English Original
In China, the emperor's palace was the most beautiful in the world, built entirely of porcelain. His vast garden extended to a noble forest sloping down to the deep blue sea. In one of these trees lived a nightingale, whose song was so beautiful that even busy fishermen would stop to listen. Travellers from all countries declared it the best of all wonders.
Books describing the emperor's city, palace, and gardens travelled the world, reaching the emperor himself. He was pleased until he read, "the nightingale is the most beautiful of all." Astonished, he summoned a lord-in-waiting. "Why have I not been told of this bird?" he demanded. The lord-in-waiting had never heard of it and searched the palace in vain, concluding it was a fable.
The emperor insisted, citing a book from the Emperor of Japan as proof. Threatened with being trampled, the court searched frantically. Finally, a little kitchen maid who listened to the nightingale each evening led them to the forest. After mistaking a cow's lowing and frogs' croaking for the song, they heard the true nightingale—a plain little gray bird.
Invited to court, the nightingale sang so enchantingly that tears rolled down the emperor's cheeks. He offered his golden slipper, but the nightingale declined, saying the emperor's tears were reward enough. The bird was kept at court in a cage, attended by twelve servants holding silken strings—a joyless existence.
One day, the emperor received an artificial nightingale, bejeweled and mechanical, a gift from Japan. It sang waltzes perfectly and repeatedly. The real nightingale, unnoticed, flew back to the woods. The court praised the artificial bird, and the music-master declared it superior. The real nightingale was banished.
Five years later, the emperor fell gravely ill. His court abandoned him for his successor. As Death sat upon his chest, surrounded by memories of his deeds, the emperor cried for music, but the unwound artificial bird was silent. Suddenly, the real nightingale returned, singing at the window. Her song brought hope, weakened Death's grip, and finally charmed Death away in exchange for the emperor's crown and sword.
The emperor recovered, grateful and remorseful. He offered to break the artificial bird, but the nightingale asked him to keep it. She promised to return each evening to sing of joy and sorrow, of the world beyond the palace, but asked that her visits remain a secret. Then she flew away, leaving the emperor, to the astonishment of his returning servants, alive and well.
中文翻译
在中国，皇帝的宫殿是世界上最美丽的，完全由瓷器建成。他广阔的花园延伸至一片雄伟的森林，斜坡向下通往深蓝色的大海。其中一棵树上住着一只夜莺，它的歌声如此美妙，连忙碌的渔夫也会驻足聆听。来自各国的旅行者都宣称这是所有奇迹中最美的。
描述皇帝城市、宫殿和花园的书籍流传世界，也到了皇帝手中。他读得很高兴，直到看到“夜莺是所有事物中最美的”。他大吃一惊，召来一位侍臣。“为什么没人告诉我这只鸟？”他质问道。侍臣从未听说过，在宫中遍寻无果，断定这是个寓言。
皇帝坚持己见，并以日本天皇所赠之书为证。受到被践踏的威胁，宫廷人员疯狂搜寻。最后，一位每晚都去听夜莺唱歌的小厨娘带领他们到了森林。他们先后误把牛哞和蛙鸣当作歌声，终于听到了真正的夜莺——一只朴素的小灰鸟。
夜莺应邀来到宫廷，它的歌声如此迷人，泪水从皇帝的脸颊滚落。皇帝要赐予它金拖鞋，但夜莺谢绝了，说皇帝的眼泪已是足够的回报。夜莺被留在宫廷，关在笼中，由十二个仆人用丝线牵着——毫无乐趣可言。
一天，皇帝收到一只人造夜莺，镶满珠宝，是件机械制品，来自日本的礼物。它能完美地、反复地唱华尔兹舞曲。真正的夜莺无人注意，飞回了树林。宫廷上下称赞人造鸟，乐师长宣称它更优越。真夜莺被驱逐了。
五年后，皇帝病重。他的宫廷人员抛弃了他，去效忠新君。当死神坐在他胸口，他被自己行为的记忆包围时，皇帝呼喊要听音乐，但没上发条的人造鸟沉默无声。突然，真夜莺回来了，在窗外歌唱。它的歌声带来了希望，削弱了死神的力量，最终用歌声换走了皇帝的皇冠和宝剑，将死神迷走了。
皇帝康复了，充满感激与悔恨。他提议砸碎人造鸟，但夜莺请他保留它。夜莺承诺每晚回来，歌唱欢乐与悲伤，歌唱宫墙外的世界，但要求皇帝对此保密。然后它飞走了，留下皇帝——在返回的仆人们惊愕的目光中——安然无恙。