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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