January 21st– “The Nightingale” by Hans Christian Anderson (1843)
Summary: The emperor of China finds out that there is a nightingale with a beautiful song and sends a cavalier to find it. He succeeds (with the help of a little girl) and brings it back to the palace. It sings so beautifully that the emperor cries, which the nightingale is very flattered by. The emperor tries to hold it captive, but it escapes while everyone is distracted by a mechanical copy. Eventually the copy breaks down. Death comes to take the emperor, but the original nightingale returns and sings so beautifully that Death leaves to check on his garden. The Emperor agrees to let the Nightingale come and go as it pleases. It volunteers to be his informant. In return, the emperor will keep its existence secret.
Commentary: I have none. Look at that summary. This is the most insane story I have ever read. Moral: If someone likes your performance enough, you should forgive them attempting to literally enslave you, come back after you escape, and spy for them in exchange for the freedom that you already had.
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