Соловей

           ’Theysaythatitisbetterthananythingelseinallmygreatkingdom!WhyhaveIneverbeentoldanythingaboutit?’’Ihaveneverhearditmentioned,’saidthegentleman-in-waiting.’Ithasneverbeenpresentedatcourt.’’Iwishittoappearherethiseveningtosingtome,’saidtheemperor.’ThewholeworldknowswhatIampossessedof,andIknownothingaboutit!’’Ihaveneverhearditmentionedbefore,’saidthegentleman-in-waiting.’Iwillseekit,andIwillfindit!’Butwherewasittobefound?Thegentleman-in-waitingranupstairsanddownstairsandinandoutofalltheroomsandcorridors.Nooneofallthosehemethadeverheardanythingaboutthenightingale;sothegentleman-in-waitingranbacktotheemperor,andsaidthatitmustbeamyth,inventedbythewritersofthebooks.’Yourimperialmajestymustnotbelieveeverythingthatiswritten;booksareoftenmereinventions,eveniftheydonotbelongtowhatwecalltheblackart!’’ButthebookinwhichIreaditissenttomebythepowerfulEmperorofJapan,soitcan’tbeuntrue.Iwillhearthisnightingale;Iinsistuponitsbeinghereto-night.Iextendmymostgraciousprotectiontoit,andifitisnotforthcoming,Iwillhavethewholecourttrampleduponaftersupper!’’Tsing-pe!’saidthegentleman-in-waiting,andawayheranagain,upanddownallthestairs,inandoutofalltheroomsandcorridors;halfthecourtranwithhim,fortheynoneofthemwishedtobetrampledon.