The Happy Prince, and Other Tales

d had driven all the way from Finland in a sledge drawn by six reindeer. The sledge was shaped like a great golden swan, and between the swan's wings lay the little Princess h

the people wondered. "She is like a white rose!" they cr

er. He had dreamy violet eyes, and his hair was like fine gol

, "but you are more beautiful than your p

ng Page to his neighbour, "but she is like a r

he King gave orders that the Page's salary was to be doubled. As he received no salary at all this was n

purple velvet embroidered with little pearls. Then there was a State Banquet, which lasted for five hours. The Prince and Princess sat at the top of the Grea

e Page, "as clear as crystal!" and the King doubled his sala

ay the flute. He played very badly, but no one had ever dared to tell him so, because he was the King. Indeed, he knew only two airs, and

midnight. The little Princess had never seen a firework in her life, so the King had giv

d asked the Prince, one morning,

to other people, "only much more natural. I prefer them to stars myself, as you always know when they

up, and as soon as the Royal Pyrotechnist had put everything i

tulips. Why! if they were real crackers they could not be lovelier. I am very glad I have

said a big Roman Candle; "the world is an enormous plac

d herself on her broken heart; "but love is not fashionable any more, the poets have killed it. They wrote so much about it that nobody believed

and bridegroom, for instance, love each other very dearly. I heard all about them this morning from a brown

nce is dead," she murmured. She was one of those people who think that, if you

cough was heard, and

s tied to the end of a long stick. He always coughed bef

cept the poor Catherine Wheel, who was still sha

itician, and had always taken a prominent part in the local el

the Catherine Wheel, a

th a very slow, distinct voice, as if he was dictating his memoirs, and always looked over t

n the very day on which I am to be let off. Really, if it had been arranged before

ht it was quite the other way, and that we

ppearance she spun round nineteen times before she went out, and each time that she did so she threw into the air seven pink stars. She was three feet and a half in diameter, and made of the very best gunpowder. My father was a Rocket like myself, and of French extraction. He flew so high that the peopl

a Bengal Light; "I know it is Pyrotechnic

and the Bengal Light felt so crushed that he began at once to bully the li

ed the Rocket, "I was s

out yourself," repli

interrupted. I hate rudeness and bad manners of every kind, for I am extremely sen

erson?" said the Crack

on other people's toes," answered the Roman Candle in a l

ing at?" inquired the Roc

ause I am happy,"

lse to do the same. That is what is called sympathy. It is a beautiful virtue, and I possess it in a high degree. Suppose, for instance, anything happened to me to-night, what a misfortune that would be for every one! The Prince a

others," cried the Roman Candle,

Light, who was now in better spi

lly are; I always think of them as being quite different. As for keeping myself dry, there is evidently no one here who can at all appreciate an emotional nature. Fortunately for myself, I don't care. The only thing that sustains one through life is

occasion, and when I soar up into the air I intend to tell the stars all abo

deep river, and perhaps they may have one only son, a little fair-haired boy with violet eyes like the Prince himself; and perhaps some day he may go out to walk with his nurse; and perhaps the nurse may go to sleep

on," said the Roman Candle; "no misf

nly son there would be no use in saying anything more about the matter. I hate people who cry over

ngal Light. "In fact, you are the

" said the Rocket, "and you cannot und

n know him," growle

say that if I knew him I should not be his friend at a

self dry," said the Fire-balloon

ually burst into real tears, which flowed down his stick like rain-drops, and nearly drowned two little be

eel, "for he weeps when there is nothing at all to weep about

saying, "Humbug! humbug!" at the top of their voices. They were extremely

r shield; and the stars began to shine, a

tifully that the tall white lilies peeped in at the window and watc

and at the last stroke of midnight every one came out on

a low bow, and marched down to the end of the garden. He had six attendant

nly a magnifi

ny blue sparks. Bang! Bang! answered the Crackers, who were enjoying themselves immensely. Every one was a great success except the Remarkable Rocket. He was so damp with crying that he could not go off at all. The best thing in him was the gunpowder, and that was

casion," said the Rocket; "no doubt that is what i

e put his nose in the air, and began to frown severely as if he were thinking about some very important subject. But they took no notice of him at all ti

sible! Grand Rocket, that is what the man said. Bad and Grand sound very

shionable watering-place, and they have sent me away to recruit my hea

ht jewelled eyes, and a green

ve me rainy weather and a ditch, and I am quite happy. Do you think it will be a wet

d the Rocket, and

evening. We sit in the old duck pond close by the farmer's house, and as soon as the moon rises we begin. It is so entrancing that everybody lies awake to listen to us. In fact, it w

grily. He was very much annoyed

y daughters. I have six beautiful daughters, and I am so afraid the Pike may meet them. He is a perfect monster, and wou

ket. "You have talked the whole time

, "and I like to do all the talking mysel

rguments," sa

for everybody in good society holds exactly the same opinions. Good-bye a s

ble thing, especially to any one of my temperament, for I am well known for my sympathetic nature. In fact, you should take example by me; you could not possibly have a better model. Now that you have the chance you had better avail you

-fly, who was sitting on the top of a large brow

he pays no attention. I like hearing myself talk. It is one of my greatest pleasures. I often have long conve

," said the Dragon-fly; and he spread a pair of

ften got such a chance of improving his mind. However, I don't care a bit. Genius like

. She had yellow legs, and webbed feet, and was c

ous shape you are! May I ask were you born li

o I am. However, I excuse your ignorance. It would be unfair to expect other people to be as remarkable as oneself

any one. Now, if you could plough the fields like the ox, or draw a cart like

ful. We have certain accomplishments, and that is more than sufficient. I have no sympathy myself with industry of any kind, least of all with such in

and never quarrelled with any one, "everybody has different tastes. I

d this place rather tedious. There is neither society here, nor solitude. In fact, it is essentially sub

ing. Indeed, I took the chair at a meeting some time ago, and we passed resolutions condemning everything that we d

ever we appear we excite great attention. I have not actually appeared myself, but when I do so it will be

the Duck; "and that reminds me how hungry I feel": and sh

e has gone," he said to himself, "she has a decidedly middle-class mind"; and he sank a little deeper still into the mud, and began to thin

," said the Rocket, and he t

his old stick! I wonder how it came here";

hat is what he said. Gold Stick is very complimentary. I

!" said the other boy, "it w

together, and put the Rock

"they are going to let me off in broad

n we wake up the kettle will be boiled"; and t

took a long time to burn. At las

aight. "I know I shall go much higher than the stars, much higher than

and he went straig

shall go on like this for

body s

a curious tingling s

such a noise that nobody will talk about anything else for a whole year." And he cer

even the two little boys,

and this fell down on the back of a Goose w

. "It is going to rain sticks";

great sensation," gasped t