00:00Howdy, kids! Welcome to Fabulous Fables, where little stories have big lessons.
00:05Today, we're going to hear the wonderful story of the nightingale.
00:09This tale revolves around a magical bird whose song could heal the soul.
00:15Are you ready? Let's begin.
00:17A long, long time ago, in the ancient land of China,
00:21there was a nightingale who sang the most enchanting melody in the world.
00:25Small and unassuming, the grey bird lived among the lofty trees beside a stunning turquoise lake.
00:32Her song was incredibly captivating, due to its natural beauty and emotional depth.
00:38One night, a fisherman was drawing in his nets at the lake
00:41when he heard the remarkable bird singing a heartwarming tune.
00:45He dropped his nets, stood still, and listened.
00:49Ah, little one, your song makes the world feel young again,
00:54he said with tears of joy in his eyes.
00:57Before long, word of the nightingale's phenomenal talent spread throughout the region.
01:03A crowd began gathering by the lake at night to hear the bird sing,
01:07and it slowly grew in size.
01:09Meanwhile, in the imperial palace, the emperor of China,
01:13frail and weary, listened as a court minister read from a scroll,
01:18and in the emperor's forest sings the most wondrous bird in all the world, the nightingale.
01:26The emperor frowned and asked,
01:28The most wondrous bird in my forest, and I've never heard of it.
01:33His deep and powerful voice echoed through the opulent throne room.
01:38Find the nightingale, bring it to me at once.
01:41The emperor's lords-in-waiting set to work immediately.
01:45They ran upstairs and downstairs and through passages and halls,
01:49but none of those they met had heard of the nightingale.
01:53Undaunted, the noblemen went on to question the kitchen staff.
01:57Alas, they found a kind-eyed, humble servant girl who knew the whereabouts of the bird.
02:02Oh my goodness, the nightingale! she exclaimed.
02:07Yes, I know her very well.
02:09Every evening, I'm permitted to take leftovers to my sick mother,
02:13who lives down by the lakeside.
02:14On my way back, I hear the nightingale singing in the woods.
02:19Her song makes me feel like I'm in my mother's warm embrace.
02:24Little maid, said a lord-in-waiting.
02:26I'll procure you permission to serve the emperor at mealtimes if you'll take us to the nightingale.
02:32That night, the kitchen maid led half the court to the forest beside the lake.
02:37Soon after they arrived, the nightingale began to sing.
02:41Look, there she is!
02:43The girl whispered excitedly, while pointing to a small grey bird perched on a branch.
02:48Really? Is it possible? a nobleman said doubtfully.
02:52I never thought it would be such a little, plain thing like that.
02:57How ordinary it looks!
03:00My dear nightingale, the maid called out.
03:03His imperial majesty invites you to sing before him.
03:06The honour is mine, replied the nightingale as she hopped onto the girl's shoulder.
03:12My marvellous nightingale, said the courtier.
03:16Kindly grace us with your presence at a court festival tonight,
03:20where you'll charm our gracious emperor with your fascinating song.
03:25I sing best among the trees, the little bird explained.
03:29However, she went with them willingly, as she didn't want to disappoint the emperor.
03:34The imperial palace was lavishly decorated for the occasion.
03:38The entire court was present, and the kitchen maid was permitted to stand by the door.
03:43Everybody's eyes turned toward the little grey bird,
03:46which was sitting on a golden perch in the middle of the great hall.
03:50When the emperor gave her a nod, the nightingale sang the most ravishing melody.
03:55Tears welled up in the emperor's eyes and rolled down his cheeks,
03:59and everyone's heart was deeply touched.
04:02The emperor was overjoyed, and declared the talented bird
04:06should have his golden slipper to wear around her neck.
04:09Nonetheless, she politely declined the honour,
04:12as she had already been adequately rewarded.
04:15My song has brought tears to the emperor's eyes, she said.
04:21That's my greatest reward.
04:23The emperor's tears have a wonderful power,
04:26and they're quite sufficient recompense for me.
04:28Indeed, the nightingale was a tremendous success.
04:32She was now to remain in the palace and have her own specially made cage.
04:36The little bird had the liberty to go for a walk twice during the day and once at night.
04:43Several servants attended to her on such occasions,
04:45and one of them held a silken string tied to her legs.
04:49There wasn't much pleasure in this kind of outing.
04:52The nightingale sang at the imperial court every day.
04:55She entertained the emperor, noblemen, generals, and ambassadors,
04:59and received rapturous applause after each performance.
05:02Soon, the bird grew tired under constant command.
05:06She missed the natural beauty of the forest and the freedom to sing on her own accord.
05:12But she continued to stay at the palace to please the emperor.
05:15One afternoon, the emperor received a large parcel with the word
05:19The Nightingale, written on the outside.
05:23Probably another book about our celebrated bird, he thought to himself.
05:27However, it wasn't a book.
05:30Instead, it was an exquisite work of art.
05:33A small, artificial nightingale made to resemble a living one
05:37and covered with diamonds, sapphires, and rubies.
05:41When it was wound up, the fake bird sang as beautifully as the real one.
05:45It also flapped its wings and moved its tail up and down.
05:49Wow, what a magnificent bird, the courtiers exclaimed.
05:53Now they must sing together.
05:55It will be the best duet ever.
05:58Nevertheless, the two birds didn't get on quite so well.
06:03The nightingale sang in her own natural way,
06:05whereas the imitation bird went by clockwork.
06:09That's not a fault, the music master remarked.
06:12It's perfectly in tune and keeps excellent time.
06:16Then, the mechanical nightingale was made to sing alone.
06:21To everyone's delight, it performed just as well as the real bird.
06:25Moreover, it was much prettier to look at,
06:28sparkling with gold, silver, and precious stones.
06:33It sang the same song 30 times over, without being tired.
06:38While the courtiers would have gladly listened to the artificial bird again and again,
06:42the emperor said that the living one should have a turn now.
06:47Feeling fatigued and confused, the nightingale wasn't in her finest form,
06:52but she was determined to do her utmost to delight the emperor.
06:55She sang brilliantly at first, enthralling everybody with her melodious voice.
07:00However, halfway through the song, she suddenly choked on a high note and stopped singing.
07:06The court gasped in astonishment as this had never happened before.
07:10The emperor was embarrassed and decided to send the poor bird away.
07:16She must be tired.
07:17Let her return to the forest and rest, he said.
07:20Upon hearing that, the nightingale felt humiliated and sobbed bitterly.
07:26Then, she flew toward the kitchen maid and landed on her outstretched hand.
07:31They no longer need my song, she murmured sadly.
07:35The young girl took the bird to a balcony to release it.
07:38You don't belong in a cage, my dear nightingale.
07:42She spoke in a kind and gentle voice.
07:45Fly away and be free.
07:47And so, the nightingale flew off into the sunset.
07:51After the real bird was banished, the artificial nightingale became the new sensation,
07:56winning the admiration of both the imperial court and the public.
08:00The music master insisted that the fake bird was better than the living one,
08:04as it was always on command, predictable, and sparkly.
08:08The emperor became obsessed with the mechanical nightingale.
08:12He placed it on a silken cushion close to his bed and surrounded it with gold and jewels.
08:18The bird was bestowed the title of the chief singer of the imperial bedchamber.
08:24Every night, the emperor would listen to the sweet song of the artificial bird before going to sleep.
08:30He did this without fail for more than a year.
08:34But one evening, when the fake nightingale was singing at its best,
08:38something gave way inside it with a whiz sound.
08:41Then, a spring snapped.
08:44The wheels went whirr.
08:45And the music stopped.
08:48The emperor leaped out of bed and sent for the watchmaker.
08:52After a great deal of examination,
08:54it was concluded that the bird was too worn out to be repaired.
08:58This was a huge blow.
09:01Five years had gone by, and a great grief fell upon the nation.
09:05The Chinese people were really fond of their emperor,
09:08but he was now so ill that he couldn't perform his royal duties.
09:12As he lay cold and pale in his sumptuous bed,
09:16the emperor could hardly breathe as he seemed to have a heavy weight on his chest.
09:21He opened his eyes and saw death sitting on top of him.
09:24Then, he heard voices reminding him of his good and bad deeds.
09:29Some were gentle and pleasant, while others were nasty and threatening.
09:33They told him so many things about his past that beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.
09:38I don't remember anything, the emperor cried out.
09:42Music, music, sound the great drums, so I won't hear what they're saying.
09:48But the voices kept talking and talking, and death nodded at everything they said.
09:53Sing, you ungrateful bird, the emperor screamed at the artificial nightingale.
09:58I've hung a medal around your neck and surrounded you with precious stones.
10:03Sing, I order you to sing.
10:06However, the bird didn't make a sound.
10:09Death continued staring at the emperor with his cold eyes.
10:13The room felt silent, chillingly silent.
10:16All of a sudden, the sound of warm, soothing music came through the open window.
10:21On a branch outside sat the living nightingale.
10:25She had heard of the emperor's illness and come to bring hope and comfort to him.
10:29As she sang, blood flowed with renewed vigor in the emperor's veins and through his weak limbs.
10:37Even death himself was captivated by the tender and heartfelt song.
10:42Go on, little one, go on, he said.
10:45Then will you spare the emperor's life and let him recover his strength, she asked.
10:50Death agreed, and the nightingale continued singing.
10:53Her song vividly described peaceful scenes of mourning at a temple.
10:58Death was so charmed that he felt a deep longing for his own garden.
11:03So, he floated out through the window like a mist.
11:06Oh, glorious little bird, the emperor said.
11:10Thank you very much for saving my life.
11:13I banished you from the palace, and yet you've charmed death away from my heart with your wonderful song.
11:19How can I repay you?
11:21I've already received my reward, your majesty, the nightingale replied.
11:26I still remember the tears in your eyes when I first sang to you.
11:31Those are the jewels that delight a singer's heart.
11:35Go to sleep now and get well and strong again.
11:39I'll sing to you.
12:00Please stay here with me, the emperor pleaded to the bird.
12:04You can sing whenever you wish, and I'll break the mechanical bird into a hundred pieces.
12:11No, don't do that, the nightingale said.
12:14That bird did the best it could.
12:16I can't build my nest in the palace, but I'll come whenever I like and sit on a branch outside
12:22your window.
12:23I'll sing to cheer you up and make you thoughtful, but I'll only sing to you on one condition.
12:30Anything, the emperor replied.
12:32I'll agree to any condition.
12:34Promise me you won't let anyone know about the little bird who tells you everything, she requested.
12:40It will be better that way.
12:42Having said that, the nightingale flew into the clear blue sky.
12:47The attendants entered the room to see if the emperor is dead,
12:51but they were astonished to see him out of bed and on his feet, bidding them good morning.
12:56The nightingale shows us that nature's power and beauty surpass the artificial.
13:02Embrace your true self, kiddos.
13:04Thanks for watching.
13:06If you like the story, don't forget to give us a thumbs up, hit subscribe,
13:11and join us again for more fun fables.
13:14Bye.
13:15Bye.
