ONCE upon a time there was a king who had many sons. —
从前有一位国王，他有许多儿子。 —

I do not exactly know how many there were, but the youngest of them could not stay quietly at home, and was determined to go out into the world and try his luck, and after a long time the King was forced to give him leave to go. —
我不确切知道有多少个，但年纪最小的儿子无法安静地待在家里，他决心出去闯荡一番。经过很长时间，国王被迫让他离开。 —

When he had traveled about for several days, he came to a giant’s house, and hired himself to the giant as a servant. —
他旅行了几天后来到了一个巨人的家，他以仆人的身份雇佣在巨人那里。 —

In the morning the giant had to go out to pasture his goats, and as he was leaving the house he told the King’s son that he must clean out the stable. —
早上，巨人必须出去放羊，离开房子时告诉国王的儿子，他必须清理出马厩。 —

“And after you have done that,” he said, “you need not do any more work today, for you have come to a kind master, and that you shall find. —
“在你完成了那件事之后，”他说，“今天你就不需要做其他工作了，因为你找到了一个善良的主人，你会发现这一点。 —

But what I set you to do must be done both well and thoroughly, and you must on no account go into any of the rooms which lead out of the room in which you slept last night. —
但是，我给你的任务必须做得好且彻底，并且你绝对不能进入昨晚你睡的房间之外的任何房间。 —

If you do, I will take your life.”
如果你这样做了，我会夺走你的生命。”

“Well to be sure, he is an easy master! —
“嗯，他是一个宽容的主人！ —

” said the Prince to himself as he walked up and down the room humming and singing, for he thought there would be plenty of time left to clean out the stable; —
“嗯，”王子自言自语地说道，他边在房间里来回踱步边哼唱，因为他觉得还有足够的时间来清理马厩； —

“but it would be amusing to steal a glance into his other rooms as well,” thought the Prince, “for there must be something that he is afraid of my seeing, as I am not allowed to enter them. —
“但是偷偷看一眼他的其他房间也许会有趣，”王子想到，“肯定有些东西他不想让我看到，所以我才不被允许进去。 —

” So he went into the first room. —
”于是他走进了第一个房间。 —

A cauldron was hanging from the walls; —
墙上挂着一个大锅； —

it was boiling, but the Prince could see no fire under it. —
锅里正在沸腾，但是王子看不到下面有火。 —

“I wonder what is inside it,” he thought, and dipped a lock of his hair in, and the hair became just as if it were all made of copper. —
“我想知道里面有什么，”他想着，就用一缕头发蘸了蘸，头发就像全是铜做的一样。 —

“That’s a nice kind of soup. —
“这是一种不错的汤。 —

If anyone were to taste that his throat would be gilded,” said the youth, and then he went into the next chamber. —
如果有人尝一口，他的喉咙就会变成金子，”年轻人说道，然后他走进了下个房间。 —

There, too, a cauldron was hanging from the wall, bubbling and boiling, but there was no fire under this either. —
那儿也挂着一个大锅，锅里翻滚着沸腾的液体，但是下面同样没有火。 —

“I will just try what this is like too,” said the Prince, thrusting another lock of his hair into it, and it came out silvered over. —
“我也要试一试是什么样子，”王子说着，将自己的另一缕头发插入，它变成了银色。 —

“Such costly soup is not to be had in my father’s palace,” said the Prince; —
“在我父亲的宫殿里是没有这么昂贵的汤的，”王子说； —

“but everything depends on how it tastes,” and then he went into the third room. —
“但是一切都取决于味道如何，”然后他走进了第三间屋子。 —

There, too, a cauldron was hanging from the wall, boiling, exactly the same as in the two other rooms, and the Prince took pleasure in trying this also, so he dipped a lock of hair in, and it came out so brightly gilded that it shone again. —
那里也悬挂着一个和前两间屋子一模一样的锅，正在煮沸，王子很乐意尝试一下，于是他将一缕头发蘸入其中，它变得如此明亮，闪闪发光。 —

“Some talk about going from bad to worse,” said the Prince; —
“有人说越闹越糟，”王子说； —

“but this is better and better. —
“但这越来越好。 —

If he boils gold here, what can he boil in there? —
如果他在这里煮出了金子，那他在那里能煮出什么呢？ —

” He was determined to see, and went through the door into the fourth room. —
” 他决心要去看看，就走进了第四间屋子。 —

No cauldron was to be seen there, but on a bench someone was seated who was like a king’s daughter, but, whosoever she was, she was so beautiful that never in the Prince’s life had he seen her equal.
那里没有锅，但是有一个人坐在长凳上，看上去像是一个国王的女儿，但不管她是谁，她是如此美丽，以至于王子一生中从未见过与她相匹敌的人。

“Oh! in heaven’s name what are you doing here? —
“天哪！你在这里做什么？”那位坐在长凳上的女子说道。 —

” said she who sat upon the bench.
“我昨天替代了这里的女佣，”王子说道。

“I took the place of servant here yesterday,” said the Prince .
“如果你来这里做工，希望你很快能找到更好的位置！”她说。

“May you soon have a better place, if you have come to serve here! —
“哦，但是我觉得我有个好心的主人，”王子说道。 —

” said she.
“他今天没有让我做很辛苦的工作。”

“Oh, but I think I have got a kind master,” said the Prince. —
“如果你想在这里工作，希望你很快能找到更好的位置。”她说。 —

“He has not given me hard work to do today. —
“但是我觉得我有个好心的主人，”王子说道。 —

When I have cleaned out the stable I shall be done.”
当我把马厩清理干净后，我就算完成了。

“Yes, but how will you be able to do that? —
“是的，但是你怎么能做到呢？ —

” she asked again. “If you clean it out as other people do, ten pitch-forksful will come in for every one you throw out. —
”她再次问道。“如果你像其他人一样清理，每扔出一铲草叉，就会有十个插进来。 —

But I will teach you how to do it; —
但我会教你怎么做； —

you must turn your pitch-fork upside down, and work with the handle, and then all will fly out of its own accord.”
你必须把草叉倒过来，用柄工作，然后一切就会自然而然地飞走。”

“Yes, I will attend to that,” said the Prince, and stayed sitting where he was the whole day, for it was soon settled between them that they would marry each other, he and the King’s daughter; —
“是的，我会注意的，”王子说，他坐在那里整天都没有动，因为他和巨人的女儿很快就决定要结婚； —

so the first day of his service with the giant did not seem long to him. —
所以他在巨人身边的第一天服务对他来说不显得很长。 —

But when evening was drawing near she said that it would now be better for him to clean out the stable before the giant came home. —
但是当傍晚快到时，她说最好在巨人回家之前清理好马厩。 —

When he got there he had a fancy to try if what she had said were true, so he began to work in the same way that he had seen the stable-boys doing in his father’s stables, but he soon saw that he must give up that, for when he had worked a very short time he had scarcely any room left to stand. —
当他到达那里时，他想要试一试她说的是否真实，所以他开始按照他在父亲的马厩里看到的马厩儿童的方法工作，但他很快就发现他必须放弃，因为当他工作了很短的时间后，他几乎没有剩下什么位置站立。 —

So he did what the Princess had taught him, turned the pitchfork round, and worked with the handle, and in the twinkling of an eye the stable was as clean as if it had been scoured. —
所以他做了公主教给他的事情，把耙子掉转方向，用柄来工作，一眨眼间，马厩就像被擦洗过一样干净。 —

When he had done that, he went back again into the room in which the giant had given him leave to stay, and there he walked backward and forward on the floor, and began to hum and sing.
当他做完了这些，他又回到了巨人允许他待的房间里，在那里他在地板上来回走动，开始哼唱。

Then came the giant home with the goats. —
接着巨人带着山羊回来了。 —

“Have you cleaned the stable? —
“你清理好了马厩吗？”巨人问道。 —

” asked the giant.
“是的，现在马厩既干净又香味宜人，大人。”国王的儿子说。

“Yes, now it is clean and sweet, master,” said the King’s son.
“好吧，房里的小家伙。”

“I shall see about that,” said the giant, and went round to the stable, but it was just as the Prince had said.
“我会去查证的，”巨人说着，走到了马厩，但马厩确实和王子所说的一样。

“You have certainly been talking to my Master-maid, for you never got that out of your own head,” said the giant.
“你肯定是和我的女主人说过话，否则你不会自己脑子里冒出这个来。”巨人说道。

“Master-maid! What kind of a thing is that, master? —
“女主人？那是什么东西，主人？” —

” said the Prince, making himself look as stupid as an ass; —
”王子装出一副像驴子一样愚蠢的样子说道； —

“I should like to see that.”
“我倒想见见她。”

“Well, you will see her quite soon enough,” said the giant.
“很快你就会见到她了。”巨人说道。

On the second morning the giant had again to go out with his goats, so he told the Prince that on that day he was to fetch home his horse, which was out on the mountain-side, and when he had done that he might rest himself for the remainder of the day, “for you have come to a kind master, and that you shall find,” said the giant once more. —
第二天早上，巨人再次带着他的山羊出去，所以他告诉王子今天他要去山坡上把他的马带回来，然后他可以休息一整天，“因为你来找了一个好主人，这一点你会发现的。”巨人再次说道。 —

“But do not go into any of the rooms that I spoke of yesterday, or I will wring your head off,” said he, and then went away with his flock of goats.
“但是不要进入我昨天提到的任何房间，否则我会扭断你的脖子，”他说完之后带着他的一群山羊走了。

“Yes, indeed, you are a kind master,” said the Prince; —
“是的，确实，你是个好主人，”王子说道； —

“but I will go in and talk to the Master-maid again; —
“但我会再去和小主母谈谈； —

perhaps before long she may like better to be mine than yours.”
也许不久后她会更喜欢属于我的而不是属于你的。”

So he went to her. Then she asked him what he had to do that day.
于是他去找她。然后她问他今天有什么要做。

“Oh! not very dangerous work, I fancy,” said the King’s son. —
“哦！我想不是什么危险的工作，”王子说道； —

“I have only to go up the mountain-side after his horse.”
“我只是要去山坡上找到他的马。”

“Well, how do you mean to set about it?” asked the Master-maid.
“好吧，你打算怎么做？”小主母问道。

“Oh! there is no great art in riding a horse home,” said the King’s son. —
“哦！把马骑回家并不难，”王子说道； —

“I think I must have ridden friskier horses before now.”
“我想我之前骑过更活跃的马。”

“Yes, but it is not so easy a thing as you think to ride the horse home,” said the Master-maid; —
“是的，但是骑马回家不像你想象中那么简单，”小主母说道； —

“but I will teach you what to do. —
“但我会教你该怎么做。 —

When you go near it, fire will burst out of its nostrils like flames from a pine torch; —
当你接近它时，火焰会从它的鼻孔中喷出，就像松木火把一样。” —

but be very careful, and take the bridle which is hanging by the door there, and fling the bit straight into his jaws, and then it will become so tame that you will be able to do what you like with it. —
但要非常小心，拿起门边悬挂的笼头，将嚼子直接扔进它的嘴中，然后它就会变得如此温顺，你可以随心所欲地驾驭它。 —

” He said he would bear this in mind, and then he again sat in there the whole day by the Mastermaid, and they chatted and talked of one thing and another, but the first thing and the last now was, how happy and delightful it would be if they could but marry each other, and get safely away from the giant; —
“他说他会记住的，然后他整天坐在那里和仆人小姐聊天，他们谈论着这个和那个，但现在首尾相连的是，如果他们能结婚并安全地远离巨人，那该有多么幸福和愉快！ —

and the Prince would have forgotten both the mountain-side and the horse if the Master-maid had not reminded him of them as evening drew near, and said that now it would be better if he went to fetch the horse before the giant came. —
如果仆人小姐不提醒他过了一会儿就要去取马，在傍晚来临时，王子可能都忘记了山腰和马这两件事，仆人小姐提醒他后说，现在最好是他赶紧去拿马，免得巨人回来了。 —

So he did this, and took the bridle which was hanging on a crook, and strode up the mountain-side, and it was not long before he met with the horse, and fire and red flames streamed forth out of its nostrils. —
于是他这么做了，拿起挂在钩子上的笼头，大步向山腰走去，不久他就遇到了那匹马，它的鼻孔冒出火焰和红光。 —

But the youth carefully watched his opportunity, and just as it was rushing at him with open jaws he threw the bit straight into its mouth, and the horse stood as quiet as a young lamb, and there was no difficulty at all in getting it home to the stable. —
但是年轻人仔细观察着时机，就在它张开大口向他扑来的时候，他将嚼子直接扔进了它的嘴里，马就像小羊一样安静地站着，把它带回了马厩，一点困难也没有。 —

Then the Prince went back into his room again, and began to hum and to sing.
然后王子又回到他的房间里，开始哼唱起来。

Toward evening the giant came home. —
快到晚上巨人回了家。 —

“Have you fetched the horse back from the mountain-side? —
“你把马从山上找回来了吗？”他问。 —

” he asked.
“是的，主人。这是一匹很好玩的马，但是我骑着它直接带回家了，也把它放到了马厩里。”王子说。

“That I have, master; it was an amusing horse to ride, but I rode him straight home, and put him in the stable too,” said the Prince.
“我会查一查的。”巨人说着走出去看马厩，但是马正好就站在那里，就像王子所说的一样。

“I will see about that,” said the giant, and went out to the stable, but the horse was standing there just as the Prince had said. —
“你肯定是与我的仆人交谈过了，否则你不会知道这些。”巨人再次说道。 —

“You have certainly been talking with my Master-maid, for you never got that out of your own head,” said the giant again.
“主人，昨天你提到了仆人，今天又谈论她，”王子说。

“Yesterday, master, you talked about this Master-maid, and today you are talking about her; —
“那你就去找找吧。”巨人说完就去马厩了，但是马确实就在那里，正如王子所说的一样。 —

ah, heaven bless you, master, why will you not show me the thing? —
啊，上天保佑你，主人，你为什么不让我看那件事呢？ —

for it would be a real pleasure to me to see it,” said the Prince, who again pretended to be silly and stupid.
因为我很想看看它，”王子说道，又装作傻傻的。

“Oh! you will see her quite soon enough,” said the giant.
哦！你很快就会见到她的，”巨人说道。

On the morning of the third day the giant again had to go into the wood with the goats. —
第三天早上，巨人再次带着山羊去了树林。 —

“Today you must go underground and fetch my taxes,” he said to the Prince. —
“今天你必须下地获取我的税收，”他对王子说道。 —

“When you have done this, you may rest for the remainder of the day, for you shall see what an easy master you have come to,” and then he went away.
“做完这个后，你可以休息一整天，看看你来到了多么容易的主人，”然后他走了。

“Well, however easy a master you may be, you set me very hard work to do,” thought the Prince; —
“无论你多么容易当一位主人，你给我安排的工作都非常艰难，”王子想到。 —

“but I will see if I cannot find your Master-maid; —
“但是我要看看能不能找到你的女主人； —

you say she is yours, but for all that she may be able to tell me what to do now,” and he went back to her. —
你说她是你的，但是她也许能告诉我现在该怎么做，”然后他回到了她那里。 —

So, when the Mastermaid asked him what the giant had set him to do that day, he told her that he was to go underground and get the taxes.
所以，当主人问他巨人当天让他做什么时，他告诉她他要下地获取税收。

“And how will you set about that?” said the Mastermaid .
“那你打算如何做？”仙女问道。

“Oh! you must tell me how to do it,” said the Prince, “for I have never yet been underground, and even if I knew the way I do not know how much I am to demand.”
“哦！你必须告诉我该怎么做，”王子说，“因为我从来没有去过地下，即使我知道路，我也不知道要要求多少。”

“Oh! yes, I will soon tell you that; —
“哦！是的，我马上告诉你， —

you must go to the rock there under the mountain-ridge, and take the club that is there, and knock on the rocky wall,” said the Master-maid. —
你必须去山脊下的那块岩石那儿，拿下那儿的棒子，然后敲打岩壁，”仙女说。 —

“Then someone will come out who will sparkle with fire; —
“这样就会有人冒火光出来； —

you shall tell him your errand, and when he asks you how much you want to have you are to say: —
你要告诉他你的使命，当他问你要多少的时候，你要说： —

‘As much as I can carry.’”
‘尽可能多。’”

“Yes, I will keep that in mind,” said he, and then he sat there with the Master-maid the whole day, until night drew near, and he would gladly have stayed there till now if the Master-maid had not reminded him that it was time to be off to fetch the taxes before the giant came.
“是的，我会记住的。”他说，然后他与仙女一整天都在那儿坐着，直到天黑，如果不是仙女提醒他现在是时候取回税额了，他很愿意一直待在那儿。

So he set out on his way, and did exactly what the Master-maid had told him. —
于是他踏上了路，完全按照仙女的话去做。 —

He went to the rocky wall, and took the club, and knocked on it. —
他走向岩壁，拿起木棍，向它敲了敲。 —

Then came one so full of sparks that they flew both out of his eyes and his nose. —
接着，有一个人从他的眼睛和鼻子里喷出火花。 —

“What do you want?” said he.
“你想要什么？”他说。

“I was to come here for the giant, and demand the tax for him,” said the King’s son.
“我是为了巨人而来，要求他交税的。”国王的儿子说。

“How much are you to have then?” said the other.
“你要多少？”另一个人问道。

“I ask for no more than I am able to carry with me,” said the Prince.
“我只要能够带走的。”王子说。

“It is well for you that you have not asked for a horse-load,” said he who had come out of the rock. —
“幸亏你没有要求一车马载。”从岩石中出来的人说。 —

“But now come in with me.”
“现在跟我进来吧。”

This the Prince did, and what a quantity of gold and silver he saw! —
王子进去了，他看到了多少金银啊！ —

It was lying inside the mountain like heaps of stones in a waste place, and he got a load that was as large as he was able to carry, and with that he went his way. —
它们像一堆堆石头一样堆放在山里，他拿了一份装得下的重量，然后走了。 —

So in the evening, when the giant came home with the goats, the Prince went into the chamber and hummed and sang again as he had done on the other two evenings.
所以晚上，当巨人带着山羊回家时，王子进了房间，又像前两个晚上那样哼唱起来。

“Have you been for the tax?” said the giant.
“你有没有去交税？”巨人问道。

“Yes, that I have, master,” said the Prince.
“是的，主人，我是的，”王子说。

“Where have you put it then?” said the giant again.
“那你放在哪里了？”巨人又问道。

“The bag of gold is standing there on the bench,” said the Prince.
“金袋就放在那张长凳上，”王子说。

“I will see about that,” said the giant, and went away to the bench, but the bag was standing there, and it was so full that gold and silver dropped out when the giant untied the string.
“我要看一看，”巨人说着离开去找那张长凳，但金袋还在那里，里面装满了金银，巨人解开绳子时金银还掉了不少。

“You have certainly been talking with my Master-maid! —
“你肯定是和我的主人女仆说过话了！”巨人说，“如果你和她说过，我就会扭断你的脖子。” —

” said the giant, “and if you have I will wring your neck.”
“主人女仆？”王子说；

“Master-maid?” said the Prince; —
“昨天我的主人就提到过这个主人女仆，今天他又提到了她，一开始就是类似的话题。 —

“yesterday my master talked about this Master-maid, and today he is talking about her again, and the first day of all it was talk of the same kind. —
“我真希望能亲眼见到这个人，”他说。 —

I do wish I could see the thing myself,” said he.
“是的，是的，等到明天，”巨人说，“到时候我会亲自带你去见她。”

“Yes, yes, wait till to-morrow,” said the giant, “and then I myself will take you to her.”
“啊！主人，我感谢您——但您只是在戏弄我，”王子说。

“Ah! master, I thank you — but you are only mocking me,” said the King’s son.
第二天，巨人带他去见了主人女仆。

Next day the giant took him to the Master-maid. —
一个多情种逐渐成为王者，一个主人女仆为她战斗去面对巨人的挑战。 —

“Now you shall kill him, and boil him in the great big cauldron you know of, and when you have got the broth ready give me a call,” said the giant; —
“现在你应该杀了他，并把他煮在你知道的大锅里，当你煮好汤的时候叫我一声。” 巨人说; —

then he lay down on the bench to sleep, and almost immediately began to snore so that it sounded like thunder among the hills.
然后他躺在长凳上睡觉，几乎立刻开始打鼾，像雷声一样在山间回响。

So the Master-maid took a knife, and cut the Prince’s little finger, and dropped three drops of blood upon a wooden stool; —
于是女主人拿了一把刀，割下了王子的小手指，在一个木凳上滴了三滴血。 —

then she took all the old rags, and shoe-soles, and all the rubbish she could lay hands on, and put them in the cauldron; —
然后她拿了所有的破布，鞋底和她能找到的垃圾，放进了大锅里。 —

and then she filled a chest with gold dust, and a lump of salt, and a water-flask which was hanging by the door, and she also took with her a golden apple, and two gold chickens; —
然后她用金粉装满了一个箱子，还有一块盐巴和一个挂在门边的水囊，她还带上了一个金苹果和两只金鸡。 —

and then she and the Prince went away with all the speed they could, and when they had gone a little way they came to the sea, and then they sailed, but where they got the ship from I have never been able to learn.
然后她和王子尽快地离开了，走了一小段路以后，他们来到了大海边，然后他们乘船出海了，至于他们从哪里弄到船的，我从来没有弄清楚过。

Now, when the giant had slept a good long time, he began to stretch himself on the bench on which he was lying. —
现在，巨人已经睡了很长一段时间，他开始在他躺着的长椅上伸展身体。 —

“Will it soon boil?” said he
“快要煮好了吗？”他说。

“It is just beginning,” said the first drop of blood on the stool.
“刚刚开始。”凳子上的第一滴血说。

So the giant lay down to sleep again, and slept for a long, long time. —
于是巨人又躺下睡了很久很久。 —

Then he began to move about a little again. —
然后他又开始稍微动了一下。 —

“Will it soon be ready now? —
“现在快好了吗？”他说，但这一次他没有像第一次那样抬头看，因为他还是半睡半醒的。 —

” said he, but he did not look up this time any more than he had done the first time, for he was still half asleep.
“一半煮好了！”第二滴血说，巨人相信那是女仆长。

“Half done!” said the second drop of blood, and the giant believed it was the Master-maid again, and turned himself on the bench, and lay down to sleep once more. —
于是巨人翻身坐在长椅上，又躺下睡觉了。 —

When he had slept again for many hours, he began to move and stretch himself. —
当他又睡了很多个小时后，他开始动了一下，伸展身体。 —

“Is it not done yet?” said he.
“还没煮好吗？”他说。

“It is quite ready,” said the third drop of blood. —
“已经完全好了。”第三滴血说。 —

Then the giant began to sit up and rub his eyes, but he could not see who it was who had spoken to him, so he asked for the Master-maid, and called her. —
然后巨人开始坐起来搓搓眼睛，但他看不清是谁跟他说话，所以他问女仆长，并叫她过来。 —

But there was no one to give him an answer.
但没有人回答他。

“Ah! well, she has just stolen out for a little,” thought the giant, and he took a spoon, and went off to the cauldron to have a taste; —
“啊！她刚才溜出去一下，”巨人想着，然后拿起一把勺子，走向大锅来尝一口； —

but there was nothing in it but shoe-soles, and rags, and such trumpery as that, and all was boiled up together, so that he could not tell whether it was porridge or milk pottage. —
但锅里什么都没有，只有鞋底和破布等等这些破烂，全都煮在一起，他分不清是粥还是煮饭。 —

When he saw this, he understood what had happened, and fell into such a rage that he hardly knew what he was doing. —
当他看到这个，他明白发生了什么事，勃然大怒，几乎不知道自己在做什么。 —

Away he went after the Prince and the Master-maid so fast that the wind whistled behind him, and it was not long before he came to the water, but he could not get over it. —
他追赶着王子和仆人女子，快得风在他身后呼啸，不久他就来到了水边，但过不去。 —

“Well, well, I will soon find a cure for that; —
“好吧，好吧，我很快会找到解决办法的； —

I have only to call my river-sucker,” said the giant, and he did call him. —
我只需要呼叫我的吸水怪物，”巨人说着，他确实呼唤了他。 —

So his river-sucker came and lay down, and drank one, two, three draughts, and with that the water in the sea fell so low that the giant saw the Master-maid and the Prince out on the sea in their ship. —
于是他的吸水怪物过来躺下，喝了一口，两口，三口，海水随之下降，巨人看到了王子和仆人女子在海上的船上。 —

“Now you must throw out the lump of salt,” said the Master-maid, and the Prince did so, and it grew up into such a great high mountain right across the sea that the giant could not come over it, and the river-sucker could not drink any more water. —
“现在你必须扔掉这块盐块，”姑娘对王子说道，于是王子照做了。盐块长大成了一座巨大的高山，横在海上，巨人无法越过，河鳗也无法再喝水了。 —

“Well, well, I will soon find a cure for that,” said the giant, so he called to his hill-borer to come and bore through the mountain so that the river-sucker might be able to drink up the water again. —
“好吧，好吧，我很快就会找到解决办法的，”巨人说道，于是他叫来挖山的工具，准备穿过这座山，让河鳗可以再次喝上水。 —

But just as the hole was made, and the river-sucker was beginning to drink, the Master-maid told the Prince to throw one or two drops out of the flask, and when he did this the sea instantly became full of water again, and before the river-sucker could take one drink they reached the land and were in safety. —
但就在洞穴刚挖好，河鳗正准备喝水的时候，姑娘告诉王子从小瓶中倒出一两滴水。当王子照做时，海水立即重新充满，河鳗还来不及喝一口水，他们就到达了陆地，安然无恙。 —

So they determined to go home to the Prince’s father, but the Prince would on no account permit the Master-maid to walk there, for he thought that it was unbecoming either for her or for him to go on foot.
于是，他们决定回王子的家，但王子绝对不允许姑娘步行前往，因为他认为这对他们两个人都不合适。

“Wait here the least little bit of time, while I go home for the seven horses which stand in my father’s stable,” said he; —
“等我去家里取我父亲马厩中的七匹马，你在这里稍等片刻时间。”他说道； —

“it is not far off, and I shall not be long away, but I will not let my betrothed bride go on foot to the palace.”
“那离这里不远，我不会离开太久，但我不会让我的未婚妻步行去皇宫。”

“Oh! no, do not go, for if you go home to the King’s palace you will forget me, I foresee that.”
“哦！不要走，因为如果你回去国王的宫殿，你会忘记我，我已经预见到了。”

“How could I forget you? —
“我怎么会忘记你？ —

We have suffered so much evil together, and love each other so much,” said the Prince; —
我们一起经历了这么多苦难，彼此深爱着。”王子说道； —

and he insisted on going home for the coach with the seven horses, and she was to wait for him there, by the sea-shore. —
他坚持要回家取有七匹马的马车，她则在海边等待他。 —

So at last the Master-maid had to yield, for he was so absolutely determined to do it. —
于是最终，年轻女仆被迫屈服，因为王子太坚决了。 —

“But when you get there you must not even give yourself time to greet anyone, but go straight into the stable, and take the horses, and put them in the coach, and drive back as quickly as you can. —
“但是当你到那儿时，甚至都不要给自己时间去问候任何人，直接进马厩，取马，然后尽快开车返回。 —

For they will all come round about you; —
因为他们都会围绕着你聚集； —

but you must behave just as if you did not see them, and on no account must you taste anything, for if you do it will cause great misery both to you and to me,” said she; —
“但是你必须表现得好像你没有看见它们一样，而且千万不要品尝任何东西，因为如果你这样做会给我和你带来巨大的痛苦，”她说； —

and this he promised.
他答应了。

But when he got home to the King’s palace one of his brothers was just going to be married, and the bride and all her kith and kin had come to the palace; —
但是当他回到国王宫殿时，他的一个兄弟正要结婚，新娘和她的亲友都来到了宫殿； —

so they all thronged round him, and questioned him about this and that, and wanted him to go in with them; —
因此他们都围着他，问他这个那个的，并希望他和他们一起进去； —

but he behaved as if he did not see them, and went straight to the stable, and got out the horses and began to harness them. —
但是他表现得好像没有看见他们，径直走向马厩，倒出了马来，开始给它们套上马具。 —

When they saw that they could not by any means prevail on him to go in with them, they came out to him with meat and drink, and the best of everything that they had prepared for the wedding; —
当他们看到无论如何也没办法说服他和他们一起进去时，他们带着食物和饮料以及他们为婚礼准备的一切最好的东西出来找他； —

but the Prince refused to touch anything, and would do nothing but put the horses in as quickly as he could. —
但是王子拒绝触摸任何东西，只是尽快给马套上马具。 —

At last, however, the bride’s sister rolled an apple across the yard to him, and said: —
最后，新娘的妹妹把一个苹果滚过院子给他，并说： —

“As you won’t eat anything else, you may like to take a bite of that, for you must be both hungry and thirsty after your long journey. —
“既然你什么都不吃，你可能会喜欢尝一口那个，毕竟你长途旅行后肯定又饿又渴。” —

” And he took up the apple and bit a piece out of it. —
他拿起苹果咬了一口。 —

But no sooner had he got the piece of apple in his mouth than he forgot the Master-maid and that he was to go back in the coach to fetch her.
但他一旦把苹果咬进嘴里，就忘记了那位女王和自己要回去坐马车将她接来。

“I think I must be mad! —
“我想我一定是疯了！ —

what do I want with this coach and horses?” said he; —
我要这马车和马有什么用？”他说， —

and then he put the horses back into the stable, and went into the King’s palace, and there it was settled that he should marry the bride’s sister, who had rolled the apple to him.
于是他把马放回马厩，走进了国王的宫殿，在那里决定他将和滚苹果给他的新娘妹妹结婚。

The Master-maid sat by the sea-shore for a long, long time, waiting for the Prince, but no Prince came. —
那位女王妃在海边坐了很久很久，等了很久的王子，但没有王子来。 —

So she went away, and when she had walked a short distance she came to a little hut which stood all alone in a small wood, hard by the King’s palace. —
于是她走开了，走了一小段路，来到了一个小森林里孤零零的小屋前，就在国王的宫殿附近。 —

She entered it and asked if she might be allowed to stay there. —
她走进去问能否被允许留在那里。 —

The hut belonged to an old crone, who was also an ill-tempered and malicious troll. —
这间小屋属于一个年老的妇人，她也是个脾气暴躁且恶毒的巨魔。 —

At first she would not let the Master-maid remain with her; —
起初，她不让这位女主人公留在她那里。 —

but at last, after a long time, by means of good words and good payment, she obtained leave. —
但最后，经过一段很长时间，通过好话和报酬，她获得了许可。 —

But the hut was as dirty and black inside as a pigsty, so the Master-maid said that she would smarten it up a little, that it might look a little more like what other people’s houses looked inside. —
但是小屋里又脏又黑，就像猪圈一样，于是女主人公说会稍微整理一下，让它看起来更像其他人家的房子内部。 —

The old crone did not like this either. —
老妪也不喜欢这个。 —

She scowled, and was very cross, but the Master-maid did not trouble herself about that. —
她板着脸，非常生气，但女主人公并不在意。 —

She took out her chest of gold, and flung a handful of it or so into the fire, and the gold boiled up and poured out over the whole of the hut, until every part of it both inside and out was gilded. —
她拿出她的金箱子，随手把一把金子扔进火里，金子烧开并倾泻在整个小屋上，直到内外各处都镀上金色。 —

But when the gold began to bubble up the old hag grew so terrified that she fled as if the Evil One himself were pursuing her, and she did not remember to stoop down as she went through the doorway, and so she split her head and died. —
但是当金子开始冒泡出来时，老婆婆变得非常恐惧，她逃离得好像魔鬼亲自追赶着她一样，并没有记得在通过门口时弯下身子，结果她撞到头裂了开来，当场死去。 —

Next morning the sheriff came traveling by there. —
第二天早上，警长经过那里。 —

He was greatly astonished when he saw the gold hut shining and glittering there in the copse, and he was still more astonished when he went in and caught sight of the beautiful young maiden who was sitting there; —
当他看到闪亮的金屋在树丛中时，他感到非常惊讶，并且当他走进去看到那个美丽的年轻女子时，他更加惊讶； —

he fell in love with her at once, and straightway on the spot he begged her, both prettily and kindly, to marry him.
他立刻爱上了她，并且当场恳求她，既温柔又漂亮地请求她嫁给他。

“Well, but have you a great deal of money? —
“好，但你有很多钱吗？” —

” said the Master-maid.
“哦！是的；就这个问题来说，我还算不错，”警长说道。

“Oh! yes; so far as that is concerned, I am not ill off,” said the sheriff. —
于是现在他不得不回家取钱，到了晚上他带着一个装有两蓬的袋子回来，放在长椅上。 —

So now he had to go home to get the money, and in the evening he came back, bringing with him a bag with two bushels in it, which he set down on the bench. —
他把它放在长椅上。 —

Well, as he had such a fine lot of money, the Master-maid said she would have him, so they sat down to talk.
好吧，既然他有这么多钱，女奴就说她愿意嫁给他，于是他们坐下来谈。

But scarcely had they sat down together before the Master-maid wanted to jump up again. —
但是他们刚坐下来，女奴又想站起来。 —

“I have forgotten to see to the fire,” she said.
“我忘了照顾火了。” 女奴说。

“Why should you jump up to do that?” said the sheriff; —
“你为什么要跳起来做那个？” 律师说； —

“I will do that!” So he jumped up, and went to the chimney in one bound.
“我来做吧！” 于是他一跃而起，一步到了炉子那里。

“Just tell me when you have got hold of the shovel,” said the Master-maid.
“你拿到铁铲的时候告诉我。” 女奴说。

“Well, I have hold of it now,” said the sheriff.
“好的，我现在拿到了。” 律师说。

“Then you may hold the shovel, and the shovel you, and pour red-hot coals over you, till day dawns,” said the Master-maid. —
“那么你可以拿着铲子，铲子揣你，然后倒入红热的煤炭，直到天亮。”小姐对他说。 —

So the sheriff had to stand there the whole night and pour red-hot coals over himself, and, no matter how much he cried and begged and entreated, the red-hot coals did not grow the colder for that. —
因此，那位警长不得不整夜站在那里，往自己身上倒红热的煤炭，不管他如何哭泣、恳求和乞求，那些煤炭并不因此变得冷却。 —

When the day began to dawn, and he had power to throw down the shovel, he did not stay long where he was, but ran away as fast as he possibly could; —
当天开始破晓，他有能力丢下铲子后，没在那里停留多久，而是以他所能的最快速度逃走了。 —

and everyone who met him stared and looked after him, for he was flying as if he were mad, and he could not have looked worse if he had been both flayed and tanned, and everyone wondered where he had been, but for very shame he would tell nothing.
每个碰到他的人都惊讶地盯着他，并向他望去，因为他像个疯子一样飞奔，他看起来就好像被剥皮和鞣过一样糟糕，每个人都好奇他去了哪里，但他因为羞愧而不愿透露任何事情。

The next day the attorney came riding by the place where the Master-maid dwelt. —
第二天，律师骑马经过小姐居住的地方。 —

He saw how brightly the hut shone and gleamed through the wood, and he too went into it to see who lived there, and when he entered and saw the beautiful young maiden he fell even more in love with her than the sheriff had done, and began to woo her at once. —
他看到小屋透过树林闪闪发亮，他也走进去看看谁住在那里，当他进去看到美丽的年轻少女时，他对她的爱比警长更深，立刻开始向她求爱。 —

So the Master-maid asked him, as she had asked the sheriff, if he had a great deal of money, and the attorney said he was not ill off for that, and would at once go home to get it; —
所以女老板问他，就像问警长一样，他有很多钱吗？律师说他还算不错，会立刻回家取钱。 —

and at night he came with a great big sack of money — this time it was a four-bushel sack — and set it on the bench by the Master-maid. —
晚上，他带着一大袋钱回来了——这次是一个4蒲式耳袋——然后把它放在女老板的长凳上。 —

So she promised to have him, and he sat down on the bench by her to arrange about it, but suddenly she said that she had forgotten to lock the door of the porch that night, and must do it.
于是她答应要嫁给他，并坐在长凳上商量细节，但突然她说她忘记锁上前廊的门了，必须去锁上。

“Why should you do that? —
“你为什么要这样做？”律师说，“坐下，我来锁。” —

” said the attorney; “sit still, I will do it.”
于是他立刻站起来，走到前廊去。

So he was on his feet in a moment, and out in the porch.
“当你触摸门锁时告诉我。”女老板说。

“Tell me when you have got hold of the door-latch,” said the Master-maid.
请告诉我你已经摸到门闩了。”女老板说。

“I have hold of it now,” cried the attorney.
“我现在抓住了它！”律师大喊道。

“Then you may hold the door, and the door you, and may you go between wall and wall till day dawns.”
“那你可以守住门，门也可以守着你，让你在墙与墙之间来回走，直到天亮。”

What a dance the attorney had that night! —
那个晚上，律师跳起了如此疯狂的舞蹈！ —

He had never had such a waltz before, and he never wished to have such a dance again. —
他从未体验过这样的华尔兹，也决不希望再有这样的舞蹈。 —

Sometimes he was in front of the door, and sometimes the door was in front of him, and it went from one side of the porch to the other, till the attorney was well-nigh beaten to death. —
有时他在门的前面，有时门在他的前面，在门廊两边来回晃动，几乎把律师打得半死。 —

At first he began to abuse the Master-maid, and then to beg and pray, but the door did not care for anything but keeping him where he was till break of day.
起初他开始谩骂主女仆，然后乞求和祈祷，但门只是不管一切，只想把他困在那里，直到天亮。

As soon as the door let go its hold of him, off went the attorney. —
门一松手，律师立刻离开了。 —

He forgot who ought to be paid off for what he had suffered, he forgot both his sack of money and his wooing, for he was so afraid lest the house-door should come dancing after him. —
他忘记了应该向谁支付他所遭受的痛苦，他忘记了自己的金钱袋和求婚，因为他非常害怕房门会跳着追赶他。 —

Everyone who met him stared and looked after him, for he was flying like a madman, and he could not have looked worse if a herd of rams had been butting at him all night long.
每个见到他的人都盯着他看，并一直望着他的背影，因为他像个疯子一样飞奔着，他的样子看上去糟糕透了，就像一群公羊整夜都在撞他一样糟糕。

On the third day the bailiff came by, and he too saw the gold house in the little wood, and he too felt that he must go and see who lived there; —
第三天，保镖经过这儿，他也看到了那座位于小树林里的黄金房子，他也觉得他必须去看看谁住在那里； —

and when he caught sight of the Master-maid he became so much in love with her that he wooed her almost before he greeted her.
当他看到那位女主人时，他也深深地爱上了她，几乎没等打招呼就向她求婚了。

The Master-maid answered him as she had answered the other two, that if he had a great deal of money, she would have him. —
女主人回答他的方式与之前回答其他两位的方式相同，只要他有很多钱，她就愿意嫁给他。 —

“So far as that is concerned, I am not ill off,” said the bailiff; —
“至少在这方面我不富裕，”保镖说道； —

so he was at once told to go home and fetch it, and this he did. —
所以他被立即告知回家拿钱，他也照办了。 —

At night he came back, and he had a still larger sack of money with him than the attorney had brought; —
晚上他回来了，带着比律师带来的那个还要大的钱袋； —

it must have been at least six bushels, and he set it down on the bench. —
这个袋子至少有六蒲式耳大，他将它放在长凳上。 —

So it was settled that he was to have the Master-maid. —
于是决定他将得到女主人的嫁妆。 —

But hardly had they sat down together before she said that she had forgotten to bring in the calf, and must go out to put it in the byre.
但是他们刚一坐下，她就说她忘记把小牛带进来，必须出去把它放在畜棚里。

“No, indeed, you shall not do that,” said the bailiff; —
“不，实在不用你做这个，”说公使官。 —

“I am the one to do that. —
“这个我来做。” —

” And, big and fat as he was, he went out as briskly as a boy.
然后，尽管他高大肥胖，却像个小孩一样迅速地走了出去。

“Tell me when you have got hold of the calf’s tail,” said the Master-maid.
“当你抓住小牛的尾巴的时候，告诉我，”主巫女说。

“I have hold of it now,” cried the bailiff.
“我抓住它了，”公使官大喊道。

“Then may you hold the calf’s tail, and the calf’s tail hold you, and may you go round the world together till day dawns! —
“那么让你抓住小牛的尾巴，小牛的尾巴也抓住你，你们一起绕着地球转一圈，直到天亮！” —

” said the Master-maid. —
主巫女说。 —

So the bailiff had to bestir himself, for the calf went over rough and smooth, over hill and dale, and, the more the bailiff cried and screamed, the faster the calf went. —
公使官必须全力以赴，因为小牛越走越快，载着他通过了山高水险，而他越是喊叫，小牛就越跑得快。 —

When daylight began to appear, the bailiff was half dead; —
天亮时，公使官已经半死了。 —

and so glad was he to leave loose of the calf’s tail, that he forgot the sack of money and all else. —
他如此高兴能够松开小牛的尾巴，以至于忘记了钱袋和其他所有东西。 —

He walked now slowly — more slowly than the sheriff and the attorney had done, but, the slower he went, the more time had everyone to stare and look at him; —
他走得很慢，比警长和律师走得还要慢，但是他走得越慢，大家就越有时间盯着他看； —

and they used it too, and no one can imagine how tired out and ragged he looked after his dance with the calf.
他们也用了它，没人能想象得到他在与小牛犊跳舞后是多么疲惫不堪和破烂不堪的样子。

On the following day the wedding was to take place in the King’s palace, and the elder brother was to drive to church with his bride, and the brother who had been with the giant with her sister. —
在接下来的一天，婚礼将在国王的宫殿举行，兄长将与新娘一起坐马车去教堂，而曾与巨人在一起的弟弟将和他的妹妹坐在一起。 —

But when they had seated themselves in the coach and were about to drive off from the palace one of the trace-pins broke, and, though they made one, two, and three to put in its place, that did not help them, for each broke in turn, no matter what kind of wood they used to make them of. —
但是当他们坐进马车，准备从宫殿出发时，一根挽具断了，尽管他们先用一根、两根、三根替换，但无济于事，因为每一根都会接连断裂，无论用什么种类的木头制作。 —

This went on for a long time, and they could not get away from the palace, so they were all in great trouble. —
这种情况持续了很长时间，他们无法离开宫殿，因此大家都很困扰。 —

Then the sheriff said (for he too had been bidden to the wedding at Court): —
接着警长说（因为他也被邀请参加宫廷的婚礼）： —

“Yonder away in the thicket dwells a maiden, and if you can get her to lend you the handle of the shovel that she uses to make up her fire I know very well that it will hold fast. —
“在丛林中有一位姑娘住着，如果你能让她借给你她用来生火的铁铲把手，我知道它肯定会牢固。” —

” So they sent off a messenger to the thicket, and begged so prettily that they might have the loan of her shovel-handle of which the sheriff had spoken that they were not refused; —
于是他们派了一个使者去丛林，恳求能借用她的铲子把手，这是地方检察官说过的，他们没有被拒绝； —

so now they had a trace-pin which would not snap in two.
这样他们就有了一个不会断成两半的辕装销。

But all at once, just as they were starting, the bottom of the coach fell in pieces. —
但就在他们准备出发的时候，马车的底部突然散开了。 —

They made a new bottom as fast as they could, but, no matter how they nailed it together, or what kind of wood they used, no sooner had they got the new bottom into the coach and were about to drive off than it broke again, so that they were still worse off than when they had broken the trace-pin. —
他们尽快制作了一个新的底部，但不管他们如何钉在一起，或者使用什么样的木材，新底部放入马车后立刻又坏掉了，所以他们比断掉辕装销时更糟糕。 —

Then the attorney said, for he too was at the wedding in the palace: —
然后，律师说，因为他也在皇宫的婚礼上。 —

“Away there in the thicket dwells a maiden, and if you could but get her to lend you one-half of her porch-door I am certain that it will hold together. —
“丛林中有一个少女住在那里，如果你能借到她一半的门廊门，我相信它能撑住。” —

” So they again sent a messenger to the thicket, and begged so prettily for the loan of the gilded porch-door of which the attorney had told them that they got it at once. —
“于是他们再次派人去丛林中，可爱地请求借用律师告诉他们的镀金门廊门，他们立刻得到了。” —

They were just setting out again, but now the horses were not able to draw the coach. —
“他们刚要再次出发，但是马拉不动马车了。” —

They had six horses already, and now they put in eight, and then ten, and then twelve, but the more they put in, and the more the coachman whipped them, the less good it did; —
“他们已经有六匹马了，现在又加了八匹，然后十匹，再然后十二匹，但是放进去的越多，车夫鞭打得越多，就越不起作用。” —

and the coach never stirred from the spot. —
“马车还是没有动弹。” —

It was already beginning to be late in the day, and to church they must and would go, so everyone who was in the palace was in a state of distress. —
“时间已经开始晚了，他们必须去教堂，所以宫殿里的每个人都非常着急。” —

Then the bailiff spoke up and said: —
“然后爵士站起来说： —

“Out there in the gilded cottage in the thicket dwells a girl, and if you could but get her to lend you her calf I know it could draw the coach, even if it were as heavy as a mountain. —
“在茂密的丛林里的那座镀金小屋里住着一个女孩，如果你能够让她借给你她的小牛犊，我知道即使车厢再重如山，它也能拉动。” —

” They all thought that it was ridiculous to be drawn to church by a calf, but there was nothing else for it but to send a messenger once more, and beg as prettily as they could, on behalf of the King, that she would let them have the loan of the calf that the bailiff had told them about. —
他们都觉得靠一头小牛犊拉着去教堂太荒唐了，但是他们别无选择，只能再次派信使去恳求那个女孩，代表国王非常委婉地请求借用那只地役使告诉他们的小牛犊。 —

The Master-maid let them have it immediately — this time also she would not say “no.”
那位女主人马上把小牛犊借给了他们，这一次她也没有说“不”。

Then they harnessed the calf to see if the coach would move; —
于是他们套上小牛犊试着让车厢移动起来； —

and away it went, over rough and smooth, over stock and stone, so that they could scarcely breathe, and sometimes they were on the ground, and sometimes up in the air; —
车厢驰过颠簸和平坦的地方，从山石上和地面上时而飞越，以至于他们几乎透不过气来，有时候他们身处地面，有时候置身高空。 —

and when they came to the church the coach began to go round and round like a spinning-wheel, and it was with the utmost difficulty and danger that they were able to get out of the coach and into the church. —
当他们来到教堂时，马车开始像纺车一样转来转去，他们费了很大的力气和冒着危险才能从马车中出来进入教堂。 —

And when they went back again the coach went quicker still, so that most of them did not know how they got back to the palace at all.
当他们再次返回时，马车的速度更快了，以至于大多数人根本不知道他们是如何回到皇宫的。

When they had seated themselves at the table the Prince who had been in service with the giant said that he thought they ought to have invited the maiden who had lent them the shovel-handle, and the porch-door, and the calf up to the palace, “for,” said he, “if we had not got these three things, we should never have got away from the palace.”
当他们坐在桌子旁时，和巨人一起工作过的王子说，他认为他们应该邀请那个借给他们铲柄、门廊和小牛犊的女孩来宫殿用餐，因为如果没有这三样东西，他们就无法从宫殿逃脱。

The King also thought that this was both just and proper, so he sent five of his best men down to the gilded hut, to greet the maiden courteously from the King, and to beg her to be so good as to come up to the palace to dinner at mid-day.
国王也认为这既公正又合适，所以他派遣他最好的五个人前往镀金小屋，代表国王礼貌地问候那个女孩，并请她好心地中午来宫殿用餐。

“Greet the King, and tell him that, if he is too good to come to me, I am too good to come to him,” replied the Master-maid.
“问候国王，并告诉他，如果他嫌我不值得亲自去找他，那我也嫌他不值得我去找他，” Master-maid回答道。

So the King had to go himself, and the Master-maid went with him immediately, and, as the King believed that she was more than she appeared to be, he seated her in the place of honor by the youngest bridegroom. —
于是国王不得不亲自去，Master-maid立即跟着他去，国王相信她并非表面看起来的样子，他把她安排在最年轻新娘婿的座位上。 —

When they had sat at the table for a short time, the Master-maid took out the cock, and the hen, and the golden apple which she had brought away with her from the giant’s house, and set them on the table in front of her, and instantly the cock and the hen began to fight with each other for the golden apple.
当他们坐在桌子前短暂的时间后，Master-maid拿出了从巨人家带走的公鸡、母鸡和金苹果，放在了桌子的前面。瞬间，公鸡和母鸡为了金苹果开始争斗起来。

“Oh! look how those two there are fighting for the golden apple,” said the King’s son.
“噢！看，那两只在为金苹果争斗的家伙，”国王的儿子说。

“Yes, and so did we two fight to get out that time when we were in the mountain,” said the Master-maid.
“是的，我们两个也曾为了逃出那次在山里的时候争斗，”Master-maid说。

So the Prince knew her again, and you may imagine how delighted he was. —
于是王子认出了她，你可以想象他有多高兴。 —

He ordered the troll-witch who had rolled the apple to him to be torn in pieces between four-and-twenty horses, so that not a bit of her was left, and then for the first time they began really to keep the wedding, and, weary as they were, the sheriff, the attorney, and the bailiff kept it up too.
他命令将那个将苹果滚给他的巨魔女巫撕成碎片，让二十四匹马夹杂着她，以至于她一点都不剩，然后他们才真正开始庆祝婚礼，虽然他们已经筋疲力尽，但是郡长、律师和法警也参加了庆祝活动。