Library / Literature & Fiction
The Happy Prince, and Other Tales
by Oscar Wilde
- Pages
- about 59
- Category
- Literature & Fiction
- Language
- English
- Reading time
- 65 min at 250 wpm
From the opening
Page
The Happy Prince 1
The Nightingale and the Rose 25
The Selfish Giant 43
The Devoted Friend 57
The Remarkable Rocket 87
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 can’t 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.
A short sample. Read the whole book
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