Agreatwhitemarblecolumnhadfallentothegroundandlaytherebrokeninthreepieces,butbetweenthesethemostlovelywhiteflowersgrew. TheswallowflewdownwithThumbelisaandputherupononeofthebroadleaves; whatwasherastonishmenttofindalittlemaninthemiddleoftheflower,asbrightandtransparentasifhehadbeenmadeofglass. Hehadalovelygoldencrownuponhisheadandthemostbeautifulbrightwingsuponhisshoulders; hewasnobiggerthanThumbelisa. Hewastheangeloftheflowers. Therewasasimilarlittlemanorwomanineveryflower,buthewasthekingofthemall. "Heavens,howbeautifulheis,"whisperedThumbelisatotheswallow. Thelittleprincewasquitefrightenedbytheswallow,foritwasaperfectgiantofabirdtohim,hewhowassosmallanddelicate, butwhenhesawThumbelisahewasdelighted; shewastheveryprettiestgirlhehadeverseen. Hethereforetookthegoldencrownoffhisownheadandplaceditonhers, andaskedhername,andifshewouldbehiswife,andthenshewouldbequeenoftheflowers! Yes,hewascertainlyaverydifferentkindofhusbandfromthetoad'sson,orthemolewithhisblackvelvetcoat. Sosheacceptedthebeautifulprince,andoutofeveryflowersteppedalittleladyoragentlemansolovelythatitwasapleasuretolookatthem. EachonebroughtagifttoThumbelisa,butthebestofallwasapairofprettywingsfromalargewhitefly; theywerefastenedontoherback,andthenshetoocouldflyfromflowertoflower. Allwasthendelightandhappiness,buttheswallowsataloneinhisnestandsangtothemaswellashecould,forhisheartwasheavy, hewassofondofThumbelisahimself,andwouldhavewishednevertopartfromher. "YoushallnotbecalledThumbelisa,"saidtheangeloftheflowertoher;"thatissuchanuglyname,andyouaresopretty.WewillcallyouMay." "Goodbye,goodbye,"saidtheswallow,andflewawayagainfromthewarmcountries,farawaybacktoDenmark; therehehadalittlenestabovethewindowwherethemanlivedwhowrotethisstory, andhesanghis"tweet,tweet,"totheman,andsowehavethewholestory. 
