Many years ago, there was an Emperor, who was so excessively fond of new clothes, that he spent all his money in dress.
很多年前，有一位皇帝，他对新的衣服极其喜爱，以至于他把所有的钱都花在了服装上。 —

He did not trouble himself in the least about his soldiers;
他一点也不操心自己的士兵， —

nor did he care to go either to the theatre or the chase, except for the opportunities then afforded him for displaying his new clothes.
也不在乎去剧院或打猎，除非这些场合能给他展示新衣服的机会。 —

He had a different suit for each hour of the day;
他每小时都有一套不同的服装； —

and as of any other king or emperor, one is accustomed to say, “he is sitting in council, ” it was always said of him, “The Emperor is sitting in his wardrobe.”
而对于其他国王或皇帝，人们习惯说 “他在开会”，而对他来说，总是说 “皇帝在他的衣橱里开会”。

Time passed merrily in the large town which was his capital;
时间在他的首都的大城市里愉快地流逝； —

strangers arrived every day at the court.
每天都有陌生人来到宫廷。 —

One day, two rogues, calling themselves weavers, made their appearance.
有一天，两个自称为织布工的骗子出现了。 —

They gave out that they knew how to weave stuffs of the most beautiful colors and elaborate patterns, the clothes manufactured from which should have the wonderful property of remaining invisible to everyone who was unfit for the office he held, or who was extraordinarily simple in character.
他们宣称自己知道如何编织最美丽色彩和精致花纹的物品，用这些制成的衣服对于那些不适合自己职位或者非常单纯的人来说，具有令人惊叹的隐形特性。

“These must, indeed, be splendid clothes!” thought the Emperor.
“这些一定是华丽无比的衣服！”皇帝心想道。 —

“Had I such a suit, I might at once find out what men in my realms are unfit for their office, and also be able to distinguish the wise from the foolish!
“如果我有这样一套衣服，我可以立刻找出我王国内不称职的人，还能辨别出智者和愚者！ —

This stuff must be woven for me immediately.
这种纺织品必须立即为我纺织。 —

” And he caused large sums of money to be given to both the weavers in order that they might begin their work directly.
”于是，他给了这两个纺织工人大笔的金钱，以便他们立即开始工作。

So the two pretended weavers set up two looms, and affected to work very busily, though in reality they did nothing at all.
于是这两个假装纺织工人搭起了两台织布机，表面上忙碌地工作，但实际上什么都没做。 —

They asked for the most delicate silk and the purest gold thread;
他们要求最精细的丝绸和纯金线， —

put both into their own knapsacks;
都放进自己的书包里； —

and then continued their pretended work at the empty looms until late at night.
然后继续假装在空织布机前工作，直到深夜。

“I should like to know how the weavers are getting on with my cloth, ” said the Emperor to himself, after some little time had elapsed;
“我应该打听一下织工们的进展如何，”皇帝自言自语道，经过一段时间之后； —

he was, however, rather embarrassed, when he remembered that a simpleton, or one unfit for his office, would be unable to see the manufacture.
“然而，当他记起一个傻子或一个不适任职务的人无法看到这件产品时，他感到有些尴尬。 —

To be sure, he thought he had nothing to risk in his own person;
当然，他认为他自己没有什么风险； —

but yet, he would prefer sending somebody else, to bring him intelligence about the weavers, and their work, before he troubled himself in the affair.
但是，他宁愿派他人去打探织工和他们的工作，然后再去烦恼这件事。 —

All the people throughout the city had heard of the wonderful property the cloth was to possess;
全城的人都听说这块布料将拥有奇妙的特性； —

and all were anxious to learn how wise, or how ignorant, their neighbors might prove to be.
所有人都渴望了解他们的邻居到底是多聪明还是多无知。

“I will send my faithful old minister to the weavers, ” said the Emperor at last, after some deliberation, “he will be best able to see how the cloth looks;
“我将派遣我忠诚的老大臣去见织工，”皇帝最终经过一番考虑说，“他最适合看这块布料； —

for he is a man of sense, and no one can be more suitable for his office than he is.”
“因为他是一个明智的人，没有人比他更适合他的职务了。”

So the faithful old minister went into the hall, where the knaves were working with all their might, at their empty looms.
于是老诚实的部长走进大厅，看见那些骗子们正全力以赴地在工作，他们的织布机上却空无一物。 —

“What can be the meaning of this?
“这是什么意思？ —

” thought the old man, opening his eyes very wide.
”老人想，睁大了眼睛。 —

“I cannot discover the least bit of thread on the looms.
“我怎么找不到丝线？”然而， —

” However, he did not express his thoughts aloud.
他没有把自己的思想说出口。

The impostors requested him very courteously to be so good as to come nearer their looms;
骗子们非常客气地请他靠近织布机； —

and then asked him whether the design pleased him, and whether the colors were not very beautiful;
然后问他这个设计是否让他满意，颜色是否非常美丽； —

at the same time pointing to the empty frames.
同时他指着空空的布架。 —

The poor old minister looked and looked, he could not discover anything on the looms, for a very good reason, viz:
可怜的老部长看了看，还是看不到任何东西，因为有一个很好的原因，即：什么都没有。 —

there was nothing there.
“怎么会这样？ —

“What!
” —

” thought he again. “Is it possible that I am a simpleton?
他又想。“我是不是傻子？我自己从来没有这样想过； —

I have never thought so myself;
如果我是的话， —

and no one must know it now if I am so.
现在任何人都不能知道。 —

Can it be, that I am unfit for my office? No, that must not be said either.
难道我不适合我的职位？不，这也不能说。 —

I will never confess that I could not see the stuff.”
我绝不会承认我看不见那块布料。”

“Well, Sir Minister!” said one of the knaves, still pretending to work.
“大臣大人！”一个骗子假装还在工作， —

“You do not say whether the stuff pleases you.”
“您没说这布料是否令您满意。”

“Oh, it is excellent!” replied the old minister, looking at the loom through his spectacles.
“哦，太好了！”老大臣通过眼镜看着织机回答。 —

“This pattern, and the colors, yes, I will tell the Emperor without delay, how very beautiful I think them.”
“这个图案和色彩，是的，我会立刻告诉皇帝，我认为它们非常美丽。”

“We shall be much obliged to you,” said the impostors, and then they named the different colors and described the pattern of the pretended stuff.
“我们对您将不胜感激，”骗子们说道，然后他们描述了所谓的布料的不同颜色和图案。 —

The old minister listened attentively to their words, in order that he might repeat them to the Emperor;
老大臣仔细听着他们的话，以便能够向皇帝复述。 —

and then the knaves asked for more silk and gold, saying that it was necessary to complete what they had begun.
然后骗子们要求更多的丝绸和金子，说这是为了完成已经开始的工作。 —

However, they put all that was given them into their knapsacks;
然而，他们把所有给他们的东西都放进了背包里； —

and continued to work with as much apparent diligence as before at their empty looms.
并继续像之前一样在他们的空织机上表现出极度的勤奋。

The Emperor now sent another officer of his court to see how the men were getting on, and to ascertain whether the cloth would soon be ready.
皇帝随即派另一名官员前去观察士兵们的行动，并了解布料是否快要完成。 —

It was just the same with this gentleman as with the minister;
这位绅士和大臣的情况一样； —

he surveyed the looms on all sides, but could see nothing at all but the empty frames.
他环顾四周的织布机，却什么也看不见，只有空架子。

“Does not the stuff appear as beautiful to you, as it did to my lord the minister?
“这布料对您是否像对大臣那样美丽？”骗子们对皇帝的第二任使节问道； —

” asked the impostors of the Emperor’s second ambassador;
—

at the same time making the same gestures as before, and talking of the design and colors which were not there.
与之前一样的手势和讲述不存在的图案和颜色。

“I certainly am not stupid!” thought the messenger.
“我当然不傻！”使节想道。 —

“It must be, that I am not fit for my good, profitable office! That is very odd;
“一定是我不够适合我的好差事了！真是奇怪； —

however, no one shall know anything about it.
不过，谁都不会知道。 —

” And accordingly he praised the stuff he could not see, and declared that he was delighted with both colors and patterns.
”于是他大赞看不见的布料，声称对颜色和图案都非常满意。 —

“Indeed, please your Imperial Majesty, ” said he to his sovereign when he returned, “the cloth which the weavers are preparing is extraordinarily magnificent.”
“确实，殿下，请您的皇上陛下赏光，”他回答对他的君主说，“织工们正在准备的布料非常华丽。”

The whole city was talking of the splendid cloth which the Emperor had ordered to be woven at his own expense.
整个城市都在谈论皇帝以自己的费用下令织造的华丽布料。

And now the Emperor himself wished to see the costly manufacture, while it was still in the loom.
现在皇帝本人希望在织造过程中亲自看到这昂贵的制造。 —

Accompanied by a select number of officers of the court, among whom were the two honest men who had already admired the cloth, he went to the crafty impostors, who, as soon as they were aware of the Emperor’s approach, went on working more diligently than ever;
在一些宫廷官员的陪同下，其中包括已经欣赏过布料的两个诚实的人，他去找了狡猾的骗子，当他们听说皇帝要来了时，他们比以往更加勤奋地工作； —

although they still did not pass a single thread through the looms.
尽管他们仍然没有在织机上通过一根线。

“Is not the work absolutely magnificent?
“工作实在是太华丽了，不是吗？ —

” said the two officers of the crown, already mentioned.
”前面提到的两位宫廷官员说。 —

“If your Majesty will only be pleased to look at it!
“如果陛下愿意看一看！多么华丽的设计！ —

What a splendid design! What glorious colors!
多么辉煌的颜色！ —

” and at the same time they pointed to the empty frames;
“同时，他们指着空的画框， —

for they imagined that everyone else could see this exquisite piece of workmanship.
因为他们觉得其他人都能看到这个精美的作品。”

“How is this?” said the Emperor to himself.
“这是怎么回事？”皇帝自言自语道。 —

“I can see nothing! This is indeed a terrible affair!
“我什么也看不到！这真是一件可怕的事情！” —

Am I a simpleton, or am I unfit to be an Emperor?
“我是个傻瓜吗，还是不适合做皇帝？ —

That would be the worst thing that could happen–Oh!
那将是最糟糕的事情了。哦！ —

the cloth is charming,” said he, aloud.
这块布真是迷人。”他大声说道。 —

“It has my complete approbation.
“我完全赞同。 —

” And he smiled most graciously, and looked closely at the empty looms;
”他亲切地微笑着，仔细地看着空荡荡的织布机。 —

for on no account would he say that he could not see what two of the officers of his court had praised so much.
他绝对不会说自己看不见两位宫廷官员如此赞扬的东西。 —

All his retinue now strained their eyes, hoping to discover something on the looms, but they could see no more than the others;
他所有的随从都竭力用眼去寻找织布机上的东西，但他们看不到更多的东西，像其他人一样。 —

nevertheless, they all exclaimed, “Oh, how beautiful!
尽管如此，他们都惊叹道，“哦，多么漂亮！ —

” and advised his majesty to have some new clothes made from this splendid material, for the approaching procession.
”并建议陛下用这种绝妙的材料制作一些新衣服，供即将到来的游行使用。 —

“Magnificent! Charming! Excellent!
“精彩！迷人！杰出！ —

” resounded on all sides; and everyone was uncommonly gay.
” 四面八方回荡着；大家都异常开心。 —

The Emperor shared in the general satisfaction;
皇帝也对此感到满意； —

and presented the impostors with the riband of an order of knighthood, to be worn in their button-holes, and the title of “Gentlemen Weavers.”
并授予这些冒充者一枚骑士团勋章，佩戴在他们的纽扣洞里，并赐予他们“绅士织工”的封号。

The rogues sat up the whole of the night before the day on which the procession was to take place, and had sixteen lights burning, so that everyone might see how anxious they were to finish the Emperor’s new suit.
这两个骗子在游行的前一天整夜都不睡，点亮了十六盏灯，好让每个人都看到他们有多焦急地完成了皇帝的新衣。 —

They pretended to roll the cloth off the looms;
他们假装从织布机上卷下织布； —

cut the air with their scissors;
用剪刀在空中剪裁； —

and sewed with needles without any thread in them.
并用没有线的针来缝。“看！ —

“See!” cried they, at last.
”他们终于大喊道。 —

“The Emperor’s new clothes are ready!”
“皇帝的新衣已经做好了！”

And now the Emperor, with all the grandees of his court, came to the weavers;
此时皇帝与他的宫廷大臣一同来到织工们面前； —

and the rogues raised their arms, as if in the act of holding something up, saying, “Here are your Majesty’s trousers!
并这两个骗子举起手臂，仿佛在举着什么东西，说道，“这是您陛下的裤子！ —

Here is the scarf!
这是围巾！” —

Here is the mantle! The whole suit is as light as a cobweb;
这是披风！整套衣服轻得像蜘蛛网一样； —

one might fancy one has nothing at all on, when dressed in it;
穿上时人们甚至可能感觉不到有任何衣服。 —

that, however, is the great virtue of this delicate cloth.”
然而，这种细薄的布料正是它的巨大优点。

“Yes indeed!” said all the courtiers, although not one of them could see anything of this exquisite manufacture.
“是的，的确！”所有的朝臣都这样说，尽管他们一个也看不到这种美妙的制作。

“If your Imperial Majesty will be graciously pleased to take off your clothes, we will fit on the new suit, in front of the looking glass.”
“如果陛下愿意脱下衣服，我们将在镜子前给您穿上新的衣服。”

The Emperor was accordingly undressed, and the rogues pretended to array him in his new suit;
于是皇帝便脱去衣服，骗子们假装给他穿上新衣； —

the Emperor turning round, from side to side, before the looking glass.
皇帝在镜子前转身，一边经过一边照看。

“How splendid his Majesty looks in his new clothes, and how well they fit!” everyone cried out.
“陛下穿上新衣后真是威风凛凛，而且穿得非常合身！”大家都喊着。 —

“What a design! What colors!
“多么美的设计！多么美的颜色！ —

These are indeed royal robes!”
这才是真正的皇家礼服！”

“The canopy which is to be borne over your Majesty, in the procession, is waiting, ” announced the chief master of the ceremonies.
“您陛下在游行中将使用的龙旗已备好。”宫廷仪仗队的首席礼官宣布。

“I am quite ready,” answered the Emperor.
“我已经准备好了。”皇帝回答。 —

“Do my new clothes fit well?
“我的新衣服穿得合身吗？” —

” asked he, turning himself round again before the looking glass, in order that he might appear to be examining his handsome suit.
“他转过身，再次面向镜子，好像在检查自己那鲜艳的衣服。”

The lords of the bedchamber, who were to carry his Majesty’s train felt about on the ground, as if they were lifting up the ends of the mantle;
“寝室的大臣们，他们负责托起陛下的长袍，他们在地上摸索着，仿佛在提起裙摆的边缘；” —

and pretended to be carrying something;
“他们假装在抬着什么东西， —

for they would by no means betray anything like simplicity, or unfitness for their office.
绝不会流露出一丝的简单和不称职。”

So now the Emperor walked under his high canopy in the midst of the procession, through the streets of his capital;
“于是现在，皇上在队伍中间，走在高高的华盖下，穿过都城的街道；” —

and all the people standing by, and those at the windows, cried out, “Oh! How beautiful are our Emperor’s new clothes!
“所有站在旁边的人，还有窗户边的人，都在喊道：‘哦！我们皇帝的新衣多么美丽啊！” —

What a magnificent train there is to the mantle;
“外袍上有多么壮丽的一排独角兽； —

and how gracefully the scarf hangs!
那围巾多么优雅地悬挂着！” —

” in short, no one would allow that he could not see these much-admired clothes;
“总之，没有人会承认自己看不到这些受人崇敬的衣服；” —

because, in doing so, he would have declared himself either a simpleton or unfit for his office.
“因为这样做，他不仅会被视为一个傻瓜，还会被认为不适合他的职位。” —

Certainly, none of the Emperor’s various suits, had ever made so great an impression, as these invisible ones.
毫无疑问，皇帝所穿的各种服装中，从未有过像这件隐形的那样令人印象深刻。

“But the Emperor has nothing at all on!
“但是皇帝根本什么也没穿！ —

” said a little child.
”一个小孩子说道。

“Listen to the voice of innocence!
“听听天真的声音！ —

” exclaimed his father;
”他的父亲大声说道， —

and what the child had said was whispered from one to another.
孩子的话从一个人嘴里传到了另一个人的嘴里。

“But he has nothing at all on!
“但是皇帝根本什么也没穿！ —

” at last cried out all the people.
”最后所有人都喊了出来。 —

The Emperor was vexed, for he knew that the people were right;
皇帝生气了，因为他知道人们说的是对的； —

but he thought the procession must go on now!
但是他觉得游行现在必须继续进行！ —

And the lords of the bedchamber took greater pains than ever, to appear holding up a train, although, in reality, there was no train to hold.
而床房的贵族们比以往更加努力地装作抬起裙摆，尽管实际上并没有什么裙摆可抬。