Щасливий принц та інші казки
The Nightingale and the Rose
"Givemearedrose,"shecried,"andIwillsingyoumysweetestsong."
ButtheTreeshookitshead.
"Myrosesarewhite,"itanswered;"aswhiteasthefoamofthesea,andwhiterthanthesnowuponthemountain.Butgotomybrotherwhogrowsroundtheoldsun-dial,andperhapshewillgiveyouwhatyouwant."
SotheNightingaleflewovertotheRose-treethatwasgrowingroundtheoldsun-dial.
"Givemearedrose,"shecried,"andIwillsingyoumysweetestsong."
ButtheTreeshookitshead.
"Myrosesareyellow,"itanswered;"asyellowasthehairofthemermaidenwhositsuponanamberthrone,andyellowerthanthedaffodilthatbloomsinthemeadowbeforethemowercomeswithhisscythe.ButgotomybrotherwhogrowsbeneaththeStudent’swindow,andperhapshewillgiveyouwhatyouwant."
SotheNightingaleflewovertotheRose-treethatwasgrowingbeneaththeStudent’swindow.
"Givemearedrose,"shecried,"andIwillsingyoumysweetestsong."
ButtheTreeshookitshead.
"Myrosesarered,"itanswered,"asredasthefeetofthedove,andredderthanthegreatfansofcoralthatwaveandwaveintheocean-cavern.Butthewinterhaschilledmyveins,andthefrosthasnippedmybuds,andthestormhasbrokenmybranches,andIshallhavenorosesatallthisyear."
"OneredroseisallIwant,"criedtheNightingale,"onlyoneredrose!IstherenowaybywhichIcangetit?"
"Thereisaway,"answeredtheTree;"butitissoterriblethatIdarenottellittoyou."
