安徒生童话-第78部分

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Travellers　from　every　country　in　the　world　came　to　the　city　of　theemperor；　which　they　admired　very　much；　as　well　as　the　palace　andgardens；　but　when　they　heard　the　nightingale；　they　all　declared　itto　be　the　best　of　all。　And　the　travellers；　on　their　return　home；related　what　they　had　seen；　and　learned　men　wrote　books；　containingdescriptions　of　the　town；　the　palace；　and　the　gardens；　but　they　didnot　forget　the　nightingale；　which　was　really　the　greatest　wonder。And　those　who　could　write　poetry　posed　beautiful　verses　about　thenightingale；　who　lived　in　a　forest　near　the　deep　sea。　The　bookstravelled　all　over　the　world；　and　some　of　them　came　into　the　handsof　the　emperor；　and　he　sat　in　his　golden　chair；　and；　as　he　read；　henodded　his　approval　every　moment；　for　it　pleased　him　to　find　such　abeautiful　description　of　his　city；　his　palace；　and　his　gardens。　Butwhen　he　came　to　the　words；　〃the　nightingale　is　the　most　beautiful　ofall；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃What　is　this？　I　know　nothing　of　anynightingale。　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　frombooks。〃

Then　he　called　one　of　his　lords…in…waiting；　who　was　sohigh…bred；　that　when　any　in　an　inferior　rank　to　himself　spoke　tohim；　or　asked　him　a　question；　he　would　answer；　〃Pooh；〃　which　meansnothing。

〃There　is　a　very　wonderful　bird　mentioned　here；　called　anightingale；〃　said　the　emperor；　〃they　say　it　is　the　best　thing　in　mylarge　kingdom。　Why　have　I　not　been　told　of　it？〃

〃I　have　never　heard　the　name；〃　replied　the　cavalier；　〃she　hasnot　been　presented　at　court。〃

〃It　is　my　pleasure　that　she　shall　appear　this　evening。〃　said　theemperor；　the　whole　world　knows　what　I　possess　better　than　I　domyself。〃

〃I　have　never　heard　of　her；〃　said　the　cavalier；　〃yet　I　willendeavor　to　find　her。〃

But　where　was　the　nightingale　to　be　found？　The　nobleman　went　upstairs　and　down；　through　halls　and　passages；　yet　none　of　those　whom　hemet　had　heard　of　the　bird。　So　he　returned　to　the　emperor；　and　saidthat　it　must　be　a　fable；　invented　by　those　who　had　written　the　book。〃Your　imperial　majesty；〃　said　he；　〃cannot　believe　everything　containedin　books；　sometimes　they　are　only　fiction；　or　what　is　called　the　blackart。〃

〃But　the　book　in　which　I　have　read　this　account；〃　said　theemperor；　〃was　sent　to　me　by　the　great　and　mighty　emperor　of　Japan；　andtherefore　it　cannot　contain　a　falsehood。　I　will　hear　thenightingale；　she　must　be　here　this　evening；　she　has　my　highestfavor；　and　if　she　does　not　e；　the　whole　court　shall　be　trampledupon　after　supper　is　ended。〃

〃Tsing…pe！〃　cried　the　lord…in…waiting；　and　again　he　ran　up　anddown　stairs；　through　all　the　halls　and　corridors；　and　half　the　courtran　with　him；　for　they　did　not　like　the　idea　of　being　trampled　upon。There　was　a　great　inquiry　about　this　wonderful　nightingale；　whom　allthe　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　motherthe　scraps　from　the　table；　she　lives　down　by　the　sea…shore；　and　as　Ie　back　I　feel　tired；　and　I　sit　down　in　the　wood　to　rest；　and　listento　the　nightingale's　song。　Then　the　tears　e　into　my　eyes；　and　it　isjust　as　if　my　mother　kissed　me。〃

〃Little　maiden；〃　said　the　lord…in…waiting；　〃I　will　obtain　foryou　constant　employment　in　the　kitchen；　and　you　shall　havepermission　to　see　the　emperor　dine；　if　you　will　lead　us　to　thenightingale；　for　she　is　invited　for　this　evening　to　the　palace。〃　Soshe　went　into　the　wood　where　the　nightingale　sang；　and　half　thecourt　followed　her。　As　they　went　along；　a　cow　began　lowing。

〃Oh；〃　said　a　young　courtier；　〃now　we　have　found　her；　whatwonderful　power　for　such　a　small　creature；　I　have　certainly　heard　itbefore。〃

〃No；　that　is　only　a　cow　lowing；〃　said　the　little　girl；　〃we　are　along　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　weshall　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　itwould　be　a　little；　plain；　simple　thing　like　that。　She　has　certainlychanged　color　at　seeing　so　many　grand　people　around　her。〃

〃Little　nightingale；〃　cried　the　girl；　raising　her　voice；　〃our　mostgracious　emperor　wishes　you　to　sing　before　him。〃

〃With　the　greatest　pleasure；〃　said　the　nightingale；　and　began　tosing　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　havenever　heard　this　before；　she　will　be　a　great　success　at　court。〃

〃Shall　I　sing　once　more　before　the　emperor？〃　asked　thenightingale；　who　thought　he　was　present。

〃My　excellent　little　nightingale；〃　said　the　courtier；　〃I　havethe　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；　butstill　she　came　willingly　when　she　heard　the　emperor's　wish。

The　palace　was　elegantly　decorated　for　the　occasion。　The　walls　andfloors　of　porcelain　glittered　in　the　light　of　a　thousand　lamps。Beautiful　flowers；　round　which　little　bells　were　tied；　stood　in　thecorridors：　what　with　the　running　to　and　fro　and　the　draught；　thesebells　tinkled　so　loudly　that　no　one　could　speak　to　be　heard。　In　thecentre　of　the　great　hall；　a　golden　perch　had　been　fixed　for　thenightingale　to　sit　on。　The　whole　court　was　present；　and　the　littlekitchen…maid　had　received　permission　to　stand　by　the　door。　She　was　notinstalled　as　a　real　court　cook。　All　were　in　full　dress；　and　everyeye　was　turned　to　the　little　gray　bird　when　the　emperor　nodded　toher　to　begin。　The　nightingale　sang　so　sweetly　that　the　tears　came　intothe　emperor's　eyes；　and　then　rolled　down　his　cheeks；　as　her　songbecame　still　more　touching　and　went　to　every　one's　heart。　Theemperor　was　so　delighted　that　he　declared　the　nightingale　shouldhave　his　gold　slipper　to　wear　round　her　neck；　but　she　declined　thehonor　with　thanks：　she　had　been　sufficiently　rewarded　already。　〃I　haveseen　tears　in　an　emperor's　eyes；〃　she　said；　〃that　is　my　richestreward。　An　emperor's　tears　have　wonderful　power；　and　are　quitesufficient　honor　for　me；〃　and　then　she　sang　again　more　enchantinglythan　ever。

〃That　singing　is　a　lovely　gift；〃　said　the　ladies　of　the　court　toeach　other；　and　then　they　took　water　in　their　mouths　to　make　themutter　the　gurgling　sounds　of　the　nightingale　when　they　spoke　to　anyone；　so　thay　they　might　fancy　themselves　nightingales。　And　the　footmenand　chambermaids　also　expressed　their　satisfaction；　which　is　sayinga　great　deal；　for　they　are　very　difficult　to　please。　In　fact　thenightingale's　visit　was　most　successful。　She　was　now　to　remain　atcourt；　to　have　her　own　cage；　with　liberty　to　go　out　twice　a　day；　andonce　during　the　night。　Twelve　servants　were　appointed　to　attend　her　onthese　occasions；　who　each　held　her　by　a　silken　string　fastened　toher　leg。　There　was　certainly　not　much　pleasure　in　this　kind　of　flying。

The　whole　city　spoke　of　the　wonderful　bird；　and　when　two　peoplemet；　one　said　〃nightin；〃　and　the　other　said　〃gale；〃　and　theyunderstood　what　was　meant；　for　nothing　else　was　talked　of。　Elevenpeddlers'　children　were　named　after　her；　but　not　of　them　could　singa　note。

One　day　the　emperor　received　a　large　packet　on　which　was　written〃The　Nightingale。〃　〃Here　is　no　doubt　a　new　book　about　our　celebratedbird；〃　said　the　emperor。　But　instead　of　a　book；　it　was　a　work　of　artcontained　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　thereal　one；　and　could　move　its　tail　up　and　down；　which　sparkled　withsilver　and　gold。　Round　its　neck　hung　a　piece　of　ribbon；　on　which　waswritten　〃The　Emperor　of　China's　nightingale　is　poor　pared　with　thatof　the　Emperor　of　Japan's。〃

〃This　is　very　beautiful；〃　exclaimed　all　who　saw　it；　and　he　who　hadbrought　the　artificial　bird　received　the　title　of　〃Imperialnightingale…bringer…in…chief。〃

〃Now　they　must　sing　together；〃　said　the　court；　〃and　what　a　duet　itwill　be。〃　But　they　did　not　get　on　well；　for　the　real　nightingalesang　in　its　own　natural　way；　but　the　artificial　bird　sang　onlywaltzes。

〃That　is　not　a　fault；〃　said　the　music…master；　〃it　is　quite　perfectto　my　taste；〃　so　then　it　had　to　sing　alone；　and　was　as　successful　asthe　real　bird；　besides；　it　was　so　much　prettier　to　look　at；　for　itsparkled　like　bracelets　and　breast…pins。　Three　and　thirty　times　did　itsing　the　same　tunes　without　being　tired；　the　people　would　gladlyhave　heard　it　again；　but　the　emperor　said　the　living　nightingale　oughtto　sing　something。　But　where　was　she？　No　one　had　noticed　her　whenshe　flew　out　at　the　open　window；　back　to　her　own　green　woods。

〃What　strange　conduct；〃　said　the　emperor；　when　her　flight　had　beendiscovered；　and　all　the　courtiers　blamed　her；　and　said　she　was　avery　ungrateful　creature。

〃But　we　have　the　best　bird　after　all；〃　said　one；　and　then　theywould　have　the　bird　sing　again；　although　it　was　the　thirty…fourth　timethey　had　listened　to　the　same　piece；　and　even　then　they　had　not　learntit；　for　it　was　rather　difficult。　But　the　music…master　praised　the　birdin　the　highest　degree；　and　even　asserted　that　it　was　better　than　areal　nightingale；　not　only　in　its　dress　and　the　beautiful　diamonds；but　also　in　its　musical　power。　〃For　you　must　perceive；　my　chief　lordand　emperor；　that　with　a　real　nightingale　we　can　never　tell　what　isgoing　to　be　sung；　but　with　this　bird　everything　is　settled。　It　canbe　opened　and　explained；　so　that　people　may　understand　how　the　waltzesare　formed；　and　why　one　note　follows　upon　another。〃

〃This　is　exactly　what　we　think；〃　they　all　replied；　and　then　themusic…master　received　permission　to　exhibit　the　bird　to　the　peopleon　the　following　Sunday；　and　the　emperor　manded　that　they　should　bepresent　to　hear　it　sing。　When　they　heard　it　they　were　like　peopleintoxicated；　however　it　must　have　been　with　drinking　tea；　which　isquite　a　Chinese　custom。　They　all　said　〃Oh！〃　and　held　up　theirforefingers　and　nodded；　but　a　poor　fisherman；　who　had　heard　the　realnightingale；　said；　〃it　sounds　prettily　enough；　and　the　melodies　areall　alike；　yet　there　seems　something　wanting；　I　cannot　exactly　tellwhat。〃

And　after　this　the　real　nightingale　was　banished　from　theempire；　and　the　artificial　bird　placed　on　a　silk　cushion　close　tothe　emperor's　bed。　The　presents　of　gold　and　precious　stones　whichhad　been　received　with　it　were　round　the　bird；　and　it　was　now　advancedto　the　title　of　〃Little　Imperial　Toilet　Singer；〃　and　to　the　rank　ofNo。　1　on　the　left　hand；　for　the　emperor　considered　the　left　side；　onwhich　the　heart　lies；　as　the　most　noble；　and　the　heart　of　an　emperoris　in　the　same　place　as　that　of　other　people。

The　music…master　wrote　a　work；　in　twenty…five　volumes；　about　theartificial　bird；　which　was　very　learned　and　very　long；　and　full　of　themost　difficult　Chinese　words；　yet　all　the　people　said　they　had　readit；　and　understood　it；　for　fear　of　being　thought　stupid　and　havingtheir　bodies　trampled　upon。

So　a　year　passed；　and　the　emperor；　the　court；　and　all　the　otherChinese　knew　every　little　turn　in　the　artificial　bird's　song；　andfor　that　same　reason　it　pleased　them　better。　They　could　sing　withthe　bird；　which　they　often　did。　The　street…boys　sang；　〃Zi…zi…zi；cluck；　cluck；　cluck；〃　and　the　emperor　himself　could　sing　it　also。　Itwas　really　most　amusing。

One　evening；　when　the　artificial　bird　was　singing　its　best；　andthe　emperor　lay　in　bed　listening　to　it；　something　inside　the　birdsounded　〃whizz。〃　Then　a　spring　cracked。　〃Whir…r…r…r〃　went　all　thewheels；　running　round；　and　then　the　music　stopped。　The　emperorimmediately　sprang　out　of　bed；　and　called　for　his　physician；　butwhat　could　he　do？　Then　they　sent　for　a　watchmaker；　and；　after　agreat　deal　of　talking　and　examination；　the　bird　was　put　into　somethinglike　order；　but　he　said　that　it　must　be　used　very　carefully；　as　thebarrels　were　worn；　and　it　would　be　impossible　to　put　in　new　oneswithout　injuring　the　music。　Now　there　was　great　sorrow；　as　the　birdcould　only　be　allowed　to　play　once　a　year；　and　even　that　was　dangerousfor　the　works　inside　it。　Then　the　music…master　made　a　little　speech；full　of　hard　words；　and　declared　that　the　bird　was　as　good　as　ever；and；　of　course　no　one　contradicted　him。

Five　years　passed；　and　then　a　real　grief　came　upon　the　land。　TheChinese　really　were　fond　of　their　emperor；　and　he　now　lay　so　illthat　he　was　not　expected　to　live。　Already　a　new　emperor　had　beenchosen　and　the　people　who　stood　in　the　street　asked　thelord…in…waiting　how　the　old　emperor　was；　but　he　only　said；　〃Pooh！〃　andshook　his　head。

Cold　and　pale　lay　the　emperor　in　his　royal　bed；　the　whole　courtthought　he　was　dead；　and　every　one　ran　away　to　pay　homage　to　hissuccessor。　The　chamberlains　went　out　to　have　a　talk　on　the　matter；　andthe　ladies'…maids　invited　pany　to　take　coffee。　Cloth　had　beenlaid　down　on　the　halls　and　passages；　so　that　not　a　footstep　shouldbe　heard；　and　all　was　silent　and　still。　But　the　emperor　was　not　yetdead；　although　he　lay　white　and　stiff　on　his　gorgeous　bed；　with　thelong　velvet　curtains　and　heavy　gold　tassels。　A　window　stood　open；and　the　moon　shone　in　upon　the　emperor　and　the　artificial　bird。　Thepoor　emperor；　finding　he　could　scarcely　breathe　with　a　strangeweight　on　his　chest；　opened　his　eyes；　and　saw　Death　sitting　there。He　had　put　on　the　emperor's　golden　crown；　and　held　in　one　hand　hissword　of　state；　and　in　the　other　his　beautiful　banner。　All　aroundthe　bed　and　peeping　through　the　long　velvet　curtains；　were　a　number　ofstrange　heads；　some　very　ugly；　and　others　lovely　and　gentle…looking。These　were　the　emperor's　good　and　bad　deeds；　which　stared　him　in　theface　now　Death　sat　at　his　heart。

〃Do　you　remember　this？〃　〃Do　you　recollect　that？〃　they　asked　oneafter　another；　thus　bringing　to　his　remembrance　circumstances　thatmade　the　perspiration　stand　on　his　brow。

〃I　know　nothing　about　it；〃　said　the　emperor。　〃Music！　music！〃　hecried；　〃the　large　Chinese　drum！　that　I　may　not　hear　what　they　say。〃But　they　still　went　on；　and　Death　nodded　like　a　Chinaman　to　all　theysaid。　〃Music！　music！〃　shouted　the　emperor。　〃You　little　precious　goldenbird；　sing；　pray　sing！　I　have　given　you　gold　and　costly　presents；　Ihave　even　hung　my　golden　slipper　round　your　neck。　Sing！　sing！〃　But　thebird　remained　silent。　There　was　no　one　to　wind　it　up；　and　therefore　itcould　not　sing　a　note。

Death　continued　to　stare　at　the　emperor　with　his　cold；　holloweyes；　and　the　room　was　fearfully　still。　Suddenly　there　came　throughthe　open　window　the　sound　of　sweet　music。　Outside；　on　the　bough　of　atree；　sat　the　living　nightingale。　She　had　heard　of　the　emperor'sillness；　and　was　therefore　e　to　sing　to　him　of　hope　and　trust。And　as　she　sung；　the　shadows　grew　paler　and　paler；　the　blood　in　theemperor's　veins　flowed　more　rapidly；　and　gave　life　to　his　weaklimbs；　and　even　Death　himself　listened；　and　said；　〃Go　on；　littlenightingale；　go　on。〃

〃Then　will　you　give　me　the　beautiful　golden　sword　and　that　richbanner？　and　will　you　give　me　the　emperor's　crown？