There was once a merchant who had only one child, a son, that was very young, and barely able to run alone. —
从前有个商人，他只有一个孩子，一个非常年幼、勉强会跑的儿子。 —

He had two richly laden ships then making a voyage upon the seas, in which he had embarked all his wealth, in the hope of making great gains, when the news came that both were lost. —
当时他有两艘装满货物的船正在航海中，他把所有的财富都投资到这次航行中，希望能够赚取巨大的利润，然而却传来了他们都失踪的消息。 —

Thus from being a rich man he became all at once so very poor that nothing was left to him but one small plot of land; —
由此他从一个富豪一下子变得非常贫困，只剩下一个小块土地； —

and there he often went in an evening to take his walk, and ease his mind of a little of his trouble.
他经常在黄昏时分去那里散步，稍稍让自己的烦恼减轻一些。

One day, as he was roaming along in a brown study, thinking with no great comfort on what he had been and what he now was, and was like to be, all on a sudden there stood before him a little, rough-looking, black dwarf. —
一天，他心事重重地漫步着，对自己曾经的身份和现在的困境感到非常不安，而即将面临的情况更是令他苦恼。突然，一个小个子，脸孔粗糙的黑矮人站在他面前。 —

‘Prithee, friend, why so sorrowful? —
“朋友，请问为何如此忧愁？ —

’ said he to the merchant; —
”他对商人说， —

‘what is it you take so deeply to heart? —
“你为什么如此难过？”。 —

’ ‘If you would do me any good I would willingly tell you, ’ said the merchant. —
“如果你能帮助我，我愿意告诉你，”商人说。 —

‘Who knows but I may? —
“谁知道呢？ —

’ said the little man: —
”小矮人说。 —

‘tell me what ails you, and perhaps you will find I may be of some use. —
‘告诉我你有什么困扰，也许你会发现我可能能够帮上忙。 —

’ Then the merchant told him how all his wealth was gone to the bottom of the sea, and how he had nothing left but that little plot of land. —
’于是商人告诉他，他的所有财富都沉入了海底，只剩下一小块地。 —

‘Oh, trouble not yourself about that, ’ said the dwarf; ‘only undertake to bring me here, twelve years hence, whatever meets you first on your going home, and I will give you as much as you please. —
‘噢，不要为此烦恼，’小矮人说道，‘只要答应我，十二年后把你回家时遇到的第一个东西带到这里，我将给你任意多的财富。 —

’ The merchant thought this was no great thing to ask; —
’商人觉得这并不是什么难事， —

that it would most likely be his dog or his cat, or something of that sort, but forgot his little boy Heinel; —
最有可能是他的狗或猫之类的东西，但他忘记了他的小儿子海尼尔； —

so he agreed to the bargain, and signed and sealed the bond to do what was asked of him.
所以他同意了这个交易，并签署了协议，同意履行要求他做的事情。

But as he drew near home, his little boy was so glad to see him that he crept behind him, and laid fast hold of his legs, and looked up in his face and laughed. —
但当他接近家时，他的小儿子见到他非常高兴，蹲在他身后，抓住他的腿，仰起头笑着看着他。 —

Then the father started, trembling with fear and horror, and saw what it was that he had bound himself to do; —
父亲吃惊地颤抖起来，感到恐惧和厌恶，并看清了他所承诺要做的事情； —

but as no gold was come, he made himself easy by thinking that it was only a joke that the dwarf was playing him, and that, at any rate, when the money came, he should see the bearer, and would not take it in.
但是由于没有金子，他自欺欺人地认为小矮人只是在戏弄他，而且无论如何，当钱到手的时候，他会看到送钱的人，不会收下。

About a month afterwards he went upstairs into a lumber-room to look for some old iron, that he might sell it and raise a little money; —
大约一个月后，他上楼去一个储藏室找一些旧铁，以便出售并筹集一点钱。 —

and there, instead of his iron, he saw a large pile of gold lying on the floor. —
在那儿，他没有找到他的铁，却看到地上堆满了一大堆黄金。 —

At the sight of this he was overjoyed, and forgetting all about his son, went into trade again, and became a richer merchant than before.
看到这个，他非常高兴，完全忘记了他的儿子，重新开始做生意，比以前还发了财。

Meantime little Heinel grew up, and as the end of the twelve years drew near the merchant began to call to mind his bond, and became very sad and thoughtful; —
与此同时，小Heinel长大了，当十二年的期限接近时，商人开始想起他的债约，变得非常悲伤和苦恼。 —

so that care and sorrow were written upon his face. The boy one day asked what was the matter, but his father would not tell for some time; —
以至于忧心忡忡地写在了他的脸上。有一天，孩子问他怎么了，但他父亲却不肯告诉他一段时间。 —

at last, however, he said that he had, without knowing it, sold him for gold to a little, ugly-looking, black dwarf, and that the twelve years were coming round when he must keep his word. —
最后，然而，他说他毫不知情地把他卖给了一个小而丑的黑矮人，而且十二年的约定即将到来，他必须履行他的诺言。 —

Then Heinel said, ‘Father, give yourself very little trouble about that; —
那么海内尔说，“父亲，对此你不必过于担心；我会对付这个小人的。” —

I shall be too much for the little man.’
当时候到了，父亲和儿子一起去了约定的地方；

When the time came, the father and son went out together to the place agreed upon: —
儿子在地上画了个圈，把自己和父亲放在圈的中间。 —

and the son drew a circle on the ground, and set himself and his father in the middle of it. —
很快，那个小黑矮人来了，绕着圈一圈又一圈地走，但他找不到任何进入的方法，他要么不能，要么不敢跳过去。 —

The little black dwarf soon came, and walked round and round about the circle, but could not find any way to get into it, and he either could not, or dared not, jump over it. —
最后，男孩对他说：“朋友，你有什么话对我们说，或者你想要什么？” —

At last the boy said to him. —
—

‘Have you anything to say to us, my friend, or what do you want? —
此刻海内尔已经得到了一位喜欢他的善良仙女的帮助，并告诉他该怎么办； —

’ Now Heinel had found a friend in a good fairy, that was fond of him, and had told him what to do; —
现在，他决定要在圈的中间放一只并一直保持着握拳。 —

for this fairy knew what good luck was in store for him. —
因为这个仙子知道他有好运气在等着他。 —

‘Have you brought me what you said you would? —
“你带给我你说的东西吗？” —

’ said the dwarf to the merchant. —
小矮人对商人说道。 —

The old man held his tongue, but Heinel said again, ‘What do you want here? —
老人保持沉默，但海内尔再次说道：“你在这里想要什么？ —

’ The dwarf said, ‘I come to talk with your father, not with you. —
”矮人说：“我是来和你父亲谈话的，而不是和你。 —

’ ‘You have cheated and taken in my father, ’ said the son; ‘pray give him up his bond at once. —
“你欺骗了我的父亲，把他拐骗进来了，” 儿子说道，”请立即放他的债券。 —

’ ‘Fair and softly, ’ said the little old man; ‘right is right; —
” “你说得对，” 小老头说道，”是非得分清楚， —

I have paid my money, and your father has had it, and spent it; —
我交了钱，你父亲拿到了，也花掉了。 —

so be so good as to let me have what I paid it for.’ ‘You must have my consent to that first, ’ said Heinel, ‘so please to step in here, and let us talk it over. —
“所以，请你好心把我交钱买的东西给我。”“你必须得到我的同意，” 海内尔说，”所以请你进来，让我们商量一下。 —

’ The old man grinned, and showed his teeth, as if he should have been very glad to get into the circle if he could. —
“老人咧嘴而笑，露出了他的牙齿，好像他如果能进入圈子里会非常高兴。 —

Then at last, after a long talk, they came to terms. Heinel agreed that his father must give him up, and that so far the dwarf should have his way: —
最后，在长时间的谈话后，他们达成了协议。海内尔同意他的父亲必须放弃他，并且在某种程度上这个小矮人应该按照他的方式行事。 —

but, on the other hand, the fairy had told Heinel what fortune was in store for him, if he followed his own course; —
然而，另一方面，仙女告诉海内尔，如果他按照自己的意愿行动，他将会有怎样的命运； —

and he did not choose to be given up to his hump-backed friend, who seemed so anxious for his company.
他并不想被送给那个驼背朋友，那个似乎非常渴望和他在一起。

So, to make a sort of drawn battle of the matter, it was settled that Heinel should be put into an open boat, that lay on the sea-shore hard by; —
为了在这个问题上达成一种平衡，他们决定将海内尔放在一只就在附近的敞篷船上； —

that the father should push him off with his own hand, and that he should thus be set adrift, and left to the bad or good luck of wind and weather. —
父亲亲自将他推出去，然后他就漂流着，被风和天气的不幸或幸运所决定。 —

Then he took leave of his father, and set himself in the boat, but before it got far off a wave struck it, and it fell with one side low in the water, so the merchant thought that poor Heinel was lost, and went home very sorrowful, while the dwarf went his way, thinking that at any rate he had had his revenge.
他和父亲道别后，坐进了船里，但还没远离岸边，一股浪打到船上，船倾斜了一边，水快漫进来，所以商人以为可怜的海内尔已经丧生了，悲伤地回家，而小矮人则想着，至少他已经报了仇。

The boat, however, did not sink, for the good fairy took care of her friend, and soon raised the boat up again, and it went safely on. —
然而，船并没有沉下去，因为好心的仙女照顾着她的朋友，很快又把船提了起来，然后它平安无事地继续前行。 —

The young man sat safe within, till at length it ran ashore upon an unknown land. —
这个年轻人安全地坐在内部，直到最后船靠上了一个未知的地方。 —

As he jumped upon the shore he saw before him a beautiful castle but empty and dreary within, for it was enchanted. —
当他跳上岸，他看到了一座美丽的城堡，但里面空荡荡的，因为它被施了魔法。 —

‘Here,’ said he to himself, ‘must I find the prize the good fairy told me of. —
他心里想：“这里一定是我要找到善良仙女告诉我的宝贝的地方。” —

’ So he once more searched the whole palace through, till at last he found a white snake, lying coiled up on a cushion in one of the chambers.
于是他再次搜索整个城堡，最后在其中一间房间的一个垫子上发现了一条白色的蛇盘踞着。

Now the white snake was an enchanted princess; —
白色的蛇其实是一个被施了魔法的公主； —

and she was very glad to see him, and said, ‘Are you at last come to set me free? —
她看到他很高兴，并说：“你终于来救我了吗？ —

Twelve long years have I waited here for the fairy to bring you hither as she promised, for you alone can save me. —
我在这里等了整整十二年，等着仙女带你来，因为只有你能救我。 —

This night twelve men will come: —
今晚会有十二个人来； —

their faces will be black, and they will be dressed in chain armour. —
他们的脸会是黑的，穿着锁子甲。 —

They will ask what you do here, but give no answer; —
他们会问你为什么在这里，但不要回答； —

and let them do what they will–beat, whip, pinch, prick, or torment you–bear all; —
无论他们如何对待你–打、鞭打、掐、扎或折磨你，都要忍受； —

only speak not a word, and at twelve o’clock they must go away. —
只是不要说一句话，在十二点的时候他们必须离开。 —

The second night twelve others will come: —
第二天晚上还会有其他十二人来； —

and the third night twenty-four, who will even cut off your head; —
第三天晚上则会有二十四人来，他们甚至会砍掉你的头； —

but at the twelfth hour of that night their power is gone, and I shall be free, and will come and bring you the Water of Life, and will wash you with it, and bring you back to life and health. —
但是，在那个晚上的第十二个小时，他们的力量会消失，我将变得自由，带着生命之水来找你，用它洗净你并使你复活健康。 —

’ And all came to pass as she had said; —
一切都按她所说的发生了； —

Heinel bore all, and spoke not a word; —
海涅尔默默忍受着一切，一句话也没说； —

and the third night the princess came, and fell on his neck and kissed him. —
第三天晚上，公主来了，她扑到他的脖子上亲吻了他。 —

Joy and gladness burst forth throughout the castle, the wedding was celebrated, and he was crowned king of the Golden Mountain.
喜悦和快乐充满整个城堡，婚礼庆祝活动举行，他成为了黄金山的国王。

They lived together very happily, and the queen had a son. —
他们生活得非常幸福，王后生下了一个儿子。 —

And thus eight years had passed over their heads, when the king thought of his father; —
八年过去了，国王想起了他的父亲； —

and he began to long to see him once again. —
他开始渴望再次见到他。 —

But the queen was against his going, and said, ‘I know well that misfortunes will come upon us if you go. —
但是王后反对他去，她说：“我知道如果你去的话，我们会遭遇不幸。” —

’ However, he gave her no rest till she agreed. —
然而，他不让她休息，直到她答应了。 —

At his going away she gave him a wishing-ring, and said, ‘Take this ring, and put it on your finger; —
在他离开的时候，她给了他一个许愿戒指，并说：“拿着这个戒指，戴在你的手指上； —

whatever you wish it will bring you; —
无论你想要什么，它都会带给你； —

only promise never to make use of it to bring me hence to your father’s house. —
只是答应不要用它把我带回你父亲的家。 —

’ Then he said he would do what she asked, and put the ring on his finger, and wished himself near the town where his father lived.
然后，他说他会照她的要求办事，戴上戒指，许愿自己出现在离他父亲住的城镇附近。

Heinel found himself at the gates in a moment; —
海尼尔立刻发现自己来到了城门前， —

but the guards would not let him go in, because he was so strangely clad. —
但守卫们不准他进去，因为他的打扮太奇怪。 —

So he went up to a neighbouring hill, where a shepherd dwelt, and borrowed his old frock, and thus passed unknown into the town. —
于是他来到附近的一座小山上，借了一个牧羊人的旧外衣，这样就不为人知地进了城。 —

When he came to his father’s house, he said he was his son; —
当他来到父亲的房子时，他说他是他的儿子； —

but the merchant would not believe him, and said he had had but one son, his poor Heinel, who he knew was long since dead: —
但商人不相信他，说他只有一个儿子，他知道他早就已经去世了，并且因为他只穿着像个贫穷的牧羊人一样的打扮，连给他东西吃都不肯给。 —

and as he was only dressed like a poor shepherd, he would not even give him anything to eat. —
但是他给了他一个汤碗勺，说：“如果你真是我的儿子，你应该会对我做点什么好事。” —

The king, however, still vowed that he was his son, and said, ‘Is there no mark by which you would know me if I am really your son? —
然而，国王仍然发誓他就是他的儿子，并说：“如果我真的是你的儿子，难道没有什么标记可以让你知道吗？ —

’ ‘Yes,’ said his mother, ‘our Heinel had a mark like a raspberry on his right arm. —
“是的，”他的母亲说，“我们的海因尔右臂有一个像覆盆子一样的标记。 —

’ Then he showed them the mark, and they knew that what he had said was true.
”然后他向他们展示了那个标记，他们知道他所说的是真的。

He next told them how he was king of the Golden Mountain, and was married to a princess, and had a son seven years old. —
他接着告诉他们他是黄金山的国王，已经娶了一个公主，并且有一个七岁的儿子。 —

But the merchant said, ‘that can never be true; —
但是商人说：“那不可能是真的； —

he must be a fine king truly who travels about in a shepherd’s frock! —
一个穿着牧羊人的外衣四处旅行的人怎么能是个好国王呢？ —

’ At this the son was vexed; —
”儿子被这话激怒了， —

and forgetting his word, turned his ring, and wished for his queen and son. —
忘记了他的诺言，转动戒指，愿自己的王后和儿子出现。 —

In an instant they stood before him; —
瞬间他们就站在他面前； —

but the queen wept, and said he had broken his word, and bad luck would follow. —
但是王后哭了，说他违背了诺言，不幸将会降临。 —

He did all he could to soothe her, and she at last seemed to be appeased; —
他尽一切努力安抚她，最后她似乎被平息了； —

but she was not so in truth, and was only thinking how she should punish him.
但事实上她并没有，她只是在考虑如何惩罚他。

One day he took her to walk with him out of the town, and showed her the spot where the boat was set adrift upon the wide waters. —
有一天，他带她散步离开城镇，向她展示了船漂浮在广阔的水域中的地方。 —

Then he sat himself down, and said, ‘I am very much tired; sit by me, I will rest my head in your lap, and sleep a while. —
然后他坐下来，说：“我很累，坐在我身边，让我把头放在你的腿上休息一会儿。” —

’ As soon as he had fallen asleep, however, she drew the ring from his finger, and crept softly away, and wished herself and her son at home in their kingdom. —
他一睡着，她就从他手指上拿下戒指，悄悄地离开了，并希望自己和儿子能够回到他们的王国。 —

And when he awoke he found himself alone, and saw that the ring was gone from his finger. —
当他醒来时，发现自己独自一人，并且他手指上的戒指不见了。 —

‘I can never go back to my father’s house, ’ said he; ‘they would say I am a sorcerer: —
他说：“我不能回到我父亲的家了，他们会说我是个巫师。” —

I will journey forth into the world, till I come again to my kingdom.’
他说：“我要走出去，走遍世界，直到再次回到我的王国。”

So saying he set out and travelled till he came to a hill, where three giants were sharing their father’s goods; —
说着，他出发了，一直旅行到来到一个山丘，那里有三个巨人正在分享他们父亲的财物。 —

and as they saw him pass they cried out and said, ‘Little men have sharp wits; —
当他们看见他经过时，他们大喊道：“小人有聪明才智； —

he shall part the goods between us. —
他应该把财物分给我们。” —

’ Now there was a sword that cut off an enemy’s head whenever the wearer gave the words, ‘Heads off!’; —
‘现在有一把剑，只要佩戴者说出“砍头！”敌人的头就会被砍掉； —

a cloak that made the owner invisible, or gave him any form he pleased; —
一件披风可以使拥有者隐形，或者赋予他任何他想要的形态； —

and a pair of boots that carried the wearer wherever he wished. —
还有一双靴子可以带佩戴者去任何他想去的地方。 —

Heinel said they must first let him try these wonderful things, then he might know how to set a value upon them. —
海奈尔说他们必须先让他试试这些神奇的东西，然后他才能知道如何给它们定价。 —

Then they gave him the cloak, and he wished himself a fly, and in a moment he was a fly. —
然后他们给了他披风，他希望自己变成一只苍蝇，瞬间他就变成了一只苍蝇。 —

‘The cloak is very well, ’ said he: —
‘披风很好，’他说： —

‘now give me the sword.’ ‘No,’ said they; —
‘现在给我剑。’‘不行，’他们说； —

‘not unless you undertake not to say, “Heads off!” for if you do we are all dead men. —
‘除非你保证不说“砍头！”因为如果你说了，我们都是死人。 —

’ So they gave it him, charging him to try it on a tree. —
’于是他们给了他剑，告诫他试试砍树。 —

He next asked for the boots also; —
接下来他又要求靴子； —

and the moment he had all three in his power, he wished himself at the Golden Mountain; —
在他拥有了这三件物品之后，他希望自己在金山上； —

and there he was at once. —
他立刻就到了那里。 —

So the giants were left behind with no goods to share or quarrel about.
于是巨人们被甩在了后面，没有货物可以分享或争吵。

As Heinel came near his castle he heard the sound of merry music; —
当海奈尔靠近他的城堡时，他听到了欢快的音乐声； —

and the people around told him that his queen was about to marry another husband. —
周围的人告诉他，他的王后将要嫁给另一个丈夫。 —

Then he threw his cloak around him, and passed through the castle hall, and placed himself by the side of the queen, where no one saw him. —
然后他披上斗篷，穿过城堡大厅，站在王后身边，没有人看见他。 —

But when anything to eat was put upon her plate, he took it away and ate it himself; —
但是当有东西放在她的盘子上时，他拿走并自己吃掉； —

and when a glass of wine was handed to her, he took it and drank it; —
当有一杯酒递给她时，他拿走并自己喝掉； —

and thus, though they kept on giving her meat and drink, her plate and cup were always empty.
虽然他们不停地给她食物和饮料，但她的盘子和杯子总是空的。

Upon this, fear and remorse came over her, and she went into her chamber alone, and sat there weeping; —
因此，恐惧和懊悔袭上了她，她一个人走进她的房间，坐在那里哭泣； —

and he followed her there. ‘Alas! —
他跟随她去了那里。‘可悲啊！ —

’ said she to herself, ‘was I not once set free? —
’她自言自语道，‘我难道不曾被释放吗？ —

Why then does this enchantment still seem to bind me?’
为什么这个魔咒似乎仍然束缚着我？’

‘False and fickle one!’ said he. —
‘虚伪而多变的人！’他说。 —

‘One indeed came who set thee free, and he is now near thee again; —
‘确实有人来过解救你，而他现在又在你身边； —

but how have you used him? —
但你又是如何对待他的呢？ —

Ought he to have had such treatment from thee? —
“他是否应该受到你这样的对待？ —

’ Then he went out and sent away the company, and said the wedding was at an end, for that he was come back to the kingdom. —
”然后他走出去，打发了众人，宣布婚礼已经结束，因为他回到了王国。 —

But the princes, peers, and great men mocked at him. However, he would enter into no parley with them, but only asked them if they would go in peace or not. —
但是王子、贵族和大人物们取笑他。然而，他不愿与他们交涉，只是问他们是否安心离去。 —

Then they turned upon him and tried to seize him; —
然后他们转过身来，试图逮捕他； —

but he drew his sword. —
但他拔出剑来。“砍头！ —

‘Heads Off!’ cried he; —
”他大喊一声； —

and with the word the traitors’ heads fell before him, and Heinel was once more king of the Golden Mountain.
说完这句话，叛徒们的头颅就在他面前落地，海尼尔再次成为了金山的国王。