Счастливый принц и другие сказки
The Remarkable Rocket
"Howverysillyofhimnottostayhere!"saidtheRocket."Iamsurethathehasnotoftengotsuchachanceofimprovinghismind.However,Idon’tcareabit.Geniuslikemineissuretobeappreciatedsomeday;"andhesankdownalittledeeperintothemud.
AftersometimealargeWhiteDuckswamuptohim.Shehadyellowlegs,andwebbedfeet,andwasconsideredagreatbeautyonaccountofherwaddle.
"Quack,quack,quack,"shesaid."Whatacuriousshapeyouare!MayIaskwereyoubornlikethat,orisittheresultofanaccident?"
"Itisquiteevidentthatyouhavealwayslivedinthecountry,"answeredtheRocket,"otherwiseyouwouldknowwhoIam.However,Iexcuseyourignorance.Itwouldbeunfairtoexpectotherpeopletobeasremarkableasoneself.YouwillnodoubtbesurprisedtohearthatIcanflyupintothesky,andcomedowninashowerofgoldenrain."
"Idon’tthinkmuchofthat,"saidtheDuck,"asIcannotseewhatuseitistoanyone.Now,ifyoucouldploughthefieldsliketheox,ordrawacartlikethehorse,orlookafterthesheeplikethecollie-dog,thatwouldbesomething."
"Mygoodcreature,"criedtheRocketinaveryhaughtytoneofvoice,"Iseethatyoubelongtothelowerorders.Apersonofmypositionisneveruseful.Wehavecertainaccomplishments,andthatismorethansufficient.Ihavenosympathymyselfwithindustryofanykind,leastofallwithsuchindustriesasyouseemtorecommend.