TheHappyPrinceOscarWildeHighabovethecity,onatallcolumn,stoodthestatueoftheHappyPrince.Hewasgildedalloverwiththinleavesoffinegold,foreyeshehadtwobrightsapphires,andalargeredrubyglowedonhissword-hilt.HIGHabovethecity,onatallcolumn,stoodthestatueoftheHappyPrince.Hewasgildedalloverwiththinleavesoffinegold,foreyeshehadtwobrightsapphires,andalargeredrubyglowedonhissword-hilt.Hewasverymuchadmiredindeed.‘Heisasbeautifulasaweathercock,’remarkedoneoftheTownCouncillorswhowishedtogainareputationforhavingartistictastes;‘onlynotquitesouseful,’headded,fearinglestpeopleshouldthinkhimunpractical,whichhereallywasnot.‘Whycan’tyoubeliketheHappyPrince?’askedasensiblemotherofherlittleboywhowascryingforthemoon.‘TheHappyPrinceneverdreamsofcryingforanything.’‘Iamgladthereissomeoneintheworldwhoisquitehappy,’mutteredadisappointedmanashegazedatthewonderfulstatue.‘Helooksjustlikeanangel,’saidtheCharityChildrenastheycameoutofthecathedralintheirbrightscarletcloaks,andtheircleanwhitepinafores.‘Howdoyouknow?’saidtheMathematicalMaster,‘youhaveneverseenone.’‘Ah!butwehave,inourdreams,’answeredthechildren;andtheMathematicalMasterfrownedandlookedverysevere,forhedidnotapproveofchildrendreaming.OnenightthereflewoverthecityalittleSwallow.HisfriendshadgoneawaytoEgyptsixweeksbefore,buthehadstayedbehind,forhewasinlovewiththemostbeautifulReed.Hehadmetherearlyinthespringashewasflyingdowntheriverafterabigyellowmoth,andhadbeensoattractedbyherslenderwaistthathehadstoppedtotalktoher.‘ShallIloveyou?’saidtheSwallow,wholikedtocometothepointatonce,andtheReedmadehimalowbow.Soheflewroundandroundher,touchingthewaterwithhiswings,andmakingsilverripples.Thiswashiscourtship,anditlastedallthroughthesummer.‘Itisaridiculousattachment,’twitteredtheotherSwallows,‘shehasnomoney,andfartoomanyrelations;’andindeedtheriverwasquitefullofReeds.Then,whentheautumncame,theyallflewaway.1Aftertheyhadgonehefeltlonely,andbegantotireofhislady-love.‘Shehasnoconversation,’hesaid,‘andIamafraidthatsheisacoquette,forshe...