The Happy Prince
By Oscar Wilde
()
About this ebook
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.
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was born on the 16th October 1854 and died on the 30th November 1900. He was an Irish playwright, poet, and author of numerous short stories and one novel. Known for his biting wit, he became one of the most successful playwrights of the late Victorian era in London, and one of the greatest celebrities of his day. Several of his plays continue to be widely performed, especially The Importance of Being Earnest.
Read more from Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Picture Of Dorian Gray Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Comedies: Lady Windermere's Fan, An Ideal Husband, A Woman of No Importance, and The Importance of Being Earnest Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Greatest Christmas Stories of All Time: Timeless Classics That Celebrate the Season Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings50 Great Love Letters You Have To Read (Golden Deer Classics) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5De Profundis Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Wit and Wisdom of Oscar Wilde: Inspiring and Amazing Quotes from an Icon Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Complete Works Of Oscar Wilde Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A House of Pomegranates Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Poems Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Importance of Being Earnest: A Play Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/550 Beautiful Christmas Stories Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBlood, Sperm, Black Velvet: The Seminal Book Of English Decadence (1888-1908) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsComplete Works of Oscar Wilde Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Gothic Classics: 60+ Books in One Volume Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOscar Wilde: A Life in Letters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Penny Dreadfuls MEGAPACK ®: 10 Classic Shockers! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5My Own Dear Darling Boy: The Letters of Oscar Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Complete Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5
Related to The Happy Prince
Related ebooks
The Happy Prince and Other Tales Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Happy Prince and Other Tales (Dream Classics) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Happy Prince and Other Stories Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Happy Prince and Other Tales (Golden Deer Classics) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Happy Prince Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOscar Wilde - Stories for Children Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Complete Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Fairy Tales Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Happy Prince (new classics) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTwo Books of Fairy Tales Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Happy Prince, and Other Tales - Illustrated Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFairy Tales of Oscar Wilde Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Happy Prince. Fairy Tales Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Greatest Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde (Illustrated Edition) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Complete Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde (Warbler Classics Annotated Edition) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Complete Fairy Tales Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5THE HAPPY PRINCE AND OTHER STORIES - A unique children's book by Oscar Wilde Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Happy Prince and Other Tales by Oscar Wilde (Illustrated) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTHE HAPPY PRINCE - An Eastern Fairy Tale: Baba Indaba’s Children's Stories - Issue 336 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsClassic Fairy Tales Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFairy Tales: Bilingual Edition (English – German) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIllustrated Fairy Tales Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA COLLECTION OF CHILDREN'S STORIES: Fantastic stories and fairy tales for children. Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBlood, Sperm, Black Velvet: The Seminal Book Of English Decadence (1888-1908) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUller Uprising Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Classics For You
The Bell Jar: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Silmarillion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sense and Sensibility (Centaur Classics) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Animal Farm: A Fairy Story Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Republic by Plato Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rebecca Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Fellowship Of The Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Flowers for Algernon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Odyssey: (The Stephen Mitchell Translation) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hell House: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Old Man and the Sea: The Hemingway Library Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Persuasion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Heroes: The Greek Myths Reimagined Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Things They Carried Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Scarlet Letter Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Learn French! Apprends l'Anglais! THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY: In French and English Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5East of Eden Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Confederacy of Dunces Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Sun Also Rises: The Hemingway Library Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wuthering Heights (with an Introduction by Mary Augusta Ward) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Good Man Is Hard To Find And Other Stories Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5As I Lay Dying Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Quiet American Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lathe Of Heaven Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Count of Monte Cristo (abridged) (Barnes & Noble Classics Series) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Farewell to Arms Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Canterbury Tales Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5For Whom the Bell Tolls: The Hemingway Library Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The Happy Prince
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
The Happy Prince - Oscar Wilde
The Happy Prince
The Happy Prince
THE HAPPY PRINCE
THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE ROSE
THE SELFISH GIANT
THE DEVOTED FRIEND
THE REMARKABLE ROCKET
Copyright
The Happy Prince
Oscar Wilde
THE HAPPY PRINCE
igh 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 a fine position, with plenty of fresh air.
So he alighted just between the feet of the Happy Prince.
I have a golden bedroom,
he said softly to himself as he looked round, and he prepared to go to sleep; but just as he was putting his head under his wing a large drop of water fell on him. What a curious thing!
he cried; there is not a single cloud in the sky, the stars are quite clear and bright, and yet it is raining. The climate in the north of Europe is really dreadful. The Reed used to like the rain, but that was merely her selfishness.
Then another drop fell.
What is the use of a statue if it cannot keep the rain off?
he said; I must look for a good chimney-pot,
and he determined to fly away.
But before he had opened his wings, a third drop fell, and he looked up, and saw— Ah! what did he see?
The eyes of the Happy Prince were filled with tears, and tears were running down his golden cheeks. His face was so beautiful in the moonlight that the little Swallow was filled with pity.
Who are you?
he said.
I am the Happy Prince.
Why are you weeping then?
asked the Swallow; you have quite drenched me.
THE PALACE OF SANS-SOUCI
"When I was alive