Щасливий принц та інші казки

           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.