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he had done。 〃it is curious；〃 he remarked； 〃but i feel quite warm
now； although it is so cold。〃
〃that is because you have done a good action；〃 said the prince。
and the little swallow began to think； and then he fell asleep。
thinking always made him sleepy。
when day broke he flew down to the river and had a bath。 〃what a
remarkable phenomenon；〃 said the professor of ornithology as he was
passing over the bridge。 〃a swallow in winter！〃 and he wrote a
long letter about it to the local newspaper。 every one quoted it；
it was full of so many words that they could not understand。
〃to…night i go to egypt；〃 said the swallow； and he was in high
spirits at the prospect。 he visited all the public monuments； and
sat a long time on top of the church steeple。 wherever he went the
sparrows chirruped； and said to each other； 〃what a distinguished
stranger！〃 so he enjoyed himself very much。
when the moon rose he flew back to the happy prince。 〃have you any
missions for egypt？〃 he cried； 〃i am just starting。〃
〃swallow； swallow； little swallow；〃 said the prince； 〃will you not
stay with me one night longer？〃
〃i am waited for in egypt；〃 answered the swallow。 〃to…morrow my
friends will fly up to the second cataract。 the river…horse
couches there among the bulrushes； and on a great granite throne
sits the god memnon。 all night long he watches the stars； and when
the morning star shines he utters one cry of joy； and then he is
silent。 at noon the yellow lions e down to the waters edge to
drink。 they have eyes like green beryls； and their roar is louder
than the roar of the cataract。
〃swallow； swallow； little swallow；〃 said the prince； 〃far away
across the city i see a young man in a garret。 he is leaning over
a desk covered with papers； and in a tumbler by his side there is a
bunch of withered violets。 his hair is brown and crisp； and his
lips are red as a pomegranate； and he has large and dreamy eyes。
he is trying to finish a play for the director of the theatre； but
he is too cold to write any more。 there is no fire in the grate；
and hunger has made him faint。〃
〃i will wait with you one night longer；〃 said the swallow； who
really had a good heart。 〃shall i take him another ruby？〃
〃alas！ i have no ruby now；〃 said the prince； 〃my eyes are all that
i have left。 they are made of rare sapphires； which were brought
out of india a thousand years ago。 pluck out one of them and take
it to him。 he will sell it to the jeweller； and buy food and
firewood； and finish his play。〃
〃dear prince；〃 said the swallow； 〃i cannot do that〃； and he began
to weep。
〃swallow； swallow； little swallow；〃 said the prince； 〃do as i
mand you。〃
so the swallow plucked out the princes eye； and flew away to the
students garret。 it was easy enough to get in； as there was a
hole in the roof。 through this he darted； and came into the room。
the young man had his head buried in his hands； so he did not hear
the flutter of the birds wings； and when he looked up he found the
beautiful sapphire lying on the withered violets。
〃i am beginning to be appreciated；〃 he cried； 〃this is from some
great admirer。 now i can finish my play；〃 and he looked quite
happy。
the next day the swallow flew down to the harbour。 he sat 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 e 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
panions are building a nest in the temple of baalbec； and the
pink and white doves are watching them； and cooing 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
stockings； 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
mand you。〃
so he plucked out the princes other eye； and darted down with it。
he swooped past the match…girl； and slipped the jewel into the palm
of her hand。 〃what a lovely bit of glass；〃 cried the little girl；
and she ran home； laughing。
then the swallow came back to the prince。 〃you are blind now；〃 he
said； 〃so i will stay with you always。〃
〃no； little swallow；〃 said the poor prince； 〃you must go away to
egypt。〃
〃i will stay with you always；〃 said the swallow； and he slept at
the princes feet。
all the next day he sat on the princes shoulder； and told him
stories of what he had seen in strange lands。 he told him of the
red ibises； who stand in long rows on the banks of the nile； and
catch gold…fish in their beaks； of the sphinx； who is as old as the
world itself； and lives in the desert； and knows everything； of the
merchants； who walk slowly by the side of their camels； and carry
amber beads in their hands； of the king of the mountains of the
moon； who is as black as ebony； and worships a large crystal； of
the great green snake that sleeps in a palm…tree； and has twenty
priests to feed it with honey…cakes； and of the pygmies who sail
over a big lake on large flat leaves； and are always at war with
the butterflies。
〃dear little swallow；〃 said the prince； 〃you tell me of marvellous
things； but more marvellous than anything is the suffering of men
and of women。 there is no mystery so great as misery。 fly over my
city； little swallow； and tell me what you see there。〃
so the swallow flew over the great city； and saw the rich making
merry in their beautiful houses； while the beggars were sitting at
the gates。 he flew into dark lanes； and saw the white faces of
starving children looking out listlessly at the black streets。
under the archway of a bridge two little boys were lying in one
anothers arms to try and keep themselves warm。 〃how hungry we
are！〃 they said。 〃you must not lie here；〃 shouted the watchman；
and they wandered out into the rain。
then he flew back and told the prince what he had seen。
〃i am covered with fine gold；〃 said the prince； 〃you must take it
off； leaf by leaf； and