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 Swallow flew over the great city , and saw the rich making merry in their beautiful houses , while the beggars were sitting at the gates . He flew into dark lanes , and saw the white faces of starving children looking out listlessly at the black streets . Under the archway of a bridge two little boys were lying in one another 's arms to try and keep themselves warm . `` How hungry we are ! '' they said . `` You must not lie here , '' shouted the Watchman , and they wandered out into the rain . Then he flew back and told the Prince what he had seen . `` I am covered with fine gold , '' said the Prince , `` you must take it off , leaf by leaf , and give it to my poor ; the living always think that gold can make them happy . '' Leaf after leaf of the fine gold the Swallow picked off , till the Happy Prince looked quite dull and grey . Leaf after leaf of the fine gold he brought to the poor , and the children 's faces grew rosier , and they laughed and played games in the street . `` We have bread now ! '' they cried . Then the snow came , and after the snow came the frost . The streets looked as if they were made of silver , they were so bright and glistening ; long icicles like crystal daggers hung down from the eaves of the houses , everybody went about in furs , and the little boys wore scarlet caps and skated on the ice . The poor little Swallow grew colder and colder , but he would not leave the Prince , he loved him too well .
He XXXXX up crumbs outside the baker 's door when the baker was not looking and tried to keep himself warm by flapping his wings .
carry cried hung lying picked said told walk wandered wore