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world。 You will hear our glee…club this evening。 We sit in the old duck
pond close by the farmer's house； and as soon as the moon rises we begin。
It is so entrancing that everybody lies awake to listen to us。 In fact； it
was only yesterday that I heard the farmer's wife say to her mother that
she could not get a wink of sleep at night on account of us。 It is most
43
The Happy Prince and Other Tales
gratifying to find oneself so popular。〃
〃Ahem！ ahem！〃 said the Rocket angrily。 He was very much annoyed
that he could not get a word in。
〃A delightful voice； certainly；〃 continued the Frog； 〃I hope you will
e over to the duck…pond。 I am off to look for my daughters。 I have
six beautiful daughters； and I am so afraid the Pike may meet them。 He
is a perfect monster； and would have no hesitation in breakfasting off them。
Well； good…bye： I have enjoyed our conversation very much； I assure
you。〃
〃Conversation； indeed！〃 said the Rocket。 〃You have talked the whole
time yourself。 That is not conversation。〃
〃Somebody must listen；〃 answered the Frog； 〃and I like to do all the
talking myself。 It saves time； and prevents arguments。〃
〃But I like arguments；〃 said the Rocket。
〃I hope not；〃 said the Frog placently。 〃Arguments are extremely
vulgar； for everybody in good society holds exactly the same opinions。
Good…bye a second time； I see my daughters in the distance and the little
Frog swam away。
〃You are a very irritating person；〃 said the Rocket； 〃and very ill… bred。
I hate people who talk about themselves； as you do； when one wants to
talk about oneself； as I do。 It is what I call selfishness； and selfishness is
a most detestable thing； especially to any one of my temperament； for I am
well known for my sympathetic nature。 In fact； you should take example
by me； you could not possibly have a better model。 Now that you have
the chance you had better avail yourself of it； for I am going back to Court
almost immediately。 I am a great favourite at Court； in fact； the Prince
and Princess were married yesterday in my honour。 Of course you know
nothing of these matters； for you are a provincial。〃
〃There is no good talking to him；〃 said a Dragon…fly； who was sitting
on the top of a large brown bulrush； 〃no good at all； for he has gone
away。〃
〃Well； that is his loss； not mine；〃 answered the Rocket。 〃I am not
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
going to stop talking to him merely because he pays no attention。 I like
hearing myself talk。 It is one of my greatest pleasures。 I often have
long conversations all by myself； and I am so clever that sometimes I don't
understand a single word of what I am saying。〃
〃Then you should certainly lecture on Philosophy；〃 said the Dragon…
fly； and he spread a pair of lovely gauze wings and soared away into the
sky。
〃How very silly of him not to stay here！〃 said the Rocket。 〃I am sure
that he has not often got such a chance of improving his mind。 However； I
don't care a bit。 Genius like mine is sure to be appreciated some day〃；
and he sank down a little deeper into the mud。
After some time a large White Duck swam up to him。 She had
yellow legs； and webbed feet； and was considered a great beauty on
account of her waddle。
〃Quack； quack； quack；〃 she said。 〃What a curious shape you are！
May I ask were you born like that； or is it the result of an accident？〃
〃It is quite evident that you have always lived in the country；〃
answered the Rocket； 〃otherwise you would know who I am。 However； I
excuse your ignorance。 It would be unfair to expect other people to be as
remarkable as oneself。 You will no doubt be surprised to hear that I can
fly up into the sky； and e down in a shower of golden rain。〃
〃I don't think much of that；〃 said the Duck； 〃as I cannot see what use it
is to any one。 Now； if you could plough the fields like the ox； or draw a
cart like the horse； or look after the sheep like the collie…dog； that would
be something。〃
〃My good creature；〃 cried the Rocket in a very haughty tone of voice；
〃I see that you belong to the lower orders。 A person of my position is
never useful。 We have certain acplishments； and that is more than
sufficient。 I have no sympathy myself with industry of any kind； least of
all with such industries as you seem to remend。 Indeed； I have
always been of opinion that hard work is simply the refuge of people who
have nothing whatever to do。〃
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
〃Well； well；〃 said the Duck； who was of a very peaceable disposition；
and never quarrelled with any one； 〃everybody has different tastes。 I
hope； at any rate； that you are going to take up your residence here。〃
〃Oh！ dear no；〃 cried the Rocket。 〃I am merely a visitor； a
distinguished visitor。 The fact is that I find this place rather tedious。
There is neither society here； nor solitude。 In fact； it is essentially
suburban。 I shall probably go back to Court； for I know that I am
destined to make a sensation in the world。〃
〃I had thoughts of entering public life once myself；〃 remarked the
Duck； 〃there are so many things that need reforming。 Indeed； I took the
chair at a meeting some time ago； and we passed resolutions condemning
everything that we did not like。 However； they did not seem to have
much effect。 Now I go in for domesticity； and look after my family。〃
〃I am made for public life；〃 said the Rocket； 〃and so are all my
relations； even the humblest of them。 Whenever we appear we excite
great attention。 I have not actually appeared myself； but when I do so it
will be a magnificent sight。 As for domesticity； it ages one rapidly； and
distracts one's mind from higher things。〃
〃Ah！ the higher things of life； how fine they are！〃 said the Duck； 〃and
that reminds me how hungry I feel〃： and she swam away down the
stream； saying； 〃Quack； quack； quack。〃
〃e back！ e back！〃 screamed the Rocket； 〃I have a great deal to
say to you〃； but the Duck paid no attention to him。 〃I am glad that she
has gone；〃 he said to himself； 〃she has a decidedly middle…class mind〃；
and he sank a little deeper still into the mud； and began to think about the
loneliness of genius； when suddenly two little boys in white smocks came
running down the bank； with a kettle and some faggots。
〃This must be the deputation；〃 said the Rocket； and he tried to look
very dignified。
〃Hallo！〃 cried one of the boys； 〃look at this old stick！ I wonder how
it came here〃； and he picked the rocket out of the ditch。
〃OLD Stick！〃 said the Rocket； 〃impossible！ GOLD Stick； that is
The Happy Prince and Other Tales
what he said。 Gold Stick is very plimentary。 In fact； he mistakes
me for one of the Court dignitaries！〃
〃Let us put it into the fire！〃 said the other boy； 〃it will help to boil the
kettle。〃
So they piled the faggots together； and put the Rocket on top； and lit
the fire。
〃This is magnificent；〃 cried the Rocket； 〃they are going to let me off in
broad day…light； so that every one can see me。〃
〃We will go to sleep now；〃 they said； 〃and when we wake up the kettle
will be boiled〃； and they lay down on the grass； and shut their eyes。
The Rocket was very damp； so he took a long time to burn。 At last；
however； the fire caught him。
〃Now I am going off！〃 he cried； and he made himself very stiff and
straight。 〃I know I shall go much higher than the stars； much higher than
the moon； much higher than the sun。 In fact； I shall go so high that … 〃
Fizz！ Fizz！ Fizz！ and he went straight up into the air。
〃Delightful！〃 he cried； 〃I shall go on like this for ever。 What a
success I am！〃
But nobody saw him。
Then he began to feel a curious tingling sensation all over him。
〃Now I am going to explode；〃 he cried。 〃I shall set the whole world
on fire； and make such a noise that nobody will talk about anything else
for a whole year。〃 And he certainly did explode。 Bang！ Bang！ Bang！
went the gunpowder。 There was no doubt about it。
But nobody heard him； not even the two little boys； for they were
sound asleep。
Then all that was left of him was the stick； and this fell down on the
back of a Goose who was taking a walk by the side of the ditch。
〃Good heavens！〃 cried the Goose。 〃It is going to rain sticks〃； and she
rushed into the water。
〃I knew I should create a great sensation；〃 gasped the Rocket； and he
went out。
The Happy Prince and Other Tales
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