Щасливий принц та інші казки

           "Howverysillyofhimnottostayhere!"saidtheRocket."Iamsurethathehasnotoftengotsuchachanceofimprovinghismind.However,Idon’tcareabit.Geniuslikemineissuretobeappreciatedsomeday;"andhesankdownalittledeeperintothemud.

           AftersometimealargeWhiteDuckswamuptohim.Shehadyellowlegs,andwebbedfeet,andwasconsideredagreatbeautyonaccountofherwaddle.

           "Quack,quack,quack,"shesaid."Whatacuriousshapeyouare!MayIaskwereyoubornlikethat,orisittheresultofanaccident?"

           "Itisquiteevidentthatyouhavealwayslivedinthecountry,"answeredtheRocket,"otherwiseyouwouldknowwhoIam.However,Iexcuseyourignorance.Itwouldbeunfairtoexpectotherpeopletobeasremarkableasoneself.YouwillnodoubtbesurprisedtohearthatIcanflyupintothesky,andcomedowninashowerofgoldenrain."

           "Idon’tthinkmuchofthat,"saidtheDuck,"asIcannotseewhatuseitistoanyone.Now,ifyoucouldploughthefieldsliketheox,ordrawacartlikethehorse,orlookafterthesheeplikethecollie-dog,thatwouldbesomething."

           "Mygoodcreature,"criedtheRocketinaveryhaughtytoneofvoice,"Iseethatyoubelongtothelowerorders.Apersonofmypositionisneveruseful.Wehavecertainaccomplishments,andthatismorethansufficient.Ihavenosympathymyselfwithindustryofanykind,leastofallwithsuchindustriesasyouseemtorecommend.