Oscar Wilde

The Happy Prince Oscar Wilde

HIGH above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gildedall over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large redruby glowed on his sword-hilt. He was very much admired indeed. "He is as beautiful as a weathercock," remarked one ofthe Town Councillors who wished to gain a reputation for having artistic tastes; "only notquite so useful," he added, fearing lest people should think him unpractical, which he reallywas not."Why can't you be like the Happy Prince?" asked a sensible mother of her little boy whowas crying for the moon. "The Happy Prince never dreams of crying for anything.""I am glad there is some one in the world who is quite happy," muttered a disappointedman as he gazed at the wonderful statue."He looks just like an angel," said the Charity Children as they came out of the cathedral intheir bright scarlet cloaks and their clean white pinafores."How do you know?" said the Mathematical Master, "you have never seen one.""Ah! but we have, in our dreams," answered the children; and the Mathematical Masterfrowned 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 Egypt sixweeks before, but he had stayed behind, for he was in love with the most beautifulReed. He had met her early in the spring as he was flying down the river after a big yellowmoth, and had been so attracted by her slender waist that he had stopped to talk to her."Shall I love you?" said the Swallow, who liked to come to the point at once, and the Reedmade 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