The Nightingale · page 21 2101‘Here is another new book about our famous bird!’ said the Emperor.102But it was not a book, but a little mechanical toy, which lay in a box--an artificial nightingale which was like the real one, only that it was set all over with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires.103When it was wound up, it could sing the piece the real bird sang, and moved its tail up and down, and glittered with silver and gold.104Round its neck was a little collar on which was written, ‘The Nightingale of the Emperor of Japan is nothing compared to that of the Emperor of China.’105‘This is magnificent!’ they all said, and the man who had brought the clockwork bird received on the spot the title of ‘Bringer of the Imperial First Nightingale.’106‘Now they must sing together; what a duet we shall have!’107And so they sang together, but their voices did not blend, for the real Nightingale sang in her way and the clockwork bird sang waltzes.108‘It is not its fault!’ said the bandmaster; ‘it keeps very good time and is quite after my style!’109Then the artificial bird had to sing alone.110It gave just as much pleasure as the real one, and then it was so much prettier to look at; it sparkled like bracelets and necklaces.111Three-and-thirty times it sang the same piece without being tired.112People would like to have heard it again, but the Emperor thought that the living Nightingale should sing now--but where was she?113No one had noticed that she had flown out of the open window away to her green woods.114‘What SHALL we do!’ said the Emperor.115And all the Court scolded, and said that the Nightingale was very ungrateful.116‘But we have still the best bird!’ they said and the artificial bird had to sing again, and that was the thirty-fourth time they had heard the same piece.117But they did not yet know it by heart; it was much too difficult.118And the bandmaster praised the bird tremendously; yes, he assured them it was better than a real nightingale, not only because of its beautiful plumage and diamonds, but inside as well.119‘For see, my Lords and Ladies and your Imperial Majesty, with the real Nightingale one can never tell what will come out, but all is known about the artificial bird!120You can explain it, you can open it and show people where the waltzes lie, how they go, and how one follows the other!’121‘That’s just what we think!’ said everyone; and the bandmaster received permission to show the bird to the people the next Sunday.122They should hear it sing, commanded the Emperor.123And they heard it, and they were as pleased as if they had been intoxicated with tea, after the Chinese fashion, and they all said ‘Oh!’ and held up their forefingers and nodded time.124But the poor fishermen who had heard the real Nightingale said: ‘This one sings well enough, the tunes glide out; but there is something wanting--I don’t know what!’125The real Nightingale was banished from the kingdom.126The artificial bird was put on silken cushions by the Emperor’s bed, all the presents which it received, gold and precious stones, lay round it, and it was given the title of Imperial Night-singer, First from the left.127For the Emperor counted that side as the more distinguished, being the side on which the heart is; the Emperor’s heart is also on the left.128And the bandmaster wrote a work of twenty-five volumes about the artificial bird.129It was so learned, long, and so full of the hardest Chinese words that everyone said they had read it and understood it; for once they had been very stupid about a book, and had been trampled under foot in consequence.130So a whole year passed.131The Emperor, the Court, and all the Chinese knew every note of the artificial bird’s song by heart.132But they liked it all the better for this; they could even sing with it, and they did.133The street boys sang ‘Tra-la-la-la-la, and the Emperor sang too sometimes.134It was indeed delightful.135But one evening, when the artificial bird was singing its best, and the Emperor lay in bed listening to it, something in the bird went crack.136Something snapped!137Whir-r-r! all the wheels ran down and then the music ceased.138The Emperor sprang up, and had his physician summoned, but what could HE do!139Then the clockmaker came, and, after a great deal of talking and examining, he put the bird somewhat in order, but he said that it must be very seldom used as the works were nearly worn out, and it was impossible to put in new ones.140Here was a calamity!141Only once a year was the artificial bird allowed to sing, and even that was almost too much for it.142But then the bandmaster made a little speech full of hard words, saying that it was just as good as before.143And so, of course, it WAS just as good as before.144So five years passed, and then a great sorrow came to the nation.145The Chinese look upon their Emperor as everything, and now he was ill, and not likely to live it was said.146Already a new Emperor had been chosen, and the people stood outside in the street and asked the First Lord how the old Emperor was.147‘P!’ said he, and shook his head.148Cold and pale lay the Emperor in his splendid great bed; the whole Court believed him dead, and one after the other left him to pay their respects to the new Emperor.149Everywhere in the halls and corridors cloth was laid down so that no footstep could be heard, and everything was still--very, very still.150And nothing came to break the silence.151The Emperor longed for something to come and relieve the monotony of this deathlike stillness.checked by a teacher152If only someone would speak to him!153If only someone would sing to him.154Music would carry his thoughts away, and would break the spell lying on him.155The moon was streaming in at the open window; but that, too, was silent, quite silent.156‘Music! music!’ cried the Emperor.157‘You little bright golden bird, sing! do sing!158I gave you gold and jewels; I have hung my gold slipper round your neck with my own hand--sing! do sing!’159But the bird was silent.160There was no one to wind it up, and so it could not sing.161And all was silent, so terribly silent!162All at once there came in at the window the most glorious burst of song.163It was the little living Nightingale, who, sitting outside on a bough, had heard the need of her Emperor and had come to sing to him of comfort and hope.164And as she sang the blood flowed quicker and quicker in the Emperor’s weak limbs, and life began to return.165‘Thank you, thank you!’ said the Emperor.166‘You divine little bird!167I know you.168I chased you from my kingdom, and you have given me life again!169How can I reward you?’170‘You have done that already!’ said the Nightingale.171‘I brought tears to your eyes the first time I sang.172I shall never forget that.173They are jewels that rejoice a singer’s heart.174But now sleep and get strong again; I will sing you a lullaby.’175And the Emperor fell into a deep, calm sleep as she sang.176The sun was shining through the window when he awoke, strong and well.177None of his servants had come back yet, for they thought he was dead.178But the Nightingale sat and sang to him.179‘You must always stay with me!’ said the Emperor.180‘You shall sing whenever you like, and I will break the artificial bird into a thousand pieces.’181‘Don’t do that!’ said the Nightingale.182‘He did his work as long as he could.183Keep him as you have done!184I cannot build my nest in the Palace and live here; but let me come whenever I like.185I will sit in the evening on the bough outside the window, and I will sing you something that will make you feel happy and grateful.186I will sing of joy, and of sorrow; I will sing of the evil and the good which lies hidden from you.187The little singing-bird flies all around, to the poor fisherman’s hut, to the farmer’s cottage, to all those who are far away from you and your Court.188I love your heart more than your crown, though that has about it a brightness as of something holy.189Now I will sing to you again; but you must promise me one thing----’190‘Anything!’ said the Emperor, standing up in his Imperial robes, which he had himself put on, and fastening on his sword richly embossed with gold.191‘One thing I beg of you!192Don’t tell anyone that you have a little bird who tells you everything.193It will be much better not to!’194Then the Nightingale flew away.195The servants came in to look at their dead Emperor.196The Emperor said, ‘Good-morning!’1 2← previousThe Witch in the Stone Boat(31)next →Hermod and Hadvor (32)↑ back to The Yellow Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg640/48/page/2/