k about our famous bird!' said the Emperor.

But it was not a book, but a little mechanical toy, which lay in a
box--an artificial nightingale which was like the real one, only that
it was set all over with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. When it was
wound up, it could sing the piece the real bird sang, and moved its
tail up and down, and glittered with silver and gold. Round its neck
was a little collar on which was written, 'The Nightingale of the
Emperor of Japan is nothing compared to that of the Emperor of China.'

'This is magnificent!' they all said, and the man who had brought the
clockwork bird received on the spot the title of 'Bringer of the
Imperial First Nightingale.'

'Now they must sing together; what a duet we shall have!'

And so they sang together, but their voices did not blend, for the
real Nightingale sang in her way and the clockwork bird sang waltzes.

'It is not its fault!' said the bandmaster; 'it keeps very good time
and is quite after my style!'

Then the artificial bird had to sing alone. It gave just as much
pleasure as the real one, and then it was so much prettier to look at;
it sparkled like bracelets and necklaces. Three-and-thirty times it
sang the same piece without being tired. People would like to have
heard it again, but the Emperor thought that the living Nightingale
should sing now--but where was she? No one had noticed that she had
flown out of the open window away to her green woods.

'What _shall_ we do!' said the Emperor.

And all the Court scolded, and said that the Nightingale was very
ungrateful. 'But we have still the best bird!' they said and the
artificial bird had to sing again, and that was the thirty-fourth time
they had heard the same piece. But they did not yet know it by heart;
it was much too difficult. And the bandmaster praised the bird
tremendously; yes, he assured them it was better than a real
nightingale, not only because of its beautiful plumage and diamonds,
but inside as well. 'For see, my Lords and Ladies and your Imperial
Majesty, with the real Nightingale one can never tell what will come
out, but all is known about the artificial bird! You can explain it,
you can open it and show people where the waltzes lie, how they go,
and how one follows the other!'

'That's just what we think!' said everyone; and the bandmaster
received permission to show the bird to the people the next Sunday.
They should hear it sing, commanded the Emperor. And they