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〃I am afraid you don't quite see the moral of the story；〃 remarked the
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
Lin。
〃The what？〃 screamed the Water…rat。
〃The moral。〃
〃Do you mean to say that the story has a moral？〃
〃Certainly；〃 said the Lin。
〃Well； really；〃 said the Water…rat； in a very angry manner； 〃I think you
should have told me that before you began。 If you had done so； I
certainly would not have listened to you； in fact； I should have said 'Pooh；'
like the critic。 However； I can say it now〃； so he shouted out 〃Pooh〃 at
the top of his voice； gave a whisk with his tail； and went back into his
hole。
〃And how do you like the Water…rat？〃 asked the Duck； who came
paddling up some minutes afterwards。 〃He has a great many good points；
but for my own part I have a mother's feelings； and I can never look at a
confirmed bachelor without the tears ing into my eyes。〃
〃I am rather afraid that I have annoyed him；〃 answered the Lin。
〃The fact is； that I told him a story with a moral。〃 〃Ah！ that is always a
very dangerous thing to do；〃 said the Duck。
And I quite agree with her。
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
THE REMARKABLE ROCKET
The King's son was going to be married； so there were general
rejoicings。 He had waited a whole year for his bride； and at last she had
arrived。 She was a Russian Princess； and 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
herself。 Her long ermine…cloak reached right down to her feet； on her
head was a tiny cap of silver tissue； and she was as pale as the Snow
Palace in which she had always lived。 So pale was she that as she drove
through the streets all the people wondered。 〃She is like a white rose！〃
they cried； and they threw down flowers on her from the balconies。
At the gate of the Castle the Prince was waiting to receive her。 He had
dreamy violet eyes； and his hair was like fine gold。 When he saw her he
sank upon one knee； and kissed her hand。
〃Your picture was beautiful；〃 he murmured； 〃but you are more
beautiful than your picture〃； and the little Princess blushed。
〃She was like a white rose before；〃 said a young Page to his neighbour；
〃but she is like a red rose now〃； and the whole Court was delighted。
For the next three days everybody went about saying； 〃White rose；
Red rose； Red rose； White rose〃； and the King gave orders that the Page's
salary was to be doubled。 As he received no salary at all this was not of
much use to him； but it was considered a great honour； and was duly
published in the Court Gazette。
When the three days were over the marriage was celebrated。 It was a
magnificent ceremony； and the bride and bridegroom walked hand in hand
under a canopy of 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 Great Hall and drank out of a cup of clear
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
crystal。 Only true lovers could drink out of this cup； for if false lips
touched it； it grew grey and dull and cloudy。
〃It's quite clear that they love each other；〃 said the little Page； 〃as clear
as crystal！〃 and the King doubled his salary a second time。 〃What an
honour！〃 cried all the courtiers。
After the banquet there was to be a Ball。 The bride and bridegroom
were to dance the Rose…dance together； and the King had promised to play
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 was never
quite certain which one he was playing； but it made no matter； for；
whatever he did； everybody cried out； 〃Charming！ charming！〃
The last item on the programme was a grand display of fireworks； to
be let off exactly at midnight。 The little Princess had never seen a
firework in her life； so the King had given orders that the Royal
Pyrotechnist should be in attendance on the day of her marriage。
〃What are fireworks like？〃 she had asked the Prince； one morning； as
she was walking on the terrace。
〃They are like the Aurora Borealis；〃 said the King； who always
answered questions that were addressed to other people； 〃only much more
natural。 I prefer them to stars myself； as you always know when they are
going to appear； and they are as delightful as my own flute…playing。 You
must certainly see them。〃
So at the end of the King's garden a great stand had been set up； and as
soon as the Royal Pyrotechnist had put everything in its proper place； the
fireworks began to talk to each other。
〃The world is certainly very beautiful；〃 cried a little Squib。 〃Just look
at those yellow tulips。 Why！ if they were real crackers they could not be
lovelier。 I am very glad I have travelled。 Travel improves the mind
wonderfully； and does away with all one's prejudices。〃
〃The King's garden is not the world； you foolish squib；〃 said a big
Roman Candle； 〃the world is an enormous place； and it would take you
three days to see it thoroughly。〃
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
〃Any place you love is the world to you；〃 exclaimed a pensive
Catherine Wheel； who had been attached to an old deal box in early life；
and prided 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 them； and I am not surprised。 True love suffers； and is silent。 I
remember myself once … But it is no matter now。 Romance is a thing of
the past。〃
〃Nonsense！〃 said the Roman Candle； 〃Romance never dies。 It is like
the moon； and lives for ever。 The bride and bridegroom；