“Iwillstaywithyoualways,” saidtheSwallow, andhesleptatthePrince’’sshoulder, , whostandinlongrowsonthebanksoftheNile, andcatchgold-fishintheirbeaks; oftheSphinx, whoisasoldastheworlditself, andlivesinthedesert, andknowseverything; ofthemerchants, whowalkslowlybythesideoftheircamels, andcarryamberbeadsintheirhands; oftheKingoftheMountainsoftheMoon, whoisasblackasebony, andworshipsalargecrystal; ofthegreatgreensnakethatsleepsinapalm-tree, andhastwentyprieststofeeditwithhoney-cakes; andofthepygmieswhosailoverabiglakeonlargeflatleaves, andarealwaysatwarwiththebutterflies.“DearlittleSwallow,” saidthePrince,“youtellmeofmarvellousthings, , littleSwallow, andtellmewhatyouseethere.”
SotheSwallowflewoverthegreatcity, andsawtherichmakingmerryintheirbeautifulhouses, , ’sarmstotryandkeepthemselveswarm.“Howhungryweare!” theysaid.“Youmustnotliehere,” shoutedtheWatchman,.“Iamcoveredwithfinegold,” saidthePrince,“youmusttakeitoff, leafbyleaf, andgiveittomypoor; thelivingalwaysthinkthatgoldcanmakethemhappy.”
LeafafterleafofthefinegoldtheSwallowpickedoff, , andthechildren’sfacesgrewrosier, andtheylaughedandplayedgamesinthestreet.“Wehavebreadnow!” , , theyweresobrightandglistening; longicicleslikecrystaldaggershungdownfromtheeavesofthehouses, everybodywentaboutinfurs, , buthewouldnotleavethePrince, ’sdoorwhenthebakerwasnotlooking, ’sshoulderoncemore.“Good-bye, dearPrince!” hemurmured,“willyouletmekissyourhand?”
“IamgladthatyouaregoingtoEgyptatlast, littleSwallow,” saidthePrince,“youhavestayedtoolonghere; butyoumustkissmeonthelips, forIloveyou.”
“ItisnottoEgyptthatIamgoing,” saidtheSwallow.“, ishenot?”
AndhekissedtheHappyPrinceonthelips, , :“Dearme! howshabbytheHappyPrincelooks!” hesaid.“Howshabby, indeed!” criedtheTownCouncillors, whoalwaysagreedwiththeMayor; andtheywentuptolookatit.“Therubyhasfallenoutofhissword, hiseyesaregone, andheisgoldennolonger,” saidtheMayorinfact,“heislittlebetterthanabeggar!”
“Littlebetterthanabeggar,” saidtheTownCouncillors.“Andhereisactuallyadeadbirdathisfeet!” continuedtheMayor.“Wemustreallyissueaproclamationthatbirdsarenottobeallowedtodiehere.”.“Asheisnolongerbeautifulheisnolongeruseful,” , andtheMayorheldameetingoftheCorporationtodecidewhatwastobedonewiththemetal.“Wemusthaveanotherstatue, ofcourse,” hesaid,“anditshallbeastatueofmyself.”
“Ofmyself,” saideachoftheTownCouncillors,.“Whatastrangething!” saidtheoverseeroftheworkmenatthefoundry.“.” SotheythrewitonadustheapwherethedeadSwallowwasalsolying.“Bringmethetwomostpreciousthingsinthecity,” saidGodtooneofHisAngels; andtheAngelbroughtHimtheleadenheartandthedeadbird.“Youhaverightlychosen,” saidGod,“forinmygardenofParadisethislittlebirdshallsingforevermore, andinmycityofgoldtheHappyPrinceshallpraiseme.”
