Портрет Дориана Грея

           Yourememberthatlandscapeofmine,forwhichAgnewofferedmesuchahugeprice,butwhichIwouldnotpartwith? ItisoneofthebestthingsIhaveeverdone.Andwhyisitso? Because,whileIwaspaintingit,DorianGraysatbesideme. Somesubtleinfluencepassedfromhimtome,andforthefirsttimeinmylifeIsawintheplainwoodlandthewonder Ihadalwayslookedfor,andalwaysmissed." 

           "Basil,thisisextraordinary!ImustseeDorianGray." 

           Hallwardgotupfromtheseat,andwalkedupanddownthegarden.Aftersometimehecameback. "Harry,"hesaid,"DorianGrayistomesimplyamotiveinart. Youmightseenothinginhim.Iseeeverythinginhim. Heisnevermorepresentinmyworkthanwhennoimageofhimisthere.Heisasuggestion,asIhavesaid,ofanewmanner. Ifindhiminthecurvesofcertainlines,inthelovelinessandsubtletiesofcertaincolours.Thatisall." 

           "Thenwhywon’tyouexhibithisportrait?"askedLordHenry. 

           "Because,withoutintendingit,Ihaveputintoitsomeexpressionofallthiscuriousartisticidolatry,ofwhich,ofcourse,Ihavenevercaredtospeaktohim.Heknowsnothingaboutit. Heshallneverknowanythingaboutit. Buttheworldmightguessit;andIwillnotbaremysoultotheirshallowpryingeyes. Myheartshallneverbeputundertheirmicroscope.Thereistoomuchofmyselfinthething,Harry—toomuchofmyself!" 

           "Poetsarenotsoscrupulousasyouare. Theyknowhowusefulpassionisforpublication. Nowadaysabrokenheartwillruntomanyeditions." 

           "Ihatethemforit,"criedHallward. "Anartistshouldcreatebeautifulthings,butshouldputnothingofhisownlifeintothem.