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类死在这个地方。”于是市书记员把这个建议记录了下来。
后来他们就把快乐王子的雕像给推倒了。“既然他已不再美丽，那么也就不再有用
了，”大学的美术教授说。
接着他们把雕像放在炉里熔化了，市长还召集了一次市级的会议来决定如何处理这些金
属，当然，我们必须再铸一个雕像。”他说，“那应该就是我的雕像。”
“我的雕像，”每一位市参议员都争着说，他们还吵了起来。我最后听到人们说起他们
时，他们的争吵仍未结束。
“多么稀奇古怪的事！”铸像厂的工头说，“这颗破裂的铅心在炉子里熔化不了。我们
只好把它扔掉。”他们便把它扔到了垃圾堆里，死去的那只燕子也躺在那儿。
“把城市里最珍贵的两件东西给我拿来，”上帝对他的一位天使说。于是天使就把铅心
和死鸟给上帝带了回来。
“你的选择对极了，”上帝说，“因为在我这天堂的花园里，小鸟可以永远地放声歌
唱，而在我那黄金的城堡中，快乐王子可以尽情地赞美我。”
。。
The Happy Prince
the happy prince
high above the city； on a tall column； stood the statue of the
happy prince。 he was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine
gold； for eyes he had two bright sapphires； and a large red ruby
glowed on his sword…hilt。
he was very much admired indeed。 〃he is as beautiful as a
weathercock；〃 remarked one of the town councillors who wished to
gain a reputation for having artistic tastes； 〃only not quite so
useful；〃 he added； fearing lest people should think him
unpractical； which he really was not。
〃why cant you be like the happy prince？〃 asked a sensible mother
of her little boy who was crying for the moon。 〃the happy prince
never dreams of crying for anything。〃
〃i am glad there is some one in the world who is quite happy；〃
muttered a disappointed man as he gazed at the wonderful statue。
〃he looks just like an angel；〃 said the charity children as they
came out of the cathedral in their bright scarlet cloaks and their
clean white pinafores。
〃how do you know？〃 said the mathematical master； 〃you have never
seen one。〃
〃ah！ but we have； in our dreams；〃 answered the children； and the
mathematical master frowned and looked very severe； for he did not
approve of children dreaming。
one night there flew over the city a little swallow。 his friends
had gone away to egypt six weeks before； but he had stayed behind；
for he was in love with the most beautiful reed。 he had met her
early in the spring as he was flying down the river after a big
yellow moth； and had been so attracted by her slender waist that he
had stopped to talk to her。
〃shall i love you？〃 said the swallow； who liked to e to the
point at once； and the reed made him a low bow。 so he flew round
and round her； touching the water with his wings； and making silver
ripples。 this was his courtship； and it lasted all through the
summer。
〃it is a ridiculous attachment；〃 twittered the other swallows； 〃she
has no money； and far too many relations〃； and indeed the river was
quite full of reeds。 then； when the autumn came they all flew
away。
after they had gone he felt lonely； and began to tire of his lady…
love。 〃she has no conversation；〃 he said； 〃and i am afraid that
she is a coquette； for she is always flirting with the wind。〃 and
certainly； whenever the wind blew； the reed made the most graceful
curtseys。 〃i admit that she is domestic；〃 he continued； 〃but i
love travelling； and my wife； consequently； should love travelling
also。〃
〃will you e away with me？〃 he said finally to her； but the reed
shook her head； she was so attached to her home。
〃you have been trifling with me；〃 he cried。 〃i am off to the
pyramids。 good…bye！〃 and he flew away。
all day long he flew； and at night…time he arrived at the city。
〃where shall i put up？〃 he said； 〃i hope the town has made
preparations。〃
then he saw the statue on the tall column。
〃i will put up there；〃 he cried； 〃it is a fine position； with
plenty of fresh air。〃 so he alighted just between the feet of the
happy prince。
〃i have a golden bedroom；〃 he said softly to himself as he looked
round； and he prepared to go to sleep； but just as he was putting
his head under his wing a large drop of water fell on him。 〃what a
curious thing！〃 he cried； 〃there is not a single cloud in the sky；
the stars are quite clear and bright； and yet it is raining。 the
climate in the north of europe is really dreadful。 the reed used
to like the rain； but that was merely her selfishness。〃
then another drop fell。
〃what is the use of a statue if it cannot keep the rain off？〃 he
said； 〃i must look for a good chimney…pot；〃 and he determined to
fly away。
but before he had opened his wings； a third drop fell； and he
looked up； and saw … ah！ what did he see？
the eyes of the happy prince were filled with tears； and tears were
running down his golden cheeks。 his face was so beautiful in the
moonlight that the little swallow was filled with pity。
〃who are you？〃 he said。
〃i am the happy prince。〃
〃why are you weeping then？〃 asked the swallow； 〃you have quite
drenched me。〃
〃when i was alive and had a human heart；〃 answered the statue； 〃i
did not know what tears were； for i lived in the palace of sans…
souci； where sorrow is not allowed to enter。 in the daytime i
played with my panions in the garden； and in the evening i led
the dance in the great hall。 round the garden ran a very lofty
wall； but i never cared to ask what lay beyond it； everything about
me was so beautiful。 my courtiers called me the happy prince； and
happy indeed i was； if pleasure be happiness。 so i lived； and so i
died。 and now that i am dead they have set me up here so high that
i can see all the ugliness and all the misery of my city； and
though my heart is made of lead yet i cannot chose but weep。〃
〃what！ is he not solid gold？〃 said the swallow to himself。 he was
too polite to make any personal remarks out loud。
〃far away；〃 continued the statue in a low musical voice； 〃far away
in a little street there is a poor house。 one of the windows is
open； and through it i can see a woman seated at a table。 her face
is thin and worn； and she has coarse； red hands； all pricked by the
n