Later that day, when the Princess was sitting at the table, something was heard coming up the marble stairs. Splish, splosh, splish splosh! The sound came nearer and nearer, and a voice cried, Let me in, youngest daughter of the King.

 

The Princess jumped up to see who had called her. Now when she caught sight of the frog, she turned very pale.

 

 

What does a frog want with you? demanded the King, looking rather surprised.

 

 

The Princess hung her head. When I was sitting by the fountain my golden ball fell into the water. This frog fetched it back for me, because I cried so much. The Princess started to cry again. I promised to love him and let him eat from my golden plate, drink from my golden cup, and sleep on my golden bed.

 

 

The King looked at the frog and thought for a while before he spoke. Then you must keep your promise, my daughter.

 

 

The Princess knew she must obey, so she let the frog to come inside. The frog hopped in after her and jumped up into her chair and straight onto the table. Now push your golden plate near me. said the frog, so that we may eat together. As she did so, the frog leapt onto her plate and ate up all her dinner, which was just as well, because the Princess didn't feel much like eating.

 

 

Next, the frog drank from her little golden cup until it was quite empty. Somehow the Princess didn't feel at all thirsty either! After the frog had finished, he took one great leap and landed on the Princess's knee. Go away you ugly, cold frog! she screamed. I will never let you sleep on my lovely, clean bed!

 

 

That made the King very angry. This frog helped you when you needed it. Now you must keep your promise to him.

 

 

Very unwillingly the Princess picked up the frog and carried him upstairs to her room. When the frog hopped into the middle of her golden bed, it was just too much for the Princess. She pushed the frog hard and it fell onto the floor. As he fell he was changed into a handsome Prince. A spell had been cast on him by an evil witch and only the Princess had the power to break it.

 

 

The Princess was speechless. She felt very sorry indeed that she had been so unkind to the frog. After a while, the handsome Prince and the Princess were married, and lived happily ever after.

 

 

 

 

第二天,小公主跟國王和大臣們剛剛坐上餐桌,才開始用她的小金碟進餐,突然聽見啪 啦啪啦的聲音。隨著聲響,有個什麼東西順著大理石台階往上跳,到了門口時,便一邊敲門 一邊大聲嚷嚷:「小公主,快開門!」

 

 

聽到喊聲,小公主急忙跑到門口,想看看是誰在門外 喊叫。打開門一看,原來是那只青蛙,正蹲在門前。小公主見是青蛙,嚇得臉色發白,心裡害怕極了。

 

 

「青蛙想 找你做什麼呢?」 國王相當驚訝地問公主。

 

 

公主低下頭回答:「昨天,當我坐在水潭邊上玩的時候,金球掉到水潭裡 去了。我哭得很傷心,青蛙就替我把金球撈了上來。」說到這,公主又開始哭了。「我答應他要愛他,讓他用我的小金蝶吃飯,用我的高腳酒杯喝酒,而且還要讓他睡在我的床上。

 

 

國王看著青蛙思索,接著說:「女兒,那麼你絕不能言而無信。」

 

 

小公主知道她必須遵從便讓青蛙進門了。青蛙蹦蹦跳跳地跟她進了門,然後跳到小公主的座位,並直接跳上餐桌,接著說:「把您的小金碟子推過來一點兒好嗎?這樣我 們就可以一快兒吃啦。」小公主很不情願這麼做,可她還是把金碟子推了過去。青蛙將公主的晚餐全吃光了,而幸好,小公主一點兒胃口都沒有。

 

 

接著,青蛙將高腳杯裡的酒都喝光,而小公主一點都不覺得渴!青蛙喝完後,便跳到小公主的膝蓋上,「走開!你這噁心、冰冷的青哇!」小公主尖叫著:「我絕不會讓你睡在我整潔漂亮的的床上!」

 

 

國王見小公主這個樣子,就生氣地對她說:「這隻青蛙在妳需要的時候幫助過妳,現在妳必須遵守妳的諾言。」

 

 

於是,小公主不情願地用兩隻纖秀的手指把青蛙挾起來,帶著他上了樓。 當青蛙跳到小公主的床中間時,小公主勃然大怒,用力地將青蛙推開並讓他狠狠地摔落在地上。而當他一落地,一下子變成了一位王子,原來他被一個狠毒的巫婆施了魔法,除了 小公主以外,誰也不能解救他。

 

 

小公主嚇傻了,她對於她的態度及無禮感到非常地愧疚。過沒多久,英俊的王子和小公主結婚,從此過著快樂幸福的日子。

 

 

 

It was not long before someone knocked at the house-door and called: 'Open the door, dear children; your mother is here, and has brought something back with her for each of you.' But the little kids knew that it was the wolf, by the rough voice. 'We will not open the door,' cried they, 'you are not our mother. She has a soft, pleasant voice, but your voice is rough; you are the wolf!' Then the wolf went away to a shopkeeper and bought himself a great lump of chalk, ate this and made his voice soft with it. Then he came back, knocked at the door of the house, and called: 'Open the door, dear children, your mother is here and has brought something back with her for each of you.' But the wolf had laid his black paws against the window, and the children saw them and cried: 'We will not open the door, our mother has not black feet like you: you are the wolf!' Then the wolf ran to a baker and said: 'I have hurt my feet, rub some dough over them for me.' And when the baker had rubbed his feet over, he ran to the miller and said: 'Strew some white meal over my feet for me.' The miller thought to himself: 'The wolf wants to deceive someone,' and refused; but the wolf said: 'If you will not do it, I will devour you.' Then the miller was afraid, and made his paws white for him. Truly, this is the way of mankind.

 

 

 

So now the wretch went for the third time to the house-door, knocked at it and said: 'Open the door for me, children, your dear little mother has come home, and has brought every one of you something back from the forest with her.' The little kids cried: 'First show us your paws that we may know if you are our dear little mother.' Then he put his paws in through the window and when the kids saw that they were white, they believed that all he said was true, and opened the door. But who should come in but the wolf! They were terrified and wanted to hide themselves. One sprang under the table, the second into the bed, the third into the stove, the fourth into the kitchen, the fifth into the cupboard, the sixth under the washing-bowl, and the seventh into the clock-case. But the wolf found them all, and used no great ceremony; one after the other he swallowed them down his throat. The youngest, who was in the clock-case, was the only one he did not find. When the wolf had satisfied his appetite he took himself off, laid himself down under a tree in the green meadow outside, and began to sleep.

 

 

 

 

沒過多久,有人敲門,而且大聲說:「開門哪,我的好孩子。你們的媽媽回來了,還給 你們每個人帶來了一點東西。」可是,小山羊們聽到粗啞的聲音,立刻知道是狼來了。「我 們不開門,」牠們大聲說:「你不是我們的媽媽。我們的媽媽說話時聲音又軟又好聽,而你 的聲音非常粗啞,你是狼!」於是,狼跑到雜貨商那裡,買了一大塊白堊土,吃了下去,結 果嗓子變細了。然後牠又回來敲山羊家的門,喊道:「開門哪,我的好孩子。你們的媽媽回 來了,給你們每個人都帶了點東西。」可是狼把牠的黑爪子搭在了窗戶上,小山羊們看到黑 爪子便一起叫道:「我們不開門。我們的媽媽沒有你這樣的黑爪子。你是狼!」於是狼跑到 麵包師那裡,對他說:「我的腳受了點傷,給我用麵糰揉一揉。」等麵包師用麵糰給它揉過 之後,狼又跑到磨坊主那裡,對他說:「在我的腳上灑點白麵粉。」磨坊主想:狼肯定是 想去騙什麼人,便拒絕了牠的要求。可是狼說:「要是你不給我灑麵粉,我就把你吃 掉。」磨坊主害怕了,只好灑了點麵粉,把狼的爪子弄成了白色。人就是這個德行!

 

 

這個壞蛋第三次跑到山羊家,一面敲門一面說:「開門哪,孩子們。你們的好媽媽回來 了,還從森林裡給你們每個人帶回來一些東西。」小山羊們叫道:「你先把腳給我們看看, 好讓我們知道你是不是我們的媽媽。」狼把爪子伸進窗戶,小山羊們看到爪子是白的,便相 信牠說的是真話,打開了屋門。然而進來的是狼!小山羊們嚇壞了,一個個都想躲起來。第 一隻小山羊跳到了桌子下,第二隻鑽進了被子,第三隻躲到了爐子裡,第四隻跑進了廚房, 第五隻藏在櫃子裡,第六隻擠在洗臉盆下,第七隻爬進了鐘盒裡。狼把牠們一個個都找了出 來,毫不客氣地把牠們全都吞進了肚子。只有躲在鐘盒裡的那隻最小的山羊沒有被狼發現。 狼吃飽了之後,心滿意足地離開了山羊家,來到綠草地上的一棵大樹下,躺下身子開始呼呼 大睡起來。

 

 

 

The wolf lifted the latch, the door sprang open, and without saying a word he went straight to the grandmother's bed, and devoured her. Then he put on her clothes, dressed himself in her cap laid himself in bed and drew the curtains.

 

 

 

Little Red-Cap, however, had been running about picking flowers, and when she had gathered so many that she could carry no more, she remembered her grandmother, and set out on the way to her.

 

 

She was surprised to find the cottage-door standing open, and when she went into the room, she had such a strange feeling that she said to herself: 'Oh dear! how uneasy I feel today, and at other times I like being with grandmother so much.' She called out: 'Good morning,' but received no answer; so she went to the bed and drew back the curtains. There lay her grandmother with her cap pulled far over her face, and looking very strange.

 

 

'Oh! grandmother,' she said, 'what big ears you have!'

'The better to hear you with, my child,' was the reply.

'But, grandmother, what big eyes you have!' she said.

'The better to see you with, my dear.'

'But, grandmother, what large hands you have!'

'The better to hug you with.'

'Oh! but, grandmother, what a terrible big mouth you have!'

'The better to eat you with!'

And scarcely had the wolf said this, than with one bound he was out of bed and swallowed up Red-Cap. When the wolf had appeased his appetite, he lay down again in the bed, fell asleep and began to snore very loud.

 

 

The huntsman was just passing the house, and thought to himself: 'How the old woman is snoring! I must just see if she wants anything.' So he went into the room, and when he came to the bed, he saw that the wolf was lying in it. 'Do I find you here, you old sinner!' said he. 'I have long sought you!' Then just as he was going to fire at him, it occurred to him that the wolf might have devoured the grandmother, and that she might still be saved, so he did not fire, but took a pair of scissors, and began to cut open the stomach of the sleeping wolf. When he had made two snips, he saw the little Red- Cap shining, and then he made two snips more, and the little girl sprang out, crying: 'Ah, how frightened I have been! How dark it was inside the wolf'; and after that the aged grandmother came out alive also, but scarcely able to breathe. Red-Cap, however, quickly fetched great stones with which they filled the wolf's belly, and when he awoke, he wanted to run away, but the stones were so heavy that he collapsed at once, and fell dead.

 

 

 

 

狼剛拉起門栓,那門就開了。狼二話沒說就衝到奶奶的床前,把奶奶吞進了肚子。然後 牠穿上奶奶的衣服,戴上她的帽子,躺在床上,還拉上了簾子。

 

 

這時小紅帽還在跑來跑去地採花。直到採了許多許多,她都拿不了啦,她才想起奶奶,重新上路去奶奶家。

 

 

看到奶奶家的屋門敞開著,她感到很奇怪。她一走進屋子就有一種異樣的感覺,心中便想:「天哪!平常我那麼喜歡來奶奶家,今天怎麼這樣害怕?」她大聲叫道:「早上 好!」,可是沒有聽到回答。她走到床前拉開簾子,只見奶奶躺在床上,帽子拉得低低的, 把臉都遮住了,樣子非常奇怪。

 

 

「哎,奶奶,」她說,「你的耳朵怎麼這樣大呀?」

「 為了更好地聽你說話呀,乖乖。」

「可是奶奶,你的眼睛怎麼這樣大呀?」小紅帽又問。

「為了更清楚地看你呀,乖乖。」

「奶奶,你的手怎麼這樣大呀?」

「可以更好地抱著你呀。」

「奶奶,你的嘴巴怎麼大得很嚇人呀?」

「可以一口把你吃掉呀!」

狼剛把話說完,就從床上跳起來,把小紅帽吞進了肚子,狼滿足了食慾之後便重新躺到 床上睡覺,而且鼾聲震天。

 

 

一位獵人碰巧從屋前走過,心想:這老太太鼾打得好響啊!我 要進去看看她是不是出什麼事了。獵人進了屋,來到床前時卻發現躺在那裡的竟是狼。 「你這老壞蛋,我找了你這麼久,真沒想到在這裡找到你!」他說。他正準備向狼開槍,突 然又想到,這狼很可能把奶奶吞進了肚子,奶奶也許還活著。獵人就沒有開槍,而是操起一 把剪刀,動手把呼呼大睡的狼的肚子剪了開來。他剛剪了兩下,就看到了紅色的小帽子。他 又剪了兩下,小姑娘便跳了出來,叫道:「真把我嚇壞了!狼肚子裡黑漆漆的。」接著,奶 奶也活著出來了,只是有點喘不過氣來。小紅帽趕緊跑去搬來幾塊大石頭,塞進狼的肚子。 狼醒來之後想逃走,可是那些石頭太重了,牠剛站起來就跌到在地,摔死了。

 

 

 

Then the blood ran cold in her heart with spite and malice, to see that Snowdrop still lived; and she dressed herself up again, but in quite another dress from the one she wore before, and took with her a poisoned comb. When she reached the dwarfs' cottage, she knocked at the door, and cried, 'Fine wares to sell!' But Snowdrop said, 'I dare not let anyone in.' Then the queen said, 'Only look at my beautiful combs!' and gave her the poisoned one. And it looked so pretty, that she took it up and put it into her hair to try it; but the moment it touched her head, the poison was so powerful that she fell down senseless. 'There you may lie,' said the queen, and went her way. But by good luck the dwarfs came in very early that evening; and when they saw Snowdrop lying on the ground, they thought what had happened, and soon found the poisoned comb. And when they took it away she got well, and told them all that had passed; and they warned her once more not to open the door to anyone.

 

 

 

Meantime the queen went home to her glass, and shook with rage when she read the very same answer as before; and she said, 'Snowdrop shall die, if it cost me my life.' So she went by herself into her chamber, and got ready a poisoned apple: the outside looked very rosy and tempting, but whoever tasted it was sure to die. Then she dressed herself up as a peasant's wife, and travelled over the hills to the dwarfs' cottage, and knocked at the door; but Snowdrop put her head out of the window and said, 'I dare not let anyone in, for the dwarfs have told me not.' 'Do as you please,' said the old woman, 'but at any rate take this pretty apple; I will give it you.' 'No,' said Snowdrop, 'I dare not take it.' 'You silly girl!' answered the other, 'what are you afraid of? Do you think it is poisoned? Come! do you eat one part, and I will eat the other.' Now the apple was so made up that one side was good, though the other side was poisoned. Then Snowdrop was much tempted to taste, for the apple looked so very nice; and when she saw the old woman eat, she could wait no longer. But she had scarcely put the piece into her mouth, when she fell down dead upon the ground. 'This time nothing will save thee,' said the queen; and she went home to her glass, and at last it said:

 

 

'Thou, queen, art the fairest of all the fair.'

 

 

 

 

知道白雪公主仍然活著,惱怒與怨恨使王后渾身血氣翻湧,心裡卻涼透了。她不甘心, 不能忍受,於是又對自己進行打扮,這次的偽裝儘管還是一個老太婆,但卻完全不同於上 次。偽裝好後,她帶上一把有毒的梳子,翻山越嶺來到了七個小矮人的房門前,敲著門喊 道:「買不買東西喲!」白雪公主在裡面聽到了,把門握開一條縫說道:「我可不敢讓別人 進來了。」王后連忙說道:「你只要看看我這把漂亮的梳子就行了。」說完把那把有毒的梳 子遞了進去。梳子看起來的確很漂亮,白雪公主拿過梳子,想在頭上試著梳一梳,但就在梳 子剛碰到她的頭時,梳子上的毒力發作了,她倒在地上,失去了知覺。王后冷笑著說道: 「你早該這樣躺著了。」說完就走了。 幸運的是這天晚上,小矮人們回來得很早,當他們看見白雪公主躺在地上時,知道一定 又發生了不幸的事情,急忙將她抱起來查看,很快就發現了那把有毒的梳子。他們將它拔了 出來,不久,白雪公主恢復了知覺,醒了過來。接著,她把事情發生的經過告訴了他們,七 個小矮人再次告誡她,任何人來了都不要再開門。

 

 

此刻,王后已回到王宮,站在了魔鏡前,詢問著鏡子,但聽到的竟還是和上次相同的回 答。這下,她氣得渾身都哆嗦起來了,她無法忍受這樣的回答,狂叫道:「白雪公主一定要 死,即使以我的生命為代價也在所不惜!」她悄悄地走進一間偏僻的房子裡,精心制做了一 個毒蘋果。這蘋果的外面看起來紅紅的,非常誘人,但只要吃一點就會要人的命。接著,她 將自己裝扮成一個農婦,翻山越嶺又來到了小矮人的房舍,伸手敲了敲門。白雪公主把頭從 窗戶裡探出來說道:「我不敢讓人進來,因為小矮人們告誡我,任何人來了都不要開門。」 「就隨你吧,」老農婦拿出那個毒蘋果說道,「可是這蘋果實在是太漂亮可愛了,我就作一 個禮物送給你吧。」白雪公主說道:「不,我可不敢要。」老農婦急了:「你這傻孩子,你 擔心什麼?難道這蘋果有毒嗎?來!你吃一半,我吃一半。」說完就將蘋果分成了兩半。其 實,王后在做毒蘋果時,只在蘋果的一邊下了毒,另一邊卻是好的。白雪公主看了看那蘋 果,很想嘗一嘗,因為那蘋果看起來很甜美。她看見那農婦吃了那一半,就再也忍不住了, 接過另一半蘋果咬了一口。蘋果剛一進口,她就倒在地上死去了。王后一見,臉上露出了奸笑,說道:「這次再沒有人能救你的命了!」她回到王宮,來到魔鏡前,而魔鏡最後說:

 

 

「是你,王后!你就是全國最漂亮的女人。」

 

 

 

He looked down at her foot and saw how the blood was running out of her shoe, and how it had stained her white stocking. Then he turned his horse and took the false bride home again. This also is not the right one, said he, have you no other daughter? No, said the man, There is still a little stunted kitchen-wench which my late wife left behind her, but she cannot possibly be the bride. The King's son said he was to send her up to him; but the mother answered, Oh, no, she is much too dirty, she cannot show herself! He absolutely insisted on it, and Cinderella had to be called. She first washed her hands and face clean, and then went and bowed down before the King's son, who gave her the golden shoe. Then she seated herself on a stool, drew her foot out of the heavy wooden shoe, and put it into the slipper, which fitted like a glove. And when she rose up and the King's son looked at her face he recognized the beautiful maiden who had danced with him and cried, That is the true bride! The step-mother and the two sisters were terrified and became pale with rage; he, however, took Cinderella on his horse and rode away with her. As they passed by the hazel-tree, the two white doves cried --

 

 

 

Turn and peep,

turn and peep,

No blood is in the shoe,

The shoe is not too small for her,

The true bride rides with you,

 

 

and when they had cried that, the two came flying down and placed themselves on Cinderella's shoulders, one on the right, the other on the left, and remained sitting there.

 

 

 

 

王子低頭一看,發現血正從舞鞋裡流出來,連她的白色長襪也浸紅了,他撥轉馬頭,同 樣把她送了回去,對她的父親說:「這不是真新娘,你還有女兒嗎?」父親回答說:「沒有 了,只有我前妻生的一個叫灰姑娘的小邋遢女兒,她不可能是新娘的。」然而,王子一定要 他把她帶來試一試。灰姑娘先把臉和手洗乾淨,然後走進來很有教養地向王子屈膝行禮。王 子把舞鞋拿給她穿,鞋子穿在她腳上就像是專門為她做的一樣。他走上前仔細看清楚她的臉 後,認出了她,馬上興奮的說道:「這才是我真正的新娘。」繼母和她的兩個姐妹大吃一 驚,當王子把灰姑娘扶上馬時,她們氣得臉都發白了,眼睜睜地看著王子把她帶走了。他們 來到榛樹邊時,小白鴿唱道:

 

 

 

 

 

「回家吧!回家吧!

快看那只鞋!

王妃!這是為你做的鞋!

王子!王子! 快帶新娘回家去,

坐在你身邊的才是真正的新娘」

 

 

 

 

 

鴿子唱完之後,飛上前來,停在了灰姑娘的右肩上,一起向王宮走去。

 

 

 

Time passed merrily in the large town which was his capital; strangers arrived every day at the court. One day, two rogues, calling themselves weavers, made their appearance. They gave out that they knew how to weave stuffs of the most beautiful colors and elaborate patterns, the clothes manufactured from which should have the wonderful property of remaining invisible to everyone who was unfit for the office he held, or who was extraordinarily simple in character.

 

 

 

These must, indeed, be splendid clothes! thought the Emperor. Had I such a suit, I might at once find out what men in my realms are unfit for their office, and also be able to distinguish the wise from the foolish! This stuff must be woven for me immediately. And he caused large sums of money to be given to both the weavers in order that they might begin their work directly.

 

 

So the two pretended weavers set up two looms, and affected to work very busily, though in reality they did nothing at all. They asked for the most delicate silk and the purest gold thread; put both into their own knapsacks; and then continued their pretended work at the empty looms until late at night.

 

 

I will send my faithful old minister to the weavers, said the Emperor at last, after some deliberation, he will be best able to see how the cloth looks; for he is a man of sense, and no one can be more suitable for his office than be is.

 

 

So the faithful old minister went into the hall, where the knaves were working with all their might, at their empty looms. What can be the meaning of this? thought the old man, opening his eyes very wide. I cannot discover the least bit of thread on the looms. However, he did not express his thoughts aloud.

 

 

The poor old minister looked and looked, he could not discover anything on the looms, for a very good reason, viz: there was nothing there. What! thought he again. Is it possible that I am a simpleton? I have never thought so myself; and no one must know it now if I am so. Can it be, that I am unfit for my office? No, that must not be said either. I will never confess that I could not see the stuff.

 

 

Well, Sir Minister! said one of the knaves, still pretending to work. You do not say whether the stuff pleases you. Oh, it is excellent! replied the old minister, looking at the loom through his spectacles. This pattern, and the colors, yes, I will tell the Emperor without delay, how very beautiful I think them.

 

 

 

 

在他住的那個大城市裏,生活很輕松,很愉快。每天有許多外國人到來。有一天來了兩個騙子。他們說他們是織工。他們說,他們能織出誰也想像不到的最美麗的布。這種布的色彩和圖案不僅是非常好看,而且用它縫出來的衣服還有一種奇異的作用,那就是凡是不稱職的人或者愚蠢的人,都看不見這衣服。

 

 

 

 

 

「那正是我最喜歡的衣服!」皇帝心裏想。「我穿了這樣的衣服,就可以看出我的王國裏哪些人不稱職;我就可以辨別出哪些人是聰明人,哪些人是傻子。是的,我要叫他們馬上織出這樣的布來!」他付了許多現款給這兩個騙子,叫他們馬上開始工作。

 

 

他們擺出兩架織機來,裝做是在工作的樣子,可是他們的織機上什麼東西也沒有。他們接二連三地請求皇帝發一些最好的生絲和金子給他們。他們把這些東西都裝進自己的腰包,卻假裝在那兩架空空的織機上忙碌地工作,一直忙到深夜。

 

 

「我要派誠實的老部長到織工那兒去看看,」皇帝想。「只有他能看出這布料是個什麼樣子,因為他這個人很有頭腦,而且誰也不像他那樣稱職。」

 

 

因此這位善良的老部長就到那兩個騙子的工作地點去。他們正在空空的織機上忙忙碌碌地工作著。「這是怎麼一回事兒?」老部長想,把眼睛睜得有碗口那麼大。「我什麼東西也沒有看見!」但是他不敢把這句話說出來。

 

 

這位可憐的老大臣的眼睛越睜越大,可是他還是看不見什麼東西,因為的確沒有什麼東西可看。 「我的老天爺!」他想。「難道我是一個愚蠢的人嗎?我從來沒有懷疑過我自己。我絕不能讓人知道這件事。難道我不稱職嗎?——不成;我決不能讓人知道我看不見布料。」

 

 

「哎,您一點意見也沒有嗎?」一個正在織布的織工說。「啊,美極了!真是美妙極了!」老大臣說。他戴著眼鏡仔細地看。「多麼美的花紋!多麼美的色彩!是的,我將要呈報皇上說我對於這布感到非常滿意。」

 

 

 

Her little hands were almost numbed with cold. Oh! a match might afford her a world of comfort, if she only dared take a single one out of the bundle, draw it against the wall, and warm her fingers by it. She drew one out. Rischt! how it blazed, how it burnt! It was a warm, bright flame, like a candle, as she held her hands over it: it was a wonderful light. It seemed really to the little maiden as though she were sitting before a large iron stove, with burnished brass feet and a brass ornament at top. The fire burned with such blessed influence; it warmed so delightfully. The little girl had already stretched out her feet to warm them too; but--the small flame went out, the stove vanished: she had only the remains of the burntout match in her hand.

 

 

 

She rubbed another against the wall: it burned brightly, and where the light fell on the wall, there the wall became transparent like a veil, so that she could see into the room. On the table was spread a snow-white tablecloth; upon it was a splendid porcelain service, and the roast goose was steaming famously with its stuffing of apple and dried plums. And what was still more capital to behold was, the goose hopped down from the dish, reeled about on the floor with knife and fork in its breast, till it came up to the poor little girl; when--the match went out and nothing but the thick, cold, damp wall was left behind. She lighted another match. Now there she was sitting under the most magnificent Christmas tree: it was still larger, and more decorated than the one which she had seen through the glass door in the rich merchant's house.

 

 

Thousands of lights were burning on the green branches, and gailycolored pictures, such as she had seen in the shop-windows, looked down upon her. The little maiden stretched out her hands towards them when-- the match went out. The lights of the Christmas tree rose higher and higher, she saw them now as stars in heaven; one fell down and formed a long trail of fire.

 

 

 

 

她的一雙小手幾乎凍僵了。唉!哪怕一根小火柴對她也是有好處的。只要她敢抽出一根來,在牆上擦一下,就可以暖暖手!最後她抽出一根來。哧!它點燃了,冒出火光來了!當她把手覆在上面的時候,它便變成了一朵溫暖、光明的火焰,像一根小小的蠟燭。這是一道美麗的微光!小女孩覺得真像坐在一個鐵火爐旁邊一樣:它有光亮的黃銅圓把手和黃銅爐身。火燒得那麼烈,那麼暖,那麼美!唉,這是怎麼一回事兒?當小女孩剛剛伸出一隻腳、打算暖一暖腳的時候,火焰就忽然熄滅了!火爐也不見了。她坐在那兒,手中只有燒過了的火柴。

 

 

 

 

 

她又擦了一根。它點燃了,發出火光來了。牆上有亮光照著的那塊地方,現在變得透明,像一片薄紗;她可以看到房間裡的東西;桌上鋪著雪白的桌布,上面有精緻的碗盤,填滿了梅子和蘋果的、冒著香氣的烤鵝。更美妙的事情是:這隻鵝從盤子裡跳出來了,背上插著刀叉,蹣跚地在地上走著,一直向這個窮苦的小女孩面前走來。這時火柴就熄滅了;她面前只有一堵又厚又冷的牆。她點了另一根火柴。現在她是坐在美麗的聖誕樹下麵。上次聖誕節時,她透過玻璃門,看到一個富有商人家裡的一棵聖誕樹;可是現在這一棵比那棵還要大,還要美。

 

 

 

 

 

它的綠枝上燃著幾千支蠟燭;彩色的圖畫,跟櫥窗裡掛著的那些一樣美麗的,在向她眨眼。這個小女孩把兩隻手伸過去。於是火柴就熄滅了。聖誕節的燭光越升越高。她看到它們現在變成了明亮的星星。這些星星有一顆落下來,在天上劃出一條長長的光線。

 

 

 

And so they made themselves comfortable; but the poor duckling, who had crept out of his shell last of all, and looked so ugly, was bitten and pushed and made fun of, not only by the ducks, but by all the poultry. He is too big, they all said, and the turkey cock, who had been born into the world with spurs, and fancied himself really an emperor, puffed himself out like a vessel in full sail, and flew at the duckling, and became quite red in the head with passion, so that the poor little thing did not know where to go, and was quite miserable because he was so ugly and laughed at by the whole farmyard. So it went on from day to day till it got worse and worse. The poor duckling was driven about by every one; even his brothers and sisters were unkind to him, and would say, Ah, you ugly creature, I wish the cat would get you, and his mother said she wished he had never been born. The ducks pecked him, the chickens beat him, and the girl who fed the poultry kicked him with her feet. So at last he ran away, frightening the little birds in the hedge as he flew over the palings.

 

 

 

They are afraid of me because I am ugly, he said. So he closed his eyes, and flew still farther, until he came out on a large moor, inhabited by wild ducks. Here he remained the whole night, feeling very tired and sorrowful.

 

 

In the morning, when the wild ducks rose in the air, they stared at their new comrade. What sort of a duck are you? they all said, coming round him.

 

 

He bowed to them, and was as polite as he could be, but he did not reply to their question. You are exceedingly ugly, said the wild ducks, but that will not matter if you do not want to marry one of our family.

 

 

 

 

不過從蛋殼裏爬出的那隻小鴨太醜了,到處挨打,被排擠,被譏笑,不僅在鴨群中是這樣,連在雞群中也是這樣。 大家都說:「他真是又粗又大!」有一隻雄吐綬雞,生下來腳上就有距,因此他自以為是一個皇帝,他把自己吹得像一條鼓滿了風的帆船,來勢洶洶地向醜小鴨走來,瞪著一雙大眼睛,臉上漲得通紅。這只可憐的小鴨不知道該站在什麼地方,或者走到什麼地方去好。他覺得非常悲哀,因為自己長得那麼醜陋,而且成了全體雞鴨的一個嘲笑對象。 這是頭一天的情形。後來一天比一天糟。大家都要趕走這隻可憐的小鴨;連他自己的兄弟姊妹也對他生氣起來。他們老是說:「你這個醜妖怪,希望貓兒把你抓去才好!」於是他媽媽也希望他從未出聲。鴨兒們啄他。小雞打他,餵雞鴨的那個女傭人用腳來踢他。 於是他飛過籬笆逃走了;灌木林裏的小鳥一見到他,就驚慌地向空中飛去。

 

 

 

 

 

「這是因為我太醜了!」小鴨想。於是他閉起眼睛,繼續往前跑。他一口氣跑到一塊住著野鴨的沼澤地裏。他在這兒躺了一整夜,因為他太累了,太喪氣了。

 

 

天亮的時候,野鴨都飛起來了。他們瞧了瞧這位新來的朋友。
他們問:「你是誰呀?」 小鴨向他們鞠躬,盡量對大家恭恭敬敬地行禮。

 

 

「你真是醜得厲害,」野鴨們說,「不過只要你不跟我們族裏任何鴨子結婚,對我們倒也沒有什麼大的關系。」

 

 

 

Little maiden, said the lord-in-waiting, I will obtain for you constant employment in the kitchen, and you shall have permission to see the emperor dine, if you will lead us to the nightingale; for she is invited for this evening to the palace. So she went into the wood where the nightingale sang, and half the court followed her. As they went along, a cow began lowing.

 

 

 

Oh, said a young courtier, now we have found her; what wonderful power for such a small creature; I have certainly heard it before.

No, that is only a cow lowing, said the little girl; we are a long way from the place yet.

 

 

Then some frogs began to croak in the marsh. Beautiful, said the young courtier again. Now I hear it, tinkling like little church bells.

No, those are frogs, said the little maiden; but I think we shall soon hear her now: and presently the nightingale began to sing.

 

 

Hark, hark! there she is, said the girl, and there she sits, she added, pointing to a little gray bird who was perched on a bough.

Is it possible? said the lord-in-waiting, I never imagined it would be a little, plain, simple thing like that. She has certainly changed color at seeing so many grand people around her.

 

 

Little nightingale, cried the girl, raising her voice, our most gracious emperor wishes you to sing before him.

With the greatest pleasure, said the nightingale, and began to sing most delightfully.

 

 

It sounds like tiny glass bells, said the lord-in-waiting, and see how her little throat works. It is surprising that we have never heard this before; she will be a great success at court.

 

 

Shall I sing once more before the emperor? asked the nightingale, who thought he was present.

My excellent little nightingale, said the courtier, I have the great pleasure of inviting you to a court festival this evening, where you will gain imperial favor by your charming song.

 

 

My song sounds best in the green wood, said the bird; but still she came willingly when she heard the emperor's wish.

 

 

 

 

「小丫頭!」侍臣說,「我將為你在廚房裏弄一個固定的職位,還要使你擁有看皇上吃飯的特權,但是你得把我們帶到夜鶯那兒去,因為它今晚得在皇上面前表演一下。」他們一齊走到夜鶯經常唱歌的那個樹林裏去。宮裏一半的人都出動了。當他們正在走的時候,一頭母牛開始叫起來。

 

 

「呀!」一位年輕的貴族說,「現在我們可找到它了!這麼一個小的動物,它的聲音可是特別洪亮!我以前在什麼地方聽到過這聲音。」「錯了,這是牛叫!」廚房的小女傭人說。「我們離那塊地方還遠著呢。」

 

 

接著,沼澤裏的青蛙叫起來了。中國的宮廷祭司說:「現在我算是聽到它了——它聽起來像廟裏的小小鐘聲。」「錯了,這是青蛙的叫聲!」廚房小女傭人說。「不過,我想很快我們就可以聽到夜鶯歌唱了。」

 

 

於是夜鶯開始唱起來。「這才是呢!」小女傭人說:「聽啊,聽啊!它就棲在那兒。」
她指著樹枝上一隻小小的灰色鳥兒。「這個可能嗎?」侍臣說。「我從來就沒有想到它是那麼一副樣兒!你們看它是多麼平凡啊!這一定是因為它看到有這麼多的官員在旁,嚇得失去了光彩的緣故。」

 

 

「小小的夜鶯!」廚房的小女傭人高聲地喊,「我們仁慈的皇上希望你到他面前去唱唱歌呢。」

「我非常樂意!」夜鶯說,於是它唱出動聽的歌來。

 

 

「這聲音像玻璃鐘響!」侍臣說。「你們看,它的小歌喉唱得多麼好!說來也稀奇,我們過去從未沒有聽到過它。這鳥兒到宮裏去一定會逗得大家喜歡!」

 

 

「還要我再在皇上面前唱一次嗎?」夜鶯問,因為它以為皇帝在場。「我的絕頂好的個夜鶯啊!」侍臣說,「我感到非常榮幸,命令你到宮裏去參加一個晚會。你得用你美妙的歌喉去娛樂聖朝的皇上。」

 

 

「我的歌只有在綠色的樹林裏才唱得最好!」夜鶯說。不過,當它聽說皇帝希望見它的時候,它還是去了。

 

 

 

什麼是 劍橋大學考試委員會?- 維基百科

 

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