Nightingales

All the night two nightingales were singing At the window of th’ affianced maiden; And th’ affianced maiden thus addressed them: “Tell me, ye two nightingales, O tell me! Are ye brothers? are ye brothers’ children?”

Thus the nightingales made speedy answer: “Brothers are we not, nor brother’s children: We are friends—friends of the verdant forest. Once we had another friend—another— But that friend is lost to us for ever. We have heard that nuptial bliss awaits him; And we came the youthful bride to look on, And to offer her a golden spindle, With the flax of Egypt bound around it.”