The Happy Prince
by Oscar Wilde http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/902
The classic tale by Oscar Wilde of a prince who was immortalized as a beautiful bejewel statue overlooking the city. The Happy Prince is the story of the princess’ relationship with a swallow and the city below and illustrates the importance of selflessness and sacrifice. It is a beautiful story.
HIGH above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded（鍍金） all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires（藍寶石）, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword-hilt. （劍把）
He was very much admired indeed. `He is as beautiful as a weathercock,' （風標）remarked one of the Town Councilors 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 （橘紅色）cloaks（披風）, and their clean white pinafores（圍裙）.
`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（蘆葦）. He had met her early in the spring as he was flying down the river after a big yellow moth（蛾）, and had been so attracted by her slender waist that he had stopped to talk to her.
`Shall I love you?' said the...