Fairy Tales

SLAVUJ

SLAVUJ	THE NIGHTINGALE
Kao što je poznato, u Kini je car Kinez, a i svi koji ga okružuju takođe su Kinezi. Događaj o kojem ćemo ovdje pričati odigrao se prije mnogo mnogo godina, i to je razlog zašto ovu priču treba čuti prije nego što je zaborav prekrije. Dvor kineskog cara je bio najljepši na svijetu, sav je bio sazdan od najljepšeg i najdragocjenijeg porculana, ali tako krhkog i osjetljivog na dodir da se na njega moralo dobro paziti. U carevom vrtu je raslo najneobičnije cvijeće. Najljepši cvjetovi su imali srebrne zvončiće koji su stalno zveckali i niko nije mogao proći a da ih ne zapazi.	In China, you know, the emperor is a Chinese, and all those about him are Chinamen also. 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. The emperor's palace was the most beautiful in the world. It was built entirely of porcelain, and very costly, but so delicate and brittle that whoever touched it was obliged to be careful. 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.
Da, sve je u tom carskom vrtu bilo vješto i promišljeno uređeno, a sam vrt se pružao tako daleko da mu ni sam vrtlar nije znao kraja. Kad bi se tim vrtom pošlo dalje, nailazilo se na divnu šumu sa visokim drvećem i dubokim jezerima. A šuma se spuštala sve do dubokog sinjeg mora, tako da su brodovi mogli dojedriti pod samo šumsko granje gdje se ugnijezdio jedan slavuj. Taj slavuj je tako divno pjevao da je i jedan siromašni ribar, uvijek zauzet svojim teškim poslom, zaboravljao na svoju mrežu i predavao se uživanju u toj noćnoj slavujevoj pjesmi. – Bože, kakve li miline! – govorio je ribar. Ali posao je gonio ribara i on je morao ostaviti slavuja. Međutim, već sljedeće noći opet bi ga u poslu prekinula slavujeva pjesma i ribar bi se opet divio: – Bože, kakve li miline! Sa svih strana svijeta dolazili su putnici u carev grad i divili se i gradu, i dvoru i vrtu, ali čim bi čuli slavuja, oni bi u jedan glas ponavljali: – Slavujeva pjesma je ipak ljepša od svega!	Indeed, everything in the emperor's garden was remarkable, and it extended so far that the gardener himself did not know where it ended. 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. 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. Sometimes, when they went at night to spread their nets, they would hear her sing, and say, "Oh, is not that beautiful?" But when they returned to their fishing, they forgot the bird until the next night. Then they would hear it again, and exclaim "Oh, how beautiful is the nightingale's song!" 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; but when they heard the nightingale, they all declared it to be the best of all.
Vrativši se svojim kućama, ti putnici su pričali o svemu što su vidjeli. Učenjaci su napisali mnogo knjiga o carevom gradu, o dvoru i vrtu, ali niko nije zaboravljao slavuja. Njega su najviše hvalili. A pjesnici su pisali svoje najljepše stihove o tom slavuju i šumi kraj dubokog mora. Te knjige i pjesme išle su širom svijeta pa su tako i do cara došle. On je sjedio na svom zlatnom prijestolu, čitao i čitao i stalno klimao glavom. Bio je zadovoljan tim opisima njegove prijestonice, dvora i vrta. A kad je pročitao i ono: "Ali ipak ljepši od svega su slavuj i njegova pjesma", car se začudio: – Kako? Slavuj? Ja ne znam ni da postoji takva ptica! I to u mom carstvu, u mom vrtu! Zar da to saznam iz knjiga?!	And the travellers, on their return home, related what they had seen; and learned men wrote books, containing descriptions of the town, the palace, and the gardens; but they did not forget the nightingale, which was really the greatest wonder. And those who could write poetry composed beautiful verses about the nightingale, who lived in a forest near the deep sea. The books travelled all over the world, and some of them came into the hands of the emperor; 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. But when he came to the words, "the nightingale is the most beautiful of all," he exclaimed, "What is this? I know nothing of any nightingale. Is there such a bird in my empire? and even in my garden? I have never heard of it. Something, it appears, may be learnt from books."
I on pozva nadzornika dvora. A taj nadzornik je bio tako nadmen da mlađima od sebe, ako bi se neko usudio da ga nešto upita, uopšte nije odgovarao, nego bi samo izustio ono svoje besmisleno "pi!"	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.
– Saznao sam da se ovdje kod nas nalazi neka čudna ptica što se zove slavuj – reče car nadzorniku dvora. – Kažu da je upravo ona ono što je najljepše u mom carstvu. Zašto mi to nikada niko nije rekao?	"There is a very wonderful bird mentioned here, called a nightingale," said the emperor; "they say it is the best thing in my large kingdom. Why have I not been told of it?"
– Pa ni ja do sada nisam za nju čuo! – odgovori nadzornik dvora. – Nikada se ona još nije pojavila na dvoru.	"I have never heard the name," replied the cavalier; "she has not been presented at court."
– Hoću još večeras da dođe ovamo i da mi pjeva! – naredio je car. – Čitav svijet zna šta imamo, samo ja ne znam!	"It is my pleasure that she shall appear this evening." said the emperor; "the whole world knows what I possess better than I do myself."
– Pa za tu pticu ni ja nisam čuo! – izvinjavao se nadzornik. – Ali ću je tražiti, i ja ću je naći!	"I have never heard of her," said the cavalier; "yet I will endeavor to find her."
Ali gdje da je nađe? Trčao je nadzornik dvora po stepenicama gore – dolje, trčao, trčao po dvoranama i hodnicima, ali koga god je pitao, svak je odgovarao da nikada nije ni čuo za nekakvog slavuja. Najzad se nadzornik dvora vratio da kaže caru da su to vjerovatno samo izmišljotine onih što pišu knjige: – Vaše carsko veličanstvo ne bi trebalo da vjeruje u to što se piše po knjigama. Sve su to izmišljotine i čarolije...	But where was the nightingale to be found? The nobleman went up stairs and down, through halls and passages; yet none of those whom he met had heard of the bird. So he returned to the emperor, and said that it must be a fable, invented by those who had written the book. "Your imperial majesty," said he, "cannot believe everything contained in books; sometimes they are only fiction, or what is called the black art."
Ali ga je car prekinuo: – Da, ali knjigu u kojoj sam čitao o slavuju poslao mi je sam japanski car i ona ne može biti neistinita. Hoću da čujem slavuja! I hoću da mi večeras ovdje pjeva! On je u mojoj najvećoj milosti! Ako mi večeras slavuj ne bude ovdje, svi dvorani će dobiti batine po trbuhu, i to poslije večere!	"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. I will hear the nightingale, she must be here this evening; she has my highest favor; and if she does not come, the whole court shall be trampled upon after supper is ended."
– Tsig-pe! – naklonio se nadzornik, pa se opet ustrčao po stepenicama, po dvoranama i hodnicima. Za njim je trčala polovina dvorana, jer niko nije htio da bude bijen po trbuhu. Svi su se raspitivali za tog znamenitog slavuja, za koga je znao čitav svijet, samo ne carev dvor.	"Tsing-pe!" cried the lord-in-waiting, and again he ran up and down stairs, through all the halls and corridors; and half the court ran with him, for they did not like the idea of being trampled upon. There was a great inquiry about this wonderful nightingale, whom all the world knew, but who was unknown to the court.
Najzad su u kuhinji naišli na jednu sirotu djevojčicu koja im je odgovorila: – Bože! Pitate za slavuja?! Kako ga ne bih znala! Kako samo lijepo pjeva! Svako veče ja sa stola nosim ponešto ostataka kući, bolesnoj majci, tamo dolje kod morske obale, pa kad se vraćam, onako umorna, zastanem u šumi da se odmorim i tada slušam slavujevu pjesmu. Kad slušam to njegovo biglisanje, suze mi teku niz lice i čini mi se da me majka ljubi...	At last they met with a poor little girl in the kitchen, who said, "Oh, yes, I know the nightingale quite well; indeed, she can sing. Every evening I have permission to take home to my poor sick mother the scraps from the table; she lives down by the sea-shore, and as I come back I feel tired, and I sit down in the wood to rest, and listen to the nightingale's song. Then the tears come into my eyes, and it is just as if my mother kissed me."
– Slušaj ti, mala kuharice! – reče joj nadzornik dvora. – Ja ću ti osigurati stalno zaposlenje u kuhinji i dobićeš dozvolu da gledaš cara kad jede ako nas odvedeš tamo gdje taj slavuj pjeva. Jer, car je naredio da mu još večeras tog slavuja dovedemo! I tako oni krenuše u šumu gdje je slavuj pjevao. Pošla je s njima i polovina dvorskog osoblja. I dok su tako išli, najednom negdje krava muknu.	"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; for she is invited for this evening to the palace." So she went into the wood where the nightingale sang, and half the court followed her. As they went along, a cow began lowing.
– Oh, oh, evo ga! – uzviknuo je neki dvorjanin. – Kolika je to snaga kod tog malog živinčeta! A siguran sam da sam ga negdje i ranije čuo!	"Oh," said a young courtier, "now we have found her; what wonderful power for such a small creature; I have certainly heard it before."
– Ne, to je krava muknula! – objasnila mu je mala kuharica. – Daleko smo mi još od pravog mjesta. Onda se iznenada začulo žablje kreketanje.	"No, that is only a cow lowing," said the little girl; "we are a long way from the place yet." Then some frogs began to croak in the marsh.
– Divno! – sada je uzviknuo kineski dvorski sveštenik. Čujem ga! Breca kao malo crkveno zvono!	"Beautiful," said the young courtier again. "Now I hear it, tinkling like little church bells."
– Ma nije, to su žabe! – i njemu je objasnila mala kuharica i dodala: – Ali ja mislim da ćemo skoro i slavuja čuti. I, zaista, sada se oglasio slavuj.	"No, those are frogs," said the little maiden; "but I think we shall soon hear her now:" and presently the nightingale began to sing.
– To je on! – uzviknula je djevojčica. – Čujete li ga? Eno ga! – i pokaza rukom na malu sivu ptičicu u granju.	"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.
– Je li moguće?! – začudio se nadzornik dvora. – Nikada ne bih pomislio da je takav! Kako je neugledan! Sigurno je i boju izgubio kada je ugledao pred sobom ovoliki otmjeni svijet!	"Is it possible?" said the lord-in-waiting, "I never imagined it would be a little, plain, simple thing like that. She has certainly changed color at seeing so many grand people around her."
– Slavujiću! – veselo mu je doviknula mala kuharica. – Naš milostivi car želi da mu pjevaš!	"Little nightingale," cried the girl, raising her voice, "our most gracious emperor wishes you to sing before him."
– Vrlo rado! – odgovorio je slavuj i počeo tako pjevati da ga je bilo milina slušati.	"With the greatest pleasure," said the nightingale, and began to sing most delightfully.
– Kao da stakleni zvončići zvone! – reče nadzornik dvora. – Pogledaj samo kako mu se grlašce napreže. Zaista je čudno da ga prije nismo čuli. Veliki uspjeh će imati na dvoru!	"It sounds like tiny glass bells," said the lord-in-waiting, "and see how her little throat works. It is surprising that we have never heard this before; she will be a great success at court."
– Hoće li car da mu još pjevam? – pitao je slavuj misleći da je i car među njima.	"Shall I sing once more before the emperor?" asked the nightingale, who thought he was present.
– Divni moj slavujiću! – obrati mu se nadzornik dvora. – Osobito me raduje što imam čast da Vas pozovem na večerašnju dvorsku svečanost gdje ćete vi svojom čarobnom pjesmom očarati Njegovo carsko veličanstvo!	"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."
– Ali moja pjesma u zelenilu najbolje zvuči – odgovorio je slavuj. Ali kad je čuo da car tako želi, on je ipak rado pristao da pođe u dvor.	"My song sounds best in the green wood," said the bird; but still she came willingly when she heard the emperor's wish.
Carski dvor je blistao. Porculanski zidovi i tavanice su bili osvijetljeni hiljadama svjetiljki. Hodnike je ukrašavalo najljepše cvijeće koje je zveckalo kao srebrni zvončići. Svuda je vladala užurbanost, glasovi su se preplitali i zvončići tako zvonili da su se riječi potpuno gubile. Usred velike dvorane u kojoj je sjedio car za slavuja je bila postavljena zlatna pritka. Čitav dvor je bio na okupu, a i mala djevojčica je sada stajala pored vrata, jer je već dobila zvanje prave dvorske kuharice. Svi su bili svečano odjeveni i svi su gledali u malu sivu pticu kojoj je car blagonaklono klimao glavom.	The palace was elegantly decorated for the occasion. The walls and floors of porcelain glittered in the light of a thousand lamps. Beautiful flowers, round which little bells were tied, stood in the corridors: what with the running to and fro and the draught, these bells tinkled so loudly that no one could speak to be heard. In the centre of the great hall, a golden perch had been fixed for the nightingale to sit on. The whole court was present, and the little kitchen-maid had received permission to stand by the door. She was not installed as a real court cook. All were in full dress, and every eye was turned to the little gray bird when the emperor nodded to her to begin.
Sada slavuj poče da izvodi svoje melodije, ali tako milozvučno da su caru suze udarile na oči i potekle niz lice. A kada je slavuj zapjevao svoju sljedeću pjesmu, sva srca se rastopiše od miline. Car je bio toliko oduševljen da je naredio da se slavuju objesi oko vrata zlatna carska papučica. Zahvaljujući se na toj carskoj milosti, slavuj je rekao: – Vidio sam suze u carevim očima, i to je već za mene bila najveća nagrada! Carske suze imaju čudotvornu moć. Previšnji mi je svjedok koliko sam sretan! – i ponovo zapjeva svojim zvonkim i umilnim glasom.	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. 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: she had been sufficiently rewarded already. "I have seen tears in an emperor's eyes," she said, "that is my richest reward. An emperor's tears have wonderful power, and are quite sufficient honor for me;" and then she sang again more enchantingly than ever.
– Eto, to je najbolji način da se dopadneš i umiliš! – zagunđaše prisutne dame, pa napuniše usta vodom da bi i one zabiglisale ako bi ih neko oslovio. Sve su već zamišljale da su i one slavuji. Čak i lakeji i sobarice izražavali su svoje zadovoljstvo, a to je već mnogo značilo, jer njih je uvijek bilo najteže zadovoljiti. Da, slavuj se zaista proslavio, sva srca je osvojio! Sada je slavuj ostao na dvoru, dobio je svoj vlastiti kavez i slobodu da dvaput šeta danju i jednom noću. Za pratnju je dobio dvanaest sluga i svaki od njih je držao po jednu svilenu vrpcu zavezanu za slavujevu nogu. Ali takva sloboda za slavuja nije bila nikakvo zadovoljstvo.	"That singing is a lovely gift;" said the ladies of the court to each other; 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. And the footmen and chambermaids also expressed their satisfaction, which is saying a great deal, for they are very difficult to please. In fact the nightingale's visit was most successful. 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. Twelve servants were appointed to attend her on these occasions, who each held her by a silken string fastened to her leg. There was certainly not much pleasure in this kind of flying.

Čitav grad je već govorio o slavnoj ptici i kada bi se dva građanina sreli pa jedan tek zaustio "Sla ...", drugi bi već nastavio: "vuj", i obojica bi uzdahnula i razumjela sve ostalo. Čak je jedanaestero piljarske djece dobilo ime po slavnoj ptici, iako nijedno od njih nije moglo ni da pjevne.	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. Eleven peddlers' children were named after her, but not of them could sing a note.
Jednog dana stiže caru paket s natpisom: "Slavuj". – Evo nam nove knjige o našoj slavnoj ptici! – rekao je car. Ali to nije bila knjiga, nego kutijasta umjetnička naprava – vještački slavuj, sličan prirodnom slavuju, ali je on bio sav ukrašen dijamantima, rubinima i safirima. Kad bi navili tu vještačku pticu, ona je pjevala jedan od napjeva prirodnog slavuja, a rep joj se dizao i spuštao i sav blistao od srebra i zlata. O vratu joj je visila mala traka sa natpisom: "Slavuj japanskog cara je pravo uboštvo prema slavuju kineskog cara!"	One day the emperor received a large packet on which was written "The Nightingale." "Here is no doubt a new book about our celebrated bird," said the emperor. 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. 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. Round its neck hung a piece of ribbon, on which was written "The Emperor of China's nightingale is poor compared with that of the Emperor of Japan's."
– Divno rečeno! – rekli su svi na dvoru, a čovjek koji je donio tu vještačku pticu dobio je zvanje "vrhovnog carskog pticonoše".	"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."
– A sada neka zajedno pjevaju! Ala će to biti duet! I pjevali su zajedno, ali nikako se nisu slagali. Prirodni slavuj je pjevao na svoj način, a vještački je izvijao onako kako su se okretali zupčanici njegovog malog stroja.	"Now they must sing together," said the court, "and what a duet it will be." But they did not get on well, for the real nightingale sang in its own natural way, but the artificial bird sang only waltzes.
– To nije njegova greška – branio ga je dvorski kapelnik. – On se drži školskog takta, drži se moje nauke. Sada je već vještački slavuj pjevao sam i sa isto toliko uspjeha kao i prirodni, a uz to i ljepše je izgledao – sav je blistao kao ženska narukvica ili dragocjeni ukras na prsima. Trideset i tri puta je vještački slavuj otpjevao jednu te istu melodiju i nije se umorio. Svi bi ga rado i dalje slušali, ali car naredi da sada i prirodni slavuj zapjeva. Ali gdje je on? Niko nije primijetio kada je izletio kroz otvoreni prozor i odletio u svoj zeleni gaj.	"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; besides, it was so much prettier to look at, for it sparkled like bracelets and breast-pins. Three and thirty times did it sing the same tunes without being tired; the people would gladly have heard it again, but the emperor said the living nightingale ought to sing something. But where was she? No one had noticed her when she flew out at the open window, back to her own green woods.
– Kakav je to način! – naljutio se car. Sada i dvorani počeše da grde slavuja i da ga nazivaju najnezahvalnijim stvorenjem.	"What strange conduct," said the emperor, when her flight had been discovered; and all the courtiers blamed her, and said she was a very ungrateful creature.
– Ipak nam je ostala bolja ptica! – tješili su se dvorani i naredili da vještački slavuj ponovo zapjeva. Pjevao je on već trideset i četvrti put, ali oni nikako nisu mogli da nauče taj njegov teški napjev. A dvorski kapelnik je i dalje hvalio vještačkog slavuja i uvjeravao ih da je bolji od prirodnog, i to ne samo po svojoj spoljašnosti i dijamantima nego i po svojim unutrašnjim osobinama: – Eto, vidite, gospodo, a prije svih, naš svijetli care! Sa prirodnim slavujem nikada ne znaš šta će zabiglisati, a kod vještačkog sve je unaprijed određeno! Možeš ga objasniti, možeš rasklopiti i svakome pokazati kako mu valjčići stoje i kako jedan drugog okreću ...	"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. 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. "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. It can be opened and explained, so that people may understand how the waltzes are formed, and why one note follows upon another."
Tako je! – potvrdio je čitav dvor. I dvorski kapelnik je dobio odobrenje da već sljedeće nedjelje narodu prikaže tu vještačku pticu. – Neka i narod čuje kako slavuj pjeva! – rekao je car. Ljudi su slušali slavuja i svi su bili tako razdragani kao da su se na svoj kineski način čajem opili. Svi su klicali "O!" i dizali prst "lizavac", koji mi zovemo kažiprst, i oduševljeno klimali zajapurenim glavama. Samo siromašni ribari, koji su navikli da slušaju prirodnog slavuja, nisu bili oduševljeni i govorili su: – Jest, lijepo zvuči i slično je biglisanju, ali tu nešto nije kako treba, a mi ni sami ne znamo šta! Tako je prirodni slavuj bio protjeran iz zemlje i kineskog carstva.	"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 commanded that they should be present to hear it sing. When they heard it they were like people intoxicated; however it must have been with drinking tea, which is quite a Chinese custom. 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; yet there seems something wanting, I cannot exactly tell what."
Vještačka ptica je dobila mjesto na svilenom jastuku pored same careve postelje. Oko nje su ležali mnogobrojni pokloni od srebra i zlata koje je dobila od raznih poštovalaca. A pored toga, ona je sada bila unaprijeđena u zvanje "Vrhovne pjevačice uspavanki", u rangu broj jedan s lijeve strane, jer je car više cijenio onu stranu gdje se nalazi srce, a srce je i u cara bilo s lijeve strane.	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. 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; 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.
Dvorski kapelnik je napisao čitavih dvadeset i pet knjiga o vještačkoj ptici. To su bile debele i učene knjige sa mnoštvom najtežih kineskih riječi. I svi su tvrdili da su ih pročitali i dobro razumjeli, inače bi ih smatrali glupacima i moglo se dogoditi da po trbuhu dobiju batine.	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; yet all the people said they had read it, and understood it, for fear of being thought stupid and having their bodies trampled upon.
Tako je protekla i čitava godina. Car, dvorani i svi ostali Kinezi znali su već napamet i najmanji zvuk vještačke ptice. Već je i ulična dječurlija pjevala: "Ciju-ciju-ci – kli-kli-ki!" Pa i sam car je već počeo to isto pjevuckati. Bože, kakve li miline!	So a year passed, and the emperor, the court, and all the other Chinese knew every little turn in the artificial bird's song; and for that same reason it pleased them better. They could sing with the bird, which they often did. The street-boys sang, "Zi-zi-zi, cluck, cluck, cluck," and the emperor himself could sing it also. It was really most amusing.
Ali jedne večeri dok je vještačka ptica pjevala a car uživao u svojoj postelji, najednom je u ptici nešto škripnulo, a onda zazvrjalo "zrz-zrz"... Svi točkići su se odvili i pjevanje je prestalo. Car je odmah skočio iz postelje i pozvao svog ljekara. Ali šta je tu mogao ljekar?!	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." Then a spring cracked. "Whir-r-r-r" went all the wheels, running round, and then the music stopped. The emperor immediately sprang out of bed, and called for his physician; but what could he do?
Onda je pozvao časovničara. Poslije dugog gunđanja i kuckanja, časovničar je nekako stavio pticu u pogon, ali je upozorio da je ubuduće treba štedjeti, jer su joj se već zupci izlizali, a novi se ne mogu napraviti. Nastala je velika žalost. Vještačka ptica odsada se mogla samo jednom godišnje navijati, pa i tada se moralo dobro paziti. Tom prilikom kapelnik je održao govor pun kićenih riječi kojima je uvjeravao sve prisutne da će sve biti dobro kao što je i bilo.	Then they sent for a watchmaker; and, after a great deal of talking and examination, the bird was put into something like order; 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. Now there was great sorrow, as the bird could only be allowed to play once a year; and even that was dangerous for the works inside it. Then the music-master made a little speech, full of hard words, and declared that the bird was as good as ever; and, of course no one contradicted him.
Tako je prošlo još čitavih pet godina. I tada je najednom čitavom zemljom zavladala tuga – smrtno se razbolio njihov voljeni car. Već je bio izabran i novi car, a narod je još stajao na ulicama i pitao nadzornika dvora kako je zdravlje starog cara. – Pi! – odgovorio bi on i odmahnuo glavom.	Five years passed, and then a real grief came upon the land. The Chinese really were fond of their emperor, and he now lay so ill that he was not expected to live. 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; but he only said, "Pooh!" and shook his head.
Hladan i blijed, car je ležao u svojoj velikoj i raskošnoj postelji. Svi dvorani su mislili da je on već mrtav i žurili su da se poklone novom caru. Carski sobari su trčali da porazgovaraju o tom događaju, a dvorkinje su se skupljale na šoljicu kafe. Po svim dvoranama i hodnicima prostrti su mekani ćilimi da se ne čuju koraci, pa je svuda vladala mrtva tišina. Ali car je još bio živ, ležao je ukočen i blijed u svojoj raskošnoj postelji oko koje su visile dugačke baršunaste zavjese sa teškim zlatnim kićankama. Iznad njegove postelje je bio otvoren prozor i kroz njega je mjesec bacao svoju svjetlost na cara i vještačku pticu.	Cold and pale lay the emperor in his royal bed; the whole court thought he was dead, and every one ran away to pay homage to his successor. The chamberlains went out to have a talk on the matter, and the ladies'-maids invited company to take coffee. Cloth had been laid down on the halls and passages, so that not a footstep should be heard, and all was silent and still. 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. A window stood open, and the moon shone in upon the emperor and the artificial bird.
Jadni car jedva je već disao. Činilo mu se kao da mu nešto pritišće grudi. Kad je otvorio oči, vidio je da mu to na grudima sjedi smrt. Njegovu zlatnu krunu stavila je sebi na glavu. U jednoj ruci je držala njegovu zlatnu sablju a u drugoj dragocjenu carsku zastavu. Iz nabora dugačkih baršunastih zavjesa oko postelje pojavljivale su se neke čudnovate glave, neke ružne i strašne, a neke opet blage i prijatne. Bila su to careva dobra i zla djela koja su ga gledala sada kada mu je smrt srce stezala.	The poor emperor, finding he could scarcely breathe with a strange weight on his chest, opened his eyes, and saw Death sitting there. 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. 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. These were the emperor's good and bad deeds, which stared him in the face now Death sat at his heart.
– Sjećaš li se onoga? A sjećaš se ovoga? – pitala je jedna glava za drugom i nabrajale toliko toga da su mu čitavo čelo prekrile krupne graške znoja.	"Do you remember this?" "Do you recollect that?" they asked one after another, thus bringing to his remembrance circumstances that made the perspiration stand on his brow.
– Ovako nešto nikada nisam mogao ni zamisliti! – prostenjao je car, a onda je povikao: – Muziku! Muziku! Udarajte u veliki kineski bubanj da ne čujem šta mi ovi ovdje govore! Ali priviđenja su govorila dalje, a smrt je na kineski način, klimanjem glave, odobravala njihove optužbe. – Muziku, muziku! – vapio je car. – Ti mi bar zapjevaj, zlatna ptico! Zapjevaj! Dao sam ti zlata i dragulja, lično sam ti objesio zlatnu papučicu oko vrata, hajde zapjevaj, pjevaj! Vikao je car, a ptica ni glasa da pusti. Nikoga nije bilo ko bi je navio, a bez toga ona nije mogla pjevati.	"I know nothing about it," said the emperor. "Music! music!" he cried; "the large Chinese drum! that I may not hear what they say." But they still went on, and Death nodded like a Chinaman to all they said. "Music! music!" shouted the emperor. "You little precious golden bird, sing, pray sing! I have given you gold and costly presents; I have even hung my golden slipper round your neck. Sing! sing!" But the bird remained silent. There was no one to wind it up, and therefore it could not sing a note.
Car je vapio, a smrt ga je samo hladno gledala svojim praznim očnim dupljama. Car je nemoćno vapio, a okolo je vladala stravična tišina. Najednom se pored samog prozora začula divna pjesma. To je na grani zapjevao prirodni slavuj. On je saznao da je car u nevolji i doletio je da ga pjesmom utješi i nadom osnaži. I dok je on tako pjevao, priviđenja su postajala sve bljeđa i bljeđa, a u oslabljenom carevom tijelu krv je kolala sve brže i brže. I sama smrt je bila očarana tom pjesmom i molila je slavuja: – Pjevaj, slavujiću! Pjevaj još, još!	Death continued to stare at the emperor with his cold, hollow eyes, and the room was fearfully still. Suddenly there came through the open window the sound of sweet music. Outside, on the bough of a tree, sat the living nightingale. She had heard of the emperor's illness, and was therefore come to sing to him of hope and trust. And as she sung, the shadows grew paler and paler; the blood in the emperor's veins flowed more rapidly, and gave life to his weak limbs; and even Death himself listened, and said, "Go on, little nightingale, go on."
– Pjevaću ako ćeš mi dati tu zlatnu sablju, ako ćeš mi dati tu raskošnu zastavu i tu carsku krunu!	"Then will you give me the beautiful golden sword and that rich banner? and will you give me the emperor's crown?" said the bird.
I smrt mu je za svaku pjesmu davala po jednu dragocjenost. A slavuj je pjevao o tihom groblju gdje rastu i šire svoj miris jorgovan i bijele ruže i gdje je zelena trava natopljena suzama živih. Tada i samu smrt najednom obuze čežnja za svojim vrtom i tihim boravištem i ona kroz prozor iščeze poput hladne i bjeličaste magle.	So Death gave up each of these treasures for a song; and the nightingale continued her singing. 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. Then Death longed to go and see his garden, and floated out through the window in the form of a cold, white mist.
– Hvala ti, hvala, nebeska ptičice! – zahvaljivao se car slavuju. – Sjećam se ja tebe. Protjerao sam te iz svoje zemlje i svog carstva, a ti si ipak svojom pjesmom otjerala priviđenja od moje postelje! Smrt si mi sa grudi otjerala! Kako da te nagradim?	"Thanks, thanks, you heavenly little bird. I know you well. 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. How can I reward you?"
– Pa već si me nagradio! – odgovorio je slavuj. – Vidio sam suze u tvojim očima kad sam ti prvi put pjevao i to ja nikad neću zaboraviti! To su dragulji koji oplemenjuju pjevačevo srce. Ali sada spavaj, treba da se osvježiš i ojačaš. Spavaj, a ja ću ti pjevati!	"You have already rewarded me," said the nightingale. "I shall never forget that I drew tears from your eyes the first time I sang to you. These are the jewels that rejoice a singer's heart. But now sleep, and grow strong and well again. I will sing to you again."
I slavuj zapjeva, a car utonu u prijatan i okrepljujući san. A kada se car poslije tog prijatnog i okrepljujućeg sna, zdrav i ojačao, probudio, vidio je da ga kroz prozor sunce grije svojim zracima i da u sobi nikoga od njegovih dvorana nema – svi su mislili da je car već mrtav. Ali slavuj je još uvijek bio uz njega i još uvijek mu je pjevao.	And as she sung, the emperor fell into a sweet sleep; and how mild and refreshing that slumber was! When he awoke, strengthened and restored, the sun shone brightly through the window; but not one of his servants had returned—they all believed he was dead; only the nightingale still sat beside him, and sang.
– Zauvijek moraš kod mene ostati! – rekao mu je car. – I pjevaćeš samo kad sam zaželiš, a vještačku pticu ću u paramparčad razbiti!	"You must always remain with me," said the emperor. "You shall sing only when it pleases you; and I will break the artificial bird into a thousand pieces."
– Nemoj tako! – reče slavuj. – Ona je učinila što je mogla. Zadrži je i dalje. Ja ne mogu na dvoru živjeti. Ali mi dopusti da dođem kad zaželim. Ja ću uveče doletjeti na granu pred tvojim prozorom i pjevaću ti da te razveselim i razonodim.	"No; do not do that," replied the nightingale; "the bird did very well as long as it could. Keep it here still. I cannot live in the palace, and build my nest; but let me come when I like. 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.
Pjevaću ti o sretnima i onima što pate. Pjevaću ti o zlu i dobru što od tebe kriju! Ptica pjevica leti na sve strane, pa i do siromašnih ribara, do seljačkih koliba i do svih onih koji su daleko od tebe i tvoga dvora. Ja više volim tvoje srce nego tvoju carsku krunu. Ali i kruna može donijeti neko dobro. Dolaziću da ti pjevam, ali mi jedno moraš obećati...	I will sing to you of those who are happy, and those who suffer; of the good and the evil, who are hidden around you. The little singing bird flies far from you and your court to the home of the fisherman and the peasant's cot. I love your heart better than your crown; and yet something holy lingers round that also. I will come, I will sing to you; but you must promise me one thing."
– Sve što hoćeš! – dočeka car stojeći u svom carskom ruhu što ga je sam obukao i držeći na srcu sablju od čistoga zlata.	"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.
– Samo jedno te molim! A to je: nikome nemoj reći da imaš pticu koja ti sve govori. Tada će sve biti još bolje! To slavuj reče i nestade.	"I only ask one thing," she replied; "let no one know that you have a little bird who tells you everything. It will be best to conceal it." So saying, the nightingale flew away.
Najzad, i dvorani dođoše da vide svog mrtvog cara. Dođoše i zapanjeni zastadoše. A car im samo reče: – Dobro jutro.	The servants now came in to look after the dead emperor; when, lo! there he stood, and, to their astonishment, said, "Good morning."

>> DJEVOJČICA SA ŠIBICAMA