Once upon a time in a certain country there lived a king whose palace was surrounded by a spacious garden. —
从前在一个某个国家里，有一位国王，他的宫殿周围环绕着一座宽敞的花园。 —

But, though the gardeners were many and the soil was good, this garden yielded neither flowers nor fruits, not even grass or shady trees.
然而，尽管园丁众多，土壤肥沃，这个花园却没有长出花朵、果实，甚至连草坪和荫树都没有。

The King was in despair about it, when a wise old man said to him:
国王为此感到绝望，直到一位智者对他说：

“Your gardeners do not understand their business: —
“你的园丁对这个工作一无所知， —

but what can you expect of men whose fathers were cobblers and carpenters? —
但你能对这些父亲是鞋匠和木匠的人有何期望呢？ —

How should they have learned to cultivate your garden?”
他们又怎么能学会如何种植你的花园呢？”

“You are quite right,” cried the King.
“你说得很对，”国王叫道。

“Therefore,” continued the old man, “you should send for a gardener whose father and grandfather have been gardeners before him, and very soon your garden will be full of green grass and gay flowers, and you will enjoy its delicious fruit.”
“因此，”智者继续说道，”你应该派人去找一位祖辈都是园丁的园丁，很快你的花园就会长满绿草和鲜花，你会享用它们美味的果实。”

So the King sent messengers to every town, village, and hamlet in his dominions, to look for a gardener whose forefathers had been gardeners also, and after forty days one was found.
于是国王派遣使者走遍他统治的每个城镇、村庄和乡村，寻找祖辈也是园丁的园丁，经过40天，终于找到了一位。

“Come with us and be gardener to the King,” they said to him.
“跟我们一起，成为国王的园丁吧，”他们对他说。

“How can I go to the King,” said the gardener, “a poor wretch like me?”
“像我这样一个可怜的可怜虫，怎么能去见国王呢？”园丁说道。

“That is of no consequence,” they answered. —
“那没关系，”他们回答道。 —

“Here are new clothes for you and your family.”
“这是给你和你的家人的新衣服。”

“But I owe money to several people.”
“但是我欠好几个人钱。”

“We will pay your debts,” they said.
“我们会替你还清债务的，”他们说道。

So the gardener allowed himself to be persuaded, and went away with the messengers, taking his wife and his son with him; —
于是园丁被说服了，带着妻子和儿子一起离开了，跟随使者们前去。 —

and the King, delighted to have found a real gardener, entrusted him with the care of his garden. —
国王非常高兴找到了一位真正的园丁，把皇家花园的照管工作交给了他。 —

The man found no difficulty in making the royal garden produce flowers and fruit, and at the end of a year the park was not like the same place, and the King showered gifts upon his new servant.
这个人没有困难地让皇家花园产出了花朵和水果，一年后，公园与以前不可同日而语，国王对他的新仆人大加赞赏。

The gardener, as you have heard already, had a son, who was a very handsome young man, with most agreeable manners, and every day he carried the best fruit of the garden to the King, and all the prettiest flowers to his daughter. —
众所周知，这个园丁有一个儿子，是一个非常英俊的年轻人，举止礼貌得体，每天他都将花园里最好的水果献给国王，最美丽的花朵献给国王的女儿。 —

Now this princess was wonderfully pretty and was just sixteen years old, and the King was beginning to think it was time that she should be married.
现在这个公主非常漂亮，年仅十六岁，国王开始认为是时候给她嫁人了。

“My dear child,” said he, “you are of an age to take a husband, therefore I am thinking of marrying you to the son of my prime minister.
“亲爱的孩子，”他说，”你已经到了可以嫁人的年纪，所以我正在考虑让你嫁给我的首相之子。”

“Father,” replied the Princess, “I will never marry the son of the minister.”
“父亲，”公主回答道，”我永远不会嫁给首相之子。”

“Why not?” asked the King.
“为什么不呢？”国王问道

“Because I love the gardener’s son,” answered the Princess.
“因为我爱上了园丁的儿子。”公主回答道。

On hearing this the King was at first very angry, and then he wept and sighed, and declared that such a husband was not worthy of his daughter; —
听到这个，国王起初非常生气，然后他哭泣叹息，并宣称这样的丈夫不配拥有他的女儿。 —

but the young Princess was not to be turned from her resolution to marry the gardener’s son.
但是年轻的公主不会因此改变她嫁给园丁的决心。

Then the King consulted his ministers. —
于是国王向他的大臣请教。 —

“This is what you must do,” they said. —
“你们应该这样做，”他们说。 —

“To get rid of the gardener you must send both suitors to a very distant country, and the one who returns first shall marry your daughter.”
“为了摆脱园丁，你必须把两个追求者都送到一个非常遥远的国家，而第一个返回的人将娶你的女儿。”

The King followed this advice, and the minister’s son was presented with a splendid horse and a purse full of gold pieces, while the gardener’s son had only an old lame horse and a purse full of copper money, and every one thought he would never come back from his journey.
国王遵循了这个建议，部长的儿子得到了一匹华丽的马和一个装满金币的钱袋，而园丁的儿子只有一匹瘸腿的老马和一个装满铜币的钱袋，每个人都认为他不会从旅途中回来了。

The day before they started the Princess met her lover and said to him:
出发前的一天，公主见到了她的情人，对他说:

“Be brave, and remember always that I love you. —
“要勇敢，永远记住我爱你。 —

Take this purse full of jewels and make the best use you can of them for love of me, and come back quickly and demand my hand.”
拿着这个装满珠宝的钱袋，为了爱我的缘故尽量好好利用它们，快点回来向我求婚。”

The two suitors left the town together, but the minister’s son went off at a gallop on his good horse, and very soon was lost to sight behind the most distant hills. —
这两位求婚者一起离开了城镇，但是部长的儿子骑着良驹飞驰而去，很快就在最远的山后消失了。 —

He traveled on for some days, and presently reached a fountain beside which an old woman all in rags sat upon a stone.
他旅行了几天，最后来到了一个喷泉旁边，旁边坐着一个穿着破烂衣服的老太太。

“Good-day to you, young traveler,” said she.
“年轻的旅行者，你好。”她说道。

But the minister’s son made no reply.
但是部长的儿子没有回答。

“Have pity upon me, traveler,” she said again. —
“旅行者，请怜悯我。”她再次说道。 —

“I am dying of hunger, as you see, and three days have I been here and no one has given me anything.”
“我快被饥饿折磨死了，你看到了，我已经在这里待了三天，没有人给我任何东西。”

“Let me alone, old witch,” cried the young man; —
“离我远点，老巫婆，”年轻人大喊道； —

“I can do nothing for you,” and so saying he went on his way.
“我无法帮助你，”他这样说着走开了。

That same evening the gardener’s son rode up to the fountain upon his lame gray horse.
同一天晚上，园丁的儿子骑着他那只瘸腿的灰马来到了喷泉边。

“Good-day to you, young traveler,” said the beggar-woman.
“年轻的旅行者，你好，”乞丐女人说。

“Good-day, good woman,” answered he.
“你好，善良的女士，”他回答说。

“Young traveler, have pity upon me.”
“年轻的旅行者，请怜悯我。”

Take my purse, good woman,” said he, “and mount behind me, for your legs can’t be very strong.”
“拿着我的钱袋，善良的女士，”他说，“上来坐在我后面，因为你的腿看起来不太强壮。”

The old woman didn’t wait to be asked twice, but mounted behind him, and in this style they reached the chief city of a powerful kingdom. —
老妇人没有等他再说一次，就跳上了他的马背，就这样，他们到达了一个强大王国的首都。 —

The minister’s son was lodged in a grand inn, the gardener’s son and the old woman dismounted at the inn for beggars.
部长的儿子住在一家豪华旅馆里，园丁的儿子和老妇人在一个乞丐旅馆里下马。

The next day the gardener’s son heard a great noise in the street, and the King’s heralds passed, blowing all kinds of instruments, and crying:
第二天，园丁的儿子听到街上传来巨大的噪音，国王的传令官经过，吹着各种乐器，大声喊道：

The King, our master, is old and infirm. —
国王，我们的主人，年老体弱。 —

He will give a great reward to whoever will cure him and give him back the strength of his youth.”
他将给予任何能够治愈他并使他恢复青春活力的人一份巨大的奖励。

Then the old beggar-woman said to her benefactor:
然后老妇乞丐对她的恩人说：

“This is what you must do to obtain the reward which the King promises. —
“要获得国王许诺的奖励，你必须这样做。 —

Go out of the town by the south gate, and there you will find three little dogs of different colors; —
从南门离开城市，你将会找到三只颜色不同的小狗； —

the first will be white, the second black, the third red. —
第一只将是白色的，第二只是黑色的，第三只是红色的。 —

You must kill them and then burn them separately, and gather up the ashes. —
你必须杀死它们，然后分别将它们烧掉，并收集灰烬。 —

Put the ashes of each dog into a bag of its own color, then go before the door of the palace and cry out, ‘A celebrated physician has come from Janina in Albania. —
将每只狗的灰烬放入同色的袋子里，然后去宫殿门前喊道：“一位来自阿尔巴尼亚亚那的著名医生已经到来。 —

He alone can cure the King and give him back the strength of his youth. —
只有他能够治愈国王并使他恢复青春活力。” —

’ The King’s physicians will say, This is an impostor, and not a learned man,’ and they will make all sorts of difficulties, but you will overcome them all at last, and will present yourself before the sick King. You must then demand as much wood as three mules can carry, and a great cauldron, and must shut yourself up in a room with the Sultan, and when the cauldron boils you must throw him into it, and there leave him until his flesh is completely separated from his bones. —
国王的医生们会说，这是个冒名顶替的人，不是一个有学问的人，他们会提出各种困难，但你最终会克服它们，并将自己呈现在病王面前。然后你必须要求三匹骡子能携带的木材以及一个大锅，然后你必须与苏丹一起关在一间房间里，当锅烧沸时，你必须将他扔进去，直到他的肉完全脱离骨头。 —

Then arrange the bones in their proper places, and throw over them the ashes out of the three bags. —
然后将骨头放回它们原来的位置，并将三袋灰烬倒在上面。 —

The King will come back to life, and will be just as he was when he was twenty years old. —
国王会复活，并变回他二十岁时的样子。 —

For your reward you must demand the bronze ring which has the power to grant you everything you desire. —
作为你的奖励，你必须要求那个能够满足你一切愿望的青铜戒指。 —

Go, my son, and do not forget any of my instructions.”
去吧，我儿，不要忘记我给你的任何指示。

The young man followed the old beggar-woman’s directions. —
年轻人按照老乞丐妇人的指示去做了。 —

On going out of the town he found the white, red, and black dogs, and killed and burnt them, gathering the ashes in three bags. —
当他出镇时，他发现了白色、红色和黑色的狗，把它们杀死并烧成灰，装在三个袋子里。 —

Then he ran to the palace and cried:
然后他跑向皇宫，大声喊道：

“A celebrated physician has just come from Janina in Albania. —
“一位著名的医生刚从阿尔巴尼亚的亚內那来。 —

He alone can cure the King and give him back the strength of his youth.”
他能治愈国王，并让他恢复青春的力量。”

The King’s physicians at first laughed at the unknown wayfarer, but the Sultan ordered that the stranger should be admitted. —
起初，国王的医生们嘲笑这个陌生的过往者，但苏丹命令让这个陌生人进来。 —

They brought the cauldron and the loads of wood, and very soon the King was boiling away. —
他们带来了锅和一堆木柴，很快国王就开始沸腾了。 —

Toward mid-day the gardener’s son arranged the bones in their places, and he had hardly scattered the ashes over them before the old King revived, to find himself once more young and hearty.
中午的时候，园丁的儿子把骨头按照原来的位置安排好，他还没来得及把灰烬撒在骨头上，老国王就复活了，重新恢复青春和健康。

“How can I reward you, my benefactor?” he cried. —
“我该如何报答你，我的恩人？”他喊道。 —

“Will you take half my treasures?”
“你要拿走我一半的财宝吗？”

“No,” said the gardener’s son.
“不，”园丁的儿子说。

“My daughter’s hand?”
“那你要我女儿的手吗？”

“NO.”
“不要。”

“Take half my kingdom.”
“拿走我一半的王国吧。”

“No. Give me only the bronze ring which can instantly grant me anything I wish for.”
“不，给我只有那个能立刻满足我任何愿望的青铜戒指。”

“Alas!” said the King, “I set great store by that marvelous ring; —
“唉！”国王说，“我对那个神奇的戒指非常珍视； —

nevertheless, you shall have it. —
不过，你可以拿走它。 —

” And he gave it to him.
并且他把它给了他。

The gardener’s son went back to say good-by to the old beggar-woman; —
园丁的儿子回去跟那个乞丐婆婆告别； —

then he said to the bronze ring:
然后他对那个青铜戒指说：

“Prepare a splendid ship in which I may continue my journey. —
“为我准备一艘豪华的船，让我可以继续我的旅程。 —

Let the hull be of fine gold, the masts of silver, the sails of brocade; —
船身用上好的金子制成，桅杆用银子制成，帆布用锦缎制成； —

let the crew consist of twelve young men of noble appearance, dressed like kings. —
让船员由十二个像国王一样的年轻人组成。 —

St. Nicholas will be at the helm. —
圣尼古拉会驾驶。 —

As to the cargo, let it be diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and carbuncles.”
至于货物，让它装满钻石、红宝石、翡翠和红宝石。”

And immediately a ship appeared upon the sea which resembled in every particular THE DESCRIPTION GIVEN BY THE GARDENER’S SON, and, stepping on board, he continued his journey. —
于是一艘船立刻出现在海上，它与园丁的儿子给出的描述完全相同，他登上船继续他的旅程。 —

Presently he arrived at a great town and established himself in a wonderful palace. —
不久他到达了一个大城市，并在一个美妙的宫殿里安居下来。 —

After several days he met his rival, the minister’s son, who had spent all his money and was reduced to the disagreeable employment of a carrier of dust and rubbish. —
几天后，他遇到了他的对手，即部长的儿子，他已经花光了所有的钱，只剩下了处理尘土和垃圾的讨厌工作。 —

The gardener’s son said to him:
园丁的儿子对他说：

“What is your name, what is your family, and from what country do you come?”
“你叫什么名字，家庭背景如何，来自哪个国家？”

“I am the son of the prime minister of a great nation, and yet see what a degrading occupation I am reduced to.”
“我是一个大国的总理的儿子，然而看看我现在被降为了多么卑贱的职业。”

“Listen to me; though I don’t know anything more about you, I am willing to help you. —
“听我说；虽然我对你了解不多，但我愿意帮助你。 —

I will give you a ship to take you back to your own country upon one condition.”
我将给你一艘船，把你送回你的祖国，但有一个条件。”

“Whatever it may be, I accept it willingly.”
“无论条件是什么，我都愿意接受。”

“Follow me to my palace.”
“跟我来我的宫殿。”

The minister’s son followed the rich stranger, whom he had not recognized. —
部长的儿子跟着这位富人，他没有认出来对方是谁。 —

When they reached the palace the gardener’s son made a sign to his slaves, who completely undressed the new-comer.
当他们到达宫殿时，园丁的儿子对他的奴隶们做了一个手势，他们将新来者完全脱光。

“Make this ring red-hot,” commanded the master, “and mark the man with it upon his back.”
“把这枚戒指加热至红热，”主人命令道，“并用它在他的背部上做个记号。”

The slaves obeyed him.
奴隶们听从了他的命令。

“Now, young man,” said the rich stranger, “I am going to give you a vessel which will take you back to your own country.”
“现在，年轻人，”富人陌生人说，“我要给你一艘能带你回到自己国家的船。”

And, going out, he took the bronze ring and said:
说完，他拿起青铜戒指说：

“Bronze ring, obey thy master. —
“青铜戒指，听从主人的命令。 —

Prepare me a ship of which the half-rotten timbers shall be painted black, let the sails be in rags, and the sailors infirm and sickly. —
为我准备一艘船，船体半烂的木材要漆成黑色，帆要破旧不堪，船员们虚弱病弱。 —

One shall have lost a leg, another an arm, the third shall be a hunchback, another lame or club-footed or blind, and most of them shall be ugly and covered with scars. —
一个船员会失去一条腿，另一个失去一只胳膊，第三个将是驼背，还有一个跛脚或瞎眼，大部分人都丑陋而满身伤疤。 —

Go, and let my orders be executed.”
去吧，执行我的命令。”

The minister’s son embarked in this old vessel, and thanks to favorable winds, at length reached his own country. —
内阁大臣的儿子登上了这艘旧船，幸运的顺风航行，最终回到了自己的国家。 —

In spite of the pitiable condition in which he returned they received him joyfully.
尽管他残破不堪，他们还是欢欢喜喜地接待他。

“I am the first to come back,” said he to the King; —
“我是第一个回来的，”他对国王说道； —

now fulfil your promise, and give me the princess in marriage.
现在兑现你的承诺，把公主嫁给我。

So they at once began to prepare for the wedding festivities. As to the poor princess, she was sorrowful and angry enough about it.
所以他们立刻开始为婚礼的庆祝活动做准备。至于可怜的公主，她对此感到悲伤和愤怒。

The next morning, at daybreak, a wonderful ship with every sail set came to anchor before the town. —
第二天早晨，天刚亮，一艘装满帆的神奇船只在城镇前抛锚。 —

The King happened at that moment to be at the palace window.
此时国王碰巧在宫殿窗前。

“What strange ship is this,” he cried, “that has a golden hull, silver masts, and silken sails, and who are the young men like princes who man it? —
“这是什么奇怪的船，”他大叫道，”它有金色的船身，银色的桅杆，丝绸船帆，那些像王子的年轻人是谁？ —

And do I not see St. Nicholas at the helm? —
我难道不是看到尼古拉斯圣人在船舵上吗？ —

Go at once and invite the captain of the ship to come to the palace.”
立即去邀请船长来宫殿。”

His servants obeyed him, and very soon in came an enchantingly handsome young prince, dressed in rich silk, ornamented with pearls and diamonds.
他的仆人们服从了他，很快一位容貌出色的俊美王子走了进来，身穿豪华的丝绸，装饰着珍珠和钻石。

“Young man,” said the King, “you are welcome, whoever you may be. —
“年轻人，”国王说，”无论你是谁，你都受欢迎。 —

Do me the favor to be my guest as long as you remain in my capital.”
请给我个面子，在你在我的首都逗留期间做我的客人。”

“Many thanks, sire,” replied the captain, “I accept your offer.”
“非常感谢，陛下，”船长回答道，”我接受您的邀请。

“My daughter is about to be married,” said the King; —
“我的女儿即将结婚，”国王说； —

“will you give her away?”
“你会把她嫁出去吗？”

“I shall be charmed, sire.”
“陛下，我将感到荣幸。”

Soon after came the Princess and her betrothed.
不久之后，公主和她的未婚夫一起来了。

“Why, how is this?” cried the young captain; —
“哎呀，怎么回事？”年轻的船长叫道； —

“would you marry this charming princess to such a man as that?”
“你要把这个迷人的公主嫁给这样的一个人吗？”

“But he is my prime minister’s son!”
“可是他是我的首相的儿子！”

“What does that matter? I cannot give your daughter away. —
“那又怎么样？我不能把你的女儿嫁给他。 —

The man she is betrothed to is one of my servants.”
她许配的人是我的仆人之一。”

“Your servant?”
“你的仆人？”

“Without doubt. I met him in a distant town reduced to carrying away dust and rubbish from the houses. —
“毫无疑问。我在一个遥远的城镇遇到了他，当时他正在搬运房屋里的灰尘和垃圾。 —

I had pity on him and engaged him as one of my servants.”
我可怜他，雇佣他成为我的仆人。”

“It is impossible!” cried the King.
“这是不可能的！”国王叫道。

“Do you wish me to prove what I say? —
“你想我证明我所说的吗？” —

This young man returned in a vessel which I fitted out for him, an unseaworthy ship with a black battered hull, and the sailors were infirm and crippled.”
这个年轻人乘坐一艘由我配备的船回来的，这艘船的船体又黑又破旧，水手们都虚弱而残疾。”

“It is quite true,” said the King.
“这是真的，”国王说。

“It is false,” cried the minister’s son. “I do not know this man!”
“这是假的，”大臣的儿子大声说道。“我不认识这个人！”

“Sire,” said the young captain, “order your daughter’s betrothed to be stripped, and see if the mark of my ring is not branded upon his back.”
“陛下，”年轻的队长说道，“下令剥去您女儿未婚夫的衣物，看看我的戒指烙印是否在他的背上。”

The King was about to give this order, when the minister’s son, to save himself from such an indignity, admitted that the story was true.
在国王即将下令时，大臣的儿子为了免受这样的侮辱，承认了故事是真实的。

“And now, sire,” said the young captain, “do you not recognize me?”
“陛下，现在您认出我了吗？”年轻的队长说道。

“I recognize you,” said the Princess; —
“我认出你了，”公主说道； —

“you are the gardener’s son whom I have always loved, and it is you I wish to marry.”
“你是我一直深爱的园丁的儿子，我想嫁给你。”

“Young man, you shall be my son-in-law,” cried the King. “The marriage festivities are already begun, so you shall marry my daughter this very day.”
“年轻人，你将成为我的女婿，”国王喊道。“婚礼已经开始了，所以你今天就和我的女儿结婚。”

And so that very day the gardener’s son married the beautiful Princess.
于是，就在那一天，园丁的儿子和美丽的公主结婚了。

Several months passed. The young couple were as happy as the day was long, and the King was more and more pleased with himself for having secured such a son-in-law.
几个月过去了。年轻夫妇幸福美满，国王对自己找到这样一个女婿越来越满意。

But, presently, the captain of the golden ship found it necessary to take a long voyage, and after embracing his wife tenderly he embarked.
然而，目前，黄金船的船长发现有必要进行一次长途航行，在与妻子亲切地道别后，他登上了船。

Now in the outskirts of the capital there lived an old man, who had spent his life in studying black arts — alchemy, astrology, magic, and enchantment. —
现在，在首都的郊外，有一位老人，他一生都在研究黑魔法-炼金术、占星术、魔法和咒语。 —

This man found out that the gardener’s son had only succeeded in marrying the Princess by the help of the genii who obeyed the bronze ring.
这个人发现园丁的儿子之所以能娶到公主，是凭借服从铜戒指的精灵的帮助。

“I will have that ring,” said he to himself. —
“我要那个戒指，”他自言自语地说道。 —

So he went down to the sea-shore and caught some little red fishes. —
于是他去海边抓了一些小红鱼。 —

Really, they were quite wonderfully pretty. —
实际上，它们非常漂亮。 —

Then he came back, and, passing before the Princess’s window, he began to cry out:
然后他回来，在公主的窗前大声喊道：

“Who wants some pretty little red fishes?”
“谁想要一些漂亮的小红鱼？”

The Princess heard him, and sent out one of her slaves, who said to the old peddler:
公主听见了，派出一个奴隶去对那个老摊贩说：

“What will you take for your fish?”
“你的鱼要多少钱？”

“A bronze ring.”
“一个铜戒指。”

“A bronze ring, old simpleton! —
“一个铜戒指，老傻瓜！” —

And where shall I find one?”
“我在哪里能找到一个？”

“Under the cushion in the Princess’s room.”
“在公主房间的垫子下面。”

The slave went back to her mistress.
奴隶回到了她的女主人身边。

The old madman will take neither gold nor silver,” said she.
“那个疯子既不要金子也不要银子。”她说道。

“What does he want then?”
“那他想要什么？”

“A bronze ring that is hidden under a cushion.”
“一个藏在靠垫下的铜戒指。”

Find the ring and give it to him,” said the Princess.
“找到那个戒指并把它给他。”公主说道。

And at last the slave found the bronze ring, which the captain of the golden ship had accidentally left behind and carried it to the man, who made off with it instantly.
最后，奴隶找到了那个铜戒指，它是那位金船船长不小心留下的，奴隶把它拿给了那个人，他立刻逃跑了。

Hardly had he reached his own house when, taking the ring, he said, “Bronze ring, obey thy master. —
刚回到家中，那个人拿起戒指说道：“青铜戒指，听从主人的命令。 —

I desire that the golden ship shall turn to black wood, and the crew to hideous negroes; —
我希望那艘金船变成黑木船，船员变成丑陋的黑鬼； —

that St. Nicholas shall leave the helm and that the only cargo shall be black cats.”
我希望圣尼古拉斯离开舵，船上唯一的货物都是黑猫。”

And the genii of the bronze ring obeyed him.
青铜戒指的精灵们听从他的命令。

Finding himself upon the sea in this miserable condition, the young captain understood that some one must have stolen the bronze ring from him, and he lamented his misfortune loudly; —
身处这种悲惨的境地，年轻船长明白一定是有人偷走了他的铜戒指，他大声抱怨自己的不幸； —

but that did him no good.
但是这对他没有任何好处。

“Alas!” he said to himself, “whoever has taken my ring has probably taken my dear wife also. —
“唉！”他自言自语道，“谁拿走了我的戒指，很可能也把我亲爱的妻子带走了。” —

What good will it do me to go back to my own country? —
回到我自己的国家又有什么好处呢？ —

” And he sailed about from island to island, and from shore to shore, believing that wherever he went everybody was laughing at him, and very soon his poverty was so great that he and his crew and the poor black cats had nothing to eat but herbs and roots. —
他在岛屿间航行，从岸边到岸边，相信不管他去哪里，每个人都在嘲笑他。很快，他们的贫困变得如此严重，他和他的船员以及可怜的黑猫们只能吃草和根。 —

After wandering about a long time he reached an island inhabited by mice. —
漫游了很长时间后，他来到了一个有老鼠居住的岛屿。 —

The captain landed upon the shore and began to explore the country. —
船长登上岸边，开始探索这片土地。 —

There were mice everywhere, and nothing but mice. —
到处都是老鼠，除了老鼠什么也没有。 —

Some of the black cats had followed him, and, not having been fed for several days, they were fearfully hungry, and made terrible havoc among the mice.
一些黑猫跟着他来了，因为几天没吃东西，它们饥肠辘辘，对老鼠们造成了可怕的破坏。

Then the queen of the mice held a council.
于是老鼠女王召开了一次会议。

“These cats will eat every one of us,” she said, “if the captain of the ship does not shut the ferocious animals up. —
“如果船长不把这些凶猛的动物关起来，它们会吃掉我们所有人，”她说。“让我们派一支勇敢的代表团去找他。” —

Let us send a deputation to him of the bravest among us.”
让我们派一支勇敢的代表团去找他。”

Several mice offered themselves for this mission and set out to find the young captain.
一些老鼠自愿参加这个任务，并出发去找年轻船长。

“Captain,” said they, “go away quickly from our island, or we shall perish, every mouse of us.”
“船长，”它们说道，”快离开我们的岛屿，否则我们将全部灭亡。”

“Willingly,” replied the young captain, “upon one condition. —
“愿意，”年轻船长回答道，”但有一个条件。 —

That is that you shall first bring me back a bronze ring which some clever magician has stolen from me. —
那就是你们必须先给我找回一只巧妙的魔术师从我身上偷走的青铜戒指。 —

If you do not do this I will land all my cats upon your island, and you shall be exterminated.”
如果你们做不到，我就会把我的猫都带上岛屿，把你们全部消灭。”

The mice withdrew in great dismay. “What is to be done? —
老鼠们非常沮丧地离开了。”怎么办？ —

” said the Queen. “How can we find this bronze ring? —
“女王说道，”我们怎么能找到这只青铜戒指？ —

” She held a new council, calling in mice from every quarter of the globe, but nobody knew where the bronze ring was. —
“她召集了一次新的会议，从世界各地召来了老鼠，但没有人知道青铜戒指在哪里。 —

Suddenly three mice arrived from a very distant country. —
突然，三只老鼠从一个非常遥远的国家来到了这里。 —

One was blind, the second lame, and the third had her ears cropped.
其中一只是瞎了，第二只是瘸了，第三只的耳朵被剪掉了一部分。

“Ho, ho, ho!” said the new-comers. —
“嗨，嗨，嗨，”新来的老鼠们说道。 —

“We come from a far distant country.”
“我们来自一个非常遥远的国家。”

“Do you know where the bronze ring is which the genii obey?”
“你们知道那只有精灵效忠的青铜戒指在哪里吗？”

“Ho, ho, ho! we know; an old sorcerer has taken possession of it, and now he keeps it in his pocket by day and in his mouth by night.”
“喔，喔，喔！我们知道了；一位老巫师把它夺走了，现在白天他把它放在口袋里，晚上则放在嘴里。”

“Go and take it from him, and come back as soon as possible.”
“去把它从他那儿夺回来，尽快回来。”

So the three mice made themselves a boat and set sail for the magician’s country. —
于是这三只老鼠制作了一艘小船，驶向了巫师的国家。 —

When they reached the capital they landed and ran to the palace, leaving only the blind mouse on the shore to take care of the boat. —
当他们到达首都时，他们在岸边上了岸，只留下一只瞎眼老鼠照看船只。 —

Then they waited till it was night. —
然后他们等待夜幕降临。 —

The wicked old man lay down in bed and put the bronze ring into his mouth, and very soon he was asleep.
那位恶毒的老人躺在床上，把铜戒指放在嘴里，很快就入睡了。

“Now, what shall we do? —
“现在我们该怎么办呢？ —

” said the two little animals to each other.
”两只小动物彼此说。

The mouse with the cropped ears found a lamp full of oil and a bottle full of pepper. —
戴着剪过耳朵的老鼠找到了一盏装满油的灯和一瓶装满胡椒的瓶子。 —

So she dipped her tail first in the oil and then in the pepper, and held it to the sorcerer’s nose.
于是她先把尾巴浸入油中，再浸入胡椒中，然后把它放在巫师的鼻子前。

“Atisha! atisha!” sneezed the old man, but he did not wake, and the shock made the bronze ring jump out of his mouth. —
“阿提莎！阿提莎！”老人打了一个喷嚏，但他没有醒来，而且这个冲击使铜戒指从他的嘴里弹了出来。 —

Quick as thought the lame mouse snatched up the precious talisman and carried it off to the boat.
跛蹄鼠像念头一样，抓起了珍贵的护符，将其带到了船上。

Imagine the despair of the magician when he awoke and the bronze ring was nowhere to be found!
想象一下魔术师醒来后，发现青铜戒指不见了，他会是多么绝望！

But by that time our three mice had set sail with their prize. —
但此时，我们的三只老鼠已经带着战利品启航了。 —

A favoring breeze was carrying them toward the island where the queen of the mice was awaiting them. —
一股顺风正将他们带往等待他们的老鼠女王的岛屿。 —

Naturally they began to talk about the bronze ring.
自然而然地，他们开始谈论起青铜戒指。

“Which of us deserves the most credit? —
“我们中谁应得到最大的荣誉？”他们一齐喊道。 —

” they cried all at once.
“我应得！”盲鼠说，“如果不是我的警觉，我们的船就会漂向无边的大海。”

“I do,” said the blind mouse, “for without my watchfulness our boat would have drifted away to the open sea.”
“不，不是的！”断耳鼠喊道，

“No, indeed,” cried the mouse with the cropped ears; —
“功劳是我的。难道不是我让戒指从人嘴里跳了出来吗？” —

“the credit is mine. Did I not cause the ring to jump out of the man’s mouth?”
“不，是我的！”跛蹄鼠喊道，“因为我把戒指抱走了。”

“No, it is mine,” cried the lame one, “for I ran off with the ring.”
他们争论得越来越激烈，不幸的是，

And from high words they soon came to blows, and, alas! —
当争吵最激烈的时候，青铜戒指掉进了海里。 —

when the quarrel was fiercest the bronze ring fell into the sea.
当争吵最激烈的时候，青铜戒指掉进了海里。

“How are we to face our queen,” said the three mice “when by our folly we have lost the talisman and condemned our people to be utterly exterminated? —
“我们失去了护身符，害得我们的人民遭受了毁灭的厄运，我们该如何面对我们的女王呢？”三只老鼠说道。 —

We cannot go back to our country; —
我们无法返回我们的国家。 —

let us land on this desert island and there end our miserable lives. —
让我们在这座荒岛上结束我们悲惨的生命吧。 —

” No sooner said than done. —
“说做就做。” —

The boat reached the island, and the mice landed.
船抵达了岛屿，老鼠们登陆了。

The blind mouse was speedily deserted by her two sisters, who went off to hunt flies, but as she wandered sadly along the shore she found a dead fish, and was eating it, when she felt something very hard. —
盲老鼠很快就被她的两个姐妹抛弃了，她们去猎捕苍蝇。但她在海岸边悲伤地徘徊时，发现了一条死鱼，她正在吃的时候，感到了一样东西非常硬。 —

At her cries the other two mice ran up.
听到她的呼喊声，另外两只老鼠跑了过来。

“It is the bronze ring! It is the talisman! —
“这是那个青铜戒指！这是护身符！” —

” they cried joyfully, and, getting into their boat again, they soon reached the mouse island. —
“他们欢呼着说，并再次坐上小船，很快就到达了老鼠岛。 —

It was time they did, for the captain was just going to land his cargo of cats, when a deputation of mice brought him the precious bronze ring.
他们来得正好，因为船长正准备卸下他的猫货，此时一群老鼠给他带来了那枚宝贵的青铜戒指。

“Bronze ring,” commanded the young man, “obey thy master. —
“青铜戒指，听从主人的命令。 —

Let my ship appear as it was before.”
让我的船重新变为以前的样子。”

Immediately the genii of the ring set to work, and the old black vessel became once more the wonderful golden ship with sails of brocade; —
戒指的妖精立刻开始工作，那艘古老的黑色船只立刻变成了金色奇妙的船，帆布由锦缎制成； —

the handsome sailors ran to the silver masts and the silken ropes, and very soon they set sail for the capital.
英俊的水手们跑向银质桅杆和丝绸绳索，很快他们就启航前往首都。

Ah! how merrily the sailors sang as they flew over the glassy sea!
啊！水手们在透明的海面上欢快地歌唱着飞行！

At last the port was reached.
最后抵达了港口。

The captain landed and ran to the palace, where he found the wicked old man asleep. —
船长下船奔向宫殿，发现那个邪恶的老人正在睡觉。 —

The Princess clasped her husband in a long embrace. —
公主长时间地拥抱着她的丈夫。 —

The magician tried to escape, but he was seized and bound with strong cords.
魔术师试图逃跑，但他被抓住并用牢固的绳子捆绑住。

The next day the sorcerer, tied to the tail of a savage mule loaded with nuts, was broken into as many pieces as there were nuts upon the mule’s back.
第二天，那个巫师被绑在一只背着坚果的野蒙驴的尾巴上，被折断成和驴背上的坚果一样多的碎片。