Щасливий принц та інші казки
The Remarkable Rocket
Ipreferthemtostarsmyself,asyoualwaysknowwhentheyaregoingtoappear,andtheyareasdelightfulasmyownflute-playing.Youmustcertainlyseethem."
SoattheendoftheKing’sgardenagreatstandhadbeensetup,andassoonastheRoyalPyrotechnisthadputeverythinginitsproperplace,thefireworksbegantotalktoeachother.
"Theworldiscertainlyverybeautiful,"criedalittleSquib."Justlookatthoseyellowtulips.Why!iftheywererealCrackerstheycouldnotbelovelier.IamverygladIhavetravelled.Travelimprovesthemindwonderfully,anddoesawaywithallone’sprejudices."
"TheKing’sgardenisnottheworld,youfoolishSquib,"saidabigRomanCandle;"theworldisanenormousplace,anditwouldtakeyouthreedaystoseeitthoroughly."
"Anyplaceyouloveistheworldtoyou,"exclaimedthepensiveCatherineWheel,whohadbeenattachedtoanolddealboxinearlylife,andpridedherselfonherbrokenheart;"butloveisnotfashionableanymore,thepoetshavekilledit.Theywrotesomuchaboutitthatnobodybelievedthem,andIamnotsurprised.Truelovesuffers,andissilent.Iremembermyselfonce——Butitisnomatternow.Romanceisathingofthepast."
"Nonsense!"saidtheRomanCandle,"Romanceneverdies.Itislikethemoon,andlivesforever.Thebrideandbridegroom,forinstance,loveeachotherverydearly.Iheardallaboutthemthismorningfromabrown-papercartridge,whohappenedtobestayinginthesamedrawerasmyself,andheknewthelatestCourtnews."
