Счастливый принц и другие сказки
The Nightingale and the Rose
Hislipsaresweetashoney,andhisbreathislikefrankincense."
TheStudentlookedupfromthegrass,andlistened,buthecouldnotunderstandwhattheNightingalewassayingtohim,forheonlyknewthethingsthatarewrittendowninbooks.
ButtheOak-treeunderstood,andfeltsad,forhewasveryfondofthelittleNightingalewhohadbuilthernestinhisbranches.
"Singmeonelastsong,"hewhispered;"Ishallfeelverylonelywhenyouaregone."
SotheNightingalesangtotheOak-tree,andhervoicewaslikewaterbubblingfromasilverjar.
Whenshehadfinishedhersong,theStudentgotup,andpulledanote-bookandalead-penciloutofhispocket.
"Shehasform,"hesaidtohimself,ashewalkedawaythroughthegrove—"thatcannotbedeniedtoher;buthasshegotfeeling?Iamafraidnot.Infact,sheislikemostartists;sheisallstylewithoutanysincerity.Shewouldnotsacrificeherselfforothers.Shethinksmerelyofmusic,andeverybodyknowsthattheartsareselfish.Still,itmustbeadmittedthatshehassomebeautifulnotesinhervoice.Whatapityitisthattheydonotmeananything,ordoanypracticalgood!"Andhewentintohisroom,andlaydownonhislittlepallet-bed,andbegantothinkofhislove;and,afteratime,hefellasleep.
AndwhentheMoonshoneintheheavenstheNightingaleflewtotheRose-tree,andsetherbreastagainstthethorn.Allnightlongshesangwithherbreastagainstthethorn,andthecoldcrystalMoonleaneddownandlistened.
