19-5-13 【英语美文】有什么别有迷之自信，19世纪段子手王尔德童话《非凡的火箭》

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The Remarkable Rocket

ByOscar Wilde – edited version

1.       The King's son was going to bemarried. On the wedding day, at the gate of the castle, the Prince was waiting toreceive her. When he saw her, he sank upon one knee, and kissed her hand. 'Yourpicture was beautiful,' he murmured, 'but you are more beautiful than yourpicture;' and the Princess blushed. The Marriage was going to be magnificent; therewas a state Banquet planned, and afterthe banquet there was a ball organized, where the bride and bridegroom were to dance together. The littlePrincess had never seen fireworks inher life, so the King had given orders that the Royal Pyrotechnist should attend the day of her marriage. Duringthe banquet, the Royal Pyrotechnist put all the fireworks in their proper place,so they could be let off right awayat 12 o’ clock.

2.       Soon, the fireworks began totalk to each other.  A pensive Catharine Wheel, who prided herself on her broken heart exclaimed suddenly; 'How lovely! But love is notfashionable any more, the poets have killed it. They wrote so much about itthat nobody believed them. True love suffers, and is silent. I remember myselfonce - But it is no matter now. Romance is a thing of the past.’

3.       'Nonsense! said the Roman Candle, 'Romance never dies. Itis like the moon, and lives for ever. 'But the Catharine Wheel shook her headand continued saying ‘romance is dead, romance is dead.’ Suddenly, a sharp, drycough was heard, and they all turned around. It came from a tall Rocket. He always coughed to attractattention. 'Ahem! ahem!' he said, and everybody listened except the poorCatharine Wheel, who was still shaking her head, and murmuring, 'Romance isdead, quite dead’.

4.       As soon as there was perfectsilence, the Rocket began. 'How fortunate it is for the King's son,' heremarked, 'that he is to be married on the very day on which I am to be letoff. It could not have turned out better for him; but Princes are alwayslucky.' 'Dear me! said the little Squib,'I thought that we were all to be let off in the Prince's honour.'

5.       'Indeed’, said the rocket, butwith me it is different. I am a very remarkable Rocket. First of all, my motherwas the most celebrated CatharineWheel of her day, and was renownedfor her graceful dancing. My fatherwas a Rocket like myself. He flew so high that the people were afraid that hewould never come down again. He did, though, for he was of a kindly disposition, and he made a mostbrilliant shower of golden rain. The newspapers called him a triumph ofPylotechnic art.'  'Pyrotechnic! Pyrotechnic,you mean,' said a Bengal Light.

6.       'I was saying,' continued theRocket in a severed tone of voice, 'I was saying - What was I saying?' 'Youwere talking about yourself,' replied the Roman Candle. 'Of course; I knew Iwas discussing some interesting subject when I was so rudely interrupted. Ihate rudeness and bad manners of every kind, for I am extremely sensitive. Noone in the whole world is so sensitive as I am, I am quite sure of that.' 'Whatis a sensitive person?' whispered the Cracker to the Roman Candle. 'A person who always treads on other people's toes,' answered the Roman Candle in a low whisper;and the Cracker nearly exploded with laughter.

7.       'What are you laughing at?'inquired the Rocket. 'I am laughing because I am happy,' replied the Cracker. 'Thatis a very selfish reason,' said the Rocket angrily. 'What right have you to behappy? You should be thinking about others. In fact, you should be thinkingabout me. I am always thinking about myself, and I expect everybody else to dothe same. That is what is called sympathy.It is a beautiful virtue, and Ipossess it in a high degree. Suppose, for instance, anything happened to me tonight,what a misfortune that would be for every one! The Prince and Princess wouldnever be happy again, their whole married life would be spoiled; and as for theKing, I know he would not get over it. Really, when I begin to reflect on theimportance of my position, I am almost movedto tears.'

8.       He actually burst into realtears. Then the moon rose and the stars began to shine. 'Let the fireworksbegin,' said the King, and it was certainly a magnificent display. Everyone was a great success, except for the RemarkableRocket. The gunpowder inside him wasso wet with tears that he was of no use, so nobody even approached him. 'Isuppose they are reserving me for some grand occasion,' said the Rocket; 'nodoubt that is what it means.'

9.       The next day the workmen cameto put everything tidy. 'Hallo!' one of them cried, 'what a bad rocket!' and hethrew him over the wall into the ditch.  'BAD Rocket? BAD Rocket?' he said as hewhirled through the air; 'impossible! GRAND Rocket, that is what the man said.BAD and GRAND sound very much the same, indeed they often are the same;' and hefell into the mud.

10.   Then, a little Frog swam up tohim. 'A new arrival, I see! said the Frog. 'Well, after all there is nothinglike mud. Give me rainy weather and a ditch, and I am quite happy!'  'Ahem! ahem!' said the Rocket, and he began tocough. 'What a delightful voice you have!' cried the Frog. 'Really it is quitelike a croak; the most musical soundin the world. You should hear our club this evening. As soon as the moon riseswe begin. It is so entrancing thateverybody lies awake to listen to us. In fact, it was only yesterday that Iheard the farmer's wife say to her mother that she could not get a wink of sleep at night on account of us. It ismost gratifying to find oneself sopopular.'

11.   'Ahem! ahem!' said the Rocketangrily. He was very much annoyed that he could not get a word in. 'Adelightful voice, certainly,' continued the Frog; 'I hope you will come over tothe duck-pond tonight to join us. Well, good-bye: I have enjoyed our conversationvery much!'  ‘Conversation, indeed!' saidthe Rocket. 'You have talked the whole time yourself. That is notconversation.'  'Somebody must listen,'answered the Frog, 'and I like to do all the talking myself. It saves time, andprevents arguments.' 'But I like arguments,' said the Rocket. 'I hope not,'said the Frog complacently. 'Arguments are extremely vulgar. Good-bye a second time.' And the little Frog swam away.