henheswallowcamebackoheprince“youareblindnow,”hesaid,“soiwillsaywihyoualways”

“no,lileswallow,”saidhepoorprince,“youmusgoawayoegyp”

“iwillsaywihyoualways,”saidheswallow,andheslepaheprince’sfee

allhenexdayhesaonheprince’sshoulder,andoldhimsoriesofwhahehadseeninsrangendsheoldhimofheredibises,whosandinlongrowsonhebanksofhenile,andcachgoldfishinheirbeaks;ofhesphinx,whoisasoldasheworldiself,andlivesinhedeser,andknowseveryhing;ofhemerchans,whowalkslowlybyhesideofheircamels,andcarryamberbeadsinheirhands;ofhekingofhemounainsofhemoon,whoisasbckasebony,andworshipsargecrysal;ofhegreagreensnakehasleepsinapalmree,andhaswenypriessofeediwihhoneycakes;andofhepygmieswhosailoverabigkeonrgefleaves,andarealwaysawarwihhebuerflies

“dearlileswallow,”saidheprince,“youellmeofmarvelloushings,bumoremarvelloushananyhingishesufferingofmenandofwomenhereisnomyserysogreaasmiseryflyovermyciy,lileswallow,andellmewhayouseehere”

soheswallowflewoverhegreaciy,andsawherichmakingmerryinheirbeauifulhouses,whilehebeggarsweresiingahegaesheflewinodarknes,andsawhewhiefacesofsarvingchildrenlookingoulislesslyahebcksreesunderhearchwayofabridgewolileboyswerelyinginoneanoher’sarmsoryandkeephemselveswarm“howhungryweare!”heysaid“youmusnoliehere,”shouedhewachman,andheywanderedouinoherain

henheflewbackandoldheprincewhahehadseen

“iamcoveredwihfinegold,”saidheprince,“youmusakeioff,leafbyleaf,andgiveiomypoor;helivingalwayshinkhagoldcanmakehemhappy”

leafaferleafofhefinegoldheswallowpickedoff,illhehappyprincelookedquiedullandgreyleafaferleafofhefinegoldhebroughohepoor,andhechildren’sfacesgrewrosier,andheyughedandpyedgamesinhesree“wehavebreadnow!”heycried

henhesnowcame,andaferhesnowcamehefroshesreeslookedasifheyweremadeofsilver,heyweresobrighandglisening;longicicleslikecrysaldaggershungdownfromheeavesofhehouses,everybodywenabouinfurs,andhelileboysworescarlecapsandskaedonheice

hepoorlileswallowgrewcolderandcolder,buhewouldnoleaveheprince,helovedhimoowellhepickedupcrumbsousidehebaker’sdoorwhenhebakerwasnolookingandriedokeephimselfwarmbyfppinghiswings

buasheknewhahewasgoingodiehehadjussrenghoflyupoheprince’sshoulderoncemore“goodbye,dearprince!”hemurmured,“willyoulemekissyourhand?”

“iamgdhayouaregoingoegypas,lileswallow,”saidheprince,“youhavesayedoolonghere;buyoumuskissmeonhelips,foriloveyou”

“iisnooegyphaiamgoing,”saidheswallow“iamgoingohehouseofdeahdeahishebroherofsleep,isheno?”

andhekissedhehappyprinceonhelips,andfelldowndeadahisfee

ahamomenacuriouscracksoundedinsidehesaue,asifsomehinghadbrokenhefacishaheleadenhearhadsnappedrighinwoicerainlywasadreadfullyhardfros

earlyhenexmorninghemayorwaswalkinginhesquarebelowincompanywihheowncouncillorsasheypassedhecolumnhelookedupahesaue:“dearme!howshabbyhehappyprincelooks!”hesaid

“howshabbyindeed!”criedheowncouncillors,whoalwaysagreedwihhemayor;andheywenupolookai

“herubyhasfallenouofhissword,hiseyesaregone,andheisgoldennolonger,”saidhemayor,“infacheislilebeerhanabeggar!”

“lilebeerhanabeggar,”saidheowncouncillors

“andhereisacuallyadeadbirdahisfee!”coninuedhemayor“wemusreallyissueaprocmaionhabirdsarenoobeallowedodiehere”andheownclerkmadeanoeofhesuggesion

soheypulleddownhesaueofhehappyprince“asheisnolongerbeauifulheisnolongeruseful,”saidhearprofessoraheuniversiy

henheymeledhesaueinafurnace,andhemayorheldameeingofhecorporaionodecidewhawasobedonewihhemeal“wemushaveanohersaue,ofcourse,”hesaid,“andishallbeasaueofmyself”

“ofmyself,”saideachofheowncouncillors,andheyquarrelledwhenisheardofhemheywerequarrellingsill

“whaasrangehing!”saidheoverseerofheworkmenahefoundry“hisbrokenleadhearwillnomelinhefurnacewemushrowiaway”soheyhrewionadusheapwherehedeadswallowwasalsolying

“bringmehewomosprecioushingsinheciy,”saidgodooneofhisangels;andheangelbroughhimheleadenhearandhedeadbird

“youhaverighlychosen,”saidgod,“forinmygardenofparadisehislilebirdshallsingforevermore,andinmyciyofgoldhehappyprinceshallpraiseme”