🧚 Opening, part 1 · page 2

“Your Royal Highness must know that not all that is written is true, and that much of it is invented,” said he.123

“But the last book I read,” said the Emperor, “was sent to me by the great ruler of Japan, so that it must be true, and I insist upon your bringing the Nightingale here this evening; if you do not, every one in this palace shall be trampled under foot.”124

“All right, your Majesty,” said the First Lord; and he ran up and down the stairs, through halls and corridors, and as he told the people what would happen to them if the Nightingale were not brought there that evening they all followed him, because they had no wish to be trampled under foot, and all were most curious to know about this wonderful Nightingale which it seemed that everybody in the world knew about except those who lived in the palace.125

At last they met a poor little girl in the kitchen who said, “Why, I know the Nightingale, and I have often heard her sing.126 Every night when I go home to my Mother I am so tired that I sit and rest for a little while in the wood, and then I hear the Nightingale sing, and it is so wonderful that it always brings tears to my eyes.”127

“Then,” said the First Lord, “little kitchen maid, if you can lead us to this Nightingale you shall have leave to see the Emperor at dinner this evening, for she is invited by His Majesty to come and sing to him.”128 Then they all went into the garden where the Nightingale lived, and on the way they heard the mooing of a cow.129

“Oh, this must be the Nightingale!130 How wonderful that such a little bird has such a tremendous voice!” said they.131

“That is not a bird singing, that is a cow mooing,” said the little kitchen maid.132 “We have a long way to go yet.”133

A little farther on they heard some frogs croaking in the marsh.134 The Chinese Chaplain was with them and he said, “How sublime!135 That is just like the ringing of a church bell.”136

“Why,” said the little kitchen maid, “those are frogs croaking, but very soon we shall hear her.”137

Just then the Nightingale began to sing.138

“Hark!” cried the little girl.139 “Listen!” and pointing to a little bird sitting up in the branches, said, “There she is.”140

“It doesn’t seem possible that so very common looking a bird as that can sing,” said the First Lord.141 “It must be that she has lost her brilliant plumage because there are so many distinguished people here.”142

Then the little kitchen maid called out, “Little Nightingale, our gracious Emperor invites you to sing before him this evening!”143

“It will give me great pleasure to do so,” said the Nightingale; and then she began to sing so gloriously that they were all entranced.144 The First Lord said, “I have never heard anything so beautiful before.145 His Majesty will be delighted.”146

The Nightingale, thinking the First Lord was the Emperor, said, “Shall I sing again for your Majesty?”147

“My dear little bird,” said the First Lord, “His Most Gracious Highness has sent me to invite you to his palace this evening so that he may listen to your charming song.”148

“It’s much better out here in the forest,” replied the Nightingale, but when she heard that the Emperor wished her to go to the palace, she gladly offered to go with them.149

At the palace everything was splendidly prepared.150 The many lights made the porcelain walls and floors glitter, and the gorgeous tinkling flowers helped to make the place look very beautiful.151 The people moving back and forth caused the little golden bells to tinkle all the time.152 In the center of the great hall, in which was the Emperor’s throne, was a golden perch, put there for the Nightingale.153 The whole court was present, and the little kitchen maid, who had shown the First Lord where the bird could be found, was allowed to stand behind the door where she could see and hear everything.154 All were dressed in their best clothes and everyone looked toward the little bird, whom the Emperor requested to commence singing.155

And how the Nightingale did sing!156 Very soon the tears came into the Emperor’s eyes and ran down his cheeks.157 At this the Nightingale sang even more beautifully, and the heart of everyone was touched.158 The Emperor was so delighted that he said she should wear the golden necklace around her neck, but the Nightingale said that she had already received a sufficient reward, for she had brought tears to the eyes of the Emperor.159

Even the servants, who were always most difficult to please, said that they were greatly touched.160 This in itself proved how successful was the Nightingale’s concert.161

The Emperor requested her to stay at the court, and he gave her a large golden cage and allowed her to go out twice every day.162 He provided her with twelve servants, each of whom held a silken string which was fastened to her leg, and you may be sure that she found but little pleasure flying about, hampered in this way.163

Very soon everyone in the city was talking about the wonderful bird, and even the tradesmen’s children were all named after her, although none of them could sing a note.164

Some time after this the Emperor received a large parcel on which was written “The Nightingale.”165

“This must be another book about our famous bird,” said the Emperor.166

But he was mistaken, for it was a mechanical toy, an artificial Nightingale which looked something like a real bird but was covered with jewels.167 When it was wound up it could sing the piece the real bird sang, and moved its tail up and down.168 Around its neck was a collar on which was written: “The Nightingale of the Emperor of Japan cannot be compared with that of the Emperor of China.”169

“How wonderful!” said everyone, and the man who had brought the clock-work bird was given the title of “Bringer of the Imperial First Nightingale.”170

They sang together, but it did not sound well, for the real Nightingale sang her own song, and the clock-work bird sang waltzes.171

“It isn’t its fault!” said the bandmaster.172 “It keeps very good time and is quite after my style.”173

Then the artificial bird had to sing alone.174 It was very pleasant to listen to, and it was also pretty to look at, as the jewels with which it was covered sparkled so.175 It sang the same piece many times without becoming tired, and then the Emperor thought that the real Nightingale should sing again.176 But she was not to be found; the window was open and without anybody seeing her go, she had flown away to her beloved forest.177

The Emperor was very angry when it was discovered that the real bird had gone away, and everyone agreed that it was a very ungracious thing for her to have done.178 But they all said that the bird sent by the Japanese ruler was the better of the two, and especially did the bandmaster praise it.179 He said that one knew just what to expect from the artificial bird, but the real one would sing the most unusual tunes.180 The bird they had now could be opened, and the inside shown and explained, but if this were done to the other it would die.181