The Prince

Little better than a beggar, said the Town Councillors. And here is actually a dead bird at his feet! continued the Mayor. We must really issue a proclamation that birds are not to be allowed to die here. And the Town Clerk made a note of the suggestion. So they pulled down the statue of the Happy Prince. 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, 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. 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 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. 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. You have rightly chosen, said God, for in my garden of Paradise this little bird shall sing for evermore, and in my city of gold the Happy Prince shall praise me.