Счастливый принц и другие сказки
The Happy Prince
Hetoldhimoftheredibises,whostandinlongrowsonthebanksoftheNile,andcatchgold-fishintheirbeaks;oftheSphinx,whoisasoldastheworlditself,andlivesinthedesert,andknowseverything;ofthemerchants,whowalkslowlybythesideoftheircamelsandcarryamberbeadsintheirhands;oftheKingoftheMountainsoftheMoon,whoisasblackasebony,andworshipsalargecrystal;ofthegreatgreensnakethatsleepsinapalmtree,andhastwentyprieststofeeditwithhoney-cakes;andofthepygmieswhosailoverabiglakeonlargeflatleaves,andarealwaysatwarwiththebutterflies.
"DearlittleSwallow,"saidthePrince,"youtellmeofmarvellousthings,butmoremarvellousthananythingisthesufferingofmenandofwomen.ThereisnoMysterysogreatasMisery.Flyovermycity,littleSwallow,andtellmewhatyouseethere."
SotheSwallowflewoverthegreatcity,andsawtherichmakingmerryintheirbeautifulhouses,whilethebeggarsweresittingatthegates.Heflewintodarklanes,andsawthewhitefacesofstarvingchildrenlookingoutlistlesslyattheblackstreets.Underthearchwayofabridgetwolittleboyswerelyinginoneanother’sarmstotryandkeepthemselveswarm."Howhungryweare!"theysaid."Youmustnotliehere,"shoutedtheWatchman,andtheywanderedoutintotherain.
ThenheflewbackandtoldthePrincewhathehadseen.
