第2部分(第4/7 页)

em　happy。〃

Leaf　after　leaf　of　the　fine　gold　the　Swallow　picked　off；　till　the　Happy

Prince　looked　quite　dull　and　grey。　Leaf　after　leaf　of　the　fine　gold　he

brought　to　the　poor；　and　the　children's　faces　grew　rosier；　and　they　laughed

and　played　games　in　the　street。　〃We　have　bread　now！〃　they　cried。

Then　the　snow　came；　and　after　the　snow　came　the　frost。　The　streets

looked　as　if　they　were　made　of　silver；　they　were　so　bright　and　glistening；

long　icicles　like　crystal　daggers　hung　down　from　the　eaves　of　the　houses；

everybody　went　about　in　furs；　and　the　little　boys　wore　scarlet　caps　and

skated　on　the　ice。

The　poor　little　Swallow　grew　colder　and　colder；　but　he　would　not　leave

9

The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

the　Prince；　he　loved　him　too　well。　He　picked　up　crumbs　outside　the

baker's　door　when　the　baker　was　not　looking　and　tried　to　keep　himself

warm　by　flapping　his　wings。

But　at　last　he　knew　that　he　was　going　to　die。　He　had　just　strength　to

fly　up　to　the　Prince's　shoulder　once　more。　〃Good…bye；　dear　Prince！〃　he

murmured；　〃will　you　let　me　kiss　your　hand？〃

〃I　am　glad　that　you　are　going　to　Egypt　at　last；　little　Swallow；〃　said　the

Prince；　〃you　have　stayed　too　long　here；　but　you　must　kiss　me　on　the　lips；

for　I　love　you。〃

〃It　is　not　to　Egypt　that　I　am　going；〃　said　the　Swallow。　〃I　am　going　to

the　House　of　Death。　Death　is　the　brother　of　Sleep；　is　he　not？〃

And　he　kissed　the　Happy　Prince　on　the　lips；　and　fell　down　dead　at　his

feet。

At　that　moment　a　curious　crack　sounded　inside　the　statue；　as　if

something　had　broken。　The　fact　is　that　the　leaden　heart　had　snapped

right　in　two。　It　certainly　was　a　dreadf