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“I am covered with fine gold,” said the Prince.

“You must take it off leaf by leaf and give it to the poor.”

Leaf after leaf of the fine gold, the

Swallow picked off till the Prince
looked quite dull and grey. The poor
little Swallow grew colder and colder.

And he knew he was dying. He flew
up to the Prince’s shoulder and said

‘Good bye’, dear Prince! Then he
kissed the Prince one last time and
fell down dead at his feet.

At that very moment, a curious crack sounded inside the statue, as if something had broken.

The leaden heart had snapped right in two. The next day, the Mayor passed that way.

“Dear me! How shabby the Happy Prince looks!” he said.

“How shabby indeed”! cried the Town councillors. So, they pulled down the statue of the
Happy Prince. They decided to throw the broken lead heart away. They threw it on a dust
heap where the dead Swallow lay dead.

“Bring me the two most precious things in the city,” said God to one of his Angels and the
Angels brought Him the leaden heart and the dead bird.

“You have rightly chosen the two most precious things,” said God, “for my garden of paradise.
This little bird shall sing forever, and in my city of gold, the Happy Prince shall praise me.”

– Oscar Wilde
Word Power

column: an upright pillar gilded: covered thinly all over
sapphire: a precious gemstone ruby: a pinkish red gemstone
hilt: handle of a tool (sword or dagger) muttered: said something in a low voice

cathedral: church cloak: long coat
pinafore: a sleeveless dress worn over a top severe: serious
frowned: showed expression of anger or displeasure swallow: a kind of bird
alighted: descend or come down slumber: deep sleep
garret: top floor or attic room (a small one) gutter: drainage channel

grate: a framework of metalbars in a fireplace which holds the coal or wood
swooped: (of a bird) moved rapidly downwards through the air crack: break
snapped: broke leaden: like lead; heavy

shabby: dirty paradise: heaven

113 Arrow - English Plus-7