Long before you or I were born, there reigned, in a country a great way off, a king who had three sons. —
很久以前，不论你还是我都没有出生的时候，有一个国家里有一个国王，他有三个儿子。 —

This king once fell very ill–so ill that nobody thought he could live. —
有一次，这位国王生病了——病得连医生都认为他无法活下来。 —

His sons were very much grieved at their father’s sickness; —
他的儿子们对父亲的病非常难过； —

and as they were walking together very mournfully in the garden of the palace, a little old man met them and asked what was the matter. —
当他们一起在宫殿的花园里悲伤地散步时，一个小老人遇到了他们，他问发生了什么事。 —

They told him that their father was very ill, and that they were afraid nothing could save him. —
他们告诉他他们的父亲生病了，他们担心没有什么能救他。 —

‘I know what would, ’ said the little old man; —
小老人说：“我知道能救他的东西”， —

‘it is the Water of Life. If he could have a draught of it he would be well again; —
“那就是生命之水。如果他能喝到一口，他就会康复； —

but it is very hard to get. —
但是它很难找到。” —

’ Then the eldest son said, ‘I will soon find it’: —
然后，大儿子说：“我很快就能找到”， —

and he went to the sick king, and begged that he might go in search of the Water of Life, as it was the only thing that could save him. —
他去见生病的国王，恳求能去寻找生命之水，因为这是唯一能救他的东西。 —

‘No,’ said the king. —
“不，”国王说。 —

‘I had rather die than place you in such great danger as you must meet with in your journey. —
“我宁愿死也不愿把你置于你在旅途中会遇到的如此巨大的危险之中。” —

’ But he begged so hard that the king let him go; and the prince thought to himself, ‘If I bring my father this water, he will make me sole heir to his kingdom.’
但他恳求得如此之久，国王才让他去；王子心想，‘如果我把这瓶水带给父亲，他一定会让我成为王国的唯一继承人。’

Then he set out: and when he had gone on his way some time he came to a deep valley, overhung with rocks and woods; —
然后，他出发了。走了一段时间后，他来到了一个深谷，峭壁和树木覆盖其上。 —

and as he looked around, he saw standing above him on one of the rocks a little ugly dwarf, with a sugarloaf cap and a scarlet cloak; —
他四处张望时，发现一个小丑附在岩石上，戴着一个圆锥形帽子和一件红色披风。 —

and the dwarf called to him and said, ‘Prince, whither so fast? —
小丑叫道：‘王子，你要去哪里这么快？’ —

’ ‘What is that to thee, you ugly imp? —
‘关你什么事，你这丑陋的傀儡？’ —

’ said the prince haughtily, and rode on.
王子傲慢地说着，继续骑马而行。

But the dwarf was enraged at his behaviour, and laid a fairy spell of ill-luck upon him; —
但小丑对他的行为感到愤怒，于是对他施加了一个带来厄运的小仙术。 —

so that as he rode on the mountain pass became narrower and narrower, and at last the way was so straitened that he could not go to step forward: —
因此，当他继续前行时，山道变得越来越窄，最后变得如此狭窄，他再也不能前进了。 —

and when he thought to have turned his horse round and go back the way he came, he heard a loud laugh ringing round him, and found that the path was closed behind him, so that he was shut in all round. —
当他想转过马头返回原路时，他听到了一阵哄笑声，发现路径已经在他身后关闭，他被四面包围了。 —

He next tried to get off his horse and make his way on foot, but again the laugh rang in his ears, and he found himself unable to move a step, and thus he was forced to abide spellbound.
他试图下马徒步前行，但是笑声再次响起在他耳边，他发现自己一步也不能动，只能被困在原地。

Meantime the old king was lingering on in daily hope of his son’s return, till at last the second son said, ‘Father, I will go in search of the Water of Life.’ For he thought to himself, ‘My brother is surely dead, and the kingdom will fall to me if I find the water. —
这时，老国王一直抱着儿子回来的希望，直到次子说：“父王，我将去寻找生命之水。”因为他心想：“我的哥哥肯定已经死了，如果我找到水源，王国就会属于我了。” —

’ The king was at first very unwilling to let him go, but at last yielded to his wish. —
国王一开始非常不愿意让他去，但最终还是答应了他的愿望。 —

So he set out and followed the same road which his brother had done, and met with the same elf, who stopped him at the same spot in the mountains, saying, as before, ‘Prince, prince, whither so fast? —
于是他出发，沿着和他哥哥踏过的同样路线前进，遇到了同样的精灵，被拦在山中同样的地方，对他说：“王子啊，王子啊，你要去哪里这么急？ —

’ ‘Mind your own affairs, busybody! —
‘专心忙自己的事情吧，多管闲事的人！ —

’ said the prince scornfully, and rode on.
’王子傲慢地说道，然后继续骑马前行。

But the dwarf put the same spell upon him as he put on his elder brother, and he, too, was at last obliged to take up his abode in the heart of the mountains. —
但是侏儒给他施了同样的咒语，他也最终不得不住进了山脉的深处。 —

Thus it is with proud silly people, who think themselves above everyone else, and are too proud to ask or take advice.
骄傲愚蠢的人就是这样，他们认为自己高人一等，太骄傲而不愿意请教或接受建议。

When the second prince had thus been gone a long time, the youngest son said he would go and search for the Water of Life, and trusted he should soon be able to make his father well again. —
当二王子离开已经很久后，最小的儿子说他要去寻找生命之水，并且相信他很快就能让父亲康复。 —

So he set out, and the dwarf met him too at the same spot in the valley, among the mountains, and said, ‘Prince, whither so fast? —
于是他出发了，侏儒也在山谷中的相同地点遇到了他，问道：‘王子，你这么快要去哪儿？’ —

’ And the prince said, ‘I am going in search of the Water of Life, because my father is ill, and like to die: can you help me? —
王子说：‘我要寻找生命之水，因为我父亲病重，快要死了：你能帮助我吗？ —

Pray be kind, and aid me if you can! —
请善良一点，如果你能的话就帮助我吧！ —

’ ‘Do you know where it is to be found? —
’‘你知道它在哪里吗？ —

’ asked the dwarf. ‘No, ’ said the prince, ‘I do not. —
’侏儒问道。‘不，’王子说，‘我不知道。 —

Pray tell me if you know. —
—

’ ‘Then as you have spoken to me kindly, and are wise enough to seek for advice, I will tell you how and where to go. —
请告诉我你是否知道。” —

The water you seek springs from a well in an enchanted castle; —
既然你对我说话友好，并且足够聪明去寻求建议，我将告诉你去哪里以及如何去。 —

and, that you may be able to reach it in safety, I will give you an iron wand and two little loaves of bread; —
你要寻找的水是从一个魔法城堡的井中涌出来的； —

strike the iron door of the castle three times with the wand, and it will open: —
为了确保你能够安全地到达那里，我将给你一根铁棍和两个小面包； —

two hungry lions will be lying down inside gaping for their prey, but if you throw them the bread they will let you pass; —
用这根铁棍敲击城堡的铁门三次，门就会打开； —

then hasten on to the well, and take some of the Water of Life before the clock strikes twelve; —
门内会有两只饥饿的狮子，它们张开嘴巴等待猎物，但是如果你给它们面包，它们会让你通过； —

for if you tarry longer the door will shut upon you for ever.’
然后快速赶到井边，在时钟敲响十二声之前取一些生命之水；

Then the prince thanked his little friend with the scarlet cloak for his friendly aid, and took the wand and the bread, and went travelling on and on, over sea and over land, till he came to his journey’s end, and found everything to be as the dwarf had told him. —
因为如果你再耽搁，门将永远关闭。” —

The door flew open at the third stroke of the wand, and when the lions were quieted he went on through the castle and came at length to a beautiful hall. —
第三次挥动魔杖时，门突然被推开，当那些狮子安静下来后，他穿过了城堡，最终来到一个美丽的大厅。 —

Around it he saw several knights sitting in a trance; —
他看见几个骑士正陷入沉睡之中， —

then he pulled off their rings and put them on his own fingers. —
于是他取下了他们的戒指，戴到了自己的手指上。 —

In another room he saw on a table a sword and a loaf of bread, which he also took. —
在另一个房间里，他看见一把剑和一块面包放在桌子上，他也拿走了它们。 —

Further on he came to a room where a beautiful young lady sat upon a couch; —
更进一些，他来到了一个房间，一个美丽的年轻女子坐在沙发上； —

and she welcomed him joyfully, and said, if he would set her free from the spell that bound her, the kingdom should be his, if he would come back in a year and marry her. —
她高兴地欢迎他，并说如果他能解开束缚她的咒语，王国将属于他，但他必须在一年后回来与她结婚。 —

Then she told him that the well that held the Water of Life was in the palace gardens; —
然后她告诉他，拥有“生命之水”的井在宫殿花园里； —

and bade him make haste, and draw what he wanted before the clock struck twelve.
她嘱咐他要赶快，抓紧时间在钟声敲响之前取得他想要的东西。

He walked on; and as he walked through beautiful gardens he came to a delightful shady spot in which stood a couch; —
他继续前行，穿过美丽的花园，来到了一个令人愉快的阴凉处，那里有一张沙发。 —

and he thought to himself, as he felt tired, that he would rest himself for a while, and gaze on the lovely scenes around him. —
他感到疲倦，于是想着他会休息一会儿，欣赏周围美丽的景色。 —

So he laid himself down, and sleep fell upon him unawares, so that he did not wake up till the clock was striking a quarter to twelve. —
于是他躺下，不知不觉地睡着了，直到钟敲了三刻钟才醒来。 —

Then he sprang from the couch dreadfully frightened, ran to the well, filled a cup that was standing by him full of water, and hastened to get away in time. —
于是他吓得从床上跳起来，跑向井边，装满了旁边放着的杯子里的水，然后匆忙逃走。 —

Just as he was going out of the iron door it struck twelve, and the door fell so quickly upon him that it snapped off a piece of his heel.
就在他走出铁门时，钟敲了十二下，铁门迅速地落下来，折断了他脚跟上的一块肉。

When he found himself safe, he was overjoyed to think that he had got the Water of Life; —
当他发觉自己安全时，他高兴极了，因为他得到了生命之水； —

and as he was going on his way homewards, he passed by the little dwarf, who, when he saw the sword and the loaf, said, ‘You have made a noble prize; —
当他回家的路上经过小矮人时，小矮人看到剑和面包后说：“你得到了很好的战利品； —

with the sword you can at a blow slay whole armies, and the bread will never fail you. —
用这把剑，你可以一刀杀死整个军队，而这块面包永远不会用完。 —

’ Then the prince thought to himself, ‘I cannot go home to my father without my brothers’; —
然后王子心里想着：“我不能不带着我的兄弟回家见父亲； —

so he said, ‘My dear friend, cannot you tell me where my two brothers are, who set out in search of the Water of Life before me, and never came back? —
于是他说：“亲爱的朋友，你能告诉我，我那两个比我先出发寻找生命之水的兄弟去了哪里，为什么他们一直没有回来吗？ —

’ ‘I have shut them up by a charm between two mountains, ’ said the dwarf, ‘because they were proud and ill-behaved, and scorned to ask advice. —
“我把他们关在两座山之间，用一个魔法封住了他们，因为他们傲慢无礼，不屑向别人请教，”小矮人说道。 —

’ The prince begged so hard for his brothers, that the dwarf at last set them free, though unwillingly, saying, ‘Beware of them, for they have bad hearts. —
王子恳求着为他的兄弟们求情，小矮人最后勉强地放了他们出来，说道：“小心他们，因为他们内心邪恶。 —

’ Their brother, however, was greatly rejoiced to see them, and told them all that had happened to him; —
他们的弟弟见到他们非常高兴，将自己遇到的一切都告诉了他们； —

how he had found the Water of Life, and had taken a cup full of it; —
他是如何找到生命之水并取了一杯。 —

and how he had set a beautiful princess free from a spell that bound her; —
他是如何解除了一位被咒语束缚的美丽公主的咒，使她自由了； —

and how she had engaged to wait a whole year, and then to marry him, and to give him the kingdom.
他是如何与公主约定等待一年后结婚，并将获得王国。

Then they all three rode on together, and on their way home came to a country that was laid waste by war and a dreadful famine, so that it was feared all must die for want. —
然后他们三个一起骑马前进，在回家的路上经过了一片被战争和可怕的饥荒荒废的国家，以至于人们担心会因为缺乏吃的而全部死去。 —

But the prince gave the king of the land the bread, and all his kingdom ate of it. —
但是王子把面包给了那个国家的国王，全国人民都吃了面包。 —

And he lent the king the wonderful sword, and he slew the enemy’s army with it; —
他借给国王那把神奇的剑，国王用它击败了敌军； —

and thus the kingdom was once more in peace and plenty. —
于是，这个国家再次恢复了和平与富饶。 —

In the same manner he befriended two other countries through which they passed on their way.
他们经过的另外两个国家也得到了他的帮助。

When they came to the sea, they got into a ship and during their voyage the two eldest said to themselves, ‘Our brother has got the water which we could not find, therefore our father will forsake us and give him the kingdom, which is our right’; —
当他们到达海边时，他们上了一艘船，航行过程中两个年长的哥哥对彼此说：“我们的弟弟得到了我们找不到的水，因此我们的父亲会抛弃我们，将王国给他，而这本是我们的权利”; —

so they were full of envy and revenge, and agreed together how they could ruin him. —
所以他们心怀嫉妒和复仇，商定如何毁掉他。 —

Then they waited till he was fast asleep, and poured the Water of Life out of the cup, and took it for themselves, giving him bitter sea-water instead.
然后他们等到他熟睡后，把生命之水从杯子中倒出来，自己拿走了，并给他倒上了苦涩的海水代替。

When they came to their journey’s end, the youngest son brought his cup to the sick king, that he might drink and be healed. —
当他们到达旅程的终点时，最年轻的儿子把他的杯子拿给生病的国王喝，以便康复。 —

Scarcely, however, had he tasted the bitter sea-water when he became worse even than he was before; —
然而，他才尝了一口苦海水，他的病情变得比之前更糟; —

and then both the elder sons came in, and blamed the youngest for what they had done; —
然后两个长子进来了，责怪最小的儿子他们所做的事情; —

and said that he wanted to poison their father, but that they had found the Water of Life, and had brought it with them. —
并说他想要毒害他们的父亲，但是他们找到了生命之水，已经带回来了。 —

He no sooner began to drink of what they brought him, than he felt his sickness leave him, and was as strong and well as in his younger days. —
他喝下他们带来的东西后，他立刻感觉病情离开了他，回到了年轻时的健康状态。 —

Then they went to their brother, and laughed at him, and said, ‘Well, brother, you found the Water of Life, did you? —
然后他们去找他的弟弟，嘲笑他，并说：“好了，兄弟，你找到了生命之水，是吗？ —

You have had the trouble and we shall have the reward. —
你经历了困难，而我们将得到奖励。 —

Pray, with all your cleverness, why did not you manage to keep your eyes open? —
请用你所有的聪明才智告诉我们，为什么你不能保持眼睛睁开？ —

Next year one of us will take away your beautiful princess, if you do not take care. —
明年我们其中一个会带走你美丽的公主，如果你不小心的话。 —

You had better say nothing about this to our father, for he does not believe a word you say; —
你最好对我们的父亲保持沉默，因为他不相信你说的任何话； —

and if you tell tales, you shall lose your life into the bargain: —
如果你告状，你将连命也丢掉； —

but be quiet, and we will let you off.’
但保持安静，我们可以放过你。

The old king was still very angry with his youngest son, and thought that he really meant to have taken away his life; —
老国王仍然对他最小的儿子非常生气，并认为他真的打算要夺走他的生命； —

so he called his court together, and asked what should be done, and all agreed that he ought to be put to death. —
所以他召集了他的朝廷，并询问应该怎么办，所有人都同意他应该被处死。 —

The prince knew nothing of what was going on, till one day, when the king’s chief huntsmen went a-hunting with him, and they were alone in the wood together, the huntsman looked so sorrowful that the prince said, ‘My friend, what is the matter with you? —
王子对正在发生的事一无所知，直到有一天，王的首席猎人和他一起去打猎，他们在树林中独处时，猎人看起来非常忧伤，王子说：“我的朋友，你怎么了？” —

’ ‘I cannot and dare not tell you,’ said he. —
“我不能也不敢告诉你，”他说。 —

But the prince begged very hard, and said, ‘Only tell me what it is, and do not think I shall be angry, for I will forgive you. —
但王子恳求着说：“告诉我吧，别担心我会生气，我会原谅你。” —

’ ‘Alas!’ said the huntsman; —
“唉！”猎人说： —

‘the king has ordered me to shoot you. —
“国王命令我射杀你。” —

’ The prince started at this, and said, ‘Let me live, and I will change dresses with you; —
‘王子听了吃了一惊，说道：‘让我活着，我愿意与你换衣服； —

you shall take my royal coat to show to my father, and do you give me your shabby one. —
你拿着我的皇家外套去给我父亲看，而你给我你的破衣服。’猎人说： —

’ ‘With all my heart, ’ said the huntsman; —
‘我非常乐意救你，因为我不忍心开枪射你。 —

‘I am sure I shall be glad to save you, for I could not have shot you. —
’于是他拿走了王子的外套，给了他那件破旧的，然后离开了。 —

’ Then he took the prince’s coat, and gave him the shabby one, and went away through the wood.
过了一段时间，三支盛大的使团带着金子和宝石作为礼物来到老国王的宫廷，送给他最小的儿子；

Some time after, three grand embassies came to the old king’s court, with rich gifts of gold and precious stones for his youngest son; —
这些礼物都是从那三个国王那里送来的，他曾借给他们宝剑和面包，以帮他们除掉敌人并养活他们的人民。 —

now all these were sent from the three kings to whom he had lent his sword and loaf of bread, in order to rid them of their enemy and feed their people. —
这让老国王感动，他认为他的儿子可能还是无辜的，于是对他的朝廷说：‘哦，如果我的儿子还活着该多好啊！ —

This touched the old king’s heart, and he thought his son might still be guiltless, and said to his court, ‘O that my son were still alive! —
’离开后大概过了一段时间，第三个国王的使者带着他们国王的宝剑和面包来到王子所在的地方，他们认出了王子并告诉了他使命，国王和王后非常高兴，然后他们离开了把剩下的宝剑和面包送给了下一个国王。 —

how it grieves me that I had him killed! —
我是多么痛心疾首地令他丧生啊！ —

’ ‘He is still alive, ’ said the huntsman; —
‘他还活着，’猎人说道； —

‘and I am glad that I had pity on him, but let him go in peace, and brought home his royal coat. —
‘我很高兴我对他心生怜悯，并且让他自由离去，并带回了他的王袍。 —

’ At this the king was overwhelmed with joy, and made it known throughout all his kingdom, that if his son would come back to his court he would forgive him.
’这让国王备感欣喜，他在全国告示：如果他的儿子回到皇宫，他会原谅他。

Meanwhile the princess was eagerly waiting till her deliverer should come back; —
与此同时，公主迫不及待地等待她的救助者回来； —

and had a road made leading up to her palace all of shining gold; —
她修建了一条通往她宫殿的道路，全由闪闪发光的黄金铺成； —

and told her courtiers that whoever came on horseback, and rode straight up to the gate upon it, was her true lover; and that they must let him in: —
她告诉侍臣，无论谁骑着马直接沿着这条路来到大门口，都是她真正的爱人；他们必须让他进去； —

but whoever rode on one side of it, they must be sure was not the right one; —
但是如果有人骑在路的一侧，他们必须确信他不是正确的人选； —

and that they must send him away at once.
并且他们必须立即将他赶走。

The time soon came, when the eldest brother thought that he would make haste to go to the princess, and say that he was the one who had set her free, and that he should have her for his wife, and the kingdom with her. —
最年长的兄弟认为现在是时候急忙去见公主，告诉她他是使她获得自由的人，他将娶她为妻，并且继承王国。 —

As he came before the palace and saw the golden road, he stopped to look at it, and he thought to himself, ‘It is a pity to ride upon this beautiful road’; —
当他走到皇宫前看见了金色的大道，他停下来欣赏着，心里想道：”真可惜要骑在这条美丽的大道上“； —

so he turned aside and rode on the right-hand side of it. —
于是他选择绕到了它的右侧继续前行。 —

But when he came to the gate, the guards, who had seen the road he took, said to him, he could not be what he said he was, and must go about his business.
但当他来到大门时，卫兵们，看到了他选择的路线，对他说他不可能是他所说的那个人，必须离开。

The second prince set out soon afterwards on the same errand; —
第二位王子不久之后也踏上了同样的任务； —

and when he came to the golden road, and his horse had set one foot upon it, he stopped to look at it, and thought it very beautiful, and said to himself, ‘What a pity it is that anything should tread here! —
当他走到金色的大道上，他的马刚一踏上去，他停下来欣赏着，觉得它非常漂亮，并自言自语道：”真可惜有什么东西在这里踩过！“ —

’ Then he too turned aside and rode on the left side of it. —
然后他也转到了它的左侧继续前行。 —

But when he came to the gate the guards said he was not the true prince, and that he too must go away about his business; —
但当他来到大门时，卫兵们说他不是真正的王子，也必须离开去做他的事情； —

and away he went.
于是他走了。

Now when the full year was come round, the third brother left the forest in which he had lain hid for fear of his father’s anger, and set out in search of his betrothed bride. —
如今一年过去了，第三个兄弟离开了他藏身以躲避父亲的愤怒的森林，踏上了寻找他许配的新娘的旅程。 —

So he journeyed on, thinking of her all the way, and rode so quickly that he did not even see what the road was made of, but went with his horse straight over it; —
他一路上都在想着她，骑得如此快以至于连路是什么样都看不见，直接冲过去； —

and as he came to the gate it flew open, and the princess welcomed him with joy, and said he was her deliverer, and should now be her husband and lord of the kingdom. —
当他来到门口时，大门飞开，公主欢乐地迎接他，并说他是她的救星，应该成为她的丈夫和王国的主人。 —

When the first joy at their meeting was over, the princess told him she had heard of his father having forgiven him, and of his wish to have him home again: —
第一次见面的喜悦过后，公主告诉他她听说他的父亲已经原谅了他，并希望他回家： —

so, before his wedding with the princess, he went to visit his father, taking her with him. —
所以，在与公主结婚之前，他带着她去看望他的父亲。然后他把一切告诉了他； —

Then he told him everything; —
—

how his brothers had cheated and robbed him, and yet that he had borne all those wrongs for the love of his father. —
他的兄弟们是如何欺骗和抢劫他的，但他却为了父亲的爱而忍受了这一切的委屈。 —

And the old king was very angry, and wanted to punish his wicked sons; —
老国王非常生气，想惩罚他那些邪恶的儿子； —

but they made their escape, and got into a ship and sailed away over the wide sea, and where they went to nobody knew and nobody cared.
但他们逃脱了，并乘船航行在辽阔的海洋上，他们去了哪里没有人知道，也没有人在意。

And now the old king gathered together his court, and asked all his kingdom to come and celebrate the wedding of his son and the princess. —
现在，老国王召集了他的朝廷，并邀请全国人民前来庆祝他儿子和公主的婚礼。 —

And young and old, noble and squire, gentle and simple, came at once on the summons; —
年轻人和老年人，贵族和侍从，温文尔雅的人和简单的人，都立刻应召而来； —

and among the rest came the friendly dwarf, with the sugarloaf hat, and a new scarlet cloak.
在众人中间，友好的小矮人戴着锥形帽子，穿着一件新的红色披风。

And the wedding was held, and the merry bells run. —
婚礼举行了，欢快的钟声响起。 —

And all the good people they danced and they sung, And feasted and frolick’d I can’t tell how long.
所有善良的人们跳舞唱歌，尽情享受，我无法说这持续了多久。