Счастливый принц и другие сказки
The Remarkable Rocket
Why,anybodycanhavecommonsense,providedthattheyhavenoimagination.ButIhaveimagination,forIneverthinkofthingsastheyreallyare;Ialwaysthinkofthemasbeingquitedifferent.Asforkeepingmyselfdry,thereisevidentlynooneherewhocanatallappreciateanemotionalnature.Fortunatelyformyself,Idon’tcare.Theonlythingthatsustainsonethroughlifeistheconsciousnessoftheimmenseinferiorityofeverybodyelse,andthisisafeelingIhavealwayscultivated.Butnoneofyouhaveanyhearts.HereyouarelaughingandmakingmerryjustasifthePrinceandPrincesshadnotjustbeenmarried."
"Well,really,"exclaimedasmallFire-balloon,"whynot?Itisamostjoyfuloccasion,andwhenIsoarupintotheairIintendtotellthestarsallaboutit.YouwillseethemtwinklewhenItalktothemabouttheprettybride."
"Ah!whatatrivialviewoflife!"saidtheRocket;"butitisonlywhatIexpected.Thereisnothinginyou;youarehollowandempty.Why,perhapsthePrinceandPrincessmaygotoliveinacountrywherethereisadeepriver,andperhapstheymayhaveoneonlyson,alittlefair-hairedboywithvioleteyeslikethePrincehimself;andperhapssomedayhemaygoouttowalkwithhisnurse;andperhapsthenursemaygotosleepunderagreatelder-tree;andperhapsthelittleboymayfallintothedeepriverandbedrowned.Whataterriblemisfortune!Poorpeople,tolosetheironlyson!Itisreallytoodreadful!Ishallnevergetoverit."
