The Happy Prince

High above the busy city, on a tall stone column in the central square, stood the beautiful statue of the Happy Prince. He was covered all over with thin leaves of shining gold. For his eyes he had two bright blue jewels, and a large red ruby sparkled brightly on his sword. All the people in the town admired the handsome statue. "He looks just like a golden angel," the school children cried with joy as they walked by.

One cold autumn evening, a little Swallow flew over the city. His bird friends had already flown south to warm Egypt six weeks ago, but he had stayed behind. Now the winter chill was arriving, and he needed to catch up with his flock. "Where can I spend the night?" the little bird asked himself. Then he saw the tall statue in the middle of the square. "I will sleep right there! It has fresh air and a fine view." So he landed softly between the golden feet of the Happy Prince.

Just as the Swallow put his head under his wing to go to sleep, a large drop of water fell onto his back. "That is very strange!" cried the Swallow. "There is not a single cloud in the sky, so why is it raining?" Then another drop fell, and a third. The Swallow looked up and saw that the Prince's blue eyes were full of tears, and golden tears were running down his cheeks. "Who are you?" asked the bird. "I am the Happy Prince," answered the statue. "Then why are you crying?" asked the Swallow.

"When I was alive with a human heart," the Prince answered softly, "I lived in a wonderful palace where sadness was never allowed to enter. During the day I played in the garden, and in the evening I danced in the great hall with my friends. The palace was surrounded by high walls, and I never cared to look outside. Everyone called me the Happy Prince, and I thought I was very happy. But now that I am a statue high above the city, I can see all the poor, sick, and lonely people. Even though my heart is made of cold metal, I cannot stop crying."

The Prince looked across the dark rooftops. "Far away in a narrow street," he whispered, "there is a small poor house. Through the open window, I see a tired woman sitting at a table sewing a fancy dress for the queen. In the corner of the room, her little boy is lying in bed with a dangerous fever. He is crying for fresh oranges, but his poor mother has only water to give him. Little Swallow, will you please take the red ruby from my sword to help them? My feet are fixed to this stone base, and I cannot move."

"My friends are waiting for me in warm Egypt," said the Swallow. But when he saw how sad the Prince looked, the kind bird decided to help. "I will stay with you for one night and be your messenger." The Swallow took the great red ruby from the sword and flew across the dark city. He entered the poor room, placed the ruby beside the woman's table, and gently flapped his soft wings over the sick boy's head. "I feel so cool and comfortable now," whispered the little boy, and he fell into a peaceful sleep.

The next morning, the Swallow returned to say goodbye. "Little Swallow," cried the Prince, "will you not stay one more night? Across the city, a young student is trying to finish writing a play for the theater. But he is freezing in his cold attic room, and hunger has made him too weak to write." "I will stay one more night," said the kind Swallow. The Prince told him: "Take one of my bright blue jewel eyes to him. He can sell it to buy warm firewood and food, and finish his play." The Swallow gently took the jewel and brought it to the happy student.

On the third day, the Prince asked the Swallow for one final favor. "In the square below, a little girl is selling matches. She dropped her box into the dirty water, and all her matches are ruined. She has no warm shoes or coat, and she is crying because she has no money for her family. Please take my other eye to her." The Swallow wept: "If I take your eye, you will be completely blind!" But the Prince said: "Please do as I ask." So the Swallow took the second jewel and dropped it into the little girl's hand. "What a pretty glass stone!" she laughed, and ran home happily.

Now the Happy Prince was completely blind. The Swallow flew back and said: "You cannot see anymore, so I will stay by your side forever." Day after day, the Swallow flew across the city, took the golden leaves from the Prince's body, and gave them to poor and hungry families. Soon, the children had bread to eat and smiled in the streets, while the golden Prince became dull and grey.

Then the heavy snow and bitter frost arrived. The little Swallow grew colder and colder, but he loved the Prince too much to leave him. Finally, the bird knew his life was ending. He flew up to the Prince's shoulder one last time. "Goodbye, my dear Prince," he whispered. He kissed the Prince and fell down dead at his feet. At that exact moment, a sharp sound came from inside the statue—the Prince's heavy lead heart had broken in two from deep love and sorrow.

The next morning, the town leaders saw the shabby grey statue. "He has lost his gold and jewels! He looks like a beggar!" they said. They pulled the statue down and melted it in a hot fire, but the broken lead heart would not melt, so they threw it into the trash beside the dead bird.

High in heaven, God said to his angel: "Bring me the two most precious treasures in the entire city." The angel flew down and brought back the broken lead heart and the little dead Swallow. God smiled and said: "You have chosen wisely. In my beautiful garden of paradise, this sweet bird shall sing forever, and the Happy Prince will shine in my city of gold."