ONCE upon a time — in the days when the fairies lived — there was a king who had three daughters, who were all young, and clever, and beautiful; —
从前——在仙女们居住的年代——有个国王，他有三个女儿，都年轻聪明而美丽； —

but the youngest of the three, who was called Miranda, was the prettiest and the most beloved.
但是最小的那个，叫做米兰达，是最漂亮和最受宠爱的。

The King, her father, gave her more dresses and jewels in a month than he gave the others in a year; —
她的父亲国王一个月给她的礼服和珠宝比其他姐妹一年都多； —

but she was so generous that she shared everything with her sisters, and they were all as happy and as fond of one another as they could be.
但是她非常慷慨，把一切都和姐妹们分享，她们都非常快乐和亲爱。

Now, the King had some quarrelsome neighbors, who, tired of leaving him in peace, began to make war upon him so fiercely that he feared he would be altogether beaten if he did not make an effort to defend himself. —
现在，国王有一些好争吵的邻居，他们不满意让他安宁，开始对他发动激烈的战争，他担心如果不努力抵抗他们，就会被彻底打败。 —

So he collected a great army and set off to fight them, leaving the Princesses with their governess in a castle where news of the war was brought every day — sometimes that the King had taken a town, or won a battle, and, at last, that he had altogether overcome his enemies and chased them out of his kingdom, and was coming back to the castle as quickly as possible, to see his dear little Miranda whom he loved so much.
于是他集结了一支庞大的军队，出发去与他们作战，将公主们与他们的女教师留在一座城堡中。每天都会有关于战争的消息传来，有时是国王夺下了一个城镇，或是赢得了一场战斗，最后是他彻底击败了敌人，将他们赶出了王国，并且正以最快的速度回到城堡，去见他那么深爱的小米兰达公主。

The three Princesses put on dresses of satin, which they had had made on purpose for this great occasion, one green, one blue, and the third white; —
三位公主穿上了他们专为这个盛事定制的缎子礼服，一个是绿色的，一个是蓝色的，第三个是白色的。 —

their jewels were the same colors. —
他们的宝石也是相应的颜色。 —

The eldest wore emeralds, the second turquoises, and the youngest diamonds, and thus adorned they went to meet the King, singing verses which they had composed about his victories.
大公主戴着翡翠，二公主戴着绿松石，小公主戴着钻石，装束得体的她们去迎接国王，同时唱着她们为国王的胜利而创作的歌词。

When he saw them all so beautiful and so gay he embraced them tenderly, but gave Miranda more kisses than either of the others.
当国王看到她们如此美丽和快乐时，他亲切地拥抱了她们，但比其他两个公主多亲了米兰达一些。

Presently a splendid banquet was served, and the King and his daughters sat down to it, and as he always thought that there was some special meaning in everything, he said to the eldest:
此刻，一道豪华的宴席摆上了桌子，国王和他的女儿们坐下来，因为国王总是认为每件事都有某种特殊的含义，他对长女说道：

“Tell me why you have chosen a green dress.”
“告诉我你为什么选择一件绿色的礼服。”

“Sire,” she answered, “having heard of your victories I thought that green would signify my joy and the hope of your speedy return.”
“陛下，”她回答道，”听说您的胜利，我想绿色象征着我对您的欢乐和迅速归来的希望。”

“That is a very good answer,” said the King; —
“那是一个很好的答案，”国王说道； —

“and you, my daughter,” he continued, “why did you take a blue dress?”
“而你，我的女儿，”他继续说道，”你为什么选择一件蓝色的礼服呢？”

“Sire,” said the Princess, “to show that we constantly hoped for your success, and that the sight of you is as welcome to me as the sky with its most beautiful stars.”
“陛下，”公主说道，”为了表明我们一直对您的成功充满希望，而您的出现对我来说就像是布满美丽星星的天空一样受欢迎。”

“Why,” said the King, “your wise answers astonish me, and you, Miranda. —
“为什么，”国王说道，”你们聪明的回答使我惊讶，那么，米兰达，你呢？ —

What made you dress yourself all in white?
你穿上全身白色是怎么回事？”

“Because, sire,” she answered, “white suits me better than anything else.”
“因为，陛下，”她回答道，”白色比其他任何颜色都更适合我。”

“What!” said the King angrily, “was that all you thought of, vain child?”
“什么！”国王生气地说道，”你只想到这个，虚荣的孩子吗？”

“I thought you would be pleased with me,” said the Princess; —
“我以为你会对我感到高兴的，”公主说； —

“that was all.”
“就是这些。”

The King, who loved her, was satisfied with this, and even pretended to be pleased that she had not told him all her reasons at first.
国王非常爱她，对此感到满意，甚至假装对她一开始没有告诉他所有原因感到满意。

“And now,” said he, “as I have supped well, and it is not time yet to go to bed, tell me what you dreamed last night.”
“现在，”他说，“我已经吃得很饱了，还不到睡觉的时间，告诉我你昨晚做了什么梦。”

The eldest said she had dreamed that he brought her a dress, and the precious stones and gold embroidery on it were brighter than the sun.
大女儿说她梦见他给她带来了一件裙子，上面的宝石和金绣得比太阳还亮。

The dream of the second was that the King had brought her a spinning wheel and a distaff, that she might spin him some shirts.
第二个女儿的梦是国王给她带来了一个纺车和一个纺锤，她可以给他纺些衬衫。

But the youngest said: “I dreamed that my second sister was to be married, and on her wedding-day, you, father, held a golden ewer and said: —
但是最小的女儿说：“我梦见我的第二个姐姐要结婚了，在她的婚礼上，父亲，你拿着一个金水壶说：‘来吧，米兰达，我拿着水，你可以在里面洗手。’” —

‘Come, Miranda, and I will hold the water that you may dip your hands in it.’”
国王听到这个梦后非常生气，脸色阴沉；

The King was very angry indeed when he heard this dream, and frowned horribly; —
—

indeed, he made such an ugly face that everyone knew how angry he was, and he got up and went off to bed in a great hurry; —
的确，他皱起了一个丑陋的脸，每个人都知道他有多生气，他急急忙忙地起身上床睡觉; —

but he could not forget his daughter’s dream.
但是他无法忘记他女儿的梦。

“Does the proud girl wish to make me her slave? —
“这个骄傲的女孩想让我成为她的奴隶吗？ —

” he said to himself. “I am not surprised at her choosing to dress herself in white satin without a thought of me. —
”他自言自语道，“她选择穿白缎子裙，我并不感到惊讶，她没有考虑到我的感受。 —

She does not think me worthy of her consideration! —
她认为我不值得她考虑！ —

But I will soon put an end to her pretensions!”
但我很快就会结束她的妄想！”

He rose in a fury, and although it was not yet daylight, he sent for the Captain of his Bodyguard, and said to him:
他愤怒地起身，虽然天还没有亮，却派人去召见侍卫队长，并对他说：

“You have heard the Princess Miranda’s dream? —
“你听说过公主米兰达的梦吗？ —

I consider that it means strange things against me, therefore I order you to take her away into the forest and kill her, and, that I may be sure it is done, you must bring me her heart and her tongue. —
我认为这意味着对我有奇怪的事情，所以我命令你带她去森林里杀了她，为了确保这是真的，你必须给我带来她的心脏和舌头。 —

If you attempt to deceive me you shall be put to death!”
如果你试图欺骗我，你将被处死！”

The Captain of the Guard was very much astonished when he heard this barbarous order, but he did not dare to contradict the King for fear of making him still more angry, or causing him to send someone else, so he answered that he would fetch the Princess and do as the King had said. —
卫队长听到这个野蛮的命令时非常惊讶，但他不敢反驳国王，怕激怒他或让他派别人去，所以他回答说他会去接公主，并按照国王的要求去行动。 —

When he went to her room they would hardly let him in, it was so early, but he said that the King had sent for Miranda, and she got up quickly and came out; —
当他去她的房间的时候，因为太早，他们几乎不让他进去，但他说国王派他去叫米兰达，她很快就起来出来了； —

a little black girl called Patypata held up her train, and her pet monkey and her little dog ran after her. —
一个叫帕蒂帕塔的小黑女孩托起她的长裙，她的宠物猴子和小狗跟在她后面。 —

The monkey was called Grabugeon, and the little dog Tintin.
这只猴子叫古拉布章，小狗叫小叮当。

The Captain of the Guard begged Miranda to come down into the garden where the King was enjoying the fresh air, and when they got there, he pretended to search for him, but as he was not to be found, he said:
卫队长请求米兰达下到国王正在享受新鲜空气的花园里，当他们到那里的时候，他假装去找国王，但他找不到，他说：

“No doubt his Majesty has strolled into the forest,” and he opened the little door that led to it and they went through.
“国王陛下肯定在森林里散步了”，然后他打开通往森林的小门，他们就通过了。

By this time the daylight had begun to appear, and the Princess, looking at her conductor, saw that he had tears in his eyes and seemed too sad to speak.
此时天亮了，公主看着她的护卫，发现他眼中有泪水，似乎悲伤得说不出话来。

“What is the matter?” she said in the kindest way. —
“怎么了？”她以最温柔的方式问道。 —

“You seem very sorrowful.”
“你看起来很忧伤。”

“Alas! Princess,” he answered, “who would not be sorrowful who was ordered to do such a terrible thing as I am? —
“唉！公主，”他回答道，“谁会不忧伤呢？我被命令做如此可怕的事情。” —

The King has commanded me to kill you here, and carry your heart and your tongue to him, and if I disobey I shall lose my life.”
“国王命令我在这里杀死你，割下你的心脏和舌头带给他，如果我不服从，我就会丧命。”

The poor Princess was terrified, she grew very pale and began to cry softly.
可怜的公主吓坏了，她脸色变得苍白，轻轻地哭了起来。

Looking up at the Captain of the Guard with her beautiful eyes, she said gently:
她抬起美丽的眼睛看着护卫队长，温柔地说道：

Will you really have the heart to kill me? —
你真的忍心杀了我吗？ —

I have never done you any harm, and have always spoken well of you to the King. If I had deserved my father’s anger I would suffer without a murmur, but, alas! —
我从未对你有过任何伤害，而且我总是对国王说你的好话。如果我招致了父亲的愤怒，我会默默承受，但是，唉！ —

he is unjust to complain of me, when I have always treated him with love and respect.”
他无理地责备我，当我一直都把他视为至爱和尊重的对象。

“Fear nothing, Princess,” said the Captain of the Guard. “I would far rather die myself than hurt you; —
“公主，不要害怕。”守卫队长说道，“我宁愿亲自死去也不愿伤害您； —

but even if I am killed you will not be safe: —
但即使我被杀，您也不会安全： —

we must find some way of making the King believe that you are dead.”
我们必须想办法让国王相信您已经死去。”

“What can we do?” said Miranda; —
“我们能做什么？”米兰达问道； —

“unless you take him my heart and my tongue he will never believe you.”
“除非您将我的心脏和舌头交给他，否则他永远不会相信您。”

The Princess and the Captain of the Guard were talking so earnestly that they did not think of Patypata, but she had overheard all they said, and now came and threw herself at Miranda’s feet
公主和守卫队长谈得如此认真，以至于他们忘记了派蒂帕塔，但她听到了他们所说的一切，现在她来了，跪在米兰达的脚下

“Madam,” she said, “I offer you my life; —
“夫人，我愿意献出我的生命； —

let me be killed, I shall be only too happy to die for such a kind mistress.”
让我被杀吧，我会为这样一个善良的女主人而乐意去死。

“Why, Patypata,” cried the Princess, kissing her, “that would never do; —
“为什么，帕蒂帕塔，”公主亲吻着她说道，“那是不行的；你的生命对我来说和我自己的一样珍贵，尤其是在你刚刚表现出对我的爱和忠诚之后。” —

your life is as precious to me as my own, especially after such a proof of your affection as you have just given me.”
“你说得对，公主，”格拉布赶上前说道，“喜欢帕蒂帕塔这样一个忠心耿耿的奴隶；她对你来说比我更有用，我愿意献上我的舌头和心脏，尤其是因为我想在地精国家闯出个大名堂。”

“You are right, Princess,” said Grabugeon, coming forward, “to love such a faithful slave as Patypata; —
“不，不，我亲爱的格拉布，”米兰达回答说，“我不能忍受夺走你的生命的念头。” —

she is of more use to you than I am, I offer you my tongue and my heart most willingly, especially as I wish to make a great name for myself in Goblin Land.”
“像我这样的好小狗，”坦坦喊道，“不能让你们中的任何一个人为了它的主人而死。如果有人为她而死，那就应该是我。”

“No, no, my little Grabugeon,” replied Miranda, “I cannot bear the thought of taking your life.”
“如果有人为她而死，那就应该是我。”

“Such a good little dog as I am,” cried Tintin, acould not think of letting either of you die for his mistress. —
““好小狗像我这样的，”坦坦喊道，“不能让你们中的任何一个人为了它的主人而死。如果有人为她而死，那就应该是我。” —

If anyone is to die for her it must be me.”
“好小狗像我这样的，”坦坦呼喊起来，“不能让你们两个中的任何一个人为了它的主人而死。如果有人为她而死，那就应该是我。”

And then began a great dispute between Patypata, Grabugeon, and Tintin, and they came to high words, until at last Grabugeon, who was quicker than the others, ran up to the very top of the nearest tree, and let herself fall, head first, to the ground, and there she lay — quite dead!
然后帕蒂帕塔、格拉布奇昂和丁丁之间爆发了一场激烈的争吵，他们争吵得非常激烈，最后比其他人更快的格拉布奇昂狂奔到最近的树顶，头朝下摔到地上，她就这样躺在那里——完全死了！

The Princess was very sorry, but as Grabugeon was really dead, she allowed the Captain of the Guard to take her tongue; —
公主很难过，但因为格拉布奇昂确实死了，她允许护卫队长拿走她的舌头； —

but, alas! it was such a little one — not bigger than the Princess’s thumb — that they decided sorrowfully that it was of no use at all: —
但是，唉！它太小了——不比公主的拇指大——他们伤心地决定这毫无用处： —

the King would not have been taken in by it for a moment!
国王一刹那都不会被它欺骗！

“Alas! my little monkey,” cried the Princess, “I have lost you, and yet I am no better off than I was before.”
“唉！我的小猴子，”公主大叫道，“我失去了你，可是我并没有比以前好多少。”

“The honor of saving your life is to be mine,” interrupted Patypata, and, before they could prevent her, she had picked up a knife and cut her head off in an instant.
“拯救你的荣耀将属于我，”帕蒂帕塔打断了她们，还没等别人阻止，她拿起一把刀，一瞬间就割下了自己的头。

But when the Captain of the Guard would have taken her tongue it turned out to be quite black, so that would not have deceived the King either.
但是当护卫队长要夺走她的舌头时，结果发现它竟然是很黑的，所以这也欺骗不了国王。

“Am I not unlucky?” cried the poor Princess; —
“我真是倒霉啊！”可怜的公主叫道。 —

“I lose everything I love, and am none the better for it.”
“我失去了我所爱的一切，却毫无好处。”

“If you had accepted my offer,” said Tintin, “you would only have had me to regret, and I should have had all your gratitude.”
“如果你接受了我的提议，”Tintin说道，“你只会对我感到懊悔，而我会得到你所有的感激。”

Miranda kissed her little dog, crying so bitterly, that at last she could bear it no longer, and turned away into the forest. —
看到美兰达如此悲痛地亲吻小狗，她终于忍受不了了，转身进入森林。 —

When she looked back the Captain of the Guard was gone, and she was alone, except for Patypata, Grabugeon, and Tintin, who lay upon the ground. —
当她回头再看时，护卫队长已经消失了，她变得孤独无助，只剩下了Patypata、Grabugeon和Tintin躺在地上。 —

She could not leave the place until she had buried them in a pretty little mossy grave at the foot of a tree, and she wrote their names upon the bark of the tree, and how they had all died to save her life. —
在离她远离一棵树下一个漂亮的苔藓坟墓埋葬他们之前，她不能离开这个地方。她在树皮上写下他们的名字以及他们如何为了拯救她的性命而死亡。 —

And then she began to think where she could go for safety — for this forest was so close to her father’s castle that she might be seen and recognized by the first passer-by, and, besides that, it was full of lions and wolves, who would have snapped up a princess just as soon as a stray chicken. —
然后她开始考虑她可以去哪里找到安全——因为这片森林离她父亲的城堡太近了，她可能会被第一个路人看到并认出来，而且，这片森林里到处都是狮子和狼，它们会像抓住一只迷途的鸡一样抓住公主。 —

So she began to walk as fast as she could, but the forest was so large and the sun was so hot that she nearly died of heat and terror and fatigue; —
所以她开始尽快地走，但是森林如此之大，阳光如此之热，让她几乎被热、恐惧和疲劳折磨得要死； —

look which way she would there seemed to be no end to the forest, and she was so frightened that she fancied every minute that she heard the King running after her to kill her. —
无论她往哪个方向看，森林似乎没有尽头，她非常害怕，每一分钟都以为听到国王追来要杀掉她。 —

You may imagine how miserable she was, and how she cried as she went on, not knowing which path to follow, and with the thorny bushes scratching her dreadfully and tearing her pretty frock to pieces.
你可以想象她有多么的悲惨，她一边走着一边哭泣，不知道该选择哪条路，而且荆棘丛刺痛着她，把她漂亮的裙子撕得粉碎。

At last she heard the bleating of a sheep, and said to herself:
最后她听到了一只羊的叫声，然后对自己说：

“No doubt there are shepherds here with their flocks; —
“毫无疑问这里有牧羊人和他们的羊群； —

they will show me the way to some village where I can live disguised as a peasant girl. —
他们会带我去一个村子，我可以伪装成一个农村姑娘生活。 —

Alas! it is not always kings and princes who are the happiest people in the world. —
唉！世界上最幸福的人并不总是国王和王子。 —

Who could have believed that I should ever be obliged to run away and hide because the King, for no reason at all, wishes to kill me?”
谁能相信我竟然被迫逃跑和躲藏，就因为国王毫无理由地要杀死我？

So saying she advanced toward the place where she heard the bleating, but what was her surprise when, in a lovely little glade quite surrounded by trees, she saw a large sheep; —
她边说边走向声音传来的地方，但当她看见一个可爱的小开阔地时，真是大吃一惊； —

its wool was as white as snow, and its horns shone like gold; —
它的羊毛雪白如雪，角闪闪发光如金； —

it had a garland of flowers round its neck, and strings of great pearls about its legs, and a collar of diamonds; —
它脖子上戴着花环，腿上挂着大珍珠串，还有一条钻石项圈； —

it lay upon a bank of orange-flowers, under a canopy of cloth of gold which protected it from the heat of the sun. —
它躺在橙花垫子上，用金布帐篷遮挡阳光的热量。 —

Nearly a hundred other sheep were scattered about, not eating the grass, but some drinking coffee, lemonade, or sherbet, others eating ices, strawberries and cream, or sweetmeats, while others, again, were playing games. —
羊群里零散地散落着近百只其他的绵羊，它们不在吃草，而是有些喝咖啡、柠檬水或雪泥，有些吃冰淇淋、草莓奶油或糖果，而另一些则在玩游戏。 —

Many of them wore golden collars with jewels, flowers, and ribbons.
其中许多戴着镶有宝石、花朵和丝带的金色项圈。

Miranda stopped short in amazement at this unexpected sight, and was looking in all directions for the shepherd of this surprising flock, when the beautiful sheep came bounding toward her.
米兰达惊讶地停下脚步，四处寻找这个惊人羊群的牧羊人，而美丽的绵羊则向她跳跃而来。

“Approach, lovely Princess,” he cried; —
“上前，可爱的公主，”它喊道； —

“have no fear of such gentle and peaceable animals as we are.”
“不要害怕像我们这样温和和平的动物。”

“What a marvel!” cried the Princess, starting back a little. —
“真是奇迹！”公主惊叫一声，稍微后退了一点。 —

“Here is a sheep that can talk.”
“这里有只会说话的绵羊。”

“Your monkey and your dog could talk, madam,” said he; —
“您的猴子和您的狗会说话，夫人，”它说道； —

“are you more astonished at us than at them?”
“你对我们比对它们更惊讶吗？”

“A fairy gave them the power to speak,” replied Miranda. —
“有一位仙女给了它们说话的能力，”米兰达回答道。 —

“So I was used to them.”
“所以我已经习惯了。”

“Perhaps the same thing has happened to us,” he said, smiling sheepishly. —
“也许我们也发生了同样的事情，”它羞涩地笑着说。 —

“But, Princess, what can have led you here?”
“但是，公主，是什么让您来到这里呢？”

“A thousand misfortunes, Sir Sheep,” she answered.
“一千次不幸，绵羊先生”，她回答道。

“I am the unhappiest princess in the world, and I am seeking a shelter against my father’s anger.”
“我是世界上最不幸的公主，我正在寻找一个避难所来躲避我父亲的愤怒。”

“Come with me, madam,” said the Sheep; —
“跟我来，夫人，”那只绵羊说道； —

“I offer you a hiding-place which you only will know of, and where you will be mistress of everything you see.”
“我给您提供一个只有您知道的藏身之处，那里您将成为一切的女主人。”

“I really cannot follow you,” said Miranda, “for I am too tired to walk another step.”
“我真的不能跟着您走了，”米兰达说，“因为我累得再也走不动了。”

The Sheep with the golden horns ordered that his chariot should be fetched, and a moment after appeared six goats, harnessed to a pumpkin, which was so big that two people could quite well sit in it, and was all lined with cushions of velvet and down. —
绵羊母鸡玲珑令人牵来他的车，瞬间出现了六只山羊，套在一个丰满菜豆上，菜豆大得可以容下两个人坐下，里面全部铺着天鹅绒和绒毛的靠垫。 —

The Princess stepped into it, much amused at such a new kind of carriage, the King of the Sheep took his place beside her, and the goats ran away with them at full speed, and only stopped when they reached a cavern, the entrance to which was blocked by a great stone. —
公主走进了它，对这种新奇的座车感到很有趣，绵羊之王坐在她身边，山羊全速驾车，一直开到一个洞穴，洞穴入口由一块巨石阻塞。 —

This the King touched with his foot, and immediately it fell down, and he invited the Princess to enter without fear. —
国王用脚碰了一下，它立刻倒下了，然后他邀请公主毫无畏惧地进去。 —

Now, if she had not been so alarmed by everything that had happened, nothing could have induced her to go into this frightful cave, but she was so afraid of what might be behind her that she would have thrown herself even down a well at this moment. —
现在，如果她没有被发生的一切吓得不知所措，没有什么能够使她走进这个可怕的洞穴，但是她太害怕身后可能有什么，以至于此刻她甚至宁愿跳进井里。 —

So, without hesitation, she followed the Sheep, who went before her, down, down, down, until she thought they must come out at the other side of the world — indeed, she was not sure that he wasn’t leading her into Fairyland. —
因此，毫不犹豫地，她跟着绵羊，一直向下走，直到她觉得他们必须从地球的另一边出来-实际上，她不确定他是否正在引领她步入仙境。 —

At last she saw before her a great plain, quite covered with all sorts of flowers, the scent of which seemed to her nicer than anything she had ever smelled before; —
最后，她看到了一个面前铺满了各种花朵的广袤平原，花香使她觉得比以前闻到的任何东西都好闻； —

a broad river of orange-flower water flowed round it and fountains of wine of every kind ran in all directions and made the prettiest little cascades and brooks. —
一条橙花水围绕着平原流淌，各种葡萄酒的喷泉在各个方向喷射，形成了最漂亮的小瀑布和小溪。 —

The plain was covered with the strangest trees, there were whole avenues where partridges, ready roasted, hung from every branch, or, if you preferred pheasants, quails, turkeys, or rabbits, you had only to turn to the right hand or to the left and you were sure to find them. —
整个平原上长满了奇异的树木，整条路上到处都是烤好的山鸡，只需向左或向右转，就一定能找到野鸡、鹌鹑、火鸡或兔子。 —

In places the air was darkened by showers of lobster-patties, white puddings, sausages, tarts, and all sorts of sweetmeats, or with pieces of gold and silver, diamonds and pearls. —
有些地方空气中弥漫着龙虾馅饼、白状、香肠、馅饼以及各种甜食的味道，金银珠宝也在天上飘落。 —

This unusual kind of rain, and the pleasantness of the whole place, would, no doubt, have attracted numbers of people to it, if the King of the Sheep had been of a more sociable disposition, but from all accounts it is evident that he was as grave as a judge.
这种不寻常的降雨以及整个地方的宜人氛围，无疑会吸引不少人前来，但从各种报道来看，绵羊国王显然一本正经得像个法官。

As it was quite the nicest time of the year when Miranda arrived in this delightful land the only palace she saw was a long row of orange trees, jasmines, honeysuckles, and musk-roses, and their interlacing branches made the prettiest rooms possible, which were hung with gold and silver gauze, and had great mirrors and candlesticks, and most beautiful pictures. —
当米兰达来到这个令人愉快的地方时，正是一年中最美的时候，她看到的唯一的宫殿是一排长长的橘树、茉莉花、忍冬和麝香玫瑰，它们交织在一起的树枝形成了最可爱的房间，墙壁上挂着金银纱和大镜子，大厅里摆放着华丽的烛台和最美丽的画作。 —

The Wonderful Sheep begged that the Princess would consider herself queen over all that she saw, and assured her that, though for some years he had been very sad and in great trouble, she had it in her power to make him forget all his grief.
羊对公主说，他希望公主能把眼前所见的一切都当作自己的国土，并向公主保证，尽管他多年来一直非常悲伤和困扰，但公主有能力让他忘记所有的忧伤。

“You are so kind and generous, noble Sheep,” said the Princess, “that I cannot thank you enough, but I must confess that all I see here seems to me so extraordinary that I don’t know what to think of it.”
“你是如此慷慨和善良，高尚的羊，”公主说，“我无法感谢你的好意， 但我必须承认，我在这里看到的一切对我来说都是如此非凡，我不知道该怎么想。”

As she spoke a band of lovely fairies came up and offered her amber baskets full of fruit, but when she held out her hands to them they glided away, and she could feel nothing when she tried to touch them.
当她说话的时候，一群可爱的仙女走了过来，给她提供了装满水果的琥珀篮子，但当她伸出手去接触它们时，它们滑走了，她触摸不到什么。

“Oh!” she cried, “what can they be? —
“哦！”她喊道，“它们到底是什么？ —

Whom am I with?” and she began to cry.
“我和谁在一起？”她开始哭泣。

At this instant the King of the Sheep came back to her, and was so distracted to find her in tears that he could have torn his wool.
就在这时，绵羊王回到了她身边，他看到她在哭泣，如此慌乱，以至于他几乎要把自己的羊毛撕破。

“What is the matter, lovely Princess?” he cried. —
“怎么了，可爱的公主？”他喊道。 —

“Has anyone failed to treat you with due respect?”
“有人没有给你应有的尊重吗？”

“Oh! no,” said Miranda; —
“哦，不，”米兰达说， —

“only I am not used to living with sprites and with sheep that talk, and everything here frightens me. —
“只不过我不习惯和精灵还有会说话的绵羊生活在一起，这里的一切都吓到我了。 —

It was very kind of you to bring me to this place, but I shall be even more grateful to you if you will take me up into the world again.”
你带我来这个地方非常友善，但如果你能把我带回人间，我会更感激你。”

“Do not be afraid,” said the Wonderful Sheep; —
“不要害怕，”神奇的绵羊说； —

“I entreat you to have patience, and listen to the story of my misfortunes. —
“我恳求你耐心听听我不幸的故事。” —

I was once a king, and my kingdom was the most splendid in the world. —
我曾经是一位国王，我的王国是世界上最辉煌的。 —

My subjects loved me, my neighbors envied and feared me. —
我的臣民爱我，我的邻国羡慕并害怕我。 —

I was respected by everyone, and it was said that no king ever deserved it more.
人人尊敬我，有人说从来没有哪位国王更值得。

“I was very fond of hunting, and one day, while chasing a stag, I left my attendants far behind; —
“我非常喜欢打猎，有一天，我追着一只鹿，把我的侍从们远远地甩在了后面； —

suddenly I saw the animal leap into a pool of water, and I rashly urged my horse to follow it, but before we had gone many steps I felt an extraordinary heat, instead of the coolness of the water; —
突然我看到那只动物跳进了一潭水里，我冲动地催促我的马跟上，但走了几步后，我感到异常的炎热，而不是水的凉爽； —

the pond dried up, a great gulf opened before me, out of which flames of fire shot up, and I fell helplessly to the bottom of a precipice.
池塘干涸了，面前出现了一个巨大的深渊，火焰从中喷腾而出，我无助地坠入了悬崖底部。

“I gave myself up for lost, but presently a voice said: —
“我认为我完蛋了，但突然间有一个声音说： —

‘Ungrateful Prince, even this fire is hardly enough to warm your cold heart!’
‘忘恩负义的王子，即使这火也难以温暖你冷漠的心！’

“‘Who complains of my coldness in this dismal place? —
“‘在这个阴森的地方，谁会抱怨我的冷漠呢？ —

’ I cried.
’我喊道。

“‘An unhappy being who loves you hopelessly,’ replied the voice, and at the same moment the flames began to flicker and cease to burn, and I saw a fairy, whom I had known as long as I could remember, and whose ugliness had always horrified me. —
“‘一个不幸的生灵无望地爱着你，’声音回答道，与此同时，火焰开始摇曳不定，逐渐熄灭了，我看到了一个精灵，她是我记忆中的老朋友，但她的丑陋一直让我感到恐惧。 —

She was leaning upon the arm of a most beautiful young girl, who wore chains of gold on her wrists and was evidently her slave.
她依靠在一个非常美丽的年轻女孩身上，女孩手腕上戴着金链子，显然是她的奴隶。

“‘Why, Ragotte,’ I said, for that was the fairy’s name, ‘what is the meaning of all this? —
“‘嗯，Ragotte，’我说道，因为那是精灵的名字，‘这是什么意思? —

Is it by your orders that I am here?’
是由你的命令我在这里吗？’

“‘And whose fault is it,’ she answered, ‘that you have never understood me until now? —
“‘那是谁的错误，’她回答道，‘直到现在你才理解我？ —

Must a powerful fairy like myself condescend to explain her doings to you who are no better than an ant by comparison, though you think yourself a great king?’
像我这样强大的精灵，必须屈尊向你这个与我相比只是个蚂蚁的人解释我的行动吗，虽然你认为自己是个伟大的国王？’

“‘Call me what you like,’ I said impatiently; —
“‘你喜欢怎么称呼我都可以，’我不耐烦地说道； —

‘but what is it that you want — my crown, or my cities, or my treasures?’
‘但是你想要什么——我的王冠，我的城市，还是我的财宝？’

“‘Treasures!’ said the fairy, disdainfully. —
“‘财宝！’精灵轻蔑地说道。 —

‘If I chose I could make any one of my scullions richer and more powerful than you. —
“如果我选择的话，我可以让我的任何一个厨子比你更加富有和有权势。 —

I do not want your treasures, but,’ she added softly, ‘if you will give me your heart — if you will marry me — I will add twenty kingdoms to the one you have already; —
“我并不想要你的财宝，”她轻声说道，”但是，如果你愿意给我你的心 - 如果你愿意娶我 - 我会给你现有的王国再增加二十个； —

you shall have a hundred castles full of gold and five hundred full of silver, and, in short, anything you like to ask me for.’
“你将拥有百座金满堂的城堡和五百座银满堂的城堡，总之，无论你想要什么，我都会给你。

“‘Madam Ragotte,’ said I, ‘when one is at the bottom of a pit where one has fully expected to be roasted alive, it is impossible to think of asking such a charming person as you are to marry one! —
“‘拉戈特夫人，”我说道，”当一个人在一个坑洞的底部，完全期待自己要被活活烤焦时，是不可能想着请求像您这样迷人的人嫁给自己的！ —

I beg that you will set me at liberty, and then I shall hope to answer you fittingly.’
“请您释放我，然后我希望能够适当地回答您。

“‘Ah!’ said she, ‘if you really loved me you would not care where you were — a cave, a wood, a fox-hole, a desert, would please you equally well. —
“‘啊！”她说道，”如果你真的爱我，你会无所谓你在哪里 - 无论是洞穴、森林、狐狸洞、还是沙漠，都会同样令你满意。 —

Do not think that you can deceive me; —
“不要以为你可以欺骗我； —

you fancy you are going to escape, but I assure you that you are going to stay here and the first thing I shall give you to do will be to keep my sheep — they are very good company and speak quite as well as you do.
你可能想逃走，但我向你保证你将会留在这里，而我给你做的第一件事就是照顾我的羊群 - 它们是非常好的伴侣，说话和你一样好。

“As she spoke she advanced, and led me to this plain where we now stand, and showed me her flock, but I paid little attention to it or to her.
“她说着，我继续前进，她带我来到了我们现在站立的这片平原上，向我展示了她的羊群，但我对此和她都没有怎么注意。

“To tell the truth, I was so lost in admiration of her beautiful slave that I forgot everything else, and the cruel Ragotte, perceiving this, turned upon her so furious and terrible a look that she fell lifeless to the ground.
“说实话，我对她那美丽的奴隶如此赞叹不已，以至于忘记了其他一切，而残忍的拉戈特察觉到这一点，对她怒目而视，她立刻倒在地上，断气而亡。

“At this dreadful sight I drew my sword and rushed at Ragotte, and should certainly have cut off her head had she not by her magic arts chained me to the spot on which I stood; —
“在这可怕的景象面前，我抽出了剑，冲向了拉戈特，如果她没有用她的魔法把我束缚在原地的话，我肯定会砍下她的脑袋。 —

all my efforts to move were useless, and at last, when I threw myself down on the ground in despair, she said to me, with a scornful smile:
我挣扎着想要离开，但一切努力都无济于事，最后，当我绝望地扑倒在地上时，她对我嘲笑地说道：

“‘I intend to make you feel my power. —
“‘我打算让你感受我的力量。 —

It seems that you are a lion at present, I mean you to be a sheep.’
目前看起来，你是一只狮子，我的意思是你变成了一只绵羊。

“So saying, she touched me with her wand, and I became what you see. —
“就这样，她用魔杖碰了碰我，我就变成了你现在看到的样子。 —

I did not lose the power of speech, or of feeling the misery of my present state.
我并没有失去说话的能力，也没有失去感受我目前状态的痛苦。

“‘For five years,’ she said, ‘you shall be a sheep, and lord of this pleasant land, while I, no longer able to see your face, which I loved so much, shall be better able to hate you as you deserve to be hated.’
“‘在接下来的五年里，’她说，‘你将成为一只羊，统治这片美丽的土地，而我，再也无法看到我如此爱恋的你的面容，将更能够痛恨你应受的怨恨。

“She disappeared as she finished speaking, and if I had not been too unhappy to care about anything I should have been glad that she was gone.
她说完就消失了，如果我还觉得在意任何事情，我会为她的离去感到高兴。

“The talking sheep received me as their king, and told me that they, too, were unfortunate princes who had, in different ways, offended the revengeful fairy, and had been added to her flock for a certain number of years; —
“会说话的羊接受我作为他们的国王，并告诉我他们都是不幸的王子，以不同的方式冒犯了报复心重的仙女，被加入她的羊群中一定的年限； —

some more, some less. From time to time, indeed, one regains his own proper form and goes back again to his place in the upper world; —
有些更长，有些更短。有时，一个人恢复了自己的真实形态，重新回到上层世界。 —

but the other beings whom you saw are the rivals or the enemies of Ragotte, whom she has imprisoned for a hundred years or so; —
但是你所看到的其他生物是Ragotte的竞争对手或敌人，她把他们囚禁了大约一百年。 —

though even they will go back at last. —
尽管他们最终会回去。 —

The young slave of whom I told you about is one of these; —
我告诉你的那个年轻奴隶就是其中之一； —

I have seen her often, and it has been a great pleasure to me. —
我经常见到她，对我来说是一种很大的快乐。 —

She never speaks to me, and if I were nearer to her I know I should find her only a shadow, which would be very annoying. —
她从不对我说话，如果我离她更近的话，我知道我只能看到一个阴影，这会很恼人。 —

However, I noticed that one of my companions in misfortune was also very attentive to this little sprite, and I found out that he had been her lover, whom the cruel Ragotte had taken away from her long before; —
然而，我注意到我一个同命相连的同伴也对这个小精灵很关注，我发现他曾经是她的情人，被残忍的Ragotte久久夺走； —

since then I have cared for, and thought of, nothing but how I might regain my freedom. —
自那以后，我只关心并思考着如何重新获得自由。 —

I have often been in the forest; —
我经常在森林中出没； —

that is where I have seen you, lovely Princess, sometimes driving your chariot, which you did with all the grace and skill in the world; —
那里是我看见你的地方，可爱的公主，有时你驾着你优雅熟练的战车。 —

sometimes riding to the chase on so spirited a horse that it seemed as if no one but yourself could have managed it, and sometimes running races on the plain with the Princesses of your Court — running so lightly that it was you always who won the prize. —
有时骑着一匹精神焕发的马冲向追逐的目标，仿佛只有你自己能够驾驭，有时与王室的公主们在平原上进行比赛，轻盈地奔跑，总是你赢得了奖品。 —

Oh! Princess, I have loved you so long, and yet how dare I tell you of my love! —
噢！公主，我爱你已经很久了，然而我怎敢告诉你我的爱意！ —

what hope can there be for an unhappy sheep like myself?”
像我这样一个不幸的绵羊还能有什么希望呢？

Miranda was so surprised and confused by all that she had heard that she hardly knew what answer to give to the King of the Sheep, but she managed to make some kind of little speech, which certainly did not forbid him to hope, and said that she should not be afraid of the shadows now she knew that they would some day come to life again. —
米兰达被听到的一切惊讶和困惑所打动，几乎不知道该给绵羊国王什么答复，但她设法做了一个类似的小演讲，肯定了他的希望，称她不会再害怕阴影了，因为她知道它们总有一天会复活。 —

“Alas!” she continued, “if my poor Patypata, my dear Grabugeon, and pretty little Tintin, who all died for my sake, were equally well off, I should have nothing left to wish for here!”
“唉！”她继续说道，“如果我可怜的帕蒂帕塔、亲爱的格拉布日昂和可爱的小汀汀，他们都为了我而死，也能得到同样的幸福，那么我这里将一无所求！”

Prisoner though he was, the King of the Sheep had still some powers and privileges.
尽管被囚禁，绵羊之王仍然拥有一些权力和特权。

“Go,” said he to his Master of the Horse, “go and seek the shadows of the little black girl, the monkey, and the dog: —
“走吧，”他对他的马夫说道，“去寻找那个小黑女孩、猴子和狗的影子：它们会让我们的公主开心的。” —

they will amuse our Princess.”
接着，米兰达看到它们朝她走来，他们的出现让她非常高兴，尽管它们并没有靠近她，让她能够触摸到它们。

And an instant afterward Miranda saw them coming toward her, and their presence gave her the greatest pleasure, though they did not come near enough for her to touch them.
绵羊之王是如此友善和有趣，他非常爱米兰达，最后她也开始爱上了他。

The King of the Sheep was so kind and amusing, and loved Miranda so dearly, that at last she began to love him too. —
这么一只既英俊又彬彬有礼的绵羊，一定会讨人喜欢，特别是如果你知道他实际上是一位国王，他奇怪的囚禁很快就会结束。 —

Such a handsome sheep, who was so polite and considerate, could hardly fail to please, especially if one knew that he was really a king, and that his strange imprisonment would soon come to an end. —
所以，公主等待幸福到来的日子过得非常快乐。 —

So the Princess’s days passed very gaily while she waited for the happy time to come. —
公主等待幸福到来的日子过得非常快乐。 —

The King of the Sheep, with the help of all the flock, got up balls, concerts, and hunting parties, and even the shadows joined in all the fun, and came, making believe to be their own real selves.
绵羊之王，在全群的帮助下，组织了球赛、音乐会和狩猎派对，就连影子也加入了所有的乐趣，并假装成他们真正的自己。

One evening, when the couriers arrived (for the King sent most carefully for news — and they always brought the very best kinds), it was announced that the sister of the Princess Miranda was going to be married to a great Prince, and that nothing could be more splendid than all the preparations for the wedding.
一个晚上，当信使们到达（因为国王非常认真地寻求消息——而他们总是带来最好的消息），宣布公主米兰达的姐姐将要嫁给一位伟大的王子，所有的婚礼准备都非常辉煌。

“Ah!” cried the young Princess, “how unlucky I am to miss the sight of so many pretty things! —
“啊！”年轻的公主叫道，“我真倒霉，竟然错过了这么多漂亮的东西的景象！ —

Here am I imprisoned under the earth, with no company but sheep and shadows, while my sister is to be adorned like a queen and surrounded by all who love and admire her, and everyone but myself can go to wish her joy!”
我被困在地下，除了绵羊和影子，没有别的伴侣，而我的姐姐将会像一位皇后一样装扮，被所有爱慕和敬仰她的人包围着，除了我，每个人都能去祝她幸福！”

“Why do you complain, Princess? —
“你为什么抱怨，公主？ —

” said the King of the Sheep. “Did I say that you were not to go to the wedding? —
“绵羊之王说，“我说过你不能去参加婚礼吗？ —

Set out as soon as you please; —
你想什么时候出发都可以； —

only promise me that you will come back, for I love you too much to be able to live without you.”
只答应我你会回来，因为我太爱你了，没有你我无法生活。

Miranda was very grateful to him, and promised faithfully that nothing in the world should keep her from coming back. —
米兰达非常感激他，发誓不论世界上发生什么事情都不会阻止她回来。 —

The King caused an escort suitable to her rank to be got ready for her, and she dressed herself splendidly, not forgetting anything that could make her more beautiful. —
国王为她准备了适合她身份的护卫队，并且她身穿华丽的服装，不遗漏任何能让她更美丽的东西。 —

Her chariot was of mother-of-pearl, drawn by six dun-colored griffins just brought from the other side of the world, and she was attended by a number of guards in splendid uniforms, who were all at least eight feet high and had come from far and near to ride in the Princess’s train.
她的车子是由从世界另一边刚带来的六匹母贝珠色狮鹫拉着，她身后跟着一些身穿华丽制服的近卫，他们个个身高至少八英尺，从远近赶来陪伴公主。

Miranda reached her father’s palace just as the wedding ceremony began, and everyone, as soon as she came in, was struck with surprise at her beauty and the splendor of her jewels. —
正当米兰达到达父亲的宫殿时，婚礼仪式刚开始，每个人一见到她都对她的美丽和珠宝的华丽感到惊讶。 —

She heard exclamations of admiration on all sides; —
她听到四周无不发出赞叹之声； —

and the King her father looked at her so attentively that she was afraid he must recognize her; —
国王——她的父亲，紧紧地盯着她看，以至于她害怕他一定会认出她； —

but he was so sure that she was dead that the idea never occurred to him.
但他如此肯定她已经死了，以至于他从来没有想过这个念头。

However, the fear of not getting away made her leave before the marriage was over. —
然而，害怕未能逃脱的恐惧使她在婚礼结束前离开了。 —

She went out hastily, leaving behind her a little coral casket set with emeralds. —
她匆忙出去，留下了一个镶嵌着祖母绿的小珊瑚盒子。 —

On it was written in diamond letters: —
上面用钻石字母写着：“新娘的珠宝”，当他们一发现它就打开了，里面似乎没有尽头的漂亮东西。 —

“Jewels for the Bride,” and when they opened it, which they did as soon as it was found, there seemed to be no end to the pretty things it contained. —
国王本来希望能够与这个未知的公主团聚，并找出她的身份，但当她突然消失时，他非常失望，下令如果她再来，门应该关闭，以便她不那么容易逃脱。 —

The King, who had hoped to join the unknown Princess and find out who she was, was dreadfully disappointed when she disappeared so suddenly, and gave orders that if she ever came again the doors were to be shut that she might not get away so easily. —
请将1号门晚打开的逻辑序号门称为——她再次出现的时候，那是国王非常失望的时候，并下令如果她再来，门应该关闭以免她逃脱得太容易。 —

Short as Miranda’s absence had been, it had seemed like a hundred years to the King of the Sheep. He was waiting for her by a fountain in the thickest part of the forest, and the ground was strewn with splendid presents which he had prepared for her to show his joy and gratitude at her coming back.
虽然米兰达的离开时间很短，但对羊王来说却仿佛过了一百年。他在森林最深处的一个喷泉旁等着她，地上散落着他为了向她展示他的欢乐和感激而准备的华丽礼物。

As soon as she was in sight he rushed to meet her, leaping and bounding like a real sheep. —
她一出现，他就像一只真正的绵羊一样迎上前去，跳跃着、蹦蹦跳跳地。 —

He caressed her tenderly, throwing himself at her feet and kissing her hands, and told her how uneasy he had been in her absence, and how impatient for her return, with an eloquence which charmed her.
他深情地拥抱她，投身于她的脚下亲吻她的手，还告诉她在她离开时他有多么的不安，多么迫切地等待着她的归来，这番雄辩让她陶醉其中。

After some time came the news that the King’s second daughter was going to be married. —
过了一段时间，传来了国王第二个女儿将要结婚的消息。 —

When Miranda heard it she begged the King of the Sheep to allow her to go and see the wedding as before. —
当米兰达听到这个消息时，她请求羊王允许她去看婚礼就像以前那样。 —

This request made him feel very sad, as if some misfortune must surely come of it, but his love for the Princess being stronger than anything else he did not like to refuse her.
这个请求使他感到非常难过，仿佛肯定会有一些不幸发生，但他对公主的爱比任何东西都强烈，他不想拒绝她。

“You wish to leave me, Princess,” said he; —
“你希望离开我，公主，”他说道； —

“it is my unhappy fate — you are not to blame. —
“这是我的不幸命运，你无需自责。 —

I consent to your going, but, believe me, I can give you no stronger proof of my love than by so doing.”
我同意你离去，但请相信，没有比如此行动更能证明我对你的爱意了。”

The Princess assured him that she would only stay a very short time, as she had done before, and begged him not to be uneasy, as she would be quite as much grieved if anything detained her as he could possibly be.
公主向他保证她只会短暂停留，就像以前一样，她请求他不要担心，因为如果有任何事情耽误她，她会和他一样难过。

So, with the same escort, she set out, and reached the palace as the marriage ceremony began. —
于是，她带着同样的护送队出发，当婚礼仪式开始时，她到达了宫殿。 —

Everybody was delighted to see her; —
每个人都高兴地看到她； —

she was so pretty that they thought she must be some fairy princess, and the Princes who were there could not take their eyes off her.
她如此漂亮，以至于他们认为她一定是某个仙女公主，到场的王子们都无法移开眼睛。

The King was more glad than anyone else that she had come again, and gave orders that the doors should all be shut and bolted that very minute. —
国王比任何人都更高兴她再次回来了，并下令立即关上和上了全部门锁。 —

When the wedding was all but over the Princess got up quickly, hoping to slip away unnoticed among the crowd, but, to her great dismay, she found every door fastened.
当婚礼差不多结束时，公主迅速站起来，希望在人群中悄然离开，但让她极为沮丧的是，她发现每个门都锁得很紧。

She felt more at ease when the King came up to her, and with the greatest respect begged her not to run away so soon, but at least to honor him by staying for the splendid feast which was prepared for the Princes and Princesses. —
当国王走到她面前时，她感到更加放心，他非常尊敬地请求她不要这么快离开，至少要为王子和公主们准备的华丽宴会留下荣耀。 —

He led her into a magnificent hall, where all the Court was assembled, and himself taking up the golden bowl full of water, he offered it to her that she might dip her pretty fingers into it.
他带她走进一个豪华的大厅，那里聚集了整个宫廷，然后他自己拿起装满水的金碗，递给她让她可以把她漂亮的手指浸入其中。

At this the Princess could no longer contain herself; —
听到这个，公主再也无法控制自己了。 —

throwing herself at the King’s feet, she cried out:
她跪在国王的脚前，大喊道：

“My dream has come true after all — you have offered me water to wash my hands on my sister’s wedding day, and it has not vexed you to do it.”
“我的梦想终于实现了——你在我姐姐的婚礼上给我洗手的水，你居然不介意。”

The King recognized her at once — indeed, he had already thought several times how much like his poor little Miranda she was.
国王立刻认出了她——事实上，他已经几次想到她和他那可怜的小米兰达有多么相似。

“Oh! my dear daughter,” he cried, kissing her, “can you ever forget my cruelty? —
“哦！我的亲爱女儿，”他一边亲吻她一边喊道，“你能忘记我对你的残忍吗?” —

I ordered you to be put to death because I thought your dream portended the loss of my crown. —
因为我认为你的梦预示着我失去王冠，所以我命令要将你处死。 —

And so it did,” he added, “for now your sisters are both married and have kingdoms of their own — and mine shall be for you. —
事实果然如此，”他补充道，“现在你的两个姐姐都已经结婚并拥有自己的王国-而我的将属于你。 —

” So saying he put his crown on the Princess’s head and cried:
”说完他将王冠戴在公主的头上，喊道：

“Long live Queen Miranda!”
“长命皇后米兰达！”

All the Court cried: “Long live Queen Miranda! —
朝臣们跟着欢呼：“长命皇后米兰达！” —

” after him, and the young Queen’s two sisters came running up, and threw their arms round her neck, and kissed her a thousand times, and then there was such a laughing and crying, talking and kissing, all at once, and Miranda thanked her father, and began to ask after everyone — particularly the Captain of the Guard, to whom she owed so much; —
随后，年轻的皇后的两个姐姐跑过来，抱住她的脖子，亲了她一千次，然后同时哭笑不得，说说笑笑，米兰达感谢她的父亲，并开始询问每个人的情况，特别是卫队长，她对他非常感激。 —

but, to her great sorrow, she heard that he was dead. —
然而，令她非常悲伤的是，她听说他已经去世了。 —

Presently they sat down to the banquet, and the King asked Miranda to tell them all that had happened to her since the terrible morning when he had sent the Captain of the Guard to fetch her. —
不久他们坐下来享用宴会，国王要求米兰达向他们讲述自己从那可怕的早晨起发生的一切，当时他派卫队长去接她。 —

This she did with so much spirit that all the guests listened with breathless interest. —
她讲得如此生动有趣，以至于所有的客人都屏息聆听。 —

But while she was thus enjoying herself with the King and her sisters, the King of the Sheep was waiting impatiently for the time of her return, and when it came and went, and no Princess appeared, his anxiety became so great that he could bear it no longer.
但就在她与国王和姐妹们一起享受时，绵羊国王焦急地等待着她的归来，当时间过去了，没有公主出现，他的焦虑变得如此强烈，以至于他无法再忍受。

“She is not coming back any more,” he cried. —
“她再也不会回来了。”他哭喊道。 —

“My miserable sheep’s face displeases her, and without Miranda what is left to me, wretched creature that I am! —
“我这个可怜羊脸让她反感，没有了米兰达，我还剩下什么，我真是个可怜的家伙！” —

Oh! cruel Ragotte; my punishment is complete.”
哦！残忍的拉戈特，我的惩罚已经完全了。

For a long time he bewailed his sad fate like this, and then, seeing that it was growing dark, and that still there was no sign of the Princess, he set out as fast as he could in the direction of the town. —
他像这样为自己的悲惨命运哀悼了很长时间，然后察觉到天色渐晚，但公主仍然没有出现，他尽可能快地朝着城镇的方向赶去。 —

When he reached the palace he asked for Miranda, but by this time everyone had heard the story of her adventures, and did not want her to go back again to the King of the Sheep, so they refused sternly to let him see her. —
当他到达皇宫时，他询问米兰达，但此时每个人都听说了她的冒险故事，并不想让她再回到绵羊国王那里，所以他们坚决拒绝让他见她。 —

In vain he begged and prayed them to let him in; —
他白白地恳求和祈求着让他进去； —

though his entreaties might have melted hearts of stone they did not move the guards of the palace, and at last, quite broken-hearted, he fell dead at their feet.
尽管他的请求可能能感动冷酷如石头的人，但宫殿的卫兵们却对此置若罔闻，最后，他心力交瘁，倒在了他们脚下，败给了命运。

In the meantime the King, who had not the least idea of the sad thing that was happening outside the gate of his palace, proposed to Miranda that she should be driven in her chariot all round the town, which was to be illuminated with thousands and thousands of torches, placed in windows and balconies, and in all the grand squares. —
与此同时，国王对于发生在他宫殿门外的悲剧毫无察觉，他建议米兰达坐着车大约绕城一周，城镇将点亮成万家灯火，窗户、阳台和广场上都将点燃成千上万的火把。 —

But what a sight met her eyes at the very entrance of the palace! —
但她在宫殿入口处所看到的景象简直让人瞠目结舌！ —

There lay her dear, kind sheep, silent and motionless, upon the pavement!
她亲爱、善良的羊躺在地板上，静静地不动。

She threw herself out of the chariot and ran to him, crying bitterly, for she realized that her broken promise had cost him his life, and for a long, long time she was so unhappy that they thought she would have died too.
她从马车里跳出来，跑向它，伤心地哭泣，因为她意识到自己的失约让它失去了生命，她很长一段时间都感到非常不快乐，以至于他们认为她也会死去。

So you see that even a princess is not always happy — especially if she forgets to keep her word; —
因此，你可以看到，即使是公主也不总是幸福的 - 尤其是如果她忘记遵守诺言。 —

and the greatest misfortunes often happen to people just as they think they have obtained their heart’s desires!
最大的不幸通常发生在人们觉得已经得到内心渴望的时候！