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broke most of the slates； and then he ran round and round the garden as
fast as he could go。 He was dressed in grey； and his breath was like ice。
〃I cannot understand why the Spring is so late in ing；〃 said the
Selfish Giant； as he sat at the window and looked out at his cold white
garden； 〃I hope there will be a change in the weather。〃
But the Spring never came； nor the Summer。 The Autumn gave
golden fruit to every garden； but to the Giant's garden she gave none。 〃He
is too selfish；〃 she said。 So it was always Winter there； and the North
Wind； and the Hail； and the Frost； and the Snow danced about through the
trees。
One morning the Giant was lying awake in bed when he heard some
lovely music。 It sounded so sweet to his ears that he thought it must be
the King's musicians passing by。 It was really only a little lin singing
outside his window； but it was so long since he had heard a bird sing in his
garden that it seemed to him to be the most beautiful music in the world。
Then the Hail stopped dancing over his head； and the North Wind ceased
roaring； and a delicious perfume came to him through the open casement。
〃I believe the Spring has e at last；〃 said the Giant； and he jumped out
of bed and looked out。
What did he see？
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
He saw a most wonderful sight。 Through a little hole in the wall the
children had crept in； and they were sitting in the branches of the trees。
In every tree that he could see there was a little child。 And the trees were
so glad to have the children back again that they had covered themselves
with blossoms； and were waving their arms gently above the children's
heads。 The birds were flying about and twittering with delight； and the
flowers were looking up through the green grass and laughing。 It was a
lovely scene； only in one corner it was still winter。 It was the farthest
corner of the garden； and in it was standing a little boy。 He was so small
that he could not reach up to the branches of the tree； and he was
wandering all round it； crying bitterly。 The poor tree was still quite
covered with frost and snow； and the North Wind was blowing and roaring
above it。 〃Climb up！ little boy；〃 said the Tree； and it bent its branches
down as low as it could； but the boy was too tiny。
And the Giant's heart melted as he looked out。 〃How selfish I have
been！〃 he said； 〃now I know why the Spring would not e here。 I will
put that poor little boy on the top of the tree； and then I will knock down
the wall； and my garden shall be the children's playground for ever and
ever。〃 He was really very sorry for what he had done。
So he crept downstairs and opened the front door quite softly； and
went out into the garden。 But when the children saw him they were so
frightened that they all ran away； and the garden became winter again。
Only the little boy did not run； for his eyes were so full of tears that he did
not see the Giant ing。 And the Giant stole up behind him and took
him gently in his hand； and put him up into the tree。 And the tree broke
at once into blossom； and the birds came and sang on it； and the little boy
stretched out his two arms and flung them round the Giant's neck； and
kissed him。 And the other children； when they saw that the Giant was not
wicked any longer； came running back； and with them came the Spring。
〃It is your garden now； little children；〃 said the Giant； and he took a great
axe and knocked down the wall。 And when the people were going to
market at twelve o'clock they found the Giant playing with the children in
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
the most beautiful garden they had ever seen。
All day long they played； and in the evening they came to the Giant to
bid him good…bye。
〃But where is your little panion？〃 he said： 〃the boy I put into the
tree。〃 The Giant loved him the best because he had kissed him。
〃We don't know；〃 answered the children； 〃he has gone away。〃
〃You must tell him to be sure and e here to…morrow；〃 said the
Giant。 But the children said that they did not know where he lived； and
had never seen him before； and the Giant felt very sad。
Every afternoon； when school was over； the children came and played
with the Giant。 But the little boy whom the Giant loved was never seen
again。 The Giant was very kind to all the children； yet he longed for his
first little friend； and often spoke of him。 〃How I would like to see him！〃
he used to say。
Years went over； and the Giant grew very old and feeble。 He could
not play about any more； so he sat in a huge armchair； and watched the
children at their games； and admired his garden。 〃I have many beautiful
flowers；〃 he said； 〃but the children are the most beautiful flowers of all。〃
One winter morning he looked out of his window as he was dressing。
He did not hate the Winter now； for he knew that it was merely the Spring
asleep； and that the flowers were resting。
Suddenly he rubbed his eyes in wonder； and looked and looked。 It
certainly was a marvellous sight。 In the farthest corner of the garden was
a tree quite covered with lovely white blossoms。 Its branches were all
golden； and silver fruit hung down from them； and underneath it stood the
little boy he had loved。
Downstairs ran the Giant in great joy； and out into the garden。 He
hastened across the grass； and came near to the child。 And when he came
quite close his face grew red with anger； and he said； 〃Who hath dared to
wound thee？〃 For on the palms of the child's hands were the prints of
two nails； and the prints of two nails were on the little feet。
〃Who hath dared to wound thee？〃 cried the Giant； 〃tell me； that I may
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
take my big sword and slay him。〃
〃Nay！〃 answered the child； 〃but these are the wounds of Love。〃