The Nightingale

The Nightingale 夜鶯

 ▲ the chart/turns absorbs from "Network Resources"

"Little maiden," said the lord-in-waiting, "I will obtain for you constant employment in the kitchen, and you shall have permission to see the emperor dine, if you will lead us to the nightingale; for she is invited for this evening to the palace." So she went into the wood where the nightingale sang, and half the court followed her. As they went along, a cow began lowing. "Oh," said a young courtier, "now we have found her; what wonderful power for such a small creature; I have certainly heard it before." "No, that is only a cow lowing," said the little girl; "we are a long 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 we shall 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 it would be a little, plain, simple thing like that. She has certainly changed color at seeing so many grand people around her." "Little nightingale," cried the girl, raising her voice, "our most gracious emperor wishes you to sing before him." "With the greatest pleasure," said the nightingale, and began to sing 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 have never heard this before; she will be a great success at court." "Shall I sing once more before the emperor?" asked the nightingale, who thought he was present. "My excellent little nightingale," said the courtier, "I have the 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; but still she came willingly when she heard the emperor's wish.

「小丫頭！」侍臣說，「我將為你在廚房裏弄一個固定的職位，還要使你擁有看皇上吃飯的特權，但是你得把我們帶到夜鶯那兒去，因為它今晚得在皇上面前表演一下。」他們一齊走到夜鶯經常唱歌的那個樹林裏去。宮裏一半的人都出動了。當他們正在走的時候，一頭母牛開始叫起來。 「呀！」一位年輕的貴族說，「現在我們可找到它了！這麼一個小的動物，它的聲音可是特別洪亮！我以前在什麼地方聽到過這聲音。」「錯了，這是牛叫！」廚房的小女傭人說。「我們離那塊地方還遠著呢。」 接著，沼澤裏的青蛙叫起來了。中國的宮廷祭司說：「現在我算是聽到它了——它聽起來像廟裏的小小鐘聲。」「錯了，這是青蛙的叫聲！」廚房小女傭人說。「不過，我想很快我們就可以聽到夜鶯歌唱了。」 於是夜鶯開始唱起來。「這才是呢！」小女傭人說：「聽 啊，聽啊！它就棲在那兒。」 她指著樹枝上一隻小小的灰色鳥兒。「這個可能嗎？」侍臣說。「我從來就沒有想到它是那麼一副樣兒！你們看它是多麼平凡啊！這一定是因為它看到有這麼多的官 員在旁，嚇得失去了光彩的緣故。」 「小小的夜鶯！」廚房的小女傭人高聲地喊，「我們仁慈的皇上希望你到他面前去唱唱歌呢。」 「我非常樂意！」夜鶯說，於是它唱出動聽的歌來。 「這聲音像玻璃鐘響！」侍臣說。「你們看，它的小歌喉唱得多麼好！說來也稀奇，我們過去從未沒有聽到過它。這鳥兒到宮裏去一定會逗得大家喜歡！」 「還要我再在皇上面前唱一次嗎？」夜鶯問，因為它以為皇帝在場。「我的絕頂好的個夜鶯啊！」侍臣說，「我感到非常榮幸，命令你到宮裏去參加一個晚會。你得用你美妙的歌喉去娛樂聖朝的皇上。」 「我的歌只有在綠色的樹林裏才唱得最好！」夜鶯說。不過，當它聽說皇帝希望見它的時候，它還是去了。

文章擷取自《安徒生童話－夜鶯》



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