did not know what tears were, for I lived in the Palace of Sans-

played with my companions in the garden, and in the evening I led

"Far away," continued the statue in a low musical voice, "far away

hit me, of course; we swallows fly far too well for that, and

mast of a large vessel and watched the sailors hauling big chests

Moon, who is as black as ebony, and worships a large crystal; of

company with the Town Councillors. As they passed the column he

was a mark of disrespect."

little match-girl. She has let her matches fall in the gutter, and

me was so beautiful. My courtiers called me the Happy Prince, and

"How shabby indeed!" cried the Town Councillors, who always agreed

the Happy Prince shall praise me."

anothers arms to try and keep themselves warm. "How hungry we

plenty of fresh air." So he alighted just between the feet of the

climate in the north of Europe is really dreadful. The Reed used

flying up and down the Nile, and talking to the large lotus-

in a little street there is a poor house. One of the windows is

So the Swallow flew over the great city, and saw the rich making

Then he saw the statue on the tall column.

Happy Prince looked quite dull and grey. Leaf after leaf of the

"I am beginning to be appreciated," he cried; "this is from some

"I am the Happy Prince."

asleep, she was so tired. In he hopped, and laid the great ruby on

though my heart is made of lead yet I cannot chose but weep."

"Ah! but we have, in our dreams," answered the children; and the

"Of myself," said each of the Town Councillors, and they

"I will wait with you one night longer," said the Swallow, who

a desk covered with papers, and in a tumbler by his side there is a

Pyramids. Good-bye!" and he flew away.

the butterflies.

the gates. He flew into dark lanes, and saw the white faces of

one of His Angels; and the Angel brought Him the leaden heart and

"I am covered with fine gold," said the Prince, "you must take it

"Alas! I have no ruby now," said the Prince; "my eyes are all that

The poor little Swallow grew colder and colder, but he would not

"I am waited for in Egypt," answered the Swallow. "To-morrow my

the Princes feet.

when I was staying on the river, there were two rude boys, the

rose, and the sapphire shall be as blue as the great sea."

honour to wear at the next Court-ball. In a bed in the corner of

long letter about it to the local newspaper. Every one quoted it,

things, but more marvellous than anything is the suffering of men

Mayor. "We must really issue a proclamation that birds are not to

"I will stay with you one night longer," said the Swallow, "but I

So the Swallow plucked out the Princes eye, and flew away to the

his feet.

unpractical, which he really was not.

And he kissed the Happy Prince on the lips, and fell down dead at

died. And now that I am dead they have set me up here so high that

High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the

meeting of the Corporation to decide what was to be done with the

"To-night I go to Egypt," said the Swallow, and he was in high

early in the spring as he九*九*藏*書 was flying down the river after a big

Prince!" he murmured, "will you let me kiss your hand?"

be here. In Egypt the sun is warm on the green palm-trees, and the

the flutter of the birds wings, and when he looked up he found the

quite full of Reeds. Then, when the autumn came they all flew

friends will fly up to the Second Cataract. The river-horse

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "do as I

to keep himself warm by flapping his wings.

Thinking always made him sleepy.

the table beside the womans thimble. Then he flew gently round

gain a reputation for having artistic tastes; "only not quite so

has no money, and far too many relations"; and indeed the river was

catch gold-fish in their beaks; of the Sphinx, who is as old as the

said, "so I will stay with you always."

Then they melted the statue in a furnace, and the Mayor held a

next spring I will bring you back two beautiful jewels in place of

"I am waited for in Egypt," said the Swallow. "My friends are

certainly, whenever the wind blew, the Reed made the most graceful

love. "She has no conversation," he said, "and I am afraid that

point at once, and the Reed made him a low bow. So he flew round

But at last he knew that he was going to die. He had just strength

stay with me one night longer?"

sorry. "It is very cold here," he said; "but I will stay with you

of her hand. "What a lovely bit of glass," cried the little girl;

round, and he prepared to go to sleep; but just as he was putting

Dear Prince, I must leave you, but I will never forget you, and

of pale green jade, and his hands are like withered leaves."

running down his golden cheeks. His face was so beautiful in the

"I am come to bid you good-bye," he cried.

love travelling, and my wife, consequently, should love travelling

the dead bird.

feel," said the boy, "I must be getting better"; and he sank into a

foundry. "This broken lead heart will not melt in the furnace. We

that gold can make them happy."

"Will you come away with me?" he said finally to her; but the Reed

asking for oranges. His mother has nothing to give him but river

The King is there himself in his painted coffin. He is wrapped in

But before he had opened his wings, a third drop fell, and he

of the ships. He passed over the Ghetto, and saw the old Jews

stranger!" so he enjoyed himself very much.

students garret. It was easy enough to get in, as there was a

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "will you not

yellow linen, and embalmed with spices. Round his neck is a chain

THE HAPPY PRINCE

"Dear Prince," said the Swallow, "I cannot do that"; and he began

commissions for Egypt?" he cried; "I am just starting."

metal. "We must have another statue, of course," he said, "and it

useful," he added, fearing lest people should think him

never dreams of crying for anything."

And the little Swallow began to think, and then he fell asleep.

said; "I must look for a good chimney-pot," and he determined to

He passed by the cathedral tower, wｈtｔｐｓ://rｅaｄ•99csｗ•ｃｏｍhere the white marble angels

Egypt."

bread now!" they cried.

wall, but I never cared to ask what lay beyond it, everything about

needle, for she is a seamstress. She is embroidering passion-

really had a good heart. "Shall I take him another ruby?"

gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby

He swooped past the match-girl, and slipped the jewel into the palm

"I hope my dress will be ready in time for the State-ball," she

bargaining with each other, and weighing out money in copper

was tossing feverishly on his bed, and the mother had fallen

command you."

merry in their beautiful houses, while the beggars were sitting at

millers sons, who were always throwing stones at me. They never

to fly up to the Princes shoulder once more. "Good-bye, dear

out of the hold with ropes. "Heave a-hoy!" they shouted as each

sits the God Memnon. All night long he watches the stars, and when

flowers. Soon they will go to sleep in the tomb of the great King.

hole in the roof. Through this he darted, and came into the room.

going to the House of Death. Death is the brother of Sleep, is he

silent. At noon the yellow lions come down to the waters edge to

spirits at the prospect. He visited all the public monuments, and

All the next day he sat on the Princes shoulder, and told him

than a beggar!"

At that moment a curious crack sounded inside the statue, as if

One night there flew over the city a little Swallow. His friends

seen one."

Early the next morning the Mayor was walking in the square below in

is the power of love!"

something had broken. The fact is that the leaden heart had

glowed on his sword-hilt.

"I will put up there," he cried; "it is a fine position, with

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "do as I

but the seamstresses are so lazy."

to this pedestal and I cannot move."

to weep.

and hunger has made him faint."

also."

So the Swallow picked out the great ruby from the Princes sword,

Leaf after leaf of the fine gold the Swallow picked off, till the

ripples. This was his courtship, and it lasted all through the

"Who are you?" he said.

So they pulled down the statue of the Happy Prince. "As he is no

The next day the Swallow flew down to the harbour. He sat on the

the great green snake that sleeps in a palm-tree, and has twenty

city, little Swallow, and tell me what you see there."

he had done. "It is curious," he remarked, "but I feel quite warm

the dance in the Great Hall. Round the garden ran a very lofty

When day broke he flew down to the river and had a bath. "What a

"You have rightly chosen," said God, "for in my garden of Paradise

quarrelled. When I last heard of them they were quarrelling still.

But the Happy Prince looked so sad that the little Swallow was

"The ruby has fallen out of his sword, his eyes are gone, and he is

command you."

When the moon rose he flew back to the Happy Prince. "Have you any

the morning star shines he utters one cry of joy, and then he is

merchants, who walk slowly by the side of their camels, and carry

"What! is he not solid gold?&qread.99csw.comuot; said the Swallow to himself. He was

eaves of the houses, everybody went about in furs, and the little

shall be a statue of myself."

the stars are quite clear and bright, and yet it is raining. The

muttered a disappointed man as he gazed at the wonderful statue.

looks!" he said.

amber beads in their hands; of the King of the Mountains of the

crocodiles lie in the mud and look lazily about them. My

they are all spoiled. Her father will beat her if she does not

said the Prince, "you have stayed too long here; but you must kiss

"I am glad that you are going to Egypt at last, little Swallow,"

bring home some money, and she is crying. She has no shoes or

and give it to her, and her father will not beat her."

longer beautiful he is no longer useful," said the Art Professor at

Sparrows chirruped, and said to each other, "What a distinguished

weathercock," remarked one of the Town Councillors who wished to

and flew away with it in his beak over the roofs of the town.

nobody minded, and when the moon rose he flew back to the Happy

off, leaf by leaf, and give it to my poor; the living always think

looked as if they were made of silver, they were so bright and

are!" they said. "You must not lie here," shouted the Watchman,

cannot pluck out your eye. You would be quite blind then."

leave the Prince, he loved him too well. He picked up crumbs

it to him. He will sell it to the jeweller, and buy food and

"When I was alive and had a human heart," answered the statue, "I

Then the Swallow came back to the Prince. "You are blind now," he

fine gold he brought to the poor, and the childrens faces grew

firewood, and finish his play."

happy indeed I was, if pleasure be happiness. So I lived, and so I

snapped right in two. It certainly was a dreadfully hard frost.

"How wonderful the stars are," he said to her, "and how wonderful

"Dear little Swallow," said the Prince, "you tell me of marvellous

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "will you not

He is trying to finish a play for the Director of the Theatre, but

scales. At last he came to the poor house and looked in. The boy

this little bird shall sing for evermore, and in my city of gold

"In the square below," said the Happy Prince, "there stands a

great admirer. Now I can finish my play," and he looked quite

came out of the cathedral in their bright scarlet cloaks and their

"What is the use of a statue if it cannot keep the rain off?" he

"Little better than a beggar," said the Town Councillors.

After they had gone he felt lonely, and began to tire of his lady-

curtseys. "I admit that she is domestic," he continued, "but I

to like the rain, but that was merely her selfishness."

beautiful sapphire lying on the withered violets.

water, so he is crying. Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow, will you

approve of children dreaming.

it was full of so many words that they could not understand.

his head under his wing a large drop of water fell on him. "What a

pink and white doves are watching them, and cooing to each other.

"Swallow, Swallow, littlhttps://read.99csw.come Swallow," said the Prince, "will you not

had stopped to talk to her.

"I dont think I like boys," answered the Swallow. "Last summer,

flowers on a satin gown for the loveliest of the Queens maids-of-

stories of what he had seen in strange lands. He told him of the

the room her little boy is lying ill. He has a fever, and is

The eyes of the Happy Prince were filled with tears, and tears were

Then the snow came, and after the snow came the frost. The streets

looked up, and saw - Ah! what did he see?

world itself, and lives in the desert, and knows everything; of the

Souci, where sorrow is not allowed to enter. In the daytime I

across the city I see a young man in a garret. He is leaning over

boys wore scarlet caps and skated on the ice.

over a big lake on large flat leaves, and are always at war with

"That is because you have done a good action," said the Prince.

stay with me one night longer?"

had gone away to Egypt six weeks before, but he had stayed behind,

outside the bakers door when the baker was not looking and tried

"And here is actually a dead bird at his feet!" continued the

"It is winter," answered the Swallow, "and the chill snow will soon

for he was in love with the most beautiful Reed. He had met her

of her little boy who was crying for the moon. "The Happy Prince

must throw it away." So they threw it on a dust-heap where the

golden no longer," said the Mayor in fact, "he is litttle beter

shook her head, she was so attached to her home.

"Where shall I put up?" he said; "I hope the town has made

"You have been trifling with me," he cried. "I am off to the

yellow moth, and had been so attracted by her slender waist that he

"I will stay with you always," said the Swallow, and he slept at

"It is a ridiculous attachment," twittered the other Swallows; "she

besides, I come of a family famous for its agility; but still, it

"Why are you weeping then?" asked the Swallow; "you have quite

stockings, and her little head is bare. Pluck out my other eye,

clean white pinafores.

"Shall I love you?" said the Swallow, who liked to come to the

she is a coquette, for she is always flirting with the wind." And

summer.

"I am glad there is some one in the world who is quite happy,"

glistening; long icicles like crystal daggers hung down from the

the bed, fanning the boys forehead with his wings. "How cool I

happy.

"It is not to Egypt that I am going," said the Swallow. "I am

and round her, touching the water with his wings, and making silver

not?"

He was very much admired indeed. "He is as beautiful as a

out of India a thousand years ago. Pluck out one of them and take

rosier, and they laughed and played games in the street. "We have

Happy Prince.

those you have given away. The ruby shall be redder than a red

passing over the bridge. "A swallow in winter!" And he wrote a

drink. They have eyes like green beryls, and their roar is louder

not bring her the ruby out of my sword-hilt? My feet are fastened

So he plucked out the Princes other eye, and darted down with it.

"Why cantread.99csw.com you be like the Happy Prince?" asked a sensible mother

be allowed to die here." And the Town Clerk made a note of the

Mathematical Master frowned and looked very severe, for he did not

Then another drop fell.

"He looks just like an angel," said the Charity Children as they

lips are red as a pomegranate, and he has large and dreamy eyes.

I have left. They are made of rare sapphires, which were brought

fly away.

thirsty, and the mother so sad."

preparations."

Prince.

Then he flew back and told the Prince what he had seen.

"How do you know?" said the Mathematical Master, "you have never

were sculptured. He passed by the palace and heard the sound of

couches there among the bulrushes, and on a great granite throne

drenched me."

with the Mayor; and they went up to look at it.

"Thank you, little Swallow," said the Prince.

me on the lips, for I love you."

"I have a golden bedroom," he said softly to himself as he looked

for one night, and be your messenger."

chest came up. "I am going to Egypt"! cried the Swallow, but

"No, little Swallow," said the poor Prince, "you must go away to

starving children looking out listlessly at the black streets.

remarkable phenomenon," said the Professor of Ornithology as he was

than the roar of the cataract.

answered; "I have ordered passion-flowers to be embroidered on it;

companions are building a nest in the Temple of Baalbec, and the

he is too cold to write any more. There is no fire in the grate,

and of women. There is no Mystery so great as Misery. Fly over my

and she ran home, laughing.

red ibises, who stand in long rows on the banks of the Nile, and

delicious slumber.

He passed over the river, and saw the lanterns hanging to the masts

bunch of withered violets. His hair is brown and crisp, and his

the University.

dead Swallow was also lying.

now, although it is so cold."

sat a long time on top of the church steeple. Wherever he went the

"Bring me the two most precious things in the city," said God to

away.

too polite to make any personal remarks out loud.

stay with me for one night, and be my messenger? The boy is so

priests to feed it with honey-cakes; and of the pygmies who sail

looked up at the statue: "Dear me! how shabby the Happy Prince

All day long he flew, and at night-time he arrived at the city.

I can see all the ugliness and all the misery of my city, and

open, and through it I can see a woman seated at a table. Her face

Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine

is thin and worn, and she has coarse, red hands, all pricked by the

dancing. A beautiful girl came out on the balcony with her lover.

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "far away

curious thing!" he cried; "there is not a single cloud in the sky,

moonlight that the little Swallow was filled with pity.

Then the Swallow flew back to the Happy Prince, and told him what

Under the archway of a bridge two little boys were lying in one

"What a strange thing!" said the overseer of the workmen at the

The young man had his head buried in his hands, so he did not hear

suggestion.

and they wandered out into the rain.