Passer le texte de l’article
I . The Painter’s Secret The studio was full of the smell of roses . When the summer wind moved through the trees of the garden , the heavy scent of lilac came in through the open door . Lord Henry Wotton lay on a long sofa in the corner , smoking one cigarette after another , as he always did . Far away , the noise of London sounded like the low note of an organ . In the centre of the room stood the full - length portrait of a young man of rare beauty . In front of it sat the painter himself , Basil Hallward . He looked at his work with a smile of pleasure , but then he suddenly closed his eyes and pressed his fingers against them . It was as if he wanted to keep a strange dream inside his head . “ It is your best work , Basil , the best thing you have ever done , ” said Lord Henry lazily . “ You must send it to the Grosvenor next year . The Academy is too large and too vulgar . ” “ I don’t think I shall send it anywhere , ” Basil answered . Lord Henry raised his eyebrows and looked at him through the blue smoke . “ My dear fellow , why not ? You painters are strange people : you do anything in the world to become famous , and then you want to throw it away . It is silly of you . There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about , and that is not being talked about . ” “ I know you will laugh at me , ” said Basil , “ but I really can’t show it . I have put too much of myself into it . ” Lord Henry stretched out on the sofa and laughed . “ Too much of yourself ! I didn’t know you were so vain , Basil . I can’t see any likeness between you , with your strong rough face and your coal - black hair , and this young man , who looks as if he was made of ivory and rose leaves . ” “ You don’t understand me , Harry , ” answered the painter . “ Of course I am not like him , and I should be sorry to look like him . The ugly and the stupid have the best of it in this world , because they can sit at their ease and watch the play . Your rank and money , Harry , my brains , such as they are , my art , and Dorian Gray’s good looks : we shall all suffer for what the gods have given us . ” “ Dorian Gray ? Is that his name ? ” asked Lord Henry . “ Yes , but I didn’t mean to tell it to you . When I like people very much , I never tell their names to anyone . It is like giving away a part of them . ” “ You seem to forget that I am married , Basil . The one charm of marriage is that it makes a life of lies quite necessary for both people . I never know where my wife is , and my wife never knows what I am doing . ”
Précédent Page 1 sur 32 Page 1 sur 32 Suivant Continuez à lire avec les traductions Créez un compte gratuit : 7 jours de Pro, puis 20 traductions de mots par jour ou une formule payante.
