"He

is

 trying

 to

finish

a

play

for

 the

Director

of

 the

 Theatre,

but

 he

is

too

cold

to

write

any

more.

There

 is

no

fire

in

the

grate,
　

and

hunger

 has

made

him

faint."

"Dear

Prince,"

said the Swallow,

 "I

cannot

do

that";

and he began

to weep.

"Swallow,

 Swallow,

 little

Swallow,"

said the Prince,

 "do

as

I
command

 you."

"Alas!

 I have

no

ruby

 now,"

said the Prince;

"my

eyes

are

all

that

I  have

 left.

They

are

made

 of

rare

 sapphires,

which

 were

 brought

out

 of

India

a thousand

 years

ago.

 Pluck

out

 one

of

them

and

 take

 it to

 him.

 He

 will

 sell

it to

 the

jeweler,

 and

buy

food

and
　

firewood,

and

 finish

 his

 play."

"I

will

 wait

 with

 you

one

night

 longer,"

 said the Swallow,

who really had

a good heart.

"Shall

I

take

 him

another

ruby?"
　

"Swallow,

 Swallow,

little

Swallow,"

said the Prince,

"far

 away

across

the

 city

 I see

a young

man

in

a garret."