《皇帝与夜莺》 Christian在母亲的葬礼上朗诵了下面的一段 (是这个故事中的一段的英文版) And Death gave back these treasures for a song. The nightingale sang on. It sang of the quiet churchyard where white roses grow, where the elder flowers make the air sweet, and where the grass is always green, wet with the tears of those who are still alive. Death longed for his garden. Out through the windows drifted a cold gray mist, as Death departed. "Thank you, thank you!" the Emperor said. "Little bird from Heaven, I know you of old. I banished you once from my land, and yet you have sung away the evil faces from my bed, and Death from my heart. How can I repay you?" "You have already rewarded me," said the nightingale. "I brought tears to your eyes when first I sang for you. To the heart of a singer those are more precious than any precious stone. But sleep now, and grow fresh and strong while I sing." He sang on until the Emperor fell into a sound, refreshing sleep, a sweet and soothing slumber. 死神把这些宝贵的东西都交了出来,以换取一支歌。于是夜莺不停地唱下去。它歌唱那安静的教堂墓地——那儿生长著白色的玫瑰花,那儿接骨木树发出甜蜜的香气,那儿新草染上了未亡人的眼泪。死神这时就眷恋地思念起自己的花园来,于是他就变成一股寒冷的白雾,在窗口消逝了。 “多谢你,多谢你!”皇帝说。“你这只神圣的小鸟!我现在懂得你了。我把你从我的土地和帝国赶出去,而你却用歌声把那些邪恶的面孔从我的床边驱走,也把死神从我的心中去掉。我将用什么东西来报答你呢?” “您已经报答我了!”夜莺说:“当我第一次唱的时候,我从您的眼里得到了您的泪珠——我将永远忘记不了这件事。每一滴眼泪是一颗珠宝——它可以使得一个歌者心花开放。不过现在请您睡吧,请您保养精神,变得健康起来吧,我将再为您喝一支歌。” 于是它唱起来——于是皇帝就甜蜜地睡著了。啊,这一觉是多么温和,多么愉快啊!