THE NIGHTINGALE
'Shall I sing again to the Emperor?' asked the nightingale, for she thought the Emperor was among them.
'Most excellent nightingale!' said the Cavalier, 'I have the honour to invite you to a court festival, which is to take place this evening, when His Imperial Majesty will be enchanted with your delightful song.'
'My song would sound far better among the green trees,'
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AMONG THE BRANCHES DWELT A NIGHTINGALE
said the nightingale; however, she followed willingly when she heard that the Emperor wished it.
There was a regular trimming and polishing at the palace; the walls and the floors, which were all of porcelain, glittered with a thousand gold lamps; the loveliest flowers, with the merriest tinkling bells, were placed in the passages; there was a running to and fro, which made all the bells to ring, so that one could not hear his own words.
