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快乐王子童话集(英文版)-第章

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not bring her the ruby out of my sword…hilt? My feet are fastened to this 
pedestal and I cannot move。〃 
     〃I am waited for in Egypt;〃 said the Swallow。 〃My friends are flying 
up and down the Nile; and talking to the large lotus… flowers。 Soon they 

4 The Happy Prince and Other Tales 




will go to sleep in the tomb of the great King。 The King is there himself in 
his painted coffin。 He is wrapped in yellow linen; and embalmed with 
spices。 Round his neck is a chain of pale green jade; and his hands are 
like withered leaves。〃 
    〃Swallow; Swallow; little Swallow;〃 said the Prince; 〃will you not stay 
with me for one night; and be my messenger?              The boy is so thirsty; and 
the mother so sad。〃 
    〃I don't think I like boys;〃 answered the Swallow。 〃Last summer; 
when I was staying on the river; there were two rude boys; the miller's 
sons; who were always throwing stones at me。 They never hit me; of 
course; we swallows fly far too well for that; and besides; I e of a 
family famous for its agility; but still; it was a mark of disrespect。〃 
    But the Happy Prince looked so sad that the little Swallow was sorry。 
〃It is very cold here;〃 he said; 〃but I will stay with you for one night; and 
be your messenger。〃 
    〃Thank you; little Swallow;〃 said the Prince。 
    So the Swallow picked out the great ruby from the Prince's sword; and 
flew away with it in his beak over the roofs of the town。 
    He passed by the cathedral tower; where the white marble angels were 
sculptured。 He passed by the palace and heard the sound of dancing。 A 
beautiful girl came out on the balcony with her lover。 〃How wonderful the 
stars are;〃 he said to her; 〃and how wonderful is the power of love!〃 
    〃I hope my dress will be ready in time for the State…ball;〃 she 
answered; 〃I have ordered passion…flowers to be embroidered on it; but the 
seamstresses are so lazy。〃 
    He passed over the river; and saw the lanterns hanging to the masts of 
the ships。 He passed over the Ghetto; and saw the old Jews bargaining 
with each other; and weighing out money in copper scales。 At last he 
came to the poor house and looked in。 The boy was tossing feverishly on 
his bed; and the mother had fallen asleep; she was so tired。 In he hopped; 
and laid the great ruby on the table beside the woman's thimble。 Then he 
flew gently round the bed; fanning the boy's forehead with his wings。 

5 The Happy Prince and Other Tales 




〃How cool I feel;〃 said the boy; 〃I must be getting better〃; and he sank into 
a delicious slumber。 
    Then the Swallow flew back to the Happy Prince; and told him what 
he had done。 〃It is curious;〃 he remarked; 〃but I feel quite warm now; 
although it is so cold。〃 
    〃That is because you have done a good action;〃 said the Prince。 And 
the little Swallow began to think; and then he fell asleep。 Thinking always 
made him sleepy。 
    When day broke he flew down to the river and had a bath。 〃What a 
remarkable phenomenon;〃 said the Professor of Ornithology as he was 
passing over the bridge。 〃A swallow in winter!〃 And he wrote a long 
letter about it to the local newspaper。 Every one quoted it; it was full of 
so many words that they could not understand。 
    〃To…night I go to Egypt;〃 said the Swallow; and he was in high spirits 
at the prospect。 He visited all the public monuments; and sat a long time 
on top of the church steeple。 Wherever he went the Sparrows chirruped; 
and said to each other; 〃What a distinguished stranger!〃 so he enjoyed 
himself very much。 
    When the moon rose he flew back to the Happy Prince。 〃Have you 
any missions for Egypt?〃 he cried; 〃I am just starting。〃 
    〃Swallow; Swallow; little Swallow;〃 said the Prince; 〃will you not stay 
with me one night longer?〃 
    〃I am waited for in Egypt;〃 answered the Swallow。 〃To…morrow my 
friends will fly up to the Second Cataract。 The river…horse couches there 
among the bulrushes; and on a great granite throne sits the God Memnon。 
All night long he watches the stars; and when the morning star shines he 
utters one cry of joy; and then he is silent。 At noon the yellow lions e 
down to the water's edge to drink。 They have eyes like green beryls; and 
their roar is louder than the roar of the cataract。 
    〃Swallow; Swallow; little Swallow;〃 said the Prince; 〃far away across 
the city I see a young man in a garret。 He is leaning over a desk covered 
with papers; and in a tumbler by his side there is a bunch of withered 

                                          6 

                           The Happy Prince and Other Tales 




violets。 His hair is brown and crisp; and his lips are red as a pomegranate; 
and he has large and dreamy eyes。 He is trying to finish a play for the 
Director of the Theatre; but he is too cold to write any more。 There is no 
fire in the grate; and hunger has made him faint。〃 
    〃I will wait with you one night longer;〃 said the Swallow; who really 
had a good heart。 〃Shall I take him another ruby?〃 
    〃Alas! I have no ruby now;〃 said the Prince; 〃my eyes are all that I 
have left。 They are made of rare sapphires; which were brought out of 
India a thousand years ago。 Pluck out one of them and take it to him。 
He will sell it to the jeweller; and buy food and firewood; and finish his 
play。〃 
    〃Dear Prince;〃 said the Swallow; 〃I cannot do that〃; and he began to 
weep。 
    〃Swallow; Swallow; little Swallow;〃 said the Prince; 〃do as I mand 
you。〃 
    So the Swallow plucked out the Prince's eye; and flew away to the 
student's garret。 It was easy enough to get in; as there was a hole in the 
roof。 Through this he darted; and came into the room。 The young man 
had his head buried in his hands; so he did not hear the flutter of the bird's 
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 
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