TheHappyPrince
Highabovethecity,onatallcolumn,stoodthestatueoftheHappyPrince.Hewasgildedalloverwiththinleavesoffinegold,foreyeshehadtwobrightsapphires,andalargeredrubyglowedonhissword-hilt.
Hewasverymuchadmiredindeed.Heisasbeautifulasaweathercock,remarkedoneoftheTownCouncillorswhowishedtogainareputationforhavingartistictastes;onlynotquitesouseful,headded,fearinglestpeopleshouldthinkhimunpractical,whichhereallywasnot.
Whycan'tyoubeliketheHappyPrince?askedasensiblemotherofherlittleboywhowascryingforthemoon.TheHappyPrinceneverdreamsofcryingforanything.
Iamgladthereissomeoneintheworldwhoisquitehappy,mutteredadisappointedmanashegazedatthewonderfulstatue.
Helooksjustlikeanangel,saidtheCharityChildrenastheycameoutofthecathedralintheirbrightscarletcloaksandtheircleanwhitepinafores.
Howdoyouknow?saidtheMathematicalMaster,youhaveneverseenone.
Ah!butwehave,inourdreams,answeredthechildren;andtheMathematicalMasterfrownedandlookedverysevere,forhedidnotapproveofchildrendreaming.
OnenightthereflewoverthecityalittleSwallow.HisfriendshadgoneawaytoEgyptsixweeksbefore,buthehadstayedbehind,forhewasinlovewiththemostbeautifulReed.Hehadmetherearlyinthespringashewasflyingdowntheriverafterabigyellowmoth,andhadbeensoattractedbyherslenderwaistthathehadstoppedtotalktoher.
ShallIloveyou?saidtheSwallow,wholikedtocometothepointatonce,andtheReedmadehimalowbow.Soheflewroundandroundher,touchingthewaterwithhiswings,andmakingsilverripples.Thiswashiscourtship,anditlastedallthroughthesummer.
Itisaridiculousattachment,twitteredtheotherSwallows;shehasnomoney,andfartoomanyrelations;andindeedtheriverwasquitefullofReeds.Then,whentheautumncametheyallflewaway.
Aftertheyhadgonehefeltlonely,andbegantotireofhislady-love.Shehasnoconversation,hesaid,andIamafraidthatsheisacoquette,forsheisalwaysflirtingwiththewind.Andcertainly,wheneverthewindblew,theReedmadethemostgracefulcurtseys.Iadmitthatsheisdomestic,hecontinued,butIlovetravelling,andmywife,consequently,shouldlovetravellingalso.
Willyoucomeawaywithme?hesaidfinallytoher;buttheReedshookherhead,shewassoattachedtoherhome.
Youhavebeentriflingwithme,hecried.IamofftothePyramids.Good-bye!andheflewaway.
Alldaylongheflew,andatnight-timehearrivedatthecity.WhereshallIputup?hesaid;Ihopethetownhasmadepreparations.
Thenhesawthestatueonthetallcolumn.
Iwillputupthere,hecried;itisafineposition,withplentyoffreshair.SohealightedjustbetweenthefeetoftheHappyPrince.
Ihaveagoldenbedroom,hesaidsoftlytohimselfashelookedround,andhepreparedtogotosleep;butjustashewasputtinghisheadunderhiswingalargedropofwaterfellonhim.Whatacuriousthing!hecried;thereisnotasinglecloudinthesky,thestarsarequiteclearandbright,andyetitisraining.TheclimateinthenorthofEuropeisreallydreadful.TheReedusedtoliketherain,butthatwasmerelyherselfishness.
Thenanotherdropfell.
Whatistheuseofastatueifitcannotkeeptherainoff?hesaid;Imustlookforagoodchimney-pot,andhedeterminedtoflyaway.
Butbeforehehadopenedhiswings,athirddropfell,andhelookedup,andsaw-Ah!whatdidhesee?
TheeyesoftheHappyPrincewerefilledwithtears,andtearswererunningdownhisgoldencheeks.HisfacewassobeautifulinthemoonlightthatthelittleSwallowwasfilledwithpity.
Whoareyou?hesaid.
IamtheHappyPrince.
Whyareyouweepingthen?askedtheSwallow;youhavequitedrenchedme.
WhenIwasaliveandhadahumanheart,answeredthestatue,Ididnotknowwhattearswere,forIlivedinthePalaceofSans-Souci,wheresorrowisnotallowedtoenter.InthedaytimeIplayedwithmycompanionsinthegarden,andintheeveningIledthedanceintheGreatHall.Roundthegardenranaveryloftywall,butInevercaredtoaskwhatlaybeyondit,everythingaboutmewassobeautiful.MycourtierscalledmetheHappyPrince,andhappyindeedIwas,ifpleasurebehappiness.SoIlived,andsoIdied.AndnowthatIamdeadtheyhavesetmeupheresohighthatIcanseealltheuglinessandallthemiseryofmycity,andthoughmyheartismadeofleadyetIcannotchosebutweep.
What!ishenotsolidgold?saidtheSwallowtohimself.Hewastoopolitetomakeanypersonalremarksoutloud.
Faraway,continuedthestatueinalowmusicalvoice,farawayinalittlestreetthereisapoorhouse.Oneofthewindowsisopen,andthroughitIcanseeawomanseatedatatable.Herfaceisthinandworn,andshehascoarse,redhands,allprickedbytheneedle,forsheisaseamstress.Sheisembroideringpassion-flowersonasatingownfortheloveliestoftheQueen'smaids-of-honourtowearatthenextCourt-ball.Inabedinthecorneroftheroomherlittleboyislyingill.Hehasafever,andisaskingfororanges.Hismotherhasnothingtogivehimbutriverwater,soheiscrying.Swallow,Swallow,littleSwallow,willyounotbringhertherubyoutofmysword-hilt?MyfeetarefastenedtothispedestalandIcannotmove.
IamwaitedforinEgypt,saidtheSwallow.MyfriendsareflyingupanddowntheNile,andtalkingtothelargelotus-flowers.SoontheywillgotosleepinthetombofthegreatKing.TheKingistherehimselfinhispaintedcoffin.Heiswrappedinyellowlinen,andembalmedwithspices.Roundhisneckisachainofpalegreenjade,andhishandsarelikewitheredleaves.
Swallow,Swallow,littleSwallow,saidthePrince,willyounotstaywithmeforonenight,andbemymessenger?Theboyissothirsty,andthemothersosad.
Idon'tthinkIlikeboys,answeredtheSwallow.Lastsummer,whenIwasstayingontheriver,thereweretworudeboys,themiller'ssons,whowerealwaysthrowingstonesatme.Theyneverhitme,ofcourse;weswallowsflyfartoowellforthat,andbesides,Icomeofafamilyfamousforitsagility;butstill,itwasamarkofdisrespect.
ButtheHappyPrincelookedsosadthatthelittleSwallowwassorry.Itisverycoldhere,hesaid;butIwillstaywithyouforonenight,andbeyourmessenger.
Thankyou,littleSwallow,saidthePrince.
SotheSwallowpickedoutthegreatrubyfromthePrince'ssword,andflewawaywithitinhisbeakovertheroofsofthetown.
Hepassedbythecathedraltower,wherethewhitemarbleangelsweresculptured.Hepassedbythepalaceandheardthesoundofdancing.Abeautifulgirlcameoutonthebalconywithherlover.Howwonderfulthestarsare,hesaidtoher,andhowwonderfulisthepoweroflove!
IhopemydresswillbereadyintimefortheState-ball,sheanswered;Ihaveorderedpassion-flowerstobeembroideredonit;buttheseamstressesaresolazy.
Hepassedovertheriver,andsawthelanternshangingtothemastsoftheships.HepassedovertheGhetto,andsawtheoldJewsbargainingwitheachother,andweighingoutmoneyincopperscales.Atlasthecametothepoorhouseandlookedin.Theboywastossingfeverishlyonhisbed,andthemotherhadfallenasleep,shewassotired.Inhehopped,andlaidthegreatrubyonthetablebesidethewoman'sthimble.Thenheflewgentlyroundthebed,fanningtheboy'sforeheadwithhiswings.HowcoolIfeel,saidtheboy,Imustbegettingbetter;andhesankintoadeliciousslumber.
ThentheSwallowflewbacktotheHappyPrince,andtoldhimwhathehaddone.Itiscurious,heremarked,butIfeelquitewarmnow,althoughitissocold.
Thatisbecauseyouhavedoneagoodaction,saidthePrince.AndthelittleSwallowbegantothink,andthenhefellasleep.Thinkingalwaysmadehimsleepy.
Whendaybrokeheflewdowntotheriverandhadabath.Whataremarkablephenomenon,saidtheProfessorofOrnithologyashewaspassingoverthebridge.Aswallowinwinter!Andhewrotealongletteraboutittothelocalnewspaper.Everyonequotedit,itwasfullofsomanywordsthattheycouldnotunderstand.
To-nightIgotoEgypt,saidtheSwallow,andhewasinhighspiritsattheprospect.Hevisitedallthepublicmonuments,andsatalongtimeontopofthechurchsteeple.WhereverhewenttheSparrowschirruped,andsaidtoeachother,Whatadistinguishedstranger!soheenjoyedhimselfverymuch.
WhenthemoonroseheflewbacktotheHappyPrince.HaveyouanycommissionsforEgypt?hecried;Iamjuststarting.
Swallow,Swallow,littleSwallow,saidthePrince,willyounotstaywithmeonenightlonger?
IamwaitedforinEgypt,answeredtheSwallow.To-morrowmyfriendswillflyuptotheSecondCataract.Theriver-horsecouchesthereamongthebulrushes,andonagreatgranitethronesitstheGodMemnon.Allnightlonghewatchesthestars,andwhenthemorningstarshinesheuttersonecryofjoy,andthenheissilent.Atnoontheyellowlionscomedowntothewater'sedgetodrink.Theyhaveeyeslikegreenberyls,andtheirroarislouderthantheroarofthecataract.
Swallow,Swallow,littleSwallow,saidthePrince,farawayacrossthecityIseeayoungmaninagarret.Heisleaningoveradeskcoveredwithpapers,andinatumblerbyhissidethereisabunchofwitheredviolets.Hishairisbrownandcrisp,andhislipsareredasapomegranate,andhehaslargeanddreamyeyes.HeistryingtofinishaplayfortheDirectoroftheTheatre,butheistoocoldtowriteanymore.Thereisnofireinthegrate,andhungerhasmadehimfaint.
Iwillwaitwithyouonenightlonger,saidtheSwallow,whoreallyhadagoodheart.ShallItakehimanotherruby?
Alas!Ihavenorubynow,saidthePrince;myeyesareallthatIhaveleft.Theyaremadeofraresapphires,whichwerebroughtoutofIndiaathousandyearsago.Pluckoutoneofthemandtakeittohim.Hewillsellittothejeweller,andbuyfoodandfirewood,andfinishhisplay.
DearPrince,saidtheSwallow,Icannotdothat;andhebegantoweep.
Swallow,Swallow,littleSwallow,saidthePrince,doasIcommandyou.
SotheSwallowpluckedoutthePrince'seye,andflewawaytothestudent'sgarret.Itwaseasyenoughtogetin,astherewasaholeintheroof.Throughthishedarted,andcameintotheroom.Theyoungmanhadhisheadburiedinhishands,sohedidnotheartheflutterofthebird'swings,andwhenhelookeduphefoundthebeautifulsapphirelyingonthewitheredviolets.
Iambeginningtobeappreciated,hecried;thisisfromsomegreatadmirer.NowIcanfinishmyplay,andhelookedquitehappy.
ThenextdaytheSwallowflewdowntotheharbour.Hesatonthemastofalargevesselandwatchedthesailorshaulingbigchestsoutoftheholdwithropes.Heavea-hoy!theyshoutedaseachchestcameup.IamgoingtoEgypt!criedtheSwallow,butnobodyminded,andwhenthemoonroseheflewbacktotheHappyPrince.
Iamcometobidyougood-bye,hecried.
Swallow,Swallow,littleSwallow,saidthePrince,willyounotstaywithmeonenightlonger?
Itiswinter,answeredtheSwallow,andthechillsnowwillsoonbehere.InEgyptthesuniswarmonthegreenpalm-trees,andthecrocodileslieinthemudandlooklazilyaboutthem.MycompanionsarebuildinganestintheTempleofBaalbec,andthepinkandwhitedovesarewatchingthem,andcooingtoeachother.DearPrince,Imustleaveyou,butIwillneverforgetyou,andnextspringIwillbringyoubacktwobeautifuljewelsinplaceofthoseyouhavegivenaway.Therubyshallberedderthanaredrose,andthesapphireshallbeasblueasthegreatsea.
Inthesquarebelow,saidtheHappyPrince,therestandsalittlematch-girl.Shehaslethermatchesfallinthegutter,andtheyareallspoiled.Herfatherwillbeatherifshedoesnotbringhomesomemoney,andsheiscrying.Shehasnoshoesorstockings,andherlittleheadisbare.Pluckoutmyothereye,andgiveittoher,andherfatherwillnotbeather.
Iwillstaywithyouonenightlonger,saidtheSwallow,butIcannotpluckoutyoureye.Youwouldbequiteblindthen.
Swallow,Swallow,littleSwallow,saidthePrince,doasIcommandyou.
SohepluckedoutthePrince'sothereye,anddarteddownwithit.Heswoopedpastthematch-girl,andslippedthejewelintothepalmofherhand.Whatalovelybitofglass,criedthelittlegirl;andsheranhome,laughing.
ThentheSwallowcamebacktothePrince.Youareblindnow,hesaid,soIwillstaywithyoualways.
No,littleSwallow,saidthepoorPrince,youmustgoawaytoEgypt.
Iwillstaywithyoualways,saidtheSwallow,andhesleptatthePrince'sfeet.
AllthenextdayhesatonthePrince'sshoulder,andtoldhimstoriesofwhathehadseeninstrangelands.Hetoldhimoftheredibises,whostandinlongrowsonthebanksoftheNile,andcatchgold-fishintheirbeaks;oftheSphinx,whoisasoldastheworlditself,andlivesinthedesert,andknowseverything;ofthemerchants,whowalkslowlybythesideoftheircamels,andcarryamberbeadsintheirhands;oftheKingoftheMountainsoftheMoon,whoisasblackasebony,andworshipsalargecrystal;ofthegreatgreensnakethatsleepsinapalm-tree,andhastwentyprieststofeeditwithhoney-cakes;andofthepygmieswhosailoverabiglakeonlargeflatleaves,andarealwaysatwarwiththebutterflies.
DearlittleSwallow,saidthePrince,youtellmeofmarvellousthings,butmoremarvellousthananythingisthesufferingofmenandofwomen.ThereisnoMysterysogreatasMisery.Flyovermycity,littleSwallow,andtellmewhatyouseethere.
SotheSwallowflewoverthegreatcity,andsawtherichmakingmerryintheirbeautifulhouses,whilethebeggarsweresittingatthegates.Heflewintodarklanes,andsawthewhitefacesofstarvingchildrenlookingoutlistlesslyattheblackstreets.Underthearchwayofabridgetwolittleboyswerelyinginoneanother'sarmstotryandkeepthemselveswarm.Howhungryweare!theysaid.Youmustnotliehere,shoutedtheWatchman,andtheywanderedoutintotherain.
ThenheflewbackandtoldthePrincewhathehadseen.
Iamcoveredwithfinegold,saidthePrince,youmusttakeitoff,leafbyleaf,andgiveittomypoor;thelivingalwaysthinkthatgoldcanmakethemhappy.
LeafafterleafofthefinegoldtheSwallowpickedoff,tilltheHappyPrincelookedquitedullandgrey.Leafafterleafofthefinegoldhebroughttothepoor,andthechildren'sfacesgrewrosier,andtheylaughedandplayedgamesinthestreet.Wehavebreadnow!theycried.
Thenthesnowcame,andafterthesnowcamethefrost.Thestreetslookedasiftheyweremadeofsilver,theyweresobrightandglistening;longicicleslikecrystaldaggershungdownfromtheeavesofthehouses,everybodywentaboutinfurs,andthelittleboysworescarletcapsandskatedontheice.
ThepoorlittleSwallowgrewcolderandcolder,buthewouldnotleavethePrince,helovedhimtoowell.Hepickedupcrumbsoutsidethebaker'sdoorwhenthebakerwasnotlookingandtriedtokeephimselfwarmbyflappinghiswings.
Butatlastheknewthathewasgoingtodie.HehadjuststrengthtoflyuptothePrince'sshoulderoncemore.Good-bye,dearPrince!hemurmured,willyouletmekissyourhand?
IamgladthatyouaregoingtoEgyptatlast,littleSwallow,saidthePrince,youhavestayedtoolonghere;butyoumustkissmeonthelips,forIloveyou.
ItisnottoEgyptthatIamgoing,saidtheSwallow.IamgoingtotheHouseofDeath.DeathisthebrotherofSleep,ishenot?
AndhekissedtheHappyPrinceonthelips,andfelldowndeadathisfeet.
Atthatmomentacuriouscracksoundedinsidethestatue,asifsomethinghadbroken.Thefactisthattheleadenhearthadsnappedrightintwo.Itcertainlywasadreadfullyhardfrost.
EarlythenextmorningtheMayorwaswalkinginthesquarebelowincompanywiththeTownCouncillors.Astheypassedthecolumnhelookedupatthestatue:Dearme!howshabbytheHappyPrincelooks!hesaid.
Howshabbyindeed!criedtheTownCouncillors,whoalwaysagreedwiththeMayor;andtheywentuptolookatit.
Therubyhasfallenoutofhissword,hiseyesaregone,andheisgoldennolonger,saidtheMayorinfact,heislitttlebeterthanabeggar!
Littlebetterthanabeggar,saidtheTownCouncillors.
Andhereisactuallyadeadbirdathisfeet!continuedtheMayor.Wemustreallyissueaproclamationthatbirdsarenottobeallowedtodiehere.AndtheTownClerkmadeanoteofthesuggestion.
SotheypulleddownthestatueoftheHappyPrince.Asheisnolongerbeautifulheisnolongeruseful,saidtheArtProfessorattheUniversity.
Thentheymeltedthestatueinafurnace,andtheMayorheldameetingoftheCorporationtodecidewhatwastobedonewiththemetal.Wemusthaveanotherstatue,ofcourse,hesaid,anditshallbeastatueofmyself.
Ofmyself,saideachoftheTownCouncillors,andtheyquarrelled.WhenIlastheardofthemtheywerequarrellingstill.
Whatastrangething!saidtheoverseeroftheworkmenatthefoundry.Thisbrokenleadheartwillnotmeltinthefurnace.Wemustthrowitaway.Sotheythrewitonadust-heapwherethedeadSwallowwasalsolying.
Bringmethetwomostpreciousthingsinthecity,saidGodtooneofHisAngels;andtheAngelbroughtHimtheleadenheartandthedeadbird.
Youhaverightlychosen,saidGod,forinmygardenofParadisethislittlebirdshallsingforevermore,andinmycityofgoldtheHappyPrinceshallpraiseme.
THEEND.
