approval every moment, for it pleased him to find such a beautiful
description of his city, his palace, and his gardens. But when he came to the
words, “the nightingale is the most beautiful of all,” he exclaimed, “What is
this? I know nothing of any nightingale. Is there such a bird in my empire?
and even in my garden? I have never heard of it. Something, it appears, may
be learnt from books.”
Then he called one of his lords-in-waiting, who was so high-bred, that
when any in an inferior rank to himself spoke to him, or asked him a
question, he would answer, “Pooh,” which means nothing.
“There is a very wonderful bird mentioned here, called a nightingale,”
said the emperor; “they say it is the best thing in my large kingdom. Why
have I not been told of it?”
“I have never heard the name,” replied the cavalier; “she has not been
presented at court.”
“It is my pleasure that she shall appear this evening.” said the emperor;
“the whole world knows what I possess better than I do myself.”
“I have never heard of her,” said the cavalier; “yet I will endeavor to find
her.”
But where was the nightingale to be found? The nobleman went up stairs
and down, through halls and passages; yet none of those whom he met had
heard of the bird. So he returned to the emperor, and said that it must be a
fable, invented by those who had written the book. “Your imperial majesty,”
said he, “cannot believe everything contained in books; sometimes they are
only fiction, or what is called the black art.”
“But the book in which I have read this account,” said the emperor, “was
sent to me by the great and mighty emperor of Japan, and therefore it
cannot contain a falsehood. I will hear the nightingale, she must be here this
evening; she has my highest favor; and if she does not come, the whole
court shall be trampled upon after supper is ended.”
