Once upon a time there lived a queen who had been the mother of a great many children, and of them all only one daughter was left. —
从前有一位女王，她生了许多孩子，但只剩下一个女儿。 —

But then SHE was worth at least a thousand.
不过，这个女孩就像价值千金一样。

Her mother, who, since the death of the King, her father, had nothing in the world she cared for so much as this little Princess, was so terribly afraid of losing her that she quite spoiled her, and never tried to correct any of her faults. —
她的母亲自从丈夫——国王去世以来，她最在乎的事就是这个小公主，害怕失去她，所以任由她任性，从不纠正她的错误。 —

The consequence was that this little person, who was as pretty as possible, and was one day to wear a crown, grew up so proud and so much in love with her own beauty that she despised everyone else in the world.
结果，这个天仙般漂亮，未来必将戴上皇冠的小公主，变得如此傲慢自大，以至于看不起世界上其他的任何人。

The Queen, her mother, by her caresses and flatteries, helped to make her believe that there was nothing too good for her. —
她的母亲用无数的抚摸和奉承，让她相信没有什么是她配不上的。 —

She was dressed almost always in the prettiest frocks, as a fairy, or as a queen going out to hunt, and the ladies of the Court followed her dressed as forest fairies.
她几乎总是穿着最漂亮的裙子，扮成仙女或者女王出去打猎，而宫廷的女士们则扮成森林仙女跟随着她。

And to make her more vain than ever the Queen caused her portrait to be taken by the cleverest painters and sent it to several neighboring kings with whom she was very friendly.
为了让她变得更加虚荣，皇后命人找最聪明的画家为她画像，并把画像送给几个与她关系密切的邻国国王。

When they saw this portrait they fell in love with the Princess — every one of them, but upon each it had a different effect. —
当他们看到这幅画像时，他们都爱上了公主，但对每个人的效果却不同。 —

One fell ill, one went quite crazy, and a few of the luckiest set off to see her as soon as possible, but these poor princes became her slaves the moment they set eyes on her.
一个王子病倒了，一个完全疯了，还有一些最幸运的火速前来拜见她，但这些可怜的王子们一见到她就成了她的奴隶。

Never has there been a gayer Court. Twenty delightful kings did everything they could think of to make themselves agreeable, and after having spent ever so much money in giving a single entertainment thought themselves very lucky if the Princess said “That’s pretty.”
从未有过如此快乐的宫廷。二十位令人愉快的国王尽其所能地讨好公主，每次花费大量金钱举办一场盛宴后，如果公主说“这很漂亮”，他们就觉得非常幸运。

All this admiration vastly pleased the Queen. Not a day passed but she received seven or eight thousand sonnets, and as many elegies, madrigals, and songs, which were sent her by all the poets in the world. —
所有这些令人羡慕的举动让皇后非常高兴。每天她收到七八千首十四行诗，以及同样数量的哀歌、小令和歌曲，都是世界上的诗人们送来的。 —

All the prose and the poetry that was written just then was about Bellissima — for that was the Princess’s name — and all the bonfires that they had were made of these verses, which crackled and sparkled better than any other sort of wood.
所有刚才写的散文和诗歌都是关于贝丽丝玛的——因为那是公主的名字——而所有篝火都是由这些诗句燃起的，它们比其他任何木头都发出更响亮的声音和闪耀的光芒。

Bellissima was already fifteen years old, and every one of the Princes wished to marry her, but not one dared to say so. —
贝丽丝玛已经十五岁了，每一位王子都想娶她，但没有一个敢说出口。 —

How could they when they knew that any of them might have cut off his head five or six times a day just to please her, and she would have thought it a mere trifle, so little did she care? —
难怪当他们知道为了取悦她，他们中的任何一个都可能一天砍下自己的头五六次，她竟然觉得那只是一件小事，她根本不在乎。 —

You may imagine how hard-hearted her lovers thought her; —
你可以想象她的情人们是多么认为她冷酷无情。 —

and the Queen, who wished to see her married, did not know how to persuade her to think of it seriously.
而女王想让她结婚，却不知道如何说服她认真考虑这件事。

“Bellissima,” she said, “I do wish you would not be so proud. —
“贝丽丝玛，”她说，“我真希望你不要这么自傲。 —

What makes you despise all these nice kings? —
你为什么看不起这些好王子呢？ —

I wish you to marry one of them, and you do not try to please me.”
我希望你嫁给其中的一个，可你却不为了取悦我而努力。”

“I am so happy,” Bellissima answered: —
“我很开心，”贝丽丝玛回答道： —

“do leave me in peace, madam. —
“请不要打扰我，夫人。” —

I don’t want to care for anyone.”
“我不想关心任何人。”

“But you would be very happy with any of these Princes,” said the Queen, “and I shall be very angry if you fall in love with anyone who is not worthy of you.”
“但是你会对这些王子们非常开心，”皇后说道，“如果你跟不值得你的人墨绶，我会非常生气。”

But the Princess thought so much of herself that she did not consider any one of her lovers clever or handsome enough for her; —
但是公主对自己太过自负，认为她的任何一个追求者都不够聪明或帅气； —

and her mother, who was getting really angry at her determination not to be married, began to wish that she had not allowed her to have her own way so much.
她的妈妈，对她决心不结婚的决定变得非常生气，开始后悔过去任由她随心所欲。

At last, not knowing what else to do, she resolved to consult a certain witch who was called “The Fairy of the Desert. —
最后，不知道该怎么办，她决定去找一位被称为“沙漠女仙”的女巫求助。 —

” Now this was very difficult to do, as she was guarded by some terrible lions; —
这其实非常困难，因为她被一些可怕的狮子看守着； —

but happily the Queen had heard a long time before that whoever wanted to pass these lions safely must throw to them a cake made of millet flour, sugar-candy, and crocodile’s eggs. —
幸运的是，皇后早些时候听说过，任何想安全通过这些狮子的人都必须向它们投掷由谷子粉、冰糖和鳄鱼蛋制成的蛋糕。 —

This cake she prepared with her own hands, and putting it in a little basket, she set out to seek the Fairy. But as she was not used to walking far, she soon felt very tired and sat down at the foot of a tree to rest, and presently fell fast asleep. —
她用自己的双手制作了这个蛋糕，把它放在一个小篮子里，然后出发去寻找仙女。但是由于她不习惯长时间走路，很快就感到非常累了，她坐在一棵树下休息，很快就睡着了。 —

When she awoke she was dismayed to find her basket empty. —
当她醒来时，她惊慌地发现她的篮子是空的。 —

The cake was all gone! and, to make matters worse, at that moment she heard the roaring of the great lions, who had found out that she was near and were coming to look for her
蛋糕都被吃光了！更糟糕的是，就在那时她听到了巨狮的咆哮声，它们发现她的位置，正要来寻找她。

“What shall I do?” she cried; —
“我该怎么办？”她喊道； —

“I shall be eaten up,” and being too frightened to run a single step, she began to cry, and leaned against the tree under which she had been asleep.
“我会被吃掉的。”由于害怕得连一步也跑不动，她开始哭泣，并靠在她曾经睡着的树下。

Just then she heard some one say: “H’m, h’m!”
就在这时，她听到有人说：“嗯，嗯！”

She looked all round her, and then up the tree, and there she saw a little tiny man, who was eating oranges.
她四处张望，然后抬头看到了一个小小的人，他正在吃橙子。

“Oh! Queen,” said he, “I know you very well, and I know how much afraid you are of the lions; —
“哦！皇后，”他说，“我非常了解你，也知道你对狮子非常害怕； —

and you are quite right too, for they have eaten many other people: —
而且你也说得对，他们吃了许多其他人。 —

and what can you expect, as you have not any cake to give them?”
而且你能指望什么呢，你没有给他们蛋糕。”

“I must make up my mind to die,” said the poor Queen. “Alas! —
“我必须做好准备死去，”可怜的皇后说。“唉！ —

I should not care so much if only my dear daughter were married.”
如果只有我亲爱的女儿结婚了，我就不会那么在意了。”

“Oh! you have a daughter,” cried the Yellow Dwarf (who was so called because he WAS a dwarf and had such a yellow face, and lived in the orange tree). —
“哦！你有一个女儿，”黄色小矮人(因为他是个小矮人，有着黄色的脸，住在橘子树里，所以被称为黄色小矮人)喊道。 —

“I’m really glad to hear that, for I’ve been looking for a wife all over the world. —
“我真的很高兴听到这个消息，因为我一直在世界各地找妻子。 —

Now, if you will promise that she shall marry me, not one of the lions, tigers, or bears shall touch you.”
现在，如果你答应她嫁给我，那么狮子、老虎或大熊就不会碰你。”

The Queen looked at him and was almost as much afraid of his ugly little face as she had been of the lions before, so that she could not speak a word.
皇后看着他，几乎和之前害怕狮子一样害怕他那丑陋的小脸，以至于她一句话都说不出来。

“What! you hesitate, madam,” cried the Dwarf. “You must be very fond of being eaten up alive.”
“什么！你犹豫不决，夫人，”小矮人喊道。“你一定非常喜欢被活活吃掉。”

And, as he spoke, the Queen saw the lions, which were running down a hill toward them.
就在他说话的时候，皇后看到狮子朝他们冲下山来。

Each one had two heads, eight feet, and four rows of teeth, and their skins were as hard as turtle shells, and were bright red.
每一个都有两个头，八只脚，和四排牙齿，他们的皮肤像乌龟壳一样坚硬，而且是鲜红色的。

At this dreadful sight, the poor Queen, who was trembling like a dove when it sees a hawk, cried out as loud as she could, “Oh! —
在这可怕的景象面前，可怜的皇后像鸽子在看到老鹰时一样颤抖，尽力大声喊道：“哦！” —

dear Mr. Dwarf, Bellissima shall marry you.”
“亲爱的小矮人先生，贝丽丝玛将嫁给你。”

“Oh, indeed!” said he disdainfully. —
“哦，真的吗！”他不屑地说。 —

“Bellissima is pretty enough, but I don’t particularly want to marry her — you can keep her.”
“贝丽丝玛虽然足够漂亮，但我并不特别想嫁给她 — 你可以留着她。”

“Oh! noble sir,” said the Queen in great distress, ado not refuse her. —
“哦！贵族先生，”皇后极度痛苦地说道，“不要拒绝她。 —

She is the most charming Princess in the world.”
她是世界上最迷人的公主。”

“Oh! well,” he replied, “out of charity I will take her; —
“哦，好吧，”他回答说，“出于慈善，我会娶她； —

but be sure and don’t forget that she is mine.”
但确保不要忘记她是我的。”

As he spoke a little door opened in the trunk of the orange tree, in rushed the Queen, only just in time, and the door shut with a bang in the faces of the lions.
他说着，小橘子树的树干上打开了一个小门，皇后匆忙冲了进去，正好及时，门便重重地关上了狮子们的面孔。

The Queen was so confused that at first she did not notice another little door in the orange tree, but presently it opened and she found herself in a field of thistles and nettles. —
女王非常困惑，以至于起初没有注意到橘树上还有另一扇小门，但不久它打开了，她发现自己置身于一片荆棘和荨麻的田野中。 —

It was encircled by a muddy ditch, and a little further on was a tiny thatched cottage, out of which came the Yellow Dwarf with a very jaunty air. —
这片田野被一个泥泞的沟壕围住，稍远处有一间小茅屋，从里面走出来一个非常得意的黄色矮人。 —

He wore wooden shoes and a little yellow coat, and as he had no hair and very long ears he looked altogether a shocking little object.
他穿着木鞋和一件小黄上衣，由于他没有头发和非常长的耳朵，他看起来完全是一个令人震惊的小家伙。

“I am delighted,” said he to the Queen, “that, as you are to be my mother-in-law, you should see the little house in which your Bellissima will live with me. —
“我很高兴，”他对女王说道，“作为贝丽莎玛的婆婆，您能见到她将和我一起住的小房子。 —

With these thistles and nettles she can feed a donkey which she can ride whenever she likes; —
她可以用这些荆棘和荨麻喂养一只驴，她随时可以骑它； —

under this humble roof no weather can hurt her; —
在这个简陋的房顶下，没有天气能伤害她； —

she will drink the water of this brook and eat frogs — which grow very fat about here; —
她将饮用这条小溪的水，吃这里长得很胖的蛙——它们在这里很多； —

and then she will have me always with her, handsome, agreeable, and gay as you see me now. —
然后她将永远拥有我，像你现在看到的，英俊、愉快、活泼。 —

For if her shadow stays by her more closely than I do I shall be surprised.”
如果她的影子比我更亲近她，我会感到惊讶。

The unhappy Queen. seeing all at once what a miserable life her daughter would have with this Dwarf could not bear the idea, and fell down insensible without saying a word.
不幸的王后突然意识到女儿将与这个侏儒度过悲惨的一生，无法忍受这个想法，无声无息地昏倒了。

When she revived she found to her great surprise that she was lying in her own bed at home, and, what was more, that she had on the loveliest lace night cap that she had ever seen in her life. —
当她苏醒过来时，她惊讶地发现自己躺在家里的床上，更让她惊喜的是，她戴着一顶她一生中见过的最美丽的蕾丝夜帽。 —

At first she thought that all her adventures, the terrible lions, and her promise to the Yellow Dwarf that he should marry Bellissima, must have been a dream, but there was the new cap with its beautiful ribbon and lace to remind her that it was all true, which made her so unhappy that she could neither eat, drink, nor sleep for thinking of it.
起初她以为所有的冒险，可怕的狮子，以及她对黄色侏儒的承诺都是一个梦，但她发现那顶新帽子，带着美丽的丝带和蕾丝，提醒她这一切都是真实的，这让她非常不快乐，以至于她为此想不吃饭、不喝水、也睡不着觉。

The Princess, who, in spite of her wilfulness, really loved her mother with all her heart, was much grieved when she saw her looking so sad, and often asked her what was the matter; —
公主虽然任性，但她真心爱着她的母亲，当她看到母亲神情如此忧伤时，感到非常难过，经常问她发生了什么事。 —

but the Queen, who didn’t want her to find out the truth, only said that she was ill, or that one of her neighbors was threatening to make war against her. —
然而女王并不希望她发现真相，只是说她生病了，或是她的邻居要对她发动战争。 —

Bellissima knew quite well that something was being hidden from her — and that neither of these was the real reason of the Queen’s uneasiness. —
贝利西玛非常清楚有事情对她隐瞒，而这两个原因都不是女王不安的真正原因。 —

So she made up her mind that she would go and consult the Fairy of the Desert about it, especially as she had often heard how wise she was, and she thought that at the same time she might ask her advice as to whether it would be as well to be married, or not.
因此，她决定去向沙漠仙女请教，尤其是她经常听说沙漠仙女很聪明，她同时想请教她是否应该结婚。

So, with great care, she made some of the proper cake to pacify the lions, and one night went up to her room very early, pretending that she was going to bed; —
于是，她小心翼翼地制作了一些适合安抚狮子的蛋糕，一个晚上很早就上床睡觉，假装。 —

but instead of that, she wrapped herself in a long white veil, and went down a secret staircase, and set off all by herself to find the Witch.
但是她没有那样做，她用一条长长的白色面纱包裹着自己，走下了一条秘密的楼梯，独自一人出发找到女巫。

But when she got as far as the same fatal orange tree, and saw it covered with flowers and fruit, she stopped and began to gather some of the oranges — and then, putting down her basket, she sat down to eat them. —
但当她走得跟那棵同样致命的橙树一样远时，看到树上盛开的花朵和结果，她停下来采摘了一些橙子——然后，放下篮子，坐下来吃了起来。 —

But when it was time to go on again the basket had disappeared and, though she looked everywhere, not a trace of it could she find. —
但当该继续前进的时间到了，篮子却消失了，尽管她到处找，也找不到一丝踪迹。 —

The more she hunted for it, the more frightened she got, and at last she began to cry. —
她越是寻找，就越害怕，最后她开始哭泣。 —

Then all at once she saw before her the Yellow Dwarf.
然后突然间，她眼前出现了黄色的小矮人。

“What’s the matter with you, my pretty one? —
“你怎么了，我的漂亮姑娘？ —

” said he. “What are you crying about?”
“他说。“你为什么哭泣？”

“Alas!” she answered; —
“唉！”她回答说。 —

“no wonder that I am crying, seeing that I have lost the basket of cake that was to help me to get safely to the cave of the Fairy of the Desert.”
“难怪我在哭，因为我丢失了那个篮子里的蛋糕，它本来是帮助我安全到达沙漠仙女洞穴的。”

“And what do you want with her, pretty one? —
“你想找她有什么事情，漂亮姑娘？ —

” said the little monster, “for I am a friend of hers, and, for the matter of that, I am quite as clever as she is.”
“小怪物说道，“因为我是她的朋友，而且说实话，我和她一样聪明。”

“The Queen, my mother,” replied the Princess, “has lately fallen into such deep sadness that I fear that she will die; —
“我的母后，”公主回答道，“最近陷入了如此深的悲伤，我担心她会去世； —

and I am afraid that perhaps I am the cause of it, for she very much wishes me to be married, and I must tell you truly that as yet I have not found anyone I consider worthy to be my husband. —
我担心也许是我造成了这种情况，因为她非常希望我结婚，而到目前为止，我还没有找到一个我认为值得成为我的丈夫的人。 —

So for all these reasons I wished to talk to the Fairy.”
所以出于这些原因，我想和仙女谈谈。”

“Do not give yourself any further trouble, Princess,” answered the Dwarf. “I can tell you all you want to know better than she could. —
“公主，不要再为此烦恼了，”侏儒回答道。“我能比她更好地告诉你想知道的一切。” —

The Queen, your mother, has promised you in marriage ——”
“你的母后，女王，已经答应将你嫁出去 ——”

“Has promised ME!” interrupted the Princess. “Oh! no. —
“已经答应我！”公主打断道。“哦！不，不可能。 —

I’m sure she has not. She would have told me if she had. —
如果她答应了，她会告诉我的。 —

I am too much interested in the matter for her to promise anything without my consent — you must be mistaken.”
我对这件事情太感兴趣了，她不会未经我的同意就答应什么的 —— 你一定是搞错了。”

“Beautiful Princess,” cried the Dwarf suddenly, throwing himself on his knees before her, “I flatter myself that you will not be displeased at her choice when I tell you that it is to ME she has promised the happiness of marrying you.”
“美丽的公主，”小矮人突然大声说道，跪在她面前，“当我告诉你，她已经答应将你嫁给我时，我自负你不会对她的选择感到不满。”

“You!” cried Bellissima, starting back. —
“你！”贝丽西玛惊呼道，向后退了一步。 —

“My mother wishes me to marry you! —
“我母亲希望我嫁给你！ —

How can you be so silly as to think of such a thing?”
你怎么会如此愚蠢，去想这样的事情呢？”

“Oh! it isn’t that I care much to have that honor,” cried the Dwarf angrily; —
“哦！我并不非常在乎得到那个荣誉，”小矮人愤怒地喊道； —

“but here are the lions coming; —
“但是这里的狮子来了； —

they’ll eat you up in three mouthfuls, and there will be an end of you and your pride.”
它们会在三口之间把你吃掉，然后你和你的傲慢就都将消失了。”

And, indeed, at that moment the poor Princess heard their dreadful howls coming nearer and nearer.
而且，确实，这时可怜的公主听到了它们可怕的嚎叫声越来越近。

“What shall I do?” she cried. —
“我该怎么办？”她喊道。 —

“Must all my happy days come to an end like this?”
“难道我的美好日子都要以这样的方式结束吗？”

The malicious Dwarf looked at her and began to laugh spitefully. —
恶意的小矮人看着她，开始恶毒地笑起来。 —

“At least,” said he, “you have the satisfaction of dying unmarried. —
“至少，”他说，“你可以满意地死去而没嫁出去。” —

A lovely Princess like you must surely prefer to die rather than be the wife of a poor little dwarf like myself.”
像你这样可爱的公主肯定宁愿死也不愿嫁给像我这样的矮小的侏儒。”

“Oh, don’t be angry with me,” cried the Princess, clasping her hands. —
“哦，不要生我的气，”公主双手紧握在一起。 —

“I’d rather marry all the dwarfs in the world than die in this horrible way.”
“与其以这种可怕的方式死去，我宁愿嫁给世界上所有的侏儒。”

“Look at me well, Princess, before you give me your word,” said he. —
“在你答应我之前，请好好看看我，公主，”他说。 —

“I don’t want you to promise me in a hurry.”
“我不希望你匆忙地答应我。”

“Oh!” cried she, “the lions are coming. —
“哦！”她喊道，“狮子们过来了。” —

I have looked at you enough. I am so frightened. —
我已经看够了你。我好害怕。 —

Save me this minute, or I shall die of terror.
拯救我，就在此刻，否则我会因恐惧而死。

Indeed, as she spoke she fell down insensible, and when she recovered she found herself in her own little bed at home; —
说着，她晕倒在地，醒来时发现自己躺在家里的小床上； —

how she got there she could not tell, but she was dressed in the most beautiful lace and ribbons, and on her finger was a little ring, made of a single red hair, which fitted so tightly that, try as she might, she could not get it off.
她不知道自己是怎么到那里的，但她穿着最美丽的花边和丝带，手指上戴着一个由一根红头发制成的小戒指，戒指戴得非常紧，尽管她怎么努力，也无法摘下来。

When the Princess saw all these things, and remembered what had happened, she, too, fell into the deepest sadness, which surprised and alarmed the whole Court, and the Queen more than anyone else. —
当公主看到所有这些事情并回想起发生的事情时，她也陷入了最深的悲伤中，这让整个宫廷，尤其是女王感到惊讶和担心。 —

A hundred times she asked Bellissima if anything was the matter with her; —
她一百次问贝利西玛是否有什么问题； —

but she always said that there was nothing
但她总是说没有什么。

At last the chief men of the kingdom, anxious to see their Princess married, sent to the Queen to beg her to choose a husband for her as soon as possible. —
最后，国家的首要人物们为了看到他们的公主结婚，向女王求情，尽快为她选择一个丈夫。 —

She replied that nothing would please her better, but that her daughter seemed so unwilling to marry, and she recommended them to go and talk to the Princess about it themselves so this they at once did. —
她回答说，没有什么能比这更让她高兴了，但她的女儿似乎对结婚不太愿意，她建议他们自己去找公主谈谈，所以他们立刻就去了。 —

Now Bellissima was much less proud since her adventure with the Yellow Dwarf, and she could not think of a better way of getting rid of the little monster than to marry some powerful king, therefore she replied to their request much more favorably than they had hoped, saying that, though she was very happy as she was, still, to please them, she would consent to marry the King of the Gold Mines. Now he was a very handsome and powerful Prince, who had been in love with the Princess for years, but had not thought that she would ever care about him at all. —
现在贝莉莎娜对自己的冒险经历后的小矮人不再那么骄傲了，她觉得除了嫁给某个有权势的国王，再没有比这更好的办法摆脱这个小怪物了，因此她的答复比他们所希望的要积极得多。她说，虽然她现在很幸福，但为了取悦他们，她愿意同意嫁给金矿国王。金矿国王是一位非常英俊而有权势的王子，多年来一直爱着公主，但他一直没有想到她会对他有任何感情。 —

You can easily imagine how delighted he was when he heard the news, and how angry it made all the other kings to lose for ever the hope of marrying the Princess; —
你可以想象一下当他听到这个消息时有多高兴，以及所有其他国王因为永远失去了娶公主的希望而多么生气。 —

but, after all, Bellissima could not have married twenty kings — indeed, she had found it quite difficult enough to choose one, for her vanity made her believe that there was nobody in the world who was worthy of her.
然而，毕竟，贝利西玛不可能嫁给二十个国王 - 实际上，她已经发现选择一个国王已经够困难的了，因为她的虚荣心让她相信世界上没有人配得上她。

Preparations were begun at once for the grandest wedding that had ever been held at the palace. —
立即开始筹备史上最盛大的皇宫婚礼。 —

The King of the Gold Mines sent such immense sums of money that the whole sea was covered with the ships that brought it. —
黄金矿国的国王派遣了如此庞大的资金，以至于整个海面上都是运输这笔钱的船只。 —

Messengers were sent to all the gayest and most refined Courts, particularly to the Court of France, to seek out everything rare and precious to adorn the Princess, although her beauty was so perfect that nothing she wore could make her look prettier. —
向所有最快乐、最精致的宫廷派遣信使，尤其是派往法国宫廷，寻找罕见而珍贵的东西来装饰公主，尽管她的美丽是如此完美，无论她穿什么都无法让她看起来更漂亮。 —

At least that is what the King of the Gold Mines thought, and he was never happy unless he was with her.
至少，黄金矿国的国王是这样想的，他除了与她在一起就无法快乐。

As for the Princess, the more she saw of the King the more she liked him; —
至于公主，她越看到国王，越喜欢他；他是如此慷慨、英俊和聪明，所以最终她对他的爱几乎和他对她一样多。 —

he was so generous, so handsome and clever, that at last she was almost as much in love with him as he was with her. —
至少，黄金矿国的国王是这样想的，他除了与她在一起就无法快乐。 —

How happy they were as they wandered about in the beautiful gardens together, sometimes listening to sweet music! —
他们在美丽的花园里一起漫步时是多么快乐啊，有时还会聆听甜美的音乐！ —

And the King used to write songs for Bellissima. —
国王常为贝莉西玛写歌。 —

This is one that she liked very much:
这是一首她非常喜欢的歌曲：

In the forest all is gay
在森林里一切都是欢快的

When my Princess walks that way.
当我的公主经过那里时。

All the blossoms then are found
所有的花朵都会飘落到地上，

Downward fluttering to the ground,
渴望能够为她踩到它们上面。

Hoping she may tread on them.
那些细长的花茎上的明亮花朵

And bright flowers on slender stem
当她经过时抬头凝视着她，

Gaze up at her as she passes
轻轻地穿过草丛。

Brushing lightly through the grasses.
噢！我的公主，从上方传来的鸟儿

Oh! my Princess, birds above
回荡着我们的爱的歌声，

Echo back our songs of love,
我们一起在这片魔幻土地上漫游，

As through this enchanted land
欢快地手牵手。

Blithe we wander, hand in hand.
请将这首歌唱给她，因为她在这首歌里。

They really were as happy as the day was long. —
他们真的像阳光灿烂的一天那样幸福。 —

All the King’s unsuccessful rivals had gone home in despair. —
所有落败的国王竞争对手都绝望地回家了。 —

They said good-by to the Princess so sadly that she could not help being sorry for them.
他们离开公主时表现得如此伤感，以至于她不禁为他们感到难过。

“Ah! madam,” the King of the Gold Mines said to her “how is this? —
“啊！夫人，”金矿之王对她说，“这是怎么回事？ —

Why do you waste your pity on these princes, who love you so much that all their trouble would be well repaid by a single smile from you?”
你为什么浪费同情心在这些爱你如命的王子身上，他们为了你的一个微笑愿意承受一切痛苦？”

“I should be sorry,” answered Bellissima, “if you had not noticed how much I pitied these princes who were leaving me for ever; —
“如果您没有注意到我对这些永远离开我的王子们的同情之情，我会感到遗憾，”贝丽西玛回答道。 —

but for you, sire, it is very different: —
但对于您来说，陛下，情况完全不同： —

you have every reason to be pleased with me, but they are going sorrowfully away, so you must not grudge them my compassion.”
您有很多理由对我感到满意，但是他们正在悲伤地离开，所以您不应该嫉妒他们得到我的同情。”

The King of the Gold Mines was quite overcome by the Princess’s good-natured way of taking his interference, and, throwing himself at her feet, he kissed her hand a thousand times and begged her to forgive him.
金矿之王被公主友好的态度所打动，他跪在她的脚下，亲吻了她的手一千次，并请求她原谅他。

At last the happy day came. —
终于到了幸福的日子。 —

Everything was ready for Bellissima’s wedding. —
一切准备就绪，贝丽莎的婚礼即将开始。 —

The trumpets sounded, all the streets of the town were hung with flags and strewn with flowers, and the people ran in crowds to the great square before the palace. —
喇叭声响起，整个城镇的街道上都挂满了旗帜，铺满了鲜花，人们争相涌向宫殿前的广场。 —

The Queen was so overjoyed that she had hardly been able to sleep at all, and she got up before it was light to give the necessary orders and to choose the jewels that the Princess was to wear. —
女王高兴得几乎一夜都没能入眠，天还没亮她就起床发出了必要的指令，并挑选了公主将要佩戴的珠宝。 —

These were nothing less than diamonds, even to her shoes, which were covered with them, and her dress of silver brocade was embroidered with a dozen of the sun’s rays. —
这些珠宝包括裹住她的鞋子的钻石，她的银锦绣裙上还绣有十二道太阳光芒。 —

You may imagine how much these had cost; —
你或许可以想象这些花费了多少钱。 —

but then nothing could have been more brilliant, except the beauty of the Princess! —
但再怎么说也没有比公主的美丽更加耀眼的了！ —

Upon her head she wore a splendid crown, her lovely hair waved nearly to her feet, and her stately figure could easily be distinguished among all the ladies who attended her.
她头上戴着华丽的皇冠，美丽的头发几乎垂到了脚下，她那威严的身姿在众多陪伴她的女士中容易被辨认出来。

The King of the Gold Mines was not less noble and splendid; —
金矿之王同样高贵而辉煌； —

it was easy to see by his face how happy he was, and everyone who went near him returned loaded with presents, for all round the great banqueting hall had been arranged a thousand barrels full of gold, and numberless bags made of velvet embroidered with pearls and filled with money, each one containing at least a hundred thousand gold pieces, which were given away to everyone who liked to hold out his hand, which numbers of people hastened to do, you may be sure — indeed, some found this by far the most amusing part of the wedding festivities.
从他的脸上很容易看出他有多么幸福，每个接近他的人都满载而归，因为在巨大的宴会厅四周，摆放着一千个装满金子的木桶和无数用珍珠刺绣的天鹅绒袋子，里面装满钱币，每个袋子至少含有十万块金币，这些金币会送给每一个愿意伸出手的人，众多人毫不犹豫地涌上前去，可以肯定——实际上，有人发现这是婚礼庆祝活动中最有趣的部分。

The Queen and the Princess were just ready to set out with the King when they saw, advancing toward them from the end of the long gallery, two great basilisks, dragging after them a very badly made box; —
女王和公主刚准备和国王一起出发，就看到从长廊的尽头走过来两只巨大的巴西利斯克，后面拖着一个做得非常糟糕的盒子； —

behind them came a tall old woman, whose ugliness was even more surprising than her extreme old age. —
在它们后面走来一个高大的老妇人，她的丑陋之处比她极端的老态还要让人惊讶。 —

She wore a ruff of black taffeta, a red velvet hood, and a farthingale all in rags, and she leaned heavily upon a crutch. —
她身穿一件黑色纱料的领巾，戴着红色天鹅绒头巾，下身蓬蓬裙全是破旧，她沉重地依靠着一根拐杖。 —

This strange old woman, without saying a single word, hobbled three times round the gallery, followed by the basilisks, then stopping in the middle, and brandishing her crutch threateningly, she cried:
这个古怪的老妇人一言不发地蹒跚着在画廊里走了三圈，巴斯克风蛇紧随其后，然后停在中间，挥舞着她的拐杖威胁地大喊道：

“Ho, ho, Queen! Ho, ho, Princess! —
“嗨，嗨，女王！嗨，嗨，公主！ —

Do you think you are going to break with impunity the promise that you made to my friend the Yellow Dwarf? —
你们以为你们可以无罪地违背我朋友黄矮人的承诺吗？ —

I am the Fairy of the Desert; —
我就是沙漠仙子； —

without the Yellow Dwarf and his orange tree my great lions would soon have eaten you up, I can tell you, and in Fairyland we do not suffer ourselves to be insulted like this. —
没有黄矮人和他的橙树，我的伟大狮子们很快就会吃掉你们，我可以告诉你们，在仙境中我们不容许自己被如此侮辱。 —

Make up your minds at once what you will do, for I vow that you shall marry the Yellow Dwarf. If you don’t, may I burn my crutch!”
快点决定你们要做什么，因为我发誓你们将和黄矮人结婚。如果你们不从，那么愿我烧掉我的拐杖！”

“Ah! Princess,” said the Queen, weeping, “what is this that I hear? —
“啊！公主，”女王哭泣着说，“我听到了什么？ —

What have you promised?”
你许下了什么承诺？”

“Ah! my mother,” replied Bellissima sadly, “what did YOU promise, yourself?”
“啊！我的母亲，”贝利西玛悲伤地回答道，“你自己又许下了什么？”

The King of the Gold Mines, indignant at being kept from his happiness by this wicked old woman, went up to her, and threatening her with his sword, said:
黄金矿王对于这个邪恶的老妇人阻止他的幸福感到愤慨，他走向她，挥舞着剑，威胁道：

“Get away out of my country at once, and for ever, miserable creature, lest I take your life, and so rid myself of your malice.”
“立刻离开我的国家，永远消失吧，可怜的人，否则我会夺取你的生命，摆脱你的恶意。”

He had hardly spoken these words when the lid of the box fell back on the floor with a terrible noise, and to their horror out sprang the Yellow Dwarf, mounted upon a great Spanish cat. —
他刚说完这些话，箱子的盖子突然发出可怕的响声，令他们感到恐惧，黄金矮人跳了出来，骑在一只巨大的西班牙猫上。 —

“Rash youth!” he cried, rushing between the Fairy of the Desert and the King. “Dare to lay a finger upon this illustrious Fairy! —
“鲁莽的年轻人！”他大声喊道，冲在沙漠仙女和国王之间。”敢触碰这位崇高的仙女！ —

Your quarrel is with me only. —
你的争执只和我有关。 —

I am your enemy and your rival. —
我是你的敌人和竞争对手。 —

That faithless Princess who would have married you is promised to me. —
那个背叛你的公主已经被许配给我了。 —

See if she has not upon her finger a ring made of one of my hairs. —
看看她的手指上是否戴着一枚由我的头发制成的戒指。 —

Just try to take it off, and you will soon find out that I am more powerful than you are!”
试着取下来，你很快就会发现我比你更强大！”

“Wretched little monster!” said the King; —
“可怜的小怪物！”国王说； —

“do you dare to call yourself the Princess’s lover, and to lay claim to such a treasure? —
“你敢称自己是公主的恋人，妄图拥有这样的宝藏吗？ —

Do you know that you are a dwarf — that you are so ugly that one cannot bear to look at you — and that I should have killed you myself long before this if you had been worthy of such a glorious death?”
你知不知道你是个侏儒，你长得丑得让人无法忍受，如果你配得上这样光荣的死，我早就亲手杀了你了。”

The Yellow Dwarf, deeply enraged at these words, set spurs to his cat, which yelled horribly, and leaped hither and thither — terrifying everybody except the brave King, who pursued the Dwarf closely, till he, drawing a great knife with which he was armed, challenged the King to meet him in single combat, and rushed down into the courtyard of the palace with a terrible clatter. —
黄色的侏儒听到这些话之后愤怒至极，催促着他的猫，发出可怕的尖叫声，四处乱跳，吓坏了众人，唯独勇敢的国王紧紧追逐着侏儒，直到侏儒拔出手上的一把大刀，向国王发起了单挑的挑战，然后飞快地闯进了宫殿的庭院，发出可怕的响声。 —

The King, quite provoked, followed him hastily, but they had hardly taken their places facing one another, and the whole Court had only just had time to rush out upon the balconies to watch what was going on, when suddenly the sun became as red as blood, and it was so dark that they could scarcely see at all. —
国王十分气愤，急忙追赶他。但是他们俩刚刚站好面对面，整个宫廷的人都刚刚跑到阳台上观看发生的事情，突然太阳变得像血一样红，天空变得如此黑暗以至于他们几乎看不见。 —

The thunder crashed, and the lightning seemed as if it must burn up everything; —
雷声轰隆，闪电似乎要将一切烧毁。 —

the two basilisks appeared, one on each side of the bad Dwarf, like giants, mountains high, and fire flew from their mouths and ears, until they looked like flaming furnaces. —
两只蛇怪出现了，一只在邪恶的侏儒身边的每一侧，像巨人一样高大，从它们的嘴和耳朵里冒出火焰，看起来就像火炉一样在燃烧。 —

None of these things could terrify the noble young King, and the boldness of his looks and actions reassured those who were looking on, and perhaps even embarrassed the Yellow Dwarf himself; —
这些事情都无法使这位勇敢的年轻国王恐惧，他勇敢的神情和行动让围观的人安心，甚至可能让黄色侏儒自己感到尴尬。 —

but even HIS courage gave way when he saw what was happening to his beloved Princess. —
但是当他看到他心爱的公主所发生的事情时，甚至他的勇气也动摇了。 —

For the Fairy of the Desert, looking more terrible than before, mounted upon a winged griffin, and with long snakes coiled round her neck, had given her such a blow with the lance she carried that Bellissima fell into the Queen’s arms bleeding and senseless. —
穿着比以前更可怕的沙漠仙女骑在一只有翅膀的狮鹫上，脖子上缠着长长的蛇，她用手中的长矛狠狠地击中了贝利西玛，贝利西玛带着流血和失去知觉的状态倒在了女王的怀中。 —

Her fond mother, feeling as much hurt by the blow as the Princess herself, uttered such piercing cries and lamentations that the King, hearing them, entirely lost his courage and presence of mind. —
她悲伤的母亲感受到女儿受到的打击，像女儿一样痛苦，发出了尖锐的哭泣和悲叹声，这让国王听到后完全失去了勇气和冷静。 —

Giving up the combat, he flew toward the Princess, to rescue or to die with her; —
国王放弃了战斗，飞向公主，要么救她，要么和她一起死去。 —

but the Yellow Dwarf was too quick for him. —
但是黄色矮人比他快。 —

Leaping with his Spanish cat upon the balcony, he snatched Bellissima from the Queen’s arms, and before any of the ladies of the Court could stop him he had sprung upon the roof of the palace and disappeared with his prize.
他带着他的西班牙猫跳到阳台上，从女王的怀中抢走了贝利西玛，在宫殿的屋顶上消失了，离开了与他的战利品。

The King, motionless with horror, looked on despairingly at this dreadful occurrence, which he was quite powerless to prevent, and to make matters worse his sight failed him, everything became dark, and he felt himself carried along through the air by a strong hand.
君王惊悚地站在那里，对这可怕的事件毫无办法地感到绝望，更糟糕的是，他的视力也在颤抖着，一切都变得黑暗，他感觉自己被强壮的手带着飞行在空中。

This new misfortune was the work of the wicked Fairy of the Desert, who had come with the Yellow Dwarf to help him carry off the Princess, and had fallen in love with the handsome young King of the Gold Mines directly she saw him. —
这一新的不幸是恶毒的沙漠仙女的杰作，她和黄色小矮人一起来帮助他抢走公主，而当她看到英俊的金矿国王时就爱上了他。 —

She thought that if she carried him off to some frightful cavern and chained him to a rock, then the fear of death would make him forget Bellissima and become her slave. —
她认为如果她把他带到某个可怕的洞穴中并将他锁链在岩石上，那么死亡的恐惧会让他忘记贝利西玛并成为她的奴隶。 —

So, as soon as they reached the place, she gave him back his sight, but without releasing him from his chains, and by her magic power she appeared before him as a young and beautiful fairy, and pretended to have come there quite by chance.
所以，一到达这个地方，她还他视力，但没有解开他的锁链，并以她的魔法力量以年轻美丽的仙女的形象出现，假装她是偶然来到这里的。

“What do I see? she cried. “Is it YOU, dear Prince? —
“我看到什么了？她喊道。“亲爱的王子，是你吗？ —

What misfortune has brought you to this dismal place?”
“是什么不幸导致你来到这个悲惨之地？”

The King, who was quite deceived by her altered appearance, replied:
国王对她的模样产生了误解，回答说：

“Alas! beautiful Fairy, the fairy who brought me here first took away my sight, but by her voice I recognized her as the Fairy of the Desert, though what she should have carried me off for I cannot tell you.”
“哎呀！美丽的仙女，那个把我带到这里的仙女夺走了我的视力，但从她的声音中我认出了她是沙漠仙女，至于她为什么会把我带走，我不能告诉你。”

“Ah!” cried the pretended Fairy, “if you have fallen into HER hands, you won’t get away until you have married her. —
“啊！”假装成仙女的人叫道：“如果你落入她的手中，除非你娶了她，否则你不会逃脱。 —

She has carried off more than one Prince like this, and she will certainly have anything she takes a fancy to. —
她像这样绑架过不止一个王子，并且她肯定会得到她喜欢的任何东西。” —

” While she was thus pretending to be sorry for the King, he suddenly noticed her feet, which were like those of a griffin, and knew in a moment that this must be the Fairy of the Desert, for her feet were the one thing she could not change, however pretty she might make her face.
当她假装对国王感到痛惜的时候，他突然注意到她的脚，那脚像狮鹫一样，他立刻认出这一定是沙漠仙女，因为无论她把脸变得多漂亮，她的脚都是无法改变的。

Without seeming to have noticed anything, he said, in a confidential way:
在没有表现出注意到任何事情的情况下，他用亲密的口气说道：

“Not that I have any dislike to the Fairy of the Desert, but I really cannot endure the way in which she protects the Yellow Dwarf and keeps me chained here like a criminal. —
“并不是我不喜欢沙漠仙子，但她总是保护黄色小矮人，把我像罪犯一样囚禁在这里，这叫我受不了。” —

It is true that I love a charming princess, but if the Fairy should set me free my gratitude would oblige me to love her only.”
“我确实爱着一个迷人的公主，但如果仙子释放我，我会感激她并只爱她。”

“Do you really mean what you say, Prince? —
“王子，你是认真的吗？” —

” said the Fairy, quite deceived.
仙子被他的话完全迷惑了。

“Surely,” replied the Prince; —
“当然，”王子回答道； —

“how could I deceive you? —
“我怎么会骗你呢？ —

You see it is so much more flattering to my vanity to be loved by a fairy than by a simple princess. —
你知道，被仙子爱着比被一个普通公主爱着更能满足我的虚荣心。 —

But, even if I am dying of love for her, I shall pretend to hate her until I am set free.”
但即使我为她而快要死了，我也会假装恨她，直到被释放出去。”

The Fairy of the Desert, quite taken in by these words, resolved at once to transport the Prince to a pleasanter place. —
被这些话蒙骗住的沙漠仙子立刻决定把王子带到一个更宜人的地方。 —

So, making him mount her chariot, to which she had harnessed swans instead of the bats which generally drew it, away she flew with him. —
于是，她让王子坐上她的战车，战车不再由通常拉车的蝙蝠，而是天鹅，然后她带着王子飞走了。 —

But imagine the distress of the Prince when, from the giddy height at which they were rushing through the air, he saw his beloved Princess in a castle built of polished steel, the walls of which reflected the sun’s rays so hotly that no one could approach it without being burnt to a cinder! —
但是想象一下王子的痛苦，当他从他们高速穿越空中的眩晕高度上看到他心爱的公主被关在一座由抛光钢建造的城堡里，城墙反射出如此强烈的阳光，以至于任何人都不能靠近它而不被烧成灰烬！ —

Bellissima was sitting in a little thicket by a brook, leaning her head upon her hand and weeping bitterly, but just as they passed she looked up and saw the King and the Fairy of the Desert. —
贝丽莎玛坐在一处小灌木丛旁的小溪边，扶着头痛痛地哭着，但就在他们经过时，她抬起头，看到了国王和沙漠仙子。 —

Now, the Fairy was so clever that she could not only seem beautiful to the King, but even the poor Princess thought her the most lovely being she had ever seen.
现在，仙子非常聪明，她不仅对国王来说是美丽的，就连可怜的公主也认为她是她曾见过的最可爱的存在。

“What!” she cried; “was I not unhappy enough in this lonely castle to which that frightful Yellow Dwarf brought me? —
“什么！”她喊道：“这个孤独的城堡已经让我很不幸了，是那可怕的黄矮人带我来的。 —

Must I also be made to know that the King of the Gold Mines ceased to love me as soon as he lost sight of me? —
我难道还需要知道，金矿国王一失去我的视线就停止爱我了吗？ —

But who can my rival be, whose fatal beauty is greater than mine?”
但是谁能成为我的竞争对手，她的致命美比我更胜一筹？”

While she was saying this, the King, who really loved her as much as ever, was feeling terribly sad at being so rapidly torn away from his beloved Princess, but he knew too well how powerful the Fairy was to have any hope of escaping from her except by great patience and cunning.
当她说这些话的时候，国王感到非常悲伤，因为他被迅速地远离了心爱的公主，但他深知那位仙女的强大，除非有耐心和聪明才能逃脱。

The Fairy of the Desert had also seen Bellissima, and she tried to read in the King’s eyes the effect that this unexpected sight had had upon him.
沙漠仙女也看到了贝丽西玛，她试图从国王的眼神中读出这个意外的景象对他产生的影响。

“No one can tell you what you wish to know better than I can,” said he. —
“没有人比我更能告诉你想知道的事情，”国王说。 —

“This chance meeting with an unhappy princess for whom I once had a passing fancy, before I was lucky enough to meet you, has affected me a little, I admit, but you are so much more to me than she is that I would rather die than leave you.”
“这次偶然遇到一个我曾经稍稍喜欢过的不幸公主（在我遇见你之前），确实让我有些感动，但是你对我来说比她更重要，我宁愿死也不愿离开你。”

“Ah, Prince,” she said, “can I believe that you really love me so much?”
“啊，王子，”她说，”我能相信你真的这么爱我吗？”

“Time will show, madam,” replied the King; —
“时间会证明的，夫人，”国王回答说； —

“but if you wish to convince me that you have some regard for me, do not, I beg of you, refuse to aid Bellissima.”
“但是如果你希望让我相信你对我有些在乎，我请求你不要拒绝帮助贝丽西玛。”

“Do you know what you are asking? —
“你知道你在问什么吗？” —

” said the Fairy of the Desert, frowning, and looking at him suspiciously. —
沙漠仙子皱着眉头，怀疑地看着他说道。 —

“Do you want me to employ my art against the Yellow Dwarf, who is my best friend, and take away from him a proud princess whom I can but look upon as my rival?”
“你要我动用我的力量对付我的最好朋友黄色侏儒，夺走他心爱的公主，而我只能把她当作我的竞争对手吗？”

The King sighed, but made no answer — indeed, what was there to be said to such a clear-sighted person? —
国王叹了口气，但没有回答——实际上，对于一个如此清醒的人来说还能说什么呢？ —

At last they reached a vast meadow, gay with all sorts of flowers; —
最后他们来到了一片花草丛生的广阔草地。 —

a deep river surrounded it, and many little brooks murmured softly under the shady trees, where it was always cool and fresh. —
一条深深的河流环绕着它，许多小溪在阴凉的树荫下轻声潺潺流淌，那里永远都是凉爽而清新的。 —

A little way off stood a splendid palace, the walls of which were of transparent emeralds. —
稍远处矗立着一座壮丽的宫殿，其墙壁由透明的翡翠构筑而成。 —

As soon as the swans which drew the Fairy’s chariot had alighted under a porch, which was paved with diamonds and had arches of rubies, they were greeted on all sides by thousands of beautiful beings, who came to meet them joyfully, singing these words:
当拉着仙女马车的天鹅降落在一座铺着钻石、拱门由红宝石构成的走廊下时，成千上万美丽的众生欢喜地迎接它们，唱着这些歌词：

“When Love within a heart would reign,
“当爱降临一个心中，

Useless to strive against him ’tis.
奋力挣扎是无益的。

The proud but feel a sharper pain,
傲者只感到更剧痛，

And make a greater triumph his.”
并让他获得更大胜利。”

The Fairy of the Desert was delighted to hear them sing of her triumphs; —
沙漠之仙欣然听到他们歌颂她的胜利； —

she led the King into the most splendid room that can be imagined, and left him alone for a little while, just that he might not feel that he was a prisoner; —
她带着国王进入了想象中最华丽的房间，又离开一会儿，只是为了让他不觉得自己被囚禁； —

but he felt sure that she had not really gone quite away, but was watching him from some hiding-place. —
但他确信她并没有真的离开，而是从某个藏身之处暗中观察他。 —

So walking up to a great mirror, he said to it, “Trusty counsellor, let me see what I can do to make myself agreeable to the charming Fairy of the Desert; —
于是他走到一面大镜子前，对着它说道：“可靠的顾问，请让我看看我能做些什么来取悦迷人的沙漠之仙； —

for I can think of nothing but how to please her.”
因为我只能想到如何取悦她。”

And he at once set to work to curl his hair, and, seeing upon a table a grander coat than his own, he put it on carefully. —
他立即开始卷起自己的头发，并且在桌子上看到一件比自己更华丽的外套，他小心地穿上了它。 —

The Fairy came back so delighted that she could not conceal her joy.
仙女回来时非常高兴，她无法掩饰自己的喜悦。

“I am quite aware of the trouble you have taken to please me,” said she, “and I must tell you that you have succeeded perfectly already. —
“我已经知道你为了取悦我所付出的努力，”她说，“我必须告诉你，你已经完美地成功了。 —

You see it is not difficult to do if you really care for me.”
你看，如果你真的爱我，这并不难做到。”

The King, who had his own reasons for wishing to keep the old Fairy in a good humor, did not spare pretty speeches, and after a time he was allowed to walk by himself upon the sea-shore. —
国王有自己的原因希望保持这位老仙女的好心情，于是他连连赞美。过了一段时间，他被允许独自在海滩上散步。 —

The Fairy of the Desert had by her enchantments raised such a terrible storm that the boldest pilot would not venture out in it, so she was not afraid of her prisoner’s being able to escape; —
沙漠仙女用她的魔法引起了一场可怕的风暴，以至于即使最勇敢的船长也不敢出海，所以她不担心她的俘虏能够逃脱； —

and he found it some relief to think sadly over his terrible situation without being interrupted by his cruel captor.
他发现能够安静地沉思自己可怕的处境，而不被残忍的囚禁者打扰，这让他有些释然。

Presently, after walking wildly up and down, he wrote these verses upon the sand with his stick:
目前，在疯狂地走来走去之后，他用手杖在沙滩上写下了这些诗句：

“At last may I upon this shore
“终于，我在这海岸上

Lighten my sorrow with soft tears.
轻轻地以眼泪抚慰我的忧伤。

Alas! alas! I see no more
唉！唉！我不再看到

My Love, who yet my sadness cheers.
让我忧伤的挚爱。

“And thou, O raging, stormy Sea,
“噢，汹涌，暴躁的大海，

Stirred by wild winds, from depth to height,
被狂风激荡，从深处到高处，

Thou hold’st my loved one far from me,
你将我心爱的人远离我，

And I am captive to thy might.
而我被你的力量所束缚。

“My heart is still more wild than thine,
“我的心比你更狂野，

For Fate is cruel unto me.
因为命运对我残忍。

Why must I thus in exile pine?
为什么我必须这样流亡？

Why is my Princess snatched from me?
为什么我的公主被夺走？

“O! lovely Nymphs, from ocean caves,
“哦！可爱的海洞仙女们，

Who know how sweet true love may be,
你们知道真爱有多甜蜜，

Come up and calm the furious waves
冲上来，平息狂暴的波浪

And set a desperate lover free!”
让绝望的恋人得以自由！”

While he was still writing he heard a voice which attracted his attention in spite of himself. —
就在他还在写作的时候，他听到一个声音引起了他的注意，尽管他自己并不想注意它。 —

Seeing that the waves were rolling in higher than ever, he looked all round, and presently saw a lovely lady floating gently toward him upon the crest of a huge billow, her long hair spread all about her; —
看到波浪比以往更高涨，他四处张望，很快看到一个可爱的女士悠然地漂向他，她的长发散落在周围； —

in one hand she held a mirror, and in the other a comb, and instead of feet she had a beautiful tail like a fish, with which she swam.
她一手拿着一面镜子，一手拿着一把梳子，而她的脚却像一条美丽的鱼一样，有着漂亮的鱼尾巴，用它游动。

The King was struck dumb with astonishment at this unexpected sight; —
金矿之王被这个出乎意料的景象惊呆了； —

but as soon as she came within speaking distance, she said to him, “I know how sad you are at losing your Princess and being kept a prisoner by the Fairy of the Desert; —
但是当她靠近后，她对他说：“我知道你失去公主和被沙漠仙女囚禁而感到悲伤； —

if you like I will help you to escape from this fatal place, where you may otherwise have to drag on a weary existence for thirty years or more.”
如果你愿意的话，我可以帮助你逃离这个致命的地方，否则你可能要在这里度过三十年或更久的痛苦生活。”

The King of the Gold Mines hardly knew what answer to make to this proposal. —
金矿之王对这个提议几乎不知道该如何回答。 —

Not because he did not wish very much to escape, but he was afraid that this might be only another device by which the Fairy of the Desert was trying to deceive him. —
不是因为他不想非常想逃跑，而是他害怕这可能只是沙漠女仙用以欺骗他的另一种手段。 —

As he hesitated the Mermaid, who guessed his thoughts, said to him:
当他犹豫不决时，猜到他想法的美人鱼对他说道：

“You may trust me: I am not trying to entrap you. —
“你可以相信我：我不是在设圈套诱捕你。 —

I am so angry with the Yellow Dwarf and the Fairy of the Desert that I am not likely to wish to help them, especially since I constantly see your poor Princess, whose beauty and goodness make me pity her so much; —
我对黄小矮人和沙漠女仙很生气，不太可能希望帮助他们，尤其是因为我经常看到你可怜的公主，她的美貌和善良让我非常同情她； —

and I tell you that if you will have confidence in me I will help you to escape.”
我告诉你，如果你有信心相信我，我会帮助你逃脱。”

“I trust you absolutely,” cried the King, “and I will do whatever you tell me; —
“我完全相信你，”国王大喊道，“我会按照你告诉我的去做； —

but if you have seen my Princess I beg of you to tell me how she is and what is happening to her.
但是如果你见到了我的公主，我请求你告诉我她现在的状况和发生了什么事情。”

“We must not waste time in talking,” said she. —
“我们不应该浪费时间说话。”她说道。 —

“Come with me and I will carry you to the Castle of Steel, and we will leave upon this shore a figure so like you that even the Fairy herself will be deceived by it.”
“跟着我，我将带你去钢铁城堡，我们会在这个海岸上留下一个与你如此相像的身影，即使是仙女自己也会被欺骗。”

So saying, she quickly collected a bundle of sea-weed, and, blowing it three times, she said:
说着，她迅速收集了一捆海草，吹了三次，她说道：

“My friendly sea-weeds, I order you to stay here stretched upon the sand until the Fairy of the Desert comes to take you away. —
“我的友善海草，我命令你们在这里躺在沙滩上，等待荒漠仙女来带走你们。” —

” And at once the sea-weeds became like the King, who stood looking at them in great astonishment, for they were even dressed in a coat like his, but they lay there pale and still as the King himself might have lain if one of the great waves had overtaken him and thrown him senseless upon the shore. —
海草立刻变得像国王，他惊奇地看着它们，因为它们甚至穿着和他一样的外套，但它们躺在那里苍白而静止，就像国王自己如果被巨浪袭击并昏迷在海岸上一样。 —

And then the Mermaid caught up the King, and away they swam joyfully together.
然后美人鱼抓起国王，他们欢乐地一起游去。

“Now,” said she, “I have time to tell you about the Princess. —
“现在，”她说，“我有时间告诉你关于公主的事情。” —

In spite of the blow which the Fairy of the Desert gave her, the Yellow Dwarf compelled her to mount behind him upon his terrible Spanish cat; —
尽管沙漠仙子给她带来了打击，黄色矮人还是强迫她上他恐怖的西班牙猫背后； —

but she soon fainted away with pain and terror, and did not recover till they were within the walls of his frightful Castle of Steel. Here she was received by the prettiest girls it was possible to find, who had been carried there by the Yellow Dwarf, who hastened to wait upon her and showed her every possible attention. —
但她很快因为疼痛和恐惧晕倒了，直到他们进入可怕的钢铁城堡才恢复过来。在那里，黄色矮人带来了一些最漂亮的姑娘们，并匆忙侍奉她，对她关心备至。 —

She was laid upon a couch covered with cloth of gold, embroidered with pearls as big as nuts.”
她被放在一张用金布覆盖的躺椅上，上面绣着像核桃那么大的珍珠。”

“Ah!” interrupted the King of the Gold Mines, “if Bellissima forgets me, and consents to marry him, I shall break my heart.”
“啊！”金矿国王打断道，“如果贝丽丝玛忘了我，同意嫁给他，我会伤心至极。”

“You need not be afraid of that,” answered the Mermaid, “the Princess thinks of no one but you, and the frightful Dwarf cannot persuade her to look at him.”
“你不需要担心，”美人鱼回答道，“公主只想着你，可怕的矮人无法让她看他一眼。”

“Pray go on with your story,” said the King.
“请继续你的故事，”国王说。

“What more is there to tell you?” replied the Mermaid. —
“还有什么要告诉你的吗？”美人鱼回答说。 —

“Bellissima was sitting in the wood when you passed, and saw you with the Fairy of the Desert, who was so cleverly disguised that the Princess took her to be prettier than herself; —
“当你经过时，贝利西玛正在森林里坐着，看见你和沙漠仙子在一起。沙漠仙子伪装得如此巧妙，以至于公主认为她比自己更漂亮； —

you may imagine her despair, for she thought that you had fallen in love with her.”
你可以想象她的绝望，因为她以为你爱上了她。”

“She believes that I love her! —
“她相信我爱她！ —

” cried the King. “What a fatal mistake! —
”国王喊道。“这是一个致命的错误！ —

What is to be done to undeceive her?”
如何解开她的错觉呢？”

“You know best,” answered the Mermaid, smiling kindly at him. —
“你最清楚不过了，”美人鱼友善地微笑着回答他。 —

“When people are as much in love with one another as you two are, they don’t need advice from anyone else.”
“当两个人如你们这样相爱时，他们不需要任何其他人的建议。”

As she spoke they reached the Castle of Steel, the side next the sea being the only one which the Yellow Dwarf had left unprotected by the dreadful burning walls.
说着，他们来到了钢铁城堡，黄色侏儒只保护了面朝大海的一侧，其他他连可怕的燃烧的墙也没有保护。

“I know quite well,” said the Mermaid, “that the Princess is sitting by the brook-side, just where you saw her as you passed, but as you will have many enemies to fight with before you can reach her, take this sword; —
“我很清楚，”美人鱼说，“公主就坐在溪边，就在你经过时见到她的地方。但是在你能到达她之前，你将要和很多敌人战斗，所以拿着这把剑吧； —

armed with it you may dare any danger, and overcome the greatest difficulties, only beware of one thing — that is, never to let it fall from your hand. —
只要你手握它，你就可以勇往直前，克服最大的困难，只需小心，不要让它从你手中滑落。 —

Farewell; now I will wait by that rock, and if you need my help in carrying off your beloved Princess I will not fail you, for the Queen, her mother, is my best friend, and it was for her sake that I went to rescue you.”
再见了。现在我会在那块岩石旁等你，如果你需要我的帮助来夺回你心爱的公主，我一定不会辜负你的，因为她的母亲，也就是皇后，是我的最好朋友。我为了她才去解救你。

So saying, she gave to the King a sword made from a single diamond, which was more brilliant than the sun. —
说完后，她递给国王一把由一颗钻石打造而成的剑，比太阳还要明亮。 —

He could not find words to express his gratitude, but he begged her to believe that he fully appreciated the importance of her gift, and would never forget her help and kindness.
国王找不到言语来表达他的感激之情，但他请求她相信他完全理解她的礼物的重要性，永远不会忘记她的帮助和善意。

We must now go back to the Fairy of the Desert. —
现在我们必须回到沙漠的仙女那里。 —

When she found that the King did not return, she hastened out to look for him, and reached the shore, with a hundred of the ladies of her train, loaded with splendid presents for him. —
当她发现国王没有回来时，她急忙出去寻找他，并且带着她的一百名侍女，携带着精美的礼物，赶到了海岸。 —

Some carried baskets full of diamonds, others golden cups of wonderful workmanship, and amber, coral, and pearls, others, again, balanced upon their heads bales of the richest and most beautiful stuffs, while the rest brought fruit and flowers, and even birds. —
有些人拎着装满钻石的篮子，有些人拿着工艺精湛的金杯、琥珀、珊瑚和珍珠，还有一些人则用他们的头平衡着最丰富、最美丽的绸缎，其他人则带来了水果、花朵，甚至活鸟。 —

But what was the horror of the Fairy, who followed this gay troop, when she saw, stretched upon the sands, the image of the King which the Mermaid had made with the sea-weeds. —
但当仙女跟随着这群欢乐的队伍时，她看到了人鱼用海藻做成的国王形象躺在沙滩上时，她感到了恐惧。 —

Struck with astonishment and sorrow, she uttered a terrible cry, and threw herself down beside the pretended King, weeping, and howling, and calling upon her eleven sisters, who were also fairies, and who came to her assistance. —
仙女被惊讶和悲伤所震撼，她发出了一声可怕的尖叫，扑倒在这个假装的国王旁边，哭泣、嚎叫着，呼唤着她的十一个妹妹，她们也是仙女，她们赶来帮助她。 —

But they were all taken in by the image of the King, for, clever as they were, the Mermaid was still cleverer, and all they could do was to help the Fairy of the Desert to make a wonderful monument over what they thought was the grave of the King of the Gold Mines. But while they were collecting jasper and porphyry, agate and marble, gold and bronze, statues and devices, to immortalize the King’s memory, he was thanking the good Mermaid and begging her still to help him, which she graciously promised to do as she disappeared; —
但是，尽管他们很聪明，美人鱼却比他们更聪明。他们只能帮助沙漠仙子建造一个奇妙的纪念碑，他们认为这是金矿之王的坟墓。他们收集着玛瑙、石榴石、玛瑙和大理石、黄金和青铜、雕像和装饰物，以永远铭记国王的记忆。国王感谢着善良的美人鱼，并乞求她继续帮助他，她很亲切地答应了，随后消失不见。 —

and then he set out for the Castle of Steel. He walked fast, looking anxiously round him, and longing once more to see his darling Bellissima, but he had not gone far before he was surrounded by four terrible sphinxes who would very soon have torn him to pieces with their sharp talons if it had not been for the Mermaid’s diamond sword. —
然后他出发去了钢铁城堡。他快步走着，焦急地四处寻找，渴望再次见到他心爱的贝丽西玛，但他走了没多远就被四只可怕的狮身人面兽包围了起来，它们很快就会用它们锋利的爪子将他撕成碎片，如果不是美人鱼的钻石剑的话。 —

For, no sooner had he flashed it before their eyes than down they fell at his feet quite helpless, and he killed them with one blow. —
就在他把它闪过他们眼前的瞬间，他们立刻无力地倒在他脚下，他一下子就杀死了他们。 —

But he had hardly turned to continue his search when he met six dragons covered with scales that were harder than iron. —
但他刚刚转过身来继续搜寻，就遇到了六只身披比铁还硬的鳞片的龙。 —

Frightful as this encounter was the King’s courage was unshaken, and by the aid of his wonderful sword he cut them in pieces one after the other. —
尽管这次遭遇可怕，国王的勇气丝毫不减，借助他那神奇的剑，他一个接一个地将它们斩杀。 —

Now he hoped his difficulties were over, but at the next turning he was met by one which he did not know how to overcome. —
现在他希望困难结束了，但在下一个转角，他遇到了一个他不知道如何克服的困难。 —

Four-and-twenty pretty and graceful nymphs advanced toward him, holding garlands of flowers, with which they barred the way.
二十四个漂亮而优雅的仙女朝他走来，手持鲜花花环，用它们堵住了去路。

“Where are you going, Prince?” they said; —
“你要去哪里，王子？”她们说道； —

“it is our duty to guard this place, and if we let you pass great misfortunes will happen to you and to us. —
“我们有责任守护这个地方，如果我们让你通过，你和我们都将会遭受巨大的不幸。 —

We beg you not to insist upon going on. —
我们恳求你不要坚持前进。 —

Do you want to kill four-and-twenty girls who have never displeased you in any way?”
你想要杀掉二十四个从未得罪过你的女孩吗？”

The King did not know what to do or to say. —
国王不知道该怎么做或说什么。 —

It went against all his ideas as a knight to do anything a lady begged him not to do; —
做任何一个女士不希望他做的事情都违背了他作为一个骑士的理念； —

but, as he hesitated, a voice in his ear said:
但是，当他犹豫的时候，有一个声音在他耳边说：

“Strike! strike! and do not spare, or your Princess is lost for ever!”
“出手吧！出手吧！不要留情，否则你的公主就永远失去了！”

So, without reply to the nymphs, he rushed forward instantly, breaking their garlands, and scattering them in all directions; —
所以，他没有回答那些仙女，立刻冲向前去，打破了她们的花环，将它们抛得到处都是； —

and then went on without further hindrance to the little wood where he had seen Bellissima. —
然后毫不费力地继续向前走，来到了他曾经见过贝利西玛的小树林； —

She was seated by the brook looking pale and weary when he reached her, and he would have thrown himself down at her feet, but she drew herself away from him with as much indignation as if he had been the Yellow Dwarf
当他走到她身边时，她正坐在溪边，看上去苍白而疲倦，他想扑倒在她的脚前，但是她愤怒地推开了他，就像他是黄色侏儒一样；

“Ah! Princess,” he cried, “do not be angry with me. —
“啊！公主，”他喊道，”请不要生我的气。 —

Let me explain everything. —
让我解释一切。 —

I am not faithless or to blame for what has happened. —
我并不是无信或有错，导致现在的局面。 —

I am a miserable wretch who has displeased you without being able to help himself.”
我是一个可怜的家伙，没有办法避免招惹你而已。”

“Ah!” cried Bellissima, “did I not see you flying through the air with the loveliest being imaginable? —
“啊！”贝利西玛喊道，”我难道没看见你和一个美得无以复加的人一起飞翔吗？” —

Was that against your will?”
“那是违背你的意愿吗？”

“Indeed it was, Princess,” he answered; —
“确实如此，公主，”他回答道； —

“the wicked Fairy of the Desert, not content with chaining me to a rock, carried me off in her chariot to the other end of the earth, where I should even now be a captive but for the unexpected help of a friendly mermaid, who brought me here to rescue you, my Princess, from the unworthy hands that hold you. —
“沙漠中邪恶的妖精不满足于把我锁在岩石上，还将我带到地球的另一边，如果不是意外得到友善的美人鱼的帮助，我现在可能还会被困在那里，而来救你，我的公主，脱离不配拥有你的手中。 —

Do not refuse the aid of your most faithful lover. —
请不要拒绝你最忠诚的爱人的帮助。 —

” So saying, he threw himself at her feet and held her by her robe. —
”说着，他跪在她的脚下，抓住她的衣襟。 —

But, alas! in so doing he let fall the magic sword, and the Yellow Dwarf, who was crouching behind a lettuce, no sooner saw it than he sprang out and seized it, well knowing its wonderful power.
但是，唉！就在这样做的时候，他掉下了那把神奇的剑，而蹲在一块生菜后面的黄色小矮人一看见它，就跳了出来并抓住了它，他非常了解它的神奇力量。

The Princess gave a cry of terror on seeing the Dwarf, but this only irritated the little monster; —
公主看见小矮人后惊恐地大叫起来，但这只激怒了这个小妖怪； —

muttering a few magical words he summoned two giants, who bound the King with great chains of iron.
他喃喃自语着几句咒语，召唤出两个巨人，用铁链将国王捆绑起来。

“Now,” said the Dwarf, “I am master of my rival’s fate, but I will give him his life and permission to depart unharmed if you, Princess, will consent to marry me.”
“现在，”小矮人说，“我是我对手命运的主宰，但是如果你，公主，愿意嫁给我，我会给他一条生路并许可他平安离去。”

“Let me die a thousand times rather,” cried the unhappy King.
“情愿死一千次！”可怜的国王大声喊道。

“Alas!” cried the Princess, “must you die? —
“唉！”公主叫道，“难道你要死吗？ —

Could anything be more terrible?”
“有什么比这更可怕的吗？”

“That you should marry that little wretch would be far more terrible,” answered the King.
“你嫁给那个可怜虫会更可怕，”国王回答道。

“At least,” continued she, “let us die together.”
“至少，”她继续说道，“让我们一起死吧。”

“Let me have the satisfaction of dying for you, my Princess,” said he.
“让我有幸为你而死，公主，”他说。

“Oh, no, no!” she cried, turning to the Dwarf; —
“哦，不，不！”她转向小矮人说道； —

“rather than that I will do as you wish.”
“与其如此，我宁愿按照你的意愿行事。”

“Cruel Princess!” said the King, “would you make my life horrible to me by marrying another before my eyes?”
“残忍的公主！”，国王说，“你会让我在你眼前嫁给另一个人成为我的人生的噩梦吗？”

“Not so,” replied the Yellow Dwarf; —
“不是这样，”黄色的矮人回答道； —

“you are a rival of whom I am too much afraid; —
“你是一个让我非常害怕的对手； —

you shall not see our marriage. —
—

” So saying, in spite of Bellissima’s tears and cries, he stabbed the King to the heart with the diamond sword.
“这样说着，尽管贝丽丝玛抱着哭喊，他用钻石剑将国王刺入了心脏。”

The poor Princess, seeing her lover lying dead at her feet, could no longer live without him; —
“可怜的公主，在看到她心爱的人躺在她脚边死去后，再也无法生存；” —

she sank down by him and died of a broken heart.
“她跪在他身旁，因心碎而死去。”

So ended these unfortunate lovers, whom not even the Mermaid could help, because all the magic power had been lost with the diamond sword.
“这些不幸的情侣就这样结束了，甚至美人鱼也无法帮助他们，因为随着钻石剑的消失，所有的魔力也消失了。”

As to the wicked Dwarf, he preferred to see the Princess dead rather than married to the King of the Gold Mines; —
“至于邪恶的小矮人，他宁愿看到公主死亡，也不愿她嫁给金矿之王；” —

and the Fairy of the Desert, when she heard of the King’s adventures, pulled down the grand monument which she had built, and was so angry at the trick that had been played her that she hated him as much as she had loved him before.
“沙漠女仙听闻国王的冒险后，拆毁了她建造的大型纪念碑，并对被玩弄的把戏感到愤怒，她对他的恨意与之前的爱一样深。”

The kind Mermaid, grieved at the sad fate of the lovers, caused them to be changed into two tall palm trees, which stand always side by side, whispering together of their faithful love and caressing one another with their interlacing branches.
“善良的美人鱼对恋人们的悲惨命运感到忧伤，使他们变成了两棵挺拔的棕榈树，它们总是紧密地站在一起，彼此低语着他们忠诚的爱并用交织的树枝彼此拥抱。”