《夜莺》，1844 年
the Nightingale, 1844
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《夜莺》揭示了安徒生对自然之美而非矫揉造作之美的执着追求。
\"the Nightingale\" reveals Andersen’s deep mitment to natural beauty over the artful and artificial.
安徒生选择童话作为他的创作媒介，希望使自己与简单、“自然” 形式的自发性相契合，并赋予他的艺术如同夜莺歌声一样的能力，去创造美、提供愉悦、赋予活力并带来转变。
In choosing the fairy tale as his medium, Andersen hoped to align himself with the spontaneity of simple, “natural” forms and to empower his art with the same capacity as the nightingale’s song to create beauty, to provide pleasure, and to animate and transform.
诗人和歌手常被称为 “夜莺”，安徒生同时代的歌手珍妮?林德（她的演唱曲目包括民歌）就被着名地称为 “瑞典夜莺”。
poets and singers are frequently referred to as “nightingales,” and Andersen’s contemporary, the singer Jenny Lind (whose repertoire included folk songs) was famously referred to as the “Swedish nightingale.”
“她的声音永远留在我的故事《夜莺》里。” 安徒生在他的旅行日记中写道。安徒生的朋友们称他为 “菲英岛的夜莺”—— 一个因文学之歌而赢得赞誉和名声的人 —— 安徒生也把自己称作 “男版珍妮?林德”。
“her voice stays with me, forever, in my story ‘the Nightingale,’ ” Andersen wrote in his travel diaries. Andersen’s friends dubbed him the “nightingale from Fyn”—a man whose literary song had earned him adulation and fame—and Andersen referred to himself as a “male Jenny Lind.”
在《我的童话人生》中，他赞美她的歌唱能力：
In the Fairy tale of my Life, he hailed her vocal powers:
“她那可爱而年轻的声音穿透所有人的心！在这里，真实和自然占了上风；
一切都变得有意义且清晰明了。”
“her lovely youthful voice penetrated all hearts! here truth and nature prevailed;
everything assumed significance and clarity”.
在着名芭蕾舞大师（他把自己算作安徒生的朋友之一）的女儿夏洛特?布尔诺维尔出版的一本回忆录中，讲述了下面这个故事（安徒生很可能听过这个故事）：
In a memoir published by charlotte bournonville, daughter of the famous ballet master who counted himself among Andersen’s friends, the following story (which Andersen may well have heard) is recounted:
我父亲最亲爱的朋友之一，一个非常热爱音乐的年轻人，病得很重，他因不能听到珍妮?林德唱歌而感到悲伤，这使他的病情更加严重。
one of my father’s dearest friends, a very musical young man, was seriously ill, and his sadness at not being able to hear Jenny Lind sing did quite a lot to make his condition even worse.
当珍妮得知这个消息时，她喊道：
when Jenny learned that news, she cried:
“亲爱的布尔诺维尔先生，
允许我为这个重病的人唱歌吧！” 也许让一个身患绝症的人经历这样一种情感体验是一个危险的尝试，但却奏效了。
“dear mr.
bournonville, allow me to sing for this man who is so ill!” perhaps it was a dangerous experiment to expose a person who was mortally ill to such an emotional experience, but it worked.
在他听到这美妙的歌声之后…… 他正在康复的路上。
After he heard the beautiful singing... he was on the road to recovery.
真正献身于自己技艺的人所创造出的真正艺术的谦逊、慷慨和激情，与机械生物所践行的艺术带来的空洞愉悦形成鲜明对比，这些机械生物除了空洞的模仿几乎不会做别的事情。
the modesty, generosity, and passion of true art produced by those devoted to their craft contrasts sharply with the empty pleasure of an art as it is practiced by mechanical creatures, who can engage in little else but vacuous mimicry.
伊戈尔?斯特拉文斯基根据安徒生的故事创作的歌剧《夜莺》于 1914 年在巴黎首演。
Igor Stravinsky’s opera the Nightingale, based on Andersen’s story, premiered in paris in 1914.
几年后，斯特拉文斯基为谢尔盖?佳吉列夫的俄罗斯芭蕾舞团创作了交响诗《夜莺之歌》。
Several years later, Stravinsky posed a symphonic poem, “Song of the Nightingale,” for Sergei diaghilev’s ballets Russes.
这部芭蕾舞剧于 1920 年首演，舞美由亨利?马蒂斯设计，编舞是莱昂尼德?马辛。
the ballet was first performed in 1920, with sets by henri matisse and choreography by Léonide massine.
杰里?平基讲述他决定为安徒生的《夜莺》配图的过程，揭示了旧故事的新图像如何对读者产生影响。
Jerry pinkey’s account of his decision to illustrate Andersen’s “Nightingale” reveals how new images for old stories can have designs on the reader.
对他来说，厨房里那个与自然相协调的女孩，在恢复皇帝健康方面变得和夜莺一样重要：
For him, the girl in the kitchen, who is attuned to nature, bees as important as the nightingale in restoring the Emperor’s health:
《夜莺》这个非凡的故事一直吸引着我，在创作这个改编版本时，那只声音美妙、心地善良的平凡小鸟成了大自然治愈力量的象征。
the remarkable story of “the Nightingale” has always intrigued me, and in the creation of this adaptation, the plain little bird with a magnificent voice and a big heart became a symbol of the healing power of nature.
那个知道夜莺住在哪里的小厨娘，成了被压迫者的希望的象征。
the little kitchen girl, who knows where the nightingale lives, became a symbol of hope for the downtrodden.
那位关心臣民却与他们脱节的国王，通过自己的病痛懂得了脆弱的含义。
And the king, who cares for his people but is out of touch with them, learns what it means to feel vulnerable through his own illness.
最后，国王的康复得益于他最卑微的两个臣民，小厨娘和夜莺。
In the end the king’s recovery is made possible by two of his most humble subjects, the little kitchen girl, and the nightingale.
卡拉?多尔基的小说《夜莺》（1991 年）将故事背景设定在日本，并将夜莺变成了一个吹笛子的年轻女子。
Kara dalkey’s novel the Nightingale (1991) situates the events in Japan and transforms the nightingale into a young woman who plays the flute.
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在中国，你知道的，皇帝是中国人，他身边的人也都是中国人。
In china, you know, the emperor is a chinese, and all those about him are chinamen also.
我要给你们讲的这个故事发生在很多很多年前，所以在它被遗忘之前现在听听是很不错的。
the story I am going to tell you happened a great many years ago, so it is well to hear it now before it is forgotten.
皇帝的宫殿是世界上最美丽的宫殿。
the emperor’s palace was the most beautiful in the world.
它完全是用瓷器建造的，造价非常昂贵，但又非常精致易碎，所以无论谁触摸它都必须小心翼翼。
It was built entirely of porcelain, and very costly, but so delicate and brittle that whoever touched it was obliged to be careful.
在花园里可以看到最奇特的花朵，花朵上系着漂亮的银铃铛，铃铛发出清脆的响声，以至于每个经过的人都会不由自主地注意到这些花。
In the garden could be seen the most singular flowers, with pretty silver bells tied to them, which tinkled so that every one who passed could not help noticing the flowers.
事实上，皇帝花园里的一切都很引人注目，花园延伸得很远，远到园丁自己都不知道它的尽头在哪里。
Indeed, everything in the emperor’s garden was remarkable, and it extended so far that the gardener himself did not know where it ended.
那些走到花园边界之外的人知道有一片壮观的森林，林中有高耸的树木，树木倾斜向下延伸至深蓝色的大海，大船在树枝的荫蔽下航行。
those who travelled beyond its limits knew that there was a noble forest, with lofty trees, sloping down to the deep blue sea, and the great ships sailed under the shadow of its branches.
在其中一棵树上住着一只夜莺，它歌声非常美妙，即使那些有很多其他事情要做的穷苦渔夫，也会停下来倾听。
In one of these trees lived a nightingale, who sang so beautifully that even the poor fishermen, who had so many other things to do, would stop and listen.
有时候，当他们晚上出去撒网的时候，会听到它唱歌，然后说：“哦，这歌声难道不美妙吗？”
Sometimes, when they went at night to spread their nets, they would hear her sing, and say, “oh, is not that beautiful?”
但是当他们重新开始捕鱼时，就会忘记这只鸟，直到第二天晚上。
but when they returned to their fishing, they forgot the bird until the next night.
然后他们又会听到它唱歌，并且惊叹道：“哦，夜莺的歌声多么美妙啊！”
then they would hear it again, and exclaim “oh, how beautiful is the nightingale’s song!”
来自世界各国的旅行者来到皇帝所在的城市，他们非常欣赏这座城市，也很喜欢宫殿和花园；
travellers from every country in the world came to the city of the emperor, which they admired very much, as well as the palace and gardens;
但是当他们听到夜莺的歌声时，都宣称这是最美妙的。
but when they heard the nightingale, they all declared it to be the best of all.
旅行者们在回国时，讲述了他们的所见所闻；
And the travellers, on their return home, related what they had seen;
有学问的人写了书，书中包含对这个城镇、宫殿和花园的描述；
and learned men wrote books, containing descriptions of the town, the palace, and the gardens;
但是他们没有忘记夜莺，它才是真正最了不起的奇观。
but they did not forget the nightingale, which was really the greatest wonder.
那些会写诗的人写了关于夜莺的优美诗句，夜莺住在靠近深海的森林里。
And those who could write poetry posed beautiful verses about the nightingale, who lived in a forest near the deep sea.
这些书传遍了全世界，其中一些到了皇帝的手中；
the books travelled all over the world, and some of them came into the hands of the emperor;
他坐在他的金椅子上，读的时候，不时点头表示赞许，因为看到对他的城市、宫殿和花园如此美妙的描述让他很高兴。
and he sat in his golden chair, and, as he read, he nodded his approval every moment, for it pleased him to find such a beautiful description of his city, his palace, and his gardens.
但是当他读到 “夜莺是最美的” 这些字时，他惊叫道：“这是什么？
but when he came to the words, “the nightingale is the most beautiful of all,” he exclaimed, “what is this?
我根本不知道有什么夜莺。
I know nothing of any nightingale.
我的帝国里有这样一只鸟吗？
Is there such a bird in my empire?
甚至在我的花园里？
and even in my garden?
我从未听说过它。
I have never heard of it.
看来有些东西可以从书中得知。”
Something, it appears, may be learnt from books.”
然后他叫来一位侍从贵族，这位贵族非常有教养，以至于当任何地位比他低的人跟他说话或问他问题时，他只会回答 “呸”，这毫无意义。
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.
“这里提到一只非常奇妙的鸟，叫做夜莺。” 皇帝说；
“there is a very wonderful bird mentioned here, called a nightingale,” said the emperor;
“他们说它是我的大王国里最棒的东西。
“they say it is the best thing in my large kingdom.
为什么我从未被告知此事？”
why have I not been told of it?”
“我从未听说过这个名字。” 骑士回答说；
“I have never heard the name,” replied the cavalier;
“她从未在宫廷中出现过。”
“she has not been presented at court.”
“我希望她今晚能出现。” 皇帝说；
“It is my pleasure that she shall appear this evening.” said the emperor;
“全世界比我自己还了解我所拥有的东西。”
“the whole world knows what I possess better than I do myself.”
“我从未听说过她。” 骑士说；
“I have never heard of her,” said the cavalier;
“不过我会努力找到她。”
“yet I will endeavor to find her.”
但是到哪里去找夜莺呢？
but where was the nightingale to be found?
贵族上上下下跑遍了楼梯、大厅和走廊；
the nobleman went up stairs and down, through halls and passages;
然而他遇到的人没有一个听说过这只鸟。
yet none of those whom he met had heard of the bird.
于是他回到皇帝那里，说这一定是写书的人编造的一个寓言。
So he returned to the emperor, and said that it must be a fable, invented by those who had written the book.
“陛下，” 他说，“不能相信书中的一切；
“Your imperial majesty,” said he, “cannot believe everything contained in books;
有时候它们只是虚构的，或者是所谓的妖术。”
sometimes they are only fiction, or what is called the black art.”
“但是我读到这个描述的那本书，” 皇帝说，“是由伟大而强大的日本天皇送给我的，因此它不可能包含虚假内容。
“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.
我要听到夜莺的歌声，她今晚必须到这儿来；
I will hear the nightingale, she must be here this evening;
她深得我心；
she has my highest favor;
如果她不来，晚饭后整个宫廷的人都要被践踏。”
and if she does not e, the whole court shall be trampled upon after supper is ended.”
“听着！” 侍从贵族叫道，然后他又在楼梯、所有的大厅和走廊里跑来跑去；
“tsing - pe!” cried the lord - in - waiting, and again he ran up and down stairs, through all the halls and corridors;
一半的宫廷人员都跟着他跑，因为他们可不想被践踏。
and half the court ran with him, for they did not like the idea of being trampled upon.
大家纷纷打听这只举世闻名但宫廷里却无人知晓的奇妙夜莺。
there was a great inquiry about this wonderful nightingale, whom all the world knew, but who was unknown to the court.
最后，他们在厨房里遇到一个可怜的小女孩，她说：“哦，是的，我很熟悉夜莺；
At last they met with a poor little girl in the kitchen, who said, “oh, yes, I know the nightingale quite well;
的确，她会唱歌。
indeed, she can sing.
每天晚上我都被允许把桌上的残羹剩饭带回家给我生病的可怜母亲；
Every evening I have permission to take home to my poor sick mother the scraps from the table;
她住在海边，当我回来时我感觉很累，我就坐在树林里休息，听夜莺唱歌。
she lives down by the sea - shore, and as I e back I feel tired, and I sit down in the wood to rest, and listen to the nightingale’s song.
然后我的眼泪就流出来了，就好像我母亲在亲吻我一样。”
then the tears e into my eyes, and it is just as if my mother kissed me.”
“小姑娘，” 侍从贵族说，“如果你带我们去找夜莺，我会让你在厨房有份稳定的工作，还会允许你看皇帝用餐；
“Little maiden,” said the lord - in - waiting, “I will obtain for you constant employment in the kitchen, and you shall have permission to see the emperor dine, if you will lead us to the nightingale;
因为她今晚被邀请到皇宫来。”
for she is invited for this evening to the palace.”
于是她走进夜莺唱歌的树林，一半的宫廷人员跟着她。
So she went into the wood where the nightingale sang, and half the court followed her.
他们走着走着，一头母牛开始哞哞叫。
As they went along, a cow began lowing.
“哦，” 一位年轻的朝臣说，“现在我们找到她了；
“oh,” said a young courtier, “now we have found her;
这么小的生物竟有如此奇妙的力量；
what wonderful power for such a small creature;
我以前肯定听到过。”
I have certainly heard it before.”
“不，那只是一头母牛在哞哞叫，” 小女孩说；
“No, that is only a cow lowing,” said the little girl;
“我们离那个地方还远着呢。”
“we are a long way from the place yet.”
然后一些青蛙开始在沼泽里呱呱叫。
then some frogs began to croak in the marsh.
“真美妙，” 年轻的朝臣又说道。
“beautiful,” said the young courtier again.
“现在我听到了，像小教堂的钟声在叮当作响。”
“Now I hear it, tinkling like little church bells.”
“不，那些是青蛙，” 小女孩说；
“No, those are frogs,” said the little maiden;
“但我想我们很快就能听到她的歌声了：” 不一会儿夜莺就开始唱歌了。
“but I think we shall soon hear her now:” and presently the nightingale began to sing.
“听，听！她在那儿，” 女孩说，“她就坐在那儿，” 她指着一只栖息在树枝上的小灰鸟补充道。
“hark, hark! there she is,” said the girl, “and there she sits,” she added, pointing to a little gray bird who was perched on a bough.
“这可能吗？”
“Is it possible?”
侍从贵族说，“我从没想到它会是这样一只小小的、朴素的、平凡的东西。
said the lord - in - waiting, “I never imagined it would be a little, plain, simple thing like that.
看到周围有这么多高贵的人，她肯定变色了。”
She has certainly changed color at seeing so many grand people around her.”
“小夜莺，” 女孩提高声音喊道，“我们最仁慈的皇帝希望你到他面前唱歌。”
“Little nightingale,” cried the girl, raising her voice, “our most gracious emperor wishes you to sing before him.”
“非常乐意。” 夜莺说，然后开始非常动听地唱歌。
“with the greatest pleasure,” said the nightingale, and began to sing most delightfully.
“听起来像微小的玻璃铃铛声，” 侍从贵族说，“看她的小喉咙是如何动的。
“It sounds like tiny glass bells,” said the lord - in - waiting, “and see how her little throat works.
真奇怪我们以前从未听过这个声音；
It is surprising that we have never heard this before;
她在宫廷里一定会大获成功。”
she will be a great success at court.”
“我要再在皇帝面前唱一次吗？”
“Shall I sing once more before the emperor?”
夜莺问道，它以为皇帝在场。
asked the nightingale, who thought he was present.
“我优秀的小夜莺，” 朝臣说，“我非常荣幸地邀请你参加今晚的宫廷盛会，在那里你将用你迷人的歌声赢得皇帝的宠爱。”
“my excellent little nightingale,” said the courtier, “I have the great pleasure of inviting you to a court festival this evening, where you will gain imperial favor by your charming song.”
“我的歌声在绿色的树林里听起来最美。” 鸟儿说；
“my song sounds best in the green wood,” said the bird;
但当她听到皇帝的愿望时，她还是很乐意地来了。
but still she came willingly when she heard the emperor’s wish.
宫殿为这个场合装饰得很优雅。
the palace was elegantly decorated for the occasion.
瓷器做的墙壁和地板在一千盏灯的照耀下闪闪发光。
the walls and floors of porcelain glittered in the light of a thousand lamps.
美丽的花朵周围系着小铃铛，立在走廊里：
beautiful flowers, round which little bells were tied, stood in the corridors:
由于人们来来往往和气流的影响，这些铃铛响声很大，以至于没人能听到别人说话。
what with the running to and fro and the draught, these bells tinkled so loudly that no one could speak to be heard.
在大厅中央，为夜莺固定了一个金制的栖木让它站在上面。
In the centre of the great hall, a golden perch had been fixed for the nightingale to sit on.
整个宫廷的人都在场，小厨娘得到许可站在门口。
the whole court was present, and the little kitchen - maid had received permission to stand by the door.
她还没有被任命为真正的宫廷厨师。
She was not installed as a real court cook.
所有人都盛装打扮，当皇帝点头示意夜莺开始唱歌时，每个人的眼睛都转向这只小灰鸟。
All were in full dress, and every eye was turned to the little gray bird when the emperor nodded to her to begin.
夜莺唱得如此甜美，以至于皇帝的眼里涌出了泪水，然后泪水顺着他的脸颊滚落下来，因为她的歌声变得更加动人，打动了每个人的心。
the nightingale sang so sweetly that the tears came into the emperor’s eyes, and then rolled down his cheeks, as her song became still more touching and went to every one’s heart.
皇帝非常高兴，他宣称夜莺应该把他的金拖鞋戴在脖子上，但她婉言谢绝了这份荣誉：
the emperor was so delighted that he declared the nightingale should have his gold slipper to wear round her neck, but she declined the honor with thanks:
她已经得到了足够的回报。
she had been sufficiently rewarded already.
“我看到了皇帝眼中的泪水，” 她说，“这就是我最丰厚的回报。
“I have seen tears in an emperor’s eyes,” she said, “that is my richest reward.
皇帝的泪水有着神奇的力量，对我来说这已经是足够的荣耀了；”
An emperor’s tears have wonderful power, and are quite sufficient honor for me;”
然后她又唱了起来，比以往任何时候都更加迷人。
and then she sang again more enchantingly than ever.
“那歌声是一份可爱的礼物；”
“that singing is a lovely gift;”
宫廷里的女士们相互说道；
said the ladies of the court to each other;
然后她们在嘴里含口水，这样在和别人说话时就能发出夜莺那种咕噜咕噜的声音，这样她们就可以把自己想象成夜莺。
and then they took water in their mouths to make them utter the gurgling sounds of the nightingale when they spoke to any one, so that they might fancy themselves nightingales.
男仆和女仆们也表达了他们的满意，这很不简单，因为他们是很难取悦的。
And the footmen and chambermaids also expressed their satisfaction, which is saying a great deal, for they are very difficult to please.
事实上，夜莺的到访非常成功。
In fact the nightingale’s visit was most successful.
她现在要留在宫廷里，拥有自己的笼子，每天可以出去两次，晚上可以出去一次。
She was now to remain at court, to have her own cage, with liberty to go out twice a day, and once during the night.
有十二个仆人被指派在这些时候照顾她，每个仆人都用一根系在她腿上的丝线牵着她。
twelve servants were appointed to attend her on these occasions, who each held her by a silken string fastened to her leg.
这种飞翔肯定没什么乐趣。
there was certainly not much pleasure in this kind of flying.
全城都在谈论这只奇妙的鸟，当两个人相遇时，一个人说 “夜”，另一个人说 “莺”，他们就明白是什么意思了，因为没有别的话题可谈。
the whole city spoke of the wonderful bird, and when two people met, one said “nightin,” and the other said “gale,” and they understood what was meant, for nothing else was talked of.
十一个小贩的孩子以她的名字命名，但他们中没有一个能唱出一个音符。
Eleven peddlers’ children were named after her, but not of them could sing a note.
一天，皇帝收到一个大包裹，上面写着 “夜莺”。
one day the emperor received a large packet on which was written “the Nightingale.”
“毫无疑问，这是一本关于我们这只着名鸟儿的新书。” 皇帝说。
“here is no doubt a new book about our celebrated bird,” said the emperor.
但它不是一本书，而是放在一个匣子里的一件艺术品，一只人造夜莺，做得像真的一样，全身镶满了钻石、红宝石和蓝宝石。
but instead of a book, it was a work of art contained in a casket, an artificial nightingale made to look like a living one, and covered all over with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires.
这只人造夜莺一旦上紧发条，就能像真夜莺一样唱歌，还能上下摆动它那闪烁着金银光芒的尾巴。
As soon as the artificial bird was wound up, it could sing like the real one, and could move its tail up and down, which sparkled with silver and gold.
它的脖子上挂着一条丝带，上面写着 “中国皇帝的夜莺与日本皇帝的夜莺相比相形见绌。”
Round its neck hung a piece of ribbon, on which was written “the Emperor of china’s nightingale is poor pared with that of the Emperor of Japan’s.”
“这非常漂亮，” 所有看到它的人都惊叹道，带来这只人造夜莺的人被授予 “皇家夜莺进贡总管” 的头衔。
“this is very beautiful,” exclaimed all who saw it, and he who had brought the artificial bird received the title of “Imperial nightingale - bringer - in - chief.”
“现在它们必须一起唱歌，” 宫廷里的人说，“那将是多么美妙的二重唱啊。”
“Now they must sing together,” said the court, “and what a duet it will be.”
但是它们配合得不好，因为真夜莺按照自己自然的方式唱歌，而人造夜莺只唱华尔兹。
but they did not get on well, for the real nightingale sang in its own natural way, but the artificial bird sang only waltzes.
“这不是缺点，” 乐师说，“非常符合我的口味。” 于是它只得单独唱歌，并且和真鸟一样成功；
“that is not a fault,” said the music - master, “it is quite perfect to my taste,” so then it had to sing alone, and was as successful as the real bird;
而且，它看起来漂亮多了，因为它像手镯和胸针一样闪闪发光。
besides, it was so much prettier to look at, for it sparkled like bracelets and breast - pins.
它把同样的曲调唱了三十三遍都不累；
three and thirty times did it sing the same tunes without being tired;
人们还想再听一遍，但是皇帝说活的夜莺应该唱点什么。
the people would gladly have heard it again, but the emperor said the living nightingale ought to sing something.
但是她在哪里呢？
but where was she?
当她从开着的窗户飞出去，飞回自己绿色的树林时，没有人注意到她。
No one had noticed her when she flew out at the open window, back to her own green woods.
“多么奇怪的行为，” 当发现她飞走了时皇帝说；
“what strange conduct,” said the emperor, when her flight had been discovered;
所有的朝臣都责备她，说她是个非常忘恩负义的家伙。
and all the courtiers blamed her, and said she was a very ungrateful creature.
“但我们毕竟有了最好的鸟。” 一个人说，然后他们又让鸟唱歌，尽管这已经是他们第三十四次听同样的曲子了，而且即便如此他们还没学会，因为这曲子相当难。
“but we have the best bird after all,” said one, and then they would have the bird sing again, although it was the thirty - fourth time they had listened to the same piece, and even then they had not learnt it, for it was rather difficult.
但是乐师高度赞扬这只鸟，甚至断言它比真夜莺更好，不仅在它的装饰和漂亮的钻石方面，而且在它的音乐能力方面。
but the music - master praised the bird in the highest degree, and even asserted that it was better than a real nightingale, not only in its dress and the beautiful diamonds, but also in its musical power.
“因为您必须明白，我的君主和皇帝，对于一只真夜莺，我们永远不知道它要唱什么，但是对于这只鸟，一切都是确定的。
“For you must perceive, my chief lord and emperor, that with a real nightingale we can never tell what is going to be sung, but with this bird everything is settled.
它可以被拆开并解释，这样人们就可以理解华尔兹是如何构成的，以及为什么一个音符接着一个音符。”
It can be opened and explained, so that people may understand how the waltzes are formed, and why one note follows upon another.”
“这正是我们所想的。” 他们都回答道，然后乐师得到许可在接下来的周日向民众展示这只鸟，皇帝命令民众都要到场听它唱歌。
“this is exactly what we think,” they all replied, and then the music - master received permission to exhibit the bird to the people on the following Sunday, and the emperor manded that they should be present to hear it sing.
当他们听到它唱歌时，他们就像喝醉了的人一样；
when they heard it they were like people intoxicated;
然而，一定是喝了茶的缘故，这完全是中国人的习俗。
however it must have been with drinking tea, which is quite a chinese custom.
他们都说：“哦！” 并且竖起食指点头，但是一个听过真夜莺唱歌的穷苦渔夫说：“它听起来够动听的，而且旋律都一样；
they all said “oh!” and held up their forefingers and nodded, but a poor fisherman, who had heard the real nightingale, said, “it sounds prettily enough, and the melodies are all alike;
然而似乎缺少了点什么，我也说不太清楚。”
yet there seems something wanting, I cannot exactly tell what.”
在这之后，真夜莺被逐出了这个帝国，而人造夜莺被放在靠近皇帝床边的一个丝绸垫子上。
And after this the real nightingale was banished from the empire, and the artificial bird placed on a silk cushion close to the emperor’s bed.
和它一起收到的金银珠宝礼物都放在这只鸟的周围，它现在被提升为 “皇家小厕所歌手” 的头衔，并且排在左边第一位；
the presents of gold and precious stones which had been received with it were round the bird, and it was now advanced to the title of “Little Imperial toilet Singer,” and to the rank of No.
1 on the left hand;
因为皇帝认为心脏所在的左边是最尊贵的，皇帝的心和其他人的心在同一个位置。
for the emperor considered the left side, on which the heart lies, as the most noble, and the heart of an emperor is in the same place as that of other people.
乐师写了一部长达二十五卷的关于人造夜莺的着作，内容非常博学、冗长，还充满了最难的汉字；
the music - master wrote a work, in twenty - five volumes, about the artificial bird, which was very learned and very long, and full of the most difficult chinese words;
然而所有人都说他们读过并且理解了这部着作，因为害怕被认为愚蠢而被践踏身体。
yet all the people said they had read it, and understood it, for fear of being thought stupid and having their bodies trampled upon.
于是一年过去了，皇帝、宫廷里的人和所有其他中国人都熟悉了人造夜莺歌声中的每一个小转折；
So a year passed, and the emperor, the court, and all the other chinese knew every little turn in the artificial bird’s song;
也正是因为这个原因，他们更喜欢它了。
and for that same reason it pleased them better.
他们能跟着鸟一起唱歌，他们也经常这么做。
they could sing with the bird, which they often did.
街头的孩子们唱着：“吱 - 吱 - 吱，咯，咯，咯。” 皇帝本人也能唱。
the street - boys sang, “Zi - zi - zi, cluck, cluck, cluck,” and the emperor himself could sing it also.
这真的非常有趣。
It was really most amusing.
一天晚上，当人造夜莺正在尽情歌唱，皇帝躺在床上听着的时候，鸟的内部发出了 “嗡嗡” 声。
one evening, when the artificial bird was singing its best, and the emperor lay in bed listening to it, something inside the bird sounded “whizz.”
然后一个弹簧断了。
then a spring cracked.
“呼呼呼”，所有的轮子都转动起来，然后音乐停止了。
“whir - r - r - r” went all the wheels, running round, and then the music stopped.
皇帝立刻从床上跳起来，叫来了他的御医；
the emperor immediately sprang out of bed, and called for his physician;
但是他能做什么呢？
but what could he do?
然后他们找来了一个钟表匠；
then they sent for a watchmaker;
经过大量的讨论和检查后，这只鸟被大致修好了；
and, after a great deal of talking and examination, the bird was put into something like order;
但他说必须非常小心地使用它，因为发条筒已经磨损了，如果不损坏音乐装置就不可能安装新的筒。
but he said that it must be used very carefully, as the barrels were worn, and it would be impossible to put in new ones without injuring the music.
现在大家都非常悲伤，因为这只鸟每年只能被允许演奏一次；
Now there was great sorrow, as the bird could only be allowed to play once a year;
而且即使这样对它内部的装置也是很危险的。
and even that was dangerous for the works inside it.
然后乐师发表了一小段讲话，满是晦涩难懂的词汇，并宣称这只鸟还和以前一样好；
then the music - master made a little speech, full of hard words, and declared that the bird was as good as ever;
当然，没有人反驳他。
and, of course no one contradicted him.
五年过去了，然后这片土地上遭遇了一场真正的灾难。
Five years passed, and then a real grief came upon the land.
中国人真的很爱戴他们的皇帝，而他现在病得很重，人们都觉得他活不成了。
the chinese really were fond of their emperor, and he now lay so ill that he was not expected to live.
已经选出了一位新皇帝，站在街上的人们问侍从贵族老皇帝的情况；
Already a new emperor had been chosen and the people who stood in the street asked the lord - in - waiting how the old emperor was;
但他只是说：“呸！” 然后摇了摇头。
but he only said, “pooh!” and shook his head.
皇帝冰冷苍白地躺在他的御床上；
cold and pale lay the emperor in his royal bed;
整个宫廷都以为他死了，每个人都跑去向他的继任者致敬。
the whole court thought he was dead, and every one ran away to pay homage to his successor.
侍从们出去谈论这件事，女仆们则邀请同伴来喝咖啡。
the chamberlains went out to have a talk on the matter, and the ladies’ - maids invited pany to take coffee.
大厅和走廊都铺上了布，这样就听不到脚步声了，一切都寂静无声。
cloth had been laid down on the halls and passages, so that not a footstep should be heard, and all was silent and still.
但是皇帝还没有死，尽管他脸色苍白、僵硬地躺在他华丽的床上，床上有长长的天鹅绒窗帘和沉重的金流苏。
but the emperor was not yet dead, although he lay white and stiff on his gorgeous bed, with the long velvet curtains and heavy gold tassels.
一扇窗户开着，月光照在皇帝和人造夜莺身上。
A window stood open, and the moon shone in upon the emperor and the artificial bird.
可怜的皇帝，发现胸口有一股奇怪的重压让他几乎无法呼吸，他睁开眼睛，看到死神坐在那里。
the poor emperor, finding he could scarcely breathe with a strange weight on his chest, opened his eyes, and saw death sitting there.
他戴上了皇帝的金王冠，一只手拿着皇帝的宝剑，另一只手拿着他美丽的旗帜。
he had put on the emperor’s golden crown, and held in one hand his sword of state, and in the other his beautiful banner.
床的周围，透过长长的天鹅绒窗帘窥视着的，是许多奇怪的脑袋，有些非常丑陋，有些则看起来可爱又温和。
All around the bed and peeping through the long velvet curtains, were a number of strange heads, some very ugly, and others lovely and gentle - looking.
这些是皇帝的善恶之举，当死神坐在他的心头时，它们都呈现在他眼前。
these were the emperor’s good and bad deeds, which stared him in the face now death sat at his heart.
“你还记得这个吗？”
“do you remember this?”
“你还记得那个吗？”
“do you recollect that?”
他们一个接一个地问着，这让他想起了那些让他额头冒汗的事情。
they asked one after another, thus bringing to his remembrance circumstances that made the perspiration stand on his brow.
“我什么都不知道。” 皇帝说。
“I know nothing about it,” said the emperor.
“音乐！音乐！” 他叫道；
“music! music!” he cried;
“那面大大的中国鼓！这样我就听不到他们说的话了。”
“the large chinese drum! that I may not hear what they say.”
但是他们仍然继续说着，死神像中国人那样对他们所说的一切点头。
but they still went on, and death nodded like a chinaman to all they said.
“音乐！音乐！” 皇帝大喊。
“music! music!” shouted the emperor.
“你这只珍贵的小金鸟，唱吧，求求你唱吧！我给了你金子和昂贵的礼物；
“You little precious golden bird, sing, pray sing! I have given you gold and costly presents;
我甚至把我的金拖鞋挂在你的脖子上。
I have even hung my golden slipper round your neck.
唱吧！唱吧！” 但是鸟儿仍然沉默着。
Sing! sing!” but the bird remained silent.
没有人给它上发条，所以它一个音符都唱不出来。
there was no one to wind it up, and therefore it could not sing a note.
死神继续用他冰冷、空洞的眼睛盯着皇帝，房间里可怕地寂静着。
death continued to stare at the emperor with his cold, hollow eyes, and the room was fearfully still.
突然，从开着的窗户传来了甜美的音乐声。
Suddenly there came through the open window the sound of sweet music.
外面，在一棵树的树枝上，坐着那只活的夜莺。
outside, on the bough of a tree, sat the living nightingale.
她听说了皇帝的病，所以来给他唱希望和信任之歌。
She had heard of the emperor’s illness, and was therefore e to sing to him of hope and trust.
当她唱歌的时候，阴影变得越来越淡；
And as she sung, the shadows grew paler and paler;
皇帝血管里的血液流动得更快了，给他虚弱的四肢带来了生机；
the blood in the emperor’s veins flowed more rapidly, and gave life to his weak limbs;
甚至死神自己也在听，并且说：“继续唱，小夜莺，继续唱。”
and even death himself listened, and said, “Go on, little nightingale, go on.”
“那么你会把那把漂亮的金剑和那面华丽的旗帜给我吗？
“then will you give me the beautiful golden sword and that rich banner?
你会把皇帝的王冠给我吗？” 鸟儿说。
and will you give me the emperor’s crown?” said the bird.
于是死神为了一首歌放弃了每一件宝物；
So death gave up each of these treasures for a song;
夜莺继续唱歌。
and the nightingale continued her singing.
她歌唱宁静的墓地，那里生长着白色的玫瑰，接骨木树在微风中散发着香气，清新甜美的草被哀悼者的泪水打湿。
She sung of the quiet churchyard, where the white roses grow, where the elder - tree wafts its perfume on the breeze, and the fresh, sweet grass is moistened by the mourners’ tears.
然后死神渴望去看看他的花园，便化作一股冰冷的白色薄雾从窗户飘了出去。
then death longed to go and see his garden, and floated out through the window in the form of a cold, white mist.
“谢谢，谢谢，你这只神圣的小鸟。
“thanks, thanks, you heavenly little bird.
我很了解你。
I know you well.
我曾经把你逐出我的王国，然而你用你甜美的歌声把那些邪恶的面孔从我的床边赶走，把死神从我的心里赶走。
I banished you from my kingdom once, and yet you have charmed away the evil faces from my bed, and banished death from my heart, with your sweet song.
我该如何报答你呢？”
how can I reward you?”
“你已经报答我了，” 夜莺说。
“You have already rewarded me,” said the nightingale.
“我永远不会忘记我第一次唱歌给你听时，让你流下了眼泪。
“I shall never forget that I drew tears from your eyes the first time I sang to you.
这些是让歌手心中欢喜的珠宝。
these are the jewels that rejoice a singer’s heart.
但是现在睡吧，再次变得强壮健康起来。
but now sleep, and grow strong and well again.
我会再唱歌给你听的。”
I will sing to you again.”
当她唱歌的时候，皇帝进入了甜美的梦乡；
And as she sung, the emperor fell into a sweet sleep;
那是多么温和又提神的睡眠啊！当他醒来时，他已经恢复精力，身体强壮了，阳光明亮地透过窗户照进来；
and how mild and refreshing that slumber was! when he awoke, strengthened and restored, the sun shone brightly through the window;
但是他的仆人没有一个回来 —— 他们都以为他死了；
but not one of his servants had returned — they all believed he was dead;
只有夜莺还坐在他旁边唱歌。
only the nightingale still sat beside him, and sang.
“你必须永远和我在一起，” 皇帝说。
“You must always remain with me,” said the emperor.
“你想唱歌的时候就唱；
“You shall sing only when it pleases you;
我要把那只人造鸟砸成一千块碎片。”
and I will break the artificial bird into a thousand pieces.”
“不；
“No;
不要那样做，” 夜莺回答说；
do not do that,” replied the nightingale;
“这只鸟在它还能唱的时候表现得很好。
“the bird did very well as long as it could.
仍然把它留在这里吧。
Keep it here still.
我不能住在宫殿里筑巢；
I cannot live in the palace, and build my nest;
但是让我能随时来。
but let me e when I like.
我会在晚上坐在你窗外的树枝上唱歌给你听，这样你就会快乐，心中充满喜悦的想法。
I will sit on a bough outside your window, in the evening, and sing to you, so that you may be happy, and have thoughts full of joy.
我会唱歌给你听那些快乐的人和受苦的人；
I will sing to you of those who are happy, and those who suffer;
那些隐藏在你周围的好人和坏人。
of the good and the evil, who are hidden around you.
这只小鸣禽会从你和你的宫廷飞到渔夫的家和农民的小屋。
the little singing bird flies far from you and your court to the home of the fisherman and the peasant’s cot.
我爱你的心胜过你的王冠；
I love your heart better than your crown;
然而王冠周围也萦绕着某种神圣的东西。
and yet something holy lingers round that also.
我会来的，我会唱歌给你听；
I will e, I will sing to you;
但是你必须答应我一件事。”
but you must promise me one thing.”
“任何事都行，” 皇帝说，他穿上皇袍，手握沉重的金剑，手按在胸口站着。
“Everything,” said the emperor, who, having dressed himself in his imperial robes, stood with the hand that held the heavy golden sword pressed to his heart.
“我只要求一件事，” 她回答说；
“I only ask one thing,” she replied;
“不要让任何人知道你有一只告诉你一切的小鸟。
“let no one know that you have a little bird who tells you everything.
最好保密。” 说完，夜莺飞走了。
It will be best to conceal it.” So saying, the nightingale flew away.
仆人们现在进来照看死去的皇帝；
the servants now came in to look after the dead emperor;
瞧！他就站在那里，令他们惊讶的是，他说：“早上好。”
when, lo! there he stood, and, to their astonishment, said, “Good morning.”