My courtiers called me the Happy Prince, and happy indeed I was, if pleasure be happiness."
Why didn't the author say "and I was happy indeed"?
"If pleasure be happiness," as I see it, should be "If pleasure was happiness." However,I am wondering if it is a subjunctive use, and should has been omitted here.
The full sentence may be like the following.
If pleasure should be happiness, I was happy indeed.
I am not sure about it. Am I right?