a

magnificent　ceremony；　and　the　bride　and　bridegroom　walked　hand　in　hand

under　a　canopy　of　purple　velvet　embroidered　with　little　pearls。　Then

there　was　a　State　Banquet；　which　lasted　for　five　hours。　The　Prince　and

Princess　sat　at　the　top　of　the　Great　Hall　and　drank　out　of　a　cup　of　clear

36

The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

crystal。　Only　true　lovers　could　drink　out　of　this　cup；　for　if　false　lips

touched　it；　it　grew　grey　and　dull　and　cloudy。

〃It's　quite　clear　that　they　love　each　other；〃　said　the　little　Page；　〃as　clear

as　crystal！〃　and　the　King　doubled　his　salary　a　second　time。　〃What　an

honour！〃　cried　all　the　courtiers。

After　the　banquet　there　was　to　be　a　Ball。　The　bride　and　bridegroom

were　to　dance　the　Rose…dance　together；　and　the　King　had　promised　to　play

the　flute。　He　played　very　badly；　but　no　one　had　ever　dared　to　tell　him　so；

because　he　was　the　King。　Indeed；　he　knew　only　two　airs；　and　was　never

quite　certain　which　one　he　was　playing；　but　it　made　no　matter；　for；

whatever　he　did；　everybody　cried　out；　〃Charming！　charming！〃

The　last　item　on　the　programme　was　a　grand　display　of　fireworks；　to

be　let　off　exactly　at　midnight。　The　little　Princess　had　never　seen　a

firework　in　her　life；　so　the　King　had　given　orders　that　the　Royal

Pyrotechnist　should　be　in　attendance　on　the　day　of　her　marriage。

〃What　are　fireworks　like？〃　she　had　asked