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tinkled when the wind blew in； and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds
of wax candles； that shone like tiny stars。 In the great hall there was a gold
perch for the Nightingale； beside the Emperor's throne。
When all the people were there； the Emperor asked the Nightingale to
sing。 Then the little gray Nightingale filled her throat full； and sang。 And；
my dears； she sang so beautifully that the Emperor's eyes filled up with
tears！ And； you know； emperors do not cry at all easily。 So he asked her to
sing again； and this time she sang so marvelously that the tears came out
of his eyes and ran down his cheeks。 That was a great success。 They asked
the little Nightingale to sing； over and over again； and when they had
listened enough the Emperor said that she should be made 〃Singer in
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Chief to the Court。〃 She was to have a golden perch near the Emperor's
bed； and a little gold cage； and was to be allowed to go out twice every
day。 But there were twelve servants appointed to wait on her； and those
twelve servants went with her every time she went out； and each of the
twelve had hold of the end of a silken string which was tied to the little
Nightingale's leg！ It was not so very much fun to go out that way！
For a long； long time the Nightingale sang every evening to the
Emperor and his court； and they liked her so much that the ladies all tried
to sound like her； they used to put water in their mouths and then make
little sounds like this： glu…glu…glug。 And when the courtiers met each other
in the halls； one would say 〃Night；〃 and the other would say 〃ingale；〃 and
that was conversation。
At last； one day； there came a little package to the Emperor； on the
outside of which was written； 〃The Nightingale。〃 Inside was an artificial
bird； something like a Nightingale； only it was made of gold； and silver；
and rubies； and emeralds； and diamonds。 When it was wound up it played
a waltz tune； and as it played it moved its little tail up and down。
Everybody in the court was filled with delight at the music of the new
nightingale。 They made it sing that same tune thirty…three times； and still
they had not had enough。 They would have made it sing the tune thirty…
four times； but the Emperor said； 〃I should like to hear the real
Nightingale sing； now。〃
But when they looked about for the real little Nightingale； they could
not find her anywhere！ She had taken the chance； while everybody was
listening to the waltz tunes； to fly away through the window to her own
greenwood。
〃What a very ungrateful bird！〃 said the lords and ladies。 〃But it does
not matter； the new nightingale is just as good。〃
So the artificial nightingale was given the real Nightingale's little gold
perch； and every night the Emperor wound her up； and she sang waltz
tunes to him。 The people in the court liked her even better than the old
Nightingale； because they could all whistle her tunes；which you can't do
with real nightingales。
About a year after the artificial nightingale came； the Emperor was
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listening to her waltz…tune； when there was a SNAP and WHIR…R…R inside
the bird； and the music stopped。 The Emperor ran to his doctor but he
could not do anything。 Then he ran to his clock…maker； but he could not do
much。 Nobody could do much。 The best they could do was to patch the
gold nightingale up so that it could sing once a year； even that was almost
too much； and the tune was pretty shaky。 Still； the Emperor kept the gold
nightingale on the perch in his own room。
A long time went by； and then； at last； the Emperor grew very ill； and
was about to die。 When it was sure that he could not live much longer； the
people chose a new emperor and waited for the old one to die。 The poor
Emperor lay； quite cold and pale； in his great big bed； with velvet curtains；
and tall candlesticks all about。 He was quite alone； for all the courtiers had
gone to congratulate the new emperor； and all the servants had gone to talk
it over。
When the Emperor woke up； he felt a terrible weight on his chest。 He
opened his eyes； and there was Death； sitting on his heart。 Death had put
on the Emperor's gold crown； and he had the gold sceptre in one hand； and
the silken banner in the other； and he looked at the Emperor with his great
hollow eyes。 The room was full of shadows； and the shadows were full of
faces。 Everywhere the Emperor looked； there were faces。 Some were very；
very ugly； and some were sweet and lovely； they were all the things the
Emperor had done in his life； good and bad。 And as he looked at them they
began to whisper。 They whispered； 〃DO YOU REMEMBER THIS？〃 〃DO
YOU REMEMBER THAT？〃 The Emperor remembered so much that he
cried out loud； 〃Oh； bring the great drum！ Make music； so that I may not
hear these dreadful whispers！〃 But there was nobody there to bring the
drum。
Then the Emperor cried； 〃You little gold nightingale； can you not sing
something for me？ I have given you gifts of gold and jewels； and kept you
always by my side； will you not help me now？〃 But there was nobody to
wind the little gold nightingale up； and of course it could not sing。
The Emperor's heart grew colder and colder where Death crouched
upon it； and the dreadful whispers grew louder and louder； and the
Emperor's life was almost gone。 Suddenly； through the open window； there
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came a most lovely song。 It was so sweet and so loud that the whispers
died quite away。 Presently the Emperor felt his heart grow warm； then he
felt the blood flow through his limbs again； he listened to the song until
the tears ran down his cheeks； he knew that it was the little real
Nightingale who had flown away from him when the gold nightingale
came。
Death was listening to the song； too； and when it was done and the
Emperor begged for more； Death； too； said； 〃Please sing again； little
Nightingale！〃
〃Will you give me the Emperor's gold crown for a song？〃 said the little
Nightingale。
〃Yes；〃 said Death； and the little Nightingale bought the Emperor's
crown for a song。
〃Oh； sing again； little Nightingale；〃 begged Death。
〃Will you give me the Emperor's sceptre for another song？〃 said the
little gray Nightingale。
〃Yes；〃 said Death； and the little Nightingale bought the Emperor's
sceptre for another song。
Once more Death begged for a song； and this time the little
Nightingale got the banner for her singing。 Then she sang one more song；
so sweet and so sad that it made Death think of his garden in the
churchyard； where he always liked best to be。 And he rose from the
Emperor's heart and floated away through the window。
When Death was gone； the Emperor said to the little Nightingale； 〃Oh；
dear little Nightingale； you have saved me from Death！ Do not leave me
again。 Stay with me on this little gold perch； and sing to me always！〃
〃No； dear Emperor；〃 said the little Nightingale； 〃I sing best when I
am free； I cannot live in a palace。 But every night when you are quite
alone； I will come and sit in the window and sing to you； and tell you
everything that goes on in your kingdom： I will tell you where the poor
people are who ought to be helped； and where the wicked people are who
ought to be punished。 Only； dear Emperor； be sure that you never let
anybody know that you have a little bird who tells you everything。〃
After the little Nightingale had flown away； the Emperor felt so well
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and strong that he dressed himself in his royal robes and took his gold
sceptre in his hand。 And when the courtiers came