3

　　As they entered the house，they saw Dorian Gray．He was sitting by the window and turning some pages of music．

　　'You must lend me this music，Basil，'he said．Then he turned and saw Lord Henry．'Oh，I'm sorry，Basil．I didn't realize…'

　　'Dorian，this is Lord Henry Wotton，'said Basil．'He's an old friend of mine．'

　　Dorian Gray shook hands with Lord Henry，and while they talked，Lord Henry studied the young man．Yes，he was very good－looking indeed，with his bright blue eyes and his gold hair．He had an open，honest face．There were no dark secrets in that face．Lord Henry could understand Basil's feelings for him．

　　Basil was getting his paints ready．Now he looked at Lord Henry．'Harry，'he said，'I want to finish this portrait of Dorian today．I'm afraid I must ask you to go away．'

　　Lord Henry smiled and looked at Dorian Gray．'Should I go，Mr Gray？'he asked．

　　'Oh，please don't leave，Lord Henry．Basil never talks when he's painting，and it's so boring．Please stay．I'd like you to talk to me．'

　　'Well，Basil？'Lord Henry asked．

　　The artist bit his lip．'Very well，Harry．Stay…if you must．

　　While Basil painted，Lord Henry talked，and the young man listened．The words filled Dorian's head like music—wild，exciting music．What a beautiful voice Lord Henry has，he thought．They are only words，but how terrible they are！How bright and dangerous！You cannot escape from words．Dorian began to understand things about himself that he had never understood before．Why had he never seen himself so clearly，he wondered？

　　Lord Henry watched Dorian，and smiled．He knew when to speak，and when to be silent．He felt very interested in this young man，with his wonderful face．

　　Later they walked in the garden together，while Basil worked at the portrait．The rich scent of the flowers was all around them．Dorian looked at the older man，and wondered about him．He was tall，with a thin dark face and cool white hands．Dorian liked him，but why did he feel a little afraid of him？

　　'You must come out of the sun，Mr Gray，'said Lord Henry．'A brown skin isn't fashionable and it won't suit you．

　　'Oh，it doesn't matter，'laughed Dorian．

　　'But it should matter to you，Mr Gray．'

　　'Why？'asked Dorian．

　　'Because you're young，and being young is wonderful．Ah，you smile．You don't think so now，but one day you'll understand what I mean—when you're old，and tired，and no longer beautiful．You have a wonderfully beautiful face，Mr Gray．It's true．Don't shake your head at me．And there's nothing more important，more valuable than beauty．When your youth goes，your beauty will go with it．Then you'll suddenly discover that your life is empty—there will be nothing to enjoy，nothing to hope for．Time is your enemy，Mr Gray．It will steal everything from you．People are afraid of themselves today．Afraid to live．But you，with your face and your youth，there's nothing that you cannot do．You must live！Live the wonderful life that is in you！We can never be young again．Youth！Ah，there is nothing in the world as important as youth！'

　　Dorian Gray listened and wondered．New ideas filled his head．He felt strange，different．

　　At that moment Basil called them from the house．Lord Henry turned to Dorian．'You're happy that you've met me，Mr Gray，'he said．

　　'Yes，I'm happy now．Will I always be happy，I wonder？'

　　'Always！'Lord Henry smiled．'What a terrible word！Women use it much too often．What does it mean？It's today that is important．'

　　朋友

　　“世界上没有比青春更重要的了！”

　　3

　　走进房间，他们看见了多里安·格雷。他正靠窗而坐，翻阅着一些乐谱。

　　“你得把这乐谱借给我，巴兹尔。”他说道。然后他转身看见了亨利勋爵。“哦，对不起，巴兹尔。我没看见……”

　　“多里安，这是亨利·沃顿勋爵。”巴兹尔说，“是我的一位老朋友。”

　　多里安·格雷和亨利勋爵握了握手。他们交谈时，亨利勋爵审视着这位年轻人。的确，他长得很好看，蓝眼睛，金黄色的头发。他的脸坦率、诚实，没有任何阴暗的秘密。亨利勋爵能够理解巴兹尔对他的感情了。

　　巴兹尔正准备着画具。现在他看着亨利勋爵。“哈里，”他说，“我今天想完成多里安的画像，恐怕得让你先离开了。”

　　亨利勋爵笑着，看了看多里安·格雷。“我必须走吗，格雷先生？”他问道。

　　“哦，请别走，亨利勋爵。巴兹尔画画时从不说话，太枯燥了。请留下吧，我希望你和我聊天。”

　　“那么，巴兹尔？”亨利勋爵问道。

　　画家咬着嘴唇。“好吧，哈里。留下吧……如果你坚持。”

　　巴兹尔画画时，亨利勋爵说着话，年轻人听着。话语像音乐一样填进了多里安的脑海——一种疯狂的、令人激动的音乐。亨利勋爵的嗓音多么动听啊！他想着。这些只不过是话语，但是太可怕了！多么欢快，又多么危险！你无法回避这些话语。多里安开始了解自己以前从未了解的自身的东西。为什么他从未那么清楚地了解过自己？他思忖着。

　　亨利勋爵观察着多里安，微笑着。他知道什么时候该说，什么时候停下来。他对这个长着奇妙面孔的年轻人很有兴趣。

　　然后他们一起走进花园，巴兹尔这时在画画。鲜花的浓香包围了他们。多里安看着这个年长一些的男人，揣度着他。他个子高高的，面孔瘦削、偏黑，双手又冷又白。多里安喜欢他，但为什么又觉得有点怕他？

　　“你必须避开阳光，格雷先生。”亨利勋爵说。“棕色皮肤不时兴，也不适合你。”

　　“哦，不要紧。”多里安笑着。

　　“但对你是要紧的，格雷先生。”

　　“为什么？”多里安问。

　　“因为你年轻，年轻是极好的。啊，你笑了，现在你不这样认为，但是有一天你会明白我的意思——当你变老、疲倦，不再漂亮时。你长着非常漂亮的面孔，格雷先生。这是真的，别朝我摇头。没有比美貌更重要、更有价值的了。当你的青春逝去时，你的美貌也随之消失。然后你会突然发现生活的空虚——不再欣赏任何事物，也不再对任何事物抱有希望。时间是你的敌人，格雷先生。它会偷走你的一切。如今人们害怕自己，害怕生活。但是你，凭着你的面孔和青春，没有任何你不能做的事情。你必须享受人生，过着属于你的美好的生活！我们再不会年轻了。青春！啊，世界上没有比青春更重要的了！”

　　多里安·格雷听着、思考着。新思想装满了他的脑海。他感到奇特和不同。

　　这时巴兹尔在房间里叫他们。亨利勋爵转向多里安，“你高兴结识了我，格雷先生。”他说。

　　“是的，我现在挺高兴。我想我会总是高高兴兴的，是吗？”