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take my big sword and slay him。〃
〃Nay！〃 answered the child； 〃but these are the wounds of Love。〃
〃Who art thou？〃 said the Giant； and a strange awe fell on him； and he
knelt before the little child。
And the child smiled on the Giant； and said to him； 〃You let me play
once in your garden； to…day you shall e with me to my garden； which
is Paradise。〃
And when the children ran in that afternoon； they found the Giant
lying dead under the tree； all covered with white blossoms。
23
The Happy Prince and Other Tales
THE DEVOTED FRIEND
One morning the old Water…rat put his head out of his hole。 He had
bright beady eyes and stiff grey whiskers and his tail was like a long bit of
black india…rubber。 The little ducks were swimming about in the pond；
looking just like a lot of yellow canaries； and their mother； who was pure
white with real red legs； was trying to teach them how to stand on their
heads in the water。
〃You will never be in the best society unless you can stand on your
heads；〃 she kept saying to them； and every now and then she showed them
how it was done。 But the little ducks paid no attention to her。 They
were so young that they did not know what an advantage it is to be in
society at all。
〃What disobedient children！〃 cried the old Water…rat； 〃they really
deserve to be drowned。〃
〃Nothing of the kind；〃 answered the Duck； 〃every one must make a
beginning； and parents cannot be too patient。〃
〃Ah！ I know nothing about the feelings of parents；〃 said the Water… rat；
〃I am not a family man。 In fact； I have never been married； and I never
intend to be。 Love is all very well in its way； but friendship is much
higher。 Indeed； I know of nothing in the world that is either nobler or
rarer than a devoted friendship。〃
〃And what； pray； is your idea of the duties of a devoted friend？〃 asked
a Green Lin； who was sitting in a willow…tree hard by； and had
overheard the conversation。
〃Yes； that is just what I want to know；〃 said the Duck； and she swam
away to the end of the pond； and stood upon her head； in order to give her
children a good example。
〃What a silly question！〃 cried the Water…rat。 〃I should expect my
24
The Happy Prince and Other Tales
devoted friend to be devoted to me； of course。〃
〃And what would you do in return？〃 said the little bird； swinging upon
a silver spray； and flapping his tiny wings。
〃I don't understand you；〃 answered the Water…rat。
〃Let me tell you a story on the subject；〃 said the Lin。
〃Is the story about me？〃 asked the Water…rat。 〃If so； I will listen to it；
for I am extremely fond of fiction。〃
〃It is applicable to you；〃 answered the Lin； and he flew down； and
alighting upon the bank； he told the story of The Devoted Friend。
〃Once upon a time；〃 said the Lin； 〃there was an honest little fellow
named Hans。〃
〃Was he very distinguished？〃 asked the Water…rat。
〃No；〃 answered the Lin； 〃I don't think he was distinguished at all；
except for his kind heart； and his funny round good…humoured face。 He
lived in a tiny cottage all by himself； and every day he worked in his
garden。 In all the country…side there was no garden so lovely as his。
Sweet…william grew there； and Gilly…flowers； and Shepherds'…purses； and
Fair…maids of France。 There were damask Roses； and yellow Roses； lilac
Crocuses； and gold； purple Violets and white。 Columbine and
Ladysmock； Marjoram and Wild Basil； the Cowslip and the Flower…de…
luce； the Daffodil and the Clove…Pink bloomed or blossomed in their
proper order as the months went by； one flower taking another flower's
place； so that there were always beautiful things to look at； and pleasant
odours to smell。
〃Little Hans had a great many friends； but the most devoted friend of
all was big Hugh the Miller。 Indeed； so devoted was the rich Miller to
little Hans； that be would never go by his garden without leaning over the
wall and plucking a large nosegay； or a handful of sweet herbs； or filling
his pockets with plums and cherries if it was the fruit season。
〃'Real friends should have everything in mon；' the Miller used to
say； and little Hans nodded and smiled； and felt very proud of having a
friend with such noble ideas。
25
The Happy Prince and Other Tales
〃Sometimes； indeed； the neighbours thought it strange that the rich
Miller never gave little Hans anything in return； though he had a hundred
sacks of flour stored away in his mill； and six milch cows； and a large
flock of woolly sheep； but Hans never troubled his head about these things；
and nothing gave him greater pleasure than to listen to all the wonderful
things the Miller used to say about the unselfishness of true friendship。
〃So little Hans worked away in his garden。 During the spring； the
summer； and the autumn he was very happy； but when the winter came；
and he had no fruit or flowers to bring to the market； he suffered a good
deal from cold and hunger； and often had to go to bed without any supper
but a few dried pears or some hard nuts。 In the winter； also； he was
extremely lonely； as the Miller never came to see him then。
〃'There is no good in my going to see little Hans as long as the snow
lasts；' the Miller used to say to his wife； 'for when people are in trouble
they should be left alone； and not be bothered by visitors。 That at least is
my idea about friendship； and I am sure I am right。 So I shall wait till the
spring es； and then I shall pay him a visit； and he will be able to give
me a large basket of primroses and that will make him so happy。'
〃'You are certainly very thoughtful about others；' answered the Wife；
as she sat in her fortable armchair by the big pinewood fire； 'very
thoughtful indeed。 It is quite a treat to hear you talk about friendship。 I
am sure th