THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE ROSE `` She said that she would dance with me if I brought her red roses , '' cried the young Student ; `` but in all my garden there is no red rose . '' From her nest in the holm-oak tree the Nightingale heard him , and she looked out through the leaves , and wondered . `` No red rose in all my garden ! '' he cried , and his beautiful eyes filled with tears . `` Ah , on what little things does happiness depend ! I have read all that the wise men have written , and all the secrets of philosophy are mine , yet for want of a red rose is my life made wretched . '' `` Here at last is a true lover , '' said the Nightingale . `` Night after night have I sung of him , though I knew him not : night after night have I told his story to the stars , and now I see him . His hair is dark as the hyacinth-blossom , and his lips are red as the rose of his desire ; but passion has made his face like pale ivory , and sorrow has set her seal upon his brow . '' `` The Prince gives a ball to-morrow night , '' murmured the young Student , `` and my love will be of the company . If I bring her a red rose she will dance with me till dawn . If I bring her a red rose , I shall hold her in my arms , and she will lean her head upon my shoulder , and her hand will be clasped in mine . But there is no red rose in my garden , so I shall sit lonely , and she will pass me by . She will have no heed of me , and my heart will break . '' `` Here indeed is the true lover , '' said the Nightingale . `` What I sing of , he suffers -- what is joy to me , to him is pain . Surely Love is a wonderful thing . It is more precious than emeralds , and dearer than fine opals . Pearls and pomegranates can not buy it , nor is it set forth in the marketplace . It may not be purchased of the merchants , nor can it be weighed out in the balance for gold . ''
`` The musicians will sit in their gallery , '' said the young XXXXX , `` and play upon their stringed instruments , and my love will dance to the sound of the harp and the violin .
Nightingale Prince Student brow hyacinth-blossom lips night opals pomegranates seal