Pagina 57 van 490

"How sad it is!" murmured Dorian Gray with his eyes still fixed

upon his own portrait. "How sad it is! I shall grow old, and

horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always

young. It will never be older than this particular day of

June.... If it were only the other way! If it were I who was to

be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For

that-for that-I would give everything! Yes, there is nothing in

the whole world I would not give! I would give my soul for that!"

"You would hardly care for such an arrangement, Basil," cried

Lord Henry, laughing. "It would be rather hard lines on your

work."

"I should object very strongly, Harry," said Hallward.

Dorian Gray turned and looked at him. "I believe you would,

Basil. You like your art better than your friends. I am no more

to you than a green bronze figure. Hardly as much, I dare say."