The Prince And The Swallow (AKA The Happy Prince)

In this beautiful story by Oscar Wilde, a swallow decides not to fly south for the summer but to stay with his friend, the Golden Prince, and try to help the poor people of the city.
Music by PianoAmor

Transcript

Hello there, It's Mandy here. Thanks ever so much for joining me for this reading of The Happy Prince. It was written by the wonderful writer Oscar Wilde and was originally published In 1888. So go ahead and make yourself really comfortable. And we'll begin. The Happy Prince High above the city on a tall column stood The statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold. For Eyes he had two bright sapphires and a large red ruby glowed on his sword hilt. He was Very much admired indeed. He is as beautiful as a weathercock, Remarked one of the town Councillors who wished to gain a reputation for having artistic tastes. Only not quite So useful, He added, Fearing less people should think him unpractical, Which he really was not. Why can't you be like the Happy Prince, Asked a sensible mother of her little boy who was Crying for the moon. The Happy Prince never dreams of crying for anything. I am glad there Is someone in the world who is quite happy, Muttered a disappointed man as he gazed at The wonderful statue. He looks just like an angel, Said the charity children as they came Out of the cathedral in their bright scarlet cloaks and their clean white pinafores. How do you know, Said the mathematical master, You have never seen one. Ah, But we have, In our dreams, Answered the children. And the mathematical master Frowned and looked very severe, For he did not approve of children dreaming. One night there flew over the city a little swallow. His friends had gone away to Egypt six Weeks before, But he had stayed behind, For he was in love with the most beautiful reed. He had met her early in the spring, As he was flying down the river after a big yellow moth, And had been so attracted by her slender waist that he had stopped to talk to her. Shall I love you, Said the swallow, Who liked to come to the point at once, And the reed made him a low bow. So he flew round and round her, Touching the water with his wings And making silver ripples. This was his courtship, And it lasted all through the summer. It is a ridiculous attachment, Twittered the other swallows. She has no money and far too Many relations. And indeed, The river was quite full of reeds. Then, When the autumn came, They all flew away. After they'd gone, He felt lonely and began to tire of his lady love. She has no conversation, He said, And I am afraid that she is a coquette, For she is always flirting with the wind. And certainly, Whenever the wind blew, The reed made the most graceful curtsies. I admit that she is domestic, He continued, But I love travelling, And my wife, Consequently, Should love travelling also. Will you come away with me, He said finally to her. But the reed shook her head. She was So attached to her home. You have been trifling with me, He cried. I am off to the pyramids. Goodbye, And he flew away. All day long he flew, And at night time he arrived at the city. Where shall I put up, He said. I hope the town has made preparations. Then he saw the statue on the tall column. I will put up there, He cried. It is a fine Position with plenty of fresh air. So he alighted just between the feet of the happy prince. I have a golden bedroom, He said softly to himself as he looked round, And he prepared To go to sleep. But just as he was putting his head under his wing, A large drop of water fell On him. What a curious thing, He cried. There is not a single cloud in the sky. The stars are quite Clear and bright, And yet it is raining. The climate in the north of Europe is really dreadful. The reed used to like the rain, But that was merely her selfishness. Then another drop fell. What is the use of a statue if it cannot keep the rain off, He said. I must look for a good chimney pot, And he determined to fly away. But before he'd opened his wings, A third drop fell, And he looked up and saw. Ah, What did he see? The eyes of the happy prince were filled with tears, And tears were running down his golden Cheeks. His face was so beautiful in the moonlight that the little swallow was filled with pity. Who are you? He said. I am the happy prince. Why are you weeping then? Asked the swallow. You have quite drenched me. When I was alive and had a human heart, Answered the statue, I did not know what tears were, For I lived in the palace of Sans Souci, Where sorrow is not allowed To enter. In the daytime, I played with my companions in the garden, And in the evening, I led the dance in the great hall. Around the garden ran a very lofty wall, But I never cared To ask what lay beyond it. Everything about me was so beautiful. My courtiers called me The happy prince, And happy indeed I was, If pleasure be happiness. So I lived, And so I died. And now that I am dead, They have set me up here so high that I can see all the ugliness and all The misery of my city, And though my heart is made of lead, Yet I cannot choose but weep. What? Is he not solid gold? Said the swallow to himself, But he was too polite to make any Personal remarks out loud. Far away, Continued the statue in a low musical voice, Far away in a little Street there is a poor house. One of the windows is open, And through it I can see a woman seated At a table. Her face is thin and warm, And she has coarse red hands, All pricked by the needle, For she is a seamstress. She is embroidering passion flowers on a satin gown for the loveliest Of the queen's maids of honour to wear at the next court ball. In a bed in the corner of the room, Her little boy is lying ill. He has a fever and is asking for oranges. His mother has nothing to give him but river water, Though he is crying. Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Will you not bring her the ruby out of my sword hilt? My feet are fastened to this pedestal, And I cannot move. Oh, 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 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 come with 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 saw a young girl And asked her how she was doing. She said she was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. He said he was fine, And asked him how he was doing. A swallow in winter, And he wrote a long letter about it to the local newspaper. A swallow in winter, And he wrote a long letter about it to the local newspaper. A swallow in winter, And he wrote a long letter about it to the local newspaper. A swallow in winter, And he wrote a long letter about it to the local newspaper. A swallow in winter, And he wrote a long letter about it to the local newspaper. A swallow in winter, And he wrote a long letter about it to the local newspaper. A swallow in winter, And he wrote a long letter about it to the local newspaper. A swallow in winter, And he wrote a long letter about it to the local newspaper. A swallow in winter, And he wrote a long letter about it to the local newspaper. A swallow in winter, And he wrote a long letter about it to the local newspaper. A swallow in winter, And he wrote a long letter about it to the local newspaper. He visited all the public monuments and sat a long time on top of the church steeple. He visited all the public monuments and sat a long time on top of the church steeple. 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, Wherever he went, The sparrows chirruped and said to each other, Whatever he went, The sparrows chirruped and said to each other, Whatever he went, The sparrows chirruped and said to each other, Whatever he went, The sparrows chirruped and said to each other, Whatever he went, The sparrows chirruped and said to each other, Whatever he went, The sparrows chirruped and said to each other, Whatever he went, The sparrows chirruped and said to each other, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, Swallow, Swallow, Little swallow, Said the prince, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, In Egypt, The sun is warm on the green palm trees, Of the Prince, Who is as old as the world itself, And lives in the desert and knows everything, Of the Prince, 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 carry amber beads in their hands, Of the merchants, Who walk slowly by the side of their camels, And carry amber beads in their hands, Of the king of the mountains of the moon, Who is as black as ebony and worships a large crystal, Of the great green snake that sleeps in a palm tree, Of the great green snake that sleeps in a palm tree, And has twenty priests to feed it with honey cakes, And has twenty priests to feed it with honey cakes, And of the pygmies, Who sail over a big lake on large flat leaves, And of the pygmies, Who sail over a big lake on large flat leaves, And are always at war with the butterflies. And are always at war with the butterflies. Dear Little Swallow, Said the Prince, You tell me of marvellous things, You tell me of marvellous things, But more marvellous than anything Is the suffering of men and of women. There is no mystery so great as misery. There is no mystery so great as misery. Fly over my city, Little Swallow, And tell me what you see there. And tell me what you see there. So the Swallow flew over the great city And saw the rich making merry And saw the rich making merry In their beautiful houses, While the beggars were sitting at the gates. He flew into dark lanes And saw the white faces of starving children Looking out listlessly at the black streets. Looking out listlessly at the black streets. Under the archway of a bridge, Two little boys were lying in one another's arms To try and keep themselves warm. How hungry we are, They said. How hungry we are, They said. You must not lie here, Shouted the watchman, You must not lie here, Shouted the watchman, And they wandered out into the rain. Then the Swallow flew back And told the Prince what he had seen. And told the Prince what he had seen. I am covered with fine gold, Said the Prince. You must take it off, Leaf by leaf, And give it to my poor. The living always think that gold Can make them happy. Leaf after leaf of the fine gold The Swallow picked off, Till the happy Prince looked quite dull and grey. Till the happy Prince looked quite dull and grey. Leaf after leaf of the fine gold He brought to the poor. And the children's faces grew rosier, And they laughed and played games in the street. And they laughed and played games in the street. We have bread now, They cried. We have bread now, They cried. Then the snow came, And after the snow came the frost. The streets looked as if they were made of silver, They were so bright and glistening. Long icicles like crystal daggers Hung down from the eaves of the houses. Hung down from the eaves of the houses. Everybody went about in furs, And the little boys wore scarlet caps And skated on the ice. And the little boys wore scarlet caps And skated on the ice. The poor little Swallow grew colder and colder. The poor little Swallow grew colder and colder. But he would not leave the Prince, He loved him too much. He picked up crumbs outside the baker's door When the baker was not looking, And tried to keep himself warm By flapping his wings. But at last he knew he was going to die. He had just strength to fly up to the Prince's shoulder once more. He had just strength to fly up to the Prince's shoulder once more. He had just strength to fly up to the Prince's shoulder once more. Goodbye, Dear Prince, He murmured. Will you let me kiss your hand? I am glad that you are going to Egypt at last, I am glad that you are going to Egypt at last, Little Swallow, Said the Prince, For you have stayed here too long. But you must kiss me on the lips, For I love you. It's not to Egypt that I am going, It's not to Egypt that I am going, Said the Swallow. I am going to the house of Death. Death is the brother of sleep, Is he not? And he kissed the happy Prince on the lips, And fell down dead at his feet. And fell down dead at his feet. A curious crack sounded inside the statue, A curious crack sounded inside the statue, As if something had broken. The fact is that the leaden heart Had snapped right in two. It certainly was a dreadfully hard frost. It certainly was a dreadfully hard frost. Early the next morning, The Mayor was walking in the square below, In company with the town councillors. In company with the town councillors. As they passed the column, He looked up at the statue. Dear me, How shabby the happy Prince looks, He said. How shabby indeed, Cried the town councillors, Who always agreed with the Mayor. And they went up to look at it. The ruby has fallen out of his sword, His eyes are gone, And he is golden no longer, Said the Mayor. In fact, He is little better than a beggar. In fact, He is little better than a beggar. Little better than a beggar, Said the town councillors. And there's actually a dead bird at his feet, Continued the Mayor. We really must issue a proclamation That birds are not allowed to die here. That birds are not allowed to die here. And the town clerk made note of the suggestion. And the town clerk made note of the suggestion. So they pulled down the statue of the happy Prince. So they pulled down the statue of the happy Prince. As he is no longer beautiful, As he is no longer beautiful, He is no longer useful, Said the Art Professor at the University. Then they melted the statue in a furnace, Then they melted the statue in a furnace, And the Mayor held a meeting of the Corporation And the Mayor held a meeting of the Corporation To decide what was to be done with the metal. We must have another statue, Of course, He said. And it shall be a statue of myself, And it shall be a statue of myself, Of myself, Said each of the town councillors, And they quarrelled. When I last heard of them, They were quarrelling still. What a strange thing, Said the Overseer of the Workmen Said the Overseer of the Workmen At the Foundry. This broken lead heart will not melt in the furnace. We must throw it away. So they threw it on a dust heap, Where the dead swallow was also lying. Where the dead swallow was also lying. Bring me the two most precious things in the city, Bring me the two most precious things in the city, Said God to one of his angels. And the angel brought him The leaden heart and the dead bird. The leaden heart and the dead bird. You have rightly chosen, Said God, For in my Garden of Paradise This little bird shall sing forevermore, This little bird shall sing forevermore, And in my City of Gold A happy Prince shall praise me.

Reviews

Was this a redo? I know I’ve listened to this story before. But it did the trick in the middle of the night!! Bless you, Mandy, for recording so many great stories!!!