ONCE upon a time, in a large forest, there lived an old woman and three maidens. —
从前，在一个大森林里住着一个老妇人和三个少女。 —

They were all three beautiful, but the youngest was the fairest. —
她们三个都很美丽，但最小的是最漂亮的。 —

Their hut was quite hidden by trees, and none saw their beauty but the sun by day, and the moon by night, and the eyes of the stars. —
他们的小屋被树木完全掩藏，除了白天的太阳，夜晚的月亮和星星的眼睛，没有人看见过她们的美丽。 —

The old woman kept the girls hard at work, from morning till night, spinning gold flax into yarn, and when one distaff was empty another was given them, so they had no rest. —
老妇人让女孩们辛勤工作，从早到晚纺金色的亚麻成纱。当一个纺锤空了，就给她们另一个，所以她们没有休息。 —

The thread had to be fine and even, and when done was locked up in a secret chamber by the old woman, who twice or thrice every summer went a journey. —
线要细细的，而且要均匀，纺成后由老妇人锁进一个秘密的房间。每年夏天老妇人都会出门旅行两三次。 —

Before she went she gave out work for each day of her absence, and always returned in the night, so that the girls never saw what she brought back with her, neither would she tell them whence the gold flax came, nor what it was to be used for.
在她出行之前，她会安排她们在她不在的每一天里都有工作做。她总是在夜里回来，所以女孩们从未见过她带回来什么，她也不告诉她们金亚麻是从哪里来的，用来做什么。

Now, when the time came round for the old woman to set out on one of these journeys, she gave each maiden work for six days, with the usual warning: —
现在，当老妇人准备开始其中一次旅行时，她给每个少女分配了六天的工作量，并发出了通常的警告： —

“Children, don’t let your eyes wander, and on no account speak to a man, for, if you do, your thread will lose its brightness, and misfortunes of all kinds will follow. —
“孩子们，不要让眼睛四处游荡，切勿与男子说话，因为如果你这样做，你的金线会失去光亮，各种不幸将随之而来。 —

” They laughed at this oft-repeated caution, saying to each other: —
他们笑着对这经常重复的警告不以为然，彼此说道： —

“How can our gold thread lose its brightness, and have we any chance of speaking to a man?”
“我们的金线怎么可能失去光亮呢？我们有机会与男子说话吗？”

On the third day after the old woman’s departure a young prince, hunting in the forest, got separated from his companions, and completely lost. —
在老妇人离开后的第三天，一个年轻的王子在森林中打猎时与同伴走散，并彻底迷失了方向。 —

Weary of seeking his way, he flung himself down under a tree, leaving his horse to browse at will, and fell asleep.
他疲惫地寻找路，最后在一棵树下躺下，放任马儿自由吃草，然后入睡了。

The sun had set when he awoke and began once more to try and find his way out of the forest. —
在他醒来时，太阳已经落山，他再次开始努力找到离开森林的路。 —

At last he perceived a narrow foot-path, which he eagerly followed and found that it led him to a small hut. —
最后，他看到了一条狭窄的小径，他迫不及待地跟随它，发现它将他引到了一个小屋前。 —

The maidens, who were sitting at the door of their hut for coolness, saw him approaching, and the two elder were much alarmed, for they remembered the old woman’s warning; —
那些少女为了凉爽坐在屋门前，看见他走来，两个年长的非常害怕，因为他们记得老妇人的警告； —

but the youngest said: “Never before have I seen anyone like him; —
但是最年轻的说：“我从未见过像他这样的人， —

let me have one look.” They entreated her to come in, but, seeing that she would not, left her, and the Prince, coming up, courteously greeted the maiden, and told her he had lost his way in the forest and was both hungry and weary. —
让我看一眼。”他们恳求她进来，但是看到她不愿意，就离开了，王子走过来，礼貌地向少女问好，并告诉她他在森林中迷路了，又饥又累。 —

She set food before him, and was so delighted with his conversation that she forgot the old woman’s caution, and lingered for hours. —
她给他摆上食物，被他的对话所陶醉，以至于忘记了老妇人的警告，留下来和他一起度过了几个小时。 —

In the meantime the Prince’s companions sought him far and wide, but to no purpose, so they sent two messengers to tell the sad news to the King, who immediately ordered a regiment of cavalry and one of infantry to go and look for him.
与此同时，王子的同伴四处寻找他，但毫无结果，所以他们派了两个信使去告诉国王这个悲伤的消息，国王立即命令一支骑兵团和一支步兵团去找他。

After three days’ search, they found the hut. —
经过三天的搜索，他们找到了那个小屋。 —

The Prince was still sitting by the door and had been so happy in the maiden’s company that the time had seemed like a single hour. —
王子仍然坐在门边，与少女在一起时非常快乐，时间就像一小时一样过得飞快。 —

Before leaving he promised to return and fetch her to his father’s court, where he would make her his bride. —
离开前，他答应回来接她去他父亲的宫廷，在那里他将娶她为妻。 —

When he had gone, she sat down to her wheel to make up for lost time, but was dismayed to find that her thread had lost all its brightness. —
他离开后，她坐下来继续纺线以弥补失去的时间，但她惊讶地发现线丝失去了所有的明亮。 —

Her heart beat fast and she wept bitterly, for she remembered the old woman’s warning and knew not what misfortune might now befall her.
她的心怦怦直跳，她悲痛地哭泣，因为她记得老婆婆的警告，不知道现在会遭遇什么不幸。

The old woman returned in the night and knew by the tarnished thread what had happened in her absence. —
老婆婆在夜晚回来了，通过暗淡的线丝，知道了在她离开时所发生的事情。 —

She was furiously angry and told the maiden that she had brought down misery both on herself and on the Prince. —
她勃然大怒，告诉少女她给自己和王子带来了不幸。 —

The maiden could not rest for thinking of this. —
少女无法安心，一直在思索这个问题。 —

At last she could bear it no longer, and resolved to seek help from the Prince.
最后她再也无法忍受，决定寻求王子的帮助。

As a child she had learned to understand the speech of birds, and this was now of great use to her, for, seeing a raven pluming itself on a pine bough, she cried softly to it: —
作为一个孩子，她学会了理解鸟语，这对她来说非常有用，因为她看见一只在松枝上整理羽毛的乌鸦，就轻声对它说道： —

“Dear bird, cleverest of all birds, as well as swiftest on wing, wilt thou help me? —
“亲爱的小鸟，聪明的鸟儿中最聪明的，也是最快的飞翔者，你愿意帮助我吗？ —

” “How can I help thee?” asked the raven. —
乌鸦问道：“我怎么能帮到你呢？” —

She answered: “Fly away, until thou comest to a splendid town, where stands a king’s palace; —
她回答说：“飞呀，一直飞到一个壮丽的城镇，在那里有一座国王的宫殿； —

seek out the king’s son and tell him that a great misfortune has befallen me. —
寻找国王的儿子，告诉他我的一场大不幸降临了。 —

” Then she told the raven how her thread had lost its brightness, how terribly angry the old woman was, and how she feared some great disaster. —
然后她告诉乌鸦她的线丝失去了光泽，老婆婆非常生气，她担心会发生一场大灾难。 —

The raven promised faithfully to do her bidding, and, spreading its wings, flew away. —
乌鸦郑重承诺帮她办事，并展开翅膀飞走了。 —

The maiden now went home and worked hard all day at winding up the yarn her elder sisters had spun, for the old woman would let her spin no longer. —
少女现在回家，整天辛勤地绕着她姐姐们纺的纱线，因为老婆婆不让她再纺线。 —

Toward evening she heard the raven’s “craa, craa,” from the pine tree and eagerly hastened thither to hear the answer.
天快黑的时候，她听到了松树上乌鸦的“嘎啊，嘎啊”声，急忙赶到那里去听答案。

By great good fortune the raven had found a wind wizard’s son in the palace garden, who understood the speech of birds, and to him he had entrusted the message. —
幸运的是，乌鸦在皇宫花园找到了一个懂得鸟语的风巫师之子，他把消息托付给了他。 —

When the Prince heard it, he was very sorrowful, and took counsel with his friends how to free the maiden. —
王子听到后非常悲伤，与朋友商议如何解救这位姑娘。 —

Then he said to the wind wizard’s son: —
然后他对风巫师的儿子说： —

“Beg the raven to fly quickly back to the maiden and tell her to be ready on the ninth night, for then will I come and fetch her away. —
“请你让乌鸦飞快地回到姑娘那里，告诉她在第九个晚上准备好，因为我将会去接她离开。” —

” The wind wizard’s son did this, and the raven flew so swiftly that it reached the hut that same evening. —
风巫师的儿子照办了，乌鸦飞得如此迅速，当天晚上就到了小屋。 —

The maiden thanked the bird heartily and went home, telling no one what she had heard.
这位姑娘真诚地感谢了乌鸦，并回家了，没有告诉任何人她听到了什么。

As the ninth night drew near she became very unhappy, for she feared lest some terrible mischance should arise and ruin all. —
随着第九个晚上的临近，她变得非常不开心，因为她担心会发生可怕的意外，以至于毁掉一切。 —

On this night she crept quietly out of the house and waited trembling at some little distance from the hut. —
这天晚上，她悄悄地从屋子里爬了出来，在小屋离得有些远的地方颤抖地等待着。 —

Presently she heard the muffled tramp of horses, and soon the armed troop appeared, led by the Prince, who had prudently marked all the trees beforehand, in order to know the way. —
不久，她听到了马蹄的低沉声，武装队伍很快出现了，由王子带领，事先明智地在所有树上做了标记，以便知道路线。 —

When he saw the maiden he sprang from his horse, lifted her into the saddle, and then, mounting behind, rode homeward. —
当他看到少女时，他从马上跳下来，将她扶上马鞍，然后跟着骑上马，一同返回。 —

The moon shone so brightly that they had no difficulty in seeing the marked trees.
月亮照得如此明亮，以至于他们没有困难地看到标记的树。

By and by the coming of dawn loosened the tongues of all the birds, and, had the Prince only known what they were saying, or the maiden been listening, they might have been spared much sorrow, but they were thinking only of each other, and when they came out of the forest the sun was high in the heavens.
渐渐地，黎明的到来唤醒了所有鸟儿的歌唱，如果王子知道它们在说什么，或者少女在倾听，他们可能会避免很多悲伤，但他们只想着对方，当他们走出森林时，太阳已经高高挂在天空中。

Next morning, when the youngest girl did not come to her work, the old woman asked where she was. —
第二天早上，最小的女孩没有来上班，老女人问她在哪里。 —

The sisters pretended not to know, but the old woman easily guessed what had happened, and, as she was in reality a wicked witch, determined to punish the fugitives. —
姐妹们假装不知道，但老太婆轻易猜出了发生了什么事情，因为她实际上是一个邪恶的女巫，决定惩罚逃亡者。 —

Accordingly, she collected nine different kinds of enchanters’ nightshade, added some salt, which she first bewitched, and, doing all up in a cloth into the shape of a fluffy ball, sent it after them on the wings of the wind, saying:
因此，她收集了九种不同的迷魂草，并加入了一些她施了魔咒的盐，然后把它们都用布包裹成一个蓬松的球状物，随着风的翅膀把它们送给他们，说道：

“Whirlwind!— mother of the wind!
“旋风！— 风之母！

Lend thy aid ‘gainst her who sinned!
借你的力量对付那个犯罪的人！

Carry with thee this magic ball.
带着这个魔法球。

Cast her from his arms for ever,
永远将她从他的怀抱中抛出，

Bury her in the rippling river.”
将她埋葬在涟漪的河水中。”

At midday the Prince and his men came to a deep river, spanned by so narrow a bridge that only one rider could cross at a time. —
午时，王子和他的人来到一条深河，上面架着一座如此狭窄的桥，一次只能过一个骑手。 —

The horse on which the Prince and the maiden were riding had just reached the middle when the magic ball flew by. —
王子和女子骑在马上，刚刚到达桥的中间位置，这时魔法球飞过了他们的头顶。 —

The horse in its fright suddenly reared, and before anyone could stop it flung the maiden into the swift current below. —
马被吓得突然后退，还没人来得及阻止，把女子抛入了下面湍急的河水中。 —

The Prince tried to jump in after her, but his men held him back, and in spite of his struggles led him home, where for six weeks he shut himself up in a secret chamber, and would neither eat nor drink, so great was his grief. —
王子试图跳进水中救她，但他的手下拦住了他，无论他如何挣扎，都将他带回了家，六周时间他把自己关在一个秘密的房间里，既不吃也不喝，如此深深的悲伤。 —

At last he became so ill his life was despaired of, and in great alarm the King caused all the wizards of his country to be summoned. —
最后，他病得无法救治，国王非常担心，召集了国内所有的巫师。 —

But none could cure him. —
但是没有人能够治愈他。 —

At last the wind wizard’s son said to the King: —
最后，风之巫师的儿子对国王说： —

“Send for the old wizard from Finland he knows more than all the wizards of your kingdom put together. —
“派人去芬兰请老巫师来，他比你国内所有的巫师都知道得多。 —

” A messenger was at once sent to Finland, and a week later the old wizard himself arrived on the wings of the wind. —
”国王立即派人去芬兰，一周后老巫师本人乘着风的翅膀到达。 —

“Honored King,” said the wizard, “the wind has blown this illness upon your son, and a magic ball has snatched away his beloved. —
“尊敬的国王，”巫师说，“风将这场疾病吹到了你儿子身上，一个魔法球把他所爱的人夺走了。 —

This it is which makes him grieve so constantly. —
这就是为什么他一直如此悲伤。” —

Let the wind blow upon him that it may blow away his sorrow.” Then the King made his son go out into the wind, and he gradually recovered and told his father all. —
让风吹过他，吹走他的忧伤。”然后国王让他的儿子走进了风中，他逐渐康复并告诉了他父亲一切。 —

“Forget the maiden,” said the King, “and take another bride”; —
“忘记那个姑娘吧，”国王说，“娶另一个新娘吧”； —

but the Prince said he could never love another.
但是王子说他永远无法爱上别人。

A year afterward he came suddenly upon the bridge where his beloved met her death. —
一年后，他突然来到了他心爱的人死去的桥上。 —

As he recalled the misfortune he wept bitterly, and would have given all he possessed to have her once more alive. —
当他回忆起这个不幸时，他痛苦地哭了起来，他愿意付出所有他拥有的一切来让她再次活过来。 —

In the midst of his grief he thought he heard a voice singing, and looked round, but could see no one. —
在他的悲伤中，他觉得听到了一个声音唱歌，他四处张望，但看不到任何人。 —

Then he heard the voice again, and it said:
然后他再次听到了声音，声音说：

“Alas! bewitched and all forsaken,
“哎呀！被施了魔法而被所有人遗弃，

’Tis I must lie for ever here!
我必须永远躺在这里！

My beloved no thought has taken
我心爱的人从未想过

To free his bride, that was so dear.”
解救他那位如此亲爱的新娘。”

He was greatly astonished, sprang from his horse, and looked everywhere to see if no one were hidden under the bridge; —
他感到非常惊讶，从马上跳了下来，到处寻找是否有人藏在桥下。 —

but no one was there. Then he noticed a yellow water-lily floating on the surface of the water, half hidden by its broad leaves; —
但是没有人在那里。然后他注意到一朵黄色的睡莲漂浮在水面上，被它宽阔的叶子半遮半掩； —

but flowers do not sing, and in great surprise he waited, hoping to hear more. —
但是花朵不会唱歌，他非常惊讶地等待着，希望能听到更多的声音； —

Then again the voice sang:
然后声音再次唱道：

“Alas! bewitched and all forsaken,
“唉！被施了魔法，被所有人抛弃，

’Tis I must lie for ever here!
我必须永远躺在这里！

My beloved no thought has taken
我心爱的人从未想过

To free his bride, that was so dear.”
解救他的心爱的新娘。”

The Prince suddenly remembered the gold-spinners, and said to himself: —
王子突然想起了纺金女郎，他对自己说： —

“If I ride thither, who knows but that they could explain this to me? —
“如果我骑过去，说不定她们可以向我解释这个问题？ —

” He at once rode to the hut, and found the two maidens at the fountain. —
”他立刻骑到了小屋，发现两个姑娘正在喷泉旁边。 —

He told them what had befallen their sister the year before, and how he had twice heard a strange song, but yet could see no singer. —
他告诉她们一年前发生在她们妹妹身上的事情，以及他两次听到的奇怪歌声，但还是看不到歌唱者。 —

They said that the yellow water-lily could be none other than their sister, who was not dead, but transformed by the magic ball. —
她们说那朵黄色的睡莲肯定是她们妹妹，她并没有死，而是被魔法球变成了睡莲。 —

Before he went to bed, the eldest made a cake of magic herbs, which she gave him to eat. —
在睡觉前，大姐妹用魔法草做了个蛋糕，她给了王子吃。 —

In the night he dreamed that he was living in the forest and could understand all that the birds said to each other. —
在夜里他梦见自己生活在森林里，能听懂鸟儿彼此之间的对话。 —

Next morning he told this to the maidens, and they said that the charmed cake had caused it, and advised him to listen well to the birds, and see what they could tell him, and when he had recovered his bride they begged him to return and deliver them from their wretched bondage.
第二天早上，他将这件事告诉了仆人，她们说是被施了法的蛋糕导致的，劝他好好听鸟儿的话，看看它们能告诉他什么，当他找回新娘后，她们请求他回来解救她们这种可怜的奴役。

Having promised this, he joyfully returned home, and as he was riding through the forest he could perfectly understand all that the birds said. —
答应了这件事后，他高兴地回家了，当他骑马穿过森林时，他能完全听懂鸟儿的讲话。 —

He heard a thrush say to a magpie: “How stupid men are! —
他听到一只画眉鸟对喜鹊说：“人类是多么愚蠢啊！他们连最简单的事都不懂。 —

they cannot understand the simplest thing. —
这个女孩已经被变成荷花有整整一年了，尽管她唱得那么悲伤，任何经过桥上的人都能听到，但没有人来帮助她。 —

It is now quite a year since the maiden was transformed into a water-lily, and, though she sings so sadly that anyone going over the bridge must hear her, yet no one comes to her aid. —
几天前，她的前未婚夫骑马过桥时听到她唱歌了，但和其他人一样，他也不聪明。” —

Her former bridegroom rode over it a few days ago and heard her singing, but was no wiser than the rest.”
在他的心中，他暗暗发誓一定要找到那朵荷花，并解救她。

“And he is to blame for all her misfortunes,” added the magpie. —
“而他要为她所有的不幸负责。” 喜鹊补充道。 —

“If he heeds only the words of men she will remain a flower for ever. —
“如果他只听从男人的话，她将永远保持花朵的形象。 —

She were soon delivered were the matter only laid before the old wizard of Finland.”
只要把这个问题告诉芬兰的老巫师，她很快就会解脱。”

After hearing this, the Prince wondered how he could get a message conveyed to Finland. —
在听到这个消息后，王子想知道如何传达信息给芬兰。 —

He heard one swallow say to another: —
他听到一只燕子对另一只燕子说： —

“Come, let us fly to Finland; —
“来，让我们飞到芬兰去； —

we can build better nests there.”
我们可以在那里建造更好的巢穴。”

“Stop, kind friends!” cried the Prince. —
“等等，亲爱的朋友！” 王子大喊。 —

“Will you do something for me? —
“你们能为我做点事吗？ —

” The birds consented, and he said: —
” 鸟儿们答应了，他说道： —

“Take a thousand greetings from me to the wizard of Finland, and ask him how I may restore a maiden transformed into a flower to her own form.”
“替我向芬兰的巫师致以千语万语的问候，问他如何将一个被变成花朵的少女恢复原样。”

The swallows flew away, and the Prince rode on to the bridge. There he waited, hoping to hear the song. —
燕子们飞走了，王子继续往前走到桥上等待，希望能听到那首歌。 —

But he heard nothing but the rushing of the water and the moaning of the wind, and, disappointed, rode home.
但他只听到水流和风声呻吟，并且失望地骑回了家。

Shortly after, he was sitting in the garden, thinking that the swallows must have forgotten his message, when he saw an eagle flying above him. —
不久之后，他坐在花园里，心想燕子们肯定忘记了他的消息，这时他看到一只鹰飞过他的头顶。 —

The bird gradually descended until it perched on a tree close to the Prince and said: —
那只鸟逐渐降落，停在离王子很近的树上，说道： —

“The wizard of Finland greets thee and bids me say that thou mayest free the maiden thus: —
“芬兰巫师向您问好，并吩咐我说您可以这样解救公主： —

Go to the river and smear thyself all over with mud; —
去河边，把自己涂满泥巴； —

then say: ‘From a man into a crab,’ and thou wilt become a crab. —
然后说：‘从人变成蟹’，您就会变成一只蟹。 —

Plunge boldly into the water, swim as close as thou canst to the water-lily’s roots, and loosen them from the mud and reeds. —
大胆地跳入水中，尽力靠近睡莲的根部，将其从泥沼和芦苇中解脱出来。 —

This done, fasten thy claws into the roots and rise with them to the surface. —
完成后，用爪子抓住根部，然后浮出水面。 —

Let the water flow all over the flower, and drift with the current until thou comest to a mountain ash tree on the left bank. —
让水将花全身围满，顺流漂流，直到你到达左岸的一棵山梨树。 —

There is near it a large stone. Stop there and say: —
在附近有一块大石头。停在那里，然后说： —

‘From a crab into a man, from a water-lily into a maiden,’ and ye both will be restored to your own forms.”
‘从蟹变成人，从水莲变成仙女’，你们两个都将恢复原来的形态。”

Full of doubt and fear, the Prince let some time pass before he was bold enough to attempt to rescue the maiden. —
充满怀疑和恐惧，王子等了一段时间才有足够的勇气去救援那位少女。 —

Then a crow said to him: “Why dost thou hesitate? —
然后一只乌鸦对他说：“你为什么犹豫不决？老巫师没有骗你，鸟儿也没有欺骗你；赶紧去擦干少女的泪水。” —

The old wizard has not told thee wrong, neither have the birds deceived thee; —
“死亡之外没有比这更糟糕的事情了”，王子心想，“而死亡总比无尽的悲伤要好。” —

hasten and dry the maiden’s tears.”
“从人变为螃蟹”，他涂满泥污后骑上马，前往桥边。

“Nothing worse than death can befall me,” thought the Prince, “and death is better than endless sorrow. —
再次听到睡莲的哀叹声，他毫不犹豫地将自己涂满泥污，并说道： —

” So he mounted his horse and went to the bridge. —
“快一些，把少女的眼泪变干。” —

Again he heard the water-lily’s lament, and, hesitating no longer, smeared himself all over with mud, and, saying: —
他跳入河中，片刻间水声嗖嗖地在他耳边响起，然后便一片寂静。 —

“From a man into a crab,” plunged into the river. —
他游向植物，开始松动它的根部，但根部紧紧地固定在泥和芦苇中，所以这花费了他很长时间。 —

For one moment the water hissed in his ears, and then all was silent. —
然后他抓住根部，向水面上升起，让水流过花朵。 —

He swam up to the plant and began to loosen its roots, but so firmly were they fixed in the mud and reeds that this took him a long time. —
他游到植物附近，开始松动它的根部，但根部牢牢地固定在泥土和芦苇中，这花费了很长时间。 —

He then grasped them and rose to the surface, letting the water flow over the flower. —
然后他抓住根部，向水面上升，让水流过花朵。 —

The current carried them down the stream, but nowhere could he see the mountain ash. —
水流把他们带到了下游，但他看不见无花果树。 —

At last he saw it, and close by the large stone. —
最后，他看见了它，就在大石头旁边。 —

Here he stopped and said: —
他停下来说： —

“From a crab into a man, from a water-lily into a maiden,” and to his delight found himself once more a prince, and the maiden was by his side. —
“从螃蟹变成了人，从睡莲变成了少女”，令他高兴的是，他又成为了王子，并且少女就在他身边。 —

She was ten times more beautiful than before, and wore a magnificent pale yellow robe, sparkling with jewels. —
她比以前美丽十倍，穿着一件宝石闪闪发光的华丽淡黄色长袍。 —

She thanked him for having freed her from the cruel witch’s power, and willingly consented to marry him.
她感谢他解救她脱离了残忍女巫的控制，并愿意嫁给他。

But when they came to the bridge where he had left his horse it was nowhere to be seen, for, though the Prince thought he had been a crab only a few hours, he had in reality been under the water for more than ten days. —
但当他们来到他把马停在的桥边时，马却不见了，因为尽管王子以为自己只是变成了螃蟹几个小时，但实际上他已经在水下待了十多天。 —

While they were wondering how they should reach his father’s court, they saw a splendid coach driven by six gaily caparisoned horses coming along the bank. —
正当他们在思考如何到达他父王的宫殿时，他们看到一辆由六匹装饰华丽的马拉着的华丽马车沿着河岸驶来。 —

In this they drove to the palace. —
他们坐上马车去了宫殿。 —

The King and Queen were at church, weeping for their son, whom they had long mourned for dead. —
国王和王后正在教堂里为他们长久以来认为已经死去的儿子哭泣。 —

Great was their delight and astonishment when the Prince entered, leading the beautiful maiden by the hand. —
当王子牵着美丽的少女进来时，他们感到非常高兴和惊讶。 —

The wedding was at once celebrated and there was feasting and merry-making throughout the kingdom for six weeks.
他们立即举行了婚礼，王国中进行了为期六周的宴会和欢庆活动。

Some time afterward the Prince and his bride were sitting in the garden, when a crow said to them: —
不久以后，王子和他的新娘坐在花园里，此时一只乌鸦对他们说道： —

“Ungrateful creatures! —
“忘恩负义的家伙们！ —

Have you forgotten the two poor maidens who helped you in your distress? —
你们忘记了那两个在你们困境中帮助你们的可怜姑娘吗？ —

Must they spin gold flax for ever? —
她们难道要永远纺金亚麻吗？ —

Have no pity on the old witch. —
对这位老巫婆没有任何怜悯之心。 —

The three maidens are princesses, whom she stole away when they were children together, with all the silver utensils, which she turned into gold flax. —
这三个姑娘是她小时候一起被她偷走的公主，同时也偷走了所有的银器，她将它们转化成了金亚麻。 —

Poison were her fittest punishment.”
毒药是她最合适的惩罚。”

The Prince was ashamed of having forgotten his promise and set out at once, and by great good fortune reached the hut when the old woman was away. —
王子为自己忘记了诺言感到惭愧，立刻出发了，幸运地在老妇人不在时到达了小屋。 —

The maidens had dreamed that he was coming, and were ready to go with him, but first they made a cake in which they put poison, and left it on a table where the old woman was likely to see it when she returned. —
少女们曾梦见他要来，准备好与他一起走，但首先他们做了一个蛋糕，里面放了毒药，并把它放在老太太回来时有可能看见的桌子上。 —

She DID see it, and thought it looked so tempting that she greedily ate it up and at once died.
她确实看见了它，觉得它看起来很诱人，贪婪地把它吃完，立刻死去。

In the secret chamber were found fifty wagon-loads of gold flax, and as much more was discovered buried. —
秘密的房间里发现了五十车的金亚麻，并且还发现了同样多的埋藏的金亚麻。 —

The hut was razed to the ground, and the Prince and his bride and her two sisters lived happily ever after.
茅屋被夷为平地，王子和他的新娘以及她的两个姐妹幸福地生活在一起，直到永远。