theresheis,"saidthegirl,"andthereshesits,"sheadded,pointingtoalittlegraybirdwhowasperchedonabough.

"isitpossible?"saidthelord-in-waiting,"ineverimagineditwouldbealittle,plain,simplethinglikethat.shehascertainlychangedcoloratseeingsomanygrandpeoplearoundher."

"littlenightingale,"criedthegirl,raisinghervoice,"ourmostgraciousemperorwishesyoutosingbeforehim."

"withthegreatestpleasure,"saidthenightingale,andbegantosingmostdelightfully.

"itsoundsliketinyglassbells,"saidthelord-in-waiting,"andseehowherlittlethroatworks.itissurprisingthatwehaveneverheardthisbefore;shewillbeagreatsuccessatcourt."

"shallisingoncemorebeforetheemperor?"askedthenightingale,whothoughthewaspresent.

"myexcellentlittlenightingale,"saidthecourtier,"ihavethegreatpleasureofinvitingyoutoacourtfestivalthisevening,whereyouwillgainimperialfavorbyyourcharmingsong."

"mysongsoundsbestinthegreenwood,"saidthebird;butstillshecamewillinglywhensheheardtheemperor'swish.

thepalacewaselegantlydecoratedfortheoccasion.thewallsandfloorsofporcelainglitteredinthelightofathousandlamps.beautifulflowers,roundwhichlittlebellsweretied,stoodinthecorridors:whatwiththerunningtoandfroandthedraught,thesebellstinkledsoloudlythatnoonecouldspeaktobeheard.inthecentreofthegreathall,agoldenperchhadbeenfixedforthenightingaletositon.thewholecourtwaspresent,andthelittlekitchen-maidhadreceivedpermissiontostandbythedoor.shewasnotinstalledasarealcourtcook.allwereinfulldress,andeveryeyewasturnedtothelittlegraybirdwhentheemperornoddedtohertobegin.thenightingalesangsosweetlythatthetearscameintotheemperor'seyes,andthenrolleddownhischeeks,ashersongbecamestillmoretouchingandwenttoeveryone'sheart.theemperorwassodelightedthathedeclaredthenightingaleshouldhavehisgoldslippertowearroundherneck,butshedeclinedthehonorwiththanks:shehadbeensufficientlyrewardedalready."ihaveseentearsinanemperor'seyes,"shesaid,"thatismyrichestreward.anemperor'stearshavewonderfulpower,andarequitesufficienthonorforme;"andthenshesangagainmoreenchantinglythanever.

"thatsingingisalovelygift;"saidtheladiesofthecourttoeachother;andthentheytookwaterintheirmouthstomakethemutterthegurglingsoundsofthenightingalewhentheyspoketoanyone,sothaytheymightfancythemselvesnightingales.andthefootmenandchambermaidsalsoexpressedtheirsatisfaction,whichissayingagreatdeal,fortheyareverydifficulttoplease.infactthenightingale'svisitwasmostsuccessful.shewasnowtoremainatcourt,tohaveherowncage,withlibertytogoouttwiceaday,andonceduringthenight.twelveservantswereappointedtoattendherontheseoccasions,whoeachheldherbyasilkenstringfastenedtoherleg.therewascertainlynotmuchpleasureinthiskindofflying.

thewholecityspokeofthewonderfulbird,andwhentwopeoplemet,onesaid"nightin,"andtheothersaid"gale,"andtheyunderstoodwhatwasmeant,fornothingelsewastalkedof.elevenpeddlers'childrenwerenamedafterher,butnotofthemcouldsinganote.

onedaytheemperorreceivedalargepacketonwhichwaswritten"thenightingale.""hereisnodoubtanewbookaboutourcelebratedbird,"saidtheemperor.butinsteadofabook,itwasaworkofartcontainedinacasket,anartificialnightingalemadetolooklikealivingone,andcoveredalloverwithdiamonds,rubies,andssoonastheartificialbirdwaswoundup,itcouldsingliketherealone,andcouldmoveitstailupanddown,whichsparkledwithsilverandgold.rounditsneckhungapieceofribbon,onwhichwaswritten"theemperorofchina'snightingaleispoorcomparedwiththatoftheemperorofjapan's."

"thisisverybeautiful,"exclaimedallwhosawit,andhewhohadbroughttheartificialbirdreceivedthetitleof"imperialnightingale-bringer-in-chief."

"nowtheymustsingtogether,"saidthecourt,"andwhataduetitwillbe."buttheydidnotgetonwell,fortherealnightingalesanginitsownnaturalway,buttheartificialbirdsangonlywaltzes.

"thatisnotafault,"saidthemusic-master,"itisquiteperfecttomytaste,"sothenithadtosingalone,andwasassuccessfulastherealbird;besides,itwassomuchprettiertolookat,foritsparkledlikebraceletsandbreast-pins.threeandthirtytimesdiditsingthesametuneswithoutbeingtired;thepeoplewouldgladlyhavehearditagain,buttheemperorsaidthelivingnightingaleoughttosingsomething.butwherewasshe?