Щасливий принц та інші казки
The Happy Prince
"Swallow,Swallow,littleSwallow,"saidthePrince,"willyounotstaywithmeforonenight,andbemymessenger?Theboyissothirsty,andthemothersosad."
"Idon’tthinkIlikeboys,"answeredtheSwallow."Lastsummer,whenIwasstayingontheriver,thereweretworudeboys,themiller’ssons,whowerealwaysthrowingstonesatme.Theyneverhitme,ofcourse;weswallowsflyfartoowellforthat,andbesides,Icomeofafamilyfamousforitsagility;butstill,itwasamarkofdisrespect."
ButtheHappyPrincelookedsosadthatthelittleSwallowwassorry."Itisverycoldhere,"hesaid;"butIwillstaywithyouforonenight,andbeyourmessenger."
"Thankyou,littleSwallow,"saidthePrince.
SotheSwallowpickedoutthegreatrubyfromthePrince’ssword,andflewawaywithitinhisbeakovertheroofsofthetown.
Hepassedbythecathedraltower,wherethewhitemarbleangelsweresculptured.Hepassedbythepalaceandheardthesoundofdancing.Abeautifulgirlcameoutonthebalconywithherlover."Howwonderfulthestarsare,"hesaidtoher,"andhowwonderfulisthepoweroflove!"
"IhopemydresswillbereadyintimefortheState-ball,"sheanswered;"Ihaveorderedpassion-flowerstobeembroideredonit;buttheseamstressesaresolazy."
Hepassedovertheriver,andsawthelanternshangingtothemastsoftheships.HepassedovertheGhetto,andsawtheoldJewsbargainingwitheachother,andweighingoutmoneyincopperscales.
