Short Stories
on the mast of a large vessel and watched the sailors hauling big
chests out of the hold with ropes. “Heave a-hoy!” they shouted
as each chest came up. “I am going to Egypt”! cried the Swallow,
but nobody minded, and when the moon rose he flew back to
the Happy Prince.
“I am come to bid you good-bye,” he cried.
“Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,” said the Prince, “will
you not stay with me one night longer?”
“It is winter,” answered the Swallow, “and the chill snow
will soon be here. In Egypt the sun is warm on the green palm-
trees, and the crocodiles lie in the mud and look lazily about
them. My companions are building a nest in the Temple of Baal-
bec, and the pink and white doves are watching them, and coo-
ing to each other. Dear Prince, I must leave you, but I will never
forget you, and next spring I will bring you back two beautiful
jewels in place of those you have given away. The ruby shall be
redder than a red rose, and the sapphire shall be as blue as the
great sea.”
“In the square below,” said the Happy Prince, “there stands
a little match-girl. She has let her matches fall in the gutter, and
they are all spoiled. Her father will beat her if she does not bring
home some money, and she is crying. She has no shoes or stock-
ings, and her little head is bare. Pluck out my other eye, and give
it to her, and her father will not beat her.”
“I will stay with you one night longer,” said the Swallow,
“but I cannot pluck out your eye. You would be quite blind
then.”
“Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,” said the Prince, “do as I
command you.”
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