第9部分(第2/3 页)

　all　my

relations；　even　the　humblest　of　them。　Whenever　we　appear　we　excite

great　attention。　I　have　not　actually　appeared　myself；　but　when　I　do　so　it

will　be　a　magnificent　sight。　As　for　domesticity；　it　ages　one　rapidly；　and

distracts　one's　mind　from　higher　things。〃

〃Ah！　the　higher　things　of　life；　how　fine　they　are！〃　said　the　Duck；　〃and

that　reminds　me　how　hungry　I　feel〃：　and　she　swam　away　down　the

stream；　saying；　〃Quack；　quack；　quack。〃

〃e　back！　e　back！〃　screamed　the　Rocket；　〃I　have　a　great　deal　to

say　to　you〃；　but　the　Duck　paid　no　attention　to　him。　〃I　am　glad　that　she

has　gone；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃she　has　a　decidedly　middle…class　mind〃；

and　he　sank　a　little　deeper　still　into　the　mud；　and　began　to　think　about　the

loneliness　of　genius；　when　suddenly　two　little　boys　in　white　smocks　came

running　down　the　bank；　with　a　kettle　and　some　faggots。

〃This　must　be　the　deputation；〃　said　the　Rocket；　and　he　tried　to　look

very　dignified。

〃Hallo！〃　cried　one　of　the　boys；　〃look　at　this　old　stick！　I　wonder　how

it　came　here〃；　and　he　picked　the　rocket　out　of　the　ditch。

〃OLD　Stick！〃　said　the　Rocket；　〃impossible！　GOLD　Stick；　that　is

The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

what　he　said。　Gold　Stick　is　very　plimentary。　In　fact；　he　mistakes

me　for　one　of　the　Court　dignitaries！〃

〃Let　us　put　it　into　the　fire！〃　said　the　other　boy；　〃it　will　help　to　boil　the

kettle。〃

So　they　piled　the　faggots　together；　and　put　the　Rocket　on　top；　and　lit

the　fire。

〃This　is　magnificent；〃　cried　the　Rocket；　〃they　are　going　to　let　me　off　in

broad　day…light；　so　that　every　one　can　see　me。〃

〃We　will　go　to　sleep　now；〃　they　said；　〃and　when　we