the great green snake that sleeps in a palm…tree； and has twenty
priests to feed it with honey…cakes； and of the pygmies who sail
over a big lake on large flat leaves； and are always at war with
the butterflies。
〃dear little swallow；〃 said the prince； 〃you tell me of marvellous
things； but more marvellous than anything is the suffering of men
and of women。 there is no mystery so great as misery。 fly over my
city； little swallow； and tell me what you see there。〃
so the swallow flew over the great city； and saw the rich making
merry in their beautiful houses； while the beggars were sitting at
the gates。 he flew into dark lanes； and saw the white faces of
starving children looking out listlessly at the black streets。
under the archway of a bridge two little boys were lying in one
anothers arms to try and keep themselves warm。 〃how hungry we
are！〃 they said。 〃you must not lie here；〃 shouted the watchman；
and they wandered out into the rain。
then he flew back and told the prince what he had seen。
〃i am covered with fine gold；〃 said the prince； 〃you must take it
off； leaf by leaf； and give it to my poor； the living always think
that gold can make them happy。〃
leaf after leaf of the fine gold the swallow picked off； till the
happy prince looked quite dull and grey。 leaf after leaf of the
fine gold he brought to the poor； and the childrens faces grew
rosier； and they laughed and played games in the street。 〃we have
bread now！〃 they cried。
then the snow came； and after the snow came the frost。 the streets
looked as if they were made of silver； they were so bright and
glistening； long icicles like crystal daggers hung down from the
eaves of the houses； everybody went about in furs； and the little
boys wore scarlet caps and skated on the ice。
the poor little swallow grew colder and colder； but he would not
leave the prince； he loved him too well。 he picked up crumbs
outside the bakers door when the baker was not looking and tried
to keep himself warm by flapping his wings。
but at last he knew that he was going to die。 he had just strength
to fly up to the princes shoulder once more。 〃good…bye； dear
prince！〃 he murmured； 〃will you let me kiss your hand？〃
〃i am glad that you are going to egypt at last； little swallow；〃
said the prince； 〃you have stayed too long here； but you must kiss
me on the lips； for i love you。〃
〃it is not to egypt that i am going；〃 said the swallow。 〃i am
going to the house of death。 death is the brother of sleep； is he
not？〃
and he kissed the happy prince on the lips； and fell down dead at
his feet。
at that moment a curious crack sounded inside the statue； as if
something had broken。 the fact is that the leaden heart had
snapped right in two。 it certainly was a dreadfully hard frost。
early the next morning the mayor was walking in the square below in
pany with the town councillors。 as they passed the column he
looked up at the statue： 〃dear me！ how shabby the happy prince
looks！〃 he said。
〃how shabby indeed！〃 cried the town councillors； who always agreed
with the mayor； and they went up to look at it。
〃the ruby has fallen out of his sword； his eyes are gone； and he is
golden no longer；〃 said the mayor in fact； 〃he is litttle beter
than a beggar！〃
〃little better than a beggar；〃 said the town councillors。
〃and here is actually a dead bird at his feet！〃 continued the
mayor。 〃we must really issue a proclamation that birds are not to
be allowed to die here。〃 and the town clerk made a note of the
suggestion。
so they pulled down the statue of the happy prince。 〃as he is no
longer beautiful he is no longer useful；〃 said the art professor at
the university。
then they melted the statue in a furnace； and the mayor held a
meeting of the corporation to decide what was to be done with the
metal。 〃we must have another statue； of course；〃 he said； 〃and it
shall be a statue of myself。〃
〃of myself；〃 said each of the town councillors； and they
quarrelled。 when i last heard of them they were quarrelling still。
〃what a strange thing！〃 said the overseer of the workmen at the
foundry。 〃this broken lead heart will not melt in the furnace。 we
must throw it away。〃 so they threw it on a dust…heap where the
dead swallow was also lying。
〃bring me the two most precious things in the city；〃 said god to
one of his angels； and the angel brought him the leaden heart and
the dead bird。
〃you have rightly chosen；〃 said god； 〃for in my garden of paradise
this little bird shall sing for evermore； and in my city of gold
the happy prince shall praise me。〃
．。
夜莺与玫瑰
！
夜莺与玫瑰
“她说过只要我送给她一些红玫瑰，她就愿意与我跳舞，”一位年轻的学生大声说道，
“可是在我的花园里，连一朵红玫瑰也没有。”
这番话给在圣栎树上自己巢中的夜莺听见了，她从绿叶丛中探出头来，四处张望着。
“我的花园里哪儿都找不到红玫瑰，”他哭着说，一双美丽的眼睛充满了泪水。“唉，
难道幸福竟依赖于这么细小的东西！我读过智者们写的所有文章，知识的一切奥秘也都装在
我的头脑中，然而就因缺少一朵红玫瑰我却要过痛苦的生活。”
“这儿总算有一位真正的恋人了，”夜莺对自己说，“虽然我不认识他，但我会每夜每
夜地为他歌唱，我还会每夜每夜地把他的故事讲给星星听。现在我总算看见他了，他的头发
黑得像风信子花，他的嘴唇就像他想要的玫瑰那样红；但是感情的折磨使他脸色苍白如象
牙，忧伤的印迹也爬上了他的眉梢。”
“王子明天晚上要开舞会，”年轻学生喃喃自语地说，“我所爱的人将要前往。假如我
送她一朵红玫瑰，她就会同我跳舞到天明；假如我送她一朵红玫瑰，我就能搂着她的腰，她
也会把头靠在我的肩上，她的手将捏在我的手心里。可是我的花园里却没有红玫瑰，我只能
孤零零地坐在那边，看着她从身旁经过。她不会注意到我，我的心会碎的。”
“这的确是位真正的恋人，”夜莺说，“我所为之歌唱的正是他遭受的痛苦，我所为之
快乐的东西，对他却是痛苦。爱情真是一件奇妙无比的事情，它比绿宝石更珍贵，比猫眼石
更稀奇。用珍珠和石榴都换不来，是市场上买不到的，是从商人那儿购不来的，更无法用黄
金来称出它的重量。”
“乐师们会坐在他们的廊厅中，”年轻的学生说，“弹奏起他们的弦乐器。我心爱的人
将在竖琴和小提琴的音乐声中翩翩起舞。她跳得那么轻松欢快，连脚跟都不蹭地板似的。那
些身着华丽服装的臣仆们将她围在中间。然而她就是不会同我跳舞，因为我没有红色的玫瑰
献给她。”于是他扑倒在草地上，双手捂着脸放声痛哭起来。
“他为什么哭呢？”一条绿色的小蜥蜴高高地翘起尾巴从他身旁跑过时，这样问道。
“是啊，倒底为什么？”一只蝴蝶说，她正追着一缕阳光在跳舞。
“是啊，倒底为什么？”一朵雏菊用低缓的声音对自已的邻居轻声说道。
“他为一朵红玫瑰而哭泣。”夜莺告诉大家。
“为了一朵红玫瑰？”他们叫了起来。“真是好笑！”小蜥蜴说，他是个爱嘲讽别人的
人，忍不住笑了起来。
可只有夜莺了解学生忧伤的原因，她默默无声地坐在橡树上，想象着爱情的神秘莫测。
突然她伸开自己棕色的翅膀，朝空中飞去。她像个影子似的飞过了小树林，又像个影子
似的飞越了花园。
在一块草地的中央长着一棵美丽的玫瑰树，她看见那棵树后就朝它飞过去，落在一根小
枝上。
“给我一朵红玫瑰，”她高声喊道，“我会为你唱我最甜美的歌。”
可是树儿摇了摇头。
“我的玫瑰是白色的，”它回答说，“白得就像大海的浪花沫，白得超过山顶上的积
雪。但你可以去找我那长在古日晷器旁的兄弟，或许他能满足你的需要。”
于是夜莺就朝那棵生长在古日晷器旁的玫瑰树飞去了。
“给我…朵红玫瑰，”她大声说，“我会为你唱我最甜美的歌。”
可是树儿摇了摇头。
“我的玫瑰是黄色的，”它回答说，“黄得就像坐在琥珀宝座上的美人鱼的头发，黄得
超过拿着镰刀的割草人来之前在草地上盛开的水仙花。但你可以去找我那长在学生窗下的兄
弟，或许他能满足你的需要。”
于是夜寓就朝那棵生长在学生窗下的玫瑰树飞去了。
“给我一朵红玫瑰，”她大声说，“我会为你唱我最甜美的歌。”
可是树儿摇了摇头。
“我的玫瑰是红色的，”它回答说，“红得就像鸽子的脚，红得超过在海洋洞穴中飘动
的珊瑚大扇。但是冬天已经冻僵了我的血管，霜雪已经摧残了我的花蕾，风暴已经吹折了我
的枝叶，今年我不会再有玫瑰花了。”
“我只要一朵玫瑰花，”夜莺大声叫道，“只要一朵红玫瑰！难道就没有办法让我得到
它吗？”
“有一个办法，”树回答说，“但就是太可怕了，我都不敢对你说。”
“告诉我，”夜莺说，“我不怕。”
“如果你想要一朵红玫瑰，”树儿说，“你就必须借助月光用音乐来造出它，并且要用
你胸中的鲜血来染红它。你一定要用你的胸膛顶住我的一根刺来唱歌。你要为我唱上整整一
夜，那根刺一定要穿透你的胸膛，你的鲜血一定要流进我的血管，并变成我的血。”
“拿死亡来换一朵玫瑰，这代价实在很高，”夜莺大声叫道，“生命对每一个人都是非
常宝贵的。坐在绿树上看太阳驾驶着她的金马车，看月亮开着她的珍珠马车，是一件愉快的
事情。山楂散发出香味，躲藏在山谷中的风铃草以及盛开在山头的石南花也是香的。然而爱
情胜过生命，再说鸟的心怎么比得过人的心呢？”
于是她便张开自己棕色的翅膀朝天空中飞去了。她像影子似的飞过花园，又像影子似的
穿越了小树林。
年轻的学生仍躺在草地上，跟她离开时的情景一样，他那双美丽的眼睛还挂着泪水。
“快乐起来吧，”夜莺大声说，“快乐起来吧，你就要得到你的红玫瑰了。我要在月光
下把它用音乐造成，献出我胸膛中的鲜血把它染红。我要求你报答我的只有一件事，就是你
要做一个真正的恋人，因为尽管哲学很聪明，然而爱情比她更聪明，尽管权力很伟大，可是
爱情比他更伟大。火焰映红了爱情的翅膀，使他的身躯像火焰一样火红。他的嘴唇像蜜一样
甜；他的气息跟乳香一样芬芳。”
学生从草地上抬头仰望着，并侧耳倾听，但是他不懂夜莺在对他讲什么，因为他只知道
那�
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