ONCE upon a time there was a king who had three sons, who were all so clever and brave that he began to be afraid that they would want to reign over the kingdom before he was dead. —
从前有一个国王，他有三个儿子，他们都非常聪明勇敢，以致国王开始害怕他们会在自己还活着的时候想要掌控王国。 —

Now the King, though he felt that he was growing old, did not at all wish to give up the government of his kingdom while he could still manage it very well, so he thought the best way to live in peace would be to divert the minds of his sons by promises which he could always get out of when the time came for keeping them.
尽管国王感觉自己年纪渐大，但他并不希望在他仍能很好地管理王国时放弃统治权，因此他觉得能够使三个儿子的思想转移的最好方式是通过承诺，以后要兑现这些承诺时总是有办法逃脱。

So he sent for them all, and, after speaking to them kindly, he added:
于是他召唤了三个儿子，经过友好的谈话后，他补充道：

“You will quite agree with me, my dear children, that my great age makes it impossible for me to look after my affairs of state as carefully as I once did. —
“亲爱的孩子们，你们肯定会同意我，我的年纪大了，不可能像以前那样细心照顾国家事务。 —

I begin to fear that this may affect the welfare of my subjects, therefore I wish that one of you should succeed to my crown; —
我开始担心这可能影响到我的臣民的福祉，因此我希望你们中的一个能够继承我的王位； —

but in return for such a gift as this it is only right that you should do something for me. —
但是为了换取如此宝贵的礼物，你们也应该为我做点事情。” —

Now, as I think of retiring into the country, it seems to me that a pretty, lively, faithful little dog would be very good company for me; —
现在，当我考虑退隐到乡下时，我觉得一只漂亮、活泼、忠诚的小狗会给我带来很好的陪伴； —

so, without any regard for your ages, I promise that the one who brings me the most beautiful little dog shall succeed me at once.”
所以，我不顾你们的年龄，承诺谁能给我带来最美丽的小狗，谁就立刻继承我的王位。

The three Princes were greatly surprised by their father’s sudden fancy for a little dog, but as it gave the two younger ones a chance they would not otherwise have had of being king, and as the eldest was too polite to make any objection, they accepted the commission with pleasure. —
三位王子对父亲突然迷恋小狗感到非常吃惊，但由于这给了两个年幼的王子一个本不可能拥有的机会成为国王，并且大王子太有礼貌，不会提出任何异议，他们高兴地接受了任务。 —

They bade farewell to the King, who gave them presents of silver and precious stones, and appointed to meet them at the same hour, in the same place, after a year had passed, to see the little dogs they had brought for him.
他们告别了国王，国王给了他们银子和珍贵的宝石作为礼物，并约定在一年过后的同一时间、同一地点与他们再次会面，看看他们带来的小狗。

Then they went together to a castle which was about a league from the city, accompanied by all their particular friends, to whom they gave a grand banquet, and the three brothers promised to be friends always, to share whatever good fortune befell them, and not to be parted by any envy or jealousy; —
然后他们一起去了距离城市有一里的一座城堡，他们的所有亲朋好友都陪着他们，他们为他们的朋友们准备了一场盛大的宴会，三兄弟也答应要做永远的朋友，无论他们遇到什么好事，都要分享，而且不能被任何嫉妒或妒忌分开。 —

and so they set out, agreeing to meet at the same castle at the appointed time, to present themselves before the King together. —
于是他们分别选择了不同的路线，并且大哥和二哥遇到了许多冒险。 —

Each one took a different road, and the two eldest met with many adventures; —
但是下面要讲的是最小的那个。 —

but it is about the youngest that you are going to hear. —
他年轻，快乐，英俊，知道一个王子应该知道的一切。 —

He was young, and gay, and handsome, and knew everything that a prince ought to know; —
至于他的勇气，简直没有尽头。 —

and as for his courage, there was simply no end to it.
几乎每天他都在买狗 — 大的小的，灰狗，獒犬，西班牙猎犬和狮子狗。

Hardly a day passed without his buying several dogs — big and little, greyhounds, mastiffs, spaniels, and lapdogs. —
… —

As soon as he had bought a pretty one he was sure to see a still prettier, and then he had to get rid of all the others and buy that one, as, being alone, he found it impossible to take thirty or forty thousand dogs about with him. —
他一买到一只漂亮的，肯定就会看到一只更漂亮的，然后他就必须把其他的都处理掉，买下那只，因为他觉得不可能带着三四万只狗四处走。 —

He journeyed from day to day, not knowing where he was going, until at last, just at nightfall, he reached a great, gloomy forest. —
他日复一日地旅行着，不知道自己要去哪里，直到最后，在天快黑的时候，他来到了一个阴森恐怖的森林。 —

He did not know his way, and, to make matters worse, it began to thunder, and the rain poured down. —
他不知道路怎么走，更糟糕的是，开始打雷了，大雨倾盆而下。 —

He took the first path he could find, and after walking for a long time he fancied he saw a faint light, and began to hope that he was coming to some cottage where he might find shelter for the night. —
他走上了他能找到的第一条小路，走了很久之后，他似乎看到了一丝微弱的光亮，开始希望自己即将到达一个小屋，在那里可以找到过夜的地方。 —

At length, guided by the light, he reached the door of the most splendid castle he could have imagined. —
终于，在那光亮的引导下，他来到了一个自己能够想象得到的最华丽的城堡的门口。 —

This door was of gold covered with carbuncles, and it was the pure red light which shone from them that had shown him the way through the forest. —
这扇门是金子做的，镶嵌着红宝石，从它们发出的纯红色光芒照亮了他穿过森林的路。 —

The walls were of the finest porcelain in all the most delicate colors, and the Prince saw that all the stories he had ever read were pictured upon them; —
这面墙用最精致的瓷器制成，色彩都非常细腻。王子看到了他曾经读过的所有故事在墙上都描绘出来了； —

but as he was terribly wet, and the rain still fell in torrents, he could not stay to look about any more, but came back to the golden door. —
但是因为他浑身湿透，雨仍在倾盆而下，他不能再停留观看，只得回到了金色的门前。 —

There he saw a deer’s foot hanging by a chain of diamonds, and he began to wonder who could live in this magnificent castle.
在那里，他看到一只鹿脚悬挂在一条由钻石制成的链子上，他开始好奇住在这座豪华城堡中的是何方神圣。

“They must feel very secure against robbers,” he said to himself. —
“他们必定对抢劫犯感到非常安全，”他自言自语道。 —

“What is to hinder anyone from cutting off that chain and digging out those carbuncles, and making himself rich for life?”
“有什么东西能阻止别人剪断那条链子，挖掘出那些红宝石，一辈子变得富有呢？”

He pulled the deer’s foot, and immediately a silver bell sounded and the door flew open, but the Prince could see nothing but numbers of hands in the air, each holding a torch. —
他拉起鹿脚，立刻响起一声银色的钟响，门飞了开来，但是王子看不到任何东西，只见空中挂满了许多手，每只手都拿着一支火把。 —

He was so much surprised that he stood quite still, until he felt himself pushed forward by other hands, so that, though he was somewhat uneasy, he could not help going on. —
他感到非常吃惊，站得一动不动，直到被其他的手推了前进，虽然他有些不安，但是他不得不继续前行。 —

With his hand on his sword, to be prepared for whatever might happen, he entered a hall paved with lapis-lazuli, while two lovely voices sang:
手放在剑上，准备迎接任何可能发生的事情，他走进了一条铺有天青石的大厅，而此时两个迷人的声音唱道：

“The hands you see floating above
“你看见的那双悬浮的手，

Will swiftly your bidding obey;
快速地执行你的命令；

If your heart dreads not conquering Love,
如果你的心不畏惧征服爱情，

In this place you may fearlessly stay.”
在这个地方你可以无畏地停留。”

The Prince could not believe that any danger threatened him when he was welcomed in this way, so, guided by the mysterious hands, he went toward a door of coral, which opened of its own accord, and he found himself in a vast hall of mother-of-pearl, out of which opened a number of other rooms, glittering with thousands of lights, and full of such beautiful pictures and precious things that the Prince felt quite bewildered. —
王子无法相信在这种方式下会有任何危险等待着他，所以在神秘的手的引导下，他走向了一个珊瑚门，门自动打开，他发现自己置身于一个用珍珠贝母铺设的巨大大厅，大厅上还有许多其他房间，闪烁着成千上万的灯光，里面装饰着如此美丽的画作和珍贵的物品，以至于王子感到非常困惑。 —

After passing through sixty rooms the hands that conducted him stopped, and the Prince saw a most comfortable-looking arm-chair drawn up close to the chimney-corner; —
经过六十个房间后，引导他的手停了下来，王子看到一把非常舒适的扶手椅靠在壁炉边； —

at the same moment the fire lighted itself, and the pretty, soft, clever hands took off the Prince’s wet, muddy clothes, and presented him with fresh ones made of the richest stuffs, all embroidered with gold and emeralds. —
就在同一时刻，火自己点燃了，美丽、柔软、灵巧的手帮王子脱下了湿漉漉、泥泞的衣服，给他换上了用最丰富的面料制成的新衣服，还绣满了金子和翡翠。 —

He could not help admiring everything he saw, and the deft way in which the hands waited on him, though they sometimes appeared so suddenly that they made him jump.
他不禁对他看到的一切都感到赞叹，并且对手的灵巧方式感到钦佩，虽然有时它们突然出现得让他吓一跳。

When he was quite ready — and I can assure you that he looked very different from the wet and weary Prince who had stood outside in the rain, and pulled the deer’s foot — the hands led him to a splendid room, upon the walls of which were painted the histories of Puss in Boots and a number of other famous cats. —
当他准备好了——相信我，他看起来和那个淋雨站在外面拉鹿脚的疲惫王子截然不同——手们引领他来到了一间华丽的房间，墙上画着猫和许多其他著名的猫的历史。 —

The table was laid for supper with two golden plates, and golden spoons and forks, and the sideboard was covered with dishes and glasses of crystal set with precious stones. —
餐桌上已经摆好了晚餐，摆着两个金碟、金汤匙和金叉子，边柜上摆满了镶嵌有宝石的水晶盘子和杯子。 —

The Prince was wondering who the second place could be for, when suddenly in came about a dozen cats carrying guitars and rolls of music, who took their places at one end of the room, and under the direction of a cat who beat time with a roll of paper began to mew in every imaginable key, and to draw their claws across the strings of the guitars, making the strangest kind of music that could be heard. —
王子想知道第二名是谁，突然，大约有十几只猫背着吉他和一卷卷乐谱走了进来，它们占据了房间的一边。在一只猫用纸卷节拍的指导下，它们开始用各种可能的调子咿咿呀呀地叫唱，并用爪子拨动吉他的琴弦，演奏出最奇怪的乐音。 —

The Prince hastily stopped up his ears, but even then the sight of these comical musicians sent him into fits of laughter.
王子急忙捂住耳朵，但即使如此，这些滑稽的音乐家的样子也让他笑得不停。

“What funny thing shall I see next? —
“接下来我会看到什么有趣的事情呢？”他自言自语着。正在这时，房门打开了，一个被长长黑纱帷幕遮住的小人物走了进来。 —

” he said to himself, and instantly the door opened, and in came a tiny figure covered by a long black veil. —
被两只披着黑斗篷，手持剑的猫引导着，还有一大群猫跟随着，它们手里提着装满老鼠和老鼠的笼子。 —

It was conducted by two cats wearing black mantles and carrying swords, and a large party of cats followed, who brought in cages full of rats and mice.

The Prince was so much astonished that he thought he must be dreaming, but the little figure came up to him and threw back its veil, and he saw that it was the loveliest little white cat it is possible to imagine. —
王子感到非常惊讶，以至于他以为自己在做梦，但这个小家伙走过来，掀开面纱，他看到这是一只可爱的白色小猫，可能是你所能想象的最可爱的小猫。 —

She looked very young and very sad, and in a sweet little voice that went straight to his heart she said to the Prince:
她看起来非常年轻，非常悲伤，用一个甜美的小声音直接打动他心灵的对王子说：

“King’s son, you are welcome; —
“王子，欢迎你； —

the Queen of the Cats is glad to see you.”
猫女王很高兴见到你。”

“Lady Cat,” replied the Prince, “I thank you for receiving me so kindly, but surely you are no ordinary pussy-cat? —
“猫夫人，”王子回答说，”谢谢您这么亲切地接待我，但您肯定不是一只普通的猫咪吧？ —

Indeed, the way you speak and the magnificence of your castle prove it plainly.”
实际上，您说话的方式和您的城堡的宏伟证明了这一点。”

“King’s son,” said the White Cat, “I beg you to spare me these compliments, for I am not used to them. —
“王子，”白猫说，”请不要再说这些恭维的话，因为我不习惯听。” —

But now,” she added, “let supper be served, and let the musicians be silent, as the Prince does not understand what they are saying.”
“但是现在，”她补充道，”让我们开始吃晚餐，让音乐家保持沉默，因为王子听不懂他们在说什么。”

So the mysterious hands began to bring in the supper, and first they put on the table two dishes, one containing stewed pigeons and the other a fricassee of fat mice. —
于是神秘的手开始端上晚餐，首先放在桌子上的是两盘菜，一盘是炖鸽子，另一盘是肥胖老鼠的大脆皮。 —

The sight of the latter made the Prince feel as if he could not enjoy his supper at all; —
看到后者让王子感觉自己无法好好享受晚餐。 —

but the White Cat, seeing this, assured him that the dishes intended for him were prepared in a separate kitchen, and he might be quite certain that they contained neither rats nor mice; —
但是白猫看到这一点，向他保证他的菜肴是在另一个厨房准备的，他可以放心地相信里面既没有老鼠也没有老鼠。 —

and the Prince felt so sure that she would not deceive him that he had no more hesitation in beginning. —
王子对她不会欺骗他放心了下来，开始吃饭。 —

Presently he noticed that on the little paw that was next him the White Cat wore a bracelet containing a portrait, and he begged to be allowed to look at it. —
过了一会儿，他注意到白猫身上的小爪子上戴着一串手链，里面有一张画像，他请求可以看一看。 —

To his great surprise he found it represented an extremely handsome young man, who was so like himself that it might have been his own portrait! —
令他大为惊讶的是，画像上是一位非常英俊的年轻人，他长得和自己如此相像，简直可以说是自己的肖像！ —

The White Cat sighed as he looked at it, and seemed sadder than ever, and the Prince dared not ask any questions for fear of displeasing her; —
白猫看着它叹了口气，似乎比以往更悲伤，而王子不敢问任何问题，唯恐惹她不快; —

so he began to talk about other things, and found that she was interested in all the subjects he cared for himself, and seemed to know quite well what was going on in the world. —
于是他开始谈论其他事情，发现她对他自己感兴趣的所有主题都很感兴趣，似乎对世界上正在发生的事情很了解。 —

After supper they went into another room, which was fitted up as a theatre, and the cats acted and danced for their amusement, and then the White Cat said good-night to him, and the hands conducted him into a room he had not seen before, hung with tapestry worked with butterflies’ wings of every color; —
晚饭后，他们走进另一个房间，那里装修成了一个剧院，猫们表演和跳舞取悦他们，然后白猫向他道晚安，把他带进了一个他以前没见过的房间，房间里挂着用蝴蝶翅膀制成的挂毯，颜色各异; —

there were mirrors that reached from the ceiling to the floor, and a little white bed with curtains of gauze tied up with ribbons. —
墙上有从天花板到地板的镜子，还有一张用丝纱帘子系着丝带的小白床。 —

The Prince went to bed in silence, as he did not quite know how to begin a conversation with the hands that waited on him, and in the morning he was awakened by a noise and confusion outside of his window, and the hands came and quickly dressed him in hunting costume. —
王子默默无声地上床睡觉，因为他不知道该如何与侍候他的人开启对话。第二天早上，他被窗外的噪音和混乱吵醒，侍候他的人迅速给他穿上打猎服装。 —

When he looked out all the cats were assembled in the courtyard, some leading greyhounds, some blowing horns, for the White Cat was going out hunting. —
当他望向外面时，所有的猫都聚集在庭院里，有些牵着灰狗，有些吹着号角，因为白猫要出去打猎。 —

The hands led a wooden horse up to the Prince, and seemed to expect him to mount it, at which he was very indignant; —
侍候他的人给他牵来一匹木马，似乎期望他骑上去，这让他非常愤怒。 —

but it was no use for him to object, for he speedily found himself upon its back, and it pranced gaily off with him.
但是他反对也没有用，因为他很快发现自己已经骑在木马的背上，它欢快地跳跃着。

The White Cat herself was riding a monkey, which climbed even up to the eagles’ nests when she had a fancy for the young eaglets. —
白猫本人骑着一只猴子，当她想要小鹰雏的时候，猴子甚至会爬到老鹰巢的顶部。 —

Never was there a pleasanter hunting party, and when they returned to the castle the Prince and the White Cat supped together as before, but when they had finished she offered him a crystal goblet, which must have contained a magic draught, for, as soon as he had swallowed its contents, he forgot everything, even the little dog that he was seeking for the King, and only thought how happy he was to be with the White Cat! —
从未有过这样愉快的狩猎派对，当他们回到城堡，王子和白猫像以前一样共进晚餐，但是当他们吃完后，她递给他一个水晶酒杯，里面装着一种神奇的饮料，因为他一喝下去就忘记了一切，甚至连国王交给他寻找的小狗都忘记了，他只觉得能和白猫在一起多么幸福！ —

And so the days passed, in every kind of amusement, until the year was nearly gone. —
于是日子就这样过去了，享受各种娱乐，直到快要到一年的时候。 —

The Prince had forgotten all about meeting his brothers: —
王子已经忘记了和兄弟们的相会： —

he did not even know what country he belonged to; —
他甚至不知道自己属于哪个国家； —

but the White Cat knew when he ought to go back, and one day she said to him:
但是白猫知道他应该什么时候回去，有一天她对他说：

“Do you know that you have only three days left to look for the little dog for your father, and your brothers have found lovely ones?”
“你知道吗，你只剩下三天的时间去找父亲的小狗了，而你的兄弟们已经找到了可爱的小狗。”

Then the Prince suddenly recovered his memory, and cried:
这时王子突然恢复了记忆，大声说道：

“What can have made me forget such an important thing? —
“是什么让我忘记了这么重要的事情呢？ —

My whole fortune depends upon it; —
我的整个命运都取决于它； —

and even if I could in such a short time find a dog pretty enough to gain me a kingdom, where should I find a horse who would carry me all that way in three days? —
即使我能在这么短的时间内找到一只足够漂亮，能帮我得到王国的狗，那我又该从哪里找到一匹能在三天内带我走那么远的马呢？ —

” And he began to be very vexed. —
“他开始感到非常烦恼。 —

But the White Cat said to him: —
但白猫对他说： —

“King’s son, do not trouble yourself; —
“王子，不要为此烦恼； —

I am your friend, and will make everything easy for you. —
我是你的朋友，会让一切变得容易。 —

You can still stay here for a day, as the good wooden horse can take you to your country in twelve hours.”
你还可以在这里待一天，因为这匹好的木马可以在十二个小时内把你带回你的国家。”

“I thank you, beautiful Cat,” said the Prince; —
“谢谢你，美丽的猫，”王子说； —

“but what good will it do me to get back if I have not a dog to take to my father?”
“但是如果我没有一只狗带给我父亲，那回去对我有什么好处呢？”

“See here,” answered the White Cat, holding up an acorn; —
“听着，”白猫回答道，举起一颗橡子； —

“there is a prettier one in this than in the Dogstar!”
“这里比狼星更漂亮！”

“Oh! White Cat dear,” said the Prince, “how unkind you are to laugh at me now!”
“噢！亲爱的白猫，你嘲笑我真是太不好了！”王子说道。

“Only listen,” she said, holding the acorn to his ear.
“只要听着，”她说着，把橡子放在他耳边。

And inside it he distinctly heard a tiny voice say: —
他在橡子里清晰地听到一个微小的声音说道： —

“Bow-wow!”
“汪汪！”

The Prince was delighted, for a dog that can be shut up in an acorn must be very small indeed. —
王子非常高兴，因为能关在橡子里的狗肯定非常小。 —

He wanted to take it out and look at it, but the White Cat said it would be better not to open the acorn till he was before the King, in case the tiny dog should be cold on the journey. —
他想要把它拿出来看看，但白猫说在他见到国王之前最好不要打开橡子，以免微小的狗在旅途中感到冷。 —

He thanked her a thousand times, and said good-by quite sadly when the time came for him to set out.
他对她表示了无数次的感谢，并在出发的时候很伤感地说再见。

“The days have passed so quickly with you,” he said, “I only wish I could take you with me now.”
“和你在一起的日子过得太快了，”他说，“我只希望现在能带上你。”

But the White Cat shook her head and sighed deeply in answer.
但白猫摇了摇头，深深地叹了口气作为答复。

After all the Prince was the first to arrive at the castle where he had agreed to meet his brothers, but they came soon after, and stared in amazement when they saw the wooden horse in the courtyard jumping like a hunter.
结果王子率先抵达了他与兄弟们约定见面的城堡，但他们很快也到了，当他们看到庭院里那匹像猎人一样跳跃的木马时，他们惊讶地注视着。

The Prince met them joyfully, and they began to tell him all their adventures; —
王子欢快地迎接他们，并开始向他们讲述他们的所有冒险经历； —

but he managed to hide from them what he had been doing, and even led them to think that a turnspit dog which he had with him was the one he was bringing for the King. Fond as they all were of one another, the two eldest could not help being glad to think that their dogs certainly had a better chance. —
但他设法对他们隐瞒了他所做的事情，甚至让他们认为他带来的拖车狗就是王的那只。尽管他们都非常喜欢彼此，但两个大哥不能不为他们的狗获得了更好的机会而高兴。 —

The next morning they started in the same chariot. —
第二天早上，他们乘坐同一辆马车出发了。 —

The elder brothers carried in baskets two such tiny, fragile dogs that they hardly dared to touch them. —
年长的兄弟们分别放置在篮子里两只如此微小、脆弱的狗，以至于他们几乎不敢碰它们。 —

As for the turnspit, he ran after the chariot, and got so covered with mud that one could hardly see what he was like at all. —
至于拖车狗，则在马车后面奔跑，弄得满身泥浆，以至于几乎看不清它的样子。 —

When they reached the palace everyone crowded round to welcome them as they went into the King’s great hall; —
当他们到达宫殿时，所有人都围拢过来欢迎他们进入国王的大厅； —

and when the two brothers presented their little dogs nobody could decide which was the prettier. —
当两兄弟展示他们的小狗时，没有人能决定哪只更漂亮。 —

They were already arranging between themselves to share the kingdom equally, when the youngest stepped forward, drawing from his pocket the acorn the White Cat had given him. —
他们已经在商议着要平分王国，就在这时，最小的弟弟走上前，从口袋里掏出了白猫给他的橡子。 —

He opened it quickly, and there upon a white cushion they saw a dog so small that it could easily have been put through a ring. —
他迅速打开橡子，大家看到了一个小得可以轻易穿过戒指的狗，安放在一个白色的垫子上。 —

The Prince laid it upon the ground, and it got up at once and began to dance. —
王子把它放在地上，它立刻就站起来开始跳舞。 —

The King did not know what to say, for it was impossible that anything could be prettier than this little creature. —
国王不知道该说什么，因为这只小动物实在太漂亮了。 —

Nevertheless, as he was in no hurry to part with his crown, he told his sons that, as they had been so successful the first time, he would ask them to go once again, and seek by land and sea for a piece of muslin so fine that it could be drawn through the eye of a needle. —
尽管如此，国王并不急于离开他的王位，他告诉儿子们，既然他们第一次如此成功，他将请求他们再次出发，无论是在陆地还是海上寻找一块可以穿过针眼的细细的麻布。 —

The brothers were not very willing to set out again, but the two eldest consented because it gave them another chance, and they started as before. —
兄弟们并不太愿意再次出发，但两个年纪最大的兄弟同意了，因为这使他们有了另一次机会，他们像以前一样出发了。 —

The youngest again mounted the wooden horse, and rode back at full speed to his beloved White Cat. Every door of the castle stood wide open, and every window and turret was illuminated, so it looked more wonderful than before. —
最年轻的再次骑上木马，全速返回到他心爱的白猫身边。城堡的每扇门都敞开着，每个窗户和塔楼都亮着灯，所以它比以前更美妙。 —

The hands hastened to meet him, and led the wooden horse off to the stable, while he hurried in to find the White Cat. She was asleep in a little basket on a white satin cushion, but she very soon started up when she heard the Prince, and was overjoyed at seeing him once more.
接待的人迅速走过来，把木马带到马厩，而他急忙跑进去找白猫。她在一个白色缎子垫子上的一个小篮子里睡着了，但她一听到王子的声音就一下子醒了过来，见到他一下子高兴得不得了。

“How could I hope that you would come back to me King’s son? —
“我怎么敢希望你能回到我身边，国王的儿子？”她说。然后他抚摸着她，抚慰她，告诉她他成功的旅程，以及他回来寻求她的帮助，因为他相信找到国王要求的东西是不可能的。 —

” she said. And then he stroked and petted her, and told her of his successful journey, and how he had come back to ask her help, as he believed that it was impossible to find what the King demanded. —
—

The White Cat looked serious, and said she must think what was to be done, but that, luckily, there were some cats in the castle who could spin very well, and if anybody could manage it they could, and she would set them the task herself.
白猫看起来很认真，她说她必须考虑下该怎么办，但幸运的是，城堡里有一些能够织布非常好的猫，如果有人能够做到，他们一定可以，她会亲自给他们这个任务。

And then the hands appeared carrying torches, and conducted the Prince and the White Cat to a long gallery which overlooked the river, from the windows of which they saw a magnificent display of fireworks of all sorts; —
然后，手出现了，手里拿着火炬，将王子和白猫带到了一个俯瞰河流的长廊，从窗户上可以看到各种各样的烟花炫耀； —

after which they had supper, which the Prince liked even better than the fireworks, for it was very late, and he was hungry after his long ride. —
之后他们共进晚餐，这让王子比烟花还喜欢，因为已经很晚了，长途旅行后他很饿。 —

And so the days passed quickly as before; —
如此日子又快速地过去了； —

it was impossible to feel dull with the White Cat, and she had quite a talent for inventing new amusements — indeed, she was cleverer than a cat has any right to be. —
有了白猫，不可能感到无聊，她相当擅长发明新的娱乐活动 - 事实上，她比猫该有的聪明还聪明。 —

But when the Prince asked her how it was that she was so wise, she only said:
但当王子问她为什么她这么聪明时，她只是说：

“King’s son, do not ask me; —
“王子，请不要问我； —

guess what you please. I may not tell you anything.”
你尽管猜吧。我不能告诉你任何事。”

The Prince was so happy that he did not trouble himself at all about the time, but presently the White Cat told him that the year was gone, and that he need not be at all anxious about the piece of muslin, as they had made it very well.
王子非常开心，完全不用担心时间的问题。不一会儿，白猫告诉他一年已经过去了，他可以放心，关于那块薄纱布他们做得非常好。

“This time,” she added, “I can give you a suitable escort”; —
“这一次”，她补充说，“我可以给你一个合适的护送”； —

and on looking out into the courtyard the Prince saw a superb chariot of burnished gold, enameled in flame color with a thousand different devices. —
当他朝庭院望去，王子看到一辆华丽的金色马车，用上了千种不同的火焰色彩修饰。 —

It was drawn by twelve snow-white horses, harnessed four abreast; —
它由十二匹雪白色的马拖着，四匹一辆， —

their trappings were flame-colored velvet, embroidered with diamonds. —
它们的马具是火焰色绒布，上面绣着钻石。 —

A hundred chariots followed, each drawn by eight horses, and filled with officers in splendid uniforms, and a thousand guards surrounded the procession. —
小车后面跟着一百辆，每辆由八匹马拖着，里面坐满了穿着豪华制服的官员，一千个卫兵包围着队伍。 —

“Go!” said the White Cat, “and when you appear before the King in such state he surely will not refuse you the crown which you deserve. —
“去吧！”白猫说，“当你以这样的威仪出现在国王面前，他肯定不会拒绝给你应得的王冠。” —

Take this walnut, but do not open it until you are before him, then you will find in it the piece of stuff you asked me for.”
给你这颗核桃，但在见到他之前不要打开，然后你会在里面找到你向我要的东西。

“Lovely Blanchette,” said the Prince, “how can I thank you properly for all your kindness to me? —
“可爱的布兰蔡特，”王子说，“我要怎样才能恰当地感谢你对我的好意呢？ —

Only tell me that you wish it, and I will give up for ever all thought of being king, and will stay here with you always.”
只要告诉我你的愿望，我就会永远放弃成为国王的想法，并永远与你在一起。”

“King’s son,” she replied, “it shows the goodness of your heart that you should care so much for a little white cat, who is good for nothing but to catch mice; —
“王子，”她回答说，“你对一只只会抓老鼠的小白猫如此关心，显示出了你的善良之心； —

but you must not stay.”
但你不能留下来。”

So the Prince kissed her little paw and set out. —
于是王子亲了亲她的小爪子，然后出发了。 —

You can imagine how fast he traveled when I tell you that they reached the King’s palace in just half the time it had taken the wooden horse to get there. —
当我告诉你他们到达国王的宫殿花费的时间只有木马的一半时，你可以想象他们是多么地快速旅行。 —

This time the Prince was so late that he did not try to meet his brothers at their castle, so they thought he could not be coming, and were rather glad of it, and displayed their pieces of muslin to the King proudly, feeling sure of success. —
这次王子实在是太迟了，他没有去试图在他们的城堡里见他的兄弟们，所以他们以为他不可能来了，心里反而很高兴，并自豪地向国王展示他们的细麻布，确信会成功。 —

And indeed the stuff was very fine, and would go through the eye of a very large needle; —
而且这块布料非常细，可以穿过一个非常大的针眼； —

but the King, who was only too glad to make a difficulty, sent for a particular needle, which was kept among the Crown jewels, and had such a small eye that everybody saw at once that it was impossible that the muslin should pass through it. —
但国王很高兴地找了一根特别的针，它保存在皇冠珠宝中，它的针眼非常小，每个人都可以立刻看出，麻布不可能通过它。 —

The Princes were angry, and were beginning to complain that it was a trick, when suddenly the trumpets sounded and the youngest Prince came in. —
王子们生气了，他们开始抱怨这是一个诡计，突然间，喇叭声响了起来，最小的王子来了。 —

His father and brothers were quite astonished at his magnificence, and after he had greeted them he took the walnut from his pocket and opened it, fully expecting to find the piece of muslin, but instead there was only a hazel-nut. —
他的父亲和兄弟们对他的华丽感到惊讶，他们打过招呼后，他从口袋里拿出核桃，期待着找到麻布，但里面只有一个榛子。 —

He cracked it, and there lay a cherry-stone. —
他打开它，里面有一个樱桃核。 —

Everybody was looking on, and the King was chuckling to himself at the idea of finding the piece of muslin in a nutshell.
众人都在看，国王自嘲地笑着想象在核桃壳里找到薄纱的情景。

However, the Prince cracked the cherry-stone, but everyone laughed when he saw it contained only its own kernel. —
不过，王子打开了樱桃核，但是当他发现里面只有它自己的核仁时，大家都笑了。 —

He opened that and found a grain of wheat, and in that was a millet seed. —
他打开那个核仁，发现一个小麦粒，里面有一个小米种子。 —

Then he himself began to wonder, and muttered softly:
接着他自己开始怀疑，并轻声嘀咕道:

“White Cat, White Cat, are you making fun of me?”
“白猫，白猫，你是在取笑我吗？”

In an instant he felt a cat’s claw give his hand quite a sharp scratch, and hoping that it was meant as an encouragement he opened the millet seed, and drew out of it a piece of muslin four hundred ells long, woven with the loveliest colors and most wonderful patterns; —
瞬间，他感觉到有一只猫的爪子狠狠地抓了一下他的手，他希望那是一种鼓励，于是打开小米种子，从里面拿出了一块绸缎，长达四百肘，织有最美丽的颜色和奇异的图案; —

and when the needle was brought it went through the eye six times with the greatest ease! —
当缝衣针被拿过来时，它轻松地穿过针眼六次! —

The King turned pale, and the other Princes stood silent and sorrowful, for nobody could deny that this was the most marvelous piece of muslin that was to be found in the world
国王脸色变得苍白，其他的王子们默默无声、悲伤沉默，因为没有人能否认这是世界上最奇妙的麻纱。

Presently the King turned to his sons, and said, with a deep sigh:
随后，国王转向他的儿子们，深深叹了口气说道：

“Nothing could console me more in my old age than to realize your willingness to gratify my wishes. —
“在我年老之际，你们愿意满足我的愿望，这让我无比欣慰。” —

Go then once more, and whoever at the end of a year can bring back the loveliest princess shall be married to her, and shall, without further delay, receive the crown, for my successor must certainly be married. —
于是，再次出发吧，一年之后，无论是谁能带回最美丽的公主，就娶她为妻，并立即继承王位，因为我的继承者肯定要结婚。 —

” The Prince considered that he had earned the kingdom fairly twice over but still he was too well bred to argue about it, so he just went back to his gorgeous chariot, and, surrounded by his escort, returned to the White Cat faster than he had come. —
王子觉得他已经公平两次地赢得了王国，但他很懂礼貌，不愿争论这个问题，所以他只是回到他华丽的马车中，被护卫团围着，回到了那只白猫身边比来时更快。 —

This time she was expecting him, the path was strewn with flowers, and a thousand braziers were burning scented woods which perfumed the air. —
这一次她在等他了，路上铺满了鲜花，一千个火盆燃烧着芬芳的木材，香气弥漫在空气中。 —

Seated in a gallery from which she could see his arrival, the White Cat waited for him. —
在一个可以看到他到来的画廊里，白猫等待着他。 —

“Well, King’s son,” she said, “here you are once more, without a crown. —
“嗯，国王的儿子，”她说，“你又来了，还是没有戴上皇冠。 —

” “Madam,” said he, “thanks to your generosity I have earned one twice over; —
“夫人，”他说，“多亏了您的慷慨，我已经赚到了两次皇冠； —

but the fact is that my father is so loth to part with it that it would be no pleasure to me to take it.”
但事实上，我父亲不愿意放弃它，我也不想接受它。

“Never mind,” she answered, “it’s just as well to try and deserve it. —
“没关系，”她回答道，“努力值得一试。 —

As you must take back a lovely princess with you next time I will be on the look-out for one for you. —
下次你带回一个可爱的公主时，我会为你寻找一个。 —

In the meantime let us enjoy ourselves; —
在此期间，我们享受一下； —

to-night I have ordered a battle between my cats and the river rats on purpose to amuse you. —
今晚我特意安排了一场猫和河鼠之间的战斗，目的是让你开心。 —

” So this year slipped away even more pleasantly than the preceding ones. —
于是，这一年比前几年更愉快地度过了。 —

Sometimes the Prince could not help asking the White Cat how it was she could talk.
有时候，王子不禁问白猫为什么能说话。

“Perhaps you are a fairy,” he said. —
“也许你是一个仙女，”他说。 —

“Or has some enchanter changed you into a cat?”
“或者有些巫师把你变成了一只猫？”

But she only gave him answers that told him nothing. —
但她只是给他一些毫无意义的答案。 —

Days go by so quickly when one is very happy that it is certain the Prince would never have thought of its being time to go back, when one evening as they sat together the White Cat said to him that if he wanted to take a lovely princess home with him the next day he must be prepared to do what she told him.
当一个人非常开心的时候，时间过得如此快，以至于王子从来没有想过该回去的时候。而就在他们一起坐着的一个晚上，白猫对他说，如果他想带一位可爱的公主回家，他必须准备好听从她的吩咐。

“Take this sword,” she said, “and cut off my head!”
“拿起这把剑，”她说道，“砍下我的头！”

“I!” cried the Prince, “I cut off your head! —
“我！”王子大声喊道，“我砍下你的头！” —

Blanchette darling, how could I do it?”
亲爱的白娃娃，我怎么能做到呢？”

“I entreat you to do as I tell you, King’s son,” she replied.
她回答道：“请你按照我告诉你的做，王子。”

The tears came into the Prince’s eyes as he begged her to ask him anything but that — to set him any task she pleased as a proof of his devotion, but to spare him the grief of killing his dear Pussy. But nothing he could say altered her determination, and at last he drew his sword, and desperately, with a trembling hand, cut off the little white head. —
王子的眼中充满了泪水，他求她可以提出任何任务来证明他的忠诚，只是不要让他痛心地杀死他亲爱的小猫。但是他的任何请求都无法改变她的决心，最后他拿起剑，颤抖地用颤抖的手割下了小白猫的头颅。 —

But imagine his astonishment and delight when suddenly a lovely princess stood before him, and, while he was still speechless with amazement, the door opened and a goodly company of knights and ladies entered, each carrying a cat’s skin! —
但是当一位可爱的公主突然站在他面前时，他惊讶而欣喜，而他还在惊讶中无言以对时，门打开了，一群骑士和女士们进来了，每个人手里都拿着一张猫皮！ —

They hastened with every sign of joy to the Princess, kissing her hand and congratulating her on being once more restored to her natural shape. —
他们高兴地快步走向公主，亲吻她的手，祝贺她恢复成了原来的样子。 —

She received them graciously, but after a few minutes begged that they would leave her alone with the Prince, to whom she said:
她和蔼地接待他们，但过了几分钟，她请求他们和王子独处一会儿，对王子说：

“You see, Prince, that you were right in supposing me to be no ordinary cat. —
“你看，王子，你之前的猜测没错，我可不是普通的猫。 —

My father reigned over six kingdoms. —
我的父亲统治着六个王国。 —

The Queen, my mother, whom he loved dearly, had a passion for traveling and exploring, and when I was only a few weeks old she obtained his permission to visit a certain mountain of which she had heard many marvelous tales, and set out, taking with her a number of her attendants. —
皇后，即我亲爱的母亲，热衷于旅行和探险，当我只有几周大的时候，她获得了父亲的允许，想去参观一个她听说过很多神奇传说的山，并带上了一些侍从。 —

On the way they had to pass near an old castle belonging to the fairies. —
在途中，她们不得不经过一座属于仙女们的古老城堡。 —

Nobody had ever been into it, but it was reported to be full of the most wonderful things, and my mother remembered to have heard that the fairies had in their garden such fruits as were to be seen and tasted nowhere else. —
尽管没有人进去过，但据说里面充满了最美妙的东西，我的母亲还记得她听说过仙子们的花园里有其他地方无法见到和品尝的水果。 —

She began to wish to try them for herself, and turned her steps in the direction of the garden. —
她开始渴望亲自尝试一下，于是朝着花园的方向走去。 —

On arriving at the door, which blazed with gold and jewels, she ordered her servants to knock loudly, but it was useless; —
当她来到大门前，门上镶嵌着金子和宝石，她命令侍从大声敲门，但却毫无用处； —

it seemed as if all the inhabitants of the castle must be asleep or dead. —
仿佛城堡里的所有居民都在沉睡或已经死去。 —

Now the more difficult it became to obtain the fruit, the more the Queen was determined that have it she would. —
现在越难以获得这些水果，女王就越坚决要得到它。 —

So she ordered that they should bring ladders, and get over the wall into the garden; —
于是她命令他们拿来梯子，翻过围墙进入花园； —

but though the wall did not look very high, and they tied the ladders together to make them very long, it was quite impossible to get to the top.
但尽管围墙看起来并不高，他们将梯子绑在一起使其变得很长，却完全无法到达顶端。

“The Queen was in despair, but as night was coming on she ordered that they should encamp just where they were, and went to bed herself, feeling quite ill, she was so disappointed. —
“女王感到绝望，但天色渐晚，她命令他们就在原地扎营，自己上床休息，由于感到非常失望，她觉得很不舒服。 —

In the middle of the night she was suddenly awakened, and saw to her surprise a tiny, ugly old woman seated by her bedside, who said to her:
半夜里，她突然被惊醒，惊讶地看到一个又小又丑的老婆婆坐在她的床边，对她说道：

“‘I must say that we consider it somewhat troublesome of your Majesty to insist upon tasting our fruit; —
“‘我不得不说，贵国的陛下坚持要尝我们的水果，有些麻烦。 —

but to save you annoyance, my sisters and I will consent to give you as much as you can carry away, on one condition — that is, that you shall give us your little daughter to bring up as our own.’
但为了避免给您带来困扰，我和我的姐妹们愿意给你带走你能携带的所有水果，前提是，你必须把你的小女儿交给我们抚养为己出。’

“‘Ah! my dear madam,’ cried the Queen, ‘is there nothing else that you will take for the fruit? —
“‘啊！亲爱的夫人，’女王叫道，‘您难道就不接受别的东西来换取水果吗？ —

I will give you my kingdoms willingly.’
我愿意把我的王国都给您。’

“‘No,’ replied the old fairy, ‘we will have nothing but your little daughter. —
“‘不，’老仙子回答道，‘我们只要你的小女儿，别的我们不要。’ —

She shall be as happy as the day is long, and we will give her everything that is worth having in fairy-land, but you must not see her again until she is married.’
她将会像白天一样快乐，我们会给她一切值得拥有的仙境东西，但你不能再见她，直到她结婚为止。

“‘Though it is a hard condition,’ said the Queen, ‘I consent, for I shall certainly die if I do not taste the fruit, and so I should lose my little daughter either way.’
“尽管这是一个艰难的条件，”女王说，”但我同意，因为如果我不尝试这种水果，我肯定会死的，那样我就会失去我的小女儿了。”

“So the old fairy led her into the castle, and, though it was still the middle of the night, the Queen could see plainly that it was far more beautiful than she had been told, which you can easily believe, Prince,” said the White Cat, “when I tell you that it was this castle that we are now in. —
“于是，老仙女带着她进入了城堡，虽然当时仍然是半夜，女王清楚地看到，它比她听到的要美得多，当我告诉你，这就是我们现在所在的城堡时，你很容易相信，王子，”白猫说。 —

‘Will you gather the fruit yourself, Queen? —
“你自己摘果子吗，女王？”老仙女问道。 —

’ said the old fairy, ‘or shall I call it to come to you?’
还是我叫它过来给你？”

“‘I beg you to let me see it come when it is called,’ cried the Queen; —
“请让我看到它被叫过来，”女王喊道，“那将会是全新的东西。” —

‘that will be something quite new. —
老仙女吹了两次口哨，然后喊道： —

’ The old fairy whistled twice, then she cried:
“那就叫它过来吧。”

“‘Apricots, peaches, nectarines, cherries, plums, pears, melons, grapes, apples, oranges, lemons, gooseberries, strawberries, raspberries, come!’
“杏子、桃子、蜜桃、樱桃、李子、梨子、瓜子、葡萄、苹果、橙子、柠檬、醋栗、草莓、覆盆子，过来吧！”

“And in an instant they came tumbling in one over another, and yet they were neither dusty nor spoilt, and the Queen found them quite as good as she had fancied them. —
“瞬间它们一齐滚滚而来，却既不脏也不变坏，女王发现它们跟她想象中一样好吃。” —

You see they grew upon fairy trees.
你看，它们长在仙人树上。

“The old fairy gave her golden baskets in which to take the fruit away, and it was as much as four hundred mules could carry. —
“老仙女给她金色的篮子装果子，装得满满的，需要四百只骡子来运。” —

Then she reminded the Queen of her agreement, and led her back to the camp, and next morning she went back to her kingdom, but before she had gone very far she began to repent of her bargain, and when the King came out to meet her she looked so sad that he guessed that something had happened, and asked what was the matter. —
然后她提醒女王她们的协议，并把她带回营地，第二天她回到自己的王国，但她没走多远就开始后悔她的交易，当国王出来迎接她时，她看起来很伤心，他猜到发生了什么，问她怎么了。 —

At first the Queen was afraid to tell him, but when, as soon as they reached the palace, five frightful little dwarfs were sent by the fairies to fetch me, she was obliged to confess what she had promised. —
一开始，女王害怕告诉他，但是当，当他们到达宫殿时，五个可怕的小矮人被仙女派来接我时，她被迫承认她承诺过什么。 —

The King was very angry, and had the Queen and myself shut up in a great tower and safely guarded, and drove the little dwarfs out of his kingdom; —
国王非常生气，把女王和我关在一座高塔里，严密看守，把小矮人赶出了他的王国。 —

but the fairies sent a great dragon who ate up all the people he met, and whose breath burnt up everything as he passed through the country; —
但是仙女派了一条巨龙来吃掉所有它遇到的人，它的呼吸烧毁了它经过的一切。 —

and at last, after trying in vain to rid himself of this monster, the King, to save his subjects, was obliged to consent that I should be given up to the fairies. —
最后，国王徒劳地试图摆脱这个怪物，为了拯救他的臣民，被迫同意把我交给仙女。 —

This time they came themselves to fetch me, in a chariot of pearl drawn by sea-horses, followed by the dragon, who was led with chains of diamonds. —
这一次，他们亲自来接我，坐着一辆以海马为马、用珍珠制成的马车，后面跟着那条用钻石链子牵着的巨龙。 —

My cradle was placed between the old fairies, who loaded me with caresses, and away we whirled through the air to a tower which they had built on purpose for me. —
我的摇篮放在两位仙女中间，她们对我疼爱有加，我们在空中飞奔到了她们专门为我建造的塔。 —

There I grew up surrounded with everything that was beautiful and rare, and learning everything that is ever taught to a princess, but without any companions but a parrot and a little dog, who could both talk; —
在那里，我长大的地方，到处都是美丽而稀有的东西，学会了公主需要学习的一切，但没有任何伴侣，只有一只会说话的鹦鹉和一只小狗； —

and receiving every day a visit from one of the old fairies, who came mounted upon the dragon. —
而且每天都会有一位老仙女来拜访我，她骑着一条龙来到这里。 —

One day, however, as I sat at my window I saw a handsome young prince, who seemed to have been hunting in the forest which surrounded my prison, and who was standing and looking up at me. —
然而有一天，当我坐在窗前时，我看到一个英俊的年轻王子，他似乎刚刚在环绕着我囚禁的森林中狩猎，他站在那里仰望着我。 —

When he saw that I observed him he saluted me with great deference. —
当他看到我注意到他时，他非常恭敬地向我致意。 —

You can imagine that I was delighted to have some one new to talk to, and in spite of the height of my window our conversation was prolonged till night fell, then my prince reluctantly bade me farewell. —
你可以想象我有了一个新的人可以交谈是多么高兴，尽管我的窗户很高，我们的对话一直延续到夜幕降临，然后我的王子不舍地告别了我。 —

But after that he came again many times and at last I consented to marry him, but the question was how was I to escape from my tower. —
但在那之后他又多次来访，最后我同意嫁给他，但问题是我要如何逃离我的塔楼。 —

The fairies always supplied me with flax for my spinning, and by great diligence I made enough cord for a ladder that would reach to the foot of the tower; —
仙女们总是为我提供亚麻来纺线，我通过极其勤奋的努力，制作了足够长的绳子，可以达到塔楼的脚下； —

but, alas! just as my prince was helping me to descend it, the crossest and ugliest of the old fairies flew in. —
但是，唉！就在我的王子帮助我下降的时候，那位最脾气最坏、最丑陋的仙女飞了进来。 —

Before he had time to defend himself my unhappy lover was swallowed up by the dragon. —
在他来不及自卫的时候，我可怜的恋人被那条龙吞噬了。 —

As for me, the fairies, furious at having their plans defeated, for they intended me to marry the king of the dwarfs, and I utterly refused, changed me into a white cat. —
至于我，仙女们非常愤怒地因为他们的计划被挫败了，他们原本打算我嫁给小矮人国王，而我完全拒绝了，于是他们把我变成了一只白猫。 —

When they brought me here I found all the lords and ladies of my father’s court awaiting me under the same enchantment, while the people of lesser rank had been made invisible, all but their hands.
当他们带我来到这里的时候，我发现我父亲的宫廷里的所有贵族都在等待着我，同样被这个魔咒所困扰，而低阶的人民则被隐藏了起来，除了他们的双手。

“As they laid me under the enchantment the fairies told me all my history, for until then I had quite believed that I was their child, and warned me that my only chance of regaining my natural form was to win the love of a prince who resembled in every way my unfortunate lover.
“当妖精们给我施加了魔法的时候，他们告诉了我自己的全部历史，因为在那之前，我一直以为自己是他们的孩子，并警告我，要想恢复自己的本来形态，唯一的机会就是赢得一个与我那不幸的恋人完全相像的王子的爱。

“And you have won it, lovely Princess,” interrupted the Prince.
“可爱的公主，你已赢得了他的爱，”王子打断她说道。

“You are indeed wonderfully like him,” resumed the Princess —“in voice, in features, and everything; —
“你确实与他极为相似，”公主继续说道，“嗓音、容貌以及一切都是如此； —

and if you really love me all my troubles will be at an end.”
果你真的爱我，我的一切困扰都将结束。”

“And mine too,” cried the Prince, throwing himself at her feet, “if you will consent to marry me.”
“而且我的困扰也将结束，”王子跪在她面前说道，“只要你愿意嫁给我。”

“I love you already better than anyone in the world,” she said; —
“我已经比世界上任何人都更爱你了，”她说道； —

“but now it is time to go back to your father, and we shall hear what he says about it.”
“但现在是时候回到你父亲那里了，我们将听听他说什么。”

So the Prince gave her his hand and led her out, and they mounted the chariot together; —
于是王子伸出手，带领她走出来，他们一起上了马车； —

it was even more splendid than before, and so was the whole company. —
马车更加辉煌，整个队伍也是如此。 —

Even the horses’ shoes were of rubies with diamond nails, and I suppose that is the first time such a thing was ever seen.
甚至马蹄铁也是用红宝石制成，钉子是钻石，我想这可能是从未见过的。

As the Princess was as kind and clever as she was beautiful, you may imagine what a delightful journey the Prince found it, for everything the Princess said seemed to him quite charming.
公主既善良又聪明，你可以想象王子是多么愉快的旅程了，因为公主说的每句话对他来说都非常迷人。

When they came near the castle where the brothers were to meet, the Princess got into a chair carried by four of the guards; —
当他们接近公主的兄弟们要见面的城堡时，公主坐上了由四个卫兵抬着的椅子； —

it was hewn out of one splendid crystal, and had silken curtains, which she drew round her that she might not be seen.
它是由一块华贵的水晶雕刻而成，还有丝绸的帷幕，公主把帷幕拉起来，以免被人看见。

The Prince saw his brothers walking upon the terrace, each with a lovely princess, and they came to meet him, asking if he had also found a wife. —
王子看到他的兄弟们在阳台上散步，每人身边都有一位美丽的公主，他们过来迎接他，询问他是否也找到了妻子。 —

He said that he had found something much rarer — a white cat! —
他说他找到了一只非常稀有的白猫！ —

At which they laughed very much, and asked him if he was afraid of being eaten up by mice in the palace. —
在那里，他们非常开心地笑了起来，并问他是否害怕在宫殿里被老鼠吃掉。 —

And then they set out together for the town. —
然后他们一起出发前往城镇。 —

Each prince and princess rode in a splendid carriage; —
每个王子和公主都骑在豪华的马车里； —

the horses were decked with plumes of feathers, and glittered with gold. —
马匹上装饰着羽毛和金光闪闪。 —

After them came the youngest prince, and last of all the crystal chair, at which everybody looked with admiration and curiosity. —
在他们之后是最年轻的王子，最后是那个水晶椅子，所有人都对它感到钦佩和好奇。 —

When the courtiers saw them coming they hastened to tell the King.
当朝臣们看到他们前来，他们急忙告诉国王。

“Are the ladies beautiful?” he asked anxiously.
他焦虑地问道：“这些女士们漂亮吗？”

And when they answered that nobody had ever before seen such lovely princesses he seemed quite annoyed.
当他们回答说从未见过如此可爱的公主时，他似乎有些烦恼。

However, he received them graciously, but found it impossible to choose between them.
然而，他亲切地接待了她们，但很难在她们之间做出选择。

Then turning to his youngest son he said:
然后他转向他最年轻的儿子说：

“Have you come back alone, after all?”
“你毕竟是独自回来了吗？”

“Your Majesty,” replied the Prince, “will find in that crystal chair a little white cat, which has such soft paws, and mews so prettily, that I am sure you will be charmed with it.”
“陛下，”王子回答道，“在那把水晶椅子里有一只小白猫，它的爪子非常柔软，喵喵叫得非常可爱，我肯定您会喜欢它的。”

The King smiled, and went to draw back the curtains himself, but at a touch from the Princess the crystal shivered into a thousand splinters, and there she stood in all her beauty; —
国王微笑着，准备亲自拉开窗帘，但公主一抚触水晶，它立刻变成了无数碎片，公主便站在那里，美丽动人； —

her fair hair floated over her shoulders and was crowned with flowers, and her softly falling robe was of the purest white. —
她金发飘散在肩上，头顶戴着花冠，身上的柔软长袍洁白如雪； —

She saluted the King gracefully, while a murmur of admiration rose from all around.
她向国王优雅地行了个礼，四周传来一阵赞叹声；

“Sire,” she said, “I am not come to deprive you of the throne you fill so worthily. —
“陛下，我并未来夺取您当之无愧的王位； —

I have already six kingdoms, permit me to bestow one upon you, and upon each of your sons. —
我已经有六个王国，允许我将其中一个赠予您和您的每个儿子； —

I ask nothing but your friendship, and your consent to my marriage with your youngest son; —
我只希望得到您的友谊，和您同意我与您的小儿子的婚姻； —

we shall still have three kingdoms left for ourselves.”
我们仍然会有三个王国属于我们自己。”

The King and all the courtiers could not conceal their joy and astonishment, and the marriage of the three Princes was celebrated at once. —
国王和所有的大臣都无法掩饰他们的喜悦和惊讶，三位王子的婚礼立即举行了。 —

The festivities lasted several months, and then each king and queen departed to their own kingdom and lived happily ever after.
庆典持续了几个月，然后每位国王和王后都返回自己的王国，过上了幸福快乐的生活。