-- they ought to have stuck up all the women he rode himself, says little alf.
and says j. j.:
-- considerations of space influenced their lordship's decision.
-- will you try another, citizen? says joe.
-- yes, sir, says he, i will.
-- you? says joe.
-- beholden to you, joe, says i. may your shadow never grow less.
-- repeat that dose, says joe.
bloom was talking and talking with john wyse and he quite excited with his dunducketymudcoloured mug on him and his old plumeyes rolling about.
-- persecution, says he, all the history of the world is full of it. perpetuating national hatred among nations.
-- but do you know what a nation means? says john wyse.
-- yes, says bloom.
-- what is it? says john wyse.
-- a nation? says bloom. a nation is the same people living in the same place.
-- by god, then, says ned, laughing, if that's so i'm a nation for i'm living in the same place for the past five years.
so of course everyone had a laugh at bloom and says he, trying to muck out of it:
-- or also living in different places.
-- that covers my case, says joe.
-- what is your nation if i may ask, says the citizen.
-- ireland, says bloom. i was born here. ireland.
the citizen said nothing only cleared the spit out of his gullet and, gob, he spat a red bank oyster out of him right in the corner.
-- after you with the push, joe, says he, taking out his handkerchief to swab himself dry.
-- here you are, citizen, says joe. take that in your right hand and repeat after me the following words.