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Moon leaned down and listened。 All night long she sang； and the
thorn went deeper and deeper into her breast； and her life…blood
ebbed away from her。
She sang first of the birth of love in the heart of a boy and a
girl。 And on the top…most spray of the Rose…tree there blossomed a
marvellous rose； petal following petal； as song followed song。
Pale was it； at first； as the mist that hangs over the river … pale
as the feet of the morning； and silver as the wings of the dawn。
As the shadow of a rose in a mirror of silver； as the shadow of a
rose in a water…pool； so was the rose that blossomed on the topmost
spray of the Tree。
But the Tree cried to the Nightingale to press closer against the
thorn。 〃Press closer； little Nightingale；〃 cried the Tree； 〃or the
Day will come before the rose is finished。〃
So the Nightingale pressed closer against the thorn； and louder and
louder grew her song； for she sang of the birth of passion in the
soul of a man and a maid。
And a delicate flush of pink came into the leaves of the rose； like
the flush in the face of the bridegroom when he kisses the lips of
the bride。 But the thorn had not yet reached her heart； so the
rose's heart remained white； for only a Nightingale's heart's…blood
can crimson the heart of a rose。
And the Tree cried to the Nightingale to press closer against the
thorn。 〃Press closer； little Nightingale；〃 cried the Tree； 〃or the
Day will come before the rose is finished。〃
So the Nightingale pressed closer against the thorn； and the thorn
touched her heart； and a fierce pang of pain shot through her。
Bitter； bitter was the pain； and wilder and wilder grew her song；
for she sang of the Love that is perfected by Death； of the Love
that dies not in the tomb。
And the marvellous rose became crimson； like the rose of the
eastern sky。 Crimson was the girdle of petals； and crimson as a
ruby was the heart。
But the Nightingale's voice grew fainter； and her little wings
began to beat； and a film came over her eyes。 Fainter and fainter
grew her song； and she felt something choking her in her throat。
Then she gave one last burst of music。 The white Moon heard it；
and she forgot the dawn； and lingered on in the sky。 The red rose
heard it； and it trembled all over with ecstasy； and opened its
petals to the cold morning air。 Echo bore it to her purple cavern
in the hills； and woke the sleeping shepherds from their dreams。
It floated through the reeds of the river； and they carried its
message to the sea。
〃Look； look！〃 cried the Tree； 〃the rose is finished now〃； but the
Nightingale made no answer； for she was lying dead in the long
grass； with the thorn in her heart。
And at noon the Student opened his window and looked out。
〃Why； what a wonderful piece of luck！〃 he cried； 〃here is a red
rose！ I have never seen any rose like it in all my life。 It is so
beautiful that I am sure it has a long Latin name〃； and he leaned
down and plucked it。
Then he put on his hat； and ran up to the Professor's house with
the rose in his hand。
The daughter of the Professor was sitting in the doorway winding
blue silk on a reel； and her little dog was lying at her feet。
〃You said that you would dance with me if I brought you a red
rose；〃 cried the Student。 〃Here is the reddest rose in all the
world。 You will wear it to…night next your heart； and as we dance
together it will tell you how I love you。〃
But the girl frowned。
〃I am afraid it will not go with my dress；〃 she answered； 〃and；
besides； the Chamberlain's nephew has sent me some real jewels； and
everybody knows that jewels cost far more than flowers。〃
〃Well； upon my word； you are very ungrateful；〃 said the Student
angrily； and he threw the rose into the street； where it fell into
the gutter； and a cart…wheel went over it。
〃Ungrateful！〃 said the girl。 〃I tell you what； you are very rude；
and； after all； who are you？ Only a Student。 Why； I don't believe
you have even got silver buckles to your shoes as the Chamberlain's
nephew has〃； and she got up from her chair and went into the house。
〃What I a silly thing Love is；〃 said the Student as he walked away。
〃It is not half as useful as Logic； for it does not prove anything；
and it is always telling one of things that are not going to
happen； and making one believe things that are not true。 In fact；
it is quite unpractical； and； as in this age to be practical is
everything； I shall go back to Philosophy and study Metaphysics。〃
So he returned to his room and pulled out a great dusty book； and
began to read。