第4部分(第6/7 页)

s　face　grew　red　with　anger；　and　he　said；　〃Who　hath　dared　to

wound　thee？〃　For　on　the　palms　of　the　child's　hands　were　the　prints　of

two　nails；　and　the　prints　of　two　nails　were　on　the　little　feet。

〃Who　hath　dared　to　wound　thee？〃　cried　the　Giant；　〃tell　me；　that　I　may

22

The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

take　my　big　sword　and　slay　him。〃

〃Nay！〃　answered　the　child；　〃but　these　are　the　wounds　of　Love。〃

〃Who　art　thou？〃　said　the　Giant；　and　a　strange　awe　fell　on　him；　and　he

knelt　before　the　little　child。

And　the　child　smiled　on　the　Giant；　and　said　to　him；　〃You　let　me　play

once　in　your　garden；　to…day　you　shall　e　with　me　to　my　garden；　which

is　Paradise。〃

And　when　the　children　ran　in　that　afternoon；　they　found　the　Giant

lying　dead　under　the　tree；　all　covered　with　white　blossoms。

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The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

THE　DEVOTED　FRIEND

One　morning　the　old　Water…rat　put　his　head　out　of　his　hole。　He　had

bright　beady　eyes　and　stiff　grey　whiskers　and　his　tail　was　like　a　long　bit　of

black　india…rubber。　The　little　ducks　were　swimming　about　in　the　pond；

looking　just　like　a　lot　of　yellow　canaries；　and　their　mother；　who　was　pure

white　with　real　red　legs；　was　trying　to　teach　them　how　to　stand　on　their

heads　in　the　water。

〃You　will　never　be　in　the　best　society　unless　you　can　stand　on　your

heads；〃　she　kept　saying　to　them；　and　every　now　and　then　she　showed　them

how　it　was　done。　But　the　little　ducks　paid　no　attention　to　her。　They

were　so　young　that　they　did　not　know　what　an　advantage　it　is　to　be　in

society　at　all。

〃What　disobedient　children！〃　cried　the　old　Water…rat；　〃they　really

deserve　to　be　dr