word order - Why would the author write 'and happy indeed I was' instead of 'and I was happy indeed' in this passage?

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?

Answer

1. 
   

   Wilde tried to put focus again on 'happy' because that is what is important. Try thinking a pause after happy. Your variant is much fluffier and looser in power.

   
   


2. 
   

   yes it is a subjunctive - without the periphrastic auxilliary verb. As for the meaning (with this extra component), 'should' has no place in it. But 'would' could have.