The Happy Prince
yellow moth, and had been so attracted by her slender waist that he
a desk covered with papers, and in a tumbler by his side there is a
bring home some money, and she is crying. She has no shoes or
stay with me one night longer?"
longer beautiful he is no longer useful," said the Art Professor at
friends will fly up to the Second Cataract. The river-horse
millers sons, who were always throwing stones at me. They never
looked up at the statue: "Dear me! how shabby the Happy Prince
High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the
anothers arms to try and keep themselves warm. "How hungry we
hit me, of course; we swallows fly far too well for that, and
the Princes feet.
his feet.
When the moon rose he flew back to the Happy Prince. "Have you any
lips are red as a pomegranate, and he has large and dreamy eyes.
quarrelled. When I last heard of them they were quarrelling still.
climate in the north of Europe is really dreadful. The Reed used
had gone away to Egypt six weeks before, but he had stayed behind,
going to the House of Death. Death is the brother of Sleep, is he
I can see all the ugliness and all the misery of my city, and
Happy Prince.
After they had gone he felt lonely, and began to tire of his lady-
the great green snake that sleeps in a palm-tree, and has twenty
"When I was alive and had a human heart," answered the statue, "I
stay with me for one night, and be my messenger? The boy is so
happy.
than a beggar!"
has no money, and far too many relations"; and indeed the river was
He is trying to finish a play for the Director of the Theatre, but
out of the hold with ropes. "Heave a-hoy!" they shouted as each
early in the spring as he was flying down the river after a big
"I dont think I like boys," answered the Swallow. "Last summer,
is the power of love!"
one of His Angels; and the Angel brought Him the leaden heart and
said, "so I will stay with you always."
fine gold he brought to the poor, and the childrens faces grew
"Why cant you be like the Happy Prince?" asked a sensible mother
So the Swallow flew over the great city, and saw the rich making
merchants, who walk slowly by the side of their camels, and carry
"Dear Prince," said the Swallow, "I cannot do that"; and he began
He passed by the cathedral tower, where the white marble angels
now, although it is so cold."
All day long he flew, and at night-time he arrived at the city.
preparations."
suggestion.
the room her little boy is lying ill. He has a fever, and is
"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "far away
really had a good heart. "Shall I take him another ruby?"
"You have been trifling with me," he cried. "I am off to the
and flew away with it in his beak over the roofs of the town.
catch gold-fish in their beaks; of the Sphinx, who is as old as the
quite full of Reeds. Then, when the autumn came they all flew
Souci, where sorrow is not allowed to enter. In the daytime I
THE HAPPY PRINCE
meeting of the Corporation to decide what was to be done with the
cannot pluck out your eye. You would be quite blind then."
"What99lib•net! is he not solid gold?" said the Swallow to himself. He was
for he was in love with the most beautiful Reed. He had met her
And he kissed the Happy Prince on the lips, and fell down dead at
and give it to her, and her father will not beat her."
drenched me."
"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "will you not
At that moment a curious crack sounded inside the statue, as if
his head under his wing a large drop of water fell on him. "What a
they are all spoiled. Her father will beat her if she does not
"It is a ridiculous attachment," twittered the other Swallows; "she
"Far away," continued the statue in a low musical voice, "far away
snapped right in two. It certainly was a dreadfully hard frost.
muttered a disappointed man as he gazed at the wonderful statue.
command you."
Then he saw the statue on the tall column.
Mayor. "We must really issue a proclamation that birds are not to
starving children looking out listlessly at the black streets.
he is too cold to write any more. There is no fire in the grate,
"I will stay with you one night longer," said the Swallow, "but I
"I will wait with you one night longer," said the Swallow, who
the University.
never dreams of crying for anything."
mast of a large vessel and watched the sailors hauling big chests
and of women. There is no Mystery so great as Misery. Fly over my
said the Prince, "you have stayed too long here; but you must kiss
plenty of fresh air." So he alighted just between the feet of the
bargaining with each other, and weighing out money in copper
and she ran home, laughing.
is thin and worn, and she has coarse, red hands, all pricked by the
Then another drop fell.
curtseys. "I admit that she is domestic," he continued, "but I
of her little boy who was crying for the moon. "The Happy Prince
rose, and the sapphire shall be as blue as the great sea."
"Shall I love you?" said the Swallow, who liked to come to the
outside the bakers door when the baker was not looking and tried
But before he had opened his wings, a third drop fell, and he
amber beads in their hands; of the King of the Mountains of the
Egypt."
crocodiles lie in the mud and look lazily about them. My
"Who are you?" he said.
command you."
shall be a statue of myself."
next spring I will bring you back two beautiful jewels in place of
"I am come to bid you good-bye," he cried.
love travelling, and my wife, consequently, should love travelling
open, and through it I can see a woman seated at a table. Her face
So the Swallow plucked out the Princes eye, and flew away to the
but the seamstresses are so lazy."
"He looks just like an angel," said the Charity Children as they
bunch of withered violets. His hair is brown and crisp, and his
though my heart is made of lead yet I cannot chose but weep."
metal. "We must have another statue, of course," he said, "and it
over a big lake on large flat leaves, and are always at war with
the flutter of the birds wings, and when he looked up he found the
me was so beautiful. My courtiers called m99lib•nete the Happy Prince, and
"What is the use of a statue if it cannot keep the rain off?" he
red ibises, who stand in long rows on the banks of the Nile, and
in a little street there is a poor house. One of the windows is
Then he flew back and told the Prince what he had seen.
The poor little Swallow grew colder and colder, but he would not
when I was staying on the river, there were two rude boys, the
the table beside the womans thimble. Then he flew gently round
yellow linen, and embalmed with spices. Round his neck is a chain
He was very much admired indeed. "He is as beautiful as a
"Will you come away with me?" he said finally to her; but the Reed
passing over the bridge. "A swallow in winter!" And he wrote a
"And here is actually a dead bird at his feet!" continued the
glistening; long icicles like crystal daggers hung down from the
were sculptured. He passed by the palace and heard the sound of
said; "I must look for a good chimney-pot," and he determined to
round, and he prepared to go to sleep; but just as he was putting
off, leaf by leaf, and give it to my poor; the living always think
looked up, and saw - Ah! what did he see?
"I will put up there," he cried; "it is a fine position, with
The young man had his head buried in his hands, so he did not hear
And the little Swallow began to think, and then he fell asleep.
"In the square below," said the Happy Prince, "there stands a
the dead bird.
to weep.
this little bird shall sing for evermore, and in my city of gold
"How do you know?" said the Mathematical Master, "you have never
The King is there himself in his painted coffin. He is wrapped in
honour to wear at the next Court-ball. In a bed in the corner of
the Happy Prince shall praise me."
Then the Swallow came back to the Prince. "You are blind now," he
golden no longer," said the Mayor in fact, "he is litttle beter
"I am covered with fine gold," said the Prince, "you must take it
out of India a thousand years ago. Pluck out one of them and take
foundry. "This broken lead heart will not melt in the furnace. We
Thinking always made him sleepy.
sorry. "It is very cold here," he said; "but I will stay with you
"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "do as I
was a mark of disrespect."
he had done. "It is curious," he remarked, "but I feel quite warm
"You have rightly chosen," said God, "for in my garden of Paradise
had stopped to talk to her.
When day broke he flew down to the river and had a bath. "What a
Sparrows chirruped, and said to each other, "What a distinguished
besides, I come of a family famous for its agility; but still, it
"Bring me the two most precious things in the city," said God to
stranger!" so he enjoyed himself very much.
priests to feed it with honey-cakes; and of the pygmies who sail
The eyes of the Happy Prince were filled with tears, and tears were
Moon, who is as black as ebony, and worships a large crystal; of
I have left. They are made of rare sapphires, which were brought
silent. At noon the yellow lions com九-九-藏-书-网e down to the waters edge to
leave the Prince, he loved him too well. He picked up crumbs
weathercock," remarked one of the Town Councillors who wished to
played with my companions in the garden, and in the evening I led
commissions for Egypt?" he cried; "I am just starting."
glowed on his sword-hilt.
"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "do as I
eaves of the houses, everybody went about in furs, and the little
nobody minded, and when the moon rose he flew back to the Happy
"I am waited for in Egypt," answered the Swallow. "To-morrow my
companions are building a nest in the Temple of Baalbec, and the
seen one."
"I will stay with you always," said the Swallow, and he slept at
stockings, and her little head is bare. Pluck out my other eye,
couches there among the bulrushes, and on a great granite throne
Then the snow came, and after the snow came the frost. The streets
spirits at the prospect. He visited all the public monuments, and
approve of children dreaming.
of pale green jade, and his hands are like withered leaves."
"Alas! I have no ruby now," said the Prince; "my eyes are all that
useful," he added, fearing lest people should think him
wall, but I never cared to ask what lay beyond it, everything about
rosier, and they laughed and played games in the street. "We have
and they wandered out into the rain.
He passed over the river, and saw the lanterns hanging to the masts
"Dear little Swallow," said the Prince, "you tell me of marvellous
"No, little Swallow," said the poor Prince, "you must go away to
moonlight that the little Swallow was filled with pity.
But at last he knew that he was going to die. He had just strength
of her hand. "What a lovely bit of glass," cried the little girl;
"Thank you, little Swallow," said the Prince.
Under the archway of a bridge two little boys were lying in one
"Where shall I put up?" he said; "I hope the town has made
Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine
the bed, fanning the boys forehead with his wings. "How cool I
"It is not to Egypt that I am going," said the Swallow. "I am
"I have a golden bedroom," he said softly to himself as he looked
than the roar of the cataract.
"I am waited for in Egypt," said the Swallow. "My friends are
"How wonderful the stars are," he said to her, "and how wonderful
"It is winter," answered the Swallow, "and the chill snow will soon
things, but more marvellous than anything is the suffering of men
love. "She has no conversation," he said, "and I am afraid that
certainly, whenever the wind blew, the Reed made the most graceful
flowers. Soon they will go to sleep in the tomb of the great King.
that gold can make them happy."
Then they melted the statue in a furnace, and the Mayor held a
it to him. He will sell it to the jeweller, and buy food and
are!" they said. "You must not lie here," shouted the Watchman,
point at once, and the Reed made him a low bow. So he flew round
Dear Prince, I must leave you, but I will n99lib•netever forget you, and
to like the rain, but that was merely her selfishness."
"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "will you not
looks!" he said.
the dance in the Great Hall. Round the garden ran a very lofty
the gates. He flew into dark lanes, and saw the white faces of
"I am glad there is some one in the world who is quite happy,"
those you have given away. The ruby shall be redder than a red
drink. They have eyes like green beryls, and their roar is louder
little match-girl. She has let her matches fall in the gutter, and
ripples. This was his courtship, and it lasted all through the
asleep, she was so tired. In he hopped, and laid the great ruby on
and hunger has made him faint."
great admirer. Now I can finish my play," and he looked quite
sits the God Memnon. All night long he watches the stars, and when
Happy Prince looked quite dull and grey. Leaf after leaf of the
Prince.
something had broken. The fact is that the leaden heart had
me on the lips, for I love you."
students garret. It was easy enough to get in, as there was a
So they pulled down the statue of the Happy Prince. "As he is no
"I am the Happy Prince."
also."
flowers on a satin gown for the loveliest of the Queens maids-of-
was tossing feverishly on his bed, and the mother had fallen
long letter about it to the local newspaper. Every one quoted it,
across the city I see a young man in a garret. He is leaning over
Prince!" he murmured, "will you let me kiss your hand?"
pink and white doves are watching them, and cooing to each other.
hole in the roof. Through this he darted, and came into the room.
asking for oranges. His mother has nothing to give him but river
answered; "I have ordered passion-flowers to be embroidered on it;
He swooped past the match-girl, and slipped the jewel into the palm
be allowed to die here." And the Town Clerk made a note of the
not bring her the ruby out of my sword-hilt? My feet are fastened
water, so he is crying. Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow, will you
Then the Swallow flew back to the Happy Prince, and told him what
bread now!" they cried.
be here. In Egypt the sun is warm on the green palm-trees, and the
away.
Pyramids. Good-bye!" and he flew away.
running down his golden cheeks. His face was so beautiful in the
"The ruby has fallen out of his sword, his eyes are gone, and he is
dead Swallow was also lying.
merry in their beautiful houses, while the beggars were sitting at
came out of the cathedral in their bright scarlet cloaks and their
feel," said the boy, "I must be getting better"; and he sank into a
clean white pinafores.
the stars are quite clear and bright, and yet it is raining. The
gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby
the morning star shines he utters one cry of joy, and then he is
gain a reputation for having artistic tastes; "only not quite so
"How shabby indeed!" cried the Town Councillors, who always agreed
remarkable phenomenon," said the Professor of Ornithology as he was
firewood, and finish his play."
Mathematical Master frowned and looked very severe, for he did not
"Swall九_九_藏_书_网ow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "will you not
must throw it away." So they threw it on a dust-heap where the
One night there flew over the city a little Swallow. His friends
needle, for she is a seamstress. She is embroidering passion-
to keep himself warm by flapping his wings.
looked as if they were made of silver, they were so bright and
summer.
"That is because you have done a good action," said the Prince.
not?"
too polite to make any personal remarks out loud.
stay with me one night longer?"
But the Happy Prince looked so sad that the little Swallow was
city, little Swallow, and tell me what you see there."
sat a long time on top of the church steeple. Wherever he went the
"Why are you weeping then?" asked the Swallow; "you have quite
company with the Town Councillors. As they passed the column he
died. And now that I am dead they have set me up here so high that
All the next day he sat on the Princes shoulder, and told him
thirsty, and the mother so sad."
Leaf after leaf of the fine gold the Swallow picked off, till the
world itself, and lives in the desert, and knows everything; of the
"To-night I go to Egypt," said the Swallow, and he was in high
"I hope my dress will be ready in time for the State-ball," she
curious thing!" he cried; "there is not a single cloud in the sky,
"Of myself," said each of the Town Councillors, and they
"Little better than a beggar," said the Town Councillors.
to this pedestal and I cannot move."
The next day the Swallow flew down to the harbour. He sat on the
stories of what he had seen in strange lands. He told him of the
So he plucked out the Princes other eye, and darted down with it.
with the Mayor; and they went up to look at it.
dancing. A beautiful girl came out on the balcony with her lover.
"Ah! but we have, in our dreams," answered the children; and the
and round her, touching the water with his wings, and making silver
fly away.
flying up and down the Nile, and talking to the large lotus-
she is a coquette, for she is always flirting with the wind." And
the butterflies.
Early the next morning the Mayor was walking in the square below in
scales. At last he came to the poor house and looked in. The boy
of the ships. He passed over the Ghetto, and saw the old Jews
unpractical, which he really was not.
shook her head, she was so attached to her home.
beautiful sapphire lying on the withered violets.
did not know what tears were, for I lived in the Palace of Sans-
delicious slumber.
"I am glad that you are going to Egypt at last, little Swallow,"
So the Swallow picked out the great ruby from the Princes sword,
"What a strange thing!" said the overseer of the workmen at the
boys wore scarlet caps and skated on the ice.
it was full of so many words that they could not understand.
chest came up. "I am going to Egypt"! cried the Swallow, but
happy indeed I was, if pleasure be happiness. So I lived, and so I
for one night, and be your messenger."
to fly up to the Princes shoulder once more. "Good-bye, dear
"I am beginning to be appreciated," he cried; "this is from some