Щасливий принц та інші казки
The Happy Prince
DearPrince,Imustleaveyou,butIwillneverforgetyou,andnextspringIwillbringyoubacktwobeautifuljewelsinplaceofthoseyouhavegivenaway.Therubyshallberedderthanaredrose,andthesapphireshallbeasblueasthegreatsea."
"Inthesquarebelow,"saidtheHappyPrince,"therestandsalittlematch-girl.Shehaslethermatchesfallinthegutter,andtheyareallspoiled.Herfatherwillbeatherifshedoesnotbringhomesomemoney,andsheiscrying.Shehasnoshoesorstockings,andherlittleheadisbare.Pluckoutmyothereyeandgiveittoher,andherfatherwillnotbeather."
"Iwillstaywithyouonenightlonger,"saidtheSwallow,"butIcannotpluckoutyoureye.Youwouldbequiteblindthen."
"Swallow,Swallow,littleSwallow,"saidthePrince,"doasIcommandyou."
SohepluckedoutthePrince’sothereye,anddarteddownwithit.Heswoopedpastthematch-girl,andslippedthejewelintothepalmofherhand."Whatalovelybitofglass!"criedthelittlegirl;andsheranhome,laughing.
ThentheSwallowcamebacktothePrince."Youareblindnow,"hesaid,"soIwillstaywithyoualways."
"No,littleSwallow,"saidthepoorPrince,"youmustgoawaytoEgypt."
"Iwillstaywithyoualways,"saidtheSwallow,andhesleptatthePrince’sfeet.
AllthenextdayhesatonthePrince’sshoulder,andtoldhimstoriesofwhathehadseeninstrangelands.