夜莺与玫瑰-第14部分

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“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　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　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。　“How　cool　I　feel，”　said　the　boy，　“I　must　be　getting　better；”　and　he　sank　into　a　delicious　slumber。
Then　the　Swallow　flew　back　to　the　Happy　Prince，　and　told　him　what　he　had　done。　“It　is　curious，”　he　remarked，　“but　I　feel　quite　warm　now，　although　it　is　so　cold。”
“That　is　because　you　have　done　a　good　action，”　said　the　Prince。　And　the　little　Swallow　began　to　think，　and　then　he　fell　asleep。　Thinking　always　made　him　sleepy。
When　day　broke　he　flew　down　to　the　river　and　had　a　bath。　“What　a　remarkable　phenomenon，”　said　the　Professor　of　Ornithology　as　he　was　passing　over　the　bridge。　“A　swallow　in　winter！”　And　he　wrote　a　long　letter　about　it　to　the　local　newspaper。　Every　one　quoted　it，　it　was　full　of　so　many　words　that　they　could　not　understand。
“Tonight　I　go　to　Egypt，”　said　the　Swallow，　and　he　was　in　high　spirits　at　the　prospect。　He　visited　all　the　public　monuments，　and　sat　a　long　time　on　top　of　the　church　steeple。　Wherever　he　went　the　Sparrows　chirruped，　and　said　to　each　other，　“What　a　distinguished　stranger！”　so　he　enjoyed　himself　very　much。
When　the　moon　rose　he　flew　back　to　the　Happy　Prince。　“Have　you　any　missions　for　Egypt？”　he　cried；　“I　am　just　starting。”
“Swallow，　Swallow，　little　Swallow，”　said　the　Prince，　“will　you　not　stay　with　me　one　night　longer？”
“I　am　waited　for　in　Egypt，”　answered　the　Swallow。　“Tomorrow　my　friends　will　fly　up　to　the　Second　Cataract。　The　river…horse　couches　there　among　the　bulrushes，　and　on　a　great　granite　throne　sits　the　God　Memnon。　All　night　long　he　watches　the　stars，　and　when　the　morning　star　shines　he　utters　one　cry　of　joy，　and　then　he　is　silent。　At　noon　the　yellow　lions　e　down　to　the　water’s　edge　to　drink。　They　have　eyes　like　green　beryls，　and　their　roar　is　louder　than　the　roar　of　the　cataract。
“Swallow，　Swallow，　little　Swallow，”　said　the　Prince，　“far　away　across　the　city　I　see　a　young　man　in　a　garret。　He　is　leaning　over　a　desk　covered　with　papers，　and　in　a　tumbler　by　his　side　there　is　a　bunch　of　withered　violets。　His　hair　is　brown　and　crisp，　and　his　lips　are　red　as　a　pomegranate，　and　he　has　large　and　dreamy　eyes。　He　is　trying　to　finish　a　play　for　the　Director　of　the　Theatre，　but　he　is　too　cold　to　write　any　more。　There　is　no　fire　in　the　grate，　and　hunger　has　made　him　faint。”
“I　will　wait　with　you　one　night　longer，”　said　the　Swallow，　who　really　had　a　good　heart。　“Shall　I　take　him　another　ruby？”
“Alas！　I　have　no　ruby　now，”　said　the　Prince；　“my　eyes　are　all　that　I　have　left。　They　are　made　of　rare　sapphires，　which　were　brought　out　of　India　a　thousand　years　ago。　Pluck　out　one　of　them　and　take　it　to　him。　He　will　sell　it　to　the　jeweller，　and　buy　food　and　firewood，　and　finish　his　play。”
“Dear　Prince，”　said　the　Swallow，　“I　cannot　do　that”；　and　he　began　to　weep。
“Swallow，　Swallow，　little　Swallow，”　said　the　Prince，　“do　as　I　mand　you。”
So　the　Swallow　plucked　out　the　Prince’s　eye，　and　flew　away　to　the　student’s　garret。　It　was　easy　enough　to　get　in，　as　there　was　a　hole　in　the　roof。　Through　this　he　darted，　and　came　into　the　room。　The　young　man　had　his　head　buried　in　his　hands，　so　he　did　not　hear　the　flutter　of　the　bird’s　wings，　and　when　he　looked　up　he　found　the　beautiful　sapphire　lying　on　the　withered　violets。
“I　am　beginning　to　be　appreciated，”　he　cried；　“this　is　from　some　great　admirer。　Now　I　can　finish　my　play，”　and　he　looked　quite　happy。
The　next　day　the　Swallow　flew　down　to　the　harbour。　He　sat　on　the　mast　of　a　large　vessel　and　watched　the　sailors　hauling　big　chests　out　of　the　hold　with　ropes。　“Heave　a…hoy！”　they　shouted　as　each　chest　came　up。　“I　am　going　to　Egypt！”　cried　the　Swallow，　but　nobody　minded，　and　when　the　moon　rose　he　flew　back　to　the　Happy　Prince。
“I　am　e　to　bid　you　good…bye，”　he　cried。
“Swallow，　Swallow，　little　Swallow，”　said　the　Prince，　“will　you　not　stay　with　me　one　night　longer？”
“It　is　winter，”　answered　the　Swallow，　“and　the　chill　snow　will　soon　be　here。　In　Egypt　the　sun　is　warm　on　the　green　palm…trees，　and　the　crocodiles　lie　in　the　mud　and　look　lazily　about　them。　My　panions　are　building　a　nest　in　the　Temple　of　Baalbec，　and　the　pink　and　white　doves　are　watching　them，　and　cooing　to　each　other。　Dear　Prince，　I　must　leave　you，　but　I　will　never　forget　you，　and　next　spring　I　will　bring　you　back　two　beautiful　jewels　in　place　of　those　you　have　given　away。　The　ruby　shall　be　redder　than　a　red　rose，　and　the　sapphire　shall　be　as　blue　as　the　great　sea。”
“In　the　square　below，”　said　the　Happy　Prince，　“there　stands　a　little　match…girl。　She　has　let　her　matches　fall　in　the　gutter，　and　they　are　all　spoiled。　Her　father　will　beat　her　if　she　does　not　bring　home　some　money，　and　she　is　crying。　She　has　no　shoes　or　stockings，　and　her　little　head　is　bare。　Pluck　out　my　other　eye，　and　give　it　to　her，　and　her　father　will　not　beat　her。”
“I　will　stay　with　you　one　night　longer，”　said　the　Swallow，　“but　I　cannot　pluck　out　your　eye。　You　would　be　quite　blind　then。”
“Swallow，　Swallow，　little　Swallow，”　said　the　Prince，　“do　as　I　mand　you。”
So　he　plucked　out　the　Prince’s　other　eye，　and　darted　down　with　it。　He　swooped　past　the　match…girl，　and　slipped　the　jewel　into　the　palm　of　her　hand。　“What　a　lovely　bit　of　glass，”　cried　the　little　girl；　and　she　ran　home，　laughing。
Then　the　Swallow　came　back　to　the　Prince。　“You　are　blind　now，”　he　said，　“so　I　will　stay　with　you　always。”
“No，　little　Swallow，”　said　the　poor　Prince，　“you　must　go　away　to　Egypt。”
“I　will　stay　with　you　always，”　said　the　Swallow，　and　he　slept　at　the　Prince’s　feet。
All　the　next　day　he　sat　on　the　Prince’s　shoulder，　and　told　him　stories　of　what　he　had　seen　in　strange　lands。　He　told　him　of　the　red　ibises，　who　stand　in　long　rows　on　the　banks　of　the　Nile，　and　catch　gold…fish　in　their　beaks；　of　the　Sphinx，　who　is　as　old　as　the　world　itself，　and　lives　in　the　desert，　and　knows　everything；　of　the　merchants，　who　walk　slowly　by　the　side　of　their　camels，　and　c