o　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　had　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

3　The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

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

panions　in　the　garden；　and　in　the　evening　I　led　the　dance　in　the　Great

Hall。　Round　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　u