Short Stories
never hit me, of course; we swallows fly far too well for that, and
besides, I come 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 gen-
tly round the bed, fanning the boy’s forehead with his wings.
“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
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