THERE was once upon a time a couple of needy folk who lived in a wretched hut, in which there was nothing but black want; —
曾经有一对匮乏的人住在一间破旧的棚子里，里面除了饥饿一无所有； —

so they had neither food to eat nor wood to burn. —
所以他们既没有食物吃也没有木柴烧。 —

But if they had next to nothing of all else they had the blessing of God so far as children were concerned, and every year brought them one more. —
但是，虽然他们在其他方面几乎一无所有，他们在孩子方面却受到了神的祝福，每年都有一个新生命降临。 —

The man was not overpleased at this. He was always going about grumbling and growling, and saying that it seemed to him that there might be such a thing as having too many of these good gifts; —
这位男人对此并不十分高兴。他总是抱怨着，嘟囔着，说感觉这些好处可能过多； —

so shortly before another baby was born he went away into the wood for some firewood, saying that he did not want to see the new child; —
因此，在另一个孩子出生前不久，他去了森林找了些柴火，说他不想见到这个新生的孩子； —

he would hear him quite soon enough when he began to squall for some food.
他想等孩子开始哭闹要食物的时候再看见他就好了。

As soon as this baby was born it began to look about the room. ‘Ah, my dear mother! —
当这个孩子一出生就开始看着房间四周。”噢，我亲爱的母亲！ —

’ said he, ‘give me some of my brothers’ old clothes, and food enough for a few days, and I will go out into the world and seek my fortune, for, so far as I can see, you have children enough.’
他说，“给我一些我兄弟的旧衣服，还有足够几天食物，我将去世界上寻找我的机会，因为据我所见，你已经有足够多的孩子了。”

‘Heaven help thee, my son!’ said the mother, ‘that will never do; —
“愿天佑你，我的儿子！”母亲说，“那样做可不行；你还太小。” —

thou art still far too little.’
但是这个小家伙决心要这么做，他恳求了很久，母亲不得不给他一些旧破衣服，帮他打包一点食物，然后他高高兴兴地走进了世界。

But the little creature was determined to do it, and begged and prayed so long that the mother was forced to let him have some old rags, and tie up a little food for him, and then gaily and happily he went out into the world.
但几乎在他刚离开家门的瞬间，又生了一个男孩，他四下看看，说道：“啊，亲爱的母亲！给我一些我兄弟的旧衣服，还有几天的食物，然后我将去世界上找到我的孪生兄弟，因为你已经有足够多的孩子了。”

But almost before he was out of the house another boy was born, and he too looked about him, and said, ‘Ah, my dear mother! —
“愿天佑你，小家伙！你太小了，那是不可能的，”女人说，“不行。” —

give me some of my brothers’ old clothes, and food for some days, and then I will go out into the world and find my twin brother, for you have children enough.’
但这个小家伙坚决要这么做，他恳求了很久，母亲不得不给了他一些破旧的衣服，帮他打包一些食物，然后他高高兴兴地走进了世界。

‘Heaven help thee, little creature! thou art far too little for that,’ said the woman; —
“你给我一些我兄弟的旧衣服，还有几天的食物，然后我就会去世界上寻找我的孪生兄弟，因为你已经有足够多的孩子了。”女人说：“愿天佑你，小家伙！你太小了，那是不可能的，”女人说，“不行。” —

‘it would never do.’
“给我一些我兄弟的旧衣服，还有几天的食物，然后我将去世界上寻找我的机会，因为据我所见，你已经有足够多的孩子了。”

But she spoke to no purpose, for the boy begged and prayed until he had got some old rags and a bundle of provisions, and then he set out manfully into the world to find his twin brother.
但她说话没有任何用处，因为男孩哀求着祈求着，直到他得到一些旧破布和一捆食物，然后他大胆地踏上了寻找自己的孪生兄弟的旅途。

When the younger had walked for some time he caught sight of his brother a short distance in front of him, and called to him and bade him to stop.
当年幼的男孩走了一段时间后，他在前面看到了他的兄弟，便叫道并命令他停下来。

‘Wait a minute,’ he said; ‘you are walking as if for a wager, but you ought to have stayed to see your younger brother before you hurried off into the world.’
“等一下,“他说,“你走得像打赌一样，但是在你匆忙投入世界之前，你应该留下来见见你的弟弟。”

So the elder stood still and looked back, and when the younger had got up to him, and had told him that he was his brother, he said: —
于是哥哥站着回头看，当弟弟接近他，并告诉他他是他的兄弟时，他说: —

‘But now, let us sit down and see what kind of food our mother has given us,’ and that they did.
“但现在，让我们坐下来看看妈妈给我们准备了什么食物。”他们就这样做了。

When they had walked on a little farther they came to a brook which ran through a green meadow, and there the younger said that they ought to christen each other. —
他们走了一小段路后，来到了一条流过绿色草地的小溪旁边，在那里，弟弟说他们应该相互取名。 —

‘As we had to make such haste, and had no time to do it at home, we may as well do it here,’ said he.
“由于我们不得不赶时间，没有时间在家做，我们不妨就在这里做吧，”他说。

‘What will you be called?’ asked the elder.
老大问：“你想叫什么名字？”

‘I will be called Minnikin,’ answered the second; ‘and you, what will you be called?’
第二个回答：“我想叫迷你金。”“那你呢，你想叫什么名字？”

‘I will be called King Pippin,’ answered the elder.
老大回答：“我想叫皮平国王。”

They christened each other and then went onwards. —
他们互相取了名字，然后继续前行。 —

When they had walked for some time they came to a crossway, and there they agreed to part, and each take his own road. —
当他们走了一段时间后，来到了一个十字路口，他们决定分开，各自走自己的路。 —

This they did, but no sooner had they walked a short distance than they met again. —
他们实施了这个计划，但他们刚刚走了一小段距离，又再次相遇了。 —

So they parted once more, and each took his own road, but in a very short time the same thing happened again — they met each other before they were at all aware, and so it happened the third time also. —
于是他们又分开了，每个人走自己的路，但在很短的时间内再次发生了同样的事情 - 他们在还没有意识到之前又相遇了，第三次也是如此。 —

Then they arranged with each other that each should choose his own quarter, and one should go east and the other west.
于是他们彼此商定，每个人选择自己的方向，一个向东走，一个向西走。

‘But if ever you fall into any need or trouble,’ said the elder, ‘call me thrice, and I will come and help you; —
「但是如果你遇到任何困难或麻烦，」长老说道，「呼唤我三次，我会前来帮助你； —

only you must not call me until you are in the utmost need.’
但你必须在极度需要时才能呼唤我。」

‘In that case we shall not see each other for some time,’ said Minnikin; —
「那样的话我们将有一段时间不见了，」Minnikin说道； —

so they bade farewell to each other, and Minnikin went east and King Pippin went west.
于是他们互相告别，Minnikin向东走，国王Pippin向西走。

When Minnikin had walked a long way alone, he met an old, old crook-backed hag, who had only one eye. Minnikin stole it.
Minnikin 独自走了很长一段路之后，遇到了一个驼背的老老婆婆，只有一只眼睛。Minnikin偷走了她的眼睛。

‘Oh! oh!’ cried the old hag, ‘what has become of my eye?’
「哦！哦！」老婆婆大声喊道，「我的眼睛去哪儿了？」

‘What will you give me to get your eye back?’ said Minnikin.
Minnikin问道：「你愿意给我什么来换取你的眼睛？」

‘I will give thee a sword which is such a sword that it can conquer a whole army, let it be ever so great,’ replied the woman.
「我将给你一把剑，这把剑可以征服整支军队，无论多么庞大，」老婆婆回答道。

‘Let me have it, then,’ said Minnikin.
「那就给我吧，」Minnikin说道。

The old hag gave him the sword, so she got her eye back. —
老婆婆给了他剑，于是她找回了自己的眼睛。 —

Then Minnikin went onwards, and when he had wandered on for some time he again met an old, old crook-backed hag, who had only one eye. —
然后Minnikin继续前行，走了一段时间后他又遇到了一个驼背的老老婆婆，只有一只眼睛。 —

Minnikin stole it before she was aware.
在她察觉之前，Minnikin就偷走了它。

‘Oh! oh! what has become of my eye?’ cried the old hag.
“哦！哦！我的眼睛去哪了？”老妇人喊道。

‘What will you give me to get your eye back?’ said Minnikin.
“你给我什么来找回你的眼睛？”Minnikin说。

‘I will give thee a ship which can sail over fresh water and salt water, over high hills and deep dales,’ answered the old woman.
“我会给你一艘能在淡水和盐水中航行，能穿过高山和深谷的船。”老妇人回答道。

‘Let me have it then,’ said Minnikin.
“那就给我吧，”Minnikin说。

So the old woman gave him a little bit of a ship which was no bigger than he could put in his pocket, and then she got her eye back, and she went her way and Minnikin his. —
于是老妇人给了他一艘像他可以放进口袋的小小船，然后她找回了自己的眼睛，她走她的路，Minnikin走他的路。 —

When he had walked on for a long time, he met for the third time an old, old crook-backed hag, who had only one eye. —
当他走了很长时间后，第三次遇到了一个老老的驼背老婆婆，她只有一只眼睛。 —

This eye also Minnikin stole, and when the woman screamed and lamented, and asked what had become of her eye, Minnikin said, ‘What will you give me to get your eye back?’
Minnikin也偷走了这只眼睛，当老婆婆尖叫和哭诉，并问她的眼睛去哪了，Minnikin说：“你给我什么来找回你的眼睛？”

‘I will give thee the art to brew a hundred lasts of malt in one brewing.’
“我会教给你一种一次酿一百桶麦芽的技艺。”

So, for teaching that art, the old hag got her eye back, and they both went away by different roads.
所以，为了教授那个技艺，老婆婆找回了她的眼睛，他们以不同的道路离去。

But when Minnikin had walked a short distance, it seemed to him that it might be worth while to see what his ship could do; —
然而当Minnikin走了一小段距离后，他觉得值得去试试他的船能做些什么。 —

so he took it out of his pocket, and first he put one foot into it, and then the other, and no sooner had he put one foot into the ship than it became much larger, and when he set the other foot into it, it grew as large as ships that sail on the sea.
于是他从口袋里拿出了船，先把一只脚放进去，然后再放进另一只脚，刚一放进一只脚，船就变得大了许多，当他放进另一只脚时，它变得和那些航行在海上的船一样大。

Then Minnikin said: ‘Now go over fresh water and salt water, over high hills and deep dales, and do not stop until thou comest to the King’s palace.’
然后，Minnikin说：“现在你去越过淡水和咸水，越过高山和深谷，直到你到达国王的宫殿，不要停下来。”

And in an instant the ship went away as swiftly as any bird in the air till it got just below the King’s palace, and there it stood still.
船立刻像空中的鸟一样迅速飞走了，直到停在国王的宫殿下面。

From the windows of the King’s palace many persons had seen Minnikin come sailing thither, and had stood to watch him; —
国王宫殿的窗户里有很多人看见Minnikin来到那里，都站在那里观看； —

and they were all so astounded that they ran down to see what manner of man this could be who came sailing in a ship through the air. —
他们都惊讶得不知所措，纷纷跑下去看看这个能够乘着一艘船从空中飞来的人是何方神圣。 —

But while they were running down from the King’s palace, Minnikin had got out of the ship and had put it in his pocket again; —
但是当他们从国王的宫殿跑下来的时候，小人儿又从船里爬了出来，把船又放进了口袋里； —

for the moment he got out of it, it once more became as small as it had been when he got it from the old woman, and those who came from the King’s palace could see nothing but a ragged little boy who was standing down by the sea-shore. —
因为他一离开船，它又变得和他从老太婆那里拿到的时候一样小了，从国王宫来的人们什么也看不见，只看到一个站在海滩上的破烂男孩。 —

The King asked where he had come from, but the boy said he did not know, nor yet could he tell them how he had got there, but he begged very earnestly and prettily for a place in the King’s palace. —
国王问他从哪里来的，但男孩说他不知道，也无法告诉他们他是怎么到那里来的，但他非常恳切而可爱地请求在国王宫中找个地方住。 —

If there was nothing else for him to do, he said he would fetch wood and water for the kitchen-maid, and that he obtained leave to do.
他说如果别的事情他都做不了，他可以为厨房女仆去搬柴和提水，于是他得到了允许。

When Minnikin went up to the King’s palace he saw that everything there was hung with black both outside and inside, from the bottom to the top; —
当小人儿上国王宫去时，他看到那里的一切都从里到外挂满了黑色，从底部到顶部； —

so he asked the kitchen-maid what that meant.
所以他问厨房女仆那是什么意思。

‘Oh, I will tell you that,’ answered the kitchen-maid. —
“噢，我告诉你吧，”厨房女仆回答道。 —

‘The King’s daughter was long ago promised away to three Trolls, and next Thursday evening one of them is to come to fetch her. —
“国王的女儿很久以前就被许配给了三个巨人，而下周四晚上就会有一个来接她。” —

Ritter Red has said that he will be able to set her free, but who knows whether he will be able to do it? —
“雷德骑士说他可以解救她，但谁知道他能否做到呢？” —

so you may easily imagine what grief and distress we are in here.’
“所以你可以想象我们这里有多么悲伤和苦恼。”

So when Thursday evening came, Ritter Red accompanied the Princess to the sea-shore; —
“所以，当周四晚上来临时，雷德骑士陪同公主来到了海滩上；” —

for there she was to meet the Troll, and Ritter Red was to stay with her and protect her. —
“因为她要在那里与巨人会面，雷德骑士要留在她身边保护她。” —

He, however, was very unlikely to do the Troll much injury, for no sooner had the Princess seated herself by the sea-shore than Ritter Red climbed up into a great tree which was standing there, and hid himself as well as he could among the branches.
“然而，他并不打算对那个巨人造成太大的伤害，因为公主一坐在海滩上，雷德骑士便爬上了一棵大树，尽力藏在树枝间。”

The Princess wept, and begged him most earnestly not to go and leave her; —
“公主哭泣着，恳求他千万不要离开她；” —

but Ritter Red did not concern himself about that. —
“但雷德骑士并不关心这个。” —

‘It is better that one should die than two,’ said he.
“‘一个人死比两个人死好，’他说。”

In the meantime Minnikin begged the kitchen-maid very prettily to give him leave to go down to the strand for a short time.
与此同时，米尼金非常客气地请求厨房女佣同意他出去海滩稍作休息。

‘Oh, what could you do down at the strand? —
‘哦，你去海滩能干什么呢？’ —

’ said the kitchen-maid. ‘You have nothing to do there.’
厨房女佣说道，’在那里你没有什么事情可做。’

‘Oh yes, my dear, just let me go,’ said Minnikin. —
‘噢，亲爱的，就让我去一下吧，’米尼金说道。 —

‘I should so like to go and amuse myself with the other children.’
‘我真想去和其他孩子们一起玩。’

‘Well, well, go then!’ said the kitchen-maid, ‘but don’t let me find you staying there over the time when the pan has to be set on the fire for supper, and the roast put on the spit; —
‘好吧，好吧，去吧！’厨房女佣说道，‘但我希望你别等到晚餐时候才回来，那时候锅要放在火上，肉要放在烤肉机上； —

and mind you bring back a good big armful of wood for the kitchen.’
而且你要记得给厨房带回一大捧木柴。’

Minnikin promised this, and ran down to the sea-shore.
米尼金答应了，并跑下了海滩。

Just as he got to the place where the King’s daughter was sitting, the Troll came rushing up with a great whistling and whirring, and he was so big and stout that he was terrible to see, and he had five heads.
就在他走到王女士所坐的地方时，巨怪突然冲了过来，发出阵阵呼啸声，他又大又结实，看上去非常可怕，还有五个头。

‘Fire!’ screeched the Troll.
‘火！’巨怪尖叫道。

‘Fire yourself!’ said Minnikin.
‘你自己着火吧！’米尼金说道。

‘Can you fight?’ roared the Troll.
‘你会打架吗？’巨怪咆哮道。

‘If not, I can learn,’ said Minnikin.
“如果不行，我可以学，”明尼金说。

So the Troll struck at him with a great thick iron bar which he had in his fist, till the sods flew five yards up into the air.
于是巨怪用手中的一根又粗又大的铁棒猛击他，土块飞向空中五码高。

‘Fie!’ said Minnikin. ‘That was not much of a blow. Now you shall see one of mine.’
“哎呀！”明尼金说道，“这一下还不够。现在轮到我了。”

So he grasped the sword which he had got from the old crook-backed woman, and slashed at the Troll so that all five heads went flying away over the sands.
他拿起从驼背老婆婆那儿得到的剑，猛砍巨怪，五个头顿时飞到沙滩上。

When the Princess saw that she was delivered she was so delighted that she did not know what she was doing, and skipped and danced.
公主看到自己获救了，乐坏了，乱蹦乱跳。

‘Come and sleep a bit with your head in my lap,’ she said to Minnikin, and as he slept she put a golden dress on him.
“来，在我腿上睡一会儿，”她对明尼金说，趁他睡着时给他穿上了一件金色的礼服。

But when Ritter Red saw that there was no longer any danger afoot, he lost no time in creeping down from the tree. —
但是当雷特·雷德看到没有危险了，他立刻从树上爬下来。 —

He then threatened the Princess, until at length she was forced to promise to say that it was he who had rescued her, for he told her that if she did not he would kill her. —
然后他威胁公主，最终她不得不答应说是他救了她，因为他告诉她如果她不这样做，他就会杀了她。 —

Then he took the Troll’s lungs and tongue and put them in his pocket-handkerchief, and led the Princess back to the King’s palace; —
然后他取下了巨人的肺和舌头放进口袋，带着公主回到国王的宫殿； —

and whatsoever had been lacking to him in the way of honour before was lacking no longer, for the King did not know how to exalt him enough, and always set him on his own right hand at table.
而他之前所缺乏的荣誉，现在一点也不缺了，因为国王不知道如何赞美他，总是将他安置在自己的右手边;

As for Minnikin, first he went out on the Troll’s ship and took a great quantity of gold and silver hoops away with him, and then he trotted back to the King’s palace.
至于迷你人，他首先上了巨人的船，带走了大量的金银戒指，然后小跑着回到了国王的宫殿；

When the kitchen-maid caught sight of all this gold and silver she was quite amazed, and said: —
当厨娘看到所有这些金银时，她十分惊讶，并说道： —

‘My dear friend Minnikin, where have you got all that from? —
“我亲爱的朋友迷你人，这些都是从哪里来的？” —

’ for she was half afraid that he had not come by it honestly.
她有些担心他可能不是通过正当途径得到的。

‘Oh,’ answered Minnikin, ‘I have been home a while, and these hoops had fallen off some of our buckets, so I brought them away with me for you.’
“噢，”迷你人回答道，“我回家一趟，这些戒指是从我们的水桶上掉下来的，所以我带了回来给你。”

So when the kitchen-maid heard that they were for her, she asked no more questions about the matter. —
所以当厨娘听说这些是给她的时候，她就不再追问这件事了。 —

She thanked Minnikin, and everything was right again at once.
她感谢了迷你金，一切立刻恢复了正常。

Next Thursday evening all went just the same, and everyone was full of grief and affliction, but Ritter Red said that he had been able to deliver the King’s daughter from one Troll, so that he could very easily deliver her from another, and he led her down to the sea-shore. —
下个星期四晚上一切都一样，大家都充满了悲痛和苦难，但是里特红说他已经把国王的女儿从一个山精那里救出来，所以他可以很容易地把她从另一个山精那里救出来，他把她带到海滩上。 —

But he did not do much harm to this Troll either, for when the time came when the Troll might be expected, he said as he had said before: —
但他对这个山精也没有做多少伤害，因为当山精预计会出现的时候，他还是说了和之前一样的话： —

‘It is better that one should die than two,’ and then climbed up into the tree again.
‘一个人死比两个人死好，’ 然后再次爬上树。

Minnikin once more begged the cook’s leave to go down to the sea-shore for a short time.
迷你金再次请求厨师让他去海滩上待一会儿。

‘Oh, what can you do there?’ said the cook.
‘哦，你在那里能做什么呢？’ 厨师说。

‘My dear, do let me go!’ said Minnikin; —
‘亲爱的，请让我去！’ 迷你金说。 —

‘I should so like to go down there and amuse myself a little with the other children.’
‘我真的很想去那边和其他孩子玩一下。’

So this time also she said that he should have leave to go, but he must first promise that he would be back by the time the joint was turned and that he would bring a great armful of wood with him.
所以她这次也说，他应该离开去，但他必须承诺先把连接转过的时间回来，并且带着一大捆木头。

No sooner had Minnikin got down to the strand than the Troll came rushing along with a great whistling and whirring, and he was twice as big as the first Troll, and he had ten heads.
Minnikin一走到岸边，Troll就冲过来了，嗖嗖作响，他比第一个Troll还要大两倍，有十个头。

‘Fire!’ shrieked the Troll.
‘火！’Troll尖叫道。

‘Fire yourself!’ said Minnikin.
‘自己点火！’Minnikin说。

‘Can you fight?’ roared the Troll.
‘你会打架吗？’Troll咆哮道。

‘If not, I can learn,’ said Minnikin.
‘如果不会，我可以学会，’Minnikin说。

So the Troll struck at him with his iron club — which was still bigger than that which the first Troll had had — so that the earth flew ten yards up in the air.
所以Troll用他的铁砍刀向他挥打，比第一个Troll的还要大，以至于地面飞起来了十码远。

‘Fie!’ said Minnikin. ‘That was not much of a blow. Now you shall see one of my blows.’
‘呸！’Minnikin说。’这一击不怎么样。现在你可以看到我的一击了。’

Then he grasped his sword and struck at the Troll, so that all his ten heads danced away over the sands.
然后他抓住他的剑，砍向Troll，以至于他的十个头在沙滩上跳舞。

And again the King’s daughter said to him, ‘Sleep a while on my lap,’ and while Minnikin lay there she drew some silver raiment over him.
然后，国王的女儿又对他说：“在我膝上睡一会儿吧。”当小人儿躺在那里时，她给他盖上一件银色的衣服。

As soon as Ritter Red saw that there was no longer any danger afoot, he crept down from the tree and threatened the Princess, until at last she was again forced to promise to say that it was he who had rescued her; —
等红骑士看到再也没有危险时，他就从树上爬下来威胁公主，最后她再次被迫承诺说是他救了她； —

after which he took the tongue and the lungs of the Troll and put them in his pocket-handkerchief, and then he conducted the Princess back to the palace. —
之后，他把巨人的舌头和肺放进手帕里，并护送公主回到了皇宫。 —

There was joy and gladness in the palace, as may be imagined, and the King did not know how to show enough honour and respect to Ritter Red.
可想而知，皇宫里洋溢着欢乐和喜悦，国王不知道该如何对红骑士表达足够的尊敬和荣耀。

Minnikin, however, took home with him an armful of gold and silver hoops from the Troll’s ship. —
然而，小人儿带回了一把把来自巨人船上的黄金和银圈。 —

When he came back to the King’s palace the kitchen-maid clapped her hands and wondered where he could have got all that gold and silver; —
当他回到国王的宫殿时，厨房的女仆拍着手惊叹他从哪里搞来那么多黄金和银子。 —

but Minnikin answered that he had been home for a short time, and that it was only the hoops which had fallen off some pails, and that he had brought them away for the kitchen-maid.
但是Minnikin回答说他只是回家了一小段时间，只是一些桶上的箍圈掉了下来，他把它们带走给了厨师。

When the third Thursday evening came, everything happened exactly as it had happened on the two former occasions. —
当第三个星期四的晚上来临时，一切都发生了和前两次一模一样的事情。 —

Everything in the King’s palace was hung with black, and everyone was sorrowful and distressed; —
国王的宫殿里到处都是黑色的，每个人都悲伤沮丧。 —

but Ritter Red said that he did not think that they had much reason to be afraid — he had delivered the King’s daughter from two Trolls, so he could easily deliver her from the third as well.
但是Ritter Red说他认为他们没有太多理由害怕 - 他已经从两个巨怪手中解救了国王的女儿，所以他也可以轻松解救她。

He led her down to the strand, but when the time drew near for the Troll to come, he climbed up into the tree again and hid himself.
他把她带到了海滩，但是当巨怪快来的时候，他又爬上了树藏了起来。

The Princess wept and entreated him to stay, but all to no purpose. —
公主哭了，恳求他留下，但是一切都是徒劳的。 —

He stuck to his old speech, ‘It is better that one life should be lost than two.’
他坚持他以前的说辞，“失去一个人的生命总比失去两个人的生命要好。”

This evening also, Minnikin begged for leave to go down to the sea-shore.
今晚，Minnikin再次请求去海滩。

‘Oh, what can you do there?’ answered the kitchen-maid.
“哦，你能在那里做什么？”厨妇回答道。

However, he begged until at last he got leave to go, but he was forced to promise that he would be back again in the kitchen when the roast had to be turned.
然而，他乞求了很久才得到了离去的许可，但他被迫答应在烤肉需要翻转时回到厨房。

Almost immediately after he had got down to the sea-shore the Troll came with a great whizzing and whirring, and he was much, much bigger than either of the two former ones, and he had fifteen heads.
他刚刚到达海滩，巨魔就带着巨大的呼啸声和旋转声来了，他比之前的两个都要大得多，而且他有十五个头。

‘Fire!’ roared the Troll.
“着火了！”巨魔咆哮道。

‘Fire yourself!’ said Minnikin.
“让你自己着火吧！”米尼金说。

‘Can you fight?’ screamed the Troll.
“你会打架吗？”巨魔尖叫道。

‘If not, I can learn,’ said Minnikin.
“如果不会，我可以学。”米尼金说。

‘I will teach you,’ yelled the Troll, and struck at him with his iron club so that the earth flew up fifteen yards high into the air.
“我会教你的！”巨魔咆哮着，用他的铁棍打向他，土地飞起来，高达十五码。

‘Fie!’ said Minnikin. ‘That was not much of a blow. Now I will let you see one of my blows.’
“呸！”米尼金说。“这一击还不够。现在，我要让你见识一下我的一击。”

So saying he grasped his sword, and cut at the Troll in such a way that all his fifteen heads danced away over the sands.
说着，他握住剑，砍向巨魔，以至于他的十五个头都跳舞飞过沙滩。

Then the Princess was delivered, and she thanked Minnikin and blessed him for saving her.
然后公主被送到了，她感谢了小人儿，并给他祝福，因为他救了她。

‘Sleep a while now on my lap,’ said she, and while he lay there she put a garment of brass upon him.
“现在在我膝上睡一会儿吧，”她说道，她在他身上穿上了一件铜制的衣服。

‘But now, how shall we have it made known that it was you who saved me? —
“但是现在，我们如何让人知道是你救了我呢？”国王的女儿问道。 —

’ said the King’s daughter.
“这个我会告诉你的，”小人儿回答道。

‘That I will tell you,’ answered Minnikin. —
“当红骑士把你带回家，并宣称是他救了你后，他会娶你为妻，并得到一半的王国。 —

‘When Ritter Red has taken you home again, and given out that it was he who rescued you, he will, as you know, have you to wife, and half the kingdom. —
但是当他们在你的婚礼上问你要谁来当你的斟酒者时，你必须说‘‘我要厨房里的那个破烂男孩，他为厨娘运送木材和水； —

But when they ask you on your wedding-day whom you will have to be your cup-bearer, you must say, ‘‘I will have the ragged boy who is in the kitchen, and carries wood and water for the kitchen-maid; —
’’而当我为你斟酒时，我会在他的盘子上洒一滴，但是不会洒在你的盘子上，然后他会生气地打我，这将会发生三次。 —

’’ and when I am filling your cups for you, I will spill a drop upon his plate but none upon yours, and then he will be angry and strike me, and this will take place thrice. —
但是第三次你必须说‘‘你这样打我心爱的人真是可耻。 —

But the third time you must say, ‘‘Shame on you thus to smite the beloved of mine heart. —
然后你要亲我三次，我将变回王子的身份。” —

It is he who delivered me from the Troll, and he is the one whom I will have.’’ ’
是他救了我脱离了巨魔，他就是我的唯一选择。

Then Minnikin ran back to the King’s palace as he had done before, but first he went on board the Troll’s ship and took a great quantity of gold and silver and other precious things, and out of these he once more gave to the kitchen-maid a whole armful of gold and silver hoops.
小美人鱼像之前那样跑回了国王的宫殿，但是他在之前上了巨魔的船上，拿了许多黄金、白银和其他珍贵物品，其中他又给了厨娘一把金银环。

No sooner did Ritter Red see that all danger was over than he crept down from the tree, and threatened the King’s daughter till he made her promise to say that he had rescued her. —
当帝国红看到危险已经过去时，他从树上爬下来，威胁国王的女儿让她答应说是他救了她。 —

Then he conducted her back to the King’s palace, and if honour enough had not been done him before it was certainly done now, for the King had no other thought than how to make much of the man who had saved his daughter from the three Trolls; —
然后他把她带回了国王的宫殿，如果之前对他的尊重不够，现在绝对够了，因为国王想尽一切办法来尊重那个救了他女儿脱离三个巨魔的人。 —

and it was settled then that Ritter Red should marry her, and receive half the kingdom.
最后决定帝国红将和国王的女儿结婚，并且获得一半的王国。

On the wedding-day, however, the Princess begged that she might have the little boy who was in the kitchen, and carried wood and water for the kitchen-maid, to fill the wine-cups at the wedding feast.
然而在婚礼那天，公主恳求能让厨房里的那个小男孩来当酒杯搬运工，他平时负责给厨娘搬运木柴和水。

‘Oh, what can you want with that dirty, ragged boy, in here? —
“哦，你为什么要请进来那个肮脏、破烂的男孩？”瑞特·雷德说道。 —

’ said Ritter Red, but the Princess said that she insisted on having him as cup-bearer and would have no one else; —
但是公主坚持要他来当杯酒师，不接受任何其他人，她说她非要他不可。 —

and at last she got leave, and then everything was done as had been agreed on between the Princess and Minnikin. —
最终她得到了允许，婚礼进行得正如公主和小人预定的那样。 —

He spilt a drop on Ritter Red’s plate but none upon hers, and each time that he did it Ritter Red fell into a rage and struck him. —
他在瑞特·雷德的盘子上洒了一滴酒，但公主的盘子上却没有洒一滴，每次都是如此。每次这样做时，瑞特·雷德都会勃然大怒并打他。 —

At the first blow all the ragged garments which he had worn in the kitchen fell from off Minnikin, at the second blow the brass garments fell off, and at the third the silver raiment, and there he stood in the golden raiment, which was so bright and splendid that light flashed from it.
第一拳打下的是他在厨房里穿的那套破烂衣服，第二拳打下的是黄铜制的衣服，第三拳打下的是银制的衣服，然后他站在金光闪闪的衣服里，那衣服太亮太华丽了，发出闪光。

Then the King’s daughter said: ‘Shame on you thus to smite the beloved of my heart. —
然后国王的女儿说：“你们太可耻了，竟然打我心爱的人。 —

It is he who delivered me from the Troll, and he is the one whom I will have.’
是他救了我脱离了巨魔，而他就是我要嫁的人。”

Ritter Red swore that he was the man who had saved her, but the King said: —
红骑士发誓说自己就是救了她的人，但国王说： —

‘He who delivered my daughter must have some token in proof of it.’
“拯救我女儿的人必须有一些证明。”

So Ritter Red ran off at once for his handkerchief with the lungs and tongue, and Minnikin went and brought all the gold and silver and precious things which he had taken out of the Trolls’ ships; —
红骑士立刻跑去找有肺和舌头的手帕，而小人儿则去取出了从巨魔船上拿出的所有黄金、白银和珍贵物品。 —

and they each of them laid these tokens before the King.
他们把这些证据都放在国王面前。

‘He who has such precious things in gold and silver and diamonds,’ said the King, ‘must be the one who killed the Troll, for such things are not to be had anywhere else. —
“拥有如此珍贵的黄金、白银和钻石的人，”国王说，“必定是杀了巨魔的人，因为这样的东西别处无可得。” —

’ So Ritter Red was thrown into the snake-pit, and Minnikin was to have the Princess, and half the kingdom.
于是红骑士被扔进蛇坑，而小人儿则娶了公主，并得到了一半的王国。

One day the King went out walking with Minnikin, and Minnikin asked him if he had never had any other children.
一天，国王和小人儿一起出去散步，小人儿问他是否还有其他子女。

‘Yes,’ said the King, ‘I had another daughter, but the Troll carried her away because there was no one who could deliver her. —
‘是的，’国王说道，‘我还有一个女儿，但是巨魔把她带走了，因为没有人能够救她出来。’ —

You are going to have one daughter of mine, but if you can set free the other, who has been taken by the Troll, you shall willingly have her too, and the other half of the kingdom as well.’
‘你将要娶我的一位女儿，但是如果你能解救被巨魔抓走的另一位女儿，你也可以愿意娶她，并且还能得到王国的另一半。’

‘I may as well make the attempt,’ said Minnikin, ‘but I must have an iron rope which is five hundred ells long, and then I must have five hundred men with me, and provisions for five weeks, for I have a long voyage before me.’
‘我可能会试一试，’小人儿说道，‘但是我必须要有一根五百尺长的铁绳，还必须要有五百个人跟着我，并且要准备五个星期的粮食，因为我有一个漫长的航程要进行。’

So the King said he should have these things, but the King was afraid that he had no ship large enough to carry them all.
国王说他会给他这些东西，但是国王担心他没有足够大的船来运载他们所有人。

‘But I have a ship of my own,’ said Minnikin, and he took the one which the old woman had given him out of his pocket. —
‘但是我自己有一艘船，’小人儿说道，然后他从口袋里取出了那个老婆婆给他的船。 —

The King laughed at him and thought that it was only one of his jokes, but Minnikin begged him just to give him what he had asked for, and then he should see something. —
国王嘲笑他，以为这只是他的一个玩笑，但是小人儿请求他给他所要求的东西，然后他就会看到些什么。 —

Then all that Minnikin had asked for was brought; —
然后，米尼金所要求的一切都被带来了； —

and first he ordered them to lay the cable in the ship, but there was no one who was able to lift it, and there was only room for one or two men at a time in the little bit of a ship. —
然后他下令他们在船上放置电缆，但没有人能抬起它，在那只小船上只能容纳一两个人进去。 —

Then Minnikin himself took hold of the cable, and laid one or two links of it into the ship, and as he threw the links into it the ship grew bigger and bigger, and at last it was so large that the cable, and the five hundred men, and provisions, and Minnikin himself, had room enough.
然后米尼金自己拿起了电缆，将它的一两个链节放入了船中。随着他把链节扔进去，船变得越来越大，最后变得足够大，以容纳电缆、五百个人、粮食和米尼金自己。

‘Now go over fresh water and salt water, over hill and dale, and do not stop until thou comest to where the King’s daughter is,’ said Minnikin to the ship, and off it went in a moment over land and water till the wind whistled and moaned all round about it.
‘现在去过淡水和咸水，过山过坡，直到你到达王女的地方为止，’米尼金对船说道，船立刻就在陆地和水域上疾驰，直到四周风声呼啸。

When they had sailed thus a long, long way, the ship stopped short in the middle of the sea.
他们这样航行了很长很长的一段时间，船在海洋中间突然停了下来。

‘Ah, now we have got there,’ said Minnikin, ‘but how we are to get back again is a very different thing.’
‘啊，现在我们到了，’米尼金说道，‘但如何返回却是完全不同的事情。’

Then he took the cable and tied one end of it round his body. —
然后他拿起电缆，把其中一端绑在身上。 —

‘Now I must go to the bottom,’ he said, ‘but when I give a good jerk to the cable and want to come up again, you must all pull like one man, or there will be an end of all life both for you and for me. —
“现在我必须下到底部去，”他说，“但是当我用力拉电缆想要上来时，你们必须像一个人一样用力拉，否则你们和我都将面临生命的终结。” —

’ So saying he sprang into the water, and yellow bubbles rose up all around him. —
说着他跳进水中，周围冒出黄色的气泡。 —

He sank lower and lower, and at last he came to the bottom. —
他越下越深，最后他到达了底部。 —

There he saw a large hill with a door in it, and in he went. —
在那里他看见了一座带有门的大山丘，他走了进去。 —

When he had got inside he found the other Princess sitting sewing, but when she saw Minnikin she clapped her hands.
当他进去后，发现另一个公主正在那里缝纫，但当她看到小人时，她拍着手。

‘Ah, heaven be praised!’ she cried, ‘I have not seen a Christian man since I came here.’
“啊，感谢上天！”她喊道，“自从我来这里以后我就没有见过一个基督教徒。”

‘I have come for you,’ said Minnikin.
“我来救你了，”小人说。

‘Alas! you will not be able to get me,’ said the King’s daughter. —
“唉！你救不了我，”国王的女儿说道。 —

‘It is no use even to think of that; if the Troll catches sight of you he will take your life.’
“你甚至不用考虑这个；如果妖怪看见你，他会夺去你的生命。”

‘You had better tell me about him,’ said Minnikin. —
“你最好告诉我关于他的事情，”小人说道。 —

‘Where is he gone? It would be amusing to see him.’
‘他去哪儿了？看看他多有趣啊。’

So the King’s daughter told Minnikin that the Troll was out trying to get hold of someone who could brew a hundred lasts of malt at one brewing, for there was to be a feast at the Troll’s, at which less than that would not be drunk.
所以国王的女儿告诉小人那个巨人正在外面找一个人，他能够一次酿造一百个大桶的麦芽酒，因为巨人要在他的派对上，喝酒量低于这个数字是不行的。

‘I can do that,’ said Minnikin.
‘我能做到，’小人说。

‘Ah! if only the Troll were not so quick-tempered I might have told him that,’ answered the Princess, ‘but he is so ill-natured that he will tear you to pieces, I fear, as soon as he comes in. —
‘啊！要是巨人没有那么暴躁的话，我本可以告诉他，’公主回答道，‘但他太脾气不好了，我担心他会在他回来的时候将你撕成碎片。 —

But I will try to find some way of doing it. —
不过我会设法找到某种方法。 —

Can you hide yourself here in the cupboard? —
你能在这个橱柜里藏起来吗？ —

and then we will see what happens.’
然后我们看看会发生什么。

Minnikin did this, and almost before he had crept into the cupboard and hidden himself, came the Troll.
小人这样做了，几乎在他爬进橱柜并藏起来的时候，巨人就来了。

‘Huf! What a smell of Christian man’s blood!’ said the Troll.
‘呼！闻起来有人类血的味道啊！’巨人说道。

‘Yes, a bird flew over the roof with a Christian man’s bone in his bill, and let it fall down our chimney,’ answered the Princess. —
‘是的，一只鸟飞过房顶，嘴里叼着一个人类的骨头，然后让它掉进了我们的烟囱里，’公主回答道。 —

‘I made haste enough to get it away again, but it must be that which smells so, notwithstanding.’
‘我赶紧把它拿走了，但它一定就是那个发臭的东西。’

‘Yes, it must be that,’ said the Troll.
‘是的，一定就是那个东西，’巨怪说道。

Then the Princess asked if he had got hold of anyone who could brew a hundred lasts of malt at one brewing.
于是公主问他是否找到了会一次酿造一百桶麦芽酒的人。

‘No, there is no one who can do it,’ said the Troll.
‘没有人能做到这个，’巨怪说道。

‘A short time since there was a man here who said he could do it,’ said the King’s daughter.
‘不久之前有一个人在这里说他能做到，’国王的女儿说道。

‘How clever you always are!’ said the Troll. ‘How could you let him go away? —
‘你总是这么聪明！’巨怪说道。‘你怎么能让他走了？你应该知道我正需要这样一个人。’ —

You must have known that I was just wanting a man of that kind.’
‘嗯，但我最终没有让他走，’公主说道；‘只是父亲脾气急躁，所以我把他藏在了橱柜里，如果父亲没有找到别人，那他还在这里。’

‘Well, but I didn’t let him go, after all,’ said the Princess; —
‘让他进来吧，’巨怪说道。 —

‘but father is so quick-tempered, so I hid him in the cupboard, but if father has not found any one then the man is still here.’
当迷你金走进来时，巨怪问他是否真的能一次酿造一百桶麦芽酒。

‘Let him come in,’ said the Troll.
‘是的，’迷你金说道，‘我可以。’

When Minnikin came, the Troll asked if it were true that he could brew a hundred lasts of malt at one brewing.
‘那好，’巨怪说道，‘明天一早你就开始动手，如果你完成了，你将会得到我的女儿以及这座城堡作为奖赏，但如果你不能完成，你将会失去性命。’

‘Yes,’ said Minnikin, ‘it is.’
迷你金答应了巨怪，并被带到了一个酒坛旁边。

‘It is well then that I have lighted on thee,’ said the Troll. ‘Fall to work this very minute, but Heaven help thee if thou dost not brew the ale strong.’
‘很幸运我遇到了你，’妖精说道。‘立刻开始工作吧，但如果你不将麦酒煮得很浓，那可怜你了。’

‘Oh, it shall taste well,’ said Minnikin, and at once set himself to work to brew.
‘哦，它的味道一定很好，’小妖精说道，立刻开始酿造。

‘But I must have more trolls to help to carry what is wanted,’ said Minnikin; —
‘但是我需要更多的妖精来帮忙搬运所需的材料，’小妖精说道； —

‘these that I have are good for nothing.’
‘这些我手里的一个个都没用。’

So he got more and so many that there was a swarm of them, and then the brewing went on. —
于是他找来了更多妖精，数量多得像一群蜜蜂，然后酿造工作进行了。 —

When the sweet-wort was ready they were all, as a matter of course, anxious to taste it, first the Troll himself and then the others; —
当麦芽汁准备好后，他们都迫不及待地想品尝一下，先是妖精自己，然后是其他人； —

but Minnikin had brewed the wort so strong that they all fell down dead like so many flies as soon as they had drunk any of it. —
但小妖精酿造的麦芽汁太浓了，他们一喝下去就像苍蝇一样倒下死了。 —

At last there was no one left but one wretched old hag who was lying behind the stove.
最后只剩下一个可怜的老婆婆，她躺在炉子后面。

‘Oh, poor old creature!’ said Minnikin, ‘you shall have a taste of the wort too like the rest. —
“哦，可怜的老人！”Minnikin说道，“你也要尝一尝麦芽汁，像其他人一样。” —

’ So he went away and scooped up a little from the bottom of the brewing vat in a milk pan, and gave it to her, and then he was quit of the whole of them.
于是他走开，在一个牛奶盆里舀了一点酿造酒桶底下的东西给她，然后他就摆脱了所有人。

While Minnikin was now standing there looking about him, he cast his eye on a large chest. —
当Minnikin站在那里四处张望时，他的目光落在一个大箱子上。 —

This he took and filled it with gold and silver, and then he tied the cable round himself and the Princess and the chest, and tugged at the rope with all his might, whereupon his men drew them up safe and sound.
他拿起箱子，装满了金银，然后用缆绳把自己、公主和箱子绑在一起，用力拉着绳子，他的人将他们安全无恙地拉了上去。

As soon as Minnikin had got safely on his ship again, he said: —
Minnikin安全返回船上后，他说道： —

‘Now go over salt water and fresh water, over hill and dale, and do not stop until thou comest unto the King’s palace. —
“现在横渡咸水和甘泉，越过山丘和山谷，直到达到国王的宫殿。” —

’ And in a moment the ship went off so fast that the yellow foam rose up all round about it.
瞬间，那艘船飞快地驶离，周围升起了黄色的泡沫。

When those who were in the King’s palace saw the ship, they lost no time in going to meet him with song and music, and thus they marched up towards Minnikin with great rejoicings; —
当皇宫的人看见船时，他们立即奔赴迎接，载歌载舞地向Minnikin走来，庆祝之情溢于言表； —

but the gladdest of all was the King, for now he had got his other daughter back again.
但最欣喜的还是国王，因为他终于把他的另一个女儿带回来了。

But now Minnikin was not happy, for both the Princesses wanted to have him, and he wanted to have none other than the one whom he had first saved, and she was the younger. —
但现在Minnikin不开心了，因为两位公主都想要他，而他只想要他先救的那位，即年纪较小的。 —

For this cause he was continually walking backwards and forwards, thinking how he could contrive to get her, and yet do nothing that was unkind to her sister. —
因为这个原因，他一直在走来走去思考如何才能得到她，同时又不伤害她姐姐。 —

One day when he was walking about and thinking of this, it came into his mind that if he only had his brother, King Pippin, with him, who was so like himself that no one could distinguish the one from the other, he could let him have the elder Princess and half the kingdom; —
一天，他在走动思考的时候，他突然想到，如果他能有他的兄弟皮平国王和他一起，因为他们长得如此相似，别人无法分辨出谁是谁，他可以把姐姐公主和半个王国给他； —

as for himself, he thought, the other half was quite enough. —
至于自己，他想，另一半就足够了。 —

As soon as this thought occurred to him he went outside the palace and called for King Pippin, but no one came. —
刚想到这个念头，他就走出宫殿叫来了皮平国王，但是没有人来。 —

So he called a second time, and a little louder, but no! still no one came. —
于是他又喊了第二遍，声音稍大了些，但是还是没有人来。 —

So Minnikin called for the third time, and with all his might, and there stood his brother by his side.
于是明尼金全力大声地喊了第三次，他的兄弟就站在他身边。

‘I told you that you were not to call me unless you were in the utmost need,’ he said to Minnikin, ‘and there is not even so much as a midge here who can do you any harm! —
‘我告诉过你，除非你陷入绝境，否则不要求助于我，’他对明尼金说道，‘这里没有任何一只蚊子可以对你造成伤害！’ —

’ and with that he gave Minnikin such a blow that he rolled over on the grass.
说完他就给了明尼金一记重击，把他打倒在草地上。

‘Shame on you to strike me!’ said Minnikin. —
‘你打我真是可耻！’明尼金说道。 —

‘First have I won one Princess and half the kingdom, and then the other Princess and the other half of the kingdom; —
‘我先是赢得了一个公主和一半的王国，然后又赢得了另一个公主和另一半的王国； —

and now, when I was just thinking that I would give you one of the Princesses and one of the halves of the kingdom, do you think you have any reason to give me such a blow?’
现在当我正想着把其中一个公主和其中的一半王国给你时，你认为你有什么理由打我？’

When King Pippin heard that he begged his brother’s pardon, and they were reconciled at once and became good friends.
当皮潘国王听说这件事后，他请求他的兄弟原谅，他们立刻和好如初，成为了好朋友。

‘Now, as you know,’ said Minnikin, ‘we are so like each other that no one can tell one of us from the other; —
‘现在，就像你知道的那样，’米尼金说道，‘我们长得如此相像，没有人能分辨出我们中的哪个是哪个； —

so just change clothes with me and go up to the palace, and then the Princesses will think that I am coming in, and the one who kisses you first shall be yours, and I will have the other. —
所以就跟我交换衣服，去皇宫，公主们会以为是我进来了，第一个亲吻你的公主将成为你的妻子，而我将娶另一个。 —

’ For he knew that the elder Princess was the stronger, so he could very well guess how things would go.
’因为他知道姐姐是更强壮的，所以他很清楚会发生什么事情。

King Pippin at once agreed to this. He changed clothes with his brother, and went into the palace. —
皮潘国王立即同意了。他和他的兄弟交换了衣服，进了皇宫。 —

When he entered the Princess’s apartments they believed that he was Minnikin, and both of them ran up to him at once; —
当他走进公主的房间时，她们以为他是米尼金，两个公主立刻跑过来； —

but the elder, who was bigger and stronger, pushed her sister aside, and threw her arms round King Pippin’s neck and kissed him; —
但是较大且更强壮的姐姐把妹妹推开，抱住皮潘国王的脖子亲了他一下； —

so he got her to wife, and Minnikin the younger sister. —
所以他娶了她做妻子，而米尼金则娶了妹妹。 —

It will be easy to understand that two weddings took place, and they were so magnificent that they were heard of and talked about all over seven kingdoms.[27]
很容易理解，发生了两场婚礼，它们如此壮观，以至于传遍了七个王国并成为人们谈论的话题。[27]

[27] From J. Moe.
[27] 来自 J. Moe。