Bantam Lyons
Frederick M. "Bantam" Lyons: a Dublin layabout who appears at several points throughout Ulysses
balmy
foolish
Good morning, have you used Pears' soap?
an advertising slogan for a popular brand of English soap
Scalp wants oiling
presumably to counter the dryness that Bloom assumes produces dandruff
Barber's itch
the irritation produced by minor abrasions on the chin caused by shaving with a straight razor
Tight collar he'll lose his hair
a popular superstition
Ascot. Gold Cup.
one of the two main events on the British racing calendar. It was to be run on June 16, 1904 at Ascot Heath at 3:00 p.m.
Conway's corner
a public house located at 31-32 Westland Rowcontemporary photo of Conway's (now Fitzsimons)
contemporary photo of Westland Row
source of photos
close
scut
the tail of a rabbit, so in this case a pejorative applied to a bustling fellow
the shop
F. W. Sweny, dispensing chemists, 1 Lincoln Place. This is a street at the foot of Westland Row, walking south from the river.
Ascot. Gold cup
The Gold Cup, one of the two main annual events of the British racing calendar, was to be run that day at Ascot Heath, twenty-six miles from London, at 3:00 p.m. "The Gold Cup, value 1,000 sovereigns with 3,000 sovereigns in specie in addition, out of which the second shall receive 700 sovereigns added to a sweepstakes of 20 sovereigns each . . . for entire colts and fillies. Two miles and a half. The field: M.J. de Bremond's Maximum II; age 5. Mr. W. Bass's Sceptre; age 5; A. Taylor. Lord Ellesmere's Kronstad; age 4; J. Dawson. Lord Howard de Walden's Zinfandel; age 4; Beatty. Sir J. Miller's Rock Sand; age 4; Blackwell. Mr. W. Hall Walker's Jean's Folly; age 3; Robinson. Mr. F. Alexander's Throwaway; age 5; Braime. M.E. de Blashovits's Beregvolgy; age 4. Count H. de Pourtale's Ex Voto; age 4. Count H. de Pourtale's Hebron II; age 4. M.J. De Soukozanotte's Torquato Tasso; age 4. Mr. Richard Croker's Clonmell; age 3." "Selections for Ascot Meeting. Gold Cup—Zinfandel." "Tips from 'Celt': Gold Cup—Sceptre." (as reported in the Freeman's Journal, 16 June 1904, p. 7.) (Don Gifford*, "Ulysses" Annotated, p. 98; the ellipses are Gifford's)information from later in Ulysses
interpretation
close
Ascot. Gold Cup.
The winner was the dark horse Throwaway, a twenty to one shot. Lyons mistakenly interprets Bloom’s innocent remark as a subtle hint as to who will win the Gold Cup race.
Ascot. Gold. Cup . . . throw it away: later, when a horse called Throwaway wins the Ascot Gold Cup, Lyons will circulate a rumour that Bloom has won money on the bet: another example of the treachery of misunderstood language. The newspaper-phallus is now 'thrown away' by Bloom before he opts for his narcissistic bath. (Declan Kiberd*, note to "Ulysses": Annotated Student's Edition, p. 979)
Better leave him the paper
for all his kindness, Bloom actually prefers not to talk to most citizens. His introspection is often chosen rather than imposed. (Declan Kiberd*, note to "Ulysses": Annotated Student's Edition, p. 979)
source of photo: Michael Patrick Gillespie (1999)
| In this version of the passage (James Joyce*,
Ulysses, page 70; episode 5, lines 517-44), words with links are
in color and underlined. To follow a link, click on a word. The annotation
will appear as a pop-up window covering part of the screen. A word with
a link in the annotations is also in color and underlined, and to follow
the link, click on the word. Unless indicated otherwise, the annotations are by Michael Patrick Gillespie. |
He strolled out of the shop,
the newspaper baton under his armpit, the coolwrapped soap in his left hand.
At his armpit Bantam Lyons'
voice and hand said:
—Hello, Bloom. What's the best news? Is that today's? Show us a minute.
Shaved off his moustache again, by Jove!
Long cold upper lip. To look younger. He does look balmy.
Younger than I am.
Bantam Lyons's yellow blacknailed fingers
unrolled the baton. Wants a wash too. Take off the rough dirt. Good morning,
have you used Pears'
soap? Dandruff on his shoulders. Scalp
wants oiling.
—I want to see about that French horse that's running today, Bantam Lyons
said. Where the bugger is it?
He rustled the pleated pages, jerking his
chin on his high collar. Barber's
itch. Tight
collar he'll lose his hair. Better leave
him the paper and get shut of him.
—You can keep it, Mr Bloom said.
—Ascot.
Gold cup. Wait, Bantam Lyons muttered. Half a mo. Maximum
the second.
—I was just going to throw it away, Mr Bloom said.
Bantam Lyons raised his eyes suddenly and
leered weakly.
—What's that? his sharp voice said.
—I say you can keep it, Mr Bloom answered. I was going to throw it away
that moment. Bantam Lyons doubted an instant, leering: then thrust the outspread
sheets back on Mr Bloom's arms.
—I'll risk it, he said. Here, thanks.
He sped off towards Conway's
corner. God speed scut.
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