「故事與詩歌」Winter Is Coming (Excerpt)

Winter Is Coming (Excerpt)

Oscar Wilde

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 come 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 companions 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."

(from The Happy Prince)