The Beautiful Nightingale
This story tells of a time when China was ruled by kings. This king had a beautiful palace, and the most magnificent place in the palace was his lush garden, with flowers of all kinds.
Some of these flowers could only be found in this garden and nowhere else in the world. The gardener tied little bells to them.
The garden was so large that if you looked all the way to its end, you could see that it led into a forest. A river flowed through the forest, and beside the river was a tree that served as home to a nightingale.
The nightingale sang so beautifully that anyone who heard it was enchanted. This kingdom was so famous that people from other distant lands came to see it. Writers wrote books about the kingdom, and in all the books, they wrote most about the nightingale and its songs.
The Discovery of the Nightingale
One day, the king himself was reading such a book. When he read about the nightingale, he became lost in thought.
— What bird in our kingdom is this? I have never heard of it before.
He called his prime minister.
— Mr. Prime Minister, what am I reading here? Is there a bird called a nightingale in our kingdom that sings so beautifully it is considered the most beautiful creature in the entire kingdom? How is it that I have not heard of it? — Your Majesty, I have not heard of such a bird. — Go, find it and ask it to sing before me at court this very evening. — As you wish, Your Majesty.
The Search and Finding of the Nightingale
The prime minister hurried as soon as he received the king's order. Up and down, left and right, he asked everyone in the palace, but no one had heard about the nightingale. He went to the king once more.
— Your Majesty, it is quite possible that the writers wrote about the bird as a figment of imagination and that in reality, no such bird exists at all. — No! The King of Japan sent me this book. Nothing written in the book can be a lie. I want to hear the nightingale sing. Bring it before me by this evening, otherwise the entire kingdom will be punished.
The prime minister had no alternative. He continued to ask everyone about the bird. Finally, he met a little girl.
— The nightingale? Yes, I've seen it. I've also heard it sing. It lives by the river. — Listen, if you take me to the nightingale, I will give you a reward.
On one hand, the minister went with the little girl towards the forest, and on the other hand, he sent a message to the king that the bird had been found. They both arrived at the spot in the forest where the nightingale usually sang.
The Nightingale at Court
The nightingale began to sing. The little girl said:
— See? Look there! That's the bird I told you about.
The minister heard nothing of what the girl said. He was mesmerized by the nightingale's song.
— Did you hear? Anyone can forget the world listening to its song. — I have never heard such a beautiful song. Indeed, the king will be ecstatic when he hears it. My dear nightingale, come to the palace. The king wants to hear you sing. — It is an honor for me that the king has called me. Of course, I will come.
Taking the nightingale with them, they set off for the palace. The palace was wonderfully decorated and shone with grandeur. The king sat on his throne. All the courtiers and nobles were present. A golden perch was prepared, especially for the nightingale. The nightingale perched on it and began to sing. Its song was so enchanting that the king was moved to tears.
— I want my golden ring to be hung around the nightingale's neck. — No, Your Majesty. I want nothing. The fact that you liked my song is my reward.
The Artificial Nightingale
The king ordered the nightingale to stay at the palace. A golden cage was built for it. It was allowed to fly twice during the day and once at night. Twelve soldiers went with it and tied a red string around its neck. The nightingale did not like flying like that at all. This continued for weeks.
One day, someone sent the king a box on which the word "nightingale" was engraved.
— Surely, it must be another book about the nightingale.
But there was no book in the box. The box contained a nightingale adorned with diamonds and jewels, and if you touched its tail, it sang exactly like the real nightingale. It had a string around its neck on which was written: "This nightingale belonging to the King of Japan has the value of the nightingale belonging to the King of China." Everyone was delighted to see the artificial nightingale.
— What a treat! Let's have them both sing together.
The Comparison of Songs
Both nightingales were made to sing together, but their combined song was not very pleasant, for the real nightingale sang what it wished, while the artificial one only the songs it had prepared.
— It is not the artificial nightingale's fault. It only sings what it has been taught.
Then only the artificial nightingale was made to sing. Its voice sounded exactly like the real nightingale's, and thanks to its superb diamonds, it looked extraordinary. The artificial nightingale sang many songs.
The Departure of the Real Nightingale
A little later, the king said he would like to hear the real nightingale.
— Where has the nightingale disappeared to? Did anyone see it leave here? How is it possible that no one knows where it went? It seems to have left the palace.
Everyone at court was happy that they had an artificial nightingale which they listened to again and again and again, savoring its songs.
— This nightingale is so beautiful! And it sings so beautifully! If you look at it, you wouldn't even say it's an artificial nightingale. — We are delighted with this gift from the King of Japan. Mr. Prime Minister, organize a concert next Sunday. I would like the entire kingdom to hear the wonderful songs of the nightingale. — As you wish, Your Majesty.
The next day, the nightingale's concert was organized. Everyone liked it, but some of them had heard the real nightingale sing.
— It's not bad, but it's not the same as the real nightingale. When it sings, tears come to your eyes. — Bravo! How beautiful! No matter how many times you hear it, you want it again.
The artificial nightingale was placed in the king's room, on his bed. The king heard its songs before going to bed and gave it the title of "royal singer." This title was sewn onto a ribbon then placed around its neck. And now books were being published about the artificial nightingale too. Its fame spread everywhere.
The Malfunction and the King's Illness
After a year, the king and the courtiers had memorized one of its songs. As soon as the song began, they all started singing along. But one evening, when the artificial nightingale was singing for the king, a sound was heard, as if something inside was breaking. The next morning, the king sent it for repairs to a clockmaker.
— Your Majesty, I have examined this object in detail. From too much and too frequent singing, the wires and connections inside have broken. And if I try to repair it, it might lose its melodies. I am sorry to tell you that it will never be able to sing again.
Upon hearing this, the entire kingdom fell into despair, for the nightingale was a source of entertainment for them all.
Five years passed. The king fell ill and his health seriously worsened. The people of the kingdom prayed for the king's recovery.
— Your Majesty, would you like me to bring you something? What would you like me to bring you?
The king said nothing. He was growing weaker and weaker and it seemed he could no longer be saved. It was hard for him to breathe. He remembered nothing except:
— Sing! Sing, my dear nightingale, sing! I have rewarded you with so much. You cannot do this to me! Sing! Sing!
The Return of the Real Nightingale
But the nightingale did not stir. At that moment, suddenly, the king heard a song outside the window. A ray of hope and happiness crossed the king's face. After a short while, the king thought he had seen a bird at the window. He tried to open his eyes and saw that the real nightingale was sitting at the window. It was singing.
— You've returned! Sing! Sing, my dear nightingale!
The nightingale sang to him for a longer time. The king's happiness grew with each note and it seemed that his will to live was reborn.
— Thank you! Thank you very much, my beloved nightingale! Why did you leave me? But today, by returning, you have given me back my life. How can I reward you? — Your Majesty, you have already rewarded me. I remember when I sang before you for the first time. You were moved to tears. What greater reward is there for an artist?
The nightingale sang another song, and listening to it, the king fell asleep. Watching him sleep, it seemed he was now sleeping peacefully after centuries. The next morning, when the king woke up, the sun's rays were coming through the window, and the nightingale was sitting beside him, and the king looked much better than before.
— Stay with me forever, my dear nightingale! Sing only when you feel inspired to sing. I will never force you again. — No, Your Majesty. I cannot live in the palace. Whenever I want to see you, I will come. I will make a nest somewhere nearby, and when you need me, I will fly to you and sing for you. Through my songs, I will tell you everything about the kingdom. But you must promise me something. — Of course! Tell me, I will give you anything you wish. — You will not let anyone know that I tell you everything about the kingdom. — Good, agreed!
Conclusion
Saying this, the nightingale flew away, and the king realized that we should not keep birds in cages. They too have the right to live as they wish. No one is allowed to subjugate anyone, and birds are happy when they fly free and sing through trees and forests. That is their true home, not in palaces, between four walls, in human settlements.
After a while, when the prime minister went to see the king, he saw that he was not lying in bed, but rather at the window, smiling. The prime minister hurried to give the good news to everyone, and the entire kingdom rejoiced.
True happiness and freedom cannot be caged or forced, but must come from one's own will and nature. A wise ruler learns to cherish authentic freedom and beauty, not just material wealth or control.
