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whatever he did； everybody cried out； 〃Charming！ charming！〃
The last item on the programme was a grand display of fireworks； to
be let off exactly at midnight。 The little Princess had never seen a
firework in her life； so the King had given orders that the Royal
Pyrotechnist should be in attendance on the day of her marriage。
〃What are fireworks like？〃 she had asked the Prince； one morning； as
she was walking on the terrace。
〃They are like the Aurora Borealis；〃 said the King； who always
answered questions that were addressed to other people； 〃only much more
natural。 I prefer them to stars myself； as you always know when they are
going to appear； and they are as delightful as my own flute…playing。 You
must certainly see them。〃
So at the end of the King's garden a great stand had been set up； and as
soon as the Royal Pyrotechnist had put everything in its proper place； the
fireworks began to talk to each other。
〃The world is certainly very beautiful；〃 cried a little Squib。 〃Just look
at those yellow tulips。 Why！ if they were real crackers they could not be
lovelier。 I am very glad I have travelled。 Travel improves the mind
wonderfully； and does away with all one's prejudices。〃
〃The King's garden is not the world； you foolish squib；〃 said a big
Roman Candle； 〃the world is an enormous place； and it would take you
three days to see it thoroughly。〃
37
The Happy Prince and Other Tales
〃Any place you love is the world to you；〃 exclaimed a pensive
Catherine Wheel； who had been attached to an old deal box in early life；
and prided herself on her broken heart； 〃but love is not fashionable any
more； the poets have killed it。 They wrote so much about it that nobody
believed them； and I am not surprised。 True love suffers； and is silent。 I
remember myself once … But it is no matter now。 Romance is a thing of
the past。〃
〃Nonsense！〃 said the Roman Candle； 〃Romance never dies。 It is like
the moon； and lives for ever。 The bride and bridegroom； for instance；
love each other very dearly。 I heard all about them this morning from a
brown…paper cartridge； who happened to be staying in the same drawer as
myself； and knew the latest Court news。〃 But the Catherine Wheel shook
her head。 〃Romance is dead； Romance is dead； Romance is dead；〃 she
murmured。 She was one of those people who think that； if you say the
same thing over and over a great many times； it bees true in the end。
Suddenly； a sharp； dry cough was heard； and they all looked round。
It came from a tall； supercilious…looking Rocket； who was tied to the
end of a long stick。 He always coughed before he made any observation；
so as to attract attention。
〃Ahem！ ahem！〃 he said； and everybody listened except the poor
Catherine Wheel； who was still shaking her head； and murmuring；
〃Romance is dead。〃
〃Order！ order！〃 cried out a Cracker。 He was something of a politician；
and had always taken a prominent part in the local elections； so he knew
the proper Parliamentary expressions to use。
〃Quite dead；〃 whispered the Catherine Wheel； and she went off to
sleep。
As soon as there was perfect silence； the Rocket coughed a third time
and began。 He spoke with a very slow； distinct voice； as if he was
dictating his memoirs； and always looked over the shoulder of the person
to whom he was talking。 In fact； he had a most distinguished manner。
〃How fortunate it is for the King's son；〃 he remarked； 〃that he is to be
38
The Happy Prince and Other Tales
married on the very day on which I am to be let off。 Really； if it had been
arranged beforehand； it could not have turned out better for him； but；
Princes are always lucky。〃
〃Dear me！〃 said the little Squib； 〃I thought it was quite the other way；
and that we were to be let off in the Prince's honour。〃
〃It may be so with you；〃 he answered； 〃indeed； I have no doubt that it
is； but with me it is different。 I am a very remarkable Rocket； and e
of remarkable parents。 My mother was the most celebrated Catherine
Wheel of her day； and was renowned for her graceful dancing。 When she
made her great public appearance she spun round nieen times before
she went out； and each time that she did so she threw into the air seven
pink stars。 She was three feet and a half in diameter； and made of the
very best gunpowder。 My father was a Rocket like myself； and of French
extraction。 He flew so high that the people were afraid that he would
never e down again。 He did； though； for he was of a kindly
disposition； and he made a most brilliant descent in a shower of golden
rain。 The newspapers wrote about his performance in very flattering
terms。 Indeed； the Court Gazette called him a triumph of Pylotechnic art。〃
〃Pyrotechnic； Pyrotechnic； you mean；〃 said a Bengal Light； 〃I know it
is Pyrotechnic； for I saw it written on my own canister。〃
〃Well； I said Pylotechnic；〃 answered the Rocket； in a severe tone of
voice； and the Bengal Light felt so crushed that he began at once to bully
the little squibs； in order to show that he was still a person of some
importance。
〃I was saying；〃 continued the Rocket； 〃I was saying … What was I
saying？〃
〃You were talking about yourself；〃 replied the Roman Candle。
〃Of course； I knew I was discussing some interesting subject when I
was so rudely interrupted。 I hate rudeness and bad manners of every kind；
for I am extremely sensitive。 No one in the whole world is so sensitive
as I am； I am quite sure of that。〃
〃What is a sensitive person？〃 said the Cracker to the Roman Candle。
39
The Happy Prince and Other Tales
〃A person who； because he has corns himself； always treads on other
people's toes；〃 answered the Roman Candle in a low whisper； and the
Cracker nearly exploded with laughter。
〃Pray； what are you laughing at？〃 inquired the Rocket； 〃I am not
laughing。〃
〃I am laughing because I am happy；〃 replied the Cracker。
〃That is a very selfish reason；〃 said the Rocket angrily。 〃What right
have you to be happy？ You should be thinking about others。 In fact； you
should be thinking about me。 I am always thinking about myself； and I
expect everybody else to do the same。 That is what is called sympathy。
It is a beautiful virtue； and I possess it in a high degree。 Suppose； for
instance； anything happened to me to…night； what a misfortune that would
be for every one！ The Prince and Princess would never be happy again；
their whole married life would be spoiled； and as for the King； I know he
would not get over it。 Really； when I begin to reflect on the importance
of my position； I am almost moved to tears。〃
〃If you want to give pleasure to others；〃 cried the Roman Candle； 〃you
had better keep yourself dry。〃
〃Certainly；〃 exclaimed the Bengal Light； who was now in better spirits；
〃that is only mon sense。〃
〃