The Nightingale by Hans Christian Andersen
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the nightingale

by Hans Christian Andersen

translation by H .P .Paull (1872)

in china, you_know, the emperor is a Chinese, and all those about him are Chinamen also . the story I_am going to_tell you happened a great_many years_ago, so it_is well to hear it now before_it_is forgotten . the emperor's palace was_the most beautiful in_the_world . it_was built entirely of porcelain, and very costly, but so delicate and brittle that whoever touched it_was obliged to_be careful . in_the garden could_be seen the most singular flowers, with pretty silver bells tied to_them, which tinkled so_that every_one who passed could_not help noticing the flowers . indeed, everything in_the emperor's garden was remarkable, and it extended so_far that_the gardener himself did_not know where it ended . those who travelled beyond its limits knew that there_was a noble forest, with lofty trees, sloping down to_the deep blue sea, and_the great ships sailed under the shadow of_its branches . in one_of_these trees lived a nightingale, who sang so beautifully that even the poor fishermen, who had so many_other things to_do, would stop and listen .Sometimes, when_they went at night to spread their nets, they_would hear her sing, and say, "Oh, is_not that beautiful ? " but when_they returned to_their fishing, they forgot the bird until the next night . then they_would hear it again, and exclaim "Oh, how beautiful is_the nightingale's song ! "

Travellers from every country in_the_world came to_the city of_the emperor, which they admired very_much, as_well as_the palace and gardens; but when_they heard the nightingale, they all declared it to_be the best of all . and_the travellers, on their return home, related what they had seen; and learned men wrote books, containing descriptions of_the town, the palace, and_the gardens; but they_did_not forget the nightingale, which_was really the greatest wonder . and those who_could write poetry composed beautiful verses about_the nightingale, who lived in a forest near the deep sea . the books travelled all over the world, and some_of_them came into_the hands of_the emperor; and he sat in_his golden chair, and, as he read, he nodded his approval every moment, for_it pleased him to_find such a beautiful description of_his city, his palace, and_his gardens . but when he_came to_the words, " the nightingale is_the most beautiful of all," he exclaimed, " what_is this ? I_know nothing of any nightingale . is_there such a bird in my empire ? and even in my garden ? I_have never heard of it . something, it appears, may_be learnt from books ."

then he_called one of_his lords- in-waiting, who was so high- bred, that when any in an inferior rank to himself spoke to him, or asked him a question, he_would answer, "Pooh," which_means nothing .

" there_is a very wonderful bird mentioned here, called a nightingale," said the emperor; " they say it_is_the best thing in my large kingdom . why have I not been told of it ? "

" I_have never heard the name," replied the cavalier; " she has_not_been presented at court ."

" it_is my pleasure that she shall appear this evening ." said the emperor; the whole world knows what I possess better than I_do myself ."

" I_have never heard of her," said the cavalier; " yet i_will endeavor to_find her ."

but where was_the nightingale to_be found ? the nobleman went up stairs and down, through halls and passages; yet none of_those whom he met had heard of_the bird . so he returned to_the emperor, and said that_it must_be a fable, invented by_those who had written the book ." your imperial majesty," said he, "cannot believe everything contained in books; sometimes they_are only fiction, or what_is called the black art ."

" but the book in_which I_have read this account," said the emperor, " was sent to_me by_the great and mighty emperor of Japan, and therefore it cannot contain a falsehood . i_will hear the nightingale, she_must be here this evening; she has my highest favor; and if she does_not come, the whole court shall be trampled upon after supper is ended ."

"Tsing-pe ! " cried the lord- in-waiting, and again he ran up and down stairs, through all the halls and corridors; and half the court ran with_him, for they_did_not like the idea of being trampled upon . there_was a great inquiry about_this wonderful nightingale, whom all the world knew, but who was unknown to_the court .

at last they met with a poor little girl in_the kitchen, who said, "Oh, yes, I_know the nightingale quite well; indeed, she_can sing . every evening I_have permission to_take home to my poor sick mother the scraps from_the table; she lives down by_the sea- shore, and as I come back I_feel tired, and I sit down in_the wood to rest, and listen to_the nightingale's song . then the tears come into my eyes, and it_is just as_if my mother kissed me ."

" little maiden," said the lord- in-waiting, " i_will obtain for_you constant employment in_the kitchen, and you_shall_have permission to_see the emperor dine, if_you_will lead us to_the nightingale; for she_is invited for_this evening to_the palace ." so she went into_the wood where the nightingale sang, and half the court followed her . as_they went along, acow began lowing .

"Oh," said a young courtier, " now we_have found her; what wonderful power for such a small creature; I_have certainly heard it before ."

" no, that_is only acow lowing," said the little girl; " we_are a long way from_the place yet ."

then some frogs began to croak in_the marsh .

" beautiful," said the young courtier again ." now I hear it, tinkling like little church bells ."

" no, those are frogs," said the little maiden; " but i_think we_shall soon hear her now:" and presently the nightingale began to sing .

" hark, hark ! there she_is," said the girl, " and there she sits," she added, pointing to a little gray bird who was perched on a bough .

" is_it possible ? " said the lord- in-waiting, "I never imagined it would_be a little, plain, simple thing like that . she has certainly changed color at seeing so_many grand people around her ."

" little nightingale," cried the girl, raising her voice, " our most gracious emperor wishes you to sing before him ."

" with_the greatest pleasure," said the nightingale, and began to sing most delightfully .

" it sounds like tiny glass bells," said the lord- in-waiting, " and_see how her little throat works . it_is surprising that we_have never heard this before; she will_be a great success at court ."

" shall I sing once more before_the emperor ? " asked the nightingale, who thought he_was present .

" my excellent little nightingale," said the courtier, " I_have the great pleasure of inviting you to a court festival this evening, where you_will gain imperial favor by your charming song ."

" my song sounds best in_the green wood," said the bird; but still she came willingly when she heard the emperor's wish .

the palace was elegantly decorated for_the occasion . the walls and floors of porcelain glittered in_the light of a thousand lamps . beautiful flowers, round which little bells were tied, stood in_the corridors: what with_the running to and fro and_the draught, these bells tinkled so loudly that no one could speak to_be heard . in_the centre of_the great hall, a golden perch had_been fixed for_the nightingale to sit on . the whole court was present, and_the little kitchen- maid had received permission to stand by_the door . she was not installed as a real court cook . all were in full dress, and every eye was turned to_the little gray bird when_the emperor nodded to her to_begin . the nightingale sang so sweetly that_the tears came into_the emperor's eyes, and then rolled down his cheeks, as her song became still more touching and went to every_one's heart . the emperor was so delighted that he declared the nightingale should_have his gold slipper to wear round her neck, but she declined the honor with thanks: she had_been sufficiently rewarded already ." I_have_seen tears in an emperor's eyes," she said, " that_is my richest reward . an emperor's tears have wonderful power, and_are quite sufficient honor for_me;" and then she sang again more enchantingly than ever .

" that singing is a lovely gift;" said the ladies of_the court to each_other; and then they took water in their mouths to_make them utter the gurgling sounds of_the nightingale when_they spoke to any_one, so thay they_might fancy themselves nightingales . and_the footmen and chambermaids also expressed their satisfaction, which_is saying a great deal, for they_are very difficult to_please . in_fact the nightingale's visit was most successful . she was now to remain at court, to_have her own cage, with liberty to_go out twice a day, and once during the night .Twelve servants were appointed to attend her on_these occasions, who each held her by a silken string fastened to her leg . there_was certainly not much pleasure in_this kind of flying .

the whole city spoke of_the wonderful bird, and when two people met, one said "nightin," and_the other said " gale," and_they understood what_was meant, for nothing else was talked of .Eleven peddlers' children were named after her, but not of_them could sing a note .

one day the emperor received a large packet on which_was written " the nightingale ." " here_is no_doubt a new book about our celebrated bird," said the emperor . but instead of a book, it_was a work of art contained in a casket, an artificial nightingale made to look like aliving one, and covered all over with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires . as_soon_as_the artificial bird was wound up, it could sing like the real one, and could move its tail up and down, which sparkled with silver and gold . round its neck hung a piece of ribbon, on which_was written " the emperor of china's nightingale is poor compared with_that of_the emperor of Japan's ."

" this_is very beautiful," exclaimed all who saw it, and he who had brought the artificial bird received the title of " imperial nightingale-bringer- in- chief ."

" now they_must sing together," said the court, " and what a duet it_will_be ." but they_did_not get on well, for_the real nightingale sang in its own natural way, but the artificial bird sang only waltzes .

" that_is_not a fault," said the music- master, " it_is quite perfect to my taste," so then it had to sing alone, and was as successful as_the real bird; besides, it_was so_much prettier to look at, for_it sparkled like bracelets and breast-pins . three and thirty times did it sing the same tunes without being tired; the people would gladly have heard it again, but the emperor said the living nightingale ought to sing something . but where was she ? no one had noticed her when she flew out at_the open window, back to her own green woods .

" what strange conduct," said the emperor, when her flight had_been discovered; and all the courtiers blamed her, and said she was a very ungrateful creature .

" but we_have the best bird after all," said one, and then they_would_have the bird sing again, although it was_the thirty- fourth time they had listened to_the same piece, and even then they had_not learnt it, for it_was rather difficult . but the music- master praised the bird in_the highest degree, and even asserted that_it_was better than a real nightingale, not_only in its dress and_the beautiful diamonds, but also in its musical power ." for you_must perceive, my chief lord and emperor, that with a real nightingale we_can never tell what_is going to_be sung, but with_this bird everything is settled . it can_be opened and explained, so_that people may understand how the waltzes are formed, and why one note follows upon another ."

" this_is exactly what we_think," they all replied, and then the music- master received permission to exhibit the bird to_the people on_the following Sunday, and_the emperor commanded that_they should_be present to hear it sing . when_they heard it they were like people intoxicated; however it must_have been with drinking tea, which_is quite a Chinese custom . they all said "Oh ! " and held up their forefingers and nodded, but a poor fisherman, who had heard the real nightingale, said, " it sounds prettily enough, and_the melodies are all alike; yet there seems something wanting, I_cannot exactly tell what ."

and after_this the real nightingale was banished from_the empire, and_the artificial bird placed on a silk cushion close to_the emperor's bed . the presents of gold and precious stones which had_been received with it were round the bird, and it_was now advanced to_the title of " little imperial toilet singer," and to_the rank of no .1 on_the left_hand; for_the emperor considered the left side, on_which the heart lies, as_the most noble, and_the heart of an emperor is in_the same place as_that of other people .

the music- master wrote a work, in twenty-five volumes, about_the artificial bird, which_was very learned and very long, and full of_the most difficult Chinese words; yet all the people said they had read it, and understood it, for fear of being thought stupid and having their bodies trampled upon .

so a year passed, and_the emperor, the

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