pale was it； at first； as the mist that hangs over the river … pale as the feet of the morning； and silver as the wings of the dawn。 as the shadow of a rose in a mirror of silver； as the shadow of a rose in a water…pool； so was the rose that blossomed on the topmost spray of the tree。 but the tree cried to the nightingale to press closer against the thorn。 〃press closer； little nightingale；〃 cried the tree； 〃or the day will e before the rose is finished。〃 so the nightingale pressed closer against the thorn； and louder and louder grew her song； for she sang of the birth of passion in the soul of a man and a maid。 and a delicate flush of pink came into the leaves of the rose； like the flush in the face of the bridegroom when he kisses the lips of the bride。 but the thorn had not yet reached her heart； so the roses heart remained white； for only a nightingales hearts…blood can crimson the heart of a rose。 and the tree cried to the nightingale to press closer against the thorn。 〃press closer； little nightingale；〃 cried the tree； 〃or the day will e before the rose is finished。〃 so the nightingale pressed closer against the thorn； and the thorn touched her heart； and a fierce pang of pain shot through her。 bitter； bitter was the pain； and wilder and wilder grew her song； for she sang of the love that is perfected by death； of the love that dies not in the tomb。 and the marvellous rose became crimson； like the rose of the eastern sky。 crimson was the girdle of petals； and crimson as a ruby was the heart。 but the nightingales voice grew fainter； and her little wings began to beat； and a film came over her eyes。 fainter and fainter grew her song； and she felt something choking her in her throat。 then she gave one last burst of music。 the white moon heard it； and she forgot the dawn； and lingered on in the sky。 the red rose heard it； and it trembled all over with ecstasy； and opened its petals to the cold morning air。 echo bore it to her purple cavern in the hills； and woke the sleeping shepherds from their dreams。 it floated through the reeds of the river； and they carried its message to the sea。 〃look； look！〃 cried the tree； 〃the rose is finished now〃； but the nightingale made no answer； for she was lying dead in the long grass； with the thorn in her heart。 and at noon the student opened his window and looked out。 〃why； what a wonderful piece of luck！〃 he cried； 〃here is a red rose！ i have never seen any rose like it in all my life。 it is so beautiful that i am sure it has a long latin name〃； and he leaned down and plucked it。 then he put on his hat； and ran up to the professors house with the rose in his hand。 the daughter of the professor was sitting in the doorway winding blue silk on a reel； and her little dog was lying at her feet。 〃you said that you would dance with me if i brought you a red rose；〃 cried the student。 〃here is the reddest rose in all the world。 you will wear it to…night next your heart； and as we dance together it will tell you how i love you。〃 but the girl frowned。 〃i am afraid it will not go with my dress；〃 she answered； 〃and； besides； the chamberlains nephew has sent me some real jewels； and everybody knows that jewels cost far more than flowers。〃 〃well； upon my word； you are very ungrateful；〃 said the student angrily； and he threw the rose into the street； where it fell into the gutter； and a cart…wheel went over it。 〃ungrateful！〃 said the girl。 〃i tell you what； you are very rude； and； after all； who are you？ only a student。 why； i dont believe you have even got silver buckles to your shoes as the chamberlains nephew has〃； and she got up from her chair and went into the house。 〃what i a silly thing love is；〃 said the student as he walked away。 〃it is not half as useful as logic； for it does not prove anything； and it is always telling one of things that are not going to happen； and making one believe things that are not true。 in fact； it is quite unpractical； and； as in this age to be practical is everything； i shall go back to philosophy and study metaphysics。〃 so he returned to his room and pulled out a great dusty book； and began to read。 ．． 自私的巨人 ＿生 自私的巨人 每天下午，孩子们放学后总喜欢到巨人的花园里去玩耍。 这是一个很可爱的大花园，长满了绿茸茸的青草，美丽的鲜花随处可见，多得像天上的 星星。草地上还长着十二棵桃树，一到春天就开放出粉扑扑的团团花朵，秋天里则结下累累 果实。栖息在树枝上鸟儿唱着欢乐的曲子，每当这时，嬉戏中的孩子们会停下来侧耳玲听鸟 儿的鸣唱，并相互高声喊着，“我们多么快乐啊1” 一天，巨人回来了。原来他到自己的妖怪朋友科尼西家串门去了，在妖怪家里一住就是 七年。七年的时间里他把要讲的话都讲完了，便决定回自己的城堡。进了家门，他一眼就看 见在花园中戏耍的孩子们。 “你们在这儿于什么？”他粗声粗气地吼叫起来，孩子们都跑掉了。 “我的花园就是我自己的花园，”巨人说，“谁都清楚，我不准外人来这里玩。”于 是，他沿着花园筑起一堵高高的围墙，还挂出一块告示：闲人莫入违者重罚 他的确是一个非常自私的巨人。 从此可怜的孩子们没有了玩耍的地方，他们只得来到马路上，但是街道上满是尘土和硬 硬的石块，让他们扫兴极了。放学后他们仍常常在高耸的围墙外徘徊，谈论着墙内花园中的 美丽景色。“在里面我们多么快乐啊，”他们彼此诉说着。 春天又来了，整个乡村到处开故着小花，处处有小鸟在欢唱。然而只有自私的巨人的花 园却依旧是一片寒冬景象。由于看不见孩子们，小鸟便无心唱歌，树儿也忘了开花。有一朵 花儿从草中探出头来，看见那块告示后，它对孩子们的遭遇深感同情，于是又把头缩回去， 继续睡觉了。只有雪和霜对此乐不可支。“春天已忘记了这座花园，”他们叫喊着，“这样 我们可以一年四季住在这儿了。”雪用她那巨大的白色斗篷把草地蓝得严严实实，霜也让所 有的树木披上假装，随后他们还逸来北风和他们同住。北风应邀而至，穿—身毛皮大衣，他 对着花园呼啸了整整一天，把烟囱管帽也给吹掉了。“这是个令人开心的地方，”他说， “我们还得把冰雹叫来。”于是，冰雹来了。每天三个钟头他不停地敲打着城堡的房顶，房 上的石板瓦被砸得七零八落，然后又围着花园一圈接一圈地猛跑起来。他浑身上下灰蒙蒙 的，呼出阵阵袭人的寒气。 “我真弄不懂春天为什么迟迟不来，”巨人坐在