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r 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 velv