Соловей

           ’Thanks,thanks!’saidtheemperor;’youheavenlylittlebird,Iknowyou!Ibanishedyoufrommykingdom,andyetyouhavecharmedtheevilvisionsawayfrommybedbyyoursong,andevenDeathawayfrommyheart!HowcanIeverrepayyou?’’Youhaverewardedme,’saidthenightingale.’Ibroughtthetearstoyoureyes,theveryfirsttimeIeversangtoyou,andIshallneverforgetit!Thosearethejewelswhichgladdentheheartofasinger;—butsleepnow,andwakeupfreshandstrong!Iwillsingtoyou!’Thenitsangagain,andtheemperorfellintoasweetrefreshingsleep.Thesunshoneinathiswindow,whenhewokerefreshedandwell;noneofhisattendantshadyetcomebacktohim,fortheythoughthewasdead,butthenightingalestillsattheresinging.’Youmustalwaysstaywithme!’saidtheemperor.’Youshallonlysingwhenyoulike,andIwillbreaktheartificialbirdintoathousandpieces!’EvenDeathhimselflistenedtothesongandsaid,’Goon,littlenightingale,goon!’’Don’tdothat!’saidthenightingale,’itdidallthegooditcould!keepitasyouhavealwaysdone!Ican’tbuildmynestandliveinthispalace,butletmecomewheneverIlike,thenIwillsitonthebranchintheevening,andsingtoyou.Iwillsingtocheeryouandtomakeyouthoughtfultoo;Iwillsingtoyouofthehappyones,andofthosethatsuffertoo.Iwillsingaboutthegoodandtheevil,whicharekepthiddenfromyou.Thelittlesingingbirdfliesfarandwide,tothepoorfisherman,andthepeasant’shome,tonumberswhoarefarfromyouandyourcourt