rst class music as such； literally knocking everything else into a cocked hat。 He infinitely preferred the sacred music of the catholic church to anything the opposite shop could offer in that line such as those Moody and Sankey hymns or Bid me to live and I will live thy protestant to be。 He also yielded to none in his admiration of Rossini's Stabat Mater； a work simply abounding in immortal numbers； in which his wife； Madam Marion Tweedy； made a hit； a veritable sensation； he might safely say greatly adding to her other laurels and putting the others totally in the shade in the jesuit fathers' church in Upper Gardiner street； the sacred edifice being thronged to the doors to hear her with virtuosos； or virtuosi rather。 There was the unanimous opinion that there was none to e up to her and； suffice it to say in a place of worship for music of a sacred character； there was a generally voiced desire for an encore。 On the whole； though favouring preferably light opera of the Don Giovanni description； and Martha； a gem in its line； he had a penchant； though with only a surface knowledge； for the severe classical school such as Mendelssohn。 And talking of that； taking it for granted he knew all about the old favourites； he mentioned par excellence Lionel's air in Martha； M'appari； which； curiously enough； he heard； or overheard； to be more accurate； on yesterday； a privilege he keenly appreciated； from the lips of Stephen's respected father； sung to perfection； a study of the number； in fact； which made all the others take a back seat。 Stephen； in reply to a politely put query； said he didn't but launched out into praises of Shakespeare's songs； at least of in or about that period； the lutenist Dowland who lived in Fetter Lane near Gerard the herbalist； who anno ludendo hausi； Doulandus； an instrument he was contemplating purchasing from Mr Arnold Dolmetsch； whom Bloom did not quite recall； though the name certainly sounded familiar； for sixtyfive guineas and Farnaby and son with their dux and es conceits and Byrd （William）； who played the virginals； he said； in the Queen's Chapel or anywhere else he found them and one Tomkins who made toys or airs and John Bull。
On the roadway which they were approaching whilst still speaking beyond the swing chain； a horse； dragging a sweeper； paced on the paven ground； brushing a long swathe of mire up so that with the noise Bloom was not perfectly certain whether he had caught a right the allusion to sixtyfive guineas and John Bull。 He inquired if it was John Bull the political celebrity of that ilk； as it struck him； the two identical names； as a striking coincidence。
By the chains； the horse slowly swerved to turn； which perceiving Bloom； who was keeping a sharp lookout as usual plucked the other's sleeve gently； jocosely remarking：
Our lives are in peril tonight。 Beware of the steamroller。
They thereupon stopped。 Bloom looked at the head of a horse not worth anything like sixtyfive guineas； suddenly in evidence in the dark quite near； so that it seemed new； a different grouping of bones and even flesh； because palpably it was a fourwalker； a hipshaker； a blackbuttocker； a taildangler； a headhanger； putting his hind foot foremost the while the lord of his creation sat on the perch； busy with his thoughts。 But such a good poor brute； he was sorry he hadn't a lump of sugar but； as he wisely reflected； you could scarcely be prepared for every emergency that might crop up。 He was just a big foolish nervous noodly kind of a horse； without a second care in the world。 But even a dog； he reflected； take that mongrel in Barney Kiernan's； of the same size； would be a holy horror to face。 But it was no animal's fault in particular if he was built that way like the camel； ship of the desert； distilling grapes into potheen in his hump。 Nine tenths of them all could be caged or trained； nothing beyond the art of man barring the bees； whale with a harpoon hairpin； alligator； tickle the small of his back and he sees the joke； chalk a circle for a rooster； tiger； my eagle eye。 These timely reflections anent the brutes of the field occupied his mind； somewhat distracted from Stephen's words； while the ship of the street was manoeuvring and Stephen went on about the highly interesting old。。。
What's this I was saying？ Ah； yes！ My wife； he intimated； plunging in medias res； would have the greatest of pleasure in making your acquaintance as she is passionately attached to music of any kind。
He looked sideways in a friendly fashion at the sideface of Stephen； image of his mother； which was not quite the same as the usual blackguard type they unquestionably had an indubitable hankering after as he was perhaps not that way built。
Still； supposing he had his father's gift； as he more than suspected； it opened up new vistas in his mind； such as Lady Fingall's Irish industries concert on the preceding Monday； and aristocracy in general。
Exquisite variations he was now describing on an air Youth here has End by Jans Pieter Sweelinck； a Dutchman of Amsterdam where the frows e from。 Even more he liked an old German song of Johannes Jeep about the clear sea and the voices of sirens； sweet murderers of men； which boggled Bloom a bit：
Von der Sirenen Listigkeit
Tun die Poeten dichten。
These opening bars he sang and translated extempore。 Bloom； nodding； said he perfectly understood and begged him to go on by all means； which he did。
A phenomenally beautiful tenor voice like that； the rarest of boons； which Bloom appreciated at the very first note he got out； could easily； if properly handled by some recognised authority on voice production such as Barraclough and being able to read music into the bargain； mand its own price where baritones were ten a penny and procure for its fortunate possessor in the near future an entrée into fashionable houses in the best residential quarters； of financial magnates in a large way of business and titled people where； with his university degree of B。 A。 （a huge ad in its way） and gentlemanly bearing to all the more influence the good impression he would infallibly score a distinct success； being blessed with brains which also could be utilised for the purpose and other requisites； if his clothes were properly attended to； so as to the better worm his way into their good graces as he； a youthful tyro in society's sartorial niceties； hardly understood how a little thing like that could militate against you。 It was in fact only a matter of months and he could easily foresee him participating in their musical and artistic conversaziones during the festivities of the Christmas season； for choice； causing a slight flutter in the dovecotes of the fair sex and being made a lot of by ladies out for sensation； cases of which； as he happened to know； were on record； in fact； without giving the show away； he himself once upon a time； if he cared to； could easily have。。。 Added to which of course； would be the pecuniary emolument by no means to be sneezed at； going hand in hand with his tuition fees。 Not； he parenthesised； that for the sake of filthy lucre he need necessarily embrace the lyric platform as a walk in life for any lengthy space of time but a step in the required direction it was； beyond yea or nay； and both monetarily and mentally it contained no reflection on his dignity in the smallest and it often turned in unmonly handy to be handed a cheque at a muchneeded moment when every little helped。 Besides； though taste latterly had deteriorated to a degree； original music like that； different from the conventional rut； would rapidly have a great vogue； as it would be a decided novelty for Dublin's musical world after the usual hackneyed run of catchy tenor solos foisted on a confiding public by Ivan St Austell and Hilton St Just and their genus omne。 Yes； beyond a shadow of a doubt； he could； with all the cards in his hand and he had a capital opening to make a name for himself and win a high place in the city's esteem where he could mand a stiff figure and； booking ahead； give a grand concert for the patrons of the King street house； given a backerup； if one were forthing to kick him upstairs； so to speak … a big if； however … with some impetus of the goahead sort to obviate the inevitable procrastination which often tripped up a too much feted prince of good fellows and it need not detract from the other by one iota as； being his own master； he would have heaps of time to practise literature in his spare moments when desirous of so doing without its clashing with his vocal career or containing anything derogatory whatsoever as it was a matter for himself alone。 In fact； he had the ball at his feet and that was the very reason why the other； possessed of a remarkably sharp nose for smelling a rat of any sort； hung on to him at all。
The horse was just then。。。 and later on； at a propitious opportunity he purposed （Bloom did）； without anyway prying Into his private affairs on the fools step in where angels principle advising him to sever his connection with a certain budding practitioner； who； he noticed； was prone to disparage； and even； to a slight extent； with some hilarious pretext； when not present； deprecate him； or whatever you like to call it； which； in Bloom's humble opinion； threw a nasty sidelight on that side of a person's character … no pun intended。
The horse； having reached the end of his tether； so to speak； halted； and； rearing high a proud feathering tail； added his quota by letting fall on the floor； which the brush would soon brush up and polish； three smoking globes of turds。 Slowly； three times； one after another； from a full crupper； he mired。 And humanely his driver waited till he （or she） had ended； patient in his scythed car。
Side by side Bloom； profiting by the contretemps； with Stephen passed through the gap of the chains； divided by the upright； and； stepping over a strand of mire； went across towards Gardiner street lower； Stephen singing more boldly； but not loudly； the end of the ballad：
Und alle Schiffe brücken
The driver never said a word； good； bad or indifferent。 He merely watched the two figures； as he sat on his lowbacked car； both black … one full； one lean … walk towards the railway bridge； to be married by Father Maher。 As they walked； t