Щасливий принц та інші казки

           Atlasthecametothepoorhouseandlookedin.Theboywastossingfeverishlyonhisbed,andthemotherhadfallenasleep,shewassotired.Inhehopped,andlaidthegreatrubyonthetablebesidethewoman’sthimble.Thenheflewgentlyroundthebed,fanningtheboy’sforeheadwithhiswings."HowcoolIfeel!"saidtheboy,"Imustbegettingbetter;"andhesankintoadeliciousslumber.

           ThentheSwallowflewbacktotheHappyPrince,andtoldhimwhathehaddone."Itiscurious,"heremarked,"butIfeelquitewarmnow,althoughitissocold."

           "Thatisbecauseyouhavedoneagoodaction,"saidthePrince.AndthelittleSwallowbegantothink,andthenhefellasleep.Thinkingalwaysmadehimsleepy.

           Whendaybrokeheflewdowntotheriverandhadabath."Whataremarkablephenomenon,saidtheProfessorofOrnithologyashewaspassingoverthebridge."Aswallowinwinter!"Andhewrotealongletteraboutittothelocalnewspaper.Everyonequotedit,itwasfullofsomanywordsthattheycouldnotunderstand.

           "To-nightIgotoEgypt,"saidtheSwallow,andhewasinhighspiritsattheprospect.Hevisitedallthepublicmonuments,andsatalongtimeontopofthechurchsteeple.WhereverhewenttheSparrowschirruped,andsaidtoeachother,"Whatadistinguishedstranger!"soheenjoyedhimselfverymuch.

           WhenthemoonroseheflewbacktotheHappyPrince."HaveyouanycommissionsforEgypt?"hecried;"Iamjuststarting."