快乐王子英文版(7页).doc

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1、-快乐王子英文版-第 7 页The Happy PrinceOscar WildeHigh above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword-hilt.HIGH above the city, on a tall column, stood

2、 the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword-hilt.He was very much admired indeed. He is as beautiful as a weathercock, remarked one of the Town Councillors who wished to gain a r

3、eputation for having artistic tastes; only not quite so useful, he added, fearing lest people should think him unpractical, which he really was not.Why cant you be like the Happy Prince? asked a sensible mother of her little boy who was crying for the moon. The Happy Prince never dreams of crying fo

4、r anything.I am glad there is some one in the world who is quite happy, muttered a disappointed man as he gazed at the wonderful statue.He looks just like an angel, said the Charity Children as they came out of the cathedral in their bright scarlet cloaks, and their clean white pinafores.How do you

5、know? said the Mathematical Master, you have never seen one.Ah! but we have, in our dreams, answered the children; and the Mathematical Master frowned and looked very severe, for he did not approve of children dreaming.One night there flew over the city a little Swallow. His friends had gone away to

6、 Egypt six weeks before, but he had stayed behind, for he was in love with the most beautiful Reed. He had met her early in the spring as he was flying down the river after a big yellow moth, and had been so attracted by her slender waist that he had stopped to talk to her.Shall I love you? said the

7、 Swallow, who liked to come to the point at once, and the Reed made him a low bow. So he flew round and round her, touching the water with his wings, and making silver ripples. This was his courtship, and it lasted all through the summer.It is a ridiculous attachment, twittered the other Swallows, s

8、he has no money, and far too many relations; and indeed the river was quite full of Reeds. Then, when the autumn came, they all flew away.After they had gone he felt lonely, and began to tire of his lady-love. She has no conversation, he said, and I am afraid that she is a coquette, for she is alway

9、s flirting with the wind. And certainly, whenever the wind blew, the Reed made the most graceful curtsies. I admit that she is domestic, he continued, but I love travelling, and my wife, consequently, should love travelling also.Will you come away with me? he said finally to her; but the Reed shook

10、her head, she was so attached to her home.You have been trifling with me, he cried, I am off to the Pyramids. Good-bye! and he flew away.All day long he flew, and at night-time he arrived at the city. Where shall I put up? he said; I hope the town has made preparations.Then he saw the statue on the

11、tall column. I will put up there, he cried; it is a fine position with plenty of fresh air. So he alighted just between the feet of the Happy Prince.I have a golden bedroom, he said softly to himself as he looked round, and he prepared to go to sleep; but just as he was putting his head under his wi

12、ng a large drop of water fell on him. What a curious thing! he cried, there is not a single cloud in the sky, the stars are quite clear and bright, and yet it is raining. The climate in the north of Europe is really dreadful. The Reed used to like the rain, but that was merely her selfishness.Then a

13、nother drop fell.What is the use of a statue if it cannot keep the rain off? he said; I must look for a good chimney-pot, and he determined to fly away.But before he had opened his wings, a third drop fell, and he looked up, and saw - Ah! what did he see?The eyes of the Happy Prince were filled with

14、 tears, and tears were running down his golden cheeks. His face was so beautiful in the moonlight that the little Swallow was filled with pity.Who are you? he said.I am the Happy Prince.Why are you weeping then? asked the Swallow; you have quite drenched me.When I was alive and had a human heart, an

15、swered the statue, I did not know what tears were, for I lived in the palace of Sans-Souci, where sorrow is not allowed to enter. In the daytime I played with my companions in the garden, and in the evening I led the dance in the Great Hall. Round the garden ran a very lofty wall, but I never cared

16、to ask what lay beyond it, everything about me was so beautiful. My courtiers called me the Happy Prince, and happy indeed I was, if pleasure be happiness. So I lived, and so I died. And now that I am dead they have set me up here so high that I can see all the ugliness and all the misery of my city

17、, and though my heart is made of lead yet I cannot choose but weep.What, is he not solid gold? said the Swallow to himself. He was too polite to make any personal remarks out loud.Far away, continued the statue in a low musical voice, far away in a little street there is a poor house. One of the win

18、dows is open, and through it I can see a woman seated at a table. Her face is thin and worn, and she has coarse, red hands, all pricked by the needle, for she is a seamstress. She is embroidering passion-flowers on a satin gown for the loveliest of the Queens maids-of-honour to wear at the next Cour

19、t-ball. In a bed in the corner of the room her little boy is lying ill. He has a fever, and is asking for oranges. His mother has nothing to give him but river water, so he is crying. Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow, will you not bring her the ruby out of my sword-hilt? My feet are fastened to this

20、 pedestal and I cannot move.I am waited for in Egypt, said the Swallow. My friends are flying up and down the Nile, and talking to the large lotus-flowers. Soon they will go to sleep in the tomb of the great King. The King is there himself in his painted coffin. He is wrapped in yellow linen, and em

21、balmed with spices. Round his neck is a chain of pale green jade, and his hands are like withered leaves.Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow, said the Prince, will you not stay with me for one night, and be my messenger? The boy is so thirsty, and the mother so sad.I dont think I like boys, answered th

22、e Swallow. Last summer, when I was staying on the river, there were two rude boys, the millers sons, who were always throwing stones at me. They never hit me, of course; we swallows fly far too well for that, and besides, I come of a family famous for its agility; but still, it was a mark of disresp

23、ect.But the Happy Prince looked so sad that the little Swallow was sorry. It is very cold here, he said; but I will stay with you for one night, and be your messenger.Thank you, little Swallow, said the Prince.So the Swallow picked out the great ruby from the Princes sword, and flew away with it in

24、his beak over the roofs of the town.He passed by the cathedral tower, where the white marble angels were sculptured. He passed by the palace and heard the sound of dancing. A beautiful girl came out on the balcony with her lover. How wonderful the stars are, he said to her, and how wonderful is the

25、power of love!I hope my dress will be ready in time for the State-ball, she answered; I have ordered passion-flowers to be embroidered on it; but the seamstresses are so lazy.He passed over the river, and saw the lanterns hanging to the masts of the ships. He passed over the Ghetto, and saw the old

26、jews bargaining with each other, and weighing out money in copper scales. At last he came to the poor house and looked in. The boy was tossing feverishly on his bed, and the mother had fallen asleep, she was so tired. In he hopped, and laid the great ruby on the table beside the womans thimble. Then

27、 he flew gently round the bed, fanning the boys forehead with his wings. How cool I feel, said the boy, I must be getting better; and he sank into a delicious slumber.Then the Swallow flew back to the Happy Prince, and told him what he had done. It is curious, he remarked, but I feel quite warm now,

28、 although it is so cold.That is because you have done a good action, said the Prince. And the little Swallow began to think, and then he fell asleep. Thinking always made him sleepy.When day broke he flew down to the river and had a bath. What a remarkable phenomenon, said the Professor of Ornitholo

29、gy as he was passing over the bridge. A swallow in winter! And he wrote a long letter about it to the local newspaper. Every one quoted it, it was full of so many words that they could not understand.To-night I go to Egypt, said the Swallow, and he was in high spirits at the prospect. He visited all

30、 the public monuments, and sat a long time on top of the church steeple. Wherever he went the Sparrows chirruped, and said to each other, What a distinguished stranger! so he enjoyed himself very much.When the moon rose he flew back to the Happy Prince. Have you any commissions for Egypt? he cried;

31、I am just starting.Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow, said the Prince, will you not stay with me one night longer?I am waited for in Egypt, answered the Swallow. To-morrow my friends will fly up to the Second Cataract. The river-horse couches there among the bulrushes, and on a great granite throne s

32、its the God Memnon. All night long he watches the stars, and when the morning star shines he utters one cry of joy, and then he is silent. At noon the yellow lions come down to the waters edge to drink. They have eyes like green beryls, and their roar is louder than the roar of the cataract.Swallow,

33、 Swallow, little Swallow, said the prince, far away across the city I see a young man in a garret. He is leaning over a desk covered with papers, and in a tumbler by his side there is a bunch of withered violets. His hair is brown and crisp, and his lips are red as a pomegranate, and he has large an

34、d dreamy eyes. He is trying to finish a play for the Director of the Theatre, but he is too cold to write any more. There is no fire in the grate, and hunger has made him faint.I will wait with you one night longer, said the Swallow, who really had a good heart. Shall I take him another ruby?Alas! I

35、 have no ruby now, said the Prince; my eyes are all that I have left. They are made of rare sapphires, which were brought out of India a thousand years ago. Pluck out one of them and take it to him. He will sell it to the jeweller, and buy food and firewood, and finish his play.Dear Prince, said the

36、 Swallow, I cannot do that; and he began to weep.Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow, said the Prince, do as I command you.So the Swallow plucked out the Princes eye, and flew away to the students garret. It was easy enough to get in, as there was a hole in the roof. Through this he darted, and came in

37、to the room. The young man had his head buried in his hands, so he did not hear the flutter of the birds wings, and when he looked up he found the beautiful sapphire lying on the withered violets.I am beginning to be appreciated, he cried; this is from some great admirer. Now I can finish my play, a

38、nd he looked quite happy.The next day the Swallow flew down to the harbour. He sat on the mast of a large vessel and watched the sailors hauling big chests out of the hold with ropes. Heave a-hoy! they shouted as each chest came up. I am going to Egypt! cried the Swallow, but nobody minded, and when

39、 the moon rose he flew back to the Happy Prince.I am come to bid you good-bye, he cried.Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow, said the Prince, will you not stay with me one night longer?It is winter, answered the Swallow, and the chill snow will soon be here. In Egypt the sun is warm on the green palm-t

40、rees, and the crocodiles lie in the mud and look lazily about them. My companions are building a nest in the Temple of Baalbec, and the pink and white doves are watching them, and cooing to each other. Dear Prince, I must leave you, but I will never forget you, and next spring I will bring you back

41、two beautiful jewels in place of those you have given away. The ruby shall be redder than a red rose, and the sapphire shall be as blue as the great sea.In the square below, said the Happy Prince, there stands a little match-girl. She has let her matches fall in the gutter, and they are all spoiled.

42、 Her father will beat her if she does not bring home some money, and she is crying. She has no shoes or stockings, and her little head is bare. Pluck out my other eye, and give it to her, and her father will not beat her.I will stay with you one night longer, said the Swallow, but I cannot pluck out

43、 your eye. You would be quite blind then.Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow, said the Prince, do as I command you.So he plucked out the Princes other eye, and darted down with it. He swooped past the match-girl, and slipped the jewel into the palm of her hand. What a lovely bit of glass, cried the lit

44、tle girl; and she ran home, laughing.Then the Swallow came back to the Prince. You are blind now, he said, so I will stay with you always.No, little Swallow, said the poor Prince, you must go away to Egypt.I will stay with you always, said the Swallow, and he slept at the Princes feet.All the next d

45、ay he sat on the Princes shoulder, and told him stories of what he had seen in strange lands. He told him of the red ibises, who stand in long rows on the banks of the Nile, and catch gold fish in their beaks; of the Sphinx, who is as old as the world itself and lives in the desert, and knows everyt

46、hing; of the merchants, who walk slowly by the side of their camels, and carry amber beads in their hands; of the King of the Mountains of the Moon, who is as black as ebony, and worships a large crystal; of the great green snake that sleeps in a palm-tree, and has twenty priests to feed it with hon

47、ey-cakes; and of the pygmies who sail over a big lake on large flat leaves, and are always at war with the butterflies.Dear little Swallow, said the Prince, you tell me of marvellous things, but more marvellous than anything is the suffering of men and of women. There is no Mystery so great as Miser

48、y. Fly over my city, little Swallow, and tell me what you see there.So the Swallow flew over the great city, and saw the rich making merry in their beautiful houses, while the beggars were sitting at the gates. He flew into dark lanes, and saw the white faces of starving children looking out listlessly at the black streets. Under the archway of a bridge two little boys were lying in one anothers arms to try and keep themselves warm. How hungry we are! they said. You mu