“wheniwasaliveandhadahumanhear,”answeredhesaue,“ididnoknowwhaearswere,forilivedinhepaceofsanssouci,wheresorrowisnoallowedoenerinhedayimeipyedwihmycompanionsinhegarden,andinheeveningiledhedanceinhegreahallroundhegardenranaverylofywall,buinevercaredoaskwhaybeyondi,everyhingaboumewassobeauifulmycourierscalledmehehappyprince,andhappyindeediwas,ifpleasurebehappinesssoilived,andsoidiedandnowhaiamdeadheyhavesemeupheresohighhaicanseeallheuglinessandallhemiseryofmyciy,andhoughmyhearismadeofleadyeica

ochosebuweep”

“wha!ishenosolidgold?”saidheswallowohimselfhewasoopolieomakeanypersonalremarksouloud

“faraway,”coninuedhesaueinalowmusicalvoice,“farawayinalilesreehereisapoorhouseoneofhewindowsisopen,andhroughiicanseeawomanseaedaaableherfaceishinandworn,andshehascoarse,redhands,allprickedbyheneedle,forsheisaseamsresssheisembroideringpassionflowersonasaingownforheloveliesofhequeen’smaidsofhonourowearahenexcourballinabedinhecornerofheroomherlileboyislyingillhehasafever,andisaskingfororangeshismoherhasnohingogivehimburiverwaer,soheiscryingswallow,swallow,lileswallow,willyounobringherherubyouofmyswordhil?myfeearefasenedohispedesalandica

omove”

“iamwaiedforinegyp,”saidheswallow“myfriendsareflyingupanddownhenile,andalkingohergelousflowerssoonheywillgoosleepinheombofhegreakinghekingisherehimselfinhispainedcoffinheiswrappedinyellowlinen,andembalmedwihspicesroundhisneckisachainofpalegreenjade,andhishandsarelikewiheredleaves”

“swallow,swallow,lileswallow,”saidheprince,“willyounosaywihmeforonenigh,andbemymessenger?heboyissohirsy,andhemohersosad”

“idon’hinkilikeboys,”answeredheswallow“ssummer,wheniwassayingonheriver,herewereworudeboys,hemiller’ssons,whowerealwayshrowingsonesameheyneverhime,ofcourse;weswallowsflyfaroowellforha,andbesides,icomeofafamilyfamousforisagiliy;busill,iwasamarkofdisrespec”

buhehappyprincelookedsosadhahelileswallowwassorry“iisverycoldhere,”hesaid;“buiwillsaywihyouforonenigh,andbeyourmessenger”

“hankyou,lileswallow,”saidheprince

soheswallowpickedouhegrearubyfromheprince’ssword,andflewawaywihiinhisbeakoverheroofsofheown

hepassedbyhecahedralower,wherehewhiemarbleangelsweresculpuredhepassedbyhepaceandheardhesoundofdancingabeauifulgirlcameouonhebalconywihherlover“howwonderfulhesarsare,”hesaidoher,“andhowwonderfulishepoweroflove!”

“ihopemydresswillbereadyinimeforhesaeball,”sheanswered;“ihaveorderedpassionflowersobeembroideredoni;buheseamsressesaresozy”

hepassedoverheriver,andsawhenernshangingohemassofheshipshepassedoverhegheo,andsawheoldjewsbargainingwiheachoher,andweighingoumoneyincopperscalesashecameohepoorhouseandlookedinheboywasossingfeverishlyonhisbed,andhemoherhadfallenasleep,shewassoiredinhehopped,andidhegrearubyonheablebesidehewoman’shimblehenheflewgenlyroundhebed,fa

ingheboy’sforeheadwihhiswings“howcoolifeel,”saidheboy,“imusbegeingbeer;”andhesankinoadeliciousslumber

henheswallowflewbackohehappyprince,andoldhimwhahehaddone“iiscurious,”heremarked,“buifeelquiewarmnow,alhoughiissocold”

“haisbecauseyouhavedoneagoodacion,”saidheprinceandhelileswallowbeganohink,andhenhefellasleephinkingalwaysmadehimsleepy