Pangeran Bahagia

Tinggi di atas kota, pada sebuah tiang yang tinggi, berdiri patung Pangeran Bahagia. Seluruh tubuhnya dilapisi lempengan tipis emas murni, untuk matanya dia memiliki dua batu safir yang berkilau, dan sebutir batu delima merah besar menyala di gagang pedangnya.

High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword-hilt.

Dia memang sangat dikagumi banyak orang.

He was very much admired indeed.

“Dia seindah penunjuk arah angin,” komentar salah satu Anggota Dewan Kota yang ingin mendapatkan reputasi memiliki selera seni; “hanya saja tidak begitu berguna,” tambahnya, karena takut orang akan menganggapnya tidak praktis, padahal dia sebenarnya tidak demikian.

“He is as beautiful as a weathercock,” remarked one of the Town Councillors who wished to gain a reputation for having artistic tastes; “only not quite so useful,” he added, fearing lest people should think him unpractical, which he really was not.

“Mengapa kamu tidak bisa seperti Pangeran Bahagia?” tanya seorang ibu yang bijaksana kepada anak laki-lakinya yang sedang menangis meminta hal yang mustahil. “Pangeran Bahagia tidak pernah bermimpi untuk menangisi apa pun.”

“Why can’t you be like the Happy Prince?” asked a sensible mother of her little boy who was crying for the moon. “The Happy Prince never dreams of crying for anything.”

“Aku senang ada seseorang di dunia ini yang cukup bahagia,” gumam seorang pria yang kecewa saat dia menatap patung yang luar biasa itu.

“I am glad there is some one in the world who is quite happy,” muttered a disappointed man as he gazed at the wonderful statue.

“Dia tampak persis seperti malaikat,” kata Anak-Anak Amal saat mereka keluar dari katedral dengan jubah merah terang dan celemek putih bersih mereka.

“He looks just like an angel,” said the Charity Children as they came out of the cathedral in their bright scarlet cloaks and their clean white pinafores.

“Bagaimana Anda tahu?” kata Guru Matematika, “kalian belum pernah melihatnya.”

“How do you know?” said the Mathematical Master, “you have never seen one.”

“Ah! tapi kami pernah, dalam mimpi kami,” jawab anak-anak itu; dan Guru Matematika mengerutkan kening dan tampak sangat keras, karena dia tidak setuju anak-anak bermimpi.

“Ah! but we have, in our dreams,” answered the children; and the Mathematical Master frowned and looked very severe, for he did not approve of children dreaming.

Suatu malam, terbanglah seekor Burung Layang-layang kecil melintasi kota. Teman-temannya sudah pergi ke Mesir enam minggu sebelumnya, tetapi dia tetap tinggal, karena dia jatuh cinta pada sebatang Gelagah yang paling indah.

One night there flew over the city a little Swallow. His friends had gone away to Egypt six weeks before, but he had stayed behind, for he was in love with the most beautiful Reed.

Dia telah bertemu dengannya pada awal musim semi saat dia sedang terbang menyusuri sungai mengejar seekor ngengat kuning besar, dan dia begitu terpikat oleh pinggangnya yang ramping sehingga dia berhenti untuk berbicara dengannya.

He had met her early in the spring as he was flying down the river after a big yellow moth, and had been so attracted by her slender waist that he had stopped to talk to her.

“Bolehkah aku mencintaimu?” kata Burung Layang-layang, yang suka langsung pada intinya, dan Gelagah itu membungkuk rendah kepadanya. Maka dia terbang berputar-putar di sekelilingnya, menyentuh air dengan sayapnya, dan membuat riak-riak perak.

“Shall I love you?” said the Swallow, who liked to come to the point at once, and the Reed made him a low bow. So he flew round and round her, touching the water with his wings, and making silver ripples.

Inilah masa pacarannya, dan itu berlangsung sepanjang musim panas.

This was his courtship, and it lasted all through the summer.

“Itu keterikatan yang konyol,” kicau Burung-burung Layang-layang lainnya; “dia tidak punya uang, dan punya terlalu banyak sanak saudara”; dan memang sungai itu sangat penuh dengan Gelagah. Lalu, ketika musim gugur tiba, mereka semua terbang pergi.

“It is a ridiculous attachment,” twittered the other Swallows; “she has no money, and far too many relations”; and indeed the river was quite full of Reeds. Then, when the autumn came they all flew away.

Setelah mereka pergi, dia merasa kesepian, dan mulai bosan dengan kekasihnya. “Dia tidak pandai berbicara,” katanya, “dan aku khawatir dia seorang perayu, karena dia selalu menggoda angin.”

After they had gone he felt lonely, and began to tire of his lady-love. “She has no conversation,” he said, “and I am afraid that she is a coquette, for she is always flirting with the wind.”