The Happy Prince, and Other Tales

rought her red roses," cried the young Studen

Nightingale heard him, and she looked

hat little things does happiness depend! I have read all that the wise men have written, and

fter night have I told his story to the stars, and now I see him. His hair is dark as the hyacinth-blossom, and his lips ar

with me till dawn. If I bring her a red rose, I shall hold her in my arms, and she will lean her head upon my shoulder, and her hand will be clasped

is a wonderful thing. It is more precious than emeralds, and dearer than fine opals. Pearls and pomegranates cannot buy it, nor

e harp and the violin. She will dance so lightly that her feet will not touch the floor, and the courtiers in their gay dresses will throng round her.

ttle Green Lizard, as he ran pa

tterfly, who was flutter

a Daisy to his neighbou

r a red rose," sa

idiculous!" and the little Lizard, who wa

e Student's sorrow, and she sat silent in the o

ared into the air. She passed through the grove like a

g a beautiful Rose-tree, and when she saw i

e cried, "and I will sin

ree shook

nd whiter than the snow upon the mountain. But go to my brother who gr

to the Rose-tree that was g

e cried, "and I will sin

ree shook

ne, and yellower than the daffodil that blooms in the meadow before the mower comes with his scythe. Bu

o the Rose-tree that was growi

e cried, "and I will sin

ree shook

coral that wave and wave in the ocean-cavern. But the winter has chilled my veins, and the frost h

he Nightingale, "only one red rose! I

Tree; "but it is so terrible

id the Nightingale,

our own heart's-blood. You must sing to me with your breast against a thorn. All night long you must sing

watch the Sun in his chariot of gold, and the Moon in her chariot of pearl. Sweet is the scent of the hawthorn, and sweet are the bluebells that hid

d into the air. She swept over the garden like a sh

grass, where she had left him, and the te

lood. All that I ask of you in return is that you will be a true lover, for Love is wiser than Philosophy, though she is wise, and mightier than Power, t

could not understand what the Nightingale was saying to him

for he was very fond of the little Nighting

whispered; "I shall feel ver

ak-tree, and her voice was like

tudent got up, and pulled a note-boo

y sincerity. She would not sacrifice herself for others. She thinks merely of music, and everybody knows that the arts are selfish. Still, it must be admitted that she has some beautiful notes in her voice. W

All night long she sang with her breast against the thorn, and the cold crystal Moon leaned down and listened. All

wing petal, as song followed song. Pale was it, at first, as the mist that hangs over the river-pale as the feet of the morning, and silver as the wings of the

nst the thorn. "Press closer, little Nightingale," cried t

and louder and louder grew her song, for she sang of

idegroom when he kisses the lips of the bride. But the thorn had not yet reached her heart, so the

nst the thorn. "Press closer, little Nightingale," cried t

rce pang of pain shot through her. Bitter, bitter was the pain, and wilder and wilder grew her

rose of the eastern sky. Crimson was the girdle

egan to beat, and a film came over her eyes. Fainter and fainter

it, and it trembled all over with ecstasy, and opened its petals to the cold morning air. Echo bore it to her purple cavern in the hills

w"; but the Nightingale made no answer, for she was ly

dent opened his win

have never seen any rose like it in all my life. It is so beautiful that

ran up to the Professor's ho

in the doorway winding blue silk on a reel

e Student. "Here is the reddest rose in all the world. You will wear it to-ni

girl f

, besides, the Chamberlain's nephew has sent me some real jewe

tudent angrily; and he threw the rose into the street, wh

you? Only a Student. Why, I don't believe you have even got silver buckles to your shoes

ng, and it is always telling one of things that are not going to happen, and making one believe things that are not true. In fact,

and pulled out a great du