安徒生童话- 第166部分

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