low；　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

7

The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

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　Prince's　other　eye；　and　darted　down　with　it。　He