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〃I am afraid you don't quite see the moral of the story；〃 remarked the
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
Lin。
〃The what？〃 screamed the Water…rat。
〃The moral。〃
〃Do you mean to say that the story has a moral？〃
〃Certainly；〃 said the Lin。
〃Well； really；〃 said the Water…rat； in a very angry manner； 〃I think you
should have told me that before you began。 If you had done so； I
certainly would not have listened to you； in fact； I should have said 'Pooh；'
like the critic。 However； I can say it now〃； so he shouted out 〃Pooh〃 at
the top of his voice； gave a whisk with his tail； and went back into his
hole。
〃And how do you like the Water…rat？〃 asked the Duck； who came
paddling up some minutes afterwards。 〃He has a great many good points；
but for my own part I have a mother's feelings； and I can never look at a
confirmed bachelor without the tears ing into my eyes。〃
〃I am rather afraid that I have annoyed him；〃 answered the Lin。
〃The fact is； that I told him a story with a moral。〃 〃Ah！ that is always a
very dangerous thing to do；〃 said the Duck。
And I quite agree with her。
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
THE REMARKABLE ROCKET
The King's son was going to be married； so there were general
rejoicings。 He had waited a whole year for his bride； and at last she had
arrived。 She was a Russian Princess； and had driven all the way from
Finland in a sledge drawn by six reindeer。 The sledge was shaped like a
great golden swan； and between the swan's wings lay the little Princess
herself。 Her long ermine…cloak reached right down to her feet； on her
head was a tiny cap of silver tissue； and she was as pale as the Snow
Palace in which she had always lived。 So pale was she that as she drove
through the streets all the people wondered。 〃She is like a white rose！〃
they cried； and they threw down flowers on her from the balconies。
At the gate of the Castle the Prince was waiting to receive her。 He had
dreamy violet eyes； and his hair was like fine gold。 When he saw her he
sank upon one knee； and kissed her hand。
〃Your picture was beautiful；〃 he murmured； 〃but you are more
beautiful than your picture〃； and the little Princess blushed。
〃She was like a white rose before；〃 said a young Page to his neighbour；
〃but she is like a red rose now〃； and the whole Court was delighted。
For the next three days everybody went about saying； 〃White rose；
Red rose； Red rose； White rose〃； and the King gave orders that the Page's
salary was to be doubled。 As he received no salary at all this was not of
much use to him； but it was considered a great honour； and was duly
published in the Court Gazette。
When the three days were over the marriage was celebrated。 It was a
magnificent ceremony； and the bride and bridegroom walked hand in hand
under a canopy of purple velvet embroidered with little pearls。 Then
there was a State Banquet； which lasted for five hours。 The Prince and
Princess sat at the top of the Great Hall and drank out of a cup of clear
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
crystal。 Only true lovers could drink out of this cup； for if false lips
touched it； it grew grey and dull and cloudy。
〃It's quite clear that they love each other；〃 said the little Page； 〃as clear
as crystal！〃 and the King doubled his salary a second time。 〃What an
honour！〃 cried all the courtiers。
After the banquet there was to be a Ball。 The bride and bridegroom
were to dance the Rose…dance together； and the King had promised to play
the flute。 He played very badly； but no one had ever dared to tell him so；
because he was the King。 Indeed； he knew only two airs； and was never
quite certain which one he was playing； but it made no matter； for；
whatever he did； everybody cried out； 〃Charming！ charming！〃
The last item on the programme was a grand display of fireworks； to
be let off exactly at midnight。 The little Princess had never seen a
firework in her life； so the King had given orders that the Royal
Pyrotechnist should be in attendance on the day of her marriage。
〃What are fireworks like？〃 she had asked the Prince； one morning； as
she was walking on the terrace。
〃They are like the Aurora Borealis；〃 said the King； who always
answered questions that were addressed to other people； 〃only much more
natural。 I prefer them to stars myself； as you always know when they are
going to appear； and they are as delightful as my own flute…playing。 You
must certainly see them。〃
So at the end of the King's garden a great stand had been set up； and as
soon as the Royal Pyrotechnist had put everything in its proper place； the
fireworks began to talk to each other。
〃The world is certainly very beautiful；〃 cried a little Squib。 〃Just look
at those yellow tulips。 Why！ if they were real crackers they could not be
lovelier。 I am very glad I have travelled。 Travel improves the mind
wonderfully； and does away with all one's prejudices。〃
〃The King's garden is not the world； you foolish squib；〃 said a big
Roman Candle； 〃the world is an enormous place； and it would take you
three days to see it thoroughly。〃
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
〃Any place you love is the world to you；〃 exclaimed a pensive
Catherine Wheel； who had been attached to an old deal box in early life；
and prided herself on her broken heart； 〃but love is not fashionable any
more； the poets have killed it。 They wrote so much about it that nobody
believed them； and I am not surprised。 True love suffers； and is silent。 I
remember myself once … But it is no matter now。 Romance is a thing of
the past。〃
〃Nonsense！〃 said the Roman Candle； 〃Romance never dies。 It is like
the moon； and lives for ever。 The bride and bridegroom； for instance；
love each other very dearly。 I heard all about them this morning from a
brown…paper cartridge； who happened to be staying in the same drawer as
myself； and knew the latest Court news。〃 But the Catherine Wheel shook
her head。 〃Romance is dead； Romance is dead； Romance is dead；〃 she
murmured。 She was one of those people who think that； if you say the
same thing over and over a great many times； it bees true in the end。
Suddenly； a sharp； dry cough was heard； and they all looked round。
It came from a tall； supercilious…looking Rocket； who was tied to the
end of a long stick。 He always coughed before he made any observation；
so as to attract attention。
〃Ahem！ ahem！〃 he said； and everybody listened except the poor
Catherine Wheel； who was still shaking her head； and murmuring；
〃Romance is dead。〃
〃Order！ order！〃 cried out a Cracker。 He was something of a politician；
and had always taken a prominent part in the local elections； so he knew
the proper Parliamentary expressions to use。
〃Quite dead；〃 whispered the Catherine Wheel； and she went off to
sleep。
As soon as there was perfect silence； the Rocket coughed a third time
and began。 He spoke with a very slow； distinct voice； as if he was
dictating his memoirs； and always looked over the shoulder of the person
to whom he was talking。 In fact； he had a most distinguished manner。
〃How fortunate it is for the King's son；〃 he remarked； 〃that he is to be
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
married on the very day on which I am to be let off。 Really； if it had been
arranged beforehand； it could not have turned out better for him； but；
Princes are always lucky。〃
〃Dear me！〃 said the little Squib； 〃I thought it was quite the other way；
and that we were to be let off in the Prince's honour。〃
〃It may be so with you；〃 he answered； 〃indeed； I have no doubt that it
is； but with me it is different。 I am a very remarkable Rocket； and e
of remarkable parents。 My mother was the most celebrated Catherine
Wheel of her day； and was renowned for her graceful dancing。 When she
made her great public appearance she spun round nieen times before
she went out； and each time that she did so she threw into the air seven
pink stars。 She was three feet and a half in diameter； and made of the
very best gunpowder。 My father was a Rocket like myself； and of French
extraction。 He flew so high that the people were afraid that he would
never e down again。 He did； though； for he was of a kindly
disposition； and he made a most brilliant descent in a shower of golden
rain。 The newspapers wrote about his performance in very flattering
terms。 Indeed； the Court Gazette called him a triumph of Pylotechnic art。〃
〃Pyrotechnic； Pyrotechnic； you mean；〃 said a Bengal Light； 〃I know it
is Pyrotechnic； for I saw it written on my own canister。〃
〃Well； I said Pylotechnic；〃 answered the Rocket； in a severe tone of
voice； and the Bengal Light felt so crushed that he began at once to bully
the little squibs； in order to show that he was still a person of some
importance。
〃I was saying；〃 continued the Rocket； 〃I was saying … What was I
saying？〃
〃You were talking about yourself；〃 replied the Roman Candle。
〃Of course； I knew I was discussing some interesting subject when I
was so rudely interrupted。 I hate rudeness and bad manners of every kind；
for I am extremely sensitive。 No one in the whole world is so sensitive
as I am； I am quite sure of that。〃
〃What is a sensitive person？〃 said the Cracker to the Roman Candle。
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
〃A person who； because he has corns himself； always treads on other
people's toes；〃 answered the Roman Candle in a low whisper； and the
Cracker nearly exploded with laughter。
〃Pray； what are you laughing at？〃 inquired the Rocket； 〃I am not
laughing。〃
〃I am laughing because I am happy；〃 replied the Cracker。
〃That is a very selfish reason；〃 said the Rocket angrily。 〃What right
have you to be happy？ You should be thinking about others。 In fact； you
should be thinking about me。 I am always thinking about myself； and I
expect everybody else to do the same。 That is what is called sympathy。
It is a beautiful virtue； and I possess it in a high degree。 Suppose； for
instance； anything happened to me to…night； what a misfortune that would
be for every one！ The Prince and Princess would never be happy again；
their whole married life would be spoiled； and as for the King； I know he
would not get over it。 Really； when I begin to reflect on the importance
of my position； I am almost moved to tears。〃
〃If you want to give pleasure to others；〃 cried the Roman Candle； 〃you
had better keep yourself dry。〃
〃Certainly；〃 exclaimed the Bengal Light； who was now in better spirits；
〃that is only mon sense