The Crier:  (Loudly) Whereas Leopold Bloom of no fixed abode is a wellknown dynamitard, forger, bigamist, bawd and cuckold and a public nuisance to the citizens of Dublin and whereas at this commission of assizes the most honourable ...

(His honour, sir Frederick Falkiner, recorder of Dublin, in judicial garb of grey stone rises from the bench, stonebearded. He bears in his arms an umbrella sceptre.  From his forehead arise starkly the mosaic RAMSHORNS.)

The recorder:  I will put an end to this white slave traffic and rid Dublin of this odious pest.  Scandalous! (He dons the black cap) Let him be taken, Mr Subsheriff, from the dock where he now stands and detained in custody in Mountjoy prison during His Majesty’s pleasure and there be hanged by the neck until he is dead and therein fail not at your peril or may the Lord have mercy on your soul.  Remove him. (A black skullcap descends upon his head.)

(The subsheriff long John fanning appears, smoking A pungent Henry clay.)

Long John fanning:  (Scowls and calls with rich rolling utterance) Who’ll hang Judas Iscariot?

(H.  Rumbold, master barber, in A BLOODCOLOURED Jerkin and tanner’s apron, A rope coiled over his shoulder, Mounts the block.  A life preserver and A NAILSTUDDED bludgeon are stuck in his belt.  He rubs grimly his grappling hands, knobbed with knuckledusters.)

Rumbold:  (To the recorder with sinister familiarity) Hanging Harry, your Majesty, the Mersey terror.  Five guineas a jugular.  Neck or nothing.

(The bells of George’s church toll slowly, loud dark iron.)

The bells:  Heigho!  Heigho!

Bloom:  (Desperately) Wait.  Stop.  Gulls.  Good heart.  I saw.  Innocence.  Girl in the monkeyhouse.  Zoo.  Lewd chimpanzee. (Breathlessly) Pelvic basin.  Her artless blush unmanned me. (Overcome with emotion) I left the precincts. (He turns to A figure in the crowd, appealing) Hynes, may I speak to you?  You know me.  That three shillings you can keep.  If you want a little more ...