2

　　In the garden the leaves shone in the sunlight，and the flowers moved gently in the summer wind．The two young men sat on a long seat under the shadow of a tall tree．

　　'Before I go，'said Lord Henry，'you must answer my question，Basil．Why won't you exhibit Dorian Gray's portrait in an art gallery？'He looked at his friend and smiled．

　　'Please give me the real reason，now．Not the answer that you gave me before．'

　　'Harry，when an artist feels strongly about a portrait，it becomes a portrait of himself，not of the sitter．The artist paints the face and body of the sitter，but in fact he shows his own feelings．The reason why I won't exhibit this portrait is because I'm afraid it shows the secret of my heart．'

　　Lord Henry laughed．'And what is this secret of your heart？'

　　His friend was silent．Lord Henry picked a flower and looked at it with interest．

　　'Two months ago，'Basil said at last，'I was at a party at Lady Brandon's house．I was talking to friends when I realized that someone was watching me．I turned and saw Dorian Gray for the first time．We looked at each other，and I felt a sudden，very strong fear．I felt that this person could change my life…could bring me happiness—and unhappiness．Later，Lady Brandon introduced us．We laughed at something that she said，and became friends at once．'

　　He stopped Lord Henry smiled．'Tell me more，'he said．'How often do you see him？'

　　'Every day，'answered Basil．'I'm not happy if I don't see him every day—he's necessary to my life．'

　　'But I thought you only cared about your art，'said Lord Henry．

　　'He is all my art now，'replied Basil，seriously．'Since I met Dorian Gray，the work that I've done is good，the best work of my life．Because of him I see art in a different way，a new way．When I'm with him，I paint wonderful pictures．'

　　'Basil，this is extraordinary．I must meet Dorian Gray，'said Lord Henry．

　　Basil got up and walked up and down the garden．'So that's my secret Dorian doesn't know about my feelings．And I can't let people see the portrait，because it shows what's in my heart．There's too much of myself in it，Harry，too much！'

　　Lord Henry looked at Basil's face before he spoke．'Tell me，does Dorian Gray care about you？'

　　The artist thought for a few moments．'He likes me，'he said at last．'I know he likes me．Usually he's very friendly to me，but sometimes he seems to enjoy hurting me．He says unkind things that give me pain，Harry．And then I feel that I've given myself to somebody who thinks my heart is a pretty flower．A flower that he can enjoy for a summer's day，and can forget tomorrow．'

　　'Summer days，Basil，'said Lord Henry witn a smile，'can sometimes be too long．Perhaps you'll become tired sooner than he will．'

　　'Harry，don't talk like that．While I live，Dorian Gray will be important to me．You change your feelings too quickly．You can't feel what I feel．'

　　'My dear Basil，how unkind you are！'Lord Henry was amused．How interesting other people's lives were，he thought．Slowly he pulled a flower to pieces with his long fingers．'I remember now，'he continued．'I think my aunt knows Dorian Gray．I'd like to meet him very much．'

　　'But I don't want you to meet him，'said Basil．

　　A servant came across the garden towards them．

　　'Mr Dorian Gray has arrived，sir，'he said to Basil．

　　'You have to introduce me now，'laughed Lord Henry．

　　Basil turned to him．'Dorian Gray is my dearest fried，'he said quietly．'He's a good person and he's young—only twenty．Don't change him．Don't try to influence him．Your clever words are very amusing，of course，but you laugh at serious things．Don't take him away from me．He's necessary to my life as an artist．'

　　Lord Henry smiled．'You worry too much，my friend，'he said，and together they walked back into the house．

　　2

　　花园里树叶在阳光下闪闪发光，花儿在夏季的微风中轻轻摇曳。两个年轻人在树荫笼罩的一条长凳上坐着。

　　亨利勋爵说：“我走之前，你必须回答我的问题，巴兹尔。为什么你不愿意在伦敦的画廊里展出多里安·格雷的画像？”他微笑地看着朋友。“请现在告诉我真正的原因，而不是刚才你说的理由。”

　　“哈里，当一位画家对一幅画像有着强烈的感情时，它就变成了自己的画像，而不是被画人的肖像。画家绘出被画人的面孔和身躯，但实际上融汇了画家自己的情感。我不愿展出这幅画像的原因是我害怕它会坦露我内心的秘密。”

　　亨利勋爵笑了。“那么你内心的秘密又是什么呢？”

　　他的朋友沉默了。亨利勋爵摘了一朵花，满有兴趣地看着。

　　巴兹尔终于说：“两个月前，我参加了布兰登夫人在家举办的聚会。在和朋友谈话时，我意识到有人在注视我。我回过头，第一次见到了多里安·格雷。我们都看着对方。我感到了一阵突然、巨大的恐惧。我感觉这个人能改变我的生活……能给我带来幸福和不幸。后来，布兰登夫人为我们做了介绍。她说的某件事情让我们都笑了，我们很快成了朋友。”

　　他停止了回忆。亨利勋爵面带笑容。“再给我讲一些。”他说，“你多长时间和他见一次面？”

　　“每天。”巴兹尔答道，“每天如果见不到他我就会不高兴——我的生活离不开他。”

　　“但我原以为你只关心你的艺术，”亨利勋爵说。

　　“现在他是我的全部艺术。”巴兹尔严肃地回答，“自从我结识多里安·格雷以来，我完成的作品变得很出色，是我有生以来最好的作品。由于有了他，我用不同的眼光看待艺术，一种全新的方式。和他在一起，我能画出精彩的作品。”

　　“巴兹尔，这太离奇了。我得见一见多里安·格雷。”亨利勋爵说。

　　巴兹尔站起身，在花园里来回走动。“因此这就是我的秘密。多里安·格雷不知道我的感情，我也不能让人们看这幅画像，因为它表露了我的内心世界。它包含了我太多的东西，哈里。大多了！”

　　亨利勋爵看着巴兹尔的脸，然后说：“告诉我，多里安·格雷关心你吗？”

　　画家思考了片刻：“他喜欢我。”他终于说道。“我知道他喜欢我。通常他总是对我很友好，但有时似乎喜欢伤害我。他说些不友善的话让我感到痛苦，哈里。于是我就觉得我把自己给了一个认为我的心是一朵漂亮小花的人。他可以在夏季的某一天欣赏这朵花，也可以在第二天把它遗忘。”

　　“夏日，巴兹尔。”亨利勋爵笑着说。“有时很长。或许你比他更先感到厌倦。”

　　“哈里，别那样说。只要我活着，多里安·格雷就对我很重要。你的感情变得太快，你体会不到我的感情。”

　　“我亲爱的巴兹尔，你太不客气了！”亨利勋爵感到有趣。别人的生活真有意思，他想。慢慢地他的长手指把一朵花撕成了碎片。“我记起来了。”他继续说，“我姨妈认识多里安·格雷。我很想见他。”

　　“可我不愿意你去见他。”巴兹尔说。

　　一个仆人穿过花园朝他们走来。

　　“多里安·格雷先生来了，先生。”仆人对巴兹尔说。

　　“你现在得把我介绍给他，”亨利勋爵笑着。

　　巴兹尔转身对着亨利勋爵。“多里安·格雷是我最亲密的朋友。”他轻声地说，“他是一个好人，而且很年轻——只有20岁。别改变或试图去影响他。你机智的话语的确让人感到有趣，但你嘲笑严肃的东西。别把他从我身边带走，他是我作为一个画家的生活中必不可少的部分。”