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the flutter of the birds wings； and when he looked up he found the
beautiful sapphire lying on the withered violets。
〃i am beginning to be appreciated；〃 he cried； 〃this is from some
great admirer。 now i can finish my play；〃 and he looked quite
happy。
the next day the swallow flew down to the harbour。 he sat on the
mast of a large vessel and watched the sailors hauling big chests
out of the hold with ropes。 〃heave a…hoy！〃 they shouted as each
chest came up。 〃i am going to egypt〃！ cried the swallow； but
nobody minded； and when the moon rose he flew back to the happy
prince。
〃i am e to bid you good…bye；〃 he cried。
〃swallow； swallow； little swallow；〃 said the prince； 〃will you not
stay with me one night longer？〃
〃it is winter；〃 answered the swallow； 〃and the chill snow will soon
be here。 in egypt the sun is warm on the green palm…trees； and the
crocodiles lie in the mud and look lazily about them。 my
panions are building a nest in the temple of baalbec； and the
pink and white doves are watching them； and cooing to each other。
dear prince； i must leave you； but i will never forget you； and
next spring i will bring you back two beautiful jewels in place of
those you have given away。 the ruby shall be redder than a red
rose； and the sapphire shall be as blue as the great sea。〃
〃in the square below；〃 said the happy prince； 〃there stands a
little match…girl。 she has let her matches fall in the gutter； and
they are all spoiled。 her father will beat her if she does not
bring home some money； and she is crying。 she has no shoes or
stockings； and her little head is bare。 pluck out my other eye；
and give it to her； and her father will not beat her。〃
〃i will stay with you one night longer；〃 said the swallow； 〃but i
cannot pluck out your eye。 you would be quite blind then。〃
〃swallow； swallow； little swallow；〃 said the prince； 〃do as i
mand you。〃
so he plucked out the princes other eye； and darted down with it。
he swooped past the match…girl； and slipped the jewel into the palm
of her hand。 〃what a lovely bit of glass；〃 cried the little girl；
and she ran home； laughing。
then the swallow came back to the prince。 〃you are blind now；〃 he
said； 〃so i will stay with you always。〃
〃no； little swallow；〃 said the poor prince； 〃you must go away to
egypt。〃
〃i will stay with you always；〃 said the swallow； and he slept at
the princes feet。
all the next day he sat on the princes shoulder； and told him
stories of what he had seen in strange lands。 he told him of the
red ibises； who stand in long rows on the banks of the nile； and
catch gold…fish in their beaks； of the sphinx； who is as old as the
world itself； and lives in the desert； and knows everything； of the
merchants； who walk slowly by the side of their camels； and carry
amber beads in their hands； of the king of the mountains of the
moon； who is as black as ebony； and worships a large crystal； of
the great green snake that sleeps in a palm…tree； and has twenty
priests to feed it with honey…cakes； and of the pygmies who sail
over a big lake on large flat leaves； and are always at war with
the butterflies。
〃dear little swallow；〃 said the prince； 〃you tell me of marvellous
things； but more marvellous than anything is the suffering of men
and of women。 there is no mystery so great as misery。 fly over my
city； little swallow； and tell me what you see there。〃
so the swallow flew over the great city； and saw the rich making
merry in their beautiful houses； while the beggars were sitting at
the gates。 he flew into dark lanes； and saw the white faces of
starving children looking out listlessly at the black streets。
under the archway of a bridge two little boys were lying in one
anothers arms to try and keep themselves warm。 〃how hungry we
are！〃 they said。 〃you must not lie here；〃 shouted the watchman；
and they wandered out into the rain。
then he flew back and told the prince what he had seen。
〃i am covered with fine gold；〃 said the prince； 〃you must take it
off； leaf by leaf； and give it to my poor； the living always think
that gold can make them happy。〃
leaf after leaf of the fine gold the swallow picked off； till the
happy prince looked quite dull and grey。 leaf after leaf of the
fine gold he brought to the poor； and the childrens faces grew
rosier； and they laughed and played games in the street。 〃we have
bread now！〃 they cried。
then the snow came； and after the snow came the frost。 the streets
looked as if they were made of silver； they were so bright and
glistening； long icicles like crystal daggers hung down from the
eaves of the houses； everybody went about in furs； and the little
boys wore scarlet caps and skated on the ice。
the poor little swallow grew colder and colder； but he would not
leave the prince； he loved him too well。 he picked up crumbs
outside the bakers door when the baker was not looking and tried
to keep himself warm by flapping his wings。
but at last he knew that he was going to die。 he had just strength
to fly up to the princes shoulder once more。 〃good…bye； dear
prince！〃 he murmured； 〃will you let me kiss your hand？〃
〃i am glad that you are going to egypt at last； little swallow；〃
said the prince； 〃you have stayed too long here； but you must kiss
me on the lips； for i love you。〃
〃it is not to egypt that i am going；〃 said the swallow。 〃i am
going to the house of death。 death is the brother of sleep； is he
not？〃
and he kissed the happy prince on the lips； and fell down dead at
his feet。
at that moment a curious crack sounded inside the statue； as if
something had broken。 the fact is that the leaden heart had
snapped right in two。 it certainly was a dreadfully hard frost。
early the next morning the mayor was walking in the square below in
pany with the town councillors。 as they passed the column he
looked up at the statue： 〃dear me！ how shabby the happy prince
looks！〃 he said。
〃how shabby indeed！〃 cried the town councillors； who always agreed
wit