High above the city, on a long, slender column sticking out the statue of the Happy Prince. Everything was golden leaves of fine gold, his eyes were two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby on the hilt of his sword gleaming.
Everyone admired him. "It 's beautiful as a weathercock," remarked one day one of the city councilors who wanted to be a reputation as a man of taste, "but is less useful," he hastened to add, for fear that people will be devoid of common sense, which he was not at all.
"Why do not you know act like the Happy Prince, "asked a mother full of common sense to your child who was crying because he wanted the moon. "The Happy Prince never dreams of crying for anything ever."
"I am pleased that in this world there is someone really happy," muttered a disappointed man admiring the beautiful statue.
"It looks like an angel," said the Trovatelli out of the cathedral in their bright scarlet cloaks and their neat white aprons.
"How do you say that?" Said the professor of mathematics, "if you do not have you ever seen! "
" Oh, yes, that we have seen, in our dreams, "answered the children, and the maths teacher frowned and made the dark side, because it was right that children dream.
One evening a Swallow flew over the city. His friends if they were went to Egypt six weeks before, but he had stayed behind because he was in love with a beautiful rod. He had known at the beginning of spring when he flew down the river in search of a big yellow moth, and had been so attracted by her slender waist that he had stopped to talk to her.
"You want that I love to you? "he had asked the Swallow, who liked to be straight to the point, and the Reed made him a deep bow. So he flew several times around, touching the water with their wings, and ripples of silvery circles. This was his court, and lasted throughout the summer.
"That's a ridiculous attachment," Garriano other Swallows, 'E' with no money, but instead has a lot of relatives, "and indeed the river was full of rods.
Then, as soon as autumn came, the Swallows flew all away. When they had gone the Swallow felt alone, and began to tire of his beloved.
"Can not talk," said he, "and I fear it is an owl, as followed jilt with the Wind." In fact, every time the wind blew, the rod bends with gracious bows.
"I recognize you're home, "continued the Swallow," but I like to travel and thus also to my wife should pleasure trips ".
" You come away with me? "he asked at last, but the Barrel shook his head, was too fond of his home. "You've teased me," said the Swallow. "I'm going to the Pyramids. Farewell, "and flew away.
flew all day, evening and came to the town.
" Where will I stay? "He said. "I hope I have prepared the festivities. "
But then he noticed the statue on the high column. "I'm going to live there," he said. "The location is beautiful, the excellent and you have to breathe fresh air."
So alighted just between the feet of the Happy Prince.
"I have a bedroom of gold" he murmured softly to himself, looking around and getting ready for the night, but just as he was putting his head under the wing fell upon a large drop of water.
"What strange thing, "he said. "In heaven there is not even the smallest cloud, the stars are bright and clear, yet it is raining. The climate of Northern Europe is simply frightening. Reed liked the rain, but this was solely due to his selfishness. "
In one fell another drop.
" What is a statue if it can not find shelter? "He muttered; "I must look for a good chimney," and was about to fly away. But just as he was about to open its wings a third drop fell, and he lifted up his eyes and saw ... ah, what did he see? The eyes of the Happy Prince were swollen with tears, tears streaming down her cheeks and golden. His face was so beautiful under the moonlight that the little Swallow was filled by a deep piety.
"Who are you?" He asked.
"I am the Happy Prince."
"Why are you crying then? I've soaked it all. "
" When I was alive and had a human heart, "answered the statue," I did not know what they were tears, because I lived in the Palace of Sans-Souci, where the pain is not allowed to enter. During the daytime I played with my companions in the garden, and at night I drove the ball in the Great Hall. Around the garden ran a very high wall, but I never care to know what is reaching up beyond it, everything around me was so beautiful! My courtiers called me the Happy Prince, and if pleasure is happiness, I was really happy. So lived and so died. And now that I'm dead they put me here so high now that I see all the ugliness and all the misery of my city, and though my heart is lead more I can do is cry. "
" Why ? It is not solid gold? "he asked himself mentally Swallow, because he was too polite to ask aloud questions of a personal nature.
" Far away, "continued the statue with her sweet musical voice," , away down a side street there is a poor house. A window of this house is open and through you I see a woman sitting at a table. Her face is thin and wasted, and his hands are red and rough, all from the needle prick, as does the stapler. She is embroidering passion-flowers on a satin gown that most beautiful of the maids of honor of the Queen will wear to the next Court ball. In bed, in a corner of the room, her child lies ill. He has a fever and would like to eat oranges, but his mother has nothing to give, except river water, so the baby cries. Swallow, little Swallow, will not take the ruby on the hilt of my sword that glitters ? My feet are attached to this pedestal and I I can not move. "
" I waited in Egypt, "answered the Swallow. "My friends at this time flying over the Nile, and talking with large lotus flowers. Soon will go to sleep in the tomb of the great King, where the King himself is buried in his sarcophagus painted, wrapped in yellow linen, and embalmed with spices. He has his neck adorned with a necklace of pale green jade, and his hands are like withered leaves.
"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "do not want to stay with me for one night only, and be my messenger? The child was thirsty, and the mother is so sad! "
" I do not think I like children, "said the Swallow. "Last summer, when I was on the river, there were two rude boys, the two sons of a miller, I always threw stones. Of course I have ever taken, of course: we swallows fly too well to be struck, and the rest I come from a family famous for its agility, but it was still a serious lack of respect. "
But the Happy Prince had a face so sad Swallow that he feels pain. "Here it is very cold," he said, "but to please you I will stay one more night and I'll be your messenger."
"Thank you, little Swallow," said the Prince.
"I have a bedroom of gold" he murmured softly to himself, looking around and getting ready for the night, but just as he was putting his head under the wing fell upon a large drop of water.
"What strange thing, "he said. "In heaven there is not even the smallest cloud, the stars are bright and clear, yet it is raining. The climate of Northern Europe is simply frightening. Reed liked the rain, but this was solely due to his selfishness. "
In one fell another drop.
" What is a statue if it can not find shelter? "He muttered; "I must look for a good chimney," and was about to fly away. But just as he was about to open its wings a third drop fell, and he lifted up his eyes and saw ... ah, what did he see? The eyes of the Happy Prince were swollen with tears, tears streaming down her cheeks and golden. His face was so beautiful under the moonlight that the little Swallow was filled by a deep piety.
"Who are you?" He asked.
"I am the Happy Prince."
"Why are you crying then? I've soaked it all. "
" When I was alive and had a human heart, "answered the statue," I did not know what they were tears, because I lived in the Palace of Sans-Souci, where the pain is not allowed to enter. During the daytime I played with my companions in the garden, and at night I drove the ball in the Great Hall. Around the garden ran a very high wall, but I never care to know what is reaching up beyond it, everything around me was so beautiful! My courtiers called me the Happy Prince, and if pleasure is happiness, I was really happy. So lived and so died. And now that I'm dead they put me here so high now that I see all the ugliness and all the misery of my city, and though my heart is lead more I can do is cry. "
" Why ? It is not solid gold? "he asked himself mentally Swallow, because he was too polite to ask aloud questions of a personal nature.
" Far away, "continued the statue with her sweet musical voice," , away down a side street there is a poor house. A window of this house is open and through you I see a woman sitting at a table. Her face is thin and wasted, and his hands are red and rough, all from the needle prick, as does the stapler. She is embroidering passion-flowers on a satin gown that most beautiful of the maids of honor of the Queen will wear to the next Court ball. In bed, in a corner of the room, her child lies ill. He has a fever and would like to eat oranges, but his mother has nothing to give, except river water, so the baby cries. Swallow, little Swallow, will not take the ruby on the hilt of my sword that glitters ? My feet are attached to this pedestal and I I can not move. "
" I waited in Egypt, "answered the Swallow. "My friends at this time flying over the Nile, and talking with large lotus flowers. Soon will go to sleep in the tomb of the great King, where the King himself is buried in his sarcophagus painted, wrapped in yellow linen, and embalmed with spices. He has his neck adorned with a necklace of pale green jade, and his hands are like withered leaves.
"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "do not want to stay with me for one night only, and be my messenger? The child was thirsty, and the mother is so sad! "
" I do not think I like children, "said the Swallow. "Last summer, when I was on the river, there were two rude boys, the two sons of a miller, I always threw stones. Of course I have ever taken, of course: we swallows fly too well to be struck, and the rest I come from a family famous for its agility, but it was still a serious lack of respect. "
But the Happy Prince had a face so sad Swallow that he feels pain. "Here it is very cold," he said, "but to please you I will stay one more night and I'll be your messenger."
"Thank you, little Swallow," said the Prince.
So the Swallow plucked the great ruby which decorated the sword of the Prince and flew over the rooftops of the city, clutching the jewel in its beak pointed. Passed by the cathedral tower, on which were carved large marble angels. Passed by the palace and heard the sound of dancing.
A beautiful girl appeared on the balcony with her lover. "Look at that great star," he said, "and how wonderful the power of love! "
" I hope my dress will be ready for when there is the dance of the state "said the girl. "I ordered it to be embroidered with passion flowers, but the seamstresses are so lazy! "
He passed over the river, and saw the lanterns hanging to the masts of ships. Passed over the Ghetto, and saw the old Jews bargaining with each other, and weighed the money on scales of copper. It finally came to the poor house and looked into it. The baby was waving frantically on the bed, while her mother was asleep: she was tired! Hopped into the room and put the big ruby on the table next to the woman's thimble. Then he flew around the bedroom floor and stroking his forehead with his wings of small, causing wind gently.
"How do I feel fresh," said the child. "Maybe I start to feel better and slept a peaceful sleep.
Then the Swallow Rivoli from Happy Prince and told him what he had done. "It 's strange," he remarked, "but even now I face a cold hot dog."
"Why did you do a good deed," said the Prince.
the little Swallow began to think, but soon fell asleep: the thinking was always on me very sleepy.
When the day dawned, he flew down to the river and took a bath.
"What extraordinary phenomenon," said the Professor of Ornithology at the time that passed over the bridge. "A swallow in winter!" And he sent a long letter to local newspaper about it. All the quoted: it was littered with a lot of words that nobody understood.
"Tonight I leave for Egypt," said the Swallow, and estimates put this in a good mood. He visited all the public monuments, and long remained sitting atop the steeple of the church. Wherever he went the Sparrows were singing and bispigliavano between them: "What a distinguished stranger!" So the Swallow is a fun world.
When the moon rose Rivoli from the Happy Prince. "You have to give me some commission for Egypt?" He said. I'm starting.
"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "do not want to stay with me one more night?"
"In Egypt, waiting for me," answered the Swallow. "Tomorrow my friends will fly up to the Second Cataract. There, among the rushes, he is squatting the hippo, and a great throne granite sits the God Memnon. All night he contemplates the stars, and when the morning star shines he utters one cry of joy, and then silent. At noon, the tawny lion come down to drink the water's edge. They have eyes like green beryl, and their roar is louder than the roar of the cataract.
"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "far away, across town I see a young man in a garret, leaning against a desk cluttered with papers, and a jug next to him is a bunch of withered violets. Her hair is brown and curly, his lips are red as a pomegranate, and her eyes are large and dreamy. Is striving to finish a play for the Director of the theater, but too cold to continue to write. There is no fire in his fireplace, and he did pass out from hunger. "
" Okay, I'll wait one more night with you, "said the Swallow, who had just a heart of gold. "I take him another ruby?"
"Alas, I have no jewels, now" the Prince said, "everything I have left are my eyes, but they are made of rare sapphires, and were brought from India over a thousand years ago. Strappane and a portaglielo. Sell it to the jeweler, and you buy firewood, and finish his play. "
" Dear Prince, "said the Swallow," I can not do this "
" Swallow, Swallow , little Swallow, "said the prince, crying," ubbidiscimi, please. "
So the Swallow plucked the eye of the Prince and flew to the attic of the student. It was easy to enter, because there was a hole in the roof. The Swallow there darted through, and penetrated into the room. The young man had buried his head in his hands, so did not feel the flutter of wings of the bird, and when he looked up he saw the beautiful sapphire lying in the midst of withered violets.
"begin to appreciate me! "he cried," certainly sends me some great admirer. Now I can finally finish my play! "And it was all happy.
The next day the Swallow flew down to the harbor. Perched on the shaft of a big ship and stood to watch the sailors who came down on ropes to force the hold heavy boxes. "Issa-oh! "They cried to each other as they climbed the crates.
" I'm going to Egypt! "Garra the Swallow, but no one heeded, and when the moon rose he flew Once again the Happy Prince.
"I came to say goodbye," she said.
"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "do not want to stay with me for another night?"
A beautiful girl appeared on the balcony with her lover. "Look at that great star," he said, "and how wonderful the power of love! "
" I hope my dress will be ready for when there is the dance of the state "said the girl. "I ordered it to be embroidered with passion flowers, but the seamstresses are so lazy! "
He passed over the river, and saw the lanterns hanging to the masts of ships. Passed over the Ghetto, and saw the old Jews bargaining with each other, and weighed the money on scales of copper. It finally came to the poor house and looked into it. The baby was waving frantically on the bed, while her mother was asleep: she was tired! Hopped into the room and put the big ruby on the table next to the woman's thimble. Then he flew around the bedroom floor and stroking his forehead with his wings of small, causing wind gently.
"How do I feel fresh," said the child. "Maybe I start to feel better and slept a peaceful sleep.
Then the Swallow Rivoli from Happy Prince and told him what he had done. "It 's strange," he remarked, "but even now I face a cold hot dog."
"Why did you do a good deed," said the Prince.
the little Swallow began to think, but soon fell asleep: the thinking was always on me very sleepy.
When the day dawned, he flew down to the river and took a bath.
"What extraordinary phenomenon," said the Professor of Ornithology at the time that passed over the bridge. "A swallow in winter!" And he sent a long letter to local newspaper about it. All the quoted: it was littered with a lot of words that nobody understood.
"Tonight I leave for Egypt," said the Swallow, and estimates put this in a good mood. He visited all the public monuments, and long remained sitting atop the steeple of the church. Wherever he went the Sparrows were singing and bispigliavano between them: "What a distinguished stranger!" So the Swallow is a fun world.
When the moon rose Rivoli from the Happy Prince. "You have to give me some commission for Egypt?" He said. I'm starting.
"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "do not want to stay with me one more night?"
"In Egypt, waiting for me," answered the Swallow. "Tomorrow my friends will fly up to the Second Cataract. There, among the rushes, he is squatting the hippo, and a great throne granite sits the God Memnon. All night he contemplates the stars, and when the morning star shines he utters one cry of joy, and then silent. At noon, the tawny lion come down to drink the water's edge. They have eyes like green beryl, and their roar is louder than the roar of the cataract.
"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "far away, across town I see a young man in a garret, leaning against a desk cluttered with papers, and a jug next to him is a bunch of withered violets. Her hair is brown and curly, his lips are red as a pomegranate, and her eyes are large and dreamy. Is striving to finish a play for the Director of the theater, but too cold to continue to write. There is no fire in his fireplace, and he did pass out from hunger. "
" Okay, I'll wait one more night with you, "said the Swallow, who had just a heart of gold. "I take him another ruby?"
"Alas, I have no jewels, now" the Prince said, "everything I have left are my eyes, but they are made of rare sapphires, and were brought from India over a thousand years ago. Strappane and a portaglielo. Sell it to the jeweler, and you buy firewood, and finish his play. "
" Dear Prince, "said the Swallow," I can not do this "
" Swallow, Swallow , little Swallow, "said the prince, crying," ubbidiscimi, please. "
So the Swallow plucked the eye of the Prince and flew to the attic of the student. It was easy to enter, because there was a hole in the roof. The Swallow there darted through, and penetrated into the room. The young man had buried his head in his hands, so did not feel the flutter of wings of the bird, and when he looked up he saw the beautiful sapphire lying in the midst of withered violets.
"begin to appreciate me! "he cried," certainly sends me some great admirer. Now I can finally finish my play! "And it was all happy.
The next day the Swallow flew down to the harbor. Perched on the shaft of a big ship and stood to watch the sailors who came down on ropes to force the hold heavy boxes. "Issa-oh! "They cried to each other as they climbed the crates.
" I'm going to Egypt! "Garra the Swallow, but no one heeded, and when the moon rose he flew Once again the Happy Prince.
"I came to say goodbye," she said.
"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "do not want to stay with me for another night?"
'E' winter now, "said the Swallow," and soon will come the cold snow. In Egypt the sun is warm on the green palm trees and crocodiles lie in the mud and look around with lazy eyes. My companions are building a nest in the Temple of Baalbec, pink and white doves and watch them, and cooing to each other. Dear Prince, I must leave you, but never forget you, and next spring I'll take two beautiful jewels in place of those you have given away. The ruby will be redder than a red rose, and sapphire is blue like the vast sea. "
" In the square below, "said the Happy Prince," there is a little match girl. The matches have fallen into the gutter of the sidewalk, and you are all wet. Her father will beat her if you do not take home a bit 'of money, so the little cries. Has neither shoes nor stockings, and her little head is bare. Rend portaglielo my other eye, so his father will not beat. "
" I'll stay with you again for tonight, "said the Swallow," but I can not tear the other eye. You'd be completely blind. "
"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "do as I say."
So the Swallow plucked the other eye of the Prince and shot down in the square. He spent spinning next to the little match girl and slipped the jewel into the palm of your hand.
"What a beautiful piece of glass," said the girl, and ran home, laughing.
Then the Swallow came back by Prince. "Now you're blind," he said, "so I will stay with you forever. "
" No, little Swallow, "murmured the poor Prince," you must go to Egypt. "
" I'll stay with you forever 'said the Swallow, and sleep at the foot Prince. Then all the next day he stood perched on the shoulder of the Prince, and told him what he had seen in distant countries. He spoke of the red ibises, who wait in long queues on the banks of the Nile and catching fish in its beak gilded spoke of the Sphinx, which is as old as the world, and lives in the desert, and knows everything, spoke to the merchants who travel plan alongside their camels and carry amber beads in her hands, spoke to the King of the Mountains of the Moon, which is black as ebony, and worships a large crystal , spoke of the great green snake that sleeps in a palm grove and is fed by twenty priests with honey cakes, and also that of the pygmies who sail over a big lake on large flat leaves and are always at war with butterflies.
"Dear little Swallow," said the Prince, "you tell me about wonderful things, but more wonderful than anything is the pain of men and women. There is no Mystery so great misery. Fly over my city, little Swallow, and tell me what you see. "
Under the arches of a bridge two little boys are huddled together trying to warm each other. ;
"How hungry we are! "They said.
"You can not sleep there," said the guard, and the two children away in the rain.
Then the Swallow came back and told the Prince what he had seen.
"I'm all coated with gold, "said the Prince," you have to take off, leaf by leaf, and give it to my poor, the living believe that gold can make them happy. "
The Swallow macerate away leaf after leaf of the fine gold, till the Happy Prince was all dull and gray. Leaf to leaf of the fine gold he brought the poor, and the faces of the children became more rosy, and they laughed and played childish games in the streets.
"We have bread now! "They shouted.
Then came the snow, and after the snow came the frost. The streets seemed paved with silver, they were so bright and shiny, long icicles, similar to blades of glass, hung from the eaves of houses, all furry and turned boys wore scarlet caps and skated on the ice.
The poor little Swallow was colder and colder, but would not allow the prince loved him too well. Crumb out of the door when the baker he had his back turned, and tried to warm themselves by flapping their wings.
But in the end, he realized that he was near death. He had just strength to fly one last time on the shoulder of the Prince.
"Goodbye, dear Prince," he murmured, "I let me kiss your hand? "
" I'm glad you go to Egypt at last, little Swallow, "said the Prince," you've been here too long, but you have to kiss on the lips, because I love you. "
"It's not that I'm going to Egypt," said the Swallow, "I go to the House of Death. Death is not perhaps the sister of Sleep? "And he kissed the Happy Prince on the lips, and fell dead at his feet.
At that moment they heard a strange crash in the interior of the statue, as if something had broken. The fact is that the leaden heart had split in two net.
"My God! As regards the principle Happy! "He exclaimed.
" Really! How tanned! "Exclaimed the Councillors who always said what he said the Mayor, and they all went up to see better.
" The ruby has fallen on the sword hilt, his eyes are gone, and the gilding has disappeared, "said the Mayor," in short, seems little more than a beggar! "
" A little less than a beggar "repeated in chorus the Councillors civic.
" And here, at the foot of statue, there is even a dead bird! "Continued the Mayor. "We simply must make an order that the birds are not allowed to die here! "Public
and the scribe took notes for the drafting of the decree.
So they pulled down the statue of the Happy Prince.
" Since it is more beautiful is no longer even useful, "observed the Professor of Fine Arts University.
then melted the statue in a furnace and the Mayor convoked a meeting of the Corporation to decide what you had to do with the metal.
"We have to build another statue," he said, "and will be my statue."
"My" he repeated each of the Aldermen, and argued. The last time I had news of them were still arguing.
"What a curious thing! "Said the overseer of workers at the foundry. "This broken lead heart will not melt in the furnace. I must throw it away. "
and threw it on a garbage heap where they had thrown the Swallow also died.
"Bring me the two most precious things you find in the city," said God to one of His Angels, and the angel brought him the leaden heart and the dead bird.
"You chose well" , declares the Lord, "because in my garden of Paradise this little bird will sing forever, and in my city of gold the Happy Prince shall praise me."
" In the square below, "said the Happy Prince," there is a little match girl. The matches have fallen into the gutter of the sidewalk, and you are all wet. Her father will beat her if you do not take home a bit 'of money, so the little cries. Has neither shoes nor stockings, and her little head is bare. Rend portaglielo my other eye, so his father will not beat. "
" I'll stay with you again for tonight, "said the Swallow," but I can not tear the other eye. You'd be completely blind. "
"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "do as I say."
So the Swallow plucked the other eye of the Prince and shot down in the square. He spent spinning next to the little match girl and slipped the jewel into the palm of your hand.
"What a beautiful piece of glass," said the girl, and ran home, laughing.
Then the Swallow came back by Prince. "Now you're blind," he said, "so I will stay with you forever. "
" No, little Swallow, "murmured the poor Prince," you must go to Egypt. "
" I'll stay with you forever 'said the Swallow, and sleep at the foot Prince. Then all the next day he stood perched on the shoulder of the Prince, and told him what he had seen in distant countries. He spoke of the red ibises, who wait in long queues on the banks of the Nile and catching fish in its beak gilded spoke of the Sphinx, which is as old as the world, and lives in the desert, and knows everything, spoke to the merchants who travel plan alongside their camels and carry amber beads in her hands, spoke to the King of the Mountains of the Moon, which is black as ebony, and worships a large crystal , spoke of the great green snake that sleeps in a palm grove and is fed by twenty priests with honey cakes, and also that of the pygmies who sail over a big lake on large flat leaves and are always at war with butterflies.
"Dear little Swallow," said the Prince, "you tell me about wonderful things, but more wonderful than anything is the pain of men and women. There is no Mystery so great misery. Fly over my city, little Swallow, and tell me what you see. "
So the Swallow flew over the great city, and saw the rich revel in their beautiful houses, while the poor sat outside the gates. He flew into dark lanes, and saw the white faces of starving children who stared with vacant eyes the dark streets.
Under the arches of a bridge two little boys are huddled together trying to warm each other. ;
"How hungry we are! "They said.
"You can not sleep there," said the guard, and the two children away in the rain.
Then the Swallow came back and told the Prince what he had seen.
"I'm all coated with gold, "said the Prince," you have to take off, leaf by leaf, and give it to my poor, the living believe that gold can make them happy. "
The Swallow macerate away leaf after leaf of the fine gold, till the Happy Prince was all dull and gray. Leaf to leaf of the fine gold he brought the poor, and the faces of the children became more rosy, and they laughed and played childish games in the streets.
"We have bread now! "They shouted.
Then came the snow, and after the snow came the frost. The streets seemed paved with silver, they were so bright and shiny, long icicles, similar to blades of glass, hung from the eaves of houses, all furry and turned boys wore scarlet caps and skated on the ice.
The poor little Swallow was colder and colder, but would not allow the prince loved him too well. Crumb out of the door when the baker he had his back turned, and tried to warm themselves by flapping their wings.
But in the end, he realized that he was near death. He had just strength to fly one last time on the shoulder of the Prince.
"Goodbye, dear Prince," he murmured, "I let me kiss your hand? "
" I'm glad you go to Egypt at last, little Swallow, "said the Prince," you've been here too long, but you have to kiss on the lips, because I love you. "
"It's not that I'm going to Egypt," said the Swallow, "I go to the House of Death. Death is not perhaps the sister of Sleep? "And he kissed the Happy Prince on the lips, and fell dead at his feet.
At that moment they heard a strange crash in the interior of the statue, as if something had broken. The fact is that the leaden heart had split in two net.
course it was bitterly cold. The next morning, time for the mayor went for a walk in the square below in company with the Councillors. In passing before the column he looked up at the statue:
"My God! As regards the principle Happy! "He exclaimed.
" Really! How tanned! "Exclaimed the Councillors who always said what he said the Mayor, and they all went up to see better.
" The ruby has fallen on the sword hilt, his eyes are gone, and the gilding has disappeared, "said the Mayor," in short, seems little more than a beggar! "
" A little less than a beggar "repeated in chorus the Councillors civic.
" And here, at the foot of statue, there is even a dead bird! "Continued the Mayor. "We simply must make an order that the birds are not allowed to die here! "Public
and the scribe took notes for the drafting of the decree.
So they pulled down the statue of the Happy Prince.
" Since it is more beautiful is no longer even useful, "observed the Professor of Fine Arts University.
then melted the statue in a furnace and the Mayor convoked a meeting of the Corporation to decide what you had to do with the metal.
"We have to build another statue," he said, "and will be my statue."
"My" he repeated each of the Aldermen, and argued. The last time I had news of them were still arguing.
"What a curious thing! "Said the overseer of workers at the foundry. "This broken lead heart will not melt in the furnace. I must throw it away. "
and threw it on a garbage heap where they had thrown the Swallow also died.
"Bring me the two most precious things you find in the city," said God to one of His Angels, and the angel brought him the leaden heart and the dead bird.
"You chose well" , declares the Lord, "because in my garden of Paradise this little bird will sing forever, and in my city of gold the Happy Prince shall praise me."
