`` In the square below , '' said the Happy Prince , `` there stands a little match-girl . She has let her matches fall in the gutter , and they are all spoiled . Her father will beat her if she does not bring home some money , and she is crying . She has no shoes or stockings , and her little head is bare . Pluck out my other eye , and give it to her , and her father will not beat her . '' `` I will stay with you one night longer , '' said the Swallow , `` but I can not pluck out your eye . You would be quite blind then . '' `` Swallow , Swallow , little Swallow , '' said the Prince , `` do as I command you . '' So he plucked out the Prince 's other eye , and darted down with it . He swooped past the match-girl , and slipped the jewel into the palm of her hand . `` What a lovely bit of glass , '' cried the little girl ; and she ran home , laughing . Then the Swallow came back to the Prince . `` You are blind now , '' he said , `` so I will stay with you always . '' `` No , little Swallow , '' said the poor Prince , `` you must go away to Egypt . '' `` I will stay with you always , '' said the Swallow , and he slept at the Prince 's feet . All the next day he sat on the Prince 's shoulder , and told him stories of what he had seen in strange lands . He told him of the red ibises , who stand in long rows on the banks of the Nile , and catch gold-fish in their beaks ; of the Sphinx , who is as old as the world itself , and lives in the desert , and knows everything ; of the merchants , who walk slowly by the side of their camels , and carry amber beads in their hands ; of the King of the Mountains of the Moon , who is as black as ebony , and worships a large crystal ; of the great green snake that sleeps in a palm-tree , and has twenty priests to feed it with honey-cakes ; and of the pygmies who sail over a big lake on large flat leaves , and are always at war with the butterflies . `` Dear little Swallow , '' said the Prince , `` you tell me of marvellous things , but more marvellous than anything is the suffering of men and of women . There is no Mystery so great as Misery . Fly over my city , little Swallow , and tell me what you see there . ''
So the XXXXX flew over the great city , and saw the rich making merry in their beautiful houses , while the beggars were sitting at the gates .
Moon Nile Swallow beaks honey-cakes ibises match-girl night palm-tree war