The Happy Prince: Everything He Gave Away

A beautiful monument

The city loved its golden prince. Then, one night, he began giving himself away.

Rain from a clear sky

A swallow stopped beneath him on its way to Egypt. Something wet struck its feathers. Above it, the statue was crying.

Beyond the palace

Alive, the Prince had known only palace gardens. From his column, he could see the windows where no lamps were lit.

The unfinished gown

In one room, a seamstress bent over a rich woman’s gown. Her little boy lay feverish. She had water for him, but no fruit.

One night more

The Prince asked the swallow to carry the ruby from his sword to her table. The bird had meant to stay only one night.

A small kindness

It left the jewel beside her thimble, then fanned the child with its wings. His breathing softened. The bird stayed another night.

The first blue stone

Next came a young writer, too cold and hungry to finish his play. The Prince offered one sapphire eye. The swallow protested—then carried it.

The second blue stone

Then a match-girl dropped her matches in the gutter. Afraid to go home empty-handed, she received the Prince’s other eye.

No longer leaving

Now the Prince could not see. The swallow folded its wings against the bare cheek. Egypt would have to wait.

What remained

The bird became his eyes. It brought back news of hungry children. The Prince asked it to take his gold, leaf by leaf.

Gold that could feed

The bird carried the gold to hungry children. Small hands exchanged it for bread. The first snow began to fall.

The coldest night

The Prince was grey now. The swallow kissed him goodbye, and died at his feet. A crack sounded inside the statue. His lead heart had broken.

What the furnace left

The officials saw only a shabby monument. They pulled it down and melted it. But the broken heart would not melt.

The things they missed

They threw the heart beside the dead bird. When God asked for the city’s two most precious things, an angel carried those away.