第7部分(第2/7 页)

silver　tissue；　and　she　was　as　pale　as　the　Snow

Palace　in　which　she　had　always　lived。　So　pale　was　she　that　as　she　drove

through　the　streets　all　the　people　wondered。　〃She　is　like　a　white　rose！〃

they　cried；　and　they　threw　down　flowers　on　her　from　the　balconies。

At　the　gate　of　the　Castle　the　Prince　was　waiting　to　receive　her。　He　had

dreamy　violet　eyes；　and　his　hair　was　like　fine　gold。　When　he　saw　her　he

sank　upon　one　knee；　and　kissed　her　hand。

〃Your　picture　was　beautiful；〃　he　murmured；　〃but　you　are　more

beautiful　than　your　picture〃；　and　the　little　Princess　blushed。

〃She　was　like　a　white　rose　before；〃　said　a　young　Page　to　his　neighbour；

〃but　she　is　like　a　red　rose　now〃；　and　the　whole　Court　was　delighted。

For　the　next　three　days　everybody　went　about　saying；　〃White　rose；

Red　rose；　Red　rose；　White　rose〃；　and　the　King　gave　orders　that　the　Page's

salary　was　to　be　doubled。　As　he　received　no　salary　at　all　this　was　not　of

much　use　to　him；　but　it　was　considered　a　great　honour；　and　was　duly

published　in　the　Court　Gazette。

When　the　three　days　were　over　the　marriage　was　celebrated。　It　was　a

magnificent　ceremony；　and　the　bride　and　bridegroom　walked　hand　in　hand

under　a　canopy　of　purple　velvet　embroidered　with　little　pearls。　Then

there　was　a　State　Banquet；　which　lasted　for　five　hours。　The　Prince　and

Princess　sat　at　the　top　of　the　Great　Hall　and　drank　out　of　a　cup　of　clear

36

The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

crystal。　Only　true　lovers　could　drink　out　of　this　cup；　for　if　false　lips

touched　it；　it　grew　grey　and　dull　and　cloudy。

〃It's　quite　clear　that　they　love　each　other；〃　said　the　little　Page；　〃as　clear

as　crysta