The Nightingale
Rabu, 08 April 2020
Comment
JAF. HUMANIORA.- Once there was
a fat old merchant whose father died and left him much money. he so owned many
shops in which he sold expensive rugs. fine silk and jewels.
The old man
and his wife had no children although they prayed each day for a son, said the
merchant to hi" each month he traveled to cities far from his home. he
bought carpets from persia. silk from china and satin coats from turkey with
which he filled his shops. people came from distant lands to buy from him for
the merchant was known for his good taste and honesty.
"On each
journey he always bought something for his wife. one day, he bought her a
nightingale in a large, silver cage. it was a magnificent cage. the roof was
made of silver plate and the floor of the cage was covered with gold. this is
for you, wife. he said. there was nothing that was too good for the bird. a special
servant fed it twice a days wife.
“Bringing the
bird seeds in a mother - of - pearl shell. the cage was kept spotless - the
nightingale sang all day. it had not a care in the world.
“Why, its life
in my house is better than that of my servants from india. said the merchant to
his wife one day.
“It's true,
the bird is well cared for and you can see how happy it by the way it sings.
said is wife, smiling.
“The
nightingale overheard them talking and thought sadly to himself. nothing make
me happier than to be free.
“But when the
merchant asked the bird if is was happy living in his home. the nightingale
replied. master, you are the world's most generous man. how could I not be
happy in such a home ? this made the merchant happy for the nightingale had
taken the place of the son he had never had.
“One day
marchant announced that he had to go on a long journey overseas. I've heard
that there are rare gems there. I wish to buy some for my shops. he told his
wife. so preparations were made for the journey which would take several weeks.
“One day the
merchant was feeding the nightingale when the bird said. master, take me with
you. you're going to the land I was born in. I left it when I was very young
for a merchant sold me. the merchant shook his head. the bird had become very
precious to him and his wife.
“My wife would
miss you and besides, the journey would take many weeks. what if you fell ill
and died ? she'd never forgive me. he said. the bird bowed its head and said
nothing.
“The next day,
the merchant was ready to leave on his long journey. he noticed how sad the
nightingale looked. tell me what you'd like as a present from your country. he
asked the bird.
“Master,
you've always treated me well. there's nothing I want. but would you do me a
great favor ? I've many relatives who life in the pomegranate garden. please
see them and tell them that I send my good wishes to them. tell them that I'm
very well and have the best master in the world. said the bird.
“Certainly, I
shall. I'll also tell them what a beautiful home you live in and how happy are
here. said the merchant, smiling.
“After many
weeks, the merchant arrived in the capital city. he spent some time doing
business an buying goods for his shops. the day before he was to leave, he
suddenly remembered his promise to the nightingale. do you know were the
pomegranate garden is ? he asked the hotel-keeper.
“The hotel -
keeper told him where to go and the merchant set off. he walked for some time
and as it was a hot day. he stopped to rest. he saw a man selling drinks. he
bought a glass of cool fruit juice and drank it thirstily. tell me, where is
this garden-the promegranate garden where the nightingales live ? he asked.
“Just behind
those gates. said the man. pointing to some heavy iron gates opposite. the
merchant thanked him and hurried across.
it was already getting quite late.
“He opened the
gates and went in. there were beds full of fragrant flowers. the trees hung
with all types of fruit. on every tree and on every branch there were
nightingales. the air was filled with merry singing.
“One
nightingale flew from the tree to tree. coming closer and closer to have a
better look at the merchant. how sweetly it sings. it must be a relative of the
nightingale at home. thought the merchant to himself.
“Excuse me,
but I have message from a brother of yours who lives in a lovely, silver cage
in my home. my wife and I arc very fond of it. a special servant takes care of
it. in fact I think it's better off there than here. as it gets a great deal of
care and attention from us. said the merchant your brother sends his good
wishes.
“The
nightingale heard these words but said nothing. in stead it fell to the ground
as if something had hit it. it lay there as if it was dead. its wings were
spread out. its beak wide open it did not move.
“The merchant
was very upset. oh, dear, I think the shocks of hearing about his brother must
have been to much he said. tenderly he picked the bird up and laid it in some,
bushes. but the nightingale was not dead. instead it flew from tree to tree
singing merrily. where are you going ? tell me what I must say to your brother,
he said.
“But the bird
did not reply. it flew away singing happily. puzzled, the merchant left garden
when he returned home he went to see the nightingale.
“Well, master.
did you give my relatives my best wishes ? how are they ? asked bird eagerly.
“I told all
your relatives about you but one of your brothers behaved very strangely. said
the merchant.
Why, what did
my brother say ? asked the bird curiously. that's just it. he didn't say
anything. when I said how happy you were here and what a fine cage you like in,
he didn't even bother to listen. and then he pretended to be dead. he dived,
with his wing spread. thinking he was dead I laid him in some bushes. no sooner
had I don't that when he suddenly come to life and flew away. singing merrily.
he behaved most rudely. he didn't even ask how you were. said the merchant
angrily.
“The
nightingale heard all this in silence. it thought longly of its home across the
seas. it was very sad and it neither ate nor drank. the next morning, when the
servant came to feed it he found the bird lying at the bottom of the cage. its
beak was wide open and its wings spread out. it appeared to be dead.
“When the
merchant and his wife were told, they hurried to the cage. they tried
everything they could to bring the bird back to life. water was poured into the
bird's beak but it trickled down side. gently the merchant laid the nightingale
in sunshine. thinking that the warm sun would give it life. but still the bird
lay as if dead.
“His wife
began to cry. it has given us such pleasure for so many months - with its fine
singing. I am so sad that it has died.
That afternoon
the servant took the body of the bird and threw it on a rubbish heap. as soon
as the bird landed on the heap it came to life. it flew round and round the
garden and singing and calling out. thank you, master, for everything. my
brother did send me a message although you not understand it being free live
all the birds in the pomegranate garden was much better than life in a silver
cage, no matter how comfortable it was, said the nightingale. as it flew
merrily off to its own home across the seas.
Rewrite. Apero Fublic
Editor. Desti.
S. Sos
Palembang, 8
April 2020.
Sy. Apero
Fublic
0 Response
Posting Komentar