The Nightingale-Charlotte Druitt Cole

THE NIGHTINGALE

There lived a Chinese Emperor

(Oh, very long ago!)

In a palace built of porcelain

As white as driven snow;

And on its walls were painted,

In colours bright and gay,

Rare birds that never sang a song

And never flew away!

But past the royal gardens,

In a forest by the sea,

There dwelt a little Nightingale,

Which sang delightfully.

What is this bird?' the Emperor cried,

'That causes such a fuss?

Command it to appear at court

And sing its song to us!'

And when the little Nightingale 

Sang from a golden perch,

The countries listened silently,

As if they were in church;

And down their master's royal check

They watched a tear-drop fall;

And knew he wept for pure delight,

And not for grief at all.

The bird was made 'Court Chorister,'

But might go home each day,

(Although they held it by a string,

Lest it should fly away).

One day the Emperor received

A present from a King-

A clockwork bird. They wound it up,

And it would really sing.

Its outspread wings were made of gold,

Spangled with rubies red,

It wore a crown of diamonds

Upon its tiny head.

They wound it up, and wound it up,

And listened night and day;

So the little living Nightingale

Unnoticed flew away.

An then one day the clockwork bird,

In the middle of a song,

Stopped all at once, and went

Whir -r -r!

Its clockwork had gone wrong!

And nobody could mend the thing,

However much they tried;

So in a cupboard, on a shelf,

The bird was laid aside.

Years passed; the Emperor fell ill,

And, as he tossed in pain,

Sighed 'If my Nightingale would sing,

I should get well again.'

But all the doctors stood around

Shaking their heads in sorrow,

For they believed the Emperor

Would surely die to-morrow.

When it was whispered far and wide,

'The Emperor's very ill.'

The Nightingale heard too, and cried

'I bear him no ill-will;

I'll go and sing my sweetest song

Upon his window-still.'

And when the courtiers crept back

In fear, as day was dawning,

The Emperor sat up in bed,

And wished them all

'Good Morning.'

CHARLOTTE DRUITT COLE

Summary: 'The Nightingale' by Charlotte Druitt Cole tells the story of a Chinese Emperor who becomes captivated by the enchanting song of a little nightingale living in a forest near his palace. The Emperor, impressed by the bird's beautiful singing, commands it to appear at court and perform for him and his subjects. 

The nightingale becomes the Court Chorister but is allowed to return home each day. The Emperor is deeply moved by the bird's melodies, shedding tears of pure delight. However, the peaceful existence of the nightingale is disrupted when the Emperor receives a gift from another king - a clockwork bird that can sing.

Fascinated by the mechanical creation, the Emperor and his courtiers become engrossed in the artificial bird's performances, paying no attention to the living nightingale. As the clockwork bird takes center stage, the nightingale, feeling neglected and unappreciated, quietly flies away.

Years later, the Emperor falls gravely ill, and his condition worsens despite the efforts of the doctors. In his suffering, the Emperor longs to hear the nightingale's song again, believing it could heal him. Miraculously, the nightingale hears pf the Emperor's illness and, filled with compassion, decides to return to the palace.

Unbeknownst to the courtiers, the nightingale perches on the Emperor's window sill and sings its sweetest song at the break of dawn. The Emperor, awaking to the beautiful melody, finds comfort and regains his strength. When the courtiers timidly enter his chamber at daybreak, the Emperor greets them with a cheerful 'Good Morning.'

'The Nightingale' is a tale of the enduring power of nature and the genuine beauty of authenticity of artificiality. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and appreciating the true wonders of the world around us, even in the face of enticing imitations.