Щасливий принц та інші казки
The Happy Prince
"Ihaveagoldenbedroom,"hesaidsoftlytohimselfashelookedround,andhepreparedtogotosleep;butjustashewasputtinghisheadunderhiswingalargedropofwaterfellonhim."Whatacuriousthing!"hecried;"thereisnotasinglecloudinthesky,thestarsarequiteclearandbright,andyetitisraining.TheclimateinthenorthofEuropeisreallydreadful.TheReedusedtoliketherain,butthatwasmerelyherselfishness."
Thenanotherdropfell.
"Whatistheuseofastatueifitcannotkeeptherainoff?"hesaid;"Imustlookforagoodchimney-pot,"andhedeterminedtoflyaway.
Butbeforehehadopenedhiswings,athirddropfell,andhelookedup,andsaw—Ah!whatdidhesee?
TheeyesoftheHappyPrincewerefilledwithtears,andtearswererunningdownhisgoldencheeks.HisfacewassobeautifulinthemoonlightthatthelittleSwallowwasfilledwithpity.
"Whoareyou?"hesaid.
"IamtheHappyPrince."
"Whyareyouweepingthen?"askedtheSwallow;"youhavequitedrenchedme."
"WhenIwasaliveandhadahumanheart,"answeredthestatue,"Ididnotknowwhattearswere,forIlivedinthePalaceofSans-Souci,wheresorrowisnotallowedtoenter.InthedaytimeIplayedwithmycompanionsinthegarden,andintheeveningIledthedanceintheGreatHall.Roundthegardenranaveryloftywall,butInevercaredtoaskwhatlaybeyondit,everythingaboutmewassobeautiful.MycourtierscalledmetheHappyPrince,andhappyindeedIwas,ifpleasurebehappiness.
