ONCE upon a time there was a King who was so morose and disagreeable that he was feared by all his subjects, and with good reason, as for the most trifling offences he would have their heads cut off. —
从前有一个国王，他是如此忧郁和反感，以至于他的臣民对他非常害怕，也是有道理的，因为他会因为最微不足道的罪过而把他们砍头。 —

This King Grumpy, as he was called, had one son, who was as different from his father as he could possibly be. —
这位被称为格朗皮的国王有一个儿子，他和他的父亲完全不同。 —

No prince equalled him in cleverness and kindness of heart, but unfortunately he was most terribly ugly. —
没有哪个王子在聪明和善良方面能与他相比，但不幸的是，他非常丑陋。 —

He had crooked legs and squinting eyes, a large mouth all on one side, and a hunchback. —
他有着弯曲的腿和斜视的眼睛，一只大嘴巴，还有驼背。 —

Never was there a beautiful soul in such a frightful little body, but in spite of his appearance everybody loved him. —
从未有过一颗美丽的灵魂寄宿在如此可怕的小身体里，但尽管他的外貌，每个人都爱他。 —

The Queen, his mother, called him Curlicue, because it was a name she rather liked, and it seemed to suit him.
他的母亲，王后，称他为卷发，因为她相当喜欢这个名字，而且它似乎很适合他。

King Grumpy, who cared a great deal more for his own grandeur than for his son’s happiness, wished to betroth the Prince to the daughter of a neighbouring King, whose great estates joined his own, for he thought that this alliance would make him more powerful than ever, and as for the Princess she would do very well for Prince Curlicue, for she was as ugly as himself. —
国王格朗皮非常注重自己的伟大胜过儿子的幸福，他希望将王子订婚给一位邻国国王的女儿，她的大片土地与他自己的接壤，因为他认为这样的联姻会使他比以往更强大，至于公主她对王子卷鬓毛来说就很合适，因为她和他一样丑。 —

Indeed, though she was the most amiable creature in the world, there was no concealing the fact that she was frightful, and so lame that she always went about with a crutch, and people called her Princess Cabbage-Stalk.
事实上，尽管她是世界上最和蔼可亲的人，但无法掩饰她丑陋的事实，她还一直靠着拐杖行走，人们都叫她卷心菜公主。

The King, having asked for and received a portrait of this Princess, had it placed in his great hall under a canopy, and sent for Prince Curlicue, to whom he said that as this was the portrait of his future bride, he hoped the Prince found it charming.
国王要求并收到了这位公主的肖像，将它放在大厅的一个华盖下，并召见了王子卷鬓毛，告诉他这是他未来的新娘的肖像，希望王子觉得它迷人。

The Prince after one glance at it turned away with a disdainful air, which greatly offended his father.
王子一眼看过后就不屑地转身离开了，这举动深深地冒犯了他的父亲。

‘Am I to understand that you are not pleased?’ he said very sharply.
“我是不是可以理解你不高兴？”他非常尖刻地说。

‘No, sire,’ replied the Prince. ‘How could I be pleased to marry an ugly, lame Princess?’
“不，陛下，”王子回答道。“我怎么会高兴娶一个丑陋、跛脚的公主呢？”

‘Certainly it is becoming in YOU to object to that,’ said King Grumpy, ‘since you are ugly enough to frighten anyone yourself.’
“当然，你反对这个是符合你自己的，”格朗皮国王说，“因为你自己丑得能吓着任何人。”

‘That is the very reason,’ said the Prince, ‘that I wish to marry someone who is not ugly. —
“这正是我希望娶一个不丑的人的原因，”王子说道。“我已经看腻了我自己了。” —

I am quite tired enough of seeing myself.’
“我告诉你，你必须娶她，”格朗皮国王生气地喊道。

‘I tell you that you shall marry her,’ cried King Grumpy angrily.
王子看到劝说已无用，便鞠了个躬，退了出去。

And the Prince, seeing that it was of no use to remonstrate, bowed and retired.
因为格朗皮国王在任何事情上都不习惯被反驳，所以他对自己的儿子非常生气，并下令将他关押在专门为叛逆王子准备的塔中，但这座塔已经两百年没有人使用，因为已经没有叛逆王子了。

As King Grumpy was not used to being contradicted in anything, he was very much displeased with his son, and ordered that he should be imprisoned in the tower that was kept on purpose for rebellious Princes, but had not been used for about two hundred years, because there had not been any. —
—

The Prince thought all the rooms looked strangely old-fashioned, with their antique furniture, but as there was a good library he was pleased, for he was very fond of reading, and he soon got permission to have as many books as he liked. —
王子觉得所有的房间看起来奇怪地过时，里面装满了古董家具，但因为有一个很好的图书馆，他很高兴，因为他非常喜欢阅读，很快他就得到了可以拥有任意数量书籍的许可。 —

But when he looked at them he found that they were written in a forgotten language, and he could not understand a single word, though he amused himself with trying.
但是当他看着书时，发现它们是用一种被遗忘的语言写的，他一个字也看不懂，尽管他自我娱乐着试图理解。

King Grumpy was so convinced that Prince Curlicue would soon get tired of being in prison, and so consent to marry the Princess Cabbage-Stalk, that he sent ambassadors to her father proposing that she should come and be married to his son, who would make her perfectly happy.
易怒王国王很确信，库利居王子很快会厌倦被监禁，同意娶卷心菜公主为妻，他派使者给她的父亲，提议她来嫁给他的儿子，他会让她幸福无比。

The King was delighted to receive so good an offer for his unlucky daughter, though, to tell the truth, he found it impossible to admire the Prince’s portrait which had been sent to him. —
王对于为他倒霉的女儿得到这么好的提议感到高兴，虽然说实话，他不可能欣赏发给他的王子的画像。 —

However, he had it placed in as favourable a light as possible, and sent for the Princess, but the moment she caught sight of it she looked the other way and began to cry. —
然而，他把它尽量描述得很好，然后叫来了公主，但是她一眼看到它就偏过头去哭了起来。 —

The King, who was very much annoyed to see how greatly she disliked it, took a mirror, and holding it up before the unhappy Princess, said:
看到她如此讨厌，国王感到非常生气，他拿起一面镜子，把它放在不幸的公主面前，说道：

‘I see you do not think the Prince handsome, but look at yourself, and see if you have any right to complain about that.’
“我看得出你觉得这位王子不帅，但是你看看你自己，看看你是否有资格来抱怨。”

‘Sire,’ she answered, ‘I do not wish to complain, only I beg of you do not make me marry at all. —
“陛下，”她回答说，“我并不想抱怨，只是我请求您不要让我结婚。 —

I had rather be the unhappy Princess Cabbage-Stalk all my life than inflict the sight of my ugliness on anyone else.’
我宁愿一辈子做不快乐的卷心菜公主，也不愿意让任何人看到我的丑陋。”

But the King would not listen to her, and sent her away with the ambassadors.
但是国王不肯听她的，让她跟着使节们走了。

In the meantime the Prince was kept safely locked up in his tower, and, that he might be as dull as possible, King Grumpy ordered that no one should speak to him, and that they should give him next to nothing to eat. —
与此同时，王子被安全地锁在了塔里，为了让他尽量无聊，脾气暴躁的国王命令不准有人跟他说话，还要给他几乎没有东西吃。 —

But all the Princess guards were so fond of him that they did everything they dared, in spite of the King, to make the time pass pleasantly.
然而，所有的公主卫士都非常喜欢他，不顾国王的反对，尽力让时间过得愉快。

One day, as the Prince was walking up and down the great gallery, thinking how miserable it was to be so ugly, and to be forced to marry an equally frightful Princess, he looked up suddenly and noticed that the painted windows were particularly bright and beautiful, and for the sake of doing something that would change his sad thoughts he began to examine them attentively. —
一天，当王子在大厅里来回走动，想着自己如此丑陋实在太不幸，还被迫娶一个同样丑陋的公主时，他突然抬头发现彩绘玻璃窗特别明亮美丽，为了做一些能改变他悲伤思绪的事情，他开始仔细观察。 —

He found that the pictures seemed to be scenes from the life of a man who appeared in every window, and the Prince, fancying that he saw in this man some resemblance to himself, began to be deeply interested. —
他发现画面似乎描绘的是一个在每个窗户中出现的人的生活场景，王子认为这个人与自己有些相似之处，于是开始产生浓厚的兴趣。 —

In the first window there was a picture of him in one of the turrets of the tower, farther on he was seeking something in a chink in the wall, in the next picture he was opening an old cabinet with a golden key, and so it went on through numbers of scenes, and presently the Prince noticed that another figure occupied the most important place in each scene, and this time it was a tall handsome young man: —
在第一个窗户里，有一幅画，画着他站在塔楼的一个炮塔上，接着，他在墙缝中找东西，下一幅画中，他用一把金钥匙打开了一个古老的橱柜，接着是一系列的场景，渐渐地，王子注意到每个场景中都有另一个人物占据着最重要的位置，而这次，是一个高大英俊的年轻人： —

poor Prince Curlicue found it a pleasure to look at him, he was so straight and strong. —
可怜的卡利库找到了一种乐趣，看着他，他是如此挺拔和强壮。 —

By this time it had grown dark, and the Prince had to go back to his own room, and to amuse himself he took up a quaint old book and began to look at the pictures. —
此时已经变黑了，王子不得不回到自己的房间，为了娱乐自己，他拿起一本古怪的旧书，开始看图片。 —

But his surprise was great to find that they represented the same scenes as the windows of the gallery, and what was more, that they seemed to be alive. —
但是他惊讶地发现，书中描绘的是与画廊的窗户相同的场景，更重要的是，它们似乎是活的。 —

In looking at pictures of musicians he saw their hands move and heard sweet sounds; —
在看音乐家的画时，他看到他们的手动起来，听到了甜蜜的声音。 —

there was a picture of a ball, and the Prince could watch the little dancing people come and go. —
在那里有一张球的图片，王子可以看到小小的跳舞人来来去去。 —

He turned a page, and there was an excellent smell of a savoury dinner, and one of the figures who sat at the feast looked at him and said:
他翻开一页，闻到了一股美味的晚餐香气，一个坐在饭席上的人物看着他说道：

‘We drink your health, Curlicue. Try to give us our Queen again, for if you do you will be rewarded; —
“为了你的健康，Curlicue，请试着给我们我们的皇后，如果你这样做将受到奖赏； —

if not, it will be the worse for you.’
如果不这样做，对你来说会更糟。”

At these words the Prince, who had been growing more and more astonished, was fairly terrified, and dropping the book with a crash he sank back insensible. —
听到这些话，王子越来越吃惊，甚至吓坏了，他咣地一声把书扔了出去，然后晕倒了过去。 —

The noise he made brought his guards to his aid, and as soon as he revived they asked him what was the matter. —
他发出的声音引来了卫兵们的救援，在他恢复意识后，他们问他发生了什么事。 —

He answered that he was so faint and giddy with hunger that he had imagined he saw and heard all sorts of strange things. —
他回答说，他由于饥饿而感到头晕目眩，所以想象出了各种奇怪的事情。 —

Thereupon, in spite of the King’s orders, the guards gave him an excellent supper, and when he had eaten it he again opened his book, but could see none of the wonderful pictures, which convinced him that he must have been dreaming before.
然后，尽管国王的命令，侍卫们给了他一顿丰盛的晚餐，当他吃完后他又打开了书，但他看不到任何精彩的图片，这使他相信自己之前一定是在做梦。

However, when he went into he gallery next day and looked at the painted windows again, he found that they moved, and the figures came and went as if they had been alive, and after watching the one who was like himself find the key in the crack of the turret wall and open the old cabinet, he determined to go and examine the place himself, and try to find out what the mystery was. —
然而，第二天他再次走进画廊看着那些彩绘窗户，发现它们动了起来，人物们进进出出，就像有生命一样，并观察到那个像他自己的人在裂缝中找到了钥匙，打开了古老的柜子，他决定前去调查一下，试图弄清楚这其中的秘密。 —

So he went up into the turret and began to search about and tap upon the walls, and all at once he came upon a place that sounded hollow. —
于是他上到了塔楼开始寻找并敲打墙壁，突然他发现有一个地方听起来很空洞。 —

Taking a hammer he broke away a bit of the stone, and found behind it a little golden key. —
他拿起一把锤子，敲开了一块石头，发现后面有一把小小的金钥匙。 —

The next thing to do was to find the cabinet, and the Prince soon came to it, hidden away in a dark corner, though indeed it was so old and battered-looking that he would never have noticed it of his own accord. —
下一步要做的是找到柜子，王子很快就找到了它，它藏在一个黑暗的角落里，虽然它看起来如此古老和破旧，他自己本来永远不会注意到它。 —

At first he could not see any keyhole, but after a careful search he found one hidden in the carving, and the golden key just fitted it; —
起初他看不到任何钥匙孔，但经过仔细搜索，他找到了一个隐藏在雕刻中的钥匙孔，而金色的钥匙正好适合它; —

so the Prince gave it a vigorous turn and the doors flew open.
因此，王子用力转动它，门飞了开。

Ugly and old as the cabinet was outside, nothing could have been more rich and beautiful than what met the Prince’s astonished eyes. —
尽管外表又丑又旧，但王子眼前看到的东西比任何宝藏都更加丰富和美丽。 —

Every drawer was made of crystal, of amber, or of some precious stone, and was quite full of every kind of treasure. —
每个抽屉都是由水晶、琥珀或其他宝石制成的，里面装满了各种珍宝。 —

Prince Curlicue was delighted; he opened one after another, until at last he came to one tiny drawer which contained only an emerald key.
卡利库亚斯王子高兴极了;他一个接一个地打开，直到最后打开了一个只装着一把翠绿色钥匙的小抽屉。

‘I believe that this must open that little golden door in the middle,’ said the Prince to himself. —
“我相信这个一定可以打开中间那扇小金门，”王子自言自语地说。 —

And he fitted in the little key and turned it. —
他把小钥匙放进去并转动了它。 —

The tiny door swung back, and a soft crimson light gleamed over the whole cabinet. —
小门摇摆着向后打开，一束柔和的深红色光芒照亮了整个柜子。 —

The Prince found that it proceeded from an immense glowing carbuncle, made into a box, which lay before him. —
王子发现光芒来自一个巨大的发光红宝石，做成了一个盒子，摆在他面前。 —

He lost no time in opening it, but what was his horror when he found that it contained a man’s hand, which was holding a portrait. —
他立即打开它，但他惊恐地发现里面装着一个男人的手，手里拿着一张肖像画。 —

His first thought was to put back the terrible box and fly from the turret; —
他一开始想把这个可怕的盒子放回原处并逃离这个塔楼； —

but a voice in his ear said, ‘This hand belonged to one whom you can help and restore. —
但他耳边传来一声声音说：“这只手曾属于一位你能够帮助和恢复的人。 —

Look at this beautiful portrait, the original of which was the cause of all my misfortunes, and if you wish to help me, go without a moment’s delay to the great gallery, notice where the sun’s rays fall most brightly, and if you seek there you will find my treasure.’
看看这张美丽的肖像，它的原版是我所有不幸的起因，如果你愿意帮助我，立即去大画廊，留意太阳光最亮照射的地方，如果你在那里寻找，你将会找到我的宝藏。”

The voice ceased, and though the Prince in his bewilderment asked various questions, he received no answer. —
声音停止了，尽管王子在困惑中提出了各种问题，他没有得到答案。 —

So he put back the box and locked the cabinet up again, and, having replaced the key in the crack in the wall, hastened down to the gallery.
于是他把盒子放回原位，重新锁上柜子，将钥匙摆放在墙上的裂缝里，急忙下了楼去。

When he entered it all the windows shook and clattered in the strangest way, but the Prince did not heed them; —
当他进入画廊时，所有的窗户都在怪异地颤动和响动，但王子没有理会它们。 —

he was looking so carefully for the place where the sun shone most brightly, and it seemed to him that it was upon the portrait of a most splendidly handsome young man.
他正在仔细寻找阳光照射最明亮的地方，他觉得那是一幅非常英俊的年轻人的肖像。

He went up and examined it, and found that it rested against the ebony and gold panelling, just like any of the other pictures in the gallery. —
他走近并检查了一下，发现它靠在镶嵌着乌木和金色的镶板上，就像画廊里的其他画作一样。 —

He was puzzled, not knowing what to do next, until it occurred to him to see if the windows would help him, and, looking at the nearest, he saw a picture of himself lifting the picture from the wall.
他感到困惑，不知道接下来该怎么做，直到他想到是否可以利用窗户帮助他，他看着最近的窗户，发现了一幅描绘自己把画从墙上取下的画作。

The Prince took the hint, and lifting aside the picture without difficulty, found himself in a marble hall adorned with statues; —
王子得到了提示，轻松地把画撤开，发现自己置身于一个装饰有雕像的大理石大厅之中。 —

from this he passed on through numbers of splendid rooms, until at last he reached one all hung with blue gauze. —
他穿过许多华丽的房间，最后来到一个挂满蓝色薄纱的房间。 —

The walls were of turquoises, and upon a low couch lay a lovely lady, who seemed to be asleep. —
墙壁是绿松石色的，一个可爱的女子躺在一张低矮的沙发上，看起来像是在睡觉。 —

Her hair, black as ebony, was spread across the pillows, making her face look ivory white, and the Prince noticed that she was unquiet; —
她黑如乌鸦的头发散落在枕头上，使她的脸看起来像象牙一样白皙，王子注意到她心神不安； —

and when he softly advanced, fearing to wake her, he could hear her sigh, and murmur to herself:
当他轻轻靠近，担心惊醒她时，他可以听到她的叹息，自言自语：

‘Ah! how dared you think to win my love by separating me from my beloved Florimond, and in my presence cutting off that dear hand that even you should have feared and honoured?’
“啊！你竟然敢通过将我与我心爱的弗洛里蒙德分开来，以及在我面前割掉那个亲爱的手来试图赢取我的爱？即便你也应该是畏惧和尊敬的。”

And then the tears rolled slowly down the lovely lady’s cheeks, and Prince Curlicue began to comprehend that she was under an enchantment, and that it was the hand of her lover that he had found.
然后，美丽的女子的眼泪缓缓滑落，库利屈王子开始意识到她受到了魔法的困扰，而他找到的就是她爱人的手。

At this moment a huge Eagle flew into the room, holding in its talons a Golden Branch, upon which were growing what looked like clusters of cherries, only every cherry was a single glowing ruby.
正在这时，一只巨大的鹰飞进了房间，用爪子抓着一枝金枝，上面长满了看起来像樱桃一样的小果实，但每个果实都是一颗闪耀的红宝石。

This he presented to the Prince, who guessed by this time that he was in some way to break the enchantment that surrounded the sleeping lady. —
他将它递给了王子，王子此时猜到他以某种方式来打破笼罩着沉睡女子的魔法。 —

Taking the branch he touched her lightly with it, saying:
王子拿着金枝轻轻地触碰了她一下，说道：

‘Fair one, I know not by what enchantment thou art bound, but in the name of thy beloved Florimond I conjure thee to come back to the life which thou hast lost, but not forgotten.’
“美丽的人儿，我不知道你被什么样的魔法束缚，但我以你心爱的弗洛里蒙德的名义嘱托你回到你失去但未曾忘记的生活中。”

Instantly the lady opened her lustrous eyes, and saw the Eagle hovering near.
瞬间，女子睁开了她明亮的眼睛，看到了鹰在附近盘旋。

‘Ah! stay, dear love, stay,’ she cried. —
“啊！等等，亲爱的，等等。”她喊道。 —

But the Eagle, uttering a dolorous cry, fluttered his broad wings and disappeared. —
但鹰发出了一声悲伤的叫声，振动着宽大的翅膀，消失了。 —

Then the lady turned to Prince Curlicue, and said:
然后女子转向王子卷发，说道：

‘I know that it is to you I owe my deliverance from an enchantment which has held me for two hundred years. —
“我知道我要归功于你，是你解救我脱离了持续了两百年的魔法。” —

If there is anything that I can do for you in return, you have only to tell me, and all my fairy power shall be used to make you happy.’
如果你有任何需要我回报的事情，只要告诉我，我会动用我的仙力使你快乐。

‘Madam,’ said Prince Curlicue, ‘I wish to be allowed to restore your beloved Florimond to his natural form, since I cannot forget the tears you shed for him.’
‘夫人，’库利卡王子说，‘我希望能够恢复你心爱的弗洛里蒙德的本来面目，因为我无法忘记你为他流下的眼泪。’

‘That is very amiable of you, dear Prince,’ said the Fairy, ‘but it is reserved for another person to do that. —
‘亲爱的王子，你真是太仁慈了，’仙女说，‘但是这是另一个人来完成的。 —

I cannot explain more at present. But is there nothing you wish for yourself?’
我暂时无法解释更多。但是你自己有没有什么愿望？’

‘Madam,’ cried the Prince, flinging himself down at her feet, ‘only look at my ugliness. —
‘夫人，’王子跪在她的脚前喊道，‘请看看我的丑陋。 —

I am called Curlicue, and am an object of derision; —
我被称为库利卡，成为了嘲笑的对象； —

I entreat you to make me less ridiculous.’
我请求你让我少一点可笑的样子。’

‘Rise, Prince,’ said the Fairy, touching him with the Golden Branch. —
‘起来吧，王子，’仙女说着用黄金树枝触碰了他。 —

‘Be as accomplished as you are handsome, and take the name of Prince Peerless, since that is the only title which will suit you now.’
‘做得像你一样出色，取名为无双王子，因为现在只有这个称号适合你。’

Silent from joy, the Prince kissed her hand to express his thanks, and when he rose and saw his new reflection in the mirrors which surrounded him, he understood that Curlicue was indeed gone for ever.
忍不住喜悦，王子亲吻了她的手以表达谢意，当他站起来看着周围的镜子中的新倒影时，他明白卷曲确实永远离去了。

‘How I wish,’ said the Fairy, ‘that I dared to tell you what is in store for you, and warn you of the traps which lie in your path, but I must not. —
“我多希望，”仙女说，“我敢告诉你将来会发生什么，并警告你的道路上潜藏的陷阱，但我不能。 —

Fly from the tower, Prince, and remember that the Fairy Douceline will be your friend always.’
飞离这座塔，王子，并记住仙女杜瑟琳将永远是你的朋友。”

When she had finished speaking, the Prince, to his great astonishment, found himself no longer in the tower, but set down in a thick forest at least a hundred leagues away from it. —
当她说完话时，王子非常惊讶地发现自己不再在塔里，而是被放在一个茂密的森林里，至少离塔有一百个里程。 —

And there we must leave him for the present, and see what was happening elsewhere.
现在我们必须暂时离开他，去看看其他地方正在发生什么。

When the guards found that the Prince did not ask for his supper as usual, they went into his room, and not finding him there, were very much alarmed, and searched the tower from turret to dungeon, but without success. —
当卫兵们发现王子不像往常一样要求晚饭时，他们走进他的房间，没有找到他，非常担心，从塔楼到地牢搜索了一圈，但没有成功。 —

Knowing that the King would certainly have their heads cut off for allowing the Prince to escape, they then agreed to say that he was ill, and after making the smallest among them look as much like Prince Curlicue as possible, they put him into his bed and sent to inform the King.
知道如果让王子逃跑，国王肯定会割掉他们的头颅，他们同意说王子生病了，然后把最小的人弄得像卷发王子一样，放到床上，并派人通知国王。

King Grumpy was quite delighted to hear that his son was ill, for he thought that he would all the sooner be brought to do as he wished, and marry the Princess. —
因为国王认为儿子生病了，他会很快按照他的意愿行事，并与公主结婚，所以国王感到非常高兴。 —

So he sent back to the guards to say that the Prince was to be treated as severely as before, which was just what they had hoped he would say. —
于是他让卫兵们回去，说王子要像以前一样受到严厉对待，这正是他们所希望听到的。 —

In the meantime the Princess Cabbage-Stalk had reached the palace, travelling in a litter.
与此同时，甘蓝公主已经到达了宫殿，她是乘坐轿子前来的。

King Grumpy went out to meet her, but when he saw her, with a skin like a tortoise’s, her thick eyebrows meeting above her large nose, and her mouth from ear to ear, he could not help crying out:
国王走出去迎接她，但当他看到她时，她皮肤像乌龟一样，粗眉毛在巨大的鼻子上交汇，嘴巴从一边到另一边，他忍不住大喊一声：

‘Well, I must say Curlicue is ugly enough, but I don’t think YOU need have thought twice before consenting to marry him.’
“嗯，我必须说卷毛够丑，但我觉得你无需再三考虑就同意嫁给他。”

‘Sire,’ she replied, ‘I know too well what I am like to be hurt by what you say, but I assure you that I have no wish to marry your son I had rather be called Princess Cabbage-Stalk than Queen Curlicue.’
“陛下，”她回答道，“我对自己的样子了解得很清楚，不会因为你的话而受伤。但我向您保证，我并不希望嫁给您儿子，与其被称为卷毛王后，我宁愿被叫做卷心菜公主。”

This made King Grumpy very angry.
这使得脾气暴躁的国王非常生气。

‘Your father has sent you here to marry my son,’ he said, ‘and you may be sure that I am not going to offend him by altering his arrangements. —
“你的父亲派你来这里与我儿子结婚，”他说道，“你可以确信我不会因为改变他的安排而冒犯他。” —

’ So the poor Princess was sent away in disgrace to her own apartments, and the ladies who attended upon her were charged to bring her to a better mind.
 

At this juncture the guards, who were in great fear that they would be found out, sent to tell the King that his son was dead, which annoyed him very much. —
所以可怜的公主被耻辱地送回了自己的住所，侍奉她的女士们被授命劝她改变心意。 —

He at once made up his mind that it was entirely the Princess’s fault, and gave orders that she should be imprisoned in the tower in Prince Curlicue’s place. —
他立刻下定决心，认为完全是公主的错，下令将她关进塔里，代替库利库王子。 —

The Princess Cabbage-Stalk was immensely astonished at this unjust proceeding, and sent many messages of remonstrance to King Grumpy, but he was in such a temper that no one dared to deliver them, or to send the letters which the Princess wrote to her father. —
胡萝卜叶公主对这种不公正的行为感到非常惊讶，她向脾气坏坏的国王派了很多抗议信，但他太生气了，没有人敢给他递信或者寄给公主写给父亲的信。 —

However, as she did not know this, she lived in hope of soon going back to her own country, and tried to amuse herself as well as she could until the time should come. —
然而，由于她不知道这一点，她满怀希望能尽快回到自己的国家，并尽量自娱自乐，直到那个时候到来。 —

Every day she walked up and down the long gallery, until she too was attracted and fascinated by the ever-changing pictures in the windows, and recognised herself in one of the figures. —
她每天在长长的走廊上来回走动，直到她也被窗户里变幻多端的画面所吸引和迷住，并在其中的一个人物中认出了自己。 —

‘They seem to have taken a great delight in painting me since I came to this country,’ she said to herself. —
“自从我来到这个国家以来，他们似乎特别喜欢画我。”她自言自语道。 —

‘One would think that I and my crutch were put in on purpose to make that slim, charming young shepherdess in the next picture look prettier by contrast. —
人们可能会认为，我和我的拐杖被特意安排在这里，以便与下一幅画中那位苗条迷人的年轻牧羊女形成对比，让她看起来更漂亮。 —

Ah! how nice it would be to be as pretty as that. —
啊！能够像她一样漂亮会多么好啊。 —

’ And then she looked at herself in a mirror, and turned away quickly with tears in her eyes from the doleful sight. —
然后她看着镜子里的自己，眼泪忍不住在眼中闪动，快速转过身去，避开那悲伤的景象。 —

All at once she became aware that she was not alone, for behind her stood a tiny old woman in a cap, who was as ugly again as herself and quite as lame.
突然她意识到她并不孤单，因为她身后站着一位戴着帽子的小老太太，比她自己丑陋一倍，同样瘸着腿。

‘Princess,’ she said, ‘your regrets are so piteous that I have come to offer you the choice of goodness or beauty. —
‘公主，’她说道，‘你的遗憾是如此可怜，我来给你选择美丽还是善良。 —

If you wish to be pretty you shall have your way, but you will also be vain, capricious, and frivolous. —
如果你想要漂亮，你将得到你的愿望，但你也会变得虚荣、反复无常和轻浮。 —

If you remain as you are now, you shall be wise and amiable and modest.’
如果你保持现在的样子，你将会聪明、和蔼可亲和谦虚。

‘Alas I madam,’ cried the Princess, ‘is it impossible to be at once wise and beautiful?’
‘唉，夫人，’公主哭道，‘难道不能同时聪明又漂亮吗？’

‘No, child,’ answered the old woman, ‘only to you it is decreed that you must choose between the two. —
‘不，孩子，’老妇人回答道，‘只有你被命定要在两者之间做出选择。 —

See, I have brought with me my white and yellow muff. —
看，我带了我的白色和黄色手袋。 —

Breathe upon the yellow side and you will become like the pretty shepherdess you so much admire, and you will have won the love of the handsome shepherd whose picture I have already seen you studying with interest. —
对黄色一面呼吸，你会变得像你非常欣赏的美丽牧羊女，你会赢得那个帅气牧羊人的爱，我已经看到你对他的照片很感兴趣。 —

Breathe upon the white side and your looks will not alter, but you will grow better and happier day by day. —
对白色一面呼吸，你的外貌不会改变，但你会一天比一天变得更好、更快乐。 —

Now you may choose.’
现在，你可以选择了。

‘Ah well,’ said the Princess, ‘I suppose one can’t have everything, and it’s certainly better to be good than pretty.’
“嗯，”公主说，“我想人不能样样都有，变得善良比漂亮更好。”

And so she breathed upon the white side of the muff and thanked the old fairy, who immediately disappeared. —
于是，她对着手袋的白色一面呼吸，感谢那位老仙女，老仙女随即消失了。 —

The Princess Cabbage-Stalk felt very forlorn when she was gone, and began to think that it was quite time her father sent an army to rescue her.
白菜公主感到非常孤独，开始觉得她的父亲应该派一支军队来救她了。

‘If I could but get up into the turret,’ she thought, ‘to see if any one is coming. —
“如果我能够爬上塔楼，”她想，“看看是否有人来了。” —

’ But to climb up there seemed impossible. Nevertheless she presently hit upon a plan. —
但是爬上去似乎是不可能的。然而，她很快就想到了一个计划。 —

The great clock was in the turret, as she knew, though the weights hung down into the gallery. —
伟大的钟在塔楼里，她知道，尽管重物悬挂在走廊里。 —

Taking one of them off the rope, she tied herself on in its place, and when the clock was wound, up she went triumphantly into the turret. —
她从绳子上取下其中一件，用自己固定在原地，当钟被上发条时，她得意地升到了塔楼。 —

She looked out over the country the first thing, but seeing nothing she sat down to rest a little, and accidentally leant back against the wall which Curlicue, or rather Prince Peerless, had so hastily mended. —
她首先望向了乡间，但什么也没看见，于是她坐下来稍作休息，无意间靠在了Curlicue（或者说是Prince Peerless）匆忙修补过的墙上。 —

Out fell the broken stone, and with it the golden key. —
破碎的石头滚落下来，连同它一起落了下来的还有金钥匙。 —

The clatter it made upon the floor attracted the Princess Cabbage-Stalk’s attention.
它在地板上发出的声响引起了Cabbage-Stalk公主的注意。

She picked it up, and after a moment’s consideration decided that it must belong to the curious old cabinet in the corner, which had no visible keyhole. —
她捡起了它，经过片刻的考虑，确定它一定是角落里那个没有明显锁孔的奇特老橱柜的钥匙。 —

And then it was not long before she had it open, and was admiring the treasures it contained as much as Prince Peerless had done before her, and at last she came to the carbuncle box. —
之后不久，她就打开了它，并像之前Prince Peerless一样欣赏里面的宝藏，最后她来到了红宝石盒子面前。 —

No sooner had she opened it than with a shudder of horror she tried to throw it down, but found that some mysterious power compelled her to hold it against her will. —
她一打开盒子，就感到一阵恐怖的颤栗，她试图把它扔下，但发现有一股神秘的力量不由自主地让她紧紧抓住。 —

And at this moment a voice in her ear said softly:
就在这时，一个声音在她耳边轻声说道：

‘Take courage, Princess; upon this adventure your future happiness depends.’
“勇敢点，公主；你的未来幸福取决于这次冒险。”

‘What am I to do?’ said the Princess trembling.
公主颤抖地问：“我该怎么办？”

‘Take the box,’ replied the voice, ‘and hide it under your pillow, and when you see an Eagle, give it to him without losing a moment.’
声音回答：“拿着这个盒子，把它藏在你的枕头底下，当你看到一只鹰时，毫不犹豫地把它给鹰。”

Terrified as the Princess was, she did not hesitate to obey, and hastened to put back all the other precious things precisely as she had found them. —
尽管公主非常害怕，但她毫不犹豫地听从了命令，迅速把其他珍贵的东西放回原处，与之前一模一样。 —

By this time her guards were seeking her everywhere, and they were amazed to find her up in the turret, for they said she could only have got there by magic. —
这时候，她的护卫们正在四处寻找她，当他们发现她在塔楼里时，他们吃惊极了，因为他们认为她只能通过魔法到达那里。 —

For three days nothing happened, but at last in the night the Princess heard something flutter against her window, and drawing back her curtains she saw in the moonlight that it was an Eagle.
三天过去了，什么都没有发生。但终于有一天晚上，公主听到窗户外有东西扑打的声音，她拉开窗帘，看到月光下有只鹰。

Limping across at her utmost speed she threw the window open, and the great Eagle sailed in beating with his wings for joy. —
她一瘸一拐地尽快过去，打开窗户，伟大的鹰扑闪着翅膀欢快地飞了进来。 —

The Princess lost no time in offering it the carbuncle box, which it grasped in its talons, and instantly disappeared, leaving in its place the most beautiful Prince she had ever seen, who was splendidly dressed, and wore a diamond crown.
公主立刻拿出红宝石盒子给了它，它用爪子抓住盒子后瞬间消失了，取而代之的是她见过的最美丽的王子，他身穿华丽的服装，戴着钻石皇冠。

‘Princess,’ said he, ‘for two hundred years has a wicked enchanter kept me here. —
“公主，”他说，“一个邪恶的魔法师将我囚禁在这里已经两百年了。 —

We both loved the same Fairy, but she preferred me. —
我们俩都爱着同一个仙女，不过她选择了我。 —

However, he was more powerful than I, and succeeded, when for a moment I was off my guard, in changing me into an Eagle, while my Queen was left in an enchanted sleep. —
然而，他比我更强大，成功地在我一不留神的时候将我变成了一只鹰，而我的皇后则进入了沉睡的魔法状态。 —

I knew that after two hundred years a Prince would recall her to the light of day, and a Princess, in restoring to me the hand which my enemy had cut off, would give me back my natural form. —
我知道在两百年后，一个王子会把她带回阳光之下，而且一个公主，通过给我敌人切下的手重新接回到我身上，会还我本来的形态。 —

The Fairy who watches over your destiny told me this, and it was she who guided you to the cabinet in the turret, where she had placed my hand. —
看守你命运的仙女告诉我这个，并且是她引导你到了尖塔的柜子里，她放在那里的是我的手。 —

It is she also who permits me to show my gratitude to you by granting whatever favour you may ask of me. —
也是她允许我向你表达我的感激之情，通过满足你对我所提的任何要求。 —

Tell me, Princess, what is it that you wish for most? —
告诉我，公主，你最想要什么？ —

Shall I make you as beautiful as you deserve to be?’
我该让你变得像你应该的那样漂亮吗？’

‘Ah, if you only would!’ cried the Princess, and at the same moment she heard a crick-cracking in all her bones. —
‘啊，如果你能这样做就好了！’公主叫道，与此同时她听到了骨头发出的咔嗒声。 —

She grew tall and straight and pretty, with eyes like shining stars, and a skin as white as milk.
她长高了，变得笔挺而漂亮，眼睛像闪烁的星星，皮肤白得像牛奶。

‘Oh, wonderful! can this really be my poor little self? —
‘哦，太美妙了！这真的是我的可怜小我吗？ —

’ she exclaimed, looking down in amazement at her tiny worn-out crutch as it lay upon the floor.
’她惊讶地望着地板上摆放的她那只破旧的拐杖。

‘Indeed, Princess,’ replied Florimond, ‘it is yourself, but you must have a new name, since the old one does not suit you now. —
‘确实，公主，’弗洛里蒙德回答道，‘这是你自己，但是你必须有一个新的名字，因为现在旧名字不适合你了。 —

Be called Princess Sunbeam, for you are bright and charming enough to deserve the name.’
被称为“阳光公主”，因为你足够明亮和迷人，配得上这个名字。

And so saying he disappeared, and the Princess, without knowing how she got there, found herself walking under shady trees by a clear river. —
于是他说完就消失了，公主不知道自己是怎么到这里的，发现自己正在清澈的河边，在树荫下漫步。 —

Of course, the first thing she did was to look at her own reflection in the water, and she was extremely surprised to find that she was exactly like the shepherdess she had so much admired, and wore the same white dress and flowery wreath that she had seen in the painted windows. —
当然，她做的第一件事就是看着水中的自己的倒影，她非常惊讶地发现自己和她曾经如此仰慕的牧羊女一模一样，穿着同样的白色连衣裙，头上戴着花环，就像她在彩绘窗户中看到的一样。 —

To complete the resemblance, her flock of sheep appeared, grazing round her, and she found a gay crook adorned with flowers upon the bank of the river. —
为了完全符合形象，她的一群羊出现了，围绕在她周围吃草，她在河岸上找到了一把用鲜花装饰的漂亮拐杖。 —

Quite tired out by so many new and wonderful experiences, the Princess sat down to rest at the foot of a tree, and there she fell fast asleep. —
在经历了如此多新奇美妙的经历后，公主在一棵树下坐下休息，结果竟然睡着了。 —

Now it happened that it was in this very country that Prince Peerless had been set down, and while the Princess Sunbeam was still sleeping peacefully, he came strolling along in search of a shady pasture for his sheep.
正好在这个国家，贝尔王子就被放下来了，就在公主阳光还安睡的时候，他漫步而来，寻找适合放羊的树荫草地。

The moment he caught sight of the Princess he recognised her as the charming shepherdess whose picture he had seen so often in the tower, and as she was far prettier than he had remembered her, he was delighted that chance had led him that way.
他一看到公主，就认出了她，她是他在塔楼里经常看到的那位迷人的牧羊女，而且她比他记忆中的还要漂亮，他很高兴因为偶然的机会让他走到了这里。

He was still watching her admiringly when the Princess opened her eyes, and as she also recognised him they were soon great friends. —
当公主睁开眼睛时，他还在欣赏着她，而且她也认出了他，他们很快成了好朋友。 —

The Princess asked Prince Peerless, as he knew the country better than she did, to tell her of some peasant who would give her a lodging, and he said he knew of an old woman whose cottage would be the very place for her, it was so nice and so pretty. —
公主问皮尔雷斯王子，因为他比她更熟悉这个国家，能否告诉她一个能提供住宿的农民，他说他知道一个老妇人的小屋对她来说是非常合适的，非常漂亮。 —

So they went there together, and the Princess was charmed with the old woman and everything belonging to her. —
所以他们一起去了那里，公主对老妇人和她的一切都感到非常喜欢。 —

Supper was soon spread for her under a shady tree, and she invited the Prince to share the cream and brown bread which the old woman provided. —
晚饭很快在一棵树荫下准备好了，她邀请王子一起分享老妇人准备的奶油和黑面包。 —

This he was delighted to do, and having first fetched from his own garden all the strawberries, cherries, nuts and flowers he could find. —
他非常乐意这样做，并且首先从自己的花园里摘了所有的草莓、樱桃、坚果和花。 —

they sat down together and were very merry. —
他们一起坐下来，非常高兴。 —

After this they met every day as they guarded their flocks, and were so happy that Prince Peerless begged the Princess to marry him, so that they might never be parted again. —
在此之后，他们每天都在看守羊群时相遇，并非常幸福，因此皮尔莱斯王子请求公主嫁给他，这样他们就永远不会再分离。 —

Now though the Princess Sunbeam appeared to be only a poor shepherdess, she never forgot that she was a real Princess, and she was not at all sure that she ought to marry a humble shepherd, though she knew she would like to do so very much.
尽管阳光公主似乎只是一个贫穷的牧羊女，但她从未忘记自己是一位真正的公主，并且对于是否应该嫁给一个卑微的牧羊人并不确定，尽管她非常愿意这样做。

So she resolved to consult an Enchanter of whom she had heard a great deal since she had been a shepherdess, and without saying a word to anybody she set out to find the castle in which he lived with his sister, who was a powerful Fairy. The way was long, and lay through a thick wood, where the Princess heard strange voices calling to her from every side, but she was in such a hurry that she stopped for nothing, and at last she came to the courtyard of the Enchanter’s castle.
所以她决定去找一个她自从成为牧羊女就听说了很多的巫师咨询，而且她没有告诉任何人，就出发找到他和他的姐姐住的城堡。路途遥远，穿过一个茂密的森林，在那里公主听到各个方向传来奇怪的声音叫她，但是她那么急着赶路，完全没有理会，最后她来到巫师的城堡的庭院。

The grass and briers were growing as high as if it were a hundred years since anyone had set foot there, but the Princess got through at last, though she gave herself a good many scratches by the way, and then she went into a dark, gloomy hall, where there was but one tiny hole in the wall through which the daylight could enter. —
草丛和荆棘长得高高的，就像已经有百年没人踏足这里了，但公主最终还是通过了，虽然一路上被扎得伤痕累累，然后她进入了一个黑暗阴森的大厅，墙上只有一个小小的洞让阳光射入。 —

The hangings were all of bats’ wings, and from the ceiling hung twelve cats, who filled the hall with their ear piercing yells. —
墙帘都是由蝙蝠的翅膀做成的，从天花板上悬挂着十二只猫，它们发出刺耳的尖叫声，把整个大厅充斥着。 —

Upon the long table twelve mice were fastened by the tail, and just in front of each one’s nose, but quite beyond its reach, lay a tempting morsel of fat bacon. —
在长桌上，有十二只老鼠的尾巴被绑住，每只老鼠的鼻子前面，但是却在它们的触及范围之外，都摆放着一块诱人的肥肉。 —

So the cats could always see the mice, but could not touch them, and the hungry mice were tormented by the sight and smell of the delicious morsels which they could never seize.
因此，猫咪们总是能看到老鼠们，但却无法接触到它们。饥饿的老鼠们被这美味的香气和诱人的视野所折磨，但却无法捕捉到它们。

The Princess was looking at the poor creatures in dismay, when the Enchanter suddenly entered, wearing a long black robe and with a crocodile upon his head. —
公主以惊愕的神情望着这些可怜的生物，就在这时，魔法师突然进来了，他穿着一件黑色的长袍，头上戴着一只鳄鱼。 —

In his hand he carried a whip made of twenty long snakes, all alive and writhing, and the Princess was so terrified at the sight that she heartily wished she had never come. —
他手里拿着一根由二十条活蛇构成的鞭子，蛇们在挥舞着，扭动着。公主看到这一幕感到非常害怕，心里非常后悔自己为何要来。 —

Without saying a word she ran to the door, but it was covered with a thick spider’s web, and when she broke it she found another, and another, and another. —
她一句话都没说就冲向门口，但门被一层厚厚的蜘蛛网覆盖着，当她打破一个网时，又发现了另一个，又是一个，又是一个。 —

In fact, there was no end to them; the Princess’s arms ached with tearing them down, and yet she was no nearer to getting out, and the wicked Enchanter behind her laughed maliciously. At last he said:
实际上，这些树根没完没了，公主的手臂因为撕扯而疼痛，但她离出去的目标仍然遥远，邪恶的魔法师在她身后恶毒地笑了起来。最后，他说道：

‘You might spend the rest of your life over that without doing any good, but as you are young, and quite the prettiest creature I have seen for a long time, I will marry you if you like, and I will give you those cats and mice that you see there for your own. —
“你可能花上一辈子都无法做好这件事，但你还很年轻,也是我很久没见过的最漂亮的人了,如果你愿意，我可以和你结婚,并且我会把你眼前看到的那些猫和老鼠给你。 —

They are princes and princesses who have happened to offend me. —
他们是曾经得罪过我的王子和公主们。 —

They used to love one another as much as they now hate one another. Aha! —
他们曾经像现在这样互相深爱着，而现在却彼此厌恶。哼！ —

It’s a pretty little revenge to keep them like that.’
把他们留在那样的状态，这可算是一种很不错的报复。”

‘Oh! If you would only change me into a mouse too,’ cried the Princess.
“哦！要是你也能把我变成老鼠就好了，”公主喊道。

‘Oh! so you won’t marry me?’ said he. —
“哦！所以你不愿意嫁给我？”他说。 —

‘Little simpleton, you should have everything heart can desire.’
“小傻瓜，你可以得到心之所愿的一切。”

‘No, indeed; nothing should make me marry you; —
“不，真的，没有什么能让我嫁给你; —

in fact, I don’t think I shall ever love anyone,’ cried the Princess.
实际上，我想我永远也不会爱上任何人，”公主喊道。

‘In that case,’ said the Enchanter, touching her, ‘you had better become a particular kind of creature that is neither fish nor fowl; —
“既然是这样，”魔法师说着，碰了碰她，“你最好变成一种既不是鱼也不是禽的特殊生物； —

you shall be light and airy, and as green as the grass you live in. —
你应该轻盈飘逸，绿得像你所居住的草一样。 —

Off with you, Madam Grasshopper.’ And the Princess, rejoicing to find herself free once more, skipped out into the garden, the prettiest little green Grasshopper in the world. —
“朝不保夕的，草蜢夫人。’’公主欢喜地发现自己再次自由，跳到花园里，成为世界上最漂亮的绿色草蜢。 —

But as soon as she was safely out she began to be rather sorry for herself.
但是一出来她就开始为自己感到有些遗憾。

‘Ah! Florimond,’ she sighed, ‘is this the end of your gift? —
‘噢！弗洛里蒙德，’她叹了口气，‘这就是你的礼物的结局吗？ —

Certainly beauty is short-lived, and this funny little face and a green crape dress are a comical end to it. —
的确，美丽是短暂的，这个奇怪的脸和一个绿色的纱礼服真是滑稽的结局。 —

I had better have married my amiable shepherd. —
我还不如嫁给我的可爱牧羊人。 —

It must be for my pride that I am condemned to be a Grasshopper, and sing day and night in the grass by this brook, when I feel far more inclined to cry.’
我定是为了我的骄傲而被判处成为一只草蜢，在这条溪水旁的草地上日夜歌唱，而我却更倾向于哭泣。

In the meantime Prince Peerless had discovered the Princess’s absence, and was lamenting over it by the river’s brim, when he suddenly became aware of the presence of a little old woman. —
与此同时，无比英俊的王子发现公主不见了，他在河边忧心忡忡地哀叹着，突然察觉到一个小老太太的存在。 —

She was quaintly dressed in a ruff and farthingale, and a velvet hood covered her snow-white hair.
她身穿古怪的荷叶领和裙撑，一顶天鹅绒头巾罩住了她雪白的头发。

‘You seem sorrowful, my son,’ she said. ‘What is the matter?’
“你看起来忧伤，我的儿子，”她说道，“怎么了？”

‘Alas! mother,’ answered the Prince, ‘I have lost my sweet shepherdess, but I am determined to find her again, though I should have to traverse the whole world in search of her.’
“唉，母亲，”王子回答道，“我失去了我的甜蜜牧羊女，但我决心再找回她，即便需要穿越整个世界去寻找。”

‘Go that way, my son,’ said the old woman, pointing towards the path that led to the castle. —
“往那边走，我的儿子，”老太太指着通往城堡的路径说道。 —

‘I have an idea that you will soon overtake her.’
“我有个想法，你很快就会追上她。”

The Prince thanked her heartily and set out. —
王子衷心感谢她，然后出发了。 —

As he met with no hindrance, he soon reached the enchanted wood which surrounded the castle, and there he thought he saw the Princess Sunbeam gliding before him among the trees. —
没有遇到任何阻碍，他很快就到达了围绕城堡的魔法森林，在那里他以为看到了太阳光公主在树林中飘动。 —

Prince Peerless hastened after her at the top of his speed, but could not get any nearer; —
琼瑶王子拼命追赶她，但无法在她身边更近一步； —

then he called to her:
然后他向她喊道：

‘Sunbeam, my darling — only wait for me a moment.’
“阳光，亲爱的——只等我一会儿。”

But the phantom did but fly the faster, and the Prince spent the whole day in this vain pursuit. —
但是幻影飞得更快，王子整天都在徒劳的追逐中度过。 —

When night came he saw the castle before him all lighted up, and as he imagined that the Princess must be in it, he made haste to get there too. —
夜晚来临时，他看见了城堡被点亮了，他想象着公主一定在里面，于是他赶紧跑过去。 —

He entered without difficulty, and in the hall the terrible old Fairy met him. —
他毫无阻碍地进入了，大厅里他遇见了可怕的老仙女。 —

She was so thin that the light shone through her, and her eyes glowed like lamps; —
她身体如此苗条以至于光线能透过她，她的眼睛像灯一样发光； —

her skin was like a shark’s, her arms were thin as laths, and her fingers like spindles. —
她的皮肤像鲨鱼一样，手臂细如木条，指头像纺锤。 —

Nevertheless she wore rouge and patches, a mantle of silver brocade and a crown of diamonds, and her dress was covered with jewels, and green and pink ribbons.
尽管如此，她脸上涂了胭脂和斑点，披着一件银锦绣披风，戴着一顶钻石皇冠，衣服上布满了宝石，还有绿色和粉红色的丝带。

‘At last you have come to see me, Prince,’ said she. —
“终于你来看我了，王子，”她说。 —

‘Don’t waste another thought upon that little shepherdess, who is unworthy of your notice. —
“别再为那个不值得你注意的小牧羊女浪费思绪了。” —

I am the Queen of the Comets, and can bring you to great honour if you will marry me.’
我是彗星女王，如果你愿意嫁给我，我可以给你带来荣耀无限。

‘Marry you, Madam,’ cried the Prince, in horror. ‘No, I will never consent to that.’
“嫁给你，夫人？”王子惊恐地大声说道，“不，我绝不同意。”

Thereupon the Fairy, in a rage, gave two strokes of her wand and filled the gallery with horrible goblins, against whom the Prince had to fight for his life. —
于是，仙女怒气冲冲地挥动着她的魔杖，在画廊里放入了可怕的妖怪，王子不得不为了保命而与它们战斗。 —

Though he had only his dagger, he defended himself so well that he escaped without any harm, and presently the old Fairy stopped the fray and asked the Prince if he was still of the same mind. —
尽管他只有一把匕首，但他却表现出色地保护自己，没有受到任何伤害，不久后，老仙女停止了混战，并问王子是否还持有同样的意见。 —

When he answered firmly that he was, she called up the appearance of the Princess Sunbeam to the other end of the gallery, and said:
当他坚定地回答是的时候，她在画廊的另一端幻化出了公主阳光的形象，并说道：

‘You see your beloved there? Take care what you are about, for if you again refuse to marry me she shall be torn in pieces by two tigers.’
“你看到你所爱的人在那里了吗？小心你的选择，因为如果你再次拒绝嫁给我，她将会被两只老虎撕裂。”

The Prince was distracted, for he fancied he heard his dear shepherdess weeping and begging him to save her. —
王子感到十分痛苦，因为他听到他心爱的牧羊女哭泣着恳求他来拯救她。 —

In despair he cried:
绝望中，他大声喊道：

‘Oh, Fairy Douceline, have you abandoned me after so many promises of friendship? —
‘哦，甜美仙子杜余琳，你在许下了那么多友谊的承诺之后，是否抛弃了我？ —

Help, help us now!’
救命，快来帮助我们！’

Immediately a soft voice said in his ear:
一个温柔的声音立刻在他耳边响起：

‘Be firm, happen what may, and seek the Golden Branch.’
‘无论发生什么事情，都要坚定不移，寻找黄金枝。’

Thus encouraged, the Prince persevered in his refusal, and at length the old Fairy in a fury cried:
受到鼓励，王子坚持拒绝，并最终使愤怒的老仙子怒不可遏地喊道：

‘Get out of my sight, obstinate Prince. Become a Cricket!’
‘滚出我视线，顽固的王子。成为一只蟋蟀吧！’

And instantly the handsome Prince Peerless became a poor little black Cricket, whose only idea would have been to find himself a cosy cranny behind some blazing hearth, if he had not luckily remembered the Fairy Douceline’s injunction to seek the Golden Branch.
顿时，英俊的皮尔勒斯王子变成了一只可怜的小黑蟋蟀，唯一的念头就是找到一个温暖的壁炉后方的隐蔽地。

So he hastened to depart from the fatal castle, and sought shelter in a hollow tree, where he found a forlorn looking little Grasshopper crouching in a corner, too miserable to sing.
所幸他恰好记得仙子杜余琳告诉他要去寻找黄金枝，于是急忙离开了那个致命的城堡，并在一棵空心树中寻找庇护所，找到了一个悲伤的小蚂蚱蜷缩在角落里，太悲惨了以至于不能歌唱。

Without in the least expecting an answer, the Prince asked it:
没有指望得到回答的王子问道：

‘And where may you be going, Gammer Grasshopper?’
‘老蚂蚱婆婆，你打算去哪里呢？’

‘Where are you going yourself, Gaffer Cricket?’ replied the Grasshopper.
“你要去哪儿，叮叮虫？” 蚱蜢回答道。

‘What! can you speak?’ said he.
“什么！你会说话？” 他说道。

‘Why should I not speak as well as you? Isn’t a Grasshopper as good as a Cricket?’ said she.
“我为什么不能像你一样说话呢？蚱蜢岂不也和叮叮虫一样好？” 她说道。

‘I can talk because I was a Prince,’ said the Cricket.
“我能说话是因为我曾经是个王子。” 叮叮虫说道。

‘And for that very same reason I ought to be able to talk more than you, for I was a Princess,’ replied the Grasshopper.
“那么鉴于同样的原因，我应该比你能说话得更多，因为我曾经是个公主。” 蚱蜢回答道。

‘Then you have met with the same fate as I have,’ said he. —
“那你遇到了和我一样的命运。” 他说道。 —

‘But where are you going now? Cannot we journey together?’
“那么你现在要去哪儿？我们一起旅行怎样？”

‘I seemed to hear a voice in the air which said: —
“我似乎听到空中有声音说道： —

‘‘Be firm, happen what may, and seek the Golden Branch,’’ ‘ answered the Grasshopper, ‘and I thought the command must be for me, so I started at once, though I don’t know the way.’
“‘无论发生什么，要坚持下去，并寻找黄金的枝条’，” 蚱蜢回答道，“我以为这个命令是给我的，所以我立刻启程了，虽然我不知道路。”

At this moment their conversation was interrupted by two mice, who, breathless from running, flung themselves headlong through the hole into the tree, nearly crushing the Grasshopper and the Cricket, though they got out of the way as fast as they could and stood up in a dark corner.
就在这时，他们的谈话被两只老鼠打断了，它们气喘吁吁地跑过来，头朝前扑入树洞里，差点把蚱蜢和蟋蟀压扁。虽然它们尽快躲开并站在一个黑暗的角落里。

‘Ah, Madam,’ said the fatter of the two, ‘I have such a pain in my side from running so fast. —
“啊，夫人，”其中一只胖老鼠说道，“跑得太快了，我的肋骨好疼。” —

How does your Highness find yourself?’
“殿下感觉如何？”另一只小老鼠问道。

‘I have pulled my tail off,’ replied the younger Mouse, ‘but as I should still be on the sorcerer’s table unless I had, I do not regret it. —
“我把尾巴都拉断了，”年轻的老鼠回答道，“但是如果我不这样做的话，我还会在巫师的桌子上呢，所以我不后悔。” —

Are we pursued, think you? How lucky we were to escape!’
“你认为我们被追踪了吗？真幸运我们逃脱了！”

‘I only trust that we may escape cats and traps, and reach the Golden Branch soon,’ said the fat Mouse.

‘You know the way then?’ said the other.
“我只希望我们能逃过猫和陷阱，尽快找到黄金枝。”胖老鼠说道。

‘Oh dear, yes! as well as the way to my own house, Madam. This Golden Branch is indeed a marvel, a single leaf from it makes one rich for ever. —
“你知道路吗？”另一只老鼠问道。 —

It breaks enchantments, and makes all who approach it young and beautiful. —
它可以打破魔咒，并使所有靠近它的人变得年轻美丽。 —

We must set out for it at the break of day.’
我们必须在黎明时分出发。

‘May we have the honour of travelling with you — this respectable Cricket and myself? —
“我们能有幸与您一同前行吗？——我和这位尊敬的蟋蟀。” 小草hopper说着向前走了一步。 —

’ said the Grasshopper, stepping forward. —
“我们也在朝圣去找金枝的路上。” —

‘We also are on a pilgrimage to the Golden Branch.’
小老鼠们礼貌地同意了，经过一番客气的交谈后，全体成员都睡着了。

The Mice courteously assented, and after many polite speeches the whole party fell asleep. —
天亮的时候，他们已经上路了，虽然小老鼠们一直担心被追上或被困住，但他们平安地到达了金枝树下。 —

With the earliest dawn they were on their way, and though the Mice were in constant fear of being overtaken or trapped, they reached the Golden Branch in safety.
金枝树生长在一个奇妙的花园中，花园的所有道路上都铺满了像豌豆那么大的珍珠。

It grew in the midst of a wonderful garden, all the paths of which were strewn with pearls as big as peas. —
玫瑰是红宝石，带有翡翠的叶子。 —

The roses were crimson diamonds, with emerald leaves. —
石榴是石榴石，金盏花是黄宝石，水仙花是黄钻石，紫罗兰是蓝宝石，矢车菊是绿松石，郁金香是紫水晶、猫眼石和钻石，使得花园的边界闪耀如太阳。 —

The pomegranates were garnets, the marigolds topazes, the daffodils yellow diamonds, the violets sapphires, the corn-flowers turquoises, the tulips amethysts, opals and diamonds, so that the garden borders blazed like the sun. —
虽然花园的路径盖满了珍珠，但小老鼠们还是非常小心地避开它们。 —

The Golden Branch itself had become as tall as a forest tree, and sparkled with ruby cherries to its topmost twig. —
金色的树枝已经长到了像一棵森林中的树那样高，它的顶端闪烁着红宝石般的樱桃。 —

No sooner had the Grasshopper and the Cricket touched it than they were restored to their natural forms, and their surprise and joy were great when they recognised each other. —
蚱蜢和蟋蟀一碰到树枝，立刻恢复了原来的形态，当他们认出彼此时，他们感到非常惊喜和欣喜。 —

At this moment Florimond and the Fairy Douceline appeared in great splendour, and the Fairy, as she descended from her chariot, said with a smile:
就在这时，佛洛尔蒙和仙女杜塞琳以极大的辉煌出现了。仙女从马车上下来后，带着微笑说道：

‘So you two have found one another again, I see, but I have still a surprise left for you. —
“所以你们两个又找到了彼此，我看到了。但是我还有一个惊喜等着你们。 —

Don’t hesitate, Princess, to tell your devoted shepherd how dearly you love him, as he is the very Prince your father sent you to marry. —
公主，不要犹豫，告诉你那位忠诚的牧羊人你是多么地爱他，因为他正是你父亲派你去嫁给的王子。 —

So come here both of you and let me crown you, and we will have the wedding at once.’
所以，你们俩都过来，让我为你们戴上花冠，我们将立刻举行婚礼。”

The Prince and Princess thanked her with all their hearts, and declared that to her they owed all their happiness, and then the two Princesses, who had so lately been Mice, came and begged that the Fairy would use her power to release their unhappy friends who were still under the Enchanter’s spell.
王子和公主全身心地感谢她，并宣称他们的幸福都归功于她。然后，那两个曾经是老鼠的公主前来恳求仙女运用自己的魔力解救那些仍然被魔法师困在魔咒下的不幸朋友们。

‘Really,’ said the Fairy Douceline, ‘on this happy occasion I cannot find it in my heart to refuse you anything. —
“真的，”仙女杜赛琳说，“在这个幸福的场合，我无法找到拒绝你们的理由。” —

’ And she gave three strokes of her wand upon the Golden Branch, and immediately all the prisoners in the Enchanter’s castle found themselves free, and came with all speed to the wonderful garden, where one touch of the Golden Branch restored each one to his natural form, and they greeted one another with many rejoicings. —
她用魔杖敲击了金枝三下，立即魔法师城堡里的所有囚犯都自由了，他们迅速地来到了美妙的花园，一触碰金枝就能恢复到原来的形态，他们彼此相互欢庆。 —

To complete her generous work the Fairy presented them with the wonderful cabinet and all the treasures it contained, which were worth at least ten kingdoms. —
为了完成她的慷慨之举，仙女把这些宝物放在了神奇的小柜子里，并把它们全部送给了他们，价值至少相当于十个王国。 —

But to Prince Peerless and the Princess Sunbeam she gave the palace and garden of the Golden Branch, where, immensely rich and greatly beloved by all their subjects, they lived happily ever after.
然而，对于公主阳光和无与伦比的王子，她把金枝宫和花园赐给了他们，在那里，他们生活得富裕无比，深受所有臣民的爱戴，从此幸福地生活在一起。