《快乐王子童话集》第23章

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　dont　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　ones　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　for　a　nice　dry　spot　to　live　in。
〃he　must　have　a　truly　romantic　nature；〃　said　the　catherine　wheel；
〃for　he　weeps　when　there　is　nothing　at　all　to　weep　about〃；　and　she
heaved　a　deep　sigh；　and　thought　about　the　deal　box。
but　the　roman　candle　and　the　bengal　light　were　quite　indignant；　and
kept　saying；　〃humbug！　humbug！〃　at　the　top　of　their　voices。 they
were　extremely　practical；　and　whenever　they　objected　to　anything
they　called　it　humbug。
then　the　moon　rose　like　a　wonderful　silver　shield；　and　the　stars
began　to　shine；　and　a　sound　of　music　came　from　the　palace。
the　prince　and　princess　were　leading　the　dance。 they　danced　so
beautifully　that　the　tall　white　lilies　peeped　in　at　the　window　and
watched　them；　and　the　great　red　poppies　nodded　their　heads　and　beat
time。
then　ten　oclock　struck；　and　then　eleven；　and　then　twelve；　and　at
the　last　stroke　of　midnight　every　one　came　out　on　the　terrace；　and
the　king　sent　for　the　royal　pyrotechnist。
〃let　the　fireworks　begin；〃　said　the　king；　and　the　royal
pyrotechnist　made　a　low　bow；　and　marched　down　to　the　end　of　the
garden。 he　had　six　attendants　with　him；　each　of　whom　carried　a
lighted　torch　at　the　end　of　a　long　pole。
it　was　certainly　a　magnificent　display。
whizz！　whizz！　went　the　catherine　wheel；　as　she　spun　round　and
round。 boom！ boom！　went　the　roman　candle。 then　the　squibs　danced
all　over　the　place；　and　the　bengal　lights　made　everything　look
scarlet。 〃good…bye；〃　cried　the　fire…balloon；　as　he　soared　away；
dropping　tiny　blue　sparks。 bang！　bang！　answered　the　crackers；　who
were　enjoying　themselves　immensely。 every　one　was　a　great　success
except　the　remarkable　rocket。 he　was　so　damp　with　crying　that　he
could　not　go　off　at　all。 the　best　thing　in　him　was　the　gunpowder；
and　that　was　so　wet　with　tears　that　it　was　of　no　use。 all　his　poor
relations；　to　whom　he　would　never　speak；　except　with　a　sneer；　shot
up　into　the　sky　like　wonderful　golden　flowers　with　blossoms　of
fire。 huzza！　huzza！　cried　the　court；　and　the　little　princess
laughed　with　pleasure。
〃i　suppose　they　are　reserving　me　for　some　grand　occasion；〃　said　the
rocket；　〃no　doubt　that　is　what　it　means；〃　and　he　looked　more
supercilious　than　ever。
the　next　day　the　workmen　came　to　put　everything　tidy。 〃this　is
evidently　a　deputation；〃　said　the　rocket；　〃i　will　receive　them　with
being　dignity〃　so　he　put　his　nose　in　the　air；　and　began　to　frown
severely　as　if　he　were　thinking　about　some　very　important　subject。
but　they　took　no　notice　of　him　at　all　till　they　were　just　going
away。 then　one　of　them　caught　sight　of　him。 〃hallo！〃　he　cried；
〃what　a　bad　rocket！〃　and　he　threw　him　over　the　wall　into　the　ditch。
〃bad　rocket？ bad　rocket？〃　he　said；　as　he　whirled　through　the　air；
〃impossible！ grand　rocket；　that　is　what　the　man　said。 bad　and
grand　sound　very　much　the　same；　indeed　they　often　are　the　same〃；
and　he　fell　into　the　mud。
〃it　is　not　fortable　here；〃　he　remarked；　〃but　no　doubt　it　is　some
fashionable　watering…place；　and　they　have　sent　me　away　to　recruit
my　health。 my　nerves　are　certainly　very　much　shattered；　and　i
require　rest。〃
then　a　little　frog；　with　bright　jewelled　eyes；　and　a　green　mottled
coat；　swam　up　to　him。
〃a　new　arrival；　i　see！〃　said　the　frog。 〃well；　after　all　there　is
nothing　like　mud。 give　me　rainy　weather　and　a　ditch；　and　i　am
quite　happy。 do　you　think　it　will　be　a　wet　afternoon？ i　am　sure　i
hope　so；　but　the　sky　is　quite　blue　and　cloudless。 what　a　pity！〃
〃ahem！　ahem！〃　said　the　rocket；　and　he　began　to　cough。
〃what　a　delightful　voice　you　have！〃　cried　the　frog。 〃really　it　is
quite　like　a　croak；　and　croaking　is　of　course　the　most　musical
sound　in　the　world。 you　will　hear　our　glee…club　this　evening。 we
sit　in　the　old　duck　pond　close　by　the　farmers　house；　and　as　soon
as　the　moon　rises　we　begin。 it　is　so　entrancing　that　everybody
lies　awake　to　listen　to　us。 in　fact；　it　was　only　yesterday　that　i
heard　the　farmers　wife　say　to　her　mother　that　she　could　not　get　a
wink　of　sleep　at　night　on　account　of　us。 it　is　most　gratifying　to
find　oneself　so　popular。〃
〃ahem！　ahem！〃　said　the　rocket　angrily。 he　was　very　much　annoyed
that　he　could　not　get　a　word　in。
〃a　delightful　voice；　certainly；〃　continued　the　frog；　〃i　hope　you
will　e　over　to　the　duck…pond。 i　am　off　to　look　for　my
daughters。 i　have　six　beautiful　daughters；　and　i　am　so　afraid　the
pike　may　meet　them。 he　is　a　perfect　monster；　and　would　have　no
hesitation　in　breakfasting　off　them。 well；　good…bye： i　have
enjoyed　our　conversation　very　much；　i　assure　you。〃
〃conversation；　indeed！〃　said　the　rocket。 〃you　have　talked　the
whole　time　yourself。 that　is　not　conversation。〃
〃somebody　must　listen；〃　answered　the　frog；　〃and　i　lik