Щасливий принц та інші казки
The Nightingale and the Rose
Itismorepreciousthanemeralds,anddearerthanfineopals.Pearlsandpomegranatescannotbuyit,norisitsetforthinthemarket-place.Itmaynotbepurchasedofthemerchants,norcanitbeweighedoutinthebalanceforgold."
"Themusicianswillsitintheirgallery,"saidtheyoungStudent,"andplayupontheirstringedinstruments,andmylovewilldancetothesoundoftheharpandtheviolin.Shewilldancesolightlythatherfeetwillnottouchthefloor,andthecourtiersintheirgaydresseswillthrongroundher.Butwithmeshewillnotdance,forIhavenoredrosetogiveher;"andheflunghimselfdownonthegrass,andburiedhisfaceinhishands,andwept.
Whyisheweeping?"askedalittleGreenLizard,asheranpasthimwithhistailintheair.
"Why,indeed?"saidaButterfly,whowasflutteringaboutafterasunbeam.
"Why,indeed?"whisperedaDaisytohisneighbour,inasoft,lowvoice.
"Heisweepingforaredrose,"saidtheNightingale.
"Foraredrose?"theycried;"howveryridiculous!"andthelittleLizard,whowassomethingofacynic,laughedoutright.
ButtheNightingaleunderstoodthesecretoftheStudent’ssorrow,andshesatsilentintheoak-tree,andthoughtaboutthemysteryofLove.
Suddenlyshespreadherbrownwingsforflight,andsoaredintotheair.Shepassedthroughthegrovelikeashadow,andlikeashadowshesailedacrossthegarden.
Inthecentreofthegrass-plotwasstandingabeautifulRose-tree,andwhenshesawitsheflewovertoit,andlituponaspray.
