi m and the pi cture mi ght ceas e. It had changed i n ans wer to
a prayer; perhaps i n ans wer to a prayer i t mi ght remai n unchanged. And, yet,
who, that knew anythi ng about Li fe, woul d s urrender the chance of remai ni ng
al ways young, however fantas ti c that chance mi ght be, or wi th what fateful
cons equences i t mi ght be fraught? Bes i des , was i t real l y under hi s control ?
Had i t i ndeed been prayer that had produced the s ubs ti tuti on? M i ght there not
be s ome curi ous s ci enti fi c reas on for i t al l ? If thought coul d exerci s e i ts
i nfl uence upon a l i vi ng organi s m, mi ght not thought exerci s e an i nfl uence
upon dead and i norgani c thi ngs ? Nay, wi thout thought or cons ci ous des i re,
mi ght not thi ngs external to ours el ves vi brate i n uni s on wi th our moods and
pas s i ons , atom cal l i ng to atom, i n s ecret l ove or s trange affi ni ty? But the
reas on was of no i mportance. He woul d never agai n tempt by a prayer any
terri bl e power. If the pi cture was to al ter, i t was to al ter. That was al l . Why
i nqui re too cl os el y i nto i t?
For there woul d be a real pl eas ure i n watchi ng i t. He woul d be abl e to
fol l ow hi s mi nd i nto i ts s ecret pl aces . Thi s portrai t woul d be to hi m the mos t
magi cal of mi rrors . As i t had reveal ed to hi m hi s own body, s o i t woul d reveal
to hi m hi s own s oul . And when wi nter came upon i t, he woul d s ti l l be
s tandi ng where s pri ng trembl es on the verge of s ummer. When the bl ood
crept from i ts face, and l eft behi nd a pal l i d mas k of chal k wi th l eaden eyes ,
he woul d keep the gl amour of boyhood. Not one bl os s om of hi s l ovel i nes s woul d
ever fade. Not one pul s e of hi s l i fe woul d ever weaken. Li ke the gods of the
Greeks , he woul d be s trong, and fl eet, and j oyous . What di d i t matter what
happened to the col ored i mage on the canvas ? He woul d be s afe. That was
everythi ng.
He drew the s creen back i nto i ts former pl ace i n front of the pi cture,
s mi l i ng as he di d s o, and pas s ed i nto hi s bedroom, where hi s val et was
al ready wai ti ng for hi m. An hour l ater he was at the Opera, and Lord Henry
was l eani ng over hi s chai r.
CHAPT E R 7
As he was s i tti ng at breakfas t next morni ng, Bas i l Hal l ward was
s hown i nto the room.
I am s o gl ad I have found you, Dori an, he s ai d, gravel y. I cal l ed l as t
ni ght, and they tol d me you were at the Opera. Of cours e I knew that was
i mpos s i bl e. But I wi s h you had l eft word where you had real l y gone to. I
pas s ed a dreadful eveni ng, hal f afrai d that one tragedy mi ght be fol l owed by
another. I thi nk you mi ght have tel egraphed for me when you heard of i t fi rs t.
I read of i t qui te by chance i n a l ate edi ti on of the Gl obe, that I pi cked up at the
cl ub. I came here at once, and was mi s erabl e at not fi ndi ng you. I cant tel l
you how heart-broken I am about the whol e thi ng. I know what you mus t
s uffer. But where were you? Di d you go down and s ee the gi rl s mother? For a
moment I thought of fol l owi ng you there. They gave the addres s i n the paper.
Somewhere i n the E us ton Road, i s nt i t? But I was afrai d of i ntrudi ng upon a
s orrow that I coul d not l i ghten. Poor woman! What a s tate s he mus t be i n! And
her onl y chi l d, too! What di d s he s ay about i t al l ?
M y dear Bas i l , how do I know? murmured Dori an, s i ppi ng s ome
pal e-yel l ow wi ne from a del i cate gol d-beaded bubbl e of Veneti an gl as s , and
l ooki ng dreadful l y bored. I was at the Opera. You s houl d have come on there. I
met Lady Gwendol en, Harrys s i s ter, for the fi rs t ti me. We were i n her box.
She i s perfectl y charmi ng; and Patti s ang di vi nel y. Dont tal k about horri d
s ubj ects . If one does nt tal k about a thi ng, i t has never happened. It i s s i mpl y
expres s i on, as Harry s ays , that gi ves real i ty to thi ngs . Tel l me about yours el f
and what you are pai nti ng.
You went to the Opera? s ai d Hal l ward, s peaki ng very s l owl y, and
wi th a s trai ned touch of pai n i n hi s voi ce. You went to the Opera whi l e Si byl
Vane was l yi ng dead i n s ome s ordi d l odgi ng? You can tal k to me of other
women bei ng charmi ng, and of Patti s i ngi ng di vi nel y, before the gi rl you
l oved has even the qui et of a grave to s l eep i n? Why, man, there are horrors i n
s tore for that l i ttl e whi te body of hers !
Stop, Bas i l ! I wont hear i t! cri ed Dori an, l eapi ng to hi s feet. You
mus t not tel l me about thi ngs . What i s done i s done. What i s pas t i s pas t.
You cal l yes terday the pas t?
What has the actual l aps e of ti me got to do wi th i t? It i s onl y s hal l ow
peopl e who requi re years to get ri d of an emoti on. A man who i s mas ter of
hi ms el f can end a s orrow as eas i l y as he can i nvent a pl eas ure. I dont want to
be at the mercy of my emoti ons . I want to us e them, to enj oy them, and to
domi nate them.
Dori an, thi s i s horri bl e! Somethi ng has changed you compl etel y. You
l ook exactl y the s ame wonderful boy who us ed to come down to my s tudi o, day
after day, to s i t for hi s pi cture. But you were s i mpl e, natural , and affecti onate
then. You were the mos t uns poi l ed creature i n the whol e worl d. Now, I dont
know what has come over you. You tal k as i f you had no heart, no pi ty i n you. It
i s al l Harrys i nfl uence. I s ee that.
The l ad fl us hed up, and, goi ng to the wi ndow, l ooked out on the
green, fl i ckeri ng garden for a few moments . I owe a great deal to Harry,
Bas i l , he s ai d, at l as t more than I owe to you. You onl y taught me to be
vai n.
Wel l , I am puni s hed for that, Dori an or s hal l be s ome day.
I dont know what you mean, Bas i l , he excl ai med, turni ng round. I
dont know what you want. What do you want?
I want the Dori an Gray I us ed to know.
Bas i l , s ai d the l ad, goi ng over to hi m, and putti ng hi s hand on hi s
s houl der, you have come too l ate. Yes terday when I heard that Si byl Vane had
ki l l ed hers el f...
Ki l l ed hers el f! Good heavens ! i s there no doubt about that? cri ed
Hal l ward, l ooki ng up at hi m wi th an expres s i on of horror.
M y dear Bas i l ! Surel y you dont thi nk i t was a vul gar acci dent? Of
cours e s he ki l l ed hers el f It i s one of the great romanti c tragedi es of the age.
As a rul e, peopl e who act l ead the mos t commonpl ace l i ves . They are good
hus bands , or fai thful wi ves , or s omethi ng tedi ous . You know what I mean
mi ddl e-cl as s vi rtue, and al l that ki nd of thi ng. How di fferent Si byl was ! She
l i ved her fi nes t tragedy. She was al ways a heroi ne. The l as t ni ght s he pl ayed
-- the ni ght you s aw her s he acted badl y becaus e s he had known the real i ty
of l ove. When s he knew i ts unreal i ty, s he di ed, as Jul i et mi ght have di ed.
She pas s ed agai n i nto the s phere of art. There i s s omethi ng of the martyr
about her. Her death has al l the patheti c us el es s nes s of martyrdom, al l i ts
was ted beauty. But, as I was s ayi ng, you mus t not thi nk I have not s uffered. If
you had come i n yes terday at a parti cul ar moment about hal f-pas t fi ve,
perhaps , or a quarter to s i x you woul d have found me i n tears . E ven Harry,
who was here, who brought me the news , i n fact, had no i dea what I was goi ng
through. I s uffered i mmens el y, then i t pas s ed away. I cannot repeat an
emoti on. No one can, except s enti mental i s ts . And you are awful l y unj us t,
Bas i l . You come down here to cons ol e me. That i s charmi ng of you. You fi nd
me cons ol ed, and you are furi ous . How l i ke a s ympatheti c pers on! You remi nd
me of a s tory Harry tol d me about a certai n phi l anthropi s t who s pent twenty
years of hi s l i fe i n tryi ng to get s ome gri evance redres s ed, or s ome unj us t l aw
al tered I forget exactl y what i t was . Fi nal l y he s ucceeded, and nothi ng coul d
exceed hi s di s appoi ntment. He had abs ol utel y nothi ng to do, al mos t di ed of
ennui , and became a confi rmed mi s anthrope. And bes i des , my dear ol d
Bas i l , i f you real l y want to cons ol e me, teach me rather to forget what has
happened, or to s ee i t from a proper arti s ti c poi nt of vi ew. Was i t not Gauti er
who us ed to wri te about l a cons ol ati on des arts ? I remember pi cki ng up a l i ttl e
vel l um-covered book i n your s tudi o one day and chanci ng on that del i ghtful
phras e. Wel l , I am not l i ke that young man you tol d me of when we were down
at M arl owe together, the young man who us ed to s ay that yel l ow s ati n coul d
cons ol e one for al l the mi s eri es of l i fe. I l ove beauti ful thi ngs that one can
touch and handl e. Ol d brocades , green bronzes , l acquer-work, carved i vori es ,
exqui s i te s urroundi ngs , l uxury, pomp there i s much to be got from al l
thes e. But the arti s ti c temperament that they create, or at any rate reveal , i s
s ti l l more to me. To become the s pectator of ones own l i fe, as Harry s ays , i s to
es cape the s ufferi ng of l i fe. I know you are s urpri s ed at my tal ki ng to you l i ke
thi s . You have not real i zed how I have devel oped. I was a s chool -boy when you
knew me. I am a man now. I have new pas s i ons , new thoughts , new i deas . I
am di fferent, but you mus t not l i ke me l es s . I am changed, but you mus t
al ways be my fri end. Of cours e I am very fond of Harry. But I know that you are
better than he i s . You are not s tronger you are too much afrai d of l i fe but
you are better. And how happy we us ed to be together! Dont l eave me, Bas i l ,
and dont quarrel wi th me. I am what I am. There i s nothi ng more to be s ai d.
Hal l ward fel t s trangel y moved. Rugged and s trai ghtforward as he was ,
there was s omethi ng i n hi s nature that was purel y femi ni ne i n i ts
tendernes s . The l ad was i nfi ni tel y dear to hi m, and hi s pers onal i ty had been
the great turni ng-poi nt i n hi s art. He coul d not bear the i dea of reproachi ng
hi m any more. After al l , hi s i ndi fference was probabl y merel y a mood that
woul d pas s away. There was s o much i n hi m that was good, s o much i n hi m
that was nobl e.
Wel l , Dori an, he s ai d, at l ength, wi th a s ad s mi l e, I wont s peak to
you agai n about thi s horri bl e thi ng, after today. I onl y trus t your name wont
be menti oned i n connecti on wi th i t. The i nques t i s to take pl ace thi s afternoon.
Have they s ummoned you?
Dori an s hook hi s head, and a l ook of annoyance pas s ed over hi s face at
the menti on of the word i nques t. There was s omethi ng s o crude and vul gar
about everythi ng of the ki nd. They dont know my name, he ans wered.
But s urel y s he di d?
Onl y my Chri s ti an name, and that I am qui te s ure s he never
menti oned to any one. She tol d me once that they were al l rather curi ous to
l earn who I was , and that s he i nvari abl y tol d them my name was Pri nce
Charmi ng. It was pretty of her. You mus t do me a drawi ng of her, Bas i l . I
s houl d l i ke to have s omethi ng more of her than the memory of a few ki s s es
and s ome broken patheti c words .
I wi l l try and do s omethi ng, Dori an, i f i t woul d pl eas e you. But you
mus t come and s i t to me yours el f agai n. I cant get on wi thout you.
I wi l l never s i t to you agai n, Bas i l . It i s i mpos s i bl e! he excl ai med,
s tarti ng back.
Hal l ward s tared at hi m, M y dear boy, what nons ens e! he cri ed. Do
you mean to s ay you dont l i ke what I di d of you? Where i s i t? Why have you
pul l ed the s creen i n front of i t? Let me l ook at i t. It i s the bes t thi ng I have ever
pai nted. Do take that s creen away, Dori an. It i s s i mpl y horri d of your s ervant
hi di ng my work l i ke that. I fel t the room l ooked di fferent as I came i n.
M y s ervant has nothi ng to do wi th i t, Bas i l . You dont i magi ne I l et
hi m arrange my room for me? He s ettl es my fl owers for me s ometi mes that
i s al l . No; I di d i t mys el f. The l i ght was too s trong on the portrai t.
Too s trong! Impos s i bl e, my dear fel l ow! It i s an admi rabl e pl ace for i t.
Let me s ee i t. And Hal l ward wal ked towards the corner of the room.
A cry of terror broke from Dori an Grays l i ps , and he rus hed between
Hal l ward and the s creen. Bas i l , he s ai d, l ooki ng very pal e, you mus t not
l ook at i t. I dont wi s h you to.
Not l ook at my own work! you are not s eri ous . Why s houl dnt I l ook at
i t? excl ai med Hal l ward, l aughi ng.
If you try to l ook at i t, Bas i l , on my word of honor I wi l l never s peak to
you agai n as l ong as I l i ve. I am qui te s eri ous . I dont offer any expl anati on,
and you are not to as k for any. But, remember, i f you touch thi s s creen,
everythi ng i s over between us .
Hal l ward was thunders truck. He l ooked at Dori an Gray i n abs ol ute
amazement. He had never s een hi m l i ke thi s before. The l ad was abs ol utel y
pal l i d wi th rage. Hi s hands were cl i nched, and the pupi l s of hi s eyes were
l i ke di s ks of bl ue fi re. He was trembl i ng al l over.
Dori an!
Dont s peak!
But what i s the matter? Of cours e I wont l ook at i t i f you dont want me
to, he s ai d, rather col dl y, turni ng on hi s heel , and goi ng over towards the
wi ndow. But, real l y, i t s eems rather abs urd that I s houl dnt s ee my own work,
es peci al l y as I am goi ng to exhi bi t i t i n Pari s i n the autumn. I s hal l probabl y
have to gi ve i t another coat of varni s h before that, s o I mus t s ee i t s ome day,
and why not today?
To exhi bi t i t! You want to exhi bi t i t? excl ai med Dori an Gray, a
s trange s ens e of terror creepi ng over hi m. Was the worl d goi ng to be s hown hi s
s ecret? Were peopl e to gape at the mys tery of hi s l i fe? That was i mpos s i bl e.
Somethi ng he di d not know what had to be done at once.
Yes : I dont s uppos e you wi l l obj ect to that. Georges Peti t i s goi ng to
col l ect al l my bes t pi ctures for a s peci al exhi bi ti on i n the Rue de Sze, whi ch
wi l l open the fi rs t week i n October. The portrai t wi l l onl y be away a month. I
s houl d thi nk you coul d eas i l y s pare i t for that ti me. In fact, you are s ure to be
out of town. And i f you hi de i t al ways behi nd a s creen, you cant care much
about i t.
Dori an Gray pas s ed hi s hand over hi s forehead. There were beads of
pers pi rati on there. He fel t that he was on the bri nk of a horri bl e danger. You
tol d me a month ago that you woul d never exhi bi t i t, he s ai d. Why have you
changed your mi nd? You peopl e who go i n for bei ng cons i s tent have j us t as
many moods as others . The onl y di fference i s that your moods are rather
meani ngl es s . You cant have forgotten that you as s ured me mos t s ol emnl y
that nothi ng i n the worl d woul d i nduce you to s end i t to any exhi bi ti on. You
tol d Harry exactl y the s ame thi ng. He s topped s uddenl y, and a gl eam of l i ght
came i nto hi s eyes . He remembered that Lord Henry had s ai d to hi m once,
hal f s eri ous l y and hal f i n j es t, If you want to have an i nteres ti ng quarter of
an hour, get Bas i l to tel l you why he wont exhi bi t your pi cture. He tol d me why
he woul dnt, and i t was a revel ati on to me. Yes , perhaps Bas i l , too, had hi s
s ecret. He woul d as k hi m and try.
Bas i l , he s ai d, comi ng over qui te cl os e, and l ooki ng hi m s trai ght i n
the face, we have each of us a s ecret. Let me know yours , and I wi l l tel l you
mi ne. What was your reas on for refus i ng to exhi bi t my pi cture?
Hal l ward s huddered i n s pi te of hi ms el f. Dori an, i f I tol d you, you
mi ght l i ke me l es s than you do, and you woul d certai nl y l augh at me. I coul d
not bear your doi ng ei ther of thos e two thi ngs . If you wi s h me never to l ook at
your pi cture agai n, I am content. I have al ways you to l ook at. If you wi s h the
bes t work I have ever done to be hi dden from the worl d, I am s ati s fi ed. Your
fri ends hi p i s dearer to me than any fame or reputati on.
No, Bas i l , you mus t tel l me, murmured Dori an Gray. I thi nk I have
a ri ght to know. Hi s feel i ng of terror had pas s ed away, and curi os i ty had taken
i ts pl ace. He was determi ned to fi nd out Bas i l Hal l wards mys tery.
Let us s i t down, Dori an, s ai d Hal l ward, l ooki ng pal e and pai ned. Let
us s i t down. I wi l l s i t i n the s hadow, and you s hal l s i t i n the s unl i ght. Our
l i ves are l i ke that. Jus t ans wer me one ques ti on. Have you noti ced i n the
pi cture s omethi ng that you di d not l i ke? s omethi ng that probabl y at fi rs t di d
not s tri ke you, but that reveal ed i ts el f to you s uddenl y?
Bas i l ! cri ed the l ad, cl utchi ng the arms of hi s chai r wi th trembl i ng
hands , and gazi ng at hi m wi th wi l d, s tartl ed eyes .
I s ee you di d. Dont s peak. Wai t ti l l you hear what I have to s ay. It i s
qui te true that I have wors hi pped you wi th far more romance of feel i ng than a
man us ual l y gi ves to a fri end. Somehow, I had never l oved a woman. I s uppos e
I never had ti me. Perhaps , as Harry s ays , a real l y grande pas s i on i s the
pri vi l ege of thos e who have nothi ng to do, and that i s the us e of the i dl e
cl as s es i n a country. Wel l , from the moment I met you, your pers onal i ty had
the mos t extraordi nary i nfl uence over me. I qui te admi t that I adored you
madl y, extravagantl y, abs urdl y. I was j eal ous of every one to whom you s poke.
I wanted to have you al l to mys el f. I was onl y happy when I was wi th you.
When I was away from you, you were s ti l l pres ent i n my art. It was al l wrong
and fool i s h. It i s al l wrong and fool i s h s ti l l . Of cours e I never l et you know
anythi ng about thi s . It woul d have been i mpos s i bl e. You woul d not have
unders tood i t; I di d not unders tand i t mys el f. One day I determi ned to pai nt a
CHAPT E R 8
When hi s s ervant entered, he l ooked at hi m s teadfas tl y, and
wondered i f he had thought of peeri ng behi nd the s creen. The man was qui te
i mpas s i ve, and wai ted for hi s orders . Dori an l i t a ci garette, and wal ked over to
the gl as s and gl anced i nto i t. He coul d s ee the refl ecti on of Vi ctors face
perfectl y. It was l i ke a pl aci d mas k of s ervi l i ty. There was nothi ng to be afrai d
of, there. Yet he thought i t bes t to be on hi s guard.
Speaki ng very s l owl y, he tol d hi m to tel l the hous ekeeper that he
wanted to s ee her, and then to go to the frame-makers and as k hi m to s end two
of hi s men round at once. It s eemed to hi m that as the man l eft the room he
peered i n the di recti on of the s creen. Or was that onl y hi s fancy?
After a few moments , M rs . Leaf, a dear ol d l ady i n a bl ack s i l k dres s ,
wi th a photograph of the l ate M r. Leaf framed i n a l arge gol d brooch at her
neck, and ol d-fas hi oned thread mi ttens on her wri nkl ed hands , bus tl ed i nto
the room.
Wel l , M as ter Dori an, s he s ai d, what can I do for you? I beg your
pardon, s i r here came a courtes y I s houl dnt cal l you M as ter Dori an any
more. But, Lord bl es s you, s i r, I have known you s i nce you were a baby, and
manys the tri ck youve pl ayed on poor ol d Leaf. Not that you were not al ways a
good boy, s i r; but boys wi l l be boys , M as ter Dori an, and j am i s a temptati on to
the young, i s nt i t, s i r?
He l aughed. You mus t al ways cal l me M as ter Dori an, Leaf. I wi l l be
very angry wi th you i f you dont. And I as s ure you I am qui te as fond of j am
now as I us ed to be. Onl y when I am as ked out to tea I am never offered any. I
want you to gi ve me the key of the room at the top of the hous e.
The ol d s chool -room, M as ter Dori an? Why, i ts ful l of dus t. I mus t
get i t arranged and put s trai ght before you go i nto i t. Its not fi t for you to s ee,
M as ter Dori an. It i s not, i ndeed.
I dont want i t put s trai ght, Leaf. I onl y want the key.
Wel l , M as ter Dori an, youl l be covered wi th cobwebs i f you goes i nto
i t. Why, i t has nt been opened for nearl y fi ve years not s i nce hi s l ords hi p
di ed.
He wi nced at the menti on of hi s dead uncl es name. He had hateful
memori es of hi m. That does not matter, Leaf, he repl i ed. Al l I want i s the
key.
And here i s the key, M as ter Dori an, s ai d the ol d l ady, after goi ng
over the contents of her bunch wi th tremul ous l y uncertai n hands . Here i s the
key. Il l have i t off the ri ng i n a moment. But you dont thi nk of l i vi ng up
there, M as ter Dori an, and you s o comfortabl e here?
No, Leaf, I dont. I merel y want to s ee the pl ace, and perhaps s tore
penci l -mark on the fi fth page caught hi s eye. He read the fol l owi ng
paragraph:
INQUEST ON AN ACTRESS
An i nquest w as held thi s morni ng at the B ell Tavern, Hoxton Road, by Mr.
Danby, the Di stri ct Coroner, on the body of Si byl Vane, a young actress recently
eng ag ed at the Royal Theatre, Holborn. A verdi ct of death by mi sadventure
w as returned.Consi derable sympathy w as expressed for the mother of the
deceased, w ho w as g reatly affected duri ng the g i vi ng of her ow n evi dence,
and that of Dr. B i rrell, w ho had made the post-mortemexami nati on of the
deceased.
He frowned s l i ghtl y, and, teari ng the paper i n two, went acros s the
room and fl ung the pi eces i nto a gi l t bas ket. How ugl y i t al l was ! And how
horri bl y real ugl i nes s made thi ngs ! He fel t a l i ttl e annoyed wi th Lord Henry
for havi ng s ent hi m the account. And i t was certai nl y s tupi d of hi m to have
marked i t wi th red penci l . Vi ctor mi ght have read i t. The man knew more than
enough E ngl i s h for that.
Perhaps he had read i t, and had begun to s us pect s omethi ng. And,
yet, what di d i t matter? What had Dori an Gray to do wi th Si byl Vanes death?
There was nothi ng to fear. Dori an Gray had not ki l l ed her.
Hi s eye fel l on the yel l ow book that Lord Henry had s ent hi m. What
was i t, he wondered. He went towards the l i ttl e pearl -col ored octagonal s tand,
that had al ways l ooked to hi m l i ke the work of s ome s trange E gypti an bees who
wrought i n s i l ver, and took the vol ume up. He fl ung hi ms el f i nto an armchai r, and began to turn over the l eaves . After a few mi nutes , he became
abs orbed. It was the s tranges t book he had ever read. It s eemed to hi m that i n
exqui s i te rai ment, and to the del i cate s ound of fl utes , the s i ns of the worl d
were pas s i ng i n dumb s how before hi m. Thi ngs that he had di ml y dreamed
of were s uddenl y made real to hi m. Thi ngs of whi ch he had never dreamed
were gradual l y reveal ed.
It was a novel wi thout a pl ot, and wi th onl y one character, bei ng,
i ndeed, s i mpl y a ps ychol ogi cal s tudy of a certai n young Pari s i an, who s pent
hi s l i fe tryi ng to real i ze i n the ni neteenth century al l the pas s i ons and
modes of thought that bel onged to every century except hi s own, and to s um up,
as i t were, i n hi ms el f the vari ous moods through whi ch the worl d-s pi ri t had
ever pas s ed, l ovi ng for thei r mere arti fi ci al i ty thos e renunci ati ons that men
have unwi s el y cal l ed vi rtue, as much as thos e natural rebel l i ons that wi s e
men s ti l l cal l s i n. The s tyl e i n whi ch i t was wri tten was that curi ous j ewel ed
s tyl e, vi vi d and obs cure at once, ful l of argot and of archai s ms , of techni cal
expres s i ons and of el aborate paraphras es , that characteri zes the work of s ome
of the fi nes t arti s ts of the French s chool of Dcadents . There were i n i t
metaphors as mons trous as orchi ds , and as evi l i n col or. The l i fe of the
s ens es was des cri bed i n the terms of mys ti cal phi l os ophy. One hardl y knew
at ti mes whether one was readi ng the s pi ri tual ecs tas i es of s ome medi aeval
s ai nt or the morbi d confes s i ons of a modern s i nner. It was a poi s onous book.
The heavy odor of i ncens e s eemed to cl i ng about i ts pages and to troubl e the
brai n. The mere cadence of the s entences , the s ubtl e monotony of thei r
mus i c, s o ful l as i t was of compl ex refrai ns and movements el aboratel y
repeated, produced i n the mi nd of the l ad, as he pas s ed from chapter to
chapter, a form of revery, a mal ady of dreami ng, that made hi m uncons ci ous
of the fal l i ng day and the creepi ng s hadows .
Cl oudl es s , and pi erced by one s ol i tary s tar, a copper-green s ky
gl eamed through the wi ndows . He read on by i ts wan l i ght ti l l he coul d read
no more. Then, after hi s val et had remi nded hi m s everal ti mes of the
l atenes s of the hour, he got up, and, goi ng i nto the next room, pl aced the book
on the l i ttl e Fl orenti ne tabl e that al ways s tood at hi s beds i de, and began to
dres s for di nner.
It was al mos t ni ne ocl ock before he reached the cl ub, where he found
Lord Henry s i tti ng al one, i n the morni ng-room, l ooki ng very bored.
I am s o s orry, Harry, he cri ed, but real l y i t i s enti rel y your faul t.
That book you s ent me s o fas ci nated me that I forgot what the ti me was .
I thought you woul d l i ke i t, repl i ed hi s hos t, ri s i ng from hi s chai r.
I di dnt s ay I l i ked i t, Harry. I s ai d i t fas ci nated me. There i s a great
di fference.
Ah, i f you have di s covered that, you have di s covered a great deal ,
murmured Lord Henry, wi th hi s curi ous s mi l e. Come, l et us go i n to di nner.
It i s dreadful l y l ate, and I am afrai d the champagne wi l l be too much i ced.
CHAPT E R 9
For years , Dori an Gray coul d not free hi ms el f from the memory of
thi s book. Or perhaps i t woul d be more accurate to s ay that he never s ought to
free hi ms el f from i t. He procured from Pari s no l es s than fi ve l arge-paper
copi es of the fi rs t edi ti on, and had them bound i n di fferent col ors , s o that they
mi ght s ui t hi s vari ous moods and the changi ng fanci es of a nature over whi ch
he s eemed, at ti mes , to have al mos t enti rel y l os t control . The hero, the
wonderful young Pari s i an, i n whom the romanti c temperament and the
s ci enti fi c temperament were s o s trangel y bl ended, became to hi m a ki nd of
prefi guri ng type of hi ms el f. And, i ndeed, the whol e book s eemed to hi m to
contai n the s tory of hi s own l i fe, wri tten before he had l i ved i t.
In one poi nt he was more fortunate than the books fantas ti c hero. He
never knew never, i ndeed, had any caus e to know that s omewhat grotes que
dread of mi rrors , and pol i s hed metal s urfaces , and s ti l l water, whi ch came
upon the young Pari s i an s o earl y i n hi s l i fe, and was occas i oned by the
s udden decay of a beauty that had once, apparentl y, been s o remarkabl e. It
was wi th an al mos t cruel j oy and perhaps i n nearl y every j oy, as certai nl y
i n every pl eas ure, cruel ty has i ts pl ace that he us ed to read the l atter part of
the book, wi th i ts real l y tragi c, i f s omewhat over-emphas i zed, account of the
s orrow and des pai r of one who had hi ms el f l os t what i n others , and i n the
worl d, he had mos t val ued.
He, at any rate, had no caus e to fear that. The boyi s h beauty that had
s o fas ci nated Bas i l Hal l ward, and many others bes i des hi m, s eemed never to
l eave hi m. E ven thos e who had heard the mos t evi l thi ngs agai ns t hi m ( and
from ti me to ti me s trange rumors about hi s mode of l i fe crept through London
and became the chatter of the cl ubs ) coul d not bel i eve anythi ng to hi s di s honor
when they s aw hi m. He had al ways the l ook of one who had kept hi ms el f
uns potted from the worl d. M en who tal ked gros s l y became s i l ent when Dori an
Gray entered the room. There was s omethi ng i n the puri ty of hi s face that
rebuked them. Hi s mere pres ence s eemed to recal l to them the i nnocence that
they had tarni s hed. They wondered how one s o charmi ng and graceful as he
was coul d have es caped the s tai n of an age that was at once s ordi d and
s ens uous .
He hi ms el f, on returni ng home from one of thos e mys teri ous and
prol onged abs ences that gave ri s e to s uch s trange conj ecture among thos e who
were hi s fri ends , or thought that they were s o, woul d creep up-s tai rs to the
l ocked room, open the door wi th the key that never l eft hi m, and s tand, wi th a
mi rror, i n front of the portrai t that Bas i l Hal l ward had pai nted of hi m, l ooki ng
now at the evi l and agi ng face on the canvas , and now at the fai r young face
that l aughed back at hi m from the pol i s hed gl as s . The very s harpnes s of the
contras t us ed to qui cken hi s s ens e of pl eas ure. He grew more and more
enamoured of hi s own beauty, more and more i nteres ted i n the corrupti on of
hi s own s oul . He woul d exami ne wi th mi nute care, and often wi th a
mons trous and terri bl e del i ght, the hi deous l i nes that s eared the wri nkl i ng
forehead or crawl ed around the heavy s ens ual mouth, wonderi ng s ometi mes
whi ch were the more horri bl e, the s i gns of s i n or the s i gns of age. He woul d
pl ace hi s whi te hands bes i de the coars e bl oated hands of the pi cture, and
s mi l e. He mocked the mi s s hapen body and the fai l i ng l i mbs .
There were moments , i ndeed, at ni ght, when, l yi ng s l eepl es s i n hi s
own del i catel y-s cented chamber, or i n the s ordi d room of the l i ttl e i l l -famed
tavern near the Docks , whi ch, under an as s umed name, and i n di s gui s e, i t
was hi s habi t to frequent, he woul d thi nk of the rui n he had brought upon hi s
s oul , wi th a pi ty that was al l the more poi gnant becaus e i t was purel y s el fi s h.
But moments s uch as thes e were rare. That curi os i ty about l i fe that, many
years before, Lord Henry had fi rs t s ti rred i n hi m, as they s at together i n the
garden of thei r fri end, s eemed to i ncreas e wi th grati fi cati on. The more he
knew, the more he des i red to know. He had mad hungers that grew more
ravenous as he fed them.
Yet he was not real l y reckl es s , at any rate i n hi s rel ati ons to s oci ety.
Once or twi ce every month duri ng the wi nter, and on each Wednes day
eveni ng whi l e the s eas on l as ted, he woul d throw open to the worl d hi s
beauti ful hous e and have the mos t cel ebrated mus i ci ans of the day to charm
hi s gues ts wi th the wonders of thei r art. Hi s l i ttl e di nners , i n the s ettl i ng of
whi ch Lord Henry al ways as s i s ted hi m, were noted as much for the careful
s el ecti on and pl aci ng of thos e i nvi ted, as for the exqui s i te tas te s hown i n the
decorati on of the tabl e, wi th i ts s ubtl e s ymphoni c arrangements of exoti c
fl owers , and embroi dered cl oths , and anti que pl ate of gol d and s i l ver. Indeed,
there were many, es peci al l y among the very young men, who s aw, or fanci ed
that they s aw, i n Dori an Gray the true real i zati on of a type of whi ch they had
often dreamed i n E ton or Oxford days , a type that was to combi ne s omethi ng of
the real cul ture of the s chol ar wi th al l the grace and di s ti ncti on and perfect
manner of a ci ti zen of the worl d. To them he s eemed to bel ong to thos e whom
Dante des cri bes as havi ng s ought to make thems el ves perfect by the wors hi p
of beauty. Li ke Gauti er, he was one for whom the vi s i bl e worl d exi s ted.
And, certai nl y, to hi m l i fe i ts el f was the fi rs t, the greates t, of the
arts , and for i t al l the other arts s eemed to be but a preparati on. Fas hi on, by
whi ch what i s real l y fantas ti c becomes for a moment uni vers al , and
Dandyi s m, whi ch, i n i ts own way, i s an attempt to as s ert the abs ol ute
moderni ty of beauty, had, of cours e, thei r fas ci nati on for hi m. Hi s mode of
dres s i ng, and the parti cul ar s tyl es that he affected from ti me to ti me, had
thei r marked i nfl uence on the young exqui s i tes of the M ayfai r bal l s and
Pal l M al l cl ub wi ndows , who copi ed hi m i n everythi ng that he di d, and tri ed
to reproduce the acci dental charm of hi s graceful , though to hi m onl y hal fs eri ous , fopperi es .
For, whi l e he was but too ready to accept the pos i ti on that was al mos t
i mmedi atel y offered to hi m on hi s comi ng of age, and found, i ndeed, a s ubtl e
pl eas ure i n the thought that he mi ght real l y become to the London of hi s own
day what to i mperi al Neroni an Rome the author of the Satyri con had once
been, yet i n hi s i nmos t heart he des i red to be s omethi ng more than a mere
arbi ter el eganti arum, to be cons ul ted on the weari ng of a j ewel , or the knotti ng
of a neckti e, or the conduct of a cane. He s ought to el aborate s ome new s cheme
of l i fe that woul d have i ts reas oned phi l os ophy and i ts ordered pri nci pl es and
fi nd i n the s pi ri tual i zi ng of the s ens es i ts hi ghes t real i zati on.
The wors hi p of the s ens es has often, and wi th much j us ti ce, been
decri ed, men feel i ng a natural i ns ti nct of terror about pas s i ons and
s ens ati ons that s eem s tronger than ours el ves , and that we are cons ci ous of
s hari ng wi th the l es s hi ghl y organi zed forms of exi s tence. But i t appeared to
Dori an Gray that the true nature of the s ens es had never been unders tood,
and that they had remai ned s avage and ani mal merel y becaus e the worl d had
s ought to s tarve them i nto s ubmi s s i on or to ki l l them by pai n, i ns tead of
ai mi ng at maki ng them el ements of a new s pi ri tual i ty, of whi ch a fi ne
i ns ti nct for beauty was to be the domi nant characteri s ti c. As he l ooked back
upon man movi ng through Hi s tory, he was haunted by a feel i ng of l os s . So
much had been s urrendered! and to s uch l i ttl e purpos e! There had been mad
wi l ful rej ecti ons , mons trous forms of s el f-torture and s el f-deni al , whos e
ori gi n was fear, and whos e res ul t was a degradati on nfi ni tel y more terri bl e
than that fanci ed degradati on from whi ch, i n thei r i gnorance, they had s ought
to es cape, Nature i n her wonderful i rony dri vi ng the anchori te out to herd wi th
the wi l d ani mal s of the des ert and gi vi ng to the hermi t the beas ts of the fi el d
as hi s compani ons .
Yes , there was to be, as Lord Henry had prophes i ed, a new hedoni s m
that was to re-create l i fe, and to s ave i t from that hars h, uncomel y puri tani s m
that i s havi ng, i n our own day, i ts curi ous revi val . It was to have i ts s ervi ce of
the i ntel l ect, certai nl y; yet i t was never to accept any theory or s ys tem that
woul d i nvol ve the s acri fi ce of any mode of pas s i onate experi ence. Its ai m,
i ndeed, was to be experi ence i ts el f, and not the frui ts of experi ence, s weet or
bi tter as they mi ght be. Of the as ceti ci s m that deadens the s ens es , as of the
vul gar profl i gacy that dul l s them, i t was to know nothi ng. But i t was to teach
man to concentrate hi ms el f upon the moments of a l i fe that i s i ts el f but a
moment.
There are few of us who have not s ometi mes wakened before dawn,
ei ther after one of thos e dreaml es s ni ghts that make one al mos t enamoured of
death, or one of thos e ni ghts of horror and mi s s hapen j oy, when through the
chambers of the brai n s weep phantoms more terri bl e than real i ty i ts el f, and
i ns ti nct wi th that vi vi d l i fe that l urks i n al l grotes ques , and that l ends to
Gothi c art i ts enduri ng vi tal i ty, thi s art bei ng, one mi ght fancy, es peci al l y
the art of thos e whos e mi nds have been troubl ed wi th the mal ady of revery.
Gradual l y whi te fi ngers creep through the curtai ns , and they appear to
trembl e. Bl ack fantas ti c s hadows crawl i nto the corners of the room, and crouch
there. Outs i de, there i s the s ti rri ng of bi rds among the l eaves , or the s ound of
men goi ng forth to thei r work, or the s i gh and s ob of the wi nd comi ng down
from the hi l l s , and wanderi ng round the s i l ent hous e, as though i t feared to
wake the s l eepers . Vei l after vei l of thi n dus ky gauze i s l i fted, and by
degrees the forms and col ors of thi ngs are res tored to them, and we watch the
dawn remaki ng the worl d i n i ts anti que pattern. The wan mi rrors get back
thei r mi mi c l i fe. The fl amel es s tapers s tand where we have l eft them, and
bes i de them l i es the hal f-read book that we had been s tudyi ng, or the wi red
fl ower that we had worn at the bal l , or the l etter that we had been afrai d to
read, or that we had read too often. Nothi ng s eems to us changed. Out of the
unreal s hadows of the ni ght comes back the real l i fe that we had known. We
have to res ume i t where we had l eft off, and there s teal s over us a terri bl e
s ens e of the neces s i ty for the conti nuance of energy i n the s ame weari s ome
round of s tereotyped habi ts , or a wi l d l ongi ng, i t may be, that our eyel i ds
mi ght open s ome morni ng upon a worl d that had been re-fas hi oned anew for
our pl eas ure i n the darknes s , a worl d i n whi ch thi ngs woul d have fres h
s hapes and col ors , and be changed, or have other s ecrets , a worl d i n whi ch the
pas t woul d have l i ttl e or no pl ace, or s urvi ve, at any rate, i n no cons ci ous form
of obl i gati on or regret, the remembrance even of j oy havi ng i ts bi tternes s , and
the memori es of pl eas ure thei r pai n.
It was the creati on of s uch worl ds as thes e that s eemed to Dori an Gray
to be the true obj ect, or among the true obj ects , of l i fe; and i n hi s s earch for
s ens ati ons that woul d be at once new and del i ghtful , and pos s es s that
el ement of s trangenes s that i s s o es s enti al to romance, he woul d often adopt
certai n modes of thought that he knew to be real l y al i en to hi s nature,
abandon hi ms el f to thei r s ubtl e i nfl uences , and then, havi ng, as i t were,
caught thei r col or and s ati s fi ed hi s i ntel l ectual curi os i ty, l eave them wi th
that curi ous i ndi fference that i s not i ncompati bl e wi th a real ardor of
temperament, and that i ndeed, accordi ng to certai n modern ps ychol ogi s ts , i s
often a condi ti on of i t.
It was rumored of hi m once that he was about to j oi n the Roman
Cathol i c communi on; and certai nl y the Roman ri tual had al ways a great
attracti on for hi m. The dai l y s acri fi ce, more awful real l y than al l the
s acri fi ces of the anti que worl d, s ti rred hi m as much by i ts s uperb rej ecti on of
the evi dence of the s ens es as by the pri mi ti ve s i mpl i ci ty of i ts el ements and
the eternal pathos of the human tragedy that i t s ought to s ymbol i ze. He l oved to
kneel down on the col d marbl e pavement, and wi th the pri es t, i n hi s s ti ff
fl owered cope, s l owl y and wi th whi te hands movi ng as i de the vei l of the
tabernacl e, and rai s i ng al oft the j ewel l ed l antern-s haped mons trance wi th
that pal l i d wafer that at ti mes , one woul d fai n thi nk, i s i ndeed the pani s
cael es ti s , the bread of angel s , or, robed i n the garments of the Pas s i on of
Chri s t, breaki ng the Hos t i nto the chal i ce, and s mi ti ng hi s breas t for hi s
s i ns . The fumi ng cens ers , that the grave boys , i n thei r l ace and s carl et,
tos s ed i nto the ai r l i ke great gi l t fl owers , had thei r s ubtl e fas ci nati on for hi m.
As he pas s ed out, he us ed to l ook wi th wonder at the bl ack confes s i onal s , and
l ong to s i t i n the di m s hadow of one of them and l i s ten to men and women
whi s peri ng through the tarni s hed grati ng the true s tory of thei r l i ves .
But he never fel l i nto the error of arres ti ng hi s i ntel l ectual
devel opment by any formal acceptance of creed or s ys tem, or of mi s taki ng, for
a hous e i n whi ch to l i ve, an i nn that i s but s ui tabl e for the s oj ourn of a ni ght,
or for a few hours of a ni ght i n whi ch there are no s tars and the moon i s i n
travai l . M ys ti ci s m, wi th i ts marvel l ous power of maki ng common thi ngs
s trange to us , and the s ubtl e anti nomi ani s m that al ways s eems to accompany
i t, moved hi m for a s eas on; and for a s eas on he i ncl i ned to the materi al i s ti c
doctri nes of the Darwi ni s mus movement i n Germany, and found a curi ous
pl eas ure i n traci ng the thoughts and pas s i ons of men to s ome pearl y cel l i n
the brai n, or s ome whi te nerve i n the body, del i ghti ng i n the concepti on of the
abs ol ute dependence of the s pi ri t on certai n phys i cal condi ti ons , morbi d or
heal thy, normal or di s eas ed. Yet, as has been s ai d of hi m before, no theory of
l i fe s eemed to hi m to be of any i mportance compared wi th l i fe i ts el f. He fel t
keenl y cons ci ous of how barren al l i ntel l ectual s pecul ati on i s when s eparated
from acti on and experi ment. He knew that the s ens es , no l es s than the s oul ,
have thei r mys teri es to reveal .
And s o he woul d now s tudy perfumes , and the s ecrets of thei r
manufacture, di s ti l l i ng heavi l y-s cented oi l s , and burni ng odorous gums
from the E as t. He s aw that there was no mood of the mi nd that had not i ts
counterpart i n the s ens uous l i fe, and s et hi ms el f to di s cover thei r true
rel ati ons , wonderi ng what there was i n franki ncens e that made one mys ti cal ,
and i n ambergri s that s ti rred ones pas s i ons , and i n vi ol ets that woke the
memory of dead romances , and i n mus k that troubl ed the brai n, and i n
champak that s tai ned the i magi nati on; and s eeki ng often to el aborate a real
ps ychol ogy of perfumes , and to es ti mate the s everal i nfl uences of s weets mel l i ng roots , and s cented pol l en-l aden fl owers , of aromati c bal ms , and of
dark and fragrant woods , of s pi kenard that s i ckens , of hoveni a that makes
men mad, and of al oes that are s ai d to be abl e to expel mel anchol y from the
s oul .
At another ti me he devoted hi ms el f enti rel y to mus i c, and i n a l ong
l atti ced room, wi th a vermi l i on-and-gol d cei l i ng and wal l s of ol i ve-green
l acquer, he us ed to gi ve curi ous concerts i n whi ch mad gyps i es tore wi l d
mus i c from l i ttl e zi thers , or grave yel l ow-s hawl ed Tuni s i ans pl ucked at the
s trai ned s tri ngs of mons trous l utes , whi l e gri nni ng negroes beat
monotonous l y upon copper drums , or turbaned Indi ans , crouchi ng upon
s carl et mats , bl ew through l ong pi pes of reed or bras s , and charmed, or
fei gned to charm, great hooded s nakes and horri bl e horned adders . The hars h
i nterval s and s hri l l di s cords of barbari c mus i c s ti rred hi m at ti mes when
Schuberts grace, and Chopi ns beauti ful s orrows , and the mi ghty harmoni es
of Beethoven hi ms el f, fel l unheeded on hi s ear. He col l ected together from al l
parts of the worl d the s tranges t i ns truments that coul d be found, ei ther i n the
tombs of dead nati ons or among the few s avage tri bes that have s urvi ved contact
wi th Wes tern ci vi l i zati ons , and l oved to touch and try them. He had the
mys teri ous j urupari s of the Ri o Negro Indi ans , that women are not al l owed to
l ook at, and that even youths may not s ee ti l l they have been s ubj ected to
fas ti ng and s courgi ng, and the earthen j ars of the Peruvi ans that have the
s hri l l cri es of bi rds , and fl utes of human bones s uch as Al fons o de Oval l e
heard i n Chi l i , and the s onorous green s tones that are found near Cuzco and
gi ve forth a note of s i ngul ar s weetnes s . He had pai nted gourds fi l l ed wi th
pebbl es that rattl ed when they were s haken; the l ong cl ari n of the M exi cans ,
i nto whi ch the performer does not bl ow, but through whi ch he i nhal es the ai r;
the hars h tur of the Amazon tri bes , that i s s ounded by the s enti nel s who s i t
al l day l ong i n trees , and that can be heard, i t i s s ai d, at a di s tance of three
l eagues ; the teponaztl i , that has two vi brati ng tongues of wood, and i s beaten
wi th s ti cks that are s meared wi th an el as ti c gum obtai ned from the mi l ky
j ui ce of pl ants ; the yotl -bel l s of the Aztecs , that are hung i n cl us ters l i ke
grapes ; and a huge cyl i ndri cal drum, covered wi th the s ki ns of great
s erpents , l i ke the one that Bernal Di az s aw when he went wi th Cortes i nto the
M exi can templ e, and of whos e dol eful s ound he has l eft us s o vi vi d a
des cri pti on. The fantas ti c character of thes e i ns truments fas ci nated hi m, and
he fel t a curi ous del i ght i n the thought that Art, l i ke Nature, has her
mons ters , thi ngs of bes ti al s hape and wi th hi deous voi ces . Yet, after s ome
ti me, he weari ed of them, and woul d s i t i n hi s box at the Opera, ei ther al one
or wi th Lord Henry, l i s teni ng i n rapt pl eas ure to Tannhus er and s eei ng i n
that great work of art a pres entati on of the tragedy of hi s own s oul .
On another occas i on he took up the s tudy of j ewel s , and appeared at a
cos tume bal l as Anne de Joyeus e, Admi ral of France, i n a dres s covered wi th
fi ve hundred and s i xty pearl s . He woul d often s pend a whol e day s ettl i ng and
res ettl i ng i n thei r cas es the vari ous s tones that he had col l ected, s uch as the
ol i ve-green chrys oberyl that turns red by l ampl i ght, the cymophane wi th i ts
wi re-l i ke l i ne of s i l ver, the pi s tachi o-col ored peri dot, ros e-pi nk and wi neyel l ow topazes , carbuncl es of fi ery s carl et wi th tremul ous four-rayed s tars ,
fl ame-red ci nnamon-s tones , orange and vi ol et s pi nel s , and amethys ts wi th
thei r al ternate l ayers of ruby and s apphi re. He l oved the red gol d of the
s uns tone, and the moons tones pearl y whi tenes s , and the broken rai nbow of
the mi l ky opal . He procured from Ams terdam three emeral ds of extraordi nary
s i ze and ri chnes s of col or, and had a turquoi s e de l a vi ei l l e roche that was the
envy of al l the connoi s s eurs .
He di s covered wonderful s tori es , al s o, about j ewel s . In Al phons os
Cl eri cal i s Di s ci pl i na a s erpent was menti oned wi th eyes of real j aci nth, and
i n the romanti c hi s tory of Al exander he was s ai d to have found s nakes i n the
val e of Jordan wi th col l ars of real emeral ds growi ng on thei r backs . There was
a gem i n the brai n of the dragon, Phi l os tratus tol d us , and by the exhi bi ti on
of gol den l etters and a s carl et robe the mons ter coul d be thrown i nto a magi cal
s l eep, and s l ai n. Accordi ng to the great al chemi s t Pi erre de Boni face, the
di amond rendered a man i nvi s i bl e, and the agate of Indi a made hi m
el oquent. The cornel i an appeas ed anger, and the hyaci nth provoked s l eep,
and the amethys t drove away the fumes of wi ne. The garnet cas t out demons ,
and the hydropi cus depri ved the moon of her col or. The s el eni te waxed and
waned wi th the moon, and the mel oceus , that di s covers thi eves , coul d be
affected onl y by the bl ood of ki ds . Leonardus Cami l l us had s een a whi te s tone
taken from the brai n of a newl y-ki l l ed toad, that was a certai n anti dote agai ns t
poi s on. The bezoar, that was found i n the heart of the Arabi an deer, was a
charm that coul d cure the pl ague. In the nes ts of Arabi an bi rds was the
as pi l ates , that, accordi ng to Democri tus , kept the wearer from any danger by
fi re.
The Ki ng of Cei l an rode through hi s ci ty wi th a l arge ruby i n hi s
hand, as the ceremony of hi s coronati on. The gates of the pal ace of John the
Pri es t were made of s ardi us , wi th the horn of the horned s nake i nwrought, s o
that no man mi ght bri ng poi s on wi thi n. Over the gabl e were two gol den
appl es , i n whi ch were two carbuncl es , s o that the gol d mi ght s hi ne by day,
and the carbuncl es by ni ght. In Lodges s trange romance A M argari te of
Ameri ca i t was s tated that i n the chamber of M argari te were s een al l the
chas te l adi es of the worl d, i nchas ed out of s i l ver, l ooki ng through fai r
mi rrours of chrys ol i tes , carbuncl es , s apphi res , and greene emeraul ts .
M arco Pol o had watched the i nhabi tants of Zi pangu pl ace a ros e-col ored pearl
i n the mouth of the dead. A s ea-mons ter had been enamoured of the pearl that
the di ver brought to Ki ng Perozes , and had s l ai n the thi ef, and mourned for
s even moons over hi s l os s . When the Huns l ured the ki ng i nto the great pi t,
he fl ung i t away Procopi us tel l s the s tory nor was i t ever found agai n,
though the E mperor Anas tas i us offered fi ve hundred-wei ght of gol d pi eces for
i t. The Ki ng of M al abar had s hown a Veneti an a ros ary of one hundred and
four pearl s , one for every god that he wors hi pped.
When the Duke de Val enti noi s , s on of Al exander VI, vi s i ted Loui s
XII. of France, hi s hors e was l oaded wi th gol d l eaves , accordi ng to Brantme,
and hi s cap had doubl e rows of rubi es that threw out a great l i ght. Charl es of
E ngl and had ri dden i n s ti rrups hung wi th three hundred and twenty-one
di amonds . Ri chard II. had a coat, val ued at thi rty thous and marks , whi ch was
covered wi th bal as rubi es . Hal l des cri bed Henry VIII, on hi s way to the Tower
previ ous to hi s coronati on, as weari ng a j acket of rai s ed gol d, the pl acard
embroi dered wi th di amonds and other ri ch s tones , and a great bauderi ke about
hi s neck of l arge bal as s es . The favori tes of James I wore ear-ri ngs of
emeral ds s et i n gol d fi l i grane. E dward II gave to Pi ers Gaves ton a s ui t of redgol d armor s tudded wi th j aci nths , and a col l ar of gol d ros es s et wi th turquoi s es tones , and a s kul l -cap pars em wi th pearl s . Henry II. wore j ewel l ed gl oves
reachi ng to the el bow, and had a hawk-gl ove s et wi th twel ve rubi es and fi ftytwo great pearl s . The ducal hat of Charl es the Ras h, the l as t Duke of Burgundy
of hi s race, was s tudded wi th s apphi res and hung wi th pear-s haped pearl s .
How exqui s i te l i fe had once been! How gorgeous i n i ts pomp
anddecorati on! E ven to read of the l uxury of the dead was wonderful .
Then he turned hi s attenti on to embroi deri es , and to the tapes tri es
that performed the offi ce of fres cos i n the chi l l rooms of the Northern nati ons
of E urope. As he i nves ti gated the s ubj ect and he al ways had an
extraordi nary facul ty of becomi ng abs ol utel y abs orbed for the moment i n
whatever he took up he was al mos t s addened by the refl ecti on of the rui n that
ti me brought on beauti ful and wonderful thi ngs . He, at any rate, had es caped
that. Summer fol l owed s ummer, and the yel l ow j onqui l s bl oomed and di ed
many ti mes , and ni ghts of horror repeated the s tory of thei r s hame, but he
was unchanged. No wi nter marred hi s face or s tai ned hi s fl ower-l i ke bl oom.
How di fferent i t was wi th materi al thi ngs ! Where had they gone to? Where
was the great crocus -col ored robe, on whi ch the gods fought agai ns t the gi ants ,
that had been worked for Athena? Where the huge vel ari um that Nero had
s tretched acros s the Col os s eum at Rome, on whi ch were repres ented the s tarry
s ky, and Apol l o dri vi ng a chari ot drawn by whi te gi l t-rei ned s teeds ? He l onged
to s ee the curi ous tabl e-napki ns wrought for E l agabal us , on whi ch were
di s pl ayed al l the dai nti es and vi ands that coul d be wanted for a feas t; the
mortuary cl oth of Ki ng Chi l peri c, wi th i ts three hundred gol den bees ; the
fantas ti c robes that exci ted the i ndi gnati on of the Bi s hop of Pontus , and were
fi gured wi th l i ons , panthers , bears , dogs , fores ts , rocks , hunters al l , i n
fact, that a pai nter can copy from nature; and the coat that Charl es of Orl eans
once wore, on the s l eeves of whi ch were embroi dered the vers es of a s ong
begi nni ng M adame, j e s ui s tout j oyeux, the mus i cal accompani ment of the
words bei ng wrought i n gol d thread, and each note, a s quare s hape i n thos e
days , formed wi th four pearl s . He read of the room that was prepared at the
pal ace at Rhei ms for the us e of Queen Joan of Burgundy, and was decorated
wi th thi rteen hundred and twenty-one parrots , made i n broi dery, and
bl azoned wi th the ki ngs arms , and fi ve hundred and s i xty-one butterfl i es ,
whos e wi ngs were s i mi l arl y ornamented wi th the arms of the queen, the
whol e worked i n gol d. Catheri ne de M di ci s had a mourni ng-bed made for
her of bl ack vel vet powdered wi th cres cents and s uns . Its curtai ns were of
damas k, wi th l eafy wreaths and garl ands , fi gured upon a gol d and s i l ver
ground, and fri nged al ong the edges wi th broi deri es of pearl s , and i t s tood i n
a room hung wi th rows of the queens devi ces i n cut bl ack vel vet upon cl oth of
s i l ver. Loui s XIV. had gol d-embroi dered caryati des fi fteen feet hi gh i n hi s
apartment. The s tate bed of Sobi es ki , Ki ng of Pol and, was made of Smyrna gol d
brocade embroi dered i n turquoi s es wi th vers es from the Koran. Its s upports
were of s i l ver gi l t, beauti ful l y chas ed, and profus el y s et wi th enamel l ed and
j ewel l ed medal l i ons . It had been taken from the Turki s h camp before
Vi enna, and the s tandard of M ohammed had s tood under i t.
And s o, for a whol e year, he s ought to accumul ate the mos t exqui s i te
s peci mens that he coul d fi nd of texti l e and embroi dered work, getti ng the
dai nty Del hi mus l i ns , fi nel y wrought, wi th gol d-threat pal mates , and
s ti tched over wi th i ri des cent beetl es wi ngs ; the Dacca gauzes , that from thei r
trans parency are known i n the E as t as woven ai r, and runni ng water, and
eveni ng dew; s trange fi gured cl oths from Java; el aborate yel l ow Chi nes e
hangi ngs ; books bound i n tawny s ati ns or fai r bl ue s i l ks and wrought wi th
fl eurs de l ys , bi rds , and i mages ; vei l s of l aci s worked i n Hungary poi nt;
Si ci l i an brocades , and s ti ff Spani s h vel vets ; Georgi an work wi th i ts gi l t coi ns ,
and Japanes e Foukous as wi th thei r green-toned gol ds and thei r marvel l ous l ypl umaged bi rds .
He had a s peci al pas s i on, al s o, for eccl es i as ti cal ves tments , as
i ndeed he had for everythi ng connected wi th the s ervi ce of the Church. In the
l ong cedar ches ts that l i ned the wes t gal l ery of hi s hous e he had s tored away
many rare and beauti ful s peci mens of what i s real l y the rai ment of the Bri de
of Chri s t, who mus t wear purpl e and j ewel s and fi ne l i nen that s he may hi de
the pal l i d macerated body that i s worn by the s ufferi ng that s he s eeks for, and
wounded by s el f-i nfl i cted pai n. He had a gorgeous cope of cri ms on s i l k and
gol d-thread damas k, fi gured wi th a repeati ng pattern of gol den pomegranates
s et i n s i x-petal l ed formal bl os s oms , beyond whi ch on ei ther s i de was the
pi ne-appl e devi ce wrought i n s eed-pearl s . The orphreys were di vi ded i nto
panel s repres enti ng s cenes from the l i fe of the Vi rgi n, and the coronati on of
the Vi rgi n was fi gured i n col ored s i l ks upon the hood. Thi s was Ital i an work of
the fi fteenth century. Another cope was of green vel vet, embroi dered wi th
heart-s haped groups of acanthus -l eaves , from whi ch s pread l ong-s temmed
whi te bl os s oms , the detai l s of whi ch were pi cked out wi th s i l ver thread and
col ored crys tal s . The mors e bore a s eraphs head i n gol d-thread rai s ed work.
The orphreys were woven i n a di aper of red and gol d s i l k, and were s tarred
wi th medal l i ons of many s ai nts and martyrs , among whom was St. Sebas ti an.
He had chas ubl es , al s o, of amber-col ored s i l k, and bl ue s i l k and gol d
brocade, and yel l ow s i l k damas k and cl oth of gol d, fi gured wi th
repres entati ons of the Pas s i on and Cruci fi xi on of Chri s t, and embroi dered
wi th l i ons and peacocks and other embl ems ; dal mati cs of whi te s ati n and
pi nk s i l k damas k, decorated wi th tul i ps and dol phi ns and fl eurs de l ys ; al tar
frontal s of cri ms on vel vet and bl ue l i nen; and many corporal s , chal i ce-vei l s ,
and s udari a. In the mys ti c offi ces to whi ch thes e thi ngs were put there was
s omethi ng that qui ckened hi s i magi nati on.
For thes e thi ngs , and everythi ng that he col l ected i n hi s l ovel y
hous e, were to be to hi m means of forgetful nes s , modes by whi ch he coul d
es cape, for a s eas on, from the fear that s eemed to hi m at ti mes to be al mos t too
great to be borne. Upon the wal l s of the l onel y l ocked room where he had s pent
s o much of hi s boyhood, he had hung wi th hi s own hands the terri bl e portrai t
whos e changi ng features s howed hi m the real degradati on of hi s l i fe, and
had draped the purpl e-and-gol d pal l i n front of i t as a curtai n. For weeks he
woul d not go there, woul d forget the hi deous pai nted thi ng, and get back hi s
l i ght heart, hi s wonderful j oyous nes s , hi s pas s i onate pl eas ure i n mere
exi s tence. Then, s uddenl y, s ome ni ght he woul d creep out of the hous e, go
down to dreadful pl aces near Bl ue Gate Fi el ds , and s tay there, day after day,
unti l he was dri ven away. On hi s return he woul d s i t i n front of the pi cture,
s ometi mes l oathi ng i t and hi ms el f, but fi l l ed, at other ti mes , wi th that pri de
of rebel l i on that i s hal f the fas ci nati on of s i n, and s mi l i ng, wi th s ecret
pl eas ure, at the mi s s hapen s hadow that had to bear the burden that s houl d
have been hi s own.
After a few years he coul d not endure to be l ong out of E ngl and, and
gave up the vi l l a that he had s hared at Trouvi l l e wi th Lord Henry, as wel l as
the l i ttl e whi te wal l ed-i n hous e at Al gi ers where he had more than once s pent
hi s wi nter. He hated to be s eparated from the pi cture that was s uch a part of
hi s l i fe, and he was al s o afrai d that duri ng hi s abs ence s ome one mi ght gai n
acces s to the room, i n s pi te of the el aborate bol ts and bars that he had caus ed to
be pl aced upon the door.
He was qui te cons ci ous that thi s woul d tel l them nothi ng. It was true
that the portrai t s ti l l pres erved, under al l the foul nes s and ugl i nes s of the
face, i ts marked l i kenes s to hi ms el f; but what coul d they l earn from that? He
woul d l augh at any one who tri ed to taunt hi m. He had not pai nted i t. What
was i t to hi m how vi l e and ful l of s hame i t l ooked? E ven i f he tol d them, woul d
they bel i eve i t?
Yet he was afrai d. Someti mes when he was down at hi s great hous e i n
Notti nghams hi re, entertai ni ng the fas hi onabl e young men of hi s own rank
who were hi s chi ef compani ons , and as toundi ng the county by the wanton
l uxury and gorgeous s pl endor of hi s mode of l i fe, he woul d s uddenl y l eave
hi s gues ts and rus h back to town to s ee that the door had not been tampered
wi th and that the pi cture was s ti l l there. What i f i t s houl d be s tol en? The
mere thought made hi m col d wi th horror. Surel y the worl d woul d know hi s
s ecret then. Perhaps the worl d al ready s us pected i t.
For, whi l e he fas ci nated many, there were not a few who di s trus ted
hi m. He was bl ackbal l ed at a Wes t E nd cl ub of whi ch hi s bi rth and s oci al
pos i ti on ful l y enti tl ed hi m to become a member, and on one occas i on, when
he was brought by a fri end i nto the s moki ng-room of the Carl ton, the Duke of
Berwi ck and another gentl eman got up i n a marked manner and went out.
Curi ous s tori es became current about hi m after he had pas s ed hi s twentyfi fth year. It was s ai d that he had been s een brawl i ng wi th forei gn s ai l ors i n
a l ow den i n the di s tant parts of Whi techapel , and that he cons orted wi th
thi eves and coi ners and knew the mys teri es of thei r trade. Hi s extraordi nary
abs ences became notori ous , and, when he us ed to reappear agai n i n s oci ety,
men woul d whi s per to each other i n corners , or pas s hi m wi th a s neer, or l ook
at hi m wi th col d s earchi ng eyes , as i f they were determi ned to di s cover hi s
s ecret.
Of s uch i ns ol ences and attempted s l i ghts he, of cours e, took no
noti ce, and i n the opi ni on of mos t peopl e hi s frank debonai r manner, hi s
charmi ng boyi s h s mi l e, and the i nfi ni te grace of that wonderful youth that
s eemed never to l eave hi m, were i n thems el ves a s uffi ci ent ans wer to the
cal umni es ( for s o they cal l ed them) that were ci rcul ated about hi m. It was
remarked, however, that thos e who had been mos t i nti mate wi th hi m
appeared, after a ti me, to s hun hi m. Of al l hi s fri ends , or s o-cal l ed fri ends ,
Lord Henry Wotton was the onl y one who remai ned l oyal to hi m. Women who
had wi l dl y adored hi m, and for hi s s ake had braved al l s oci al cens ure and s et
conventi on at defi ance, were s een to grow pal l i d wi th s hame or horror i f Dori an
Gray entered the room.
Yet thes e whi s pered s candal s onl y l ent hi m, i n the eyes of many,
hi s s trange and dangerous charm. Hi s great weal th was a certai n el ement of
s ecuri ty. Soci ety, ci vi l i zed s oci ety at l eas t, i s never very ready to bel i eve
anythi ng to the detri ment of thos e who are both ri ch and charmi ng. It feel s
i ns ti ncti vel y that manners are of more i mportance than moral s , and the
hi ghes t res pectabi l i ty i s of l es s val ue i n i ts opi ni on than the pos s es s i on of a
good chef. And, after al l , i t i s a very poor cons ol ati on to be tol d that the man who
has gi ven one a bad di nner, or poor wi ne, i s i rreproachabl e i n hi s pri vate l i fe.
E ven the cardi nal vi rtues cannot atone for col d entres , as Lord Henry
remarked once, i n a di s cus s i on on the s ubj ect; and there i s pos s i bl y a good
deal to be s ai d for hi s vi ew. For the canons of good s oci ety are, or s houl d be, the
s ame as the canons of art. Form i s abs ol utel y es s enti al to i t. It s houl d have
the di gni ty of a ceremony, as wel l as i ts unreal i ty, and s houl d combi ne the
i ns i ncere character of a romanti c pl ay wi th the wi t and beauty that make s uch
pl ays charmi ng. Is i ns i nceri ty s uch a terri bl e thi ng? I thi nk not. It i s merel y
a method by whi ch we can mul ti pl y our pers onal i ti es .
Such, at any rate, was Dori an Grays opi ni on. He us ed to wonder at the
s hal l ow ps ychol ogy of thos e who concei ve the E go i n man as a thi ng s i mpl e,
permanent, rel i abl e, and of one es s ence. To hi m, man was a bei ng wi th
myri ad l i ves and myri ad s ens ati ons , a compl ex mul ti form creature that bore
wi thi n i ts el f s trange l egaci es of thought and pas s i on, and whos e very fl es h
was tai nted wi th the mons trous mal adi es of the dead. He l oved to s trol l through
the gaunt col d pi cture-gal l ery of hi s country-hous e and l ook at the vari ous
portrai ts of thos e whos e bl ood fl owed i n hi s vei ns . Here was Phi l i p Herbert,
des cri bed by Franci s Os borne, i n hi s M emoi res on the Rei gns of Queen
E l i zabeth and Ki ng James , as one who was cares s ed by the court for hi s
hands ome face, whi ch kept hi m not l ong company. Was i t young Herberts
l i fe that he s ometi mes l ed? Had s ome s trange poi s onous germ crept from body
to body ti l l i t had reached hi s own? Was i t s ome di m s ens e of that rui ned grace
that had made hi m s o s uddenl y, and al mos t wi thout caus e, gi ve utterance, i n
Bas i l Hal l wards s tudi o, to that mad prayer that had s o changed hi s l i fe? Here,
i n gol d-embroi dered red doubl et, j ewel l ed s urcoat, and gi l t-edged ruff and
wri s t-bands , s tood Si r Anthony Sherard, wi th hi s s i l ver-and-bl ack armor pi l ed
at hi s feet. What had thi s mans l egacy been? Had the l over of Gi ovanna of
Napl es bequeathed hi m s ome i nheri tance of s i n and s hame? Were hi s own
acti ons merel y the dreams that the dead man had not dared to real i ze? Here,
from the fadi ng canvas , s mi l ed Lady E l i zabeth Devereux, i n her gauze hood,
pearl s tomacher, and pi nk s l as hed s l eeves . A fl ower was i n her ri ght hand,
and her l eft cl as ped an enamel l ed col l ar of whi te and damas k ros es . On a
tabl e by her s i de l ay a mandol i n and an appl e. There were l arge green
ros ettes upon her l i ttl e poi nted s hoes . He knew her l i fe, and the s trange
s tori es that were tol d about her l overs . Had he s omethi ng of her temperament
i n hi m? Thos e oval heavy-l i dded eyes s eemed to l ook curi ous l y at hi m. What
of George Wi l l oughby, wi th hi s powdered hai r and fantas ti c patches ? How evi l
he l ooked! The face was s aturni ne and s warthy, and the s ens ual l i ps s eemed
to be twi s ted wi th di s dai n. Del i cate l ace ruffl es fel l over the l ean yel l ow
hands that were s o overl aden wi th ri ngs . He had been a macaroni of the
ei ghteenth century, and the fri end, i n hi s youth, of Lord Ferrars . What of the
s econd Lord Sherard, the compani on of the Pri nce Regent i n hi s wi l des t days ,
and one of the wi tnes s es at the s ecret marri age wi th M rs . Fi tzherbert? How
proud and hands ome he was , wi th hi s ches tnut curl s and i ns ol ent pos e! What
pas s i ons had he bequeathed? The worl d had l ooked upon hi m as i nfamous .
He had l ed the orgi es at Carl ton Hous e. The s tar of the Garter gl i ttered upon
hi s breas t. Bes i de hi m hung the portrai t of hi s wi fe, a pal l i d, thi n-l i pped
woman i n bl ack. Her bl ood, al s o, s ti rred wi thi n hi m. How curi ous i t al l
s eemed!
Yet one had ances tors i n l i terature, as wel l as i n ones own race,
nearer perhaps i n type and temperament, many of them, and certai nl y wi th
an i nfl uence of whi ch one was more abs ol utel y cons ci ous . There were ti mes
when i t s eemed to Dori an Gray that the whol e of hi s tory was merel y the record
of hi s own l i fe, not as he had l i ved i t i n act and ci rcums tance, but as hi s
i magi nati on had created i t for hi m, as i t had been i n hi s brai n and i n hi s
pas s i ons . He fel t that he had known them al l , thos e s trange terri bl e fi gures
that had pas s ed acros s the s tage of the worl d and made s i n s o marvel l ous and
evi l s o ful l of wonder. It s eemed to hi m that i n s ome mys teri ous way thei r
l i ves had been hi s own.
The hero of the dangerous novel that had s o i nfl uenced hi s l i fe had
hi ms el f had thi s curi ous fancy. In a chapter of the book he tel l s how, crowned
wi th l aurel , l es t l i ghtni ng mi ght s tri ke hi m, he had s at, as Ti beri us , i n a
garden at Capri , readi ng the s hameful books of E l ephanti s , whi l e dwarfs and
peacocks s trutted round hi m and the fl ute-pl ayer mocked the s wi nger of the
cens er; and, as Cal i gul a, had carous ed wi th the green-s hi rted j ockeys i n
thei r s tabl es , and s upped i n an i vory manger wi th a j ewel -frontl eted hors e;
and, as Domi ti an, had wandered through a corri dor l i ned wi th marbl e
mi rrors , l ooki ng round wi th haggard eyes for the refl ecti on of the dagger that
was to end hi s days , and s i ck wi th that ennui , that taedi um vi tae, that comes
on thos e to whom l i fe deni es nothi ng; and had peered through a cl ear emeral d
at the red s hambl es of the Ci rcus , and then, i n a l i tter of pearl and purpl e
drawn by s i l ver-s hod mul es , been carri ed through the Street of Pomegranates
to a Hous e of Gol d, and heard men cry on Nero Caes ar as he pas s ed by; and,
as E l agabal us , had pai nted hi s face wi th col ors , and pl i ed the di s taff among
the women, and brought the M oon from Carthage, and gi ven her i n mys ti c
marri age to the Sun.
Over and over agai n Dori an us ed to read thi s fantas ti c chapter, and the
chapter i mmedi atel y fol l owi ng, i n whi ch the hero des cri bes the curi ous
tapes tri es that he had had woven for hi m from Gus tave M oreaus des i gns ,
and on whi ch were pi ctured the awful and beauti ful forms of thos e whom Vi ce
and Bl ood and Weari nes s had made mons trous or mad: Fi l i ppo, Duke of
M i l an, who s l ew hi s wi fe, and pai nted her l i ps wi th a s carl et poi s on; Pi etro
Barbi , the Veneti an, known as Paul the Second, who s ought i n hi s vani ty to
as s ume the ti tl e of Formos us , and whos e ti ara, val ued at two hundred
thous and fl ori ns , was bought at the pri ce of a terri bl e s i n; Gi an M ari a
Vi s conti , who us ed hounds to chas e l i vi ng men, and whos e murdered body
was covered wi th ros es by a harl ot who had l oved hi m; the Borgi a on hi s whi te
hors e, wi th Fratri ci de ri di ng bes i de hi m, and hi s mantl e s tai ned wi th the
bl ood of Perotto; Pi etro Ri ari o, the young Cardi nal Archbi s hop of Fl orence, chi l d
and mi ni on of Si xtus IV, whos e beauty was equal l ed onl y by hi s debauchery,
and who recei ved Leonora of Aragon i n a pavi l i on of whi te and cri ms on s i l k,
fi l l ed wi th nymphs and centaurs , and gi l ded a boy that he mi ght s erve her at
the feas t as Ganymede or Hyl as ; E zzel i n, whos e mel anchol y coul d be cured
onl y by the s pectacl e of death, and who had a pas s i on for red bl ood, as other
men have for red wi ne the s on of the Fi end, as was reported, and one who
had cheated hi s father at di ce when gambl i ng wi th hi m for hi s own s oul ;
Gi ambatti s ta Ci bo, who i n mockery took the name of Innocent, and i nto whos e
torpi d vei ns the bl ood of three l ads was i nfus ed by a Jewi s h doctor; Si gi s mondo
M al ates ta, the l over of Is otta, and the l ord of Ri mi ni , whos e effi gy was
burned at Rome as the enemy of God and man, who s trangl ed Pol ys s ena wi th
a napki n, and gave poi s on to Gi nevra dE s te i n a cup of emeral d, and i n honor
of a s hameful pas s i on bui l t a pagan church for Chri s ti an wors hi p; Charl es
VI, who had s o wi l dl y adored hi s brothers wi fe that a l eper had warned hi m of
the i ns ani ty that was comi ng on hi m, and who coul d onl y be s oothed by
Saracen cards pai nted wi th the i mages of Love and Death and M adnes s ; and,
i n hi s tri mmed j erki n and j ewel l ed cap and acanthus -l i ke curl s , Gri fonetto
Bagl i oni , who s l ew As torre wi th hi s bri de, and Si monetto wi th hi s page, and
whos e comel i nes s was s uch that, as he l ay dyi ng i n the yel l ow pi azza of
Perugi a, thos e who had hated hi m coul d not choos e but weep, and Atal anta,
who had curs ed hi m, bl es s ed hi m.
There was a horri bl e fas ci nati on i n them al l . He s aw them at ni ght,
and they troubl ed hi s i magi nati on i n the day. The Renai s s ance knew of
s trange manners of poi s oni ng poi s oni ng by a hel met and a l i ghted torch, by
an embroi dered gl ove and a j ewel l ed fan, by a gi l ded pomander and by an
amber chai n. Dori an Gray had been poi s oned by a book. There were moments
when he l ooked on evi l s i mpl y as a mode through whi ch he coul d real i ze hi s
concepti on of the beauti ful .
CHAPT E R 10
It was on the 7th of November, the eve of hi s own thi rty-s econd
bi rthday, as he often remembered afterwards .
But Hal l ward had s een hi m. Dori an heard hi m fi rs t s toppi ng, and
then hurryi ng after hi m. In a few moments hi s hand was on hi s arm.
Dori an! What an extraordi nary pi ece of l uck! I have been wai ti ng for
you ever s i nce ni ne ocl ock i n your l i brary. Fi nal l y I took pi ty on your ti red
s ervant, and tol d hi m to go to bed, as he l et me out. I am off to Pari s by the
mi dni ght trai n, and I wanted parti cul arl y to s ee you before I l eft. I thought i t
was you, or rather your fur coat, as you pas s ed me. But I was nt qui te s ure.
Di dnt you recogni ze me?
In thi s fog, my dear Bas i l ? Why, I cant even recogni ze Gros venor
Square. I bel i eve my hous e i s s omewhere about here, but I dont feel at al l
certai n about i t. I am s orry you are goi ng away, as I have not s een you for ages .
But I s uppos e you wi l l be back s oon?
No: I am goi ng to be out of E ngl and for s i x months . I i ntend to take a
s tudi o i n Pari s , and s hut mys el f up ti l l I have fi ni s hed a great pi cture I have
i n my head. However, i t was nt about mys el f I wanted to tal k. Here we are at
your door. Let me come i n for a moment. I have s omethi ng to s ay to you.
I s hal l be charmed. But wont you mi s s your trai n? s ai d Dori an Gray,
l angui dl y, as he pas s ed up the s teps and opened the door wi th hi s l atch-key.
The l amp-l i ght s truggl ed out through the fog, and Hal l ward l ooked at
hi s watch. I have heaps of ti me, he ans wered. The trai n does nt go ti l l
twel ve-fi fteen, and i t i s onl y j us t el even. In fact, I was on my way to the cl ub
to l ook for you, when I met you. You s ee, I s hant have any del ay about
l uggage, as I have s ent on my heavy thi ngs . Al l I have wi th me i s i n thi s
bag, and I can eas i l y get to Vi ctori a i n twenty mi nutes .
Dori an l ooked at hi m and s mi l ed. What a way for a fas hi onabl e
pai nter to travel ! A Gl ads tone bag, and an ul s ter! Come i n, or the fog wi l l get
i nto the hous e. And mi nd you dont tal k about anythi ng s eri ous . Nothi ng i s
s eri ous nowadays . At l eas t nothi ng s houl d be.
Hal l ward s hook hi s head, as he entered, and fol l owed Dori an i nto the
l i brary. There was a bri ght wood fi re bl azi ng i n the l arge open hearth. The
l amps were l i t, and an open Dutch s i l ver s pi ri t-cas e s tood, wi th s ome s i phons
of s oda-water and l arge cut-gl as s tumbl ers , on a l i ttl e tabl e.
You s ee your s ervant made me qui te at home, Dori an. He gave me
everythi ng I wanted, i ncl udi ng your bes t ci garettes . He i s a mos t hos pi tabl e
creature. I l i ke hi m much better than the Frenchman you us ed to have. What
has become of the Frenchman, by the bye?
Dori an s hrugged hi s s houl ders . I bel i eve he marri ed Lady As htons
mai d, and has es tabl i s hed her i n Pari s as an E ngl i s h dres s maker.
Angl omani e i s very fas hi onabl e over there now, I hear. It s eems s i l l y of the
French, does nt i t? But do you know? he was not at al l a bad s ervant. I never
l i ked hi m, but I had nothi ng to compl ai n about. One often i magi nes thi ngs
that are qui te abs urd. He was real l y very devoted to me, and s eemed qui te
s orry when he went away. Have another brandy-and-s oda? Or woul d you l i ke
hock-and-s el tzer? I al ways take hock-and-s el tzer mys el f. There i s s ure to be
s ome i n the next room.
Thanks , I wont have anythi ng more, s ai d Hal l ward, taki ng hi s cap
and coat off, and throwi ng them on the bag that he had pl aced i n the corner.
And now, my dear fel l ow, I want to s peak to you s eri ous l y. Dont frown l i ke
that. You make i t s o much more di ffi cul t for me.
What i s i t al l about? cri ed Dori an, i n hi s petul ant way, fl i ngi ng
hi ms el f down on the s ofa. I hope i t i s not about mys el f. I am ti red of mys el f
toni ght. I s houl d l i ke to be s omebody el s e.
It i s about yours el f, ans wered Hal l ward, i n hi s grave, deep voi ce,
and I mus t s ay i t to you. I s hal l onl y keep you hal f an hour.
Dori an s i ghed, and l i t a ci garette. Hal f an hour! he murmured.
It i s not much to as k of you, Dori an, and i t i s enti rel y for your own
s ake that I am s peaki ng. I thi nk i t ri ght that you s houl d know that the mos t
dreadful thi ngs are bei ng s ai d about you i n London thi ngs that I coul d
hardl y repeat to you.
I dont wi s h to know anythi ng about them. I l ove s candal s about other
peopl e, but s candal s about mys el f dont i nteres t me. They have not got the
charm of novel ty.
They mus t i nteres t you, Dori an. E very gentl eman i s i nteres ted i n
hi s good name. You dont want peopl e to tal k of you as s omethi ng vi l e and
degraded. Of cours e you have your pos i ti on, and your weal th, and al l that ki nd
of thi ng. But pos i ti on and weal th are not everythi ng. M i nd you, I dont bel i eve
thes e rumors at al l . At l eas t, I cant bel i eve them when I s ee you. Si n i s a
thi ng that wri tes i ts el f acros s a mans face. It cannot be conceal ed. Peopl e tal k
of s ecret vi ces . There are no s uch thi ngs as s ecret vi ces . If a wretched man
has a vi ce, i t s hows i ts el f i n the l i nes of hi s mouth, the droop of hi s eyel i ds ,
the moul di ng of hi s hands even. Somebody I wont menti on hi s name, but
you know hi m came to me l as t year to have hi s portrai t done. I had never
s een hi m before, and had never heard anythi ng about hi m at the ti me,
though I have heard a good deal s i nce. He offered an extravagant pri ce. I
refus ed hi m. There was s omethi ng i n the s hape of hi s fi ngers that I hated. I
know now that I was qui te ri ght i n what I fanci ed about hi m. Hi s l i fe i s
dreadful . But you, Dori an, wi th your pure, bri ght, i nnocent face, and your
marvel l ous untroubl ed youth I cant bel i eve anythi ng agai ns t you. And yet I
s ee you very s el dom, and you never come down to the s tudi o now, and when I
am away from you, and I hear al l thes e hi deous thi ngs that peopl e are
whi s peri ng about you, I dont know what to s ay. Why i s i t, Dori an, that a man
l i ke the Duke of Berwi ck l eaves the room of a cl ub when you enter i t? Why i s i t
that s o many gentl emen i n London wi l l nei ther go to your hous e nor i nvi te you
to thei rs ? You us ed to be a fri end of Lord Cawdor. I met hi m at di nner l as t week.
Your name happened to come up i n convers ati on, i n connecti on wi th the
mi ni atures you have l ent to the exhi bi ti on at the Dudl ey. Cawdor curl ed hi s
l i p, and s ai d that you mi ght have the mos t arti s ti c tas tes , but that you were a
man whom no pure-mi nded gi rl s houl d be al l owed to know, and whom no
chas te woman s houl d s i t i n the s ame room wi th. I remi nded hi m that I was a
fri end of yours , and as ked hi m what he meant. He tol d me. He tol d me ri ght
out before everybody. It was horri bl e! Why i s your fri ends hi p s o fateful to
young men? There was that wretched boy i n the Guards who commi tted
s ui ci de. You were hi s great fri end. There was Si r Henry As hton, who had to
l eave E ngl and, wi th a tarni s hed name. You and he were i ns eparabl e. What
about Adri an Si ngl eton, and hi s dreadful end? What about Lord Kents onl y
s on, and hi s career? I met hi s father yes terday i n St. James Street. He s eemed
broken wi th s hame and s orrow. What about the young Duke of Perth? What s ort
of l i fe has he got now? What gentl eman woul d as s oci ate wi th hi m? Dori an,
Dori an, your reputati on i s i nfamous . I know you and Harry are great fri ends . I
s ay nothi ng about that now, but s urel y you need not have made hi s s i s ters
name a by-word. When you met Lady Gwendol en, not a breath of s candal had
ever touched her. Is there a s i ngl e decent woman i n London now who woul d
dri ve wi th her i n the Park? Why, even her chi l dren are not al l owed to l i ve wi th
her. Then there are other s tori es s tori es that you have been s een creepi ng at
dawn out of dreadful hous es and s l i nki ng i n di s gui s e i nto the foul es t dens
i n London. Are they true? Can they be true? When I fi rs t heard them, I
l aughed. I hear them now, and they make me s hudder. What about your
country-hous e, and the l i fe that i s l ed there? Dori an, you dont know what i s
s ai d about you. I wont tel l you that I dont want to preach to you. I remember
Harry s ayi ng once that every man who turned hi ms el f i nto an amateur curate
for the moment al ways s ai d that, and then broke hi s word. I do want to preach to
you. I want you to l ead s uch a l i fe as wi l l make the worl d res pect you. I want
you to have a cl ean name and a fai r record. I want you to get ri d of the dreadful
peopl e you as s oci ate wi th. Dont s hrug your s houl ders l i ke that. Dont be s o
i ndi fferent. You have a wonderful i nfl uence. Let i t be for good, not for evi l .
They s ay that you corrupt every one whom you become i nti mate wi th, and that
i t i s qui te s uffi ci ent for you to enter a hous e, for s hame of s ome ki nd to fol l ow
after you. I dont know whether i t i s s o or not. How s houl d I know? But i t i s s ai d
of you. I am tol d thi ngs that i t s eems i mpos s i bl e to doubt. Lord Gl ouces ter was
one of my greates t fri ends at Oxford. He s howed me a l etter that hi s wi fe had
wri tten to hi m when s he was dyi ng al one i n her vi l l a at M entone. Your name
was i mpl i cated i n the mos t terri bl e confes s i on I ever read. I tol d hi m that i t
was abs urd that I knew you thoroughl y, and that you were i ncapabl e of
anythi ng of the ki nd. Know you? I wonder do I know you? Before I coul d ans wer
that, I s houl d have to s ee your s oul .
and i t never l eaves the room i n whi ch i t i s wri tten. I wi l l s how i t to you i f you
come wi th me.
I wi l l come wi th you, Dori an, i f you wi s h i t. I s ee I have mi s s ed my
trai n. That makes no matter. I can go tomorrow. But dont as k me to read
anythi ng toni ght. Al l I want i s a pl ai n ans wer to my ques ti on.
That wi l l be gi ven to you up-s tai rs . I coul d not gi ve i t here. You wont
have to read l ong. Dont keep me wai ti ng.
CHAPT E R 11
He pas s ed out of the room, and began the as cent, Bas i l Hal l ward
fol l owi ng cl os e behi nd. They wal ked s oftl y, as men i ns ti ncti vel y do at ni ght.
The l amp cas t fantas ti c s hadows on the wal l and s tai rcas e. A ri s i ng wi nd
made s ome of the wi ndows rattl e.
When they reached the top l andi ng, Dori an s et the l amp down on the
fl oor, and taki ng out the key turned i t i n the l ock. You i ns i s t on knowi ng,
Bas i l ? he as ked, i n a l ow voi ce.
Yes .
I am del i ghted, he murmured, s mi l i ng. Then he added, s omewhat
bi tterl y, You are the one man i n the worl d who i s enti tl ed to know everythi ng
about me. You have had more to do wi th my l i fe than you thi nk. And, taki ng
up the l amp, he opened the door and went i n. A col d current of ai r pas s ed
them, and the l i ght s hot up for a moment i n a fl ame of murky orange. He
s huddered. Shut the door behi nd you, he s ai d, as he pl aced the l amp on the
tabl e.
Hal l ward gl anced round hi m, wi th a puzzl ed expres s i on. The room
l ooked as i f i t had not been l i ved i n for years . A faded Fl emi s h tapes try, a
curtai ned pi cture, an ol d Ital i an cas s one, and an al mos t empty bookcas e that
was al l that i t s eemed to contai n, bes i des a chai r and a tabl e. As Dori an Gray
was l i ghti ng a hal f-burned candl e that was s tandi ng on the mantel -s hel f, he
s aw that the whol e pl ace was covered wi th dus t, and that the carpet was i n
hol es . A mous e ran s cuffl i ng behi nd the wai ns coti ng. There was a damp odor
of mi l dew.
So you thi nk that i t i s onl y God who s ees the s oul , Bas i l ? Draw that
curtai n back, and you wi l l s ee mi ne.
The voi ce that s poke was col d and cruel . You are mad, Dori an, or
pl ayi ng a part, muttered Hal l ward, frowni ng.
You wont? Then I mus t do i t mys el f, s ai d the young man; and he
tore the curtai n from i ts rod, and fl ung i t on the ground.
An excl amati on of horror broke from Hal l wards l i ps as he s aw i n the
di m l i ght the hi deous thi ng on the canvas l eeri ng at hi m. There was
s omethi ng i n i ts expres s i on that fi l l ed hi m wi th di s gus t and l oathi ng. Good
heavens ! i t was Dori an Grays own face that he was l ooki ng at! The horror,
whatever i t was , had not yet enti rel y marred that marvel l ous beauty. There
was s ti l l s ome gol d i n the thi nni ng hai r and s ome s carl et on the s ens ual
l i ps . The s odden eyes had kept s omethi ng of the l ovel i nes s of thei r bl ue, the
nobl e curves had not yet pas s ed enti rel y away from chi s el l ed nos tri l s and
from pl as ti c throat. Yes , i t was Dori an hi ms el f. But who had done i t? He
s eemed to recogni ze hi s own brus h-work, and the frame was hi s own des i gn.
The i dea was mons trous , yet he fel t afrai d. He s ei zed the l i ghted candl e, and
hel d i t to the pi cture. In the l eft-hand corner was hi s own name, traced i n l ong
l etters of bri ght vermi l i on.
It was s ome foul parody, s ome i nfamous , i gnobl e s ati re. He had never
done that. Sti l l , i t was hi s own pi cture. He knew i t, and he fel t as i f hi s bl ood
had changed from fi re to s l uggi s h i ce i n a moment. Hi s own pi cture! What di d
i t mean? Why had i t al tered? He turned, and l ooked at Dori an Gray wi th the
eyes of a s i ck man. Hi s mouth twi tched, and hi s parched tongue s eemed
unabl e to arti cul ate. He pas s ed hi s hand acros s hi s forehead. It was dank wi th
cl ammy s weat.
The young man was l eani ng agai ns t the mantel -s hel f, watchi ng
hi m wi th that s trange expres s i on that i s on the faces of thos e who are abs orbed
i n a pl ay when a great arti s t i s acti ng. There was nei ther real s orrow i n i t nor
real j oy. There was s i mpl y the pas s i on of the s pectator, wi th perhaps a fl i cker
of tri umph i n the eyes . He had taken the fl ower out of hi s coat, and was
s mel l i ng i t, or pretendi ng to do s o.
What does thi s mean? cri ed Hal l ward, at l as t. Hi s own voi ce s ounded
s hri l l and curi ous i n hi s ears .
Years ago, when I was a boy, s ai d Dori an Gray, you met me, devoted
yours el f to me, fl attered me, and taught me to be vai n of my good l ooks . One
day you i ntroduced me to a fri end of yours , who expl ai ned to me the wonder of
youth, and you fi ni s hed a portrai t of me that reveal ed to me the wonder of
beauty. In a mad moment, that I dont know, even now, whether I regret or not,
I made a wi s h. Perhaps you woul d cal l i t a prayer....
I remember i t! Oh, how wel l I remember i t! No! the thi ng i s
i mpos s i bl e. The room i s damp. The mi l dew has got i nto the canvas . The
pai nts I us ed had s ome wretched mi neral poi s on i n them. I tel l you the thi ng
i s i mpos s i bl e.
Ah, what i s i mpos s i bl e? murmured the young man, goi ng over to the
wi ndow, and l eani ng hi s forehead agai ns t the col d, mi s t-s tai ned gl as s .
You tol d me you had des troyed i t.
I was wrong. It has des troyed me.
I dont bel i eve i t i s my pi cture.
Cant you s ee your romance i n i t? s ai d Dori an, bi tterl y.
M y romance, as you cal l i t....
As you cal l ed i t.
There was nothi ng evi l i n i t, nothi ng s hameful . Thi s i s the face of a
s atyr.
It i s the face of my s oul .
God! what a thi ng I mus t have wors hi pped! Thi s has the eyes of a
devi l .
When he reached the l i brary, he s aw the bag and coat i n the corner.
They mus t be hi dden away s omewhere. He unl ocked a s ecret pres s that was
i n the wai ns coti ng, and put them i nto i t. He coul d eas i l y burn them
afterwards . Then he pul l ed out hi s watch. It was twenty mi nutes to two.
He s at down, and began to thi nk. E very year every month, al mos t
men were s trangl ed i n E ngl and for what he had done. There had been a
madnes s of murder i n the ai r. Some red s tar had come too cl os e to the earth.
E vi dence? What evi dence was there agai ns t hi m? Bas i l Hal l ward had
l eft the hous e at el even. No one had s een hi m come i n agai n. M os t of the
s ervants were at Sel by Royal . Hi s val et had gone to bed.
Pari s ! Yes . It was to Pari s that Bas i l had gone, by the mi dni ght trai n,
as he had i ntended. Wi th hi s curi ous res erved habi ts , i t woul d be months
before any s us pi ci ons woul d be arous ed. M onths ? E verythi ng coul d be
des troyed l ong before then.
A s udden thought s truck hi m. He put on hi s fur coat and hat, and
went out i nto the hal l . There he paus ed, heari ng the s l ow heavy tread of the
pol i ceman outs i de on the pavement, and s eei ng the fl as h of the l antern
refl ected i n the wi ndow. He wai ted, hol di ng hi s breath.
After a few moments he opened the front door, and s l i pped out,
s hutti ng i t very gentl y behi nd hi m. Then he began ri ngi ng the bel l . In about
ten mi nutes hi s val et appeared, hal f dres s ed, and l ooki ng very drows y.
I am s orry to have had to wake you up, Franci s , he s ai d, s teppi ng i n;
but I had forgotten my l atch-key. What ti me i s i t?
Fi ve mi nutes pas t two, s i r, ans wered the man, l ooki ng at the cl ock
and yawni ng.
Fi ve mi nutes pas t two? How horri bl y l ate! You mus t wake me at ni ne
tomorrow. I have s ome work to do.
Al l ri ght, s i r.
Di d any one cal l thi s eveni ng?
M r. Hal l ward, s i r. He s tayed here ti l l el even, and then he went
away to catch hi s trai n.
Oh! I am s orry I di dnt s ee hi m. Di d he l eave any mes s age?
No, s i r, except that he woul d wri te to you.
That wi l l do, Franci s . Dont forget to cal l me at ni netomorrow.
No, s i r.
The man s hambl ed down the pas s age i n hi s s l i ppers .
Dori an Gray threw hi s hat and coat upon the yel l ow marbl e tabl e, and
pas s ed i nto the l i brary. He wal ked up and down the room for a quarter of an
hour, bi ti ng hi s l i p, and thi nki ng. Then he took the Bl ue Book down from one
of the s hel ves , and began to turn over the l eaves . Al an Campbel l , 152, Hertford
Street, M ayfai r. Yes ; that was the man he wanted.
CHAPT E R 12
At ni ne ocl ock the next morni ng hi s s ervant came i n wi th a cup of
chocol ate on a tray, and opened the s hutters . Dori an was s l eepi ng qui te
peaceful l y, l yi ng on hi s ri ght s i de, wi th one hand underneath hi s cheek. He
l ooked l i ke a boy who had been ti red out wi th pl ay, or s tudy.
The man had to touch hi m twi ce on the s houl der before he woke, and
as he opened hi s eyes a fai nt s mi l e pas s ed acros s hi s l i ps , as though he had
been havi ng s ome del i ghtful dream. Yet he had not dreamed at al l . Hi s ni ght
had been untroubl ed by any i mages of pl eas ure or of pai n. But youth s mi l es
wi thout any reas on. It i s one of i ts chi efes t charms .
He turned round, and, l eani ng on hi s el bow, began to dri nk hi s
chocol ate. The mel l ow November s un was s treami ng i nto the room. The s ky
was bri ght bl ue, and there was a geni al warmth i n the ai r. It was al mos t l i ke
a morni ng i n M ay.
Gradual l y the events of the precedi ng ni ght crept wi th s i l ent bl oods tai ned feet i nto hi s brai n, and recons tructed thems el ves there wi th terri bl e
di s ti nctnes s . He wi nced at the memory of al l that he had s uffered, and for a
moment the s ame curi ous feel i ng of l oathi ng for Bas i l Hal l ward, that had
made hi m ki l l hi m as he s at i n the chai r, came back to hi m, and he grew col d
wi th pas s i on. The dead man was s ti l l s i tti ng there, too, and i n the s unl i ght
now. How horri bl e that was ! Such hi deous thi ngs were for the darknes s , not for
the day.
He fel t that i f he brooded on what he had gone through he woul d
s i cken or grow mad. There were s i ns whos e fas ci nati on was more i n the
memory than i n the doi ng of them, s trange tri umphs that grati fi ed the pri de
more than the pas s i ons , and gave to the i ntel l ect a qui ckened s ens e of j oy,
greater than any j oy they brought, or coul d ever bri ng, to the s ens es . But thi s
was not one of them. It was a thi ng to be dri ven out of the mi nd, to be drugged
wi th poppi es , to be s trangl ed l es t i t mi ght s trangl e one i ts el f.
He pas s ed hi s hand acros s hi s forehead, and then got up has ti l y, and
dres s ed hi ms el f wi th even more than hi s us ual attenti on, gi vi ng a good deal
of care to the s el ecti on of hi s neckti e and s carf-pi n, and changi ng hi s ri ngs
more than once.
He s pent a l ong ti me over breakfas t, tas ti ng the vari ous di s hes ,
tal ki ng to hi s val et about s ome new l i veri es that he was thi nki ng of getti ng
made for the s ervants at Sel by, and goi ng through hi s corres pondence. Over
s ome of the l etters he s mi l ed. Three of them bored hi m. One he read s everal
ti mes over, and then tore up wi th a s l i ght l ook of annoyance i n hi s face. That
awful thi ng, a womans memory! as Lord Henry had once s ai d.
When he had drunk hi s coffee, he s at down at the tabl e, and wrote two
l etters . One he put i n hi s pocket, the other he handed to the val et.
after that us ed to be al ways s een together at the Opera, and wherever good
mus i c was goi ng on. For ei ghteen months thei r i nti macy l as ted. Campbel l
was al ways ei ther at Sel by Royal or i n Gros venor Square. To hi m, as to many
others , Dori an Gray was the type of everythi ng that i s wonderful and
fas ci nati ng i n l i fe. Whether or not a quarrel had taken pl ace between them no
one ever knew. But s uddenl y peopl e remarked that they s carcel y s poke when
they met, and that Campbel l s eemed al ways to go away earl y from any party at
whi ch Dori an Gray was pres ent. He had changed, too, was s trangel y
mel anchol y at ti mes , appeared al mos t to di s l i ke heari ng mus i c of any
pas s i onate character, and woul d never hi ms el f pl ay, gi vi ng as hi s excus e,
when he was cal l ed upon, that he was s o abs orbed i n s ci ence that he had no
ti me l eft i n whi ch to practi s e. And thi s was certai nl y true. E very day he
s eemed to become more i nteres ted i n bi ol ogy, and hi s name appeared once or
twi ce i n s ome of the s ci enti fi c revi ews , i n connecti on wi th certai n curi ous
experi ments .
Thi s was the man that Dori an Gray was wai ti ng for, paci ng up and
down the room, gl anci ng every moment at the cl ock, and becomi ng horri bl y
agi tated as the mi nutes went by. At l as t the door opened, and hi s s ervant
entered.
M r. Al an Campbel l , s i r.
A s i gh of rel i ef broke from hi s parched l i ps , and the col or came back to
hi s cheeks .
As k hi m to come at once, Franci s .
The man bowed, and reti red. In a few moments Al an Campbel l
wal ked i n, l ooki ng very s tern and rather pal e, hi s pal l or bei ng i ntens i fi ed by
hi s coal -bl ack hai r and dark eyebrows .
Al an! thi s i s ki nd of you. I thank you for comi ng.
I had i ntended never to enter your hous e agai n, Gray. But you s ai d i t
was a matter of l i fe and death. Hi s voi ce was hard and col d. He s poke wi th
s l ow del i berati on. There was a l ook of contempt i n the s teady s earchi ng gaze
that he turned on Dori an. He kept hi s hands i n the pockets of hi s As trakhan
coat, and appeared not to have noti ced the ges ture wi th whi ch he had been
greeted.
It i s a matter of l i fe and death, Al an, and to more than one pers on. Si t
down.
Campbel l took a chai r by the tabl e, and Dori an s at oppos i te to hi m. The
two mens eyes met. In Dori ans there was i nfi ni te pi ty. He knew that what he
was goi ng to do was dreadful .
After a s trai ned moment of s i l ence, he l eaned acros s and s ai d, very
qui etl y, but watchi ng the effect of each word upon the face of the man he had
s ent for, Al an, i n a l ocked room at the top of thi s hous e, a room to whi ch
nobody but mys el f has acces s , a dead man i s s eated at a tabl e. He has been
dead ten hours now. Dont s ti r, and dont l ook at me l i ke that. Who the man i s ,
why he di ed, how he di ed, are matters that do not concern you. What you have
to do i s thi s ...
Stop, Gray. I dont want to know anythi ng further. Whether what you
have tol d me i s true or not true, does nt concern me. I enti rel y decl i ne to be
mi xed up i n your l i fe. Keep your horri bl e s ecrets to yours el f. They dont
i nteres t me any more.
Al an, they wi l l have to i nteres t you. Thi s one wi l l have to i nteres t
you. I am awful l y s orry for you, Al an. But I cant hel p mys el f. You are the one
man who i s abl e to s ave me. I am forced to bri ng you i nto the matter. I have no
opti on. Al an, you are a s ci enti s t. You know about chemi s try, and thi ngs of that
ki nd. You have made experi ments . What you have got to do i s to des troy the
thi ng that i s up-s tai rs to des troy i t s o that not a ves ti ge wi l l be l eft of i t.
Nobody s aw thi s pers on come i nto the hous e. Indeed, at the pres ent moment
he i s s uppos ed to be i n Pari s . He wi l l not be mi s s ed for months . When he i s
mi s s ed, there mus t be no trace of hi m found here. You, Al an, you mus t
change hi m, and everythi ng that bel ongs to hi m, i nto a handful of as hes that
I may s catter i n the ai r.
You are mad, Dori an.
Ah! I was wai ti ng for you to cal l me Dori an.
You are mad, I tel l you, mad to i magi ne that I woul d rai s e a fi nger
to hel p you, mad to make thi s mons trous confes s i on. I wi l l have nothi ng to do
wi th thi s matter, whatever i t i s . Do you thi nk I am goi ng to peri l my reputati on
for you? What i s i t to me what devi l s work you are up to?
It was a s ui ci de, Al an.
I am gl ad of that. But who drove hi m to i t? You, I s houl d fancy.
Do you s ti l l refus e to do thi s , for me?
Of cours e I refus e. I wi l l have abs ol utel y nothi ng to do wi th i t. I dont
care what s hame comes on you. You des erve i t al l . I s houl d not be s orry to s ee
you di s graced, publ i cl y di s graced. How dare you as k me, of al l men i n the
worl d, to mi x mys el f up i n thi s horror? I s houl d have thought you knew more
about peopl es characters . Your fri end Lord Henry Wotton cant have taught you
much about ps ychol ogy, whatever el s e he has taught you. Nothi ng wi l l i nduce
me to s ti r a s tep to hel p you. You have come to the wrong man. Go to s ome of
your fri ends . Dont come to me.
Al an, i t was murder. I ki l l ed hi m. You dont know what he had made
me s uffer. Whatever my l i fe i s , he had more to do wi th the maki ng or the
marri ng of i t than poor Harry has had. He may not have i ntended i t, the res ul t
was the s ame.
M urder! Good God, Dori an, i s that what you have come to? I s hal l not
i nform upon you. It i s not my bus i nes s . Bes i des , you are certai n to be
arres ted, wi thout my s ti rri ng i n the matter. Nobody ever commi ts a murder
wi thout doi ng s omethi ng s tupi d. But I wi l l have nothi ng to do wi th i t.
Al l I as k of you i s to perform a certai n s ci enti fi c experi ment. You go to
hos pi tal s and dead-hous es , and the horrors that you do there dont affect you.
If i n s ome hi deous di s s ecti ng-room or feti d l aboratory you found thi s man
l yi ng on a l eaden tabl e wi th red gutters s cooped out i n i t, you woul d s i mpl y
l ook upon hi m as an admi rabl e s ubj ect. You woul d not turn a hai r. You woul d
not bel i eve that you were doi ng anythi ng wrong. On the contrary, you woul d
probabl y feel that you were benefi ti ng the human race, or i ncreas i ng the s um
of knowl edge i n the worl d, or grati fyi ng i ntel l ectual curi os i ty, or s omethi ng of
that ki nd. What I want you to do i s s i mpl y what you have often done before.
Indeed, to des troy a body mus t be l es s horri bl e than what you are accus tomed
to work at. And, remember, i t i s the onl y pi ece of evi dence agai ns t me. If i t i s
di s covered, I am l os t; and i t i s s ure to be di s covered unl es s you hel p me.
I have no des i re to hel p you. You forget that. I am s i mpl y i ndi fferent
to the whol e thi ng. It has nothi ng to do wi th me.
Al an, I entreat you. Thi nk of the pos i ti on I am i n. Jus t before you
came I al mos t fai nted wi th terror. No! dont thi nk of that. Look at the matter
purel y from the s ci enti fi c poi nt of vi ew. You dont i nqui re where the dead
thi ngs on whi ch you experi ment come from. Dont i nqui re now. I have tol d you
too much as i t i s . But I beg of you to do thi s . We were fri ends once, Al an.
Dont s peak about thos e days , Dori an: they are dead.
The dead l i nger s ometi mes . The man up-s tai rs wi l l not go away. He
i s s i tti ng at the tabl e wi th bowed head and outs tretched arms . Al an! Al an! i f
you dont come to my as s i s tance I am rui ned. Why, they wi l l hang me, Al an!
Dont you unders tand? They wi l l hang me for what I have done.
There i s no good i n prol ongi ng thi s s cene. I refus e abs ol utel y to do
anythi ng i n the matter. It i s i ns ane of you to as k me.
You refus e abs ol utel y?
Yes .
The s ame l ook of pi ty came i nto Dori ans eyes , then he s tretched out
hi s hand, took a pi ece of paper, and wrote s omethi ng on i t. He read i t over
twi ce, fol ded i t careful l y, and pus hed i t acros s the tabl e. Havi ng done thi s , he
got up, and went over to the wi ndow.
Campbel l l ooked at hi m i n s urpri s e, and then took up the paper, and
opened i t. As he read i t, hi s face became ghas tl y pal e, and he fel l back i n hi s
chai r. A horri bl e s ens e of s i cknes s came over hi m. He fel t as i f hi s heart was
beati ng i ts el f to death i n s ome empty hol l ow.
After two or three mi nutes of terri bl e s i l ence, Dori an turned round,
and came and s tood behi nd hi m, putti ng hi s hand upon hi s s houl der.
I am s o s orry, Al an, he murmured, but you l eave me no al ternati ve.
I have a l etter wri tten al ready. Here i t i s . You s ee the addres s . If you dont
hel p me, I mus t s end i t. You know what the res ul t wi l l be. But you are goi ng to
hel p me. It i s i mpos s i bl e for you to refus e now. I tri ed to s pare you. You wi l l do
me the j us ti ce to admi t that. You were s tern, hars h, offens i ve. You treated me
as no man has ever dared to treat me no l i vi ng man, at any rate. I bore i t al l .
Now i t i s for me to di ctate terms .
Campbel l buri ed hi s face i n hi s hands , and a s hudder pas s ed
through hi m.
Yes , i t i s my turn to di ctate terms , Al an. You know what they are. The
thi ng i s qui te s i mpl e. Come, dont work yours el f i nto thi s fever. The thi ng has
to be done. Face i t, and do i t.
A groan broke from Campbel l s l i ps , and he s hi vered al l over. The
ti cki ng of the cl ock on the mantel -pi ece s eemed to hi m to be di vi di ng ti me i nto
s eparate atoms of agony, each of whi ch was too terri bl e to be borne. He fel t as i f
an i ron ri ng was bei ng s l owl y ti ghtened round hi s forehead, and as i f the
di s grace wi th whi ch he was threatened had al ready come upon hi m. The hand
upon hi s s houl der wei ghed l i ke a hand of l ead. It was i ntol erabl e. It s eemed
to crus h hi m.
Come, Al an, you mus t deci de at once.
He hes i tated a moment. Is there a fi re i n the room up-s tai rs ? he
murmured.
Yes , there i s a gas -fi re wi th as bes tos .
I wi l l have to go home and get s ome thi ngs from the l aboratory.
No, Al an, you need not l eave the hous e. Wri te on a s heet of notepaper what you want, and my s ervant wi l l take a cab and bri ng the thi ngs back
to you.
Campbel l wrote a few l i nes , bl otted them, and addres s ed an envel ope
to hi s as s i s tant. Dori an took the note up and read i t careful l y. Then he rang
the bel l , and gave i t to hi s val et, wi th orders to return as s oon as pos s i bl e, and
to bri ng the thi ngs wi th hi m.
When the hal l door s hut, Campbel l s tarted, and, havi ng got up from
the chai r, went over to the chi mney-pi ece. He was s hi veri ng wi th a s ort of
ague. For nearl y twenty mi nutes , nei ther of the men s poke. A fl y buzzed
noi s i l y about the room, and the ti cki ng of the cl ock was l i ke the beat of a
hammer.
As the chi me s truck one, Campbel l turned around, and, l ooki ng at
Dori an Gray, s aw that hi s eyes were fi l l ed wi th tears . There was s omethi ng
i n the puri ty and refi nement of that s ad face that s eemed to enrage hi m. You
are i nfamous , abs ol utel y i nfamous ! he muttered.
Hus h, Al an: you have s aved my l i fe, s ai d Dori an.
Your l i fe? Good heavens ! what a l i fe that i s ! You have gone from
corrupti on to corrupti on, and now you have cul mi nated i n cri me. In doi ng what
I am goi ng to do, what you force me to do, i t i s not of your l i fe that I am
thi nki ng.
Ah, Al an, murmured Dori an, wi th a s i gh, I wi s h you had a
thous andth part of the pi ty for me that I have for you. He turned away, as he
s poke, and s tood l ooki ng out at the garden. Campbel l made no ans wer.
After about ten mi nutes a knock came to the door, and the s ervant
entered, carryi ng a mahogany ches t of chemi cal s , wi th a s mal l el ectri c
battery s et on top of i t. He pl aced i t on the tabl e, and went out agai n, returni ng
wi th a l ong coi l of s teel and pl ati num wi re and two rather curi ous l y-s haped
i ron cl amps .
Shal l I l eave the thi ngs here, s i r? he as ked Campbel l .
Yes , s ai d Dori an. And I am afrai d, Franci s , that I have another
errand for you. What i s the name of the man at Ri chmond who s uppl i es Sel by
wi th orchi ds ?
Harden, s i r.
Yes , Harden. You mus t go down to Ri chmond at once, s ee Harden
pers onal l y, and tel l hi m to s end twi ce as many orchi ds as I ordered, and to
have as few whi te ones as pos s i bl e. In fact, I dont want any whi te ones . It i s a
l ovel y day, Franci s , and Ri chmond i s a very pretty pl ace, otherwi s e I woul dnt
bother you about i t.
No troubl e, s i r. At what ti me s hal l I be back?
Dori an l ooked at Campbel l . How l ong wi l l your experi ment take,
Al an? he s ai d, i n a cal m, i ndi fferent voi ce. The pres ence of a thi rd pers on i n
the room s eemed to gi ve hi m extraordi nary courage.
Campbel l frowned, and bi t hi s l i p. It wi l l take about fi ve hours , he
ans wered.
It wi l l be ti me enough, then, i f you are back at hal f-pas t s even,
Franci s . Or s tay: j us t l eave my thi ngs out for dres s i ng. You can have the
eveni ng to yours el f. I am not di ni ng at home, s o I s hal l not want you.
Thank you, s i r, s ai d the man, l eavi ng the room.
Now, Al an, there i s not a moment to be l os t. How heavy thi s ches t i s !
Il l take i t for you. You bri ng the other thi ngs . He s poke rapi dl y, and i n an
authori tati ve manner. Campbel l fel t domi nated by hi m. They l eft the room
together.
When they reached the top l andi ng, Dori an took out the key and
turned i t i n the l ock. Then he s topped, and a troubl ed l ook came i nto hi s eyes .
He s huddered. I dont thi nk I can go i n, Al an, he murmured.
It i s nothi ng to me. I dont requi re you, s ai d Campbel l , col dl y.
Dori an hal f opened the door. As he di d s o, he s aw the face of the
portrai t gri nni ng i n the s unl i ght. On the fl oor i n front of i t the torn curtai n
was l yi ng. He remembered that the ni ght before, for the fi rs t ti me i n hi s l i fe,
he had forgotten to hi de i t, when he crept out of the room.
But what was that l oaths ome red dew that gl eamed, wet and
gl i s teni ng, on one of the hands , as though the canvas had s weated bl ood? How
horri bl e i t was ! more horri bl e, i t s eemed to hi m for the moment, than the
s i l ent thi ng that he knew was s tretched acros s the tabl e, the thi ng whos e
grotes que mi s s hapen s hadow on the s potted carpet s howed hi m that i t had not
s ti rred, but was s ti l l there, as he had l eft i t.
He opened the door a l i ttl e wi der, and wal ked qui ckl y i n, wi th hal fcl os ed eyes and averted head, determi ned that he woul d not l ook even once
upon the dead man. Then, s toopi ng down, and taki ng up the gol d-and-purpl e
hangi ng, he fl ung i t over the pi cture.
He s topped, feel i ng afrai d to turn round, and hi s eyes fi xed
thems el ves on the i ntri caci es of the pattern before hi m. He heard Campbel l
bri ngi ng i n the heavy ches t, and the i rons , and the other thi ngs that he had
requi red for hi s dreadful work. He began to wonder i f he and Bas i l Hal l ward
had ever met, and, i f s o, what they had thought of each other.
Leave me now, s ai d Campbel l .
He turned and hurri ed out, j us t cons ci ous that the dead man had
been thrus t back i nto the chai r and was s i tti ng up i n i t, wi th Campbel l gazi ng
i nto the gl i s teni ng yel l ow face. As he was goi ng downs tai rs he heard the key
bei ng turned i n the l ock.
It was l ong after s even ocl ock when Campbel l came back i nto the
l i brary. He was pal e, but abs ol utel y cal m. I have done what you as ked me to
do, he muttered. And now, good-bye. Let us never s ee each other agai n.
You have s aved me from rui n, Al an. I cannot forget that, s ai d Dori an,
s i mpl y.
As s oon as Campbel l had l eft, he went up-s tai rs . There was a horri bl e
s mel l of chemi cal s i n the room. But the thi ng that had been s i tti ng at the
tabl e was gone.
CHAPT E R 13
There i s no good tel l i ng me you are goi ng to be good, Dori an, cri ed
Lord Henry, di ppi ng hi s whi te fi ngers i nto a red copper bowl fi l l ed wi th ros ewater. You are qui te perfect. Pray dont change.
Dori an s hook hi s head. No, Harry, I have done too many dreadful
thi ngs i n my l i fe. I am not goi ng to do any more. I began my good acti ons
yes terday.
Where were you yes terday?
In the country, Harry. I was s tayi ng at a l i ttl e i nn by mys el f.
M y dear boy, s ai d Lord Henry s mi l i ng, anybody can be good i n the
country. There are no temptati ons there. That i s the reas on why peopl e who
l i ve out of town are s o unci vi l i zed. There are onl y two ways , as you know, of
becomi ng ci vi l i zed. One i s by bei ng cul tured, the other i s by bei ng corrupt.
Country-peopl e have no opportuni ty of bei ng ei ther, s o they s tagnate.
Cul ture and corrupti on, murmured Dori an. I have known s omethi ng
of both. It s eems to me curi ous now that they s houl d ever be found together. For
I have a new i deal , Harry. I am goi ng to al ter. I thi nk I have al tered.
You have not tol d me yet what your good acti on was . Or di d you s ay you
had done more than one?
I can tel l you, Harry. It i s not a s tory I coul d tel l to any one el s e. I
s pared s omebody. It s ounds vai n, but you unders tand what I mean. She was
qui te beauti ful and wonderful l y l i ke Si byl Vane. I thi nk i t was that whi ch
fi rs t attracted me to her. You remember Si byl , dont you? How l ong ago that
s eems ! Wel l , Hetty was not one of our own cl as s , of cours e. She was s i mpl y a
gi rl i n a vi l l age. But I real l y l oved her. I am qui te s ure that I l oved her. Al l
duri ng thi s wonderful M ay that we have been havi ng, I us ed to run down and
s ee her two or three ti mes a week. Yes terday s he met me i n a l i ttl e orchard.
The appl e-bl os s oms kept tumbl i ng down on her hai r, and s he was l aughi ng.
We were to have gone away together thi s morni ng at dawn. Suddenl y I
determi ned to l eave her as fl ower-l i ke as I had found her.
I s houl d thi nk the novel ty of the emoti on mus t have gi ven you a thri l l
of real pl eas ure, Dori an, i nterrupted Lord Henry. But I can fi ni s h your i dyl
for you. You gave her good advi ce, and broke her heart. That was the begi nni ng
of your reformati on.
Harry, you are horri bl e! You mus tnt s ay thes e dreadful thi ngs .
Hettys heart i s not broken. Of cours e s he cri ed, and al l that. But there i s no
di s grace upon her. She can l i ve, l i ke Perdi ta, i n her garden.
And weep over a fai thl es s Fl ori zel , s ai d Lord Henry, l aughi ng. M y
dear Dori an, you have the mos t curi ous boyi s h moods . Do you thi nk thi s gi rl
wi l l ever be real l y contented now wi th any one of her own rank? I s uppos e s he
fancy yours el f s afe, and thi nk yours el f s trong. But a chance tone of col or i n a
room or a morni ng s ky, a parti cul ar perfume that you had once l oved and that
bri ngs s trange memori es wi th i t, a l i ne from a forgotten poem that you had
come acros s agai n, a cadence from a pi ece of mus i c that you had ceas ed to pl ay
I tel l you, Dori an, that i t i s on thi ngs l i ke thes e that our l i ves depend.
Browni ng wri tes about that s omewhere; but our own s ens es wi l l i magi ne them
for us . There are moments when the odor of hel i otrope pas s es s uddenl y acros s
me, and I have to l i ve the s tranges t year of my l i fe over agai n.
I wi s h I coul d change pl aces wi th you, Dori an. The worl d has cri ed
out agai ns t us both, but i t has al ways wors hi pped you. It al ways wi l l wors hi p
you. You are the type of what the age i s s earchi ng for, and what i t i s afrai d i t
has found. I am s o gl ad that you have never done anythi ng, never carved a
s tatue, or pai nted a pi cture, or produced anythi ng outs i de of yours el f! Li fe has
been your art. You have s et yours el f to mus i c. Your days have been your
s onnets .
Dori an ros e up from the pi ano, and pas s ed hi s hand through hi s
hai r. Yes , l i fe has been exqui s i te, he murmured, but I am not goi ng to
have the s ame l i fe, Harry. And you mus t not s ay thes e extravagant thi ngs to
me. You dont know everythi ng about me. I thi nk that i f you di d, even you
woul d turn from me. You l augh. Dont l augh.
Why have you s topped pl ayi ng, Dori an? Go back and pl ay the nocturne
over agai n. Look at that great honey-col ored moon that hangs i n the dus ky ai r.
She i s wai ti ng for you to charm her, and i f you pl ay s he wi l l come cl os er to the
earth. You wont? Let us go to the cl ub, then. It has been a charmi ng eveni ng,
and we mus t end i t charmi ngl y. There i s s ome one at the cl ub who wants
i mmens el y to know you young Lord Pool e, Bournmouths el des t s on. He has
al ready copi ed your neckti es , and has begged me to i ntroduce hi m to you. He
i s qui te del i ghtful , and rather remi nds me of you.
I hope not, s ai d Dori an, wi th a touch of pathos i n hi s voi ce. But I am
ti red toni ght, Harry. I wont go to the cl ub. It i s nearl y el even, and I want to go
to bed earl y.
Do s tay. You have never pl ayed s o wel l as toni ght. There was
s omethi ng i n your touch that was wonderful . It had more expres s i on than I
had ever heard from i t before.
It i s becaus e I am goi ng to be good, he ans wered, s mi l i ng. I am a
l i ttl e changed al ready.
Dont change, Dori an; at any rate, dont change to me. We mus t
al ways be fri ends .
Yet you poi s oned me wi th a book once. I s houl d not forgi ve that. Harry,
promi s e me that you wi l l never l end that book to any one. It does harm.
M y dear boy, you are real l y begi nni ng to moral i ze. You wi l l s oon be
goi ng about warni ng peopl e agai ns t al l the s i ns of whi ch you have grown ti red.
You are much too del i ghtful to do that. Bes i des , i t i s no us e. You and I are what
we are, and wi l l be what we wi l l be. Come round tomorrow. I am goi ng to ri de at
el even, and we mi ght go together. The Park i s qui te l ovel y now. I dont thi nk
there have been s uch l i l acs s i nce the year I met you.
Very wel l . I wi l l be here at el even, s ai d Dori an. Good-ni ght, Harry.
As he reached the door he hes i tated for a moment, as i f he had s omethi ng
more to s ay. Then he s i ghed and went out.
It was a l ovel y ni ght, s o warm that he threw hi s coat over hi s arm, and
di d not even put hi s s i l k s carf round hi s throat. As he s trol l ed home, s moki ng
hi s ci garette, two young men i n eveni ng dres s pas s ed hi m. He heard one of
them whi s per to the other, That i s Dori an Gray. He remembered how pl eas ed
he us ed to be when he was poi nted out, or s tared at, or tal ked about. He was
ti red of heari ng hi s own name now. Hal f the charm of the l i ttl e vi l l age where
he had been s o often l atel y was that no one knew who he was . He had tol d the
gi rl whom he had made l ove hi m that he was poor, and s he had bel i eved hi m.
He had tol d her once that he was wi cked, and s he had l aughed at hi m, and
tol d hi m that wi cked peopl e were al ways very ol d and very ugl y. What a l augh
s he had! j us t l i ke a thrus h s i ngi ng. And how pretty s he had been i n her
cotton dres s es and her l arge hats ! She knew nothi ng, but s he had everythi ng
that he had l os t.
When he reached home, he found hi s s ervant wai ti ng up for hi m. He
s ent hi m to bed, and threw hi ms el f down on the s ofa i n the l i brary, and
began to thi nk over s ome of the thi ngs that Lord Henry had s ai d to hi m.
Was i t real l y true that one coul d never change? He fel t a wi l d l ongi ng
for the uns tai ned puri ty of hi s boyhood hi s ros e-whi te boyhood, as Lord
Henry had once cal l ed i t. He knew that he had tarni s hed hi ms el f, fi l l ed hi s
mi nd wi th corrupti on, and gi ven horror to hi s fancy; that he had been an evi l
i nfl uence to others , and had experi enced a terri bl e j oy i n bei ng s o; and that of
the l i ves that had cros s ed hi s own i t had been the fai res t and the mos t ful l of
promi s e that he had brought to s hame. But was i t al l i rretri evabl e? Was there
no hope for hi m?
It was better not to thi nk of the pas t. Nothi ng coul d al ter that. It was of
hi ms el f, and of hi s own future, that he had to thi nk. Al an Campbel l had s hot
hi ms el f one ni ght i n hi s l aboratory, but had not reveal ed the s ecret that he
had been forced to know. The exci tement, s uch as i t was , over Bas i l Hal l wards
di s appearance woul d s oon pas s away. It was al ready wani ng. He was perfectl y
s afe there. Nor, i ndeed, was i t the death of Bas i l Hal l ward that wei ghed mos t
upon hi s mi nd. It was the l i vi ng death of hi s own s oul that troubl ed hi m.
Bas i l had pai nted the portrai t that had marred hi s l i fe. He coul d not forgi ve
hi m that. It was the portrai t that had done everythi ng. Bas i l had s ai d thi ngs to
hi m that were unbearabl e, and that he had yet borne wi th pati ence. The
murder had been s i mpl y the madnes s of a moment. As for Al an Campbel l ,
hi s s ui ci de had been hi s own act. He had chos en to do i t. It was nothi ng to
hi m.
A new l i fe! That was what he wanted. That was what he was wai ti ng
for. Surel y he had begun i t al ready. He had s pared one i nnocent thi ng, at any
rate. He woul d never agai n tempt i nnocence. He woul dbe good.
As he thought of Hetty M erton, he began to wonder i f the portrai t i n
the l ocked room had changed. Surel y i t was not s ti l l s o horri bl e as i t had been?
Perhaps i f hi s l i fe became pure, he woul d be abl e to expel every s i gn of evi l
pas s i on from the face. Perhaps the s i gns of evi l had al ready gone away. He
woul d go and l ook.
He took the l amp from the tabl e and crept up-s tai rs . As he unl ockedthe
door, a s mi l e of j oy fl i tted acros s hi s young face and l i ngered for a moment
about hi s l i ps . Yes , he woul d be good, and the hi deous thi ng that he had
hi dden away woul d no l onger be a terror to hi m. He fel t as i f the l oad had been
l i fted from hi m al ready.
He went i n qui etl y, l ocki ng the door behi nd hi m, as was hi s cus tom,
and dragged the purpl e hangi ng from the portrai t. A cry of pai n and
i ndi gnati on broke from hi m. He coul d s ee no change, unl es s that i n the eyes
there was a l ook of cunni ng and i n the mouth the curved wri nkl e of the
hypocri te. The thi ng was s ti l l l oaths ome more l oaths ome, i f pos s i bl e, than
before and the s carl et dew that s potted the hand s eemed bri ghter, and more
l i ke bl ood newl y s pi l t.
Had i t been merel y vani ty that had made hi m do hi s one good deed? Or
the des i re of a new s ens ati on, as Lord Henry had hi nted, wi th hi s mocki ng
l augh? Or that pas s i on to act a part that s ometi mes makes us do thi ngs fi ner
than we are ours el ves ? Or, perhaps , al l thes e?
Why was the red s tai n l arger than i t had been? It s eemed to have crept
l i ke a horri bl e di s eas e over the wri nkl ed fi ngers . There was bl ood on the
pai nted feet, as though the thi ng had dri pped, bl ood even on the hand that
had not hel d the kni fe.
Confes s ? Di d i t mean that he was to confes s ? To gi ve hi ms el f up, and
be put to death? He l aughed. He fel t that the i dea was mons trous . Bes i des , who
woul d bel i eve hi m, even i f he di d confes s ? There was no trace of the murdered
man anywhere. E verythi ng bel ongi ng to hi m had been des troyed. He hi ms el f
had burned what had been bel ow-s tai rs . The worl d woul d s i mpl y s ay he was
mad. They woul d s hut hi m up i f he pers i s ted i n hi s s tory.
Yet i t was hi s duty to confes s , to s uffer publ i c s hame, and to make
publ i c atonement. There was a God who cal l ed upon men to tel l thei r s i ns to
earth as wel l as to heaven. Nothi ng that he coul d do woul d cl eans e hi m ti l l he
had tol d hi s own s i n. Hi s s i n? He s hrugged hi s s houl ders . The death of Bas i l
Hal l ward s eemed very l i ttl e to hi m. He was thi nki ng of Hetty M erton.
It was an unj us t mi rror, thi s mi rror of hi s s oul that he was l ooki ng at.
Vani ty? Curi os i ty? Hypocri s y? Had there been nothi ng more i n hi s
renunci ati on than that? There had been s omethi ng more. At l eas t he thought
s o. But who coul d tel l ?
And thi s murder was i t to dog hi m al l hi s l i fe? Was he never to get
ri d of the pas t? Was he real l y to confes s ? No. There was onl y one bi t of
evi dence l eft agai ns t hi m. The pi cture i ts el f that was evi dence.
He woul d des troy i t. Why had he kept i t s o l ong? It had gi ven hi m
pl eas ure once to watch i t changi ng and growi ng ol d. Of l ate he had fel t no
s uch pl eas ure. It had kept hi m awake at ni ght. When he had been away, he
had been fi l l ed wi th terror l es t other eyes s houl d l ook upon i t. It had brought
mel anchol y acros s hi s pas s i ons . Its mere memory had marred many
moments of j oy. It had been l i ke cons ci ence to hi m. Yes , i t had been
cons ci ence. He woul d des troy i t.
He l ooked round, and s aw the kni fe that had s tabbed Bas i l Hal l ward.
He had cl eaned i t many ti mes , ti l l there was no s tai n l eft upon i t. It was
bri ght, and gl i s tened. As i t had ki l l ed the pai nter, s o i t woul d ki l l the
pai nters work, and al l that that meant. It woul d ki l l the pas t, and when that
was dead he woul d be free. He s ei zed i t, and s tabbed the canvas wi th i t,
ri ppi ng the thi ng ri ght up from top to bottom.
There was a cry heard, and a cras h. The cry was s o horri bl e i n i ts
agony that the fri ghtened s ervants woke, and crept out of thei r rooms . Two
gentl emen, who were pas s i ng i n the Square bel ow, s topped, and l ooked up at
the great hous e. They wal ked on ti l l they met a pol i ceman, and brought hi m
back. The man rang the bel l s everal ti mes , but there was no ans wer. The
hous e was al l dark, except for a l i ght i n one of the top wi ndows . After a ti me,
he went away, and s tood i n the porti co of the next hous e and watched.
Whos e hous e i s that, cons tabl e? as ked the el der of the two
gentl emen.
M r. Dori an Grays , s i r, ans wered the pol i ceman.
They l ooked at each other, as they wal ked away, and s neered. One of
them was Si r Henry As htons uncl e.
Ins i de, i n the s ervants part of the hous e, the hal f-cl ad domes ti cs
were tal ki ng i n l ow whi s pers to each other. Ol d M rs . Leaf was cryi ng, and
wri ngi ng her hands . Franci s was as pal e as death.
After about a quarter of an hour, he got the coachman and one of the
footmen and crept up-s tai rs . They knocked, but there was no repl y. They
cal l ed out. E verythi ng was s ti l l . Fi nal l y, after vai nl y tryi ng to force the door,
they got on the roof, and dropped down on to the bal cony. The wi ndows yi el ded
eas i l y: the bol ts were ol d.
When they entered, they found hangi ng upon the wal l a s pl endi d
portrai t of thei r mas ter as they had l as t s een hi m, i n al l the wonder of hi s
exqui s i te youth and beauty. Lyi ng on the fl oor was a dead man, i n eveni ng
dres s , wi th a kni fe i n hi s heart. He was wi thered, wri nkl ed, and l oaths ome of
vi s age. It was not ti l l they had exami ned the ri ngs that they recogni zed who i t
was .
FINIS
Oscar Wilde
No tenho nada a declarar alm de minha genialidade, disse uma vez Wilde
aos oficiais da alfndega, entretanto a imagem conhecida de Oscar Wilde como
um homem de conquistas pessoais sem esforos est longe da verdade. Nascido
em 16 de outubro de 1854, em Dublin, na Irlanda, e filho de uma poetisa
nacionalista, estudou no Trinity College, antes de se transferir para o Magdalen
College em Oxford. Foi em Oxford que ele se aliou ao movimento artstico do
Esteticismo, que possua como lema a Arte pela Arte, e adotou suas
caractersticas nicas no vestir e no se comportar (baseados em uma fantasia que
ele usou em um baile de formatura).
Casado em 1884 com Constance Lloy d, teve dois filhos a quem Wilde se
devotava de corpo e alma e cujo afastamento, por deciso de Constance, aps
sua priso, foi devastador. Mesmo aps o casamento, manteve-se muito
conhecido e requisitado em todas as rodas literrias, honrando todos os
compromissos aos quais era convidado. Tornou-se realmente uma pessoa
indispensvel e comentada em toda sorte de eventos sociais, espalhando glamour
e comentrios por onde passava. Possua uma aparncia que atraia os olhares:
vestia-se elegante e extravagantemente bem, com roupas e adereos que,
segundo suas prprias palavras, sempre refletiam o que de mais ntimo existia
dentro dele. Embora bem conhecido nos crculos sociais, Wilde recebeu pouco
reconhecimento por sua obra durante muitos anos at a estria de O Leque de
Lady Wildermere que consolidou sua fama literria a partir de 1892. O
simulacro, o homem e seu retrato eram a maneira da qual o autor se utilizava
para relacionar-se com o mundo. Mas o perodo de sucesso foi extremamente
curto.
Na noite de estria de sua obra-prima A Importncia de Ser Constante, em
1895, o marqus de Queensberry , pai de Lorde Douglas com quem Wilde estava
se relacionando, iniciou uma campanha pblica contra o autor. Aps uma msucedida tentativa de processo nos tribunais contra o Marqus, Wilde acabaria
sendo condenado a dois anos de trabalhos forados por violao da moral,
cumprindo parte da pena no famoso Crcere de Reading.
Ao ser libertado, Oscar Wilde se autoexilou em Frana onde viria morrer na
completa obscuridade em 30 de novembro de 1900, cercado por poucos amigos
ainda fiis.