关于本书
这部童话集收录了五篇童话，开篇讲述了一座镀金的王子雕像，他看见脚下城市的种种苦难，在一只燕子的帮助下把自己身上的珍宝分给了穷人。其他几篇是《夜莺与玫瑰》《自私的巨人》《忠实的朋友》和《了不起的火箭》，都是关于同情、爱与虚荣的故事。
开篇
The Happy Prince.
快乐王子
High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince.
在城市上空的高处，在一根高高的石柱上，立着快乐王子的雕像。
He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold,
他全身都贴着薄薄的纯金叶子，
for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword-hilt.
他的眼睛是两颗明亮的蓝宝石，一颗大大的红宝石在他的剑柄上闪闪发光。
He was very much admired indeed.
他确实非常受人赞美。
“He is as beautiful as a weathercock,” remarked one of the Town Councillors
“他像风信鸡一样漂亮，”一位市议员评论道，
who wished to gain a reputation for having artistic tastes;
他希望博得一个有艺术品味的名声；
“only not quite so useful,” he added, fearing lest people should think him unpractical, which he really was not.
“只是没有那么有用。”他又补充说，生怕人们会认为他不切实际，而他其实确实并非如此。
“Why can’t you be like the Happy Prince?” asked a sensible mother of her little boy who was crying for the moon.
“你为什么不能像快乐王子那样呢？”一位明事理的母亲问她那哭着要月亮的小男孩。
“The Happy Prince never dreams of crying for anything.”
“快乐王子从来不会想到要哭着要任何东西。”
“I am glad there is some one in the world
“我很高兴世界上还有一个人
who is quite happy,” muttered a disappointed man as he gazed at the wonderful statue.
是十分快乐的。”一个失意的人凝视着这座奇妙的雕像，喃喃地说。
“He looks just like an angel,” said the Charity Children
“他看起来就像个天使。”慈善学校的孩子们说，
as they came out of the cathedral in their bright scarlet cloaks and their clean white pinafores.
这时他们穿着鲜艳的猩红色斗篷和干净的白色围裙，正从大教堂里出来。
“How do you know?” said the Mathematical Master, “you have never seen one.”
“你们怎么知道？”数学老师说，“你们从来没见过天使。”
“Ah! but we have, in our dreams,” answered the children;
“啊！可我们见过，在我们的梦里。”孩子们回答说；
and the Mathematical Master frowned and looked very severe, for he did not approve of children dreaming.
数学老师皱起眉头，显得非常严厉，因为他不赞成孩子们做梦。
One night there flew over the city a little Swallow.
一天晚上，一只小燕子飞过这座城市。
His friends had gone away to Egypt six weeks before, but he had stayed behind,
他的朋友们六个星期以前就到埃及去了，可是他留了下来，
for he was in love with the most beautiful Reed.
因为他爱上了那根最美丽的芦苇。