James Joyce's Ulysses: A Dublin Tour
4. Calypso

Number 7 Eccles Street is no longer standing. All of the houses on that side of Eccles Street were knocked down to build a hospital, though the door to number 7 is on display at the James Joyce Centre in nearby North St George's Street. The other side of the street, though, shows a very similar style of house. On the right, you can see number 78, directly opposite where number 7 would have been, and the same style of house. As the plaque announces, number 78 now calls intself "Bloom House". Note the "area", below street level. Coming home without his key in "Ithaca", Bloom will climb over the railings and lower himself into the area to let himself into the house.

Allen Ruch's wonderful Joyce site, The Brazen Head, has a photo of number 7 and that side of the street just before demolition.

     --Who was the letter from, he asked.
     Bold hand. Marion.
     --O, Boylan, she said. He's bringing the programme.
     --What are you singing?
     --Là ci darem with J. C. Doyle, she said, and Love's Old Sweet Song. (61)

Just a song at twilight,
When the lights are low,
And the flick'ring shadows
Softly come and go,
Though the heart be weary,
Sad the day and long,
Still to us at twilight
Comes Love's old song,
Love's old sweet song.

Là, ci darem la mano!
Là, mi dirai di "si,"
Vedi, non è lontano,
Partiam ben mio, da quì.

Vorrei, e non vorrei,
Mi trema un poco il cor;
Felice è ver sarei,
Ma può burlarmi ancor.

Hand link'd in hand we'll wander,
Whisper but sweet consent,
Why dost thou pause and ponder?
Canst thou so soon repent?

I dare and yet I dare not,
A trembling chills my breast;
I would I were, yet, were not,
By thy affection blest!

The contents of these pages are © 2004, Tony Thwaites, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia 4072

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