andshookhishead.

coldandpalelaytheemperorinhisroyalbed;thewholecourtthoughthewasdead,andeveryoneranawaytopayhomagetohissuccessor.thechamberlainswentouttohaveatalkonthematter,andtheladies'-maidsinvitedcompanytotakecoffee.clothhadbeenlaiddownonthehallsandpassages,sothatnotafootstepshouldbeheard,andallwassilentandstill.buttheemperorwasnotyetdead,althoughhelaywhiteandstiffonhisgorgeousbed,withthelongvelvetcurtainsandheavygoldtassels.awindowstoodopen,andthemoonshoneinupontheemperorandtheartificialbird.thepooremperor,findinghecouldscarcelybreathewithastrangeweightonhischest,openedhiseyes,andsawdeathsittinghadputontheemperor'sgoldencrown,andheldinonehandhisswordofstate,andintheotherhisbeautifulbanner.allaroundthebedandpeepingthroughthelongvelvetcurtains,wereanumberofstrangeheads,someveryugly,andotherslovelyandgentle-seweretheemperor'sgoodandbaddeeds,whichstaredhiminthefacenowdeathsatathisheart.

"doyourememberthis?""doyourecollectthat?"theyaskedoneafteranother,thusbringingtohisremembrancecircumstancesthatmadetheperspirationstandonhisbrow.

"iknownothingaboutit,"saidtheemperor."music!music!"hecried;"thelargechinesedrum!thatimaynothearwhattheysay."buttheystillwenton,anddeathnoddedlikeachinamantoalltheysaid."music!music!"shoutedtheemperor."youlittlepreciousgoldenbird,sing,praysing!ihavegivenyougoldandcostlypresents;ihaveevenhungmygoldenslipperroundyourneck.sing!sing!"butthebirdremainedsilent.therewasnoonetowinditup,andthereforeitcouldnotsinganote.

deathcontinuedtostareattheemperorwithhiscold,holloweyes,andtheroomwasfearfullystill.suddenlytherecamethroughtheopenwindowthesoundofsweetmusic.outside,ontheboughofatree,satthelivingnightingale.shehadheardoftheemperor'sillness,andwasthereforecometosingtohimofhopeanddasshesung,theshadowsgrewpalerandpaler;thebloodintheemperor'sveinsflowedmorerapidly,andgavelifetohisweaklimbs;andevendeathhimselflistened,andsaid,"goon,littlenightingale,goon."

"thenwillyougivemethebeautifulgoldenswordandthatrichbanner?andwillyougivemetheemperor'scrown?"saidthebird.

sodeathgaveupeachofthesetreasuresforasong;andthenightingalecontinuedhersinging.shesungofthequietchurchyard,wherethewhiterosesgrow,wheretheelder-treewaftsitsperfumeonthebreeze,andthefresh,sweetgrassismoistenedbythemourners'tears.thendeathlongedtogoandseehisgarden,andfloatedoutthroughthewindowintheformofacold,whitemist.

"thanks,thanks,youheavenlylittlebird.iknowyouwell.ibanishedyoufrommykingdomonce,andyetyouhavecharmedawaytheevilfacesfrommybed,andbanisheddeathfrommyheart,withyoursweetsong.howcanirewardyou?"

"youhavealreadyrewardedme,"saidthenightingale."ishallneverforgetthatidrewtearsfromyoureyesthefirsttimeisangtoyou.thesearethejewelsthatrejoiceasinger'sheart.butnowsleep,andgrowstrongandwellagain.iwillsingtoyouagain."

andasshesung,theemperorfellintoasweetsleep;andhowmildandrefreshingthatslumberwas!whenheawoke,strengthenedandrestored,thesunshonebrightlythroughthewindow;butnotoneofhisservantshadreturned-theyallbelievedhewasdead;onlythenightingalestillsatbesidehim,andsang.

"youmustalwaysremainwithme,"saidtheemperor."youshallsingonlywhenitpleasesyou;andiwillbreaktheartificialbirdintoathousandpieces."

"no;donotdothat,"repliedthenightingale;"thebirddidverywellaslongasitcould.keepitherestill.icannotliveinthepalace,andbuildmynest;butletmecomewhenilike.iwillsitonaboughoutsideyourwindow,intheevening,andsingtoyou,sothatyoumaybehappy,andhavethoughtsfullofjoy.iwillsingtoyouofthosewhoarehappy,andthosewhosuffer;ofthegoodandtheevil,whoarehiddenaroundyou.thelittlesingingbirdfliesfarfromyouandyourcourttothehomeofthefishermanandthepeasant'scot.iloveyourheartbetterthanyourcrown;andyetsomethingholylingersroundthatalso.iwillcome,iwillsingtoyou;butyoumustpromisemeonething."

"everything,"saidtheemperor,who,havingdressedhimselfinhisimperialrobes,stoodwiththehandthatheldtheheavygoldenswordpressedtohisheart.

"ionlyaskonething,"shereplied;"letnooneknowthatyouhavealittlebirdwhotellsyoueverything.itwillbebesttoconcealit."sosaying,thenightingaleflewaway.

theservantsnowcameintolookafterthedeademperor;when,lo!