The Happy Prince Oscar Wilde

"Tonight I go to Egypt," said the Swallow, and he was happy when he thought about it.

When the moon rose, he flew back to the Happy Prince. "Tonight I leave," he said.

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "will you not stay with me one night longer?"

"My friends are waiting for me in Egypt," answered the Swallow. "Tomorrow they will fly to a great throne where the God Memnon sits. "

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "far away across the city I see a young man in a small room. He is sitting at a desk covered with papers. His hair is brown and he has large and dreamy eyes. He is trying to finish a play for the Director of the Theatre, but he is too cold and hungry to write any more."

"I will wait with you one night longer," said the Swallow, who really had a good heart. "Shall I take him another jewel?"

"My eyes are all that I have left. They are made of precious jewels, which were brought out of India a thousand years ago. Take one of them and bring it to him. He will sell it, buy food and wood, and finish his play."

"Dear Prince," said the Swallow, "I cannot do that!" and he began to cry.

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "do as I command you."

So the Swallow took out the Prince's eye, and flew away to the man's little room. He got in easily through a hole in the roof. The young man had his head in his hands, so he did not hear the bird's wings. When he looked up, he found the beautiful jewel lying on the table.

"This must be from a great admirer," he thought. "Now I can finish my play," and he was quite happy.

The next day the Swallow flew down to the harbour. He sat and watched the sailors. "I am going to Egypt!" the Swallow cried to them, but nobody noticed. When the moon rose, he flew back to the Happy Prince.

"I have come to say goodbye," he cried.

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "will you not stay with me one night longer?"

"It is winter," answered the Swallow, "and the freezing snow will soon be here. In Egypt the sun is warm and my friends are building their nests. 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."

"In the square below," said the Happy Prince, "there is a little girl. She has lost all her matches and her father will beat her because she will not bring home any money. She has no shoes and no hat. Take 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 take out your eye. You would be quite blind then."

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "do as I command you."

So he took out the Prince's other eye, and flew down with it. He put the jewel into her hand. "What a lovely bit of glass," cried the little girl and she ran home, laughing.

Then the Swallow came back to the Prince. "You are blind now," he said, "so I will stay with you always."