“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(trample v.践踏，踩坏，轻视n.踩踏，蹂躏)upon after supper is ended.”
“不过我读过的那本书，”皇帝说，“是日本国的那位威武的皇帝送来的，因此它绝不能是捏造的。我要听听夜莺歌唱！今晚必须把它弄到这儿来！我下圣旨叫它来！如果它今晚来不了，宫里所有的人，一吃完晚饭就要在肚皮上结结实实地挨几下！”
“Tsingpe！”cried the lordinwaiting，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 inquiryinquiry n.质询，调查about this wonderful nightingale，whom all the world knew，but who was unknown to the court.
“钦佩！”侍臣说。于是他再一次在台阶上走上走下，在大厅和长廊里跑来跑去。宫里有一半的人在跟着他乱跑，因为大家都不愿意在肚皮上挨揍。于是他们便开始一种大规模的调查工作，调查这只奇异的夜莺——这只除了宫廷的人以外、大家全都知道的夜莺。
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 seashore，and as I come back I feel tired，and I sit down in the wood to rest，and listen to the nightingales song.Then the tears come into my eyes，and it is just as if my mother kissed me.”
最后他们在厨房里碰见一个穷苦的小女孩。她说：“哎呀，老天爷，原来你们要找夜莺！我跟它再熟悉不过，它唱得很好听。每天晚上大家准许我把桌上剩下的一点儿饭粒带回家去，给我可怜的生病的母亲——她住在海岸旁边。当我在回家的路上走得疲倦了的时候，我就在树林里休息一会儿，那时我就听到夜莺唱歌。这时我的眼泪就流出来了，我觉得好像我的母亲在吻我似的！”
“Little maiden，”said the lordinwaiting，“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.
“小丫头！”侍臣说，”我会设法为你在厨房里弄一个固定的职位，还让使你拥有看皇上吃饭的特权。条件是你得把我们带到夜莺那儿去，因为它今晚得在皇上面前表演一下。”这样他们就一齐走到夜莺经常唱歌的那个树林里去。宫里一半的人都出动了。途中，一头母牛开始叫起来。
“Oh，”said a young courtier，“now we have found her，what wonderful power for such a small creature，I have certainly heard it before.”
“呀！”一位年轻的贵族说，“现在我们可找到它了！这么一个小的动物，它的声音可是特别洪亮！我以前在什么地方听到过这声音。”
“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 croakcroak vi.嗄嗄叫，发牢骚vt.用嘶哑的声音说n.蛙或鸦的叫声in the marsh.
“错了，这是牛叫！”小女孩说。”我们离那块地方还远着呢。”接着，沼泽里的青蛙叫起来了。
“Beautiful，”said the young courtier again.“Now I hear it，tinkling like little church bells.”
中国的宫廷祭司说：“现在我听到它了它听起来像庙里的小小钟声。”
“No，those are frogs，”said the little maiden，“but I think we shall soon hear her now.”and presently the nightingale began to sing.
“错了，这是青蛙的叫声！”小女佣人说。“不过，我想我们很快就可以听到夜莺歌唱了。”于是夜莺开始唱起来。
“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.
“这才是呢！”小女佣人说：“听啊，听啊！它就栖在那儿。”她指着树枝上一只小小的灰色鸟儿。
“Is it possible？”said the lordinwaiting，“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.”
“这个可能吗？”侍臣说。“我从来就没有想到它是那么一个又简单又普通的小东西！这一定是因为它看到有这么多的官员在旁，吓得失去了光彩的缘故。”
“Little nightingale，”cried the girl，raising her voice，“our most gracious emperor wishes you to sing before him.”
“小小的夜莺！”小女佣人高声地喊，“我们仁慈的皇上希望你给他去唱唱歌呢。”
“With the greatest pleasure.”said the nightingale，and began to sing most delightfully.
“我非常高兴！”夜莺说，于是它唱出最美妙的歌来。
“It sounds like tiny glass bells，”said the lordinwaiting，“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.”
“这声音像玻璃钟响！”侍臣说。“你们看，它的小歌喉唱得多么好！说来也稀奇，我们以前从未没有听到过它。这鸟儿到宫里去一定会逗得大家喜欢！”
“Shall I sing once more before the emperor？”asked the nightingale，who thought he was present.
“还要我再为皇上唱一次吗？”夜莺问，因为它以为皇帝在场。
“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.”
“我的绝顶好的小夜莺啊！”侍臣说，“我感到非常荣幸，邀请你到宫里去参加一个晚会。在那儿你将用你美妙的歌喉去取悦圣朝的皇上。”
“My song sounds best in the green wood.”said the bird，but still she came willingly(willingly adv.自动地，欣然地)when she heard the emperors wish.
“我的歌只有在绿色的树林里才唱得最好！”夜莺说。不过，当它听说皇帝希望见它的时候，它还是欣然过去了。
The palace was elegantly decorated(decorate v.装饰，为……做室内装修)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.
宫殿被装饰得优美别致。瓷砖砌的墙和铺的地，在无数金灯的光中闪闪发亮。那些挂着银铃的、最美丽的花朵，现在都被搬到走廊上来了。走廊里有许多人跑来跑去，卷起一阵微风，使所有的银铃都丁当丁当地响起来，弄得人们都听不见彼此的说话声。在皇帝坐着的大殿中央，人们竖起了一根金制的栖柱，好使夜莺能栖在上面。
The whole court was present，and the little kitchenmaid 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.The nightingale sang so sweetly that the tears came into the emperors eyes，and then rolled down his cheeks，as her song became still more touching and went to every ones 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(sufficiently adv.十分地，充分地)rewarded already.
