第1部分(第5/7 页)

　think　I　like　boys；〃　answered　the　Swallow。　〃Last　summer；

when　I　was　staying　on　the　river；　there　were　two　rude　boys；　the　miller's

sons；　who　were　always　throwing　stones　at　me。　They　never　hit　me；　of

course；　we　swallows　fly　far　too　well　for　that；　and　besides；　I　e　of　a

family　famous　for　its　agility；　but　still；　it　was　a　mark　of　disrespect。〃

But　the　Happy　Prince　looked　so　sad　that　the　little　Swallow　was　sorry。

〃It　is　very　cold　here；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　will　stay　with　you　for　one　night；　and

be　your　messenger。〃

〃Thank　you；　little　Swallow；〃　said　the　Prince。

So　the　Swallow　picked　out　the　great　ruby　from　the　Prince's　sword；　and

flew　away　with　it　in　his　beak　over　the　roofs　of　the　town。

He　passed　by　the　cathedral　tower；　where　the　white　marble　angels　were

sculptured。　He　passed　by　the　palace　and　heard　the　sound　of　dancing。　A

beautiful　girl　came　out　on　the　balcony　with　her　lover。　〃How　wonderful　the

stars　are；〃　he　said　to　her；　〃and　how　wonderful　is　the　power　of　love！〃

〃I　hope　my　dress　will　be　ready　in　time　for　the　State…ball；〃　she

answered；　〃I　have　ordered　passion…flowers　to　be　embroidered　on　it；　but　the

seamstresses　are　so　lazy。〃

He　passed　over　the　river；　and　saw　the　lanterns　hanging　to　the　masts　of

the　ships。　He　passed　over　the　Ghetto；　and　saw　the　old　Jews　bargaining

with　each　other；　and　weighing　out　money　in　copper　scales。　At　last　he

came　to　the　poor　house　and　looked　in。　The　boy　was　tossing　feverishly　on

his　bed；　and　the　mother　had　fallen　asleep；　she　was　so　tired。　In　he　hopped；

and　laid　the　great　ruby　on　the　table　beside　the　woman's　thimble。　Then　he

flew　gently　round　the　bed；　fanning　the　boy's　forehead　with　his　wings。