Счастливый принц и другие сказки

           "Swallow,Swallow,littleSwallow,"saidthePrince,"willyounotstaywithmeforonenight,andbemymessenger?Theboyissothirsty,andthemothersosad."

           "Idon’tthinkIlikeboys,"answeredtheSwallow."Lastsummer,whenIwasstayingontheriver,thereweretworudeboys,themiller’ssons,whowerealwaysthrowingstonesatme.Theyneverhitme,ofcourse;weswallowsflyfartoowellforthat,andbesides,Icomeofafamilyfamousforitsagility;butstill,itwasamarkofdisrespect."

           ButtheHappyPrincelookedsosadthatthelittleSwallowwassorry."Itisverycoldhere,"hesaid;"butIwillstaywithyouforonenight,andbeyourmessenger."

           "Thankyou,littleSwallow,"saidthePrince.

           SotheSwallowpickedoutthegreatrubyfromthePrince’ssword,andflewawaywithitinhisbeakovertheroofsofthetown.

           Hepassedbythecathedraltower,wherethewhitemarbleangelsweresculptured.Hepassedbythepalaceandheardthesoundofdancing.Abeautifulgirlcameoutonthebalconywithherlover."Howwonderfulthestarsare,"hesaidtoher,"andhowwonderfulisthepoweroflove!"

           "IhopemydresswillbereadyintimefortheState-ball,"sheanswered;"Ihaveorderedpassion-flowerstobeembroideredonit;buttheseamstressesaresolazy."

           Hepassedovertheriver,andsawthelanternshangingtothemastsoftheships.HepassedovertheGhetto,andsawtheoldJewsbargainingwitheachother,andweighingoutmoneyincopperscales.