ONCE upon a time there lived a king who was so just and kind that his subjects called him “the Good King.” It happened one day, when he was out hunting, that a little white rabbit, which his dogs were chasing, sprang into his arms for shelter. —
从前有一个国王，他是如此公正和仁慈，以至于他的臣民称他为“善良国王”。有一天，当他外出打猎时，他的狗追赶的一只小白兔跳进他的怀里寻求庇护。 —

The King stroked it gently, and said to it:
国王温柔地抚摸着它，对它说:

“Well, bunny, as you have come to me for protection I will see that nobody hurts you.”
“好吧，小兔子，既然你来找我寻求保护，我会确保没有人伤害你。”

And he took it home to his palace and had it put in a pretty little house, with all sorts of nice things to eat.
于是他把小兔子带回了宫殿，将它放在一个漂亮的小屋子里，里面有各种好吃的东西。

That night, when he was alone in his room, a beautiful lady suddenly appeared before him; —
那天晚上，当他独自一人在房间里时，一个美丽的女人突然出现在他面前; —

her long dress was as white as snow, and she had a crown of white roses upon her head. —
她的长裙雪白如雪，头上戴着一顶白色的玫瑰花冠。 —

The good King was very much surprised to see her, for he knew his door had been tightly shut, and he could not think how she had got in. —
善良的国王非常惊讶地看到她，因为他知道他的房门已经紧闭，他无法想象她是怎么进来的。 —

But she said to him:
但是她对他说:

“I am the Fairy Truth. I was passing through the wood when you were out hunting, and I wished to find out if you were really good, as everybody said you were, so I took the shape of a little rabbit and came to your arms for shelter, for I know that those who are merciful to animals will be still kinder to their fellow-men. —
“我是真实的仙女。当你出去打猎时，我正好经过那片树林，我想验证一下大家所说的你真的很善良，所以我变成了一只小兔子的形象来到你怀里寻求庇护。因为我知道，对待动物仁慈的人对待其他人也会更加友善。 —

If you had refused to help me I should have been certain that you were wicked. —
如果你拒绝帮助我，我就会确信你是邪恶的。 —

I thank you for the kindness you have shown me, which has made me your friend for ever. —
非常感谢你对我的善意，这使我成为了你永远的朋友。 —

You have only to ask me for anything you want and I promise that I will give it to you.”
你只需向我提出任何你想要的东西，我承诺会给予你。”

“Madam,” said the good King, “since you are a fairy you no doubt know all my wishes. —
“夫人，”善良的国王说道，“既然您是一位仙女，您想必已经知道我所有的愿望。 —

I have but one son whom I love very dearly, that is why he is called Prince Darling. —
我只有一个非常爱的儿子，所以他被称为亲爱的王子。 —

If you are really good enough to wish to do me a favor, I beg that you will become his friend.”
如果您真心愿意帮我一个忙，我恳请您成为他的朋友。”

“With all my heart,” answered the Fairy. “I can make your son the handsomest prince in the world, or the richest, or the most powerful; —
“我会全心全意地做到的，”仙女回答道。“我可以让你的儿子成为世界上最帅的王子，或是最富有的，或是最有权力的； —

choose whichever you like for him.”
你可以选择他喜欢的那一个。”

“I do not ask either of these things for my son,” replied the good King; —
“我并不为我儿子要求这些，”善良的国王回答道； —

“but if you will make him the best of princes, I shall indeed be grateful to you. —
“但如果你能让他成为最好的王子，我会非常感激您。 —

What good would it do him to be rich, or handsome, or to possess all the kingdoms of the world if he were wicked? —
如果他邪恶，拥有财富，或是世界上所有的王国又有什么好处呢？ —

You know well he would still be unhappy. —
你知道他依然会不幸的。 —

Only a good man can be really contented.”
只有一个好人才能真正满足。”

“You are quite right,” answered the Fairy; —
“你说得很对，”仙女回答道； —

“but it is not in my power to make Prince Darling a good man unless he will help me; —
“但我没办法让亲王变成一个好人，除非他帮助我； —

he must himself try hard to become good, I can only promise to give him good advice, to scold him for his faults, and to punish him if he will not correct and punish himself.”
他必须自己努力变好，我只能保证给他好的建议，指出他的过错，并且如果他不纠正和惩罚自己，我会惩罚他。”

The good King was quite satisfied with this promise; —
善良的国王对这个承诺很满意； —

and very soon afterward he died.
不久之后他就去世了。

Prince Darling was very sorry, for he loved his father with all his heart, and he would willingly have given all his kingdoms and all his treasures of gold and silver if they could have kept the good King with him.
亲爱的王子非常难过，因为他全心全意地爱着父亲，如果他们能让好国王与他在一起，他愿意放弃他的王国和所有黄金银财。

Two days afterward, when the Prince had gone to bed, the Fairy suddenly appeared to him and said:
两天后，当王子上床睡觉时，仙女突然出现在他面前，说道：

“I promised your father that I would be your friend, and to keep my word I have come to bring you a present. —
“我答应过你的父亲会成为你的朋友，为了遵守诺言，我来给你送个礼物。 —

” At the same time she put a little gold ring upon his finger.
“同时，她将一枚小小的金戒指戴在了他的手指上。

“Take great care of this ring,” she said: —
“好好保管这个戒指”，她说道： —

“it is more precious than diamonds; —
“它比钻石还珍贵； —

every time you do a bad deed it will prick your finger, but if, in spite of its pricking, you go on in your own evil way, you will lose my friendship, and I shall become your enemy.”
每次你做了坏事，它就会刺痛你的手指，但是如果尽管受到刺痛你还是继续做坏事，你将失去我的友谊，我会成为你的敌人。”

So saying, the Fairy disappeared, leaving Prince Darling very much astonished.
说完，仙女就消失了，留下了令王子非常惊讶。

For some time he behaved so well that the ring never pricked him, and that made him so contented that his subjects called him Prince Darling the Happy.
有段时间他表现得很好，戒指从未刺痛过他，这让他感到非常满足，他的臣民称他为快乐的亲爱王子。

One day, however, he went out hunting, but could get no sport, which put him in a very bad temper; —
然而有一天，他出去打猎，但是一无所获，这使他情绪很坏； —

it seemed to him as he rode along that his ring was pressing into his finger, but as it did not prick him he did not heed it. —
当他骑马回家的时候，感觉戒指压在手指上，但是没有刺痛，他没有在意。 —

When he got home and went to his own room, his little dog Bibi ran to meet him, jumping round him with pleasure. —
他回到家，走进自己的房间，他的小狗比比高兴地跑过来迎接他。 —

“Get away!” said the Prince, quite gruffly. —
“走开！”王子板着脸说。 —

“I don’t want you, you are in the way.”
“我不要你，你碍事。”

The poor little dog, who didn’t understand this at all, pulled at his coat to make him at least look at her, and this made Prince Darling so cross that he gave her quite a hard kick.
这只可怜的小狗完全不明白，拉着他的外套，希望至少能引起他的注意，这让亲爱的王子很生气，他狠狠地踢了她一下。

Instantly his ring pricked him sharply, as if it had been a pin. —
瞬间，他的戒指像针一样刺了他一下。 —

He was very much surprised, and sat down in a corner of his room feeling quite ashamed of himself.
他非常惊讶，坐在房间的一个角落里，感到非常羞愧。

“I believe the Fairy is laughing at me,” he thought. —
“我相信仙女在嘲笑我，”他想。 —

“Surely I can have done no great wrong in just kicking a tiresome animal! —
“我一脚踢掉一个讨厌的动物，难道我犯了大错吗！” —

What is the good of my being ruler of a great kingdom if I am not even allowed to beat my own dog?”
如果我连打自己的狗都不被允许，那作为一个伟大王国的统治者有何好处呢？

“I am not making fun of you,” said a voice, answering Prince Darling’s thoughts. —
“我并不是在取笑你”，有声音回答说，回应了亲王达令心中的想法。 —

“You have committed three faults. —
你犯了三个错误。 —

First of all, you were out of temper because you could not have what you wanted, and you thought all men and animals were only made to do your pleasure; —
首先，因为你得不到想要的东西而生气，以为所有的人和动物都是为了满足你的欲望而存在； —

then you were really angry, which is very naughty indeed; —
然后，你真的生气了，这是非常淘气的行为； —

and lastly, you were cruel to a poor little animal who did not in the least deserve to be ill-treated
最后，你对一个可怜的小动物进行了残忍对待，而它根本不值得被虐待。

“I know you are far above a little dog, but if it were right and allowable that great people should ill-treat all who are beneath them, I might at this moment beat you, or kill you, for a fairy is greater than a man. —
我知道你远高于一个小狗，但如果伟人对那些低于自己的人们任意虐待是正确和允许的，此刻我也可以打你或者杀死你，因为仙女比人类更伟大。 —

The advantage of possessing a great empire is not to be able to do the evil that one desires, but to do all the good that one possibly can.”
拥有伟大帝国的优势并不在于能够做自己想做的坏事，而是尽可能地做好事。

The Prince saw how naughty he had been, and promised to try and do better in future, but he did not keep his word. —
王子看到自己之前的行为太顽皮了，并许诺以后会努力变得更好，但他并没有遵守自己的诺言。 —

The fact was he had been brought up by a foolish nurse, who had spoiled him when he was little. —
事实是他被一个愚蠢的保姆带大，当他还很小的时候，她纵容了他。 —

If he wanted anything he only had to cry and fret and stamp his feet and she would give him whatever he asked for, which had made him self-willed; —
如果他想要什么，他只需要哭泣、发脾气和跺脚，她就会给他任何他要求的东西，这使他变得任性； —

also she had told him from morning to night that he would one day be a king, and that kings were very happy, because everyone was bound to obey and respect them, and no one could prevent them from doing just as they liked.
并且她从早到晚告诉他，他将来会成为一个国王，国王非常幸福，因为每个人都必须服从和尊敬他们，没有人能够阻止他们随心所欲。

When the Prince grew old enough to understand, he soon learned that there could be nothing worse than to be proud, obstinate, and conceited, and he had really tried to cure himself of these defects, but by that time all his faults had become habits; —
当王子长大到能够明白的时候，他很快就学会了，最糟糕的事情莫过于傲慢、固执和自负，他真的试图纠正这些缺点，但那时所有的过错都已经成为习惯； —

and a bad habit is very hard to get rid of. —
而一个坏习惯是很难戒掉的。 —

Not that he was naturally of a bad disposition; —
并不是他天生性情恶劣； —

he was truly sorry when he had been naughty, and said:
当他调皮捣蛋时，他真的很抱歉，并说：

“I am very unhappy to have to struggle against my anger and pride every day; —
“每天都不得不为了控制自己的愤怒和骄傲而努力，我真的很不开心； —

if I had been punished for them when I was little they would not be such a trouble to me now.”
如果小时候我因此受到惩罚，现在它们就不会给我带来如此麻烦了。”

His ring pricked him very often, and sometimes he left off what he was doing at once; —
他的戒指经常刺痛他，有时他会立刻停下手中的事情； —

but at other times he would not attend to it. —
但有时他不理会它。 —

Strangely enough, it gave him only a slight prick for a trifling fault, but when he was really naughty it made his finger actually bleed. —
奇怪的是，对于一些小错误，它只会轻轻刺痛他，但当他真的调皮捣蛋时，它会刺破他的手指，让它流血。 —

At last he got tired of being constantly reminded, and wanted to be able to do as he liked, so he threw his ring aside, and thought himself the happiest of men to have got rid of its teasing pricks. —
最后，他厌倦了不断的提醒，希望能够随心所欲，于是他扔掉了他的戒指，并觉得自己是最幸福的人，摆脱了它讨厌的刺痛。 —

He gave himself up to doing every foolish thing that occurred to him, until he became quite wicked and nobody could like him any longer.
他沉溺于做各种愚蠢的事情，变得非常坏，没有人再喜欢他。

One day, when the Prince was walking about, he saw a young girl who was so very pretty that he made up his mind at once that he would marry her. —
一天，王子在四处走动时，看到了一个非常漂亮的年轻女孩，他立刻决定要娶她。 —

Her name was Celia, and she was as good as she was beautiful.
她的名字叫Celia，她不仅漂亮，而且善良。

Prince Darling fancied that Celia would think herself only too happy if he offered to make her a great queen, but she said fearlessly:
亲王Darling认为如果他提议让Celia成为伟大的皇后，她会觉得自己太幸福了，但是她大胆地说道：

“Sire, I am only a shepherdess, and a poor girl, but, nevertheless, I will not marry you.”
“陛下，我只是一个牧羊女，一个贫穷的女孩，但是，我不会嫁给您。”

“Do you dislike me?” asked the Prince, who was very much vexed at this answer.
“您讨厌我吗？”亲王问道，对这个回答非常生气。

“No, my Prince,” replied Celia; —
“不，我的王子，”Celia回答道； —

“I cannot help thinking you very handsome; —
“我忍不住觉得您非常英俊； —

but what good would riches be to me, and all the grand dresses and splendid carriages that you would give me, if the bad deeds which I should see you do every day made me hate and despise you?”
但是，如果我每天看到您做出那些坏事，使我开始憎恶和鄙视您，那么财富、华丽的服装和豪华的马车对我有什么好处呢？”

The Prince was very angry at this speech, and commanded his officers to make Celia a prisoner and carry her off to his palace. —
亲王对这番话非常生气，命令他的官员把Celia抓起来带到他的宫殿。 —

All day long the remembrance of what she had said annoyed him, but as he loved her he could not make up his mind to have her punished.
整天想起她所说的话使他烦恼不已，但是因为他爱她，他下不了决心惩罚她。

One of the Prince’s favorite companions was his foster-brother, whom he trusted entirely; —
王子最喜欢的伙伴之一是他的养兄弟，他完全信任他； —

but he was not at all a good man, and gave Prince Darling very bad advice, and encouraged him in all his evil ways. —
但他并不是一个好人，给亲爱的王子提供了很坏的建议，并在他的所有邪恶行径中鼓励他。 —

When he saw the Prince so downcast he asked what was the matter, and when he explained that he could not bear Celia’s bad opinion of him, and was resolved to be a better man in order to please her, this evil adviser said to him:
当他看到王子如此沮丧时，他问他怎么了，当王子解释说他无法忍受塞莉亚对他的不好印象，并决心变得更好以取悦她时，这个邪恶的顾问对他说：

“You are very kind to trouble yourself about this little girl; —
你为这个小女孩费心真是太好了； —

if I were you I would soon make her obey me. —
如果我是你，我会很快让她服从我。 —

Remember that you are a king, and that it would be laughable to see you trying to please a shepherdess, who ought to be only too glad to be one of your slaves. —
记住你是一个国王，你努力取悦一个牧羊女是可笑的，她应该很高兴成为你的奴隶之一。 —

Keep her in prison, and feed her on bread and water for a little while, and then, if she still says she will not marry you, have her head cut off, to teach other people that you mean to be obeyed. —
把她关在监狱里，给她吃面包和水一段时间，然后，如果她仍然说不会嫁给你，把她的头砍下来，让其他人知道你要服从。 —

Why, if you cannot make a girl like that do as you wish, your subjects will soon forget that they are only put into this world for our pleasure.”
如果你不能让一个女孩按照你的意愿行事，你的臣民很快就会忘记他们只是为了我们的快乐而存在。

“But,” said Prince Darling, “would it not be a shame if I had an innocent girl put to death? —
“但是，”王子达林说，“如果我让一个无辜的女孩被处死，那不是一种耻辱吗？ —

For Celia has done nothing to deserve punishment.”
西莉亚并没有做任何应受惩罚的事情。”

“If people will not do as you tell them they ought to suffer for it,” answered his foster-brother; —
“如果人们不按照你的吩咐去做，他们就应该为此受苦。”他的养兄弟回答道； —

“but even if it were unjust, you had better be accused of that by your subjects than that they should find out that they may insult and thwart you as often as they please.”
“但即使这是不公正的，你最好被你的臣民指责为此，也不要让他们发现他们可以随意侮辱和阻挠你。”

In saying this he was touching a weak point in his brother’s character; —
他这样说触到了他兄弟性格上的弱点； —

for the Prince’s fear of losing any of his power made him at once abandon his first idea of trying to be good, and resolve to try and frighten the shepherdess into consenting to marry him.
因为王子对失去任何一点权力的恐惧使他立刻放弃了首先想要变好的想法，并决定试图吓唬牧羊女，让她同意嫁给他。

His foster-brother, who wanted him to keep this resolution, invited three young courtiers, as wicked as himself to sup with the Prince, and they persuaded him to drink a great deal of wine, and continued to excite his anger against Celia by telling him that she had laughed at his love for her; —
他的养兄弟想要他遵守这个决议，便邀请了三个与他一样坏的年轻贵族与王子一起进餐，并通过告诉他，塞利亚嘲笑他对她的爱来继续激起他的愤怒。 —

until at last, in quite a furious rage, he rushed off to find her, declaring that if she still refused to marry him she should be sold as a slave the very next day.
最后，他勃然大怒，冲向塞利亚并宣称如果她仍然拒绝嫁给他，她明天就会被卖为奴隶。

But when he reached the room in which Celia had been locked up, he was greatly surprised to find that she was not in it, though he had the key in his own pocket all the time. —
但当他来到塞利亚被关押的房间时，他非常惊讶地发现她并不在那里，尽管他一直把钥匙放在自己的口袋里。 —

His anger was terrible, and he vowed vengeance against whoever had helped her to escape. —
他的愤怒十分可怕，他发誓要对帮助她逃脱的人进行报复。 —

His bad friends, when they heard him, resolved to turn his wrath upon an old nobleman who had formerly been his tutor; —
他的不良朋友们听到他这样说后决定把他的愤怒引向一个曾经担任他教师的老贵族; —

and who still dared sometimes to tell the Prince of his faults, for he loved him as if he had been his own son. —
他仍然敢有时告诉王子他的过错，因为他像自己的儿子一样爱他。 —

At first Prince Darling had thanked him, but after a time he grew impatient and thought it must be just mere love of fault-finding that made his old tutor blame him when everyone else was praising and flattering him. —
起初，亲王达令感谢了他，但过了一段时间，他变得不耐烦，认为他的老师只是出于挑剔的爱好才责备他，而其他人都在赞美和奉承他。 —

So he ordered him to retire from his Court, though he still, from time to time, spoke of him as a worthy man whom he respected, even if he no longer loved him. —
因此，他命令他离开他的宫廷，尽管他偶尔还会提到他作为一个值得尊敬的人，即使他不再爱他。 —

His unworthy friends feared that he might some day take it into his head to recall his old tutor, so they thought they now had a good opportunity of getting him banished for ever.
他那些不值得交往的朋友担心他有一天会突然想起他的老师，所以他们觉得现在有一个很好的机会永远将他放逐。

They reported to the Prince that Suilman, for that was the tutor’s name, had boasted of having helped Celia to escape, and they bribed three men to say that Suilman himself had told them about it. —
他们向王子举报说苏曼，就是这个导师的名字，夸耀自己曾经帮助西莉亚逃离，并贿赂了三个人说苏曼亲自告诉过他们。 —

The Prince, in great anger, sent his foster-brother with a number of soldiers to bring his tutor before him, in chains, like a criminal. —
王子非常愤怒地派他的养兄弟带着一队士兵把他的导师带到他面前，用镣铐锁住，像一个罪犯一样。 —

After giving this order he went to his own room, but he had scarcely got into it when there was a clap of thunder which made the ground shake, and the Fairy Truth appeared suddenly before him.
在下达这个命令之后，他走进了自己的房间，但还没有走进去就听到了一声巨雷，震动了大地，诚实仙女突然出现在他面前。

“I promised your father,” said she sternly, “to give you good advice, and to punish you if you refused to follow it. —
“我答应过你父亲，”她严厉地说，“给你提供良好的建议，并惩罚你如果你拒绝遵循它。 —

You have despised my counsel, and have gone your own evil way until you are only outwardly a man; —
你蔑视了我的建议，并按照自己邪恶的方式行事，以至于你只是表面上是个人； —

really you are a monster — the horror of everyone who knows you. —
事实上，你是一个怪物——所有认识你的人的恐怖。 —

It is time that I should fulfil my promise, and begin your punishment. —
是时候实现我的承诺，并开始惩罚你了。 —

I condemn you to resemble the animals whose ways you have imitated. —
我判决你与那些你曾模仿的动物相似。 —

You have made yourself like the lion by your anger, and like the wolf by your greediness. —
你因愤怒变得像狮子，因贪婪变得像狼。 —

Like a snake, you have ungratefully turned upon one who was a second father to you; —
像蛇一样，你不知恩图报地对待那个对你如父的人； —

your churlishness has made you like a bull. —
你的刻薄使你像公牛一样。 —

Therefore, in your new form, take the appearance of all these animals.”
因此，在你新的形态中，承担所有这些动物的外貌。”

The Fairy had scarcely finished speaking when Prince Darling saw to his horror that her words were fulfilled. —
仙女刚说完这句话，亲爱的王子看到自己的恐怖世界成为现实，他感到震惊。 —

He had a lion’s head, a bull’s horns, a wolf’s feet, and a snake’s body. —
他长着狮子的头颅，牛的角，狼的脚，还有蛇的身躯。 —

At the same instant he found himself in a great forest, beside a clear lake, in which he could see plainly the horrible creature he had become, and a voice said to him:
就在同一时刻，他发现自己置身于一片大森林中，湖泊边，清澈的湖水里他可以清楚地看到自己变成的可怕生物，一个声音对他说道：

“Look carefully at the state to which your wickedness has brought you; —
“仔细看看你邪恶带来的结果；相信我，你的灵魂比你的身体更加丑陋千百倍。” —

believe me, your soul is a thousand times more hideous than your body.”
王子认出来这是真相仙女的声音，愤怒地转身想要抓住她并吞噬掉她。

Prince Darling recognized the voice of the Fairy Truth and turned in a fury to catch her and eat her up if he possibly could; —
但他看不到任何人，同样的声音继续说道： —

but he saw no one, and the same voice went on:
“我嘲笑你的无能和愤怒，我打算让你落入你自己臣民的手中，惩罚你的傲慢。”

“I laugh at your powerlessness and anger, and I intend to punish your pride by letting you fall into the hands of your own subjects.”
同上。

The Prince began to think that the best thing he could do would be to get as far away from the lake as he could, then at least he would not be continually reminded of his terrible ugliness. —
王子开始认为，他能做的最好的事情就是尽可能远离湖泊，这样他至少不会不断地被自己可怕的丑陋所提醒。 —

So he ran toward the wood, but before he had gone many yards he fell into a deep pit which had been made to trap bears, and the hunters, who were hiding in a tree, leaped down, and secured him with several chains, and led him into the chief city of his own kingdom.
所以他朝着树林跑去，但是在走了几码之后，他掉入一个深深的陷阱，那是为了困捕熊而设的，而埋伏在树上的猎人们纷纷跳下来，用几条链子将他固定住，然后带他进入他自己王国的首都。

On the way, instead of recognizing that his own faults had brought this punishment upon him, he accused the Fairy of being the cause of all his misfortunes, and bit and tore at his chains furiously.
在路上，他没有意识到是自己的过错导致了这种惩罚，反而怪罪仙女是他所有不幸的根源，疯狂地咬断和扯断自己的锁链。

As they approached the town he saw that some great rejoicing was being held, and when the hunters asked what had happened they were told that the Prince, whose only pleasure it was to torment his people, had been found in his room, killed by a thunder-bolt (for that was what was supposed to have become of him). —
当他们接近城镇时，他看到人们正在庆祝一些重大事件，当猎人们询问发生了什么事时，他们被告知，这位唯一喜欢折磨人民的王子被发现在自己的房间里，被一道闪电击中身亡（因为人们认为他成了这样的命运）。 —

Four of his courtiers, those who had encouraged him in his wicked doings, had tried to seize the kingdom and divide it between them, but the people, who knew it was their bad counsels which had so changed the Prince, had cut off their heads, and had offered the crown to Suilman, whom the Prince had left in prison. —
他的四个朝臣，那些曾经鼓励他邪恶行径的人，试图夺取王国并将其分割，但人们知道正是他们的坏劝言改变了王子，他们斩了他们的头，并将王冠提供给了在监狱里一直被囚禁的苏尔曼。 —

This noble lord had just been crowned, and the deliverance of the kingdom was the cause of the rejoicing “For,” they said, “he is a good and just man, and we shall once more enjoy peace and prosperity.”
这位贵族刚刚加冕，王国的解救引起了欢庆。“因为，”他们说，“他是一个正直善良的人，我们将再次享受和平与繁荣。”

Prince Darling roared with anger when he heard this; —
当王子听到这个消息时，他愤怒地咆哮起来。 —

but it was still worse for him when he reached the great square before his own palace. —
但是当他来到自己宫殿前的大广场时，情况变得更糟糕了。 —

He saw Suilman seated upon a magnificent throne, and all the people crowded round, wishing him a long life that he might undo all the mischief done by his predecessor.
他看到苏尔曼坐在一座华丽的宝座上，人们围拢过来，祝他长寿，以便他可以解开前任所造成的一切麻烦。

Presently Suilman made a sign with his hand that the people should be silent, and said: —
不久，苏尔曼用手示意人们安静下来，并说道： —

“I have accepted the crown you have offered me, but only that I may keep it for Prince Darling, who is not dead as you suppose; —
“我接受了你给我的王冠，但只是为了给亲爱的达令王子保留，他并没有像你所想象的那样死去； —

the Fairy has assured me that there is still hope that you may some day see him again, good and virtuous as he was when he first came to the throne. —
仙女告诉我，仍然有希望你能再次看到他，就像他刚刚登基时那样善良和有德行。 —

Alas!” he continued, “he was led away by flatterers. —
唉！”他接着说，“他被奉承者带走了。 —

I knew his heart, and am certain that if it had not been for the bad influence of those who surrounded him he would have been a good king and a father to his people. —
我了解他的内心，确信如果不是周围那些坏人的坏影响，他会是一位好国王，一位民众的父亲。 —

We may hate his faults, but let us pity him and hope for his restoration. —
我们可以憎恨他的过错，但让我们怜悯他，希望他能恢复。 —

As for me, I would die gladly if that could bring back our Prince to reign justly and worthily once more.”
至于我，如果这能让我们的王子再次公正和有价值地统治，我愿意乐意去死。”

These words went to Prince Darling’s heart; —
这些话打动了亲爱的达令王子的心。 —

he realized the true affection and faithfulness of his old tutor, and for the first time reproached himself for all his evil deeds; —
他意识到了他旧导师的真挚的爱和忠诚，第一次为自己的邪恶行为感到自责； —

at the same instant he felt all his anger melting away, and he began quickly to think over his past life, and to admit that his punishment was not more than he had deserved. —
就在同一个瞬间，他感到所有的愤怒都消散了，他迅速开始回忆起自己的过去生活，并承认自己所受的惩罚不过是他应得的。 —

He left off tearing at the iron bars of the cage in which he was shut up, and became as gentle as a lamb.
他停止了抓扯着关押他的铁笼的动作，变得温顺如羔羊。

The hunters who had caught him took him to a great menagerie, where he was chained up among all the other wild beasts, and he determined to show his sorrow for his past bad behavior by being gentle and obedient to the man who had to take care of him. —
捉住他的猎人们把他带到了一个大动物园，他被锁链束缚在其他野兽中间，他决心通过对照顾他的人友善和听从来表达他对过去坏行为的悔过之情。 —

Unfortunately, this man was very rough and unkind, and though the poor monster was quite quiet, he often beat him without rhyme or reason when he happened to be in a bad temper. —
不幸的是，这个人非常粗暴和残忍，虽然可怜的怪物很安分，但他经常无缘无故地在他心情不好时打他。 —

One day when this keeper was asleep a tiger broke its chain, and flew at him to eat him up. —
有一天，当这个看护人睡着时，一只老虎冲破了链条，向他扑去要将他吃掉。 —

Prince Darling, who saw what was going on, at first felt quite pleased to think that he should be delivered from his persecutor, but soon thought better of it and wished that he were free.
令人惊讶的是，看着正在发生的事情，亲王达令起初为能够摆脱迫害他的人而感到高兴，但很快他改变了主意，希望自己能自由。

“I would return good for evil,” he said to himself, “and save the unhappy man’s life. —
“我会以善报恶，拯救那个不幸的人的生命。”他自言自语道。 —

” He had hardly wished this when his iron cage flew open, and he rushed to the side of the keeper, who was awake and was defending himself against the tiger. —
他刚刚这样希望，铁笼便飞开了，他冲向看守者，看守者醒来正和老虎搏斗。 —

When he saw the monster had got out he gave himself up for lost, but his fear was soon changed into joy, for the kind monster threw itself upon the tiger and very soon killed it, and then came and crouched at the feet of the man it had saved.
当他看到怪兽逃出来时，他觉得自己完了，但是恐惧很快变成了喜悦，因为善良的怪兽扑向老虎，很快将它杀死，然后它来到并蹲在救了它的人的脚边。

Overcome with gratitude, the keeper stooped to caress the strange creature which had done him such a great service; —
深感感激，看守者弯下腰去抚摸那个给他帮助的奇怪生物； —

but suddenly a voice said in his ear:
但突然间有一声声音在他耳边说：

“A good action should never go unrewarded,” and at the same instant the monster disappeared, and he saw at his feet only a pretty little dog!
“善行应该得到回报。”就在同一瞬间，怪兽消失了，他只看到自己脚下是一只漂亮的小狗！

Prince Darling, delighted by the change, frisked about the keeper, showing his joy in every way he could, and the man, taking him up in his arms, carried him to the King, to whom he told the whole story.
王子达令感到非常高兴，他欢快地在看守人周围嬉戏，用尽一切方式表达他的喜悦。看守人将他抱起来，带他去见国王，并向国王讲述了整个故事。

The Queen said she would like to have this wonderful little dog, and the Prince would have been very happy in his new home if he could have forgotten that he was a man and a king. —
王后表示她想要这只神奇的小狗，如果王子能够忘记自己是一个男人和国王，他就会非常开心地生活在新家。 —

The Queen petted and took care of him, but she was so afraid that he would get too fat that she consulted the court physician, who said that he was to be fed only upon bread, and was not to have much even of that. —
王后宠爱并照顾他，但她非常担心他会变得太胖，于是请示了宫廷医生。医生说他只能吃面包，而且即便是面包也不能吃太多。 —

So poor Prince Darling was terribly hungry all day long, but he was very patient about it.
因此可怜的王子达令整天饿得要命，但他对此非常耐心。

One day, when they gave him his little loaf for breakfast, he thought he would like to eat it out in the garden; —
一天，当他们给他一小块面包作早餐时，他想到自己想在花园里吃。于是他把面包叼在嘴里，朝着他知道有一个离宫很远的小溪走去。 —

so he took it up in his mouth and trotted away toward a brook that he knew of a long way from the palace. —
所以他就拿着面包走向花园，并找到他知道的一个离宫很远的小溪。 —

But he was surprised to find that the brook was gone, and where it had been stood a great house that seemed to be built of gold and precious stones. —
但是他惊讶地发现溪流消失了，在原来溪流的地方竟然站着一座似乎是由黄金和宝石建造的大房子。 —

Numbers of people splendidly dressed were going into it, and sounds of music and dancing and feasting could be heard from the windows.
有许多穿着华丽的人走进去，可以从窗户里听到音乐、舞蹈和宴会的声音。

But what seemed very strange was that those people who came out of the house were pale and thin, and their clothes were torn, and hanging in rags about them. —
但是很奇怪的是，那些走出房子的人苍白而瘦弱，他们的衣服破烂脱落。 —

Some fell down dead as they came out before they had time to get away; —
有些人在出来之前就倒下了，连逃离都来不及。 —

others crawled farther with great difficulty; —
另一些人很困难地爬行着前进。 —

while others again lay on the ground, fainting with hunger, and begged a morsel of bread from those who were going into the house, but they would not so much as look at the poor creatures.
还有一些人躺在地上，饥饿得晕倒，乞求那些进屋的人给一口面包，但是他们连看都不看这些可怜的人。

Prince Darling went up to a young girl who was trying to eat a few blades of grass, she was so hungry. —
王子达令走向一个正在努力吃几片草的年轻女孩。 —

Touched with compassion, he said to himself:
感到同情，他心里想道：

“I am very hungry, but I shall not die of starvation before I get my dinner; —
“我非常饥饿，但在我吃饭之前我不会因饥饿而死； —

if I give my breakfast to this poor creature perhaps I may save her life.”
如果我把早餐给这个可怜的生物，也许我可以救她的命。

So he laid his piece of bread in the girl’s hand, and saw her eat it up eagerly.
于是，他把他的一块面包放在女孩的手里，看着她热切地吃了起来。

She soon seemed to be quite well again, and the Prince, delighted to have been able to help her, was thinking of going home to the palace, when he heard a great outcry, and, turning round, saw Celia, who was being carried against her will into the great house.
她很快就恢复了健康，王子非常高兴能够帮助她，正准备回宫殿，这时他听到了一阵大声喧哗，转过身来，看见塞丽娅被强行带进了那座大房子。

For the first time the Prince regretted that he was no longer the monster, then he would have been able to rescue Celia; —
第一次王子为自己已经不再是怪物而感到后悔，如果他还是怪物，就能救出塞丽娅了； —

now he could only bark feebly at the people who were carrying her off, and try to follow them, but they chased and kicked him away.
现在他只能微弱地对着抓走她的人吠叫，试图跟随他们，但他们把他赶跑并踢了他。

He determined not to quit the place till he knew what had become of Celia, and blamed himself for what had befallen her.
他决定不离开这个地方，直到弄清楚塞丽娅发生了什么事，他为塞丽娅发生的事情责怪自己。

“Alas!” he said to himself, “I am furious with the people who are carrying Celia off, but isn’t that exactly what I did myself, and if I had not been prevented did I not intend to be still more cruel to her?”
“唉！”他自言自语道，“我对那些抓走西莉亚的人感到愤怒，但这难道不就是我自己所做的吗？如果我没有被阻止，难道我不打算对她更加残忍吗？”

Here he was interrupted by a noise above his head — someone was opening a window, and he saw with delight that it was Celia herself, who came forward and threw out a plate of most delicious-looking food, then the window was shut again, and Prince Darling, who had not had anything to eat all day, thought he might as well take the opportunity of getting something. —
就在这时，他的头顶上传来了一阵噪音——有人打开了一扇窗户，他高兴地看到是西莉亚本人，她走向前，扔出了一盘看起来非常美味的食物，然后窗户又关上了。一整天都没有吃东西的亲爱的王子觉得这是个好机会可以拿点东西来吃。 —

He ran forward to begin, but the young girl to whom he had given his bread gave a cry of terror and took him up in her arms, saying:
他跑过去准备吃，但是他曾经给面包的那个小女孩却惊恐地大叫起来，抱起他说道：

“Don’t touch it, my poor little dog — that house is the palace of pleasure, and everything that comes out of it is poisoned!”
“别碰它，我可怜的小狗 —— 那所房子是享乐的宫殿，里面的一切都是有毒的！”

At the same moment a voice said:
就在这时，一个声音说道：

“You see a good action always brings its reward,” and the Prince found himself changed into a beautiful white dove. —
“你看，善行总是会得到回报的。”王子发现自己化作了美丽的白鸽。 —

He remembered that white was the favorite color of the Fairy Truth, and began to hope that he might at last win back her favor. —
他记得白色是真理仙女最喜欢的颜色，开始希望自己最终能够赢回她的青睐。 —

But just now his first care was for Celia, and rising into the air he flew round and round the house, until he saw an open window; —
但他现在首先关心的是塞丽娅，他飞起来在房子周围飞来飞去，直到他看到了一个敞开的窗户； —

but he searched through every room in vain. —
但他在每个房间里都寻找了一遍，却一无所获。 —

No trace of Celia was to be seen, and the Prince, in despair, determined to search through the world till he found her. —
看不到塞丽娅的踪迹，王子绝望地决定在世界各地搜寻她。 —

He flew on and on for several days, till he came to a great desert, where he saw a cavern, and, to his delight, there sat Celia, sharing the simple breakfast of an old hermit.
他飞行了几天，直到来到一个巨大的沙漠，那里有一个洞穴，令他欣喜的是，塞丽娅正坐在那里，与一位老隐士共进简单的早餐。

Overjoyed to have found her, Prince Darling perched upon her shoulder, trying to express by his caresses how glad he was to see her again, and Celia, surprised and delighted by the tameness of this pretty white dove, stroked it softly, and said, though she never thought of its understanding her:
非常高兴找到她，白天使王子站在她的肩膀上，试图通过爱抚来表达他再次见到她的喜悦。赛琳娜对这只漂亮的白鸽如此亲密而感到惊喜和高兴，她柔和地抚摸着它，尽管她从未想过它能理解她的话。

“I accept the gift that you make me of yourself, and I will love you always.”
“我接受你给我的礼物，我会永远爱你。”

“Take care what you are saying, Celia,” said the old hermit; —
“小心你说什么，赛琳娜，”老隐士说道； —

“are you prepared to keep that promise?”
“你准备兑现承诺吗？”

“Indeed, I hope so, my sweet shepherdess,” cried the Prince, who was at that moment restored to his natural shape. —
“实际上，我希望是这样的，我可爱的牧羊女”，正在此刻回到了他的本来形态。 —

“You promised to love me always; —
“你答应要永远爱我； —

tell me that you really mean what you said, or I shall have to ask the Fairy to give me back the form of the dove which pleased you so much.”
告诉我你是认真的，否则我会请求仙女把你之前那只让你如此喜欢的鸽子的形态还给我。”

“You need not be afraid that she will change her mind,” said the Fairy, throwing off the hermit’s robe in which she had been disguised and appearing before them.
“你不用担心她会改变主意，”仙女说着，脱掉了她之前伪装的隐士袍子，出现在他们面前。

“Celia has loved you ever since she first saw you, only she would not tell you while you were so obstinate and naughty. —
“Celia自从第一次见到你就一直爱着你，只是当时你太顽固任性，她没有告诉过你。 —

Now you have repented and mean to be good you deserve to be happy, and so she may love you as much as she likes.”
现在你悔过并决心变好，你应该得到幸福，所以她可以随心所欲地爱你。”

Celia and Prince Darling threw themselves at the Fairy’s feet, and the Prince was never tired of thanking her for her kindness. —
Celia和Prince Darling俯身向仙女行礼，而Prince Darling也一直不厌其烦地感谢她的慈善。 —

Celia was delighted to hear how sorry he was for all his past follies and misdeeds, and promised to love him as long as she lived.
听到他为过去的愚蠢和恶行感到多么抱歉，Celia感到非常高兴，并承诺会一生一直爱他。

“Rise, my children,” said the Fairy, “and I will transport you to the palace, and Prince Darling shall have back again the crown he forfeited by his bad behavior.”
“起来吧，我的孩子们，”仙女说，“我会把你们带到宫殿，Prince Darling将会重新获得他因行为不当而失去的王冠。”

While she was speaking, they found themselves in Suilman’s hall, and his delight was great at seeing his dear master once more. —
当她说话时，他们发现自己已经身处Suilman的大厅，这时他见到了他亲爱的主人非常高兴。 —

He gave up the throne joyfully to the Prince, and remained always the most faithful of his subjects.
他欣然把王位还给了Prince Darling，并一直是他最忠诚的臣民。

Celia and Prince Darling reigned for many years, but he was so determined to govern worthily and to do his duty that his ring, which he took to wearing again, never once pricked him severely.
希利亚和王子达令统治了许多年，但他非常决心履行责任，以尽心尽力执政，所以他戴回戒指后从未被严重刺痛过。