第1部分(第4/7 页)

p　here　so　high　that　I　can　see　all　the　ugliness　and　all　the　misery　of

my　city；　and　though　my　heart　is　made　of　lead　yet　I　cannot　chose　but

weep。〃

〃What！　is　he　not　solid　gold？〃　said　the　Swallow　to　himself。　He　was

too　polite　to　make　any　personal　remarks　out　loud。

〃Far　away；〃　continued　the　statue　in　a　low　musical　voice；　〃far　away　in　a

little　street　there　is　a　poor　house。　One　of　the　windows　is　open；　and

through　it　I　can　see　a　woman　seated　at　a　table。　Her　face　is　thin　and　worn；

and　she　has　coarse；　red　hands；　all　pricked　by　the　needle；　for　she　is　a

seamstress。　She　is　embroidering　passion…　flowers　on　a　satin　gown　for　the

loveliest　of　the　Queen's　maids…of…　honour　to　wear　at　the　next　Court…ball。

In　a　bed　in　the　corner　of　the　room　her　little　boy　is　lying　ill。　He　has　a

fever；　and　is　asking　for　oranges。　His　mother　has　nothing　to　give　him　but

river　water；　so　he　is　crying。　Swallow；　Swallow；　little　Swallow；　will　you

not　bring　her　the　ruby　out　of　my　sword…hilt？　My　feet　are　fastened　to　this

pedestal　and　I　cannot　move。〃

〃I　am　waited　for　in　Egypt；〃　said　the　Swallow。　〃My　friends　are　flying

up　and　down　the　Nile；　and　talking　to　the　large　lotus…　flowers。　Soon　they

4　The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

will　go　to　sleep　in　the　tomb　of　the　great　King。　The　King　is　there　himself　in

his　painted　coffin。　He　is　wrapped　in　yellow　linen；　and　embalmed　with

spices。　Round　his　neck　is　a　chain　of　pale　green　jade；　and　his　hands　are

like　withered　leaves。〃

〃Swallow；　Swallow；　little　Swallow；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃will　you　not　stay

with　me　for　one　night；　and　be　my　messenger？ The　boy　is　so　thirsty；　and

the　mother　so　sad。〃

〃I　don't