《多里安·格雷的画像》讲述了：一个人的画像是否比他的面孔更多地反映他自己？如果画像是用爱的画笔描绘的，或许它能反映这个人外表以外更多的东西——或许它能反映这个人的内心世界。我们经常说脸像一本书，能自己讲述故事。当多里安·格雷看到画像中自己的面孔时，便爱上了自己的美貌。任何事物都不能损害他的美貌，任何事物都不能伤害或改变它——爱不能，甚至时间也不能。因此，他切断了他的脸和内心、他的外表和内在世界的联系。他的脸没有改变，总是年轻、漂亮。但是这幅画像——用爱的画笔描绘的画像——却在讲述着真实的故事。它才是真实的多里安·格雷——一天天变老、变丑并满怀恨意。

17
　　At home he thought about his conversation with Lord Henry．Couldhe really change， he wondered？ Hehad lived an evil life，and had destroyedother people's lives as well．Was thereany hope for him？
　　Why had he ever made that wish about the picture？ Hehad kept his youth and beauty， but hehad paid a terrible price for it．Hisbeauty had destroyed his soul．He pickedup a mirror and stared at his face．Whatwas he now？ A face without a heart．Suddenly he hated his own beauty， anddropped the mirror on the floor where it broke into many small pieces．
　　James Vane，BasilHallward，Sybil Vane—thesedeaths were not important to him now． Itwas better not to think of the past． Nothingcould change that． He must think ofhimself．'Perhaps，'hethought，'if I live a better life，the picture will become less ugly．'Heremembered the pretty village girl—hehad not destroyed her young life．He haddone one good thing． Perhaps the picturehad already begun to look better．
　　He went quietly upstairs to the locked room． Yes，he would live a good life，andhe need not be afraid any more of the evil face of his soul． Butwhen he uncovered the picture， he gave acry of pain． There was no change．The face in the picture was still terrible—morehateful，if possible， thanbefore—and the red on the hand seemedbrighter， like new blood．
　　He stared at the picture with hate and fear in his eyes．Yearsago he had loved to watch it changing and growing old；nowhe could not sleep because of it．It hadstolen every chance of peace or happiness from him．Hemust destroy it．
　　He looked round and saw the knife that had killed BasilHallward．'Now it will kill the artist'swork，'he said to himself．'Itwill kill the past， and when that isdead， I will be free．'Hepicked up the knife and dug it into the picture．
　　There was a terrible cry， anda loud crash．The servants woke，andtwo gentlemen，who were passing in theroad below， stopped and looked up at thehouse． A policeman came by， andthey asked him：
　　'Whose house is that？'
　　'Mr Dorian Gray's，sir，'wasthe answer．
　　The two gentlemen looked at each other， thenturned away from the house and walked on．
　　Inside the house the servants talked in low， frightenedvoices． After some minutes they went upto the room． They knocked， butthere was no reply． They called out．Nothing．Theycould not open the door， so they climbeddown from the roof and got in through the window．
　　Against the wall they saw a fine portrait of the youngDorian Gray， in all his wonderful youthand beauty． Lying on the floor was adead man， with a knife in his heart．His face was old and ugly and yellow with disease．
　　Only the rings on his fingers told them who he was．
　　17
　　回到家他思考着和亨利勋爵的谈话。他真的能改变吗？他想着。他曾有过邪恶的生活，也曾毁掉过他人的生活，他还有希望吗？
　　他为什么对画像许了那个愿？他保住了青春和美貌，但却为此付出了可怕的代价。他的美貌毁了他的灵魂。他拿起一面镜子看着自己的脸。他现在成了什么？一张没有心的脸。突然他恨自己的美貌，便把镜子扔在地上，摔成了碎片。
　　詹姆斯·文、巴兹尔·霍尔沃德和西比尔·文——他们的死现在对他已不重要。最好不再想起过去，那已无法改变。他必须想想自己。他想：“如果我过一种好一点的生活，画像会变得不那么丑陋。”他想起了那个可爱的乡下姑娘——他没有毁掉她的生活，他做了一件好事，可能画像已经开始好看些。
　　他快步上楼奔向那间锁着的房间。是的，他要过好人的生活，他再不必害怕他灵魂的那张邪恶的脸了。但当他掀开画像，他痛苦地喊出了声。没有变化。画像的脸依旧可怕——可能比以前更可憎——手上的红色似乎更鲜亮，像新鲜的血。
　　他凝视着画像，眼里饱含憎恨和恐惧。数年前他还喜欢看画像变老；现在他因为画像简直不能入睡。画像偷走了他每一次平静快乐的机会，他要毁掉画像。
　　他四周张望，看见了杀死巴兹尔·霍尔沃德的那把刀。“现在这把刀要扼杀画家的作品。”他自言自语，“这刀要杀死过去。过去死后，我将会自由。”他拿起刀刺进了画像。
　　一声可怕的喊叫和一阵猛烈的碰撞声。仆人们醒了；两个正路过的绅士停住向上看着房间。一个警察走过来，他们问他：
　　“那是谁的房子？”
　　他们回答：“多里安·格雷先生的。”
　　两个绅士互相看了一眼，然后转身离开房子走了。
　　房子里仆人用低沉、害怕的声音说话。过了几分钟他们上楼来到那个房间。他们敲了敲门，可是没有回答。他们用力喊，没任何答复。他们打不开门，就从房顶向下爬，从窗户进了屋。
　　他们看见了靠墙而立的年轻的多里安·格雷的精美画像，青春无比，美貌动人。躺在地上的是一个死人，心脏上插着一把刀。他的脸又老又丑而且病得发黄。
　　只有他手上的戒指告诉了他们他是谁。

16
　　You're going to be good？'saidLord Henry．'Don't tell me that．You'rewonderful as you are．Please don't change．'Hislong， white fingers played with a floweron the table．It was spring in London，andthe two friends were having dinner at Lord Henry's house．
　　Dorian Gray shook his head．'No，Harry，I've done too many terrible things in my life，and I'm going to change． Ibegan my good life yesterday， in thecountry．'
　　'My dear boy，'smiledLord Henry．'Everybody can be good in thecountry．There's nothing to do in thecountry， so it's impossible to doanything bad．But tell me， howdid you begin your good life？'
　　'There was a girl in a village． Avery beautiful girl， an honest，countrygirl．She loved me， andwas ready to come away with me yesterday， butI said no． I refused to destroy heryoung life，and I've left her as honestas I found her．'
　　Lord Henry laughed．'You'veleft here with a broken heart， you mean．Howcan she be happy now with a country boy，aftershe has known you？'
　　'Don't，Harry！'criedDorian．'Can you never be serious？I'msorry that I told you now．Let's talkabout other things．What's been happeningin London？'
　　'Oh，people are stilldiscussing poor Basil and how he disappeared．Idon't know why， because there are plentyof other things that they can talk about—mywife has run away with another man， AlanCampbell has killed himself…'
　　'What do you think has happened to Basil？'askedDorian slowly．
　　'I've no idea，'answeredLord Henry．'The English police reportthat Basil went to Paris on the midnight train on the ninth of November，but the French police say that he never arrivedin Paris at all．If Basil wants to hidehimself， I really don't care．Andif he's dead，I don't want to think abouthim．Death is the only thing that reallyfrightens me—I hate it．'
　　'Harry，don't peoplesay that… that Basil was murdered？'saidDorian．
　　'Some of the newspapers say so，'repliedLord Henry，'but who would want to murderpoor Basil？He wasn't clever enough tohave enemies．'
　　'What will you say， Harry，if I tell you that I murdered Basil？'askedDorian．He watched his friend carefully．
　　Lord Henry smiled．'No，mydear Dorian， murder wouldn't please you．Youlike a different kind of pleasure．Andyou should never do anything that you cannot talk about after dinner．'Helifted his coffee cup．'What happened tothe fine portrait that Basil painted of you？Ihaven't seen it for years． Didn't youtell me that it was stolen？What a pity！'
　　'Oh，I never reallyliked it，'said Dorian．'Iprefer not to think about it．'
　　For a while the two men were silent．Thenthe older man lay back in his chair and looked at Dorian with half-closed eyes．'Tellme how you have kept your youth and your wonderful beauty，Dorian．Youmust have some secret．I'm only ten yearsolder than you，and I look like an oldman．But you haven't changed since theday when I first met you．What awonderful life you've had！'
　　'Yes，'said Dorianslowly，'it's been wonderful，Harry，butI'm going to change it now． You don'tknow everything about me．'
　　His friend smiled．'Youcannot change to me， Dorian．Youand I will always be friends．'
　　Dorian stood up．'I'mtired tonight， Harry． Imust go home．I'll see you at lunchtomorrow．Goodnight．'
　　At the door he stopped for a moment and looked back， butthen he turned and went out without another word．
　　画像
　　“一张没有心的脸。”
　　16
　　“你要做好人？”亨利勋爵说。“别跟我说那话，你一直很好，请别改变。”他又长又白的手指玩弄着桌上的一朵花。时值伦敦的春季，这两个好友正在亨利勋爵家吃晚饭。
　　多里安·格雷摇摇头。“不，哈里，我一生中做了太多可怕的事情，我要改变。我昨天开始当好人了，在乡下。”
　　“亲爱的孩子，”亨利勋爵微笑着，“每个人在乡下都会很好。在乡下没任何事情做，所以不可能做任何坏事。可是告诉我，你怎么开始当好人的？”
　　“村里有个姑娘，一个非常漂亮、纯真的乡下姑娘。她爱我，昨天愿意和我走，但是我拒绝了。我不愿意毁了她年轻的生活，于是我离开了她，她还像我刚发现时一样地纯真。”
　　亨利勋爵笑着。“你离开她，她心已经碎了。她认识你后，现在又怎么能高高兴兴地和乡下男孩在一起呢？”
　　“别说了，哈里！”多里安喊道。“你从不会认真点吗？我后悔告诉了你。咱们谈些别的事，伦敦近来发生了什么事？”
　　“哦，人们仍在谈论可怜的巴兹尔是怎么失踪的。我不知道为什么还在谈论，因为还有许多其它事可以供他们议论——比如我妻子和另外一个男人私奔了，艾伦·坎贝尔自杀了……”
　　“你认为巴兹尔发生了什么事？”多里安慢慢地问。
　　“我不知道。”亨利勋爵回答。“英国警方说巴兹尔于11月9日乘午夜的火车去了巴黎，可是法国警方说他根本就没抵达巴黎。如果巴兹尔想隐藏起来，我真的不在乎。如果他死了，我不想再想他。死是唯一让我害怕的事情——我恨死亡。”
　　“哈里，人们没说……巴兹尔是被谋杀的吗？”多里安说。
　　“有些报纸这么说。”亨利勋爵回答。“可是谁想杀害可怜的巴兹尔？他没聪明到能给自己树敌。”
　　“你会说什么，哈里，如果我告诉你是我杀了巴兹尔？”多里安问，他仔细地观察他的朋友。
　　亨利勋爵一笑。“不，亲爱的多里安，杀人不会让你高兴，你喜欢与这不同的快乐，而且你决不会做晚饭后你不能谈论的事情。”他端起咖啡：“巴兹尔给你画的那幅精美画像怎么样了？我好多年没看见它了。你是不是告诉过我画像被偷了？多可惜啊！”
　　“哦，我从没真正喜欢过它。”多里安说，“我宁愿不想起它。”
　　有一会儿两个人都没说话。过后年长些的那位靠在椅背上，用半睁的眼睛看着多里安。“告诉我你是怎么保持青春和美貌的，多里安。你一定有个秘密。我只比你大10岁，却看起来像个老人。可从我看见你的第一天起，你一点也没变，你的生活太妙了！”
　　“是的，”多里安缓慢地说，“是太妙了，哈里。可我要改变这种生活。并不是我的每件事情你都知道。”
　　他的朋友笑了，“对我来说，你变不了，多里安。你和我将永远是朋友。”
　　多里安站起身，“今晚我累了，哈里，我得回家了。明天午饭时见，晚安。”
　　在门边他停了片刻，回头看了看，就转身出去了，一句话没说。

15
　　A week later Dorian Gray was at his house in the country，wherehe had invited Lord Henry and several other friends．Amongthem was the pretty Lady Monmouth and her much older husband．LadyMonmouth was amusing and clever，andseemed to like Dorian Gray very much． Oneafternoon，as they laughed and talkedtogether during tea，Dorian went out tofetch a flower for Lady Monmouth's dress．LordHenry smiled at Lady Monmouth．
　　'I hope you're not in love with Dorian，mydear．He's very dangerous．'
　　She laughed．'Oh，menare much more interesting when they're dangerous．'
　　Just then they heard the sound of a heavy fall．LordHenry ran out of the room and found Dorian lying unconscious on the floor．WhenDorian opened his eyes， Lord Henry said，'Mydear Dorian， you must take care ofyourself． You're not well．'
　　Dorian stood up slowly．'I'mall right， Harry．I'mall right．'
　　As he dressed for dinner in his room，Dorianremembered what he had seen and cold fear ran through him like a knife．Hehad seen a face watching him at the window and he had recognized it．Itwas the face of James Vane．
　　The next day he did not leave the house．Infact， for most of the day he stayed inhis room， sick with fear．Everytime he closed his eyes， he saw againthe sailor's face． He tried to tellhimself that he had dreamt it．Yes，itwas impossible．Sybil Vane's brother didnot know his name，and was probably onhis ship at sea． No，ofcourse he had not seen James Vane's face at the window．
　　But the fear stayed with him， dreamor no dream．
　　Two days passed and Dorian grew less afraid． Onthe third day，a clear，brightwinter morning，Dorian joined his friendson a shooting-party．With Lady Monmouthby his side， he walked to the edge ofthe forest where the men were shooting at birds and small animals．Thecold air and the sounds and smells of the forest filled Dorian with happiness．Suddenlyone of the men shot into the trees near them． Therewere two cries in the morning air—thecry of an animal and the cry of a man，bothin pain．
　　There were shouts and calls from the men， andthen a man's body was pulled from the trees． Dorianturned away in horror． Bad luck seemedto follow him everywhere．
　　People began to walk back towards the house． LordHenry came over to tell Dorian that the man was dead．
　　Dorian shook his head．'Oh，Harry，'hesaid slowly，'I feel that somethingterrible is going to happen to some of us—tome，perhaps．'
　　Lord Henry laughed at this idea．'Whatcould happen to you，Dorian？Youhave everything in the world that a man can want．Forgetabout this accident． It was just anaccident—not murder．'Thenhe added with a smile，'But it would bevery interesting to meet a person who had murdered somebody．'
　　'What a terrible thing to say！'criedLady Monmouth．'Don't you agree，Mr Gray？ MrGray！ Are you ill again？Yourface is so white！'
　　Dorian smiled and tried to speak calmly．'It'snothing，'he said quietly．'Butplease excuse me． I think I must go andlie down．'
　　Upstairs in his room Dorian's body shook with fear like aleaf in the wind． He felt that he couldnot stay another night in the house．Deathwalked there in the sunlight．He decidedto return immediately to London and to visit his doctor． Hisservant came to pack his clothes，andwhile he was doing this，he told Dorianthat the dead man was a sailor， but noone knew his name．
　　'A sailor！'criedDorian．He jumped to his feet．Awild hope filled him．'I must see thebody at once．'
　　He hurried to the house where the body lay，andwhen he uncovered the face of the dead man， hesaw that it was James Vane．He cried withhappiness，and knew that now he was safe．
　　15
　　一星期后在乡下的家里，多里安邀请了亨利勋爵和其他几个朋友。他们中间有可爱的蒙茅斯夫人和比她大得多的丈夫。蒙茅斯夫人风趣、聪明，并且似乎很喜欢多里安·格雷。一天下午，他们边喝茶边说笑时，多里安出去给蒙茅斯夫人的衣服摘朵花。亨利勋爵对蒙茅斯夫人笑了。
　　“我希望你没有爱上多里安，亲爱的。他很危险。”
　　她笑道：“哦，男人危险时更有趣。”
　　正在这时他们听见了重重的跌倒声。亨利勋爵跑出房间发现多里安不醒人事，躺在地上。多里安睁开眼时，亨利勋爵说：“亲爱的多里安，你必须多留心自己，你的气色不好。”
　　多里安慢慢站起身。“我没事，哈里，我很好。”
　　当他在自己的房间穿晚宴装时，多里安想起了刚才看见的，于是冰冷的恐惧感像一把刀一样划过他的全身。他看见了一张脸在窗户边注视他。他认识这张脸，是詹姆斯·文的。
　　第二天他没有出门。实际上，他多半天都呆在屋里，他被吓坏了。每次闭上眼睛他都会看见水手的脸。他告诫自己那只是他做的梦。是的，那不可能。西比尔·文的哥哥不知道他的名字，或许他正在海上的船上。不，他当然没有在窗边看见詹姆斯·文的脸。
　　可是不管是不是梦，恐惧一直伴随着他。
　　两天以后多里安不太害怕了。第三天，一个晴朗的冬日的早晨，多里安参加了朋友的狩猎聚会。蒙茅斯夫人陪在一旁，他走向树林边，男人们在那儿射杀鸟和小动物。清凉的空气、打猎声和树林的气息让多里安非常高兴。突然一个人朝他们附近的林子里射击，清晨的空气里传来两声喊叫——一声是动物的叫，一声是人的，都叫得很痛苦。
　　男人们喊了起来，一个人被抬出了树林。多里安害怕地转过身，似乎每到一地恶运都跟着他。
　　人们开始朝房子走去，亨利勋爵走来告诉多里安那个人死了。
　　多里安摇动着头。“哦，哈里，”他慢慢地说，“我觉得某件可怕的事情要发生在我们某些人身上——可能要发生在我身上。”
　　亨利勋爵觉得这个想法可笑。“你会发生什么事，多里安？你拥有一个男人想得到的世界上的任何东西，忘掉这事吧，这只不过是一次意外——不是谋杀。”然后他笑着又补充一句：“可是要是遇上了一个杀过人的人倒是很有趣。”
　　“你说的太可怕了！”蒙茅斯夫人嚷道。“你同意吗，格雷先生？格雷先生！你又病了吗？你的脸真白！”
　　多里安一笑，努力镇静地说，“没什么。”他轻声说，“请原谅我，我想我必须回去躺一躺。”
　　在楼上的房间，多里安的身体像风中的一片叶子在恐惧地发抖。他感觉在屋里一夜也不能多呆，死亡正在阳光里漫步。他决定马上回伦敦去看医生。仆人来给他收拾衣物，一边收拾一边告诉多里安死了的人是一个水手，可是没人知道他的名字。
　　“一个水手！”多里安叫道。他跳起来，一阵疯狂的希望充斥着他。“我要马上看那具尸体。”
　　他快步赶到死尸停放的房间，掀开死人脸上的布，他看到的是詹姆斯·文。他知道现在安全了，他高兴地叫了起来。

14
　　Later the same evening Dorian Gray was at a party．Hesmiled and talked，and looked as youngand as good-looking as ever． But hishead ached and at dinner he could not eat anything．WhenLord Henry asked him if he felt unwell，Doriansaid that he was tired and would go home early．
　　At home he felt worse． Althoughthe room was warm， his hands shook withcold． He wanted to forget for a while—toescape from the prison of his real life， andto lose himself in dreams．
　　At midnight， in olddirty clothes， he left the house againand went to the East End of London．Therehe knew places where he could get opium—dark，evilplaces where people bought and sold the beautiful， terribledreams of opium．He had been there manytimes before．
　　He found the house that he was looking for and went into along，low room．Menwere lying on the dirty floor，a sailorwas asleep on a table and two women were drinking at the bar． AsDorian hurried up the narrow stairs，thesweet， heavy smell of opium came to meethim and he smiled in pleasure．But in theroom he saw a young man who had once been his friend． Heturned away， and went downstairs againto drink at the bar．
　　One of the women spoke to him．
　　'Don't talk to me，'saidDorian angrily， and walked towards thedoor．
　　'I remember you！You'rePrince Charming，aren't you？'sheshouted after him．
　　The sleeping sailor woke up when he heard these words，andas Dorian left the house， the sailorhurried after him．
　　Dorian walked quickly along the road，butas he reached a corner，hands closedaround his neck． A man pulled himbackwards and pushed him against a wall．Dorianfought wildly， and pulled the hands away．Then he saw the gun in the man's hand．
　　'What do you want？'hesaid quickly．
　　'Keep quiet，'said theman．'If you move，I'llshoot you．'
　　'You're crazy． Whathave I done to you？'
　　'You destroyed the life of Sybil Vane，'answeredthe sailor，'and Sybil Vane was my sister．Shekilled herself because of you．I've beenlooking for you for years， but I onlyknew the name that she used to call you—PrinceCharming．Well，tonightI heard your name，and tonight you'regoing to die．'
　　Dorian Gray grew sick with fear．'Inever knew her． I've never heard of her．You'recrazy，'he cried．Suddenlyhe had an idea．'How long ago did yoursister die？' he asked．
　　'Eighteen years ago，'JamesVane replied．'Why do you ask me？'
　　'Eighteen years，'laughedDorian Gray．'Take me to the light andlook at my face．'
　　James Vane stared at Dorian．Thenhe pushed him towards the light，and inthe light he saw the face of a boy of twenty．Thisman was too young． He was not the manwho had destroyed his sister's life．
　　'My God！'he cried．'Inearly murdered you！'
　　'Go home，and put thatgun away， before you get into trouble，'saidDorian．And he walked quickly away．
　　James Vane stared after him in horror．Thena woman's hand touched his arm．
　　'Why didn't you kill him？'sheasked．'He's evil．'
　　'He's not the man that I'm looking for，'answeredthe sailor．'The man who I want must benearly forty now． That man is only a boy．'
　　'A boy？'The womanlaughed．Her voice was hard．'It'seighteen years since I met Prince Charming． Andhis pretty face hasn't changed in all that time．It'strue，I promise you．'
　　James Vane ran to the corner of the road， butDorian Gray had disappeared．
　　水手
　　“我要找到那个人，像杀死一条狗那样杀死他。”
　　14
　　过后，还是在同一天晚上，多里安·格雷参加了一个聚会。他谈笑着，像以前一样年轻英俊。可是他头疼，晚餐时吃不下任何东西。亨利勋爵问他是否不舒服时，多里安说他累了，要早点回家。
　　回家后他觉得更糟。虽然房间里挺暖和，但是他的双手冷得发抖。他想暂时忘记——从他真实生活的牢狱中逃脱出来，在梦想中放松自己。
　　午夜，穿上脏旧的衣服他再次离开家前往伦敦东区。在那儿他知道从什么地方能搞到鸦片——在那些黑暗、邪恶的地方，人们买卖着鸦片，这种东西让人产生美丽而又可怕的幻觉。他去过那儿很多次。
　　他找到了要找的房子，进入了一间又长又矮的屋子。男人们躺在肮脏的地上，一个水手趴在桌子上睡觉，两个女人在酒吧喝酒。多里安在狭窄的楼梯上快步向上爬时，他闻到了鸦片甜美、浓厚的气味。他快活地笑了。但是在房间里他看见了一个曾是他朋友的年轻人。他转回身，又回到楼下，在酒吧喝酒。
　　有一个女人跟他讲话。
　　“别跟我说话。”多里安生气地说，然后走向房门。
　　“我记得你！你是'迷人的王子'，对吗？”她追着他喊。
　　听见这些话，睡觉的水手醒了。多里安离开房间时，水手在后面紧追不舍。
　　多里安在路上走得很快。到了一个角落时，一双手掐住了他的脖子。一个男人将他向后一拉又把他推撞到墙上。多里安拼命地挣扎，拉开了那双手，然后他看见了这个男人手里的熗。
　　“你要干什么？”他急速地问。
　　“住嘴。”男人说，“如果你动一下，我就打死你。”
　　“你疯了，我怎么着你了？”
　　“你毁了西比尔·文。”水手回答，“西比尔·文是我妹妹，她自杀是因为你。这么多年我一直在找你，可我只知道她常叫的你的名字——'迷人的王子'。好了，今晚我听见了你的名字，今晚你就得去死。”
　　多里安·格雷怕得要命。“我从不认识她，我从没听说过她，你疯了。”他喊着。突然他有了一个主意。“你妹妹是多长时间以前死的？”他问。
　　“18年前。”詹姆斯回答。“你为什么问我？”
　　“18年前。”多里安笑了。“把我带到灯光下，看看我的脸。”
　　詹姆斯·文凝视着多里安的脸，然后把他推到光亮处。在灯光里他看见了一个20岁男孩的脸。这个人太年轻了，他不是毁掉妹妹生活的人。
　　“上帝！”他喊道。“我差点杀了你！”
　　“回家去，把那熗拿开，趁你还没惹麻烦。”多里安说，然后迅速走开了。
　　詹姆斯·文在他身后恐惧地瞪着眼，一个女人的手碰了碰他的胳膊。
　　“你为什么不杀他？”她问。“他不是好东西。”
　　“他不是我要找的人。”水手回答，“我找的人现在应该将近四十岁了，那个人只是个男孩。”
　　“男孩？”女人笑了。她的话音很严肃，“我认识'迷人的王子'18年了，这期间他漂亮的脸一点没变，这是真的，我向你发誓。”
　　詹姆斯·文跑到路的拐角，但是多里安已经不见了。

13
　　The next morning Dorian wrote two letters． Heput one of them into his pocket，and hegave the other to his servant．'Take thisto Mr Campbell's house at once，'he said．
　　While Dorian waited， hepicked up a book and tried to read．Butafter a time the book fell from his hand． PerhapsAlan Campbell was out of England．Perhapshe would refuse to come．He was a veryclever scientist，and five years ago heand Dorian had been good friends． Butnow Alan never smiled when he met Dorian．
　　Each minute seemed an hour to Dorian，butat last the door opened．Dorian smiled．'Alan！'hesaid．'Thank you for coming．'
　　'I never wanted to enter your house again，butyour letter said that it was a question of life and death，'saidAlan Campbell． His voice was hard andcold．
　　'Yes，Alan，itis．Please sit down．'Acrossthe table the two men's eyes met．Dorianwas silent for a moment；then，veryquietly， he said，'Alan，in a locked room upstairs there is a dead body．Iwant you to destroy it．There must benothing left． I know you can do this．'
　　'I don't want to know your terrible secrets．Irefuse to help you，'Campbell replied．
　　'But you must， Alan．You'rethe only person who can help me．'Doriansmiled sadly．He took a piece of paper，wrote something on it，andpushed it across the table to Campbell．
　　As Campbell read the piece of paper， hisface went white．He looked at Dorian withhate and fear in his eyes．
　　'I'm so sorry for you，Alan，'saidDorian gently．'I've already written aletter，and if you don't help me，I'llhave to send it．But I think that youwill help me．'
　　Campbell put his face in his hands， andwas silent for a long time．Dorian waited．
　　'I'll need some things from my house，'Campbellsaid at last．
　　Dorian sent his servant to fetch the things that Campbellneeded， and the two men waited silently．Whenthe servant returned， Dorian took thescientist upstairs to the locked room．Asthey entered， Dorian remembered that theportrait was uncovered．He turned tocover it， then stopped and stared inhorror． One of the hands in the picturewas red with blood．For Dorian， thiswas more terrible than the dead body in the room．Withshaking hands，he quickly covered thepicture．
　　'Leave me now，'orderedCampbell．
　　Five hours later Campbell came back downstairs．'I'vedone what you asked me to do，'he said．'Andnow goodbye．I never want to see youagain．'
　　When Campbell had left，Dorian wentupstairs．There was a terrible smell inthe room， but the dead body had gone．
　　13
　　第二天早上多里安写了两封信。他把一封装进自己的口袋，将另一封给了仆人。“立刻把这封信送到坎贝尔先生家。”他说。
　　多里安等的时候拿起了一本书，试着读起来。但是，过了一会儿书从他手里掉了下来。艾伦·坎贝尔可能不在英格兰，他可能拒绝来这儿。他是一位非常聪明的科学家，五年前还是多里安的好朋友，但是现在遇见多里安时，艾伦从来不笑。
　　对多里安来说每一分钟都像一个小时，可是门终于开了。多里安笑了。“艾伦！”他说，“谢谢你能来。”
　　“我从不想再进你家，可是你的信上说是有关生和死的事儿。”艾伦·坎贝尔说。他的声音严厉而冷淡。
　　“是的，艾伦，是这样的事儿，请坐。”在桌子上方，两个人的眼神相碰了。多里安沉默了片刻，然后非常平静地说：“艾伦，楼上锁着的屋子里有一具尸体，我想让你销毁它，什么东西都不剩，我知道你能做到。”
　　“我不想知道你可怕的秘密，我不愿帮助你。”坎贝尔回答。
　　“但是你必须帮我，艾伦。你是唯一能帮助我的人。”多里安痛苦地笑着。他拿来一张纸，在上面写了些字，推给桌子那边的坎贝尔。
　　坎贝尔读这张纸时，脸都变白了。他用憎恨而又惧怕的眼神看着多里安。
　　“太对不起了，艾伦。”多里安温和地说。“我已经写了一封信，如果你不帮我，我就寄出这封信，但我想你会帮助我的。”
　　坎贝尔捂住脸，很长时间没有说话。多里安等着。
　　“我需要家里的一些东西用。”坎贝尔终于说。
　　多里安让仆人去取坎贝尔需要的东西，于是两个人静静地等着。仆人回来后，多里安把科学家带到了楼上锁着的房间。他们进去后，多里安记起画像被掀开了，他转身盖上它，然后停在那里，恐怖地瞪着看。画像的一只手沾上了鲜红的血，这比房间里的尸体更让多里安害怕。他迅速用颤抖的手盖住了画像。
　　坎贝尔走后，多里安来到楼上。房间里有一股可怕难闻的味道，但是尸体已经不见了。

12
　　It was the ninth of November， theevening before his thirty-eighth birthday． DorianGray was walking home from Lord Henry's house when he saw Basil Hallward．Hefelt strangely afraid and tried to pretend that he had not seen him，butBasil hurried after him．
　　'Dorian！'he called．'Whatextraordinary luck！I'm catching themidnight train to Paris and I wanted to see you before I left．I'llbe away from England for six months．'Heput his hand on Dorian's arm．'Look，we'renear your house．May I come in for amoment？ I have something to say to you．'
　　'Of course．But won'tyou miss your train？'asked Dorian lazily，ashe walked up the steps to his door．
　　'I have plenty of time．It'sonly eleven o'clock．'
　　They went in and sat down by the fire．
　　'Now，my dear Dorian，Iwant to speak to you seriously，'Basilbegan．'I must tell you that people inLondon are saying the most terrible things about you．'
　　Dorian lit a cigarette and looked bored．'Idon't want to know anything about it．Itdoesn't interest me．'
　　'But it must interest you，Dorian，'saidBasil．'Every gentleman is interested inhis good name．Of course，whenI look at you， I know that these storiescan't be true．A man's face shows if hislife is good or bad． But why does LordBerwick leave the room when you enter it？ Whydoes Lord Staveley say that no honest woman is safe with you？ Thatyoung soldier， who was your friend—whydid he kill himself？There was Sir HenryAshton， who had to leave England with abad name． And what about Lord Kent's son？What kind of life does he have now？'
　　'Stop，Basil．Youdon't know what you're talking about，'saidDorian coldly．'Did I teach these peoplehow to live their lives？ And the peoplewho tell these stories—are their livesany better than mine？'
　　'And there are other stories too，'continuedBasil．'Are they true？ Canyour life really be so bad，so evil？You were a fine young man once，butnow，when I hear these stories，Iwonder…Do I know you at all？ Whathas happened to the real Dorian Gray？ Ithink I would have to see your soul before I could answer those questions．'
　　'The real Dorian Gray？'askedDorian quietly， his face white with fear．
　　'Yes，'said the artistsadly．'But only God can see your soul．'
　　A terrible laugh came from the younger man．'Come，Basil，'hecried．'Come with me！Iwill show you what only God can see． Whynot？It's your own work． You'vetalked enough about evil．Now you mustlook at it．'
　　He took Basil upstairs to the locked room．Inside，heturned to the artist，with smiling lipsand cold， hard eyes．'You'rethe one man in the world who should know my secret．Areyou sure that you want to？'
　　'Yes．'
　　'Then uncover that picture， Basil，andyou will see my soul．'
　　A cry of horror came from the artist when he saw theterrible face in the portrait． How couldthat evil and unlovely face be Dorian Gray's？Butyes，it was．Hewent nearer to the picture．It could notbe the portrait that he had painted．Butyes， there was his name written in thecorner． He turned and looked at DorianGray with the eyes of a sick man．
　　'What does this mean？'heasked at last．
　　'When you finished the portrait，'repliedDorian，'I made a wish…'
　　'I remember，yes，'saidBasil．'You wished that the picture couldbecome old，and that you could stay young．Butthis…'He stared again at the picture．'Thisis impossible．And you told me that you'ddestroyed the picture．'
　　'I was wrong．It hasdestroyed me．'
　　'My God，Dorian！'criedthe artist．'If this is true…Ifthis is the face of your soul， then youare more evil than the worst of the stories about you．'Hesat down at the table and put his face in his hands．'Youmust ask God for his help．'
　　'It's too late， Basil．'
　　'It's never too late， Dorian．Lookat that terrible face．Look at it！'
　　Dorian turned and stared at the face in the picture，and suddenly he hated Basil more than he had everhated anyone in his life．Basil now knewhis secret， and had seen the real DorianGray．Violent feelings burned insideDorian．He picked up a knife from thetable． Then the hate inside him exploded，andlike a wild animal， he ran towards Basil，anddug the knife into the artist's neck，againand again and again．The murdered man'shead fell forwards， and the blood ranslowly across the table，and down ontothe floor．
　　Dorian stood and listened． Hecould hear nothing—only the drip，drip of blood onto the floor． Hewent to the window and looked down into the street． Hefelt strangely calm． The friend who hadpainted his portrait had gone out of his life．Thatwas all．
　　He locked the door behind him and went quietly downstairs．Hisservants were all in bed．He sat down andbegan to think．No one had seen Basil inDorian's house tonight．Paris．Yes！Basilhad gone to Paris， of course， soit would be six months before people asked where he was． Sixmonths！That was more than enough time．
　　Dorian walked up and down the room． Thenhe took out a book from his desk and began to search for a name． AlanCampbell．Yes，thatwas the name that he wanted．
　　杀人者的手
　　“掀开那幅画像，你会看见我的灵魂。”
　　12
　　11月9日，也就是他38岁生日的前一天晚上，多里安·格雷正从亨利勋爵家朝自己家走时看见了巴兹尔·霍尔沃德。他奇怪地觉得害怕，就假装没看见他。但是巴兹尔在后面紧追。
　　“多里安！”他叫道，“太幸运了！我要乘午夜的火车去巴黎，走之前我想见你。我要离开英格兰半年。”他把手放在多里安的胳膊上。“瞧，我们离你家不远了，我可以进去一会儿吗？我有话对你说。”
　　“当然可以。你不会误车吗？”多里安顺着台阶朝房门口走，他懒洋洋地问。
　　“我有足够的时间，现在刚11点。”
　　他们进屋，坐在炉火旁。
　　“亲爱的多里安，我现在想认真地对你说一说。”巴兹尔开口了，“我必须告诉你伦敦的人正在谈论有关你的最可怕的事情。”
　　多里安点燃一支烟，显得不耐烦。“我不想知道这些事，没意思。”
　　“但是你应该关注这些事，多里安。”巴兹尔说，“每位绅士都关心他的好名声。当然，我看你时，我就知道这些传说都不是真的。一个人的脸能显示他的生活是好还是坏。可为什么你进房间后贝里克勋爵要离开？为什么斯特夫利勋爵说没有一个诚实的女人会安全地和你在一起？那个年轻士兵，你的朋友——他为什么自杀了？亨利·阿什顿声名狼藉地离开了英格兰。还有肯特勋爵的儿子？他现在过着怎样的生活？”
　　“住嘴，巴兹尔，你不知道你在说些什么。”多里安冷冷地说，“我教这些人如何生活了吗？讲这些事情的人——他们的生活比我的好吗？”
　　“还有其它故事。”巴兹尔继续说，“都是真的吗？你的生活真的会这么坏，这么邪恶？你曾是个很好的年轻人，可是现在，我听见这些故事时，我想……我了解你吗？真正的多里安·格雷发生了什么事？我想我只有看见你的灵魂后才能回答那些问题。”
　　“真正的多里安·格雷？”多里安轻声地问，他的脸已吓得发白。
　　“是的。”画家痛苦地说，“可只有上帝才能看见你的灵魂。”
　　年轻点的人发出了可怕的笑声。“来吧，巴兹尔。”他高声说，“跟我来！我要带你看只有上帝才能看见的东西。为什么不呢？那是你自己的作品。邪恶你讲得够多了，现在你必须看一看。”
　　他带着巴兹尔上楼来到锁着的房间。进屋后，他转向画家，嘴唇带着笑容，眼神冷漠、严厉。“你是世界上应该知道我的秘密的人。你确信想知道吗？”
　　“是的。”
　　“那么掀开画像，巴兹尔，你会看见我的灵魂。”
　　画家看见画像可怕的脸时发出了恐怖的喊叫。那张邪恶可憎的脸怎么可能是多里安·格雷的？可真是的，它是。他又走近画像，这不可能是他画的那幅。然而的确是他画的，画像的一角写有他的名字。他转身用病人似的眼神看着多里安·格雷。
　　“这是怎么回事？”他最后问。
　　“你完成画像时，”多里安答道，“我许了一个愿……”
　　“我记起来了。”巴兹尔说。“你希望画像会变老，你会永远年轻。可是这……”他又盯着画像：“这是不可能的，而且你告诉我你已经把画像毁了。”
　　“我错了，是画像毁了我。”
　　“上帝，多里安！”画家喊着，“如果这是真的……如果这是你灵魂的脸，那么你比关于你的最坏的传说还要邪恶。”他坐在桌旁，手捂住脸。“你必须向上帝乞求帮助。”
　　“太迟了，巴兹尔。”
　　“还不晚，多里安。看那张可怕的脸，看啊！”
　　多里安转身凝视着画像中的脸，突然他比一生中恨其他的人更恨巴兹尔。巴兹尔现在知道了他的秘密，也看见了真正的多里安·格雷。强烈的情感在多里安心中燃烧，他从桌上拿起了一把刀。心中的仇恨爆发了，他像一只野兽冲向巴兹尔，用刀刺进了画家的脖子，一刀又一刀。被杀人的头朝前耷拉下来，鲜血慢慢流到桌子上，又流到地板上。
　　多里安站着听听动静，他听不见任何声音——只有鲜血流到地板上的嘀嗒声。他走到窗边，向下看着街道。他很平静，这有点奇怪。给他画像的朋友已经从他的生活里消失了，仅此而已。
　　他锁上身后的门，轻轻走下楼。仆人都在睡觉。他坐下开始思考。今晚没人看见巴兹尔在多里安家。巴黎，是的！巴兹尔当然去了巴黎。因此半年后人们才会问起巴兹尔在哪儿。半年！时间足够了。
　　多里安在屋里踱步。然后他从书桌里取出一本书，开始找一个名字。艾伦·坎贝尔，是的，这就是他想找的名字。

11
　　And so the years passed．
　　But time did not touch the face of Dorian Gray．Thatwonderful beauty—the beauty that BasilHallward had painted—never left him．Heenjoyed the life of a rich and fashionable young man． Hestudied art and music， and filled hishouse with beautiful things from every corner of the world．Buthis search for pleasure did not stop there． Hebecame hungry for evil pleasures．Hebecame more and more in love with the beauty of his face，moreand more interested in the ugliness of his soul．
　　After a while strange stories were heard about him—storiesof a secret， more dangerous life．But when people looked at that young andgood-looking face， they could notbelieve the evil stories．And they stillcame to the famous dinners at his house，wherethe food，and the music，andthe conversation were the best in London．
　　But behind the locked door at the top of the house，the picture of Dorian Gray grew older every year．Theterrible face showed the dark secrets of his life．Theheavy mouth， the yellow skin，thecruel eyes—these told the real story．Againand again，Dorian Gray went secretly tothe room and looked first at the ugly and terrible face in the picture，thenat the beautiful young face that laughed back at him from the mirror．
　　After his twenty-fifth year， thestories about him became worse．He wassometimes away from home for several days；hewas seen fighting with foreign sailors in bars；hewas friendly with thieves．And in thehouses of fashionable people，mensometimes turned away when he entered a room．Women'sfaces sometimes went white when they heard his name．
　　But many people only laughed at these stories．DorianGray was still a very rich and fashionable man，andthe dinners at his house were excellent．Peopleagreed with Lord Henry，who once said，inhis amusing way，that a good dinner wasmore important than a good life．
　　As the months and years passed， DorianGray grew more and more afraid of the picture． Heboth hated it and loved it，and he becamemore and more afraid that someone would discover his secret．Forweeks he tried not to go near it，but hecould not stay away from it for long．Sometimes，when he was staying in friends'houses， hesuddenly left and hurried back to London． Hewanted to be sure that the room was still locked and the picture was stillsafe． At one time he used to spendwinters with Lord Henry in a little house in Algiers， butnow he no longer travelled outside England．
　　His fear grew stronger every year，andas time passed，the face in the picturegrew slowly more terrible．
　　时间窃贼
　　“我将永远年轻、强壮，永远漂亮。”
　　11
　　于是几年过去了。
　　然而时间并未损及多里安·格雷的脸。那极好的美貌——巴兹尔·霍尔沃德描绘过的美貌——从没离开过他。他享受着一个富有、时髦的年轻人的生活。他研究艺术和音乐，在房间里摆满了来自世界各个角落的漂亮东西。但是他对享乐的追求并没停止在这儿，他如饥似渴地追求邪恶的享乐。他越来越迷恋自己美貌的面孔，越来越对自己丑陋的灵魂感兴趣。
　　曾经一度能听到的关于他的古怪的故事——一个神秘、更加危险的生活的故事。但当人们看着那张年轻好看的脸时，他们就不能相信那些邪恶的故事。于是他们仍来这家参加闻名的晚宴。在这儿，食物、音乐和谈话都是伦敦最好的。
　　可是在房子顶部锁着的门后，多里安·格雷的画像在逐年变老。可怕的面孔揭示了他生活里阴暗的秘密。严厉的嘴，发黄的皮肤，残酷的眼睛——这些都讲述了真实的故事。一次又一次，多里安·格雷偷偷地跑到这个房间，先看画像中丑陋可怕的脸，然后再看镜子里从后面对他微笑的漂亮年轻的面孔。
　　在他25岁以后，他的故事变得更糟。他有时离家好几天；有人看见他在酒吧里同外国水手打架；他和小偷是朋友。在时髦人物的房子里，当他进来时男人们有时会转过脸去。女人们在听见他的名字时脸有时会变白。
　　但是许多人只是嘲笑这些传说。多里安·格雷仍是一个非常富有和时髦的男人，他家的晚宴仍很棒。人们赞同亨利勋爵一次有趣的讲话，即重要的是丰盛的晚宴而不是正人君子的生活。
　　月复一月，年复一年，多里安·格雷越来越惧怕这幅画像。他既恨它又爱它，于是他更害怕有人会发现他的秘密。有几个星期他尽量不走近它，但离开它时间长了也不行。有时候，他正呆在朋友家，他会突然离开，迅速赶回伦敦。他想证实房间的门还锁着，那幅画像还安全。有一段时间他总是和亨利勋爵在阿尔及尔的一所小房子里过冬，但是现在他再不到英格兰以外的地方旅行了。
　　他的恐惧一年比一年强。随着时间的流逝，画像中的脸逐渐变得更加可怕。

10
　　While Dorian was having breakfast the next morning，BasilHallward came to see him．
　　'At last I've found you，Dorian，'hesaid seriously．'I came last night，but they told me that you'd gone out to dinnerwith friends．I knew that wasn't true，ofcourse．I wanted to tell you how sorry Iwas about Sybil Vane．Poor girl！'
　　'My dear Basil，'saidDorian．He looked bored．'Iwas at Lord Henry's house last night．Itwas a very amusing evening．'
　　Basil stared at him．'Youwent out to dinner？'he said slowly．'Youwent out to dinner when Sybil Vane was lying dead in some dirty theatre？'
　　'Stop，Basil！Iwon't listen to you！'Dorian jumped tohis feet．'Sybil Vane is in the past…finished… forgotten．'
　　'You've changed，Dorian，'saidBasil．'You have the same wonderful face，but where is the kind and gentle boy who sat formy portrait？ Have you no heart？'
　　'Yesterday my heart was full of sadness．Ihave cried for Sybil，yes，butI cannot cry today．I have changed，Basil．I'm aman now，with new feelings，newideas． Don't be angry with me．Iam what I am．There's nothing more to say．'
　　Basil watched him sadly．'Well，Dorian，'hesaid at last，'I won't speak of poorSybil again．But will you come and sitfor another portrait soon？'
　　'No．Never，'saidDorian quickly．'It's impossible．'
　　'But why？'asked Basil，verysurprised．'And why have you covered theportrait？'He walked across the roomtowards the painting．
　　Dorian cried out in fear， andran between Basil and the portrait．'No，Basil！Youmust not look at it．I don't want you tosee it．'His face was white and angry．'Ifyou try to look at it，I'll never speakto you again．'
　　The artist stared at him．'Whycan't I look at my own work？'he asked．'I'mgoing to exhibit it in an art gallery in Paris soon．'
　　Dorian tried to hide his fear．'Butyou said…you told me that you wouldnever exhibit the picture． Why have youchanged your mind？'He came closer toBasil and looked into his face．'Tell mewhy，'he said．
　　Basil turned away． Aftera while he said slowly，'I see that youtoo have noticed something strange about the picture．Dorian，you changed my life as an artist from the momentwhen I met you．You became very importantto me—I could not stop thinking aboutyou．And when I painted this portrait，Ifelt that I'd put too much of myself into it． Icould not let other people see it．'Hewas silent for a moment， then turnedback to Dorian．'Perhaps you're right．Icannot exhibit this picture．But will youlet me look at it again？'
　　'No，never！'
　　The artist smiled sadly．'Well，I'vetold you my secret now．Try to understandme，Dorian．You'vebeen the one person in my life who has really influenced my art．'
　　As he left the room，DorianGray smiled to himself．What a dangerousmoment that had been！ Poor Basil！Althoughhe had told his own secret， he had notdiscovered Dorian's secret．But thepicture…he must hide it away at once．Noone must ever see it again．
　　He had the covered portrait carried upstairs to a smallroom at the top of the house． Then helocked the door and kept the key himself． Hefelt safe now， because only his eyeswould see the terrible changes in that beautiful face．
　　When he returned to the room downstairs，hepicked up a book that Lord Henry had lent him． Hesat down and began to read．
　　It was the story of a Frenchman， whohad spent his life searching for beauty and pleasure—pleasureof all kinds，both good and bad．Dorian read for hours．Itwas a frightening book，full of strangeideas and dangerous dreams—dreams thatslowly became real for Dorian．
　　Dorian read this book many times．Infact， he could not stop reading it，andover the years，it became more and moreinteresting to him．He felt that theFrenchman's life was a mirror of his own．
　　10
　　第二天早晨多里安正在吃早餐，巴兹尔·霍尔沃德前来看望他。
　　“我终于找到你了，多里安。”他严肃地说，“我昨晚来过，但他们告诉我你和朋友出去吃饭了。我知道那当然不是真的。我想告诉你我是多么地为西比尔·文难过，可怜的姑娘！”
　　“亲爱的巴兹尔，”多里安说，他显得不耐烦，“昨晚我在亨利勋爵家，那是个很有趣的夜晚。”
　　巴兹尔盯着他。“你出去吃晚饭了？”他缓慢地说，“西比文·文的尸体还躺在某个肮脏的剧院时你居然外出吃晚饭？”
　　“别说了，巴兹尔！我不想听你说！”多里安站了起来。“西比尔·文已成为过去……都结束了……忘却了。”
　　“你变了，多里安。”巴兹尔说，“你还是长着同样漂亮的面孔，但是那个坐着让我画像的和善、温柔的男孩哪儿去了？你没有心了吗？”
　　“昨天我的心充满了悲伤，我曾为西比尔哭泣。但我今天不会哭，我已经变了，巴兹尔。我现在是一个男人了，有了新感情、新思想。别生我的气，我就这样了，再没什么可说的了。”
　　巴兹尔难过地注视他。“好吧，多里安，”他终于说，“我再不说可怜的西比尔了。可你能尽快来我这儿让我再给你画一幅画像吗？”
　　“不，决不。”多里安很快回答。“不可能。”
　　“为什么？”巴兹尔非常吃惊地问，“你为什么遮住画像？”他穿过房间朝画像走去。
　　多里安恐惧地喊起来，冲过去挡在巴兹尔和画像之间。“不，巴兹尔！你不能看，我不想让你看。”他的脸又苍白又愤怒。“如果你非要看它，我就再不和你说话了。”
　　画家盯着他，“为什么我不能看我自己的作品？”他问。“我将在巴黎的一个画廊展出这幅画像。”
　　多里安努力掩藏着他的恐惧。“可是你说过……你告诉过我你决不会展出这幅画像。你为什么改变了主意？”他走近巴兹尔，观察他的脸。“告诉我为什么。”他说。
　　巴兹尔转身走开。过了一会儿他缓慢地说：“我看得出你也注意到了画像有点奇怪。多里安，从我见到你开始，你改变了我作为画家的生活。你变得对我很重要——我无法不想着你。画这幅画像时，我感觉我画进了我自己太多的东西，我不能让其他人看它。”他沉默片刻，然后转向多里安：“可能你是对的，我不能展出这幅画。但你能让我再看一眼吗？”
　　“不，决不！”
　　画家难过地一笑：“唉，我已经告诉了你我的秘密，尽量理解我，多里安，你是我一生中唯一真正影响我的艺术的人。”
　　巴兹尔离开房间后，多里安·格雷对自己一笑，刚才多危险啊！可怜的巴兹尔！虽然他讲出了他的秘密，但他并没发现多里安的秘密。可这画像……他必须立刻将它藏起来，没人能再看到它。
　　他叫人把遮着的画像搬上楼放在房子顶部的一个小房间里，然后锁上门，钥匙由自己亲自掌管。现在他觉得安全了，因为只有他自己的眼睛可以目睹那张漂亮的脸上发生的可怕的变化。
　　回到楼下的房间，他拿起一本亨利勋爵借给他的书，坐下开始阅读。
　　书讲述的是一个法国人的故事，他用一生的时间追寻美貌和享受——各种各样的享受，有好的有坏的。多里安读了几个小时。这是一本可怕的书，充满了古怪的念头和危险的梦想——这些梦想逐渐变成了多里安真实的东西。
　　这本书多里安读了许多遍。实际上，他止不住地一直在读这本书。过了几年，他越来越觉得这本书有意思，他觉得这个法国人的生活就像自己生活的真实写照。

9
　　It was long past midday when Dorian woke up．Hisservant brought him tea and his letters，buthe did not read them．Yesterday seemedlike a bad dream，but when he wentdownstairs，he saw the covered picture．Shouldhe uncover it，he wondered？Hadthe face in the picture really changed？Didhe want to know？He lit a cigarette andthought for a while．Yes，hehad to know．He lifted the cover．
　　There was no mistake．Theportrait had really changed．He could notexplain it，could not understand it．Itwas impossible，but it had happened．
　　Dorian felt sick and ashamed．Hedid not know what to do，or what to think．Finally，hesat down and wrote a long letter to Sybil Vane．Hecovered page after page with wild words of love．Then，suddenly，heheard Lord Henry's voice at the door．Dorianjumped up and covered the picture．
　　'My dear boy，'saidLord Henry，as he came in．'I'mso sorry．But you must not think too muchabout her．'
　　'Do you mean about Sybil Vane？'askedDorian．'There's nothing to be sorryabout．I want to be good，andI'm going to be happy．I shall marrySybil Vane．I'm not going to break mypromise to her．'
　　'Marry Sybil Vane！'LordHenry stared at Dorian．'Didn't you getmy letter？'
　　'I haven't read my letters today，'saidDorian slowly．
　　Lord Henry walked across the room and took Dorian's handsin his own．'Dorian，'hesaid quietly，'don't be frightened—myletter told you that Sybil Vane is dead．Shekilled herself at the theatre last night．'
　　'No，no，that'simpossible！'cried Dorian．Hepulled his hands away and stared at Lord Henry with wild eyes．'Thisis terrible，Harry．Ihave murdered Sybil Vane！'
　　'She killed herself，'saidLord Henry calmly．'You didn' t murderher．She killed herself because she lovedyou．It's very sad，ofcourse，but you mustn't think too muchabout it．You must come and have dinnerwith me．'
　　'Harry，listen．Lastnight I told her that I didn't want to see her again．Butafter I left her，I realized how cruel Ihad been．I decided to go back to her，tomarry her．And now she is dead！Harry，whatshall I do？You don't know the dangerthat I am in．'
　　'My dear Dorian，saidLord Henry．'Marriage with Sybil Vane wasnot for you．No，no…marriageslike that are never successful．The manquickly becomes unhappy and bored．Ofcourse，he's kind to his wife．Wecan always be kind to people that we're not interested in．Butthe woman soon discovers that her husband is bored．Andthen she either becomes terribly unfashionable，orwears very expensive hats that another woman's husband has to pay for．'
　　The young man walked up and down me room．'Isuppose that's true，'he said unhappily．'ButHarry，I don't think that I'm cruel．Doyou？'
　　Lord Henry smiled．Hetold Dorian Gray what he wanted to hear．Andthen he told him clever，amusing storiesabout the women that he himself had loved．Hesaid that Sybil Vane's death was a beautiful end to a love story for anactress．'The girl never really lived，'hecontinued，'so she never really died．Don'tcry for Sybil Vane．She was less realthan Juliet．'
　　After a while Dorian Gray looked up．'Youhave explained me to myself，Harry，'hesaid slowly．'How well you know me！Butwe won't talk of this again．It's been awonderful lesson for me．That's all．'
　　When Lord Henry had left，Dorianuncovered the picture again．He had tochoose between a good life and a bad life，hethought．But then he realized that，infact，he had already chosen．Hewould stay young for ever，and enjoyevery wild pleasure that life could give him．Theface in the picture would grow old and ugly and unkind，buthe would stay beautiful for ever．Hecovered the picture again，and smiled．
　　An hour later he was at Lord Henry's house，andLord Henry was smiling at his side．
　　爱情的死亡
　　“长得漂亮比做好人要好。”
　　9
　　时间早已过了正午，多里安才醒来。仆人端来了茶并带来了信件，可是多里安没有读这些信。昨天就像一场恶梦。下楼时，他看见了被遮盖着的画像。他应该掀开它吗？他思忖道。画像的脸真的改变了吗？他想知道吗？他点燃一支烟，想了一会儿。是的，他得知道，他掀开了遮着的布。
　　没错，画像确实变了。他无法解释，也不能明白。这是不可能的，但又的确发生了。
　　多里安觉得懊丧和惭愧。他不知道该怎么做，或者该怎么想。最后，他坐下，给西比尔·文写了一封长信。他一页又一页地写满了疯狂的爱的语句。突然，他听见了门口亨利勋爵的声音。多里安跳起来，盖上了画。
　　“亲爱的，”亨利勋爵进来时说，“我非常抱歉，但你不该过多地想她。”
　　“你指的是西比尔·文吗？”多里安问。“没有什么可抱歉的。我想好好做人，我要快乐，我将娶西比尔·文，对她履行诺言。”
　　“娶西比尔·文！”亨利勋爵瞪着多里安。“你没收到我的信吗？”
　　“今天我还没有读信。”多里安慢慢地说。
　　亨利勋爵从房门处走过来，抓起多里安的双手。
　　“多里安。”他温和地说，“别怕——我在信里告诉你西比尔·文已经死了，她昨天晚上在剧院里自杀了。”
　　“不，不，不可能！”多里安喊道。他抽回双手，用发疯的眼神瞪着亨利勋爵。“这太可怕了，哈里。是我杀死了西比尔·文！”
　　“她是自杀的。”亨利勋爵平静地说，“你没有谋杀她。她自杀是因为爱你，这当然很不幸，但你不要过多地想这件事，你必须来和我共进晚餐。”
　　“哈里，听着。昨晚我告诉她我不想再见到她。但我离开她后，我意识到我是多么的残忍。我决定回到她身边，娶她。现在她死了，我该怎么办？你不知道我面临的危险。”
　　“亲爱的多里安，”亨利勋爵说，“和西比尔·文结婚不适合你。不，不……这样的婚姻从来不会成功。男的很快变得不高兴和厌倦，当然他对妻子还好，我们总会友好对待一些我们不感兴趣的人。但这个女人很快发现丈夫已经厌倦了，于是她变得要么可怕地落后于时尚，要么戴着另一个女人的丈夫给买的昂贵的帽子。”
　　年轻人在房间里来回走动。“也许你说的是真的，”他不高兴地说，“但是哈里，我不认为我很残酷，你呢？”
　　亨利勋爵一笑，他讲了些多里安·格雷爱听的话，然后又讲了他爱过的女人的聪明逗人的故事。他说西比尔·文的死是一名女演员爱情故事的美丽结局。他继续说：“这个姑娘从未真正生活过，因此她也从没真正地死。不要为西比尔·文哭泣，和朱丽叶比，她更不真实。”
　　过了一会儿多里安·格雷抬起头。“你说服了我，哈里。”他缓慢地说，“你太了解我了！我们别再谈这事了，这是我的一个极好的教训，到此为止吧。”
　　亨利勋爵走后，多里安又掀开了画像。他想他必须选择过正人君子的生活还是过不道德的生活。但他意识到他实际上已经做出了选择。他将永远年轻，享受生活给予的每一份疯狂的快乐。画像中的脸将变老、变丑、变凶，但是他将永远漂亮。他又盖上画像，露出了笑容。
　　一小时后他来到了亨利勋爵家，亨利勋爵在他旁边微笑着。

8
　　As they waited for Dorian Gray the next night，LordHenry and Basil Hallward discussed Sybil Vane．Basilhad not been happy at the news of Dorian's marriage plans．
　　'An actress！'he hadcried．'But Dorian is a gentleman，thegrandson of Lord Kelso．He can't marry anactress．'
　　'Why not？'Lord Henryhad said coolly．'He'll love her wildlyfor six months，and then suddenly he'llbe in love with another woman．It will bevery amusing to watch．'
　　But when Dorian arrived and told the story of his love，Basilbecame a little happier．'You're right，'hetold Dorian．'The woman that you lovemust be wonderful．I can see already thatshe's changed you．'
　　'Yes，'said Dorianhappily，'yes，Sybilhas changed me．From this moment I shallbe good．I'll never listen again，Harry，toyour dangerous ideas about life and pleasure．'
　　Lord Henry smiled．'Ah，'hesaid，'when we are happy，weare always good，but when we are good，weare not always happy．'
　　Basil Hallward shook his head at this，butDorian laughed．'You cut life to pieceswith your clever words，Harry．'
　　The theatre was crowded and noisy，butwhen Sybil Vane appeared，everyone becamesilent．She was one of the most beautifulgirds that Lord Henry had ever seen．'Lovely！Lovely！'hesaid softly．
　　But although Sybil looked beautiful，hervoice sounded unnatural．She spokeJuliet's words，but there was no feelingin them．Her voice was lovely，butit took away all the life from the words People in the theatre began talkingloudly，and after half an hour Lord Henrystood up and put on his coat．
　　'She's very beautiful，Dorian，butshe's not an actress，'he said．'Let'sgo．'
　　'I think that Miss Vane must be ill，'addedBasil．'We'll come another night．'
　　Dorian did not look at them．'Goaway．I want to be alone，'hesaid miserably，and as his friends left，he covered his face with his hands．
　　When the play came to its painful end，Dorianwent to see Sybil．
　　'I wasn't a very good Juliet tonight，'shesaid，and looked at him with love in hereyes．
　　'You were terrible，'saidDorian coldly．'My friends were bored．Iwas bored．I suppose you were ill．'
　　She did not seem to hear him．'Dorian，'shecried，'before I knew you，thetheatre was my only life．I thought thatit was all true．I knew nothing butshadows，and I thought that they werereal．But you've taught me the differencebetween art and life．How can I pretendto be Juliet—to feel Juliet's love，whenI know now what true love is？'
　　Dorian turned his face away from her．'ButI loved you for your art—because youwere a wonderful actress，'he said．Hisvoice was hard You have killed my love．Withoutyour art，you are nothing．Inever want to see you again．'
　　Sybil's face was white with fear．'You'renot serious，are you，Dorian？'sheasked．She touched his arm with her small，gentlehand．
　　'Don't touch me！'heshouted angrily．He pushed her away，andshe fell to the floor and lay there like a broken bird．
　　'Dorian，please don'tleave me，'she cried．'Ilove you better than anything in the world．Don'tleave me！'
　　Dorian Gray looked down at her with his beautiful eyes．Therewas no love or gentleness in his face．'I'mgoing，'he said at last．'Idon't wish to be unkind，but I don't wantto see you again．'Without another wordhe left her．
　　All night he walked through the streets of London．Whenmorning came，he went home．Whenhe entered his house，he saw the portraitof himself that Basil Hallward had painted．Therewas something different about it，hethought．The face had changed—therewas something unkind，and cruel about themouth．It was very strange．
　　He picked up a mirror and looked at his own face，andthen looked again at the face in the portrait．Yes，itwas different．What did this change mean？
　　Suddenly he remembered his wish in Basil Hallward's house…hiswish that he could stay young，but thepicture could grow old．The idea wasimpossible，of course．Butwhy did the face in the picture have that cruel，unkindmouth？
　　Cruel！Had he beencruel to Sybil Vane？He remembered herwhite，unhappy face as she lay at hisfeet．But she had hurt him，too．No，SybilVane was nothing to him now．
　　But the picture watched him，withits beautiful face and its cruel smile．Ithad taught him to love his own beauty．Wouldit also teach him to hate his own heart，hisown soul？No，hewould go back to Sybil Vane．He wouldmarry her，try to love her again．Poorchild！How cruel he had been to her！Theywould be happy together．
　　He covered the picture and quickly left the room．
　　8
　　第二天晚上，在等多里安·格雷时，亨利勋爵和巴兹尔·霍尔沃德谈论着西比尔·文。巴兹尔对多里安要结婚的打算并不感到高兴。
　　“一个演员！”他叫道，“可多里安是一位绅士，是凯尔索勋爵的外孙子。他不能娶一个演员。”
　　“为什么不能？”亨利勋爵冷谈地说，“他会疯狂地爱她6个月，然后会突然爱上另一个女人，观察这些多有趣。”
　　多里安来了，他讲述了他的恋爱故事，巴兹尔高兴了一点儿。“你是对的。”他告诉多里安。“你爱上的女人一定非常出色。我已经能看出她改变了你。”
　　“是的，”多里安高兴地说，“西比尔改变了我。从现在开始我要好好做人，再不听哈里关于人生和享受的危险的思想。”
　　亨利勋爵一笑，“啊，”他说，“当我们幸福时，我们总是好人，可当我们是好人时，我们不总是幸福。”
　　巴兹尔·霍尔沃德对此话摇摇头，而多里安笑道：“你聪明的言辞把生活切成了碎片，哈里。”
　　剧院里又拥挤又嘈杂，可是当西比尔·文一出现，每个人都安静了下来。她是亨利勋爵见过的最漂亮的姑娘之一。“漂亮！真漂亮！”他轻声地说。
　　虽然西比尔看起来非常美丽，但是她的嗓音听着不自然。她念着朱丽叶的台词，但是丝毫没有感情。她的嗓音很动听，可话语里全无生活气息。剧院里的人开始大声谈话。半小时后亨利勋爵站起身穿上了外套。
　　“她非常漂亮，多里安。但是她算不上一名演员。”他说道，“咱们走吧。”
　　“我想文小姐一定是病了。”巴兹尔说，“我们改天晚上再来。”
　　多里安没有看他们。“走吧，我想一个人呆会儿。”他痛苦地说。朋友离开时，他用手捂住了脸。
　　戏终于痛苦地结束了，多里安去看望西比尔。
　　“今晚我没演好朱丽叶。”她说，用充满爱意的眼神看着多里安。
　　“你真糟糕。”多里安冷酷地说，“我的朋友觉得乏味，我也觉得乏味，我想你可能病了。”
　　她似乎没听见他说的话。“多里安，”她高声说，“在我认识你以前，剧院是我唯一的生活。我认为剧院演的都是真的。除了扮演的影子似的人物外我一无所知，我认为这些影子是真实的。可是你已经教会我如何区分艺术和生活的不同，当我现在知道什么是真正的爱的时候，我怎么能装成是朱丽叶——感受朱丽叶的爱？”
　　多里安转过脸，不再看她。“可是我爱你是因为你的艺术——因为你曾是名出色的演员，”他说，他的话很严厉。“你扼杀了我的爱。没有你的艺术，你就变得毫无价值。我再不想见到你。”
　　西比尔的脸因恐惧变得苍白。“你不是当真的，是吗，多里安？”她问。她用小巧、柔软的手按着他的胳膊。
　　“别碰我！”他生气地喊。他一把推开她，她跌倒在地，像一只衰弱的小鸟倒在那里。
　　“多里安，请别离开我。”她哭喊道，“我爱你甚过世界上的任何东西，别离开我！”
　　多里安·格雷用漂亮的双眼俯视着她。他的脸上没有爱或者温柔。“我要走了。”他最后说，“我不想对你不好，但我不想再见到你。”他没有多说一句话就离她而去。
　　他在伦敦的街道上走了一夜，清晨才回家。进屋后，他看见了巴兹尔·霍尔沃德给他画的肖像。画像有点不一样了，他想。脸变了——嘴显得不和善，而且有点残酷。真奇怪。
　　他拿起一个镜子看着自己的脸，然后又看着画像中的脸。是不同了，这种改变意味着什么呢？
　　突然他记起了在巴兹尔·霍尔沃德家许的愿……他希望自己永远年轻，只是画像会变老。这种想法当然是不可能的。可是为什么画像中的脸有那么一张残酷不仁慈的嘴呢？
　　残酷！他对西比尔·文残酷了吗？他想起了西比尔倒在他脚下时的那张苍白、痛苦的脸。但是她也伤害了他呀。不，西比尔·文现在对他毫无价值了。
　　但是画像在注视他，面孔漂亮，笑容却很冷酷。画像教会了他去爱自己的美貌，它也将教他恨自己的心、自己的灵魂吗？不，他要回到西比尔·文那里。他要娶她，要努力再去爱她。可怜的孩子！他曾对她是多么的残酷！他们在一起会幸福的。
　　他遮上画像迅速离开了那个房间。

7
　　'Mother，Mother，I'mso happy，'cried the girl，'andyou must be happy too． '
　　Mrs Vane put her thin white hands on her daughter's head．'I'monly happy when I see you in the theatre，'shesaid．'And we are poor．Weneed the money—don't forget that．whatdo we know about this young man？Youdon't know his real name，or anythingabout him．'
　　'No，but I call himPrince Charming．He's everything to me．Ilove him and he loves me．Oh Mother，letme be happy！ '
　　'You're too young to think of love，'saidher mother．She looked at her daughter'slovely face， and tried to warn her ofthe dangers of love，but the girl did notlisten．She was locked in her prison oflove．
　　At that moment the girl's brother entered the room．Hewas a heavy，dark young man，notat all like his sister．
　　'I've heard about a gentleman who visits you every night atthe theatre，'he said to his sister．'Whois he？What does he want？'
　　'Oh James，don't beangry with me today，'cried Sybil．'You'releaving for Australia tomorrow，and todayis your last day．Come for a walk with mein the park．I'll go and get ready．'Shedanced out of the room，and her motherand brother could hear her singing as she ran upstairs．
　　James Vane turned to his mother．'Mynew life as a sailor will keep me away from England for many years，'hesaid．'But I don't like to leave Sybilalone．'
　　'Sybil has me，hermother，you know，'saidMrs Vane quietly．
　　'Then take care of her．'James Vanegave his mother a long，hard look．'Ifthat man hurts my sister，I'll find him，andkill him like a dog．'
　　7
　　“妈妈，妈妈，我太高兴了。”姑娘喊着，“你也应该高兴。”
　　文太太用瘦削白皙的双手抚摸女儿的头。“我只有在剧院看着你时才快乐。”她说，“我们穷，我们需要钱——别忘记这一点。我们了解这个年轻人什么呢？我们不知道他的真实姓名，不知道他的任何事情。”
　　“是的，我不知道；我叫他'迷人的王子'，他是我的一切，我爱他，他爱我。哦，妈妈，让我高兴些吧！”
　　“你们太年轻，还不能考虑爱情。”母亲说。她看着女儿可爱的面庞，努力提醒她爱情的危险。但是姑娘不听，她已经把自己锁进了爱情的监牢。
　　这时姑娘的哥哥走进了房间。他是一个壮实黝黑的年轻人，一点儿也不像他的妹妹。
　　“我听说一位绅士每天晚上到剧院去见你。”他对妹妹说，“他是谁？他想干什么？”
　　“哦，詹姆斯，今天别生我的气。”西比尔嚷着，“你明天要动身去澳大利亚，今天是你在家的最后一天。和我去公园散步吧，我去准备一下。”她舞出了房间，母亲和哥哥能听见她上楼梯时唱着歌。
　　詹姆斯·文转向母亲。“我当了水手，这种新的生活会使我离开英格兰很多年。”他说，“但我不想丢下西比尔一个人。”
　　“西比尔有我，她的母亲。”文太太平静地说。
　　“那么好好照看她。”詹姆斯·文看了母亲好一会儿。“如果那个男人伤害我妹妹，我会找到他，像杀死一条狗一样杀死他。”

6
　　One afternoon，a monthlater，Dorian Gray visited Lord Henry．Dorianwas excited and his eyes were shining．
　　'Harry，'he began，'I'mdiscovering life．I'm doing everythingthat you told me to do．I'm in love！'
　　'Who are you in love with？'askedLord Henry，calmly．
　　'With an actress．'
　　'Oh，everybody's inlove with an actress at some time in their lives，'saidLord Henry．
　　'No，Harry，thisis different．She's wonderful！Hername's Sybil Vane，and one day she'll bea very famous actress．She really isextraordinarily clever．'
　　'My dear boy，'saidLord Henry in his lazy voice，'no womanis extraordinarily clever．Women havenothing to say，but they say itbeautifully．There are only five women inLondon who can give you real conversation．Buttell me about your wonderful actress．Howlong have you known her？'
　　'Harry！I'll tell youall about her，but you must promise notto laugh．'
　　Lord Henry listened and smiled．Dorianhad discovered an old，dirty theatre in apoor street in London．He had gone in tolook for adventure，but had found love，hetold Lord Henry．The play had beenShakespeare's Romeo and Juliet．
　　'Romeo was a fat old man with a terrible voice，butJuliet！Oh，Harry，shewas about seventeen，with dark brown hairand a face like a flower．She was theloveliest girl that I'd ever seen in my life，andher voice was like music．I love her，Harry．She'severything to me．Every night I go to seeher in different plays and she's always wonderful．'
　　'That's the reason，Isuppose，why you never have dinner withme now，'said Lord Henry．
　　'But Harry，you and Isee each other every day—we always havelunch together，'said Dorian in surprise．'Ihave to go and see Sybil in the theatre every night．Youand Basil must come with me to see her．Thenyou can see yourself how wonderful she is．Cometomorrow．'
　　'Very well，my dearDorian，we'll come and watch your Juliet．Butyou'll be in love many times，you know—thisis only the beginning．'
　　After Dorian had gone，LordHenry smiled to himself．How amusing itwas to watch this young man，he thought．Hewas very different now from the frightened boy in Basil Hallward's house．Hehad opened like a flower in the sun，andwas learning to enjoy every pleasure in life．'Andit is I，'thought Lord Henry，'whohave taught him how to do this．'
　　When Lord Henry returned home that night，therewas a letter for him lying on the table．Ittold him that Dorian Gray was going to marry Sybil Vane．
　　恋爱中的年轻人
　　“爱比艺术更美妙。”
　　6
　　一个月后的一天下午，多里安·格雷来拜访亨利勋爵。多里安神情兴奋，双眼闪光。
　　“哈里，”他开始说，“我正在发现生活，我正在做你让我去做的事情。我恋爱了！”
　　“你爱上了谁？”亨利勋爵平静地问。
　　“一个女演员。”
　　“哦，每个人在一生中的某段时间总会爱上一位女演员。”亨利勋爵说。
　　“不，哈里，这不同。她太奇妙了！她叫西比尔·文。总有一天她会成为一位名演员，她真的是太聪明了。”
　　“我亲爱的孩子，”亨利勋爵懒散地说，“没有哪个女人是异乎寻常地聪明。女人谈不出什么名堂，但是她们说得很动听。伦敦只有五个女人能和你真正地交谈。给我讲讲你的奇妙的女演员，你认识她多久了？”
　　“哈里，我要告诉你她的一切，但你得保证不嘲笑我。”
　　亨利勋爵边听边微笑着。多里安在伦敦的一条破破烂烂的街道上发现了一个又旧又脏的剧院。他告诉亨利勋爵，他进去是想找点冒险的事，但却找到了爱。上演的戏剧是莎士比亚的《罗密欧与朱丽叶》。
　　“罗密欧是一个又胖又老的男人，嗓音可怕。但是朱丽叶！哦，哈里，她大概十七岁，长着深棕色的头发，鲜花般的脸。她是我有生以来见到过的最可爱的姑娘，而且她的声音像音乐一样。我爱她，哈里，她是我的一切。每天晚上我都去看她演的各种戏剧，她总是那么出色。”
　　“我想，那就是你一直没和我共进晚餐的原因。”亨利勋爵。
　　“但是哈里，你我每天都见面——我们总是在一起共进午餐。”多里安吃惊地说，“我每天晚上都要去剧院看望西比尔。你和巴兹尔一定要和我一起去看她，然后你们自己会发现她是多么地美妙。明天就来吧。”
　　“好吧，亲爱的多里安，我们去看你的朱丽叶。但是人会恋爱许多次的——这只是个开始。”
　　多里安走后，亨利勋爵暗自好笑。观察这个年轻人真有趣，他想道。多里安和巴兹尔·霍尔沃德房子里那个被吓住的男孩已大不相同。他像一朵在阳光中绽开的花，正在学着如何享受生活的每一份快乐。“正是我，”亨利勋爵想，“教会了他这样做。”
　　那天晚上亨利勋爵回家后在桌子上发现了一封给他的信。信上说多里安·格雷要和西比尔·文结婚。

5
　　The next morning Lord Henry went to visit his aunt，LadyAgatha．She was surprised to see him．
　　'I thought you fashionable young men never got up until theafternoon，'she said．
　　'Ah，but my dear aunt，Ineed some information，you see，'repliedLord Henry．'I met Dorian Gray yesterday，andI'd like to know more about him．'
　　'Oh，he's Lord Kelso'sgrandson，'said Lady Agatha．'Hismother was Lady Margaret Devereux，a verybeautiful woman．She ran away from hometo marry a poor soldier．He was killed afew months later and she died soon after her son was born．Shewas a lovely woman．Dorian Gray has herbeauty and he will，I understand，havehis grandfather's money．'
　　'He is，'agreed LordHenry，'extraordinarily good－looking．'
　　'Come to lunch，'invitedhis aunt．'Dorian Gray will be here andyou can meet him again．'
　　'I'd love to come，'smiledLord Henry．
　　As he left，Lord Henrythought about this sad story．He becamemore interested than ever in this beautiful young man，DorianGray．He remembered the night before，whenDorian had watched him with his bright blue eyes，halfwondering，half afrald．'Hedoes not yet know himself，'thought LordHenry，with a smile．'ButI can teach him．Yes，Ican influence him in any way that I please．Iwill teach him to discover the fire of youth，andlove，and life．'
　　The conversation among the fashionable people at LadyAgatha's lunch was quick and clever．LordHenry talked，in his lazy，amusingway，and knew that Dorian Gray waswatching and listening．
　　After a while the conversation turned to a friend's plansto marry an American girl．
　　'Why can't these American women stay in their own country？They'realways telling us that it's a paradise for women，'saidLord Burdon．
　　'It is，'said LordHenry．'That's the reason why they're sohappy to escape from it．'
　　'They say，'laughedthe man next to Lady Agatha，'that whengood Americans die，they go to Paris．'
　　'Really！And where dobad Americans go to when they die？'askedLady Agatha．
　　'They go to America，'saidLord Henry．
　　People smiled，and theconversation moved on to other things．LordHenry took ideas and played with them；hegave them wings，and they flew likebrightly coloured birds around the room．Peoplelaughed，and smiled，andtold him that he should be more serious．ButDorian Gray never took his eyes away from Lord Henry．
　　After lunch Lord Henry said that he was going to the parkand as he left the room，Dorian Graytouched his arm．'May I come with you？'heasked．
　　'But I thought you'd promised to go and see Basil Hallward，'LordHenry replied．
　　'Yes，but I'd preferto come with you．Please let me，'saidDorian．'I want to listen to you talking．Nobodyspeaks as well as you do． '
　　'Ah！I've talked enough for today．'LordHenry smiled．'But you may come with meif you want to．'
　　5
　　第二天早上，亨利勋爵去拜访他的姨妈阿加莎夫人。姨妈见到他很吃惊。
　　“我以为你们这些时髦的年轻人不到下午不起床。”她说。
　　“啊，可是亲爱的姨妈，要知道我需要些消息。”亨利勋爵答道。“昨天我见到了多里安·格雷，我想更多地了解他。”
　　“哦，他是凯尔索勋爵的外孙子。”阿加莎夫人说。“他的母亲是玛格丽特·德弗罗女士，一个非常漂亮的女人。她离家出走嫁给了一个穷士兵。士兵在几个月后被杀，她在儿子出生后也很快死去了。她是一个可爱的女人，多里安·格雷有着她的美貌，而且我认为他会拥有他外公的财产。”
　　“他是非常好看。”亨利勋爵表示赞同。
　　“过来吃午餐。”姨妈邀请道，“多里安·格雷要来这儿，你会再见到他。”
　　“好吧。”亨利勋爵笑着。
　　起身时，亨利勋爵想着这个伤感的故事。他更对多里安·格雷这个漂亮的年轻人感兴趣了。他记得前一天晚上多里安用他那明亮的蓝眼睛注视自己的神情，一半是探询，一半是畏惧。“他还不了解他自己。”亨利勋爵想着，面带笑容。“但是我能教他，是的，我可以用我喜欢的任何方式影响他。我要教他发现青春、爱和生活的火焰。”
　　在阿加莎夫人的家里，餐桌上时髦年轻人的谈话又活泼又聪慧。亨利勋爵用懒散、逗人的方式说话，并且知道多里安·格雷在注视并听着。
　　过了一会儿，谈话转向一个朋友要娶一个美国姑娘的打算。
　　“这些美国女人为什么不呆在自己的国家？她们总是对我们说美国是女人的天堂。”伯登勋爵说。
　　“是这样。”亨利勋爵说。“这正是她们乐于离开美国的原因。”
　　阿加莎夫人旁边的男人笑道：“她们说，好美国人死后去巴黎。”
　　“真的吗！那么坏美国人在死后又去哪儿呢？”阿加莎夫人问。
　　“他们去美国。”亨利勋爵说。
　　人们笑着，谈话转向其它事情。亨利勋爵把握并摆布着思想；他给它们安上翅膀，使它们像颜色鲜艳的鸟在屋子里飞翔。人们大笑、微笑，并告诉他应该正经一些。但是多里安·格雷从没把视线从亨利勋爵身上移开。
　　午餐后，亨利勋爵说要去公园。离开房间时，多里安·格雷触了一下他的胳膊。“我可以和你一起去吗？”他问。
　　“但我认为你已经许诺要去看巴兹尔·霍尔沃德。”亨利勋爵回答道。
　　“是的，但我喜欢和你在一起。请答应我。”多里安说，“我想听你谈话，没人说得像你那样好。”
　　“啊！我今天说得够多了。”亨利勋爵笑了，“如果你愿意，你可以和我一起去公园。”