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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。〃
〃mon sense； indeed！〃 said the Rocket indignantly； 〃you forget that
I am very unmon； and very remarkable。 Why； anybody can have
mon sense； provided that they have no imagination。 But I have
imagination； for I never think of things as they really are； I always think of
them as being quite different。 As for keeping myself dry； there is
evidently no one here who can at all appreciate an emotional nature。
Fortunately for myself； I don't care。 The only thing that sustains one
through life is the consciousness of the immense inferiority of everybody
else； and this is a feeling that I have always cultivated。 But none of you
have any hearts。 Here you are laughing and making merry just as if the
Prince and Princess had not just been married。〃
〃Well； really；〃 exclaimed a small Fire…balloon； 〃why not？ It is a most
40
The Happy Prince and Other Tales
joyful occasion； and when I soar up into the air I intend to tell the stars all
about it。 You will see them twinkle when I talk to them about the pretty
bride。〃
〃Ah！ what a trivial view of life！〃 said the Rocket； 〃but it is only what I
expected。 There is nothing in you； you are hollow and empty。 Why；
perhaps the Prince and Princess may go to live in a country where there is
a deep river； and perhaps they may have one only son； a little fair…haired
boy with violet eyes like the Prince himself； and perhaps some day he may
go out to walk with his nurse； and perhaps the nurse may go to sleep under
a great elder…tree； and perhaps the little boy may fall into the deep river
and be drowned。 What a terrible misfortune！ Poor people； to lose their
only son！ It is really too dreadful！ I shall never get over it。〃
〃But they have not lost their only son；〃 said the Roman Candle； 〃no
misfortune has happened to them at all。〃
〃I never said that they had；〃 replied the Rocket； 〃I said that they might。
If they had lost their only son there would be no use in saying anything
more about the matter。 I hate people who cry over spilt milk。 But when
I think that they might lose their only son； I certainly am very much
affected。〃
〃You certainly are！〃 cried the Bengal Light。 〃In fact； you are the
most affected person I ever met。〃
〃You are the rudest person I ever met；〃 said the Rocket； 〃and you
cannot understand my friendship for the Prince。〃
〃Why； you don't even know him；〃 growled the Roman Candle。
〃I never said I knew him；〃 answered the Rocket。 〃I dare say that if I
knew him I should not be his friend at all。 It is a very dangerous thing to
know one's friends。〃 〃You had really better keep yourself dry；〃 said the
Fire…balloon。 〃That is the important thing。〃
〃Very important for you； I have no doubt；〃 answered the Rocket； 〃but I
shall weep if I choose〃； and he actually burst into real tears； which flowed
down his stick like rain…drops； and nearly drowned two little beetles； who
were just thinking of setting up house together； and were looking