The Happy Prince and Other Tales

The Happy Prince and Other
Tales

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Happy Prince and Other Tales,
by Oscar Wilde (#12 in our series by Oscar Wilde)
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Title: The Happy Prince and Other Tales
Author: Oscar Wilde

Release Date: May, 1997 [EBook #902] [This file was first posted on
May 6, 1997] [Most recently updated: May 12, 2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE
HAPPY PRINCE AND OTHER TALES ***

Transcribed from the 1910 edition by David Price, email
[email protected]. Second proof by Paul Redmond.

THE HAPPY PRINCE AND OTHER TALES

Contents
The Happy Prince The Nightingale and the Rose The Selfish Giant The
Devoted Friend The Remarkable Rocket

THE HAPPY PRINCE

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.
"Shall I love you?" said the Swallow, who liked to come to the point at
once, and the Reed made him a low bow. So he flew round and round
her, touching the water with his wings, and making silver ripples. This
was his courtship, and it lasted all through the summer.
"It is a ridiculous attachment," twittered the other Swallows; "she has
no money, and far too many relations"; and indeed the river was quite
full of Reeds. Then, when the autumn came they all flew away.
After they had gone he felt lonely, and began to tire of his lady- love.

"She has no conversation," he said, "and I am afraid that she is a
coquette, for she is always flirting with the wind." And certainly,
whenever the wind blew, the Reed made the most graceful curtseys. "I
admit that she is domestic," he continued, "but I love travelling, and my
wife, consequently, should love travelling also."
"Will you come away with me?" he said finally to her; but the Reed
shook her head, she was so attached to her home.
"You have been trifling with me," he cried. "I am off to the Pyramids.
Good-bye!" and he flew away.
All day long he flew, and at night-time he arrived at the city. "Where
shall I put up?" he said; "I hope the town has made preparations."
Then he saw the statue on the tall column.
"I will put up there," he cried; "it is