Щасливий принц та інші казки

           Indeed,Ihavealwaysbeenofopinionthathardworkissimplytherefugeofpeoplewhohavenothingwhatevertodo."

           "Well,well,"saidtheDuck,whowasofaverypeaceabledisposition,andneverquarrelledwithanyone,"everybodyhasdifferenttastes.Ihope,atanyrate,thatyouaregoingtotakeupyourresidencehere."

           "Oh!dearno,"criedtheRocket."Iammerelyavisitor,adistinguishedvisitor.ThefactisthatIfindthisplacerathertedious.Thereisneithersocietyhere,norsolitude.Infact,itisessentiallysuburban.IshallprobablygobacktoCourt,forIknowthatIamdestinedtomakeasensationintheworld."

           "Ihadthoughtsofenteringpubliclifeoncemyself,"remarkedtheDuck;"therearesomanythingsthatneedreforming.Indeed,Itookthechairatameetingsometimeago,andwepassedresolutionscondemningeverythingthatwedidnotlike.However,theydidnotseemtohavemucheffect.NowIgoinfordomesticity,andlookaftermyfamily."

           "Iammadeforpubliclife,"saidtheRocket,"andsoareallmyrelations,eventhehumblestofthem.Wheneverweappearweexcitegreatattention.Ihavenotactuallyappearedmyself,butwhenIdosoitwillbeamagnificentsight.Asfordomesticity,itagesonerapidly,anddistractsone’smindfromhigherthings."

           "Ah!thehigherthingsoflife,howfinetheyare!"saidtheDuck;"andthatremindsmehowhungryIfeel:"andsheswamawaydownthestream,saying,"Quack,quack,quack."