Щасливий принц та інші казки

           Ihaterudenessandbadmannersofeverykind,forIamextremelysensitive.NooneinthewholeworldissosensitiveasIam,Iamquitesureofthat."

           "Whatisasensitiveperson?"saidtheCrackertotheRomanCandle.

           "Apersonwho,becausehehascornshimself,alwaystreadsonotherpeople’stoes,"answeredtheRomanCandleinalowwhisper;andtheCrackernearlyexplodedwithlaughter.

           "Pray,whatareyoulaughingat?"inquiredtheRocket;"Iamnotlaughing."

           "IamlaughingbecauseIamhappy,"repliedtheCracker.

           "Thatisaveryselfishreason,"saidtheRocketangrily."Whatrighthaveyoutobehappy?Youshouldbethinkingaboutothers.Infact,youshouldbethinkingaboutme.Iamalwaysthinkingaboutmyself,andIexpecteverybodyelsetodothesame.Thatiswhatiscalledsympathy.Itisabeautifulvirtue,andIpossessitinahighdegree.Suppose,forinstance,anythinghappenedtometo-night,whatamisfortunethatwouldbeforeveryone!ThePrinceandPrincesswouldneverbehappyagain,theirwholemarriedlifewouldbespoiled;andasfortheKing,Iknowhewouldnotgetoverit.Really,whenIbegintoreflectontheimportanceofmyposition,Iamalmostmovedtotears."

           "Ifyouwanttogivepleasuretoothers,"criedtheRomanCandle,"youhadbetterkeepyourselfdry."

           "Certainly,"exclaimedtheBengalLight,whowasnowinbetterspirits;"thatisonlycommonsense."

           "Commonsense,indeed!"saidtheRocketindignantly;"youforgetthatIamveryuncommon,andveryremarkable.