QUEEN OF FLOWERS ENGULFS THE SENSES

Once there was a student, who fell in love with the daughter of his professor. He longed to dance with her until dawn at the upcoming ball, but he knew she would agree only if he makes her a present of a bouquet of red roses. In the garden of the student, however, there was not a single red rose and he fell into despair.

A nightingale heard his sad words and was deeply touched by his tears. The little bird, which sings praises to love, understood the anguish of the young man and decided to comfort him at any cost.

The nightingale spread its wings and rushed in search of the precious flower. It alighted now here, now there (here and there), expressing its strong desire, until it finally discovered a shrub with red buds. Unfortunately, however, they were frozen by the winter cold and it was more than obvious that they will not bloom. The only thing, according to the shrub itself, that could revive them were the song and the blood of the little bird.

The nightingale realized that life is too high of a price for a flower, but in the same time that love is more valuable than life. It flew back to the student and told him that he will soon receive his so desired rose, and in return it asked him only to be faithful in love, which is much wiser than Philosophy. The young man heard the chirping of the nightingale, but did not fully understand it, because he was not listening with his heart. His mind quickly defined the song as devoid of feelings and meaning, and the selfless winged singer - as selfish.

When the moon rose, the bird returned to the rose bush and leaned its chest against one of the sharp thorns. All night the nightingale sang about the beauty and immortality of love, while its blood was infusing life into the faded bush. In the morning, the rose burst into blossoms redder than the sunrise, but the poor little bird was not able to admire its magnificence.

Once he saw the flower, the student immediately picked it up and ran to the home of his beloved. Nevertheless, she pouted at the sight of the gift, which was not nearly as expensive as the one given to her by another wooer. The angry student threw the rose on the ground, where soon a passing cart crushed it. Pondering over how silly and illogical love is, he headed home, where the much wiser philosophical books awaited him.