格林童話十二個跳舞的公主英文版
格林童話十二個跳舞的公主英文版
格林童話《十二個跳舞的公主》講述的是什麼樣的故事呢?告訴我們什麼樣的道理?
The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Once upon a time there was a king who had twelve daughters, each one more beautiful than the others. They slept together in one room, where their beds stood next to each other. At night when they were lying there, the king closed their door and barred it. However, when he opened it the next morning he saw that their shoes had been danced to pieces. No one could determine how it had happened. Then the king proclaimed that whoever could discover where they went dancing each night could chose one of them for his wife and become king after his death. However, anyone who attempted this, but failed to make the discovery after three days and nights, would forfeit his life.
有個國王，他有十二個女兒，個個長得如花似玉。她們都在同一個房間睡覺，十二張床並排放著，晚上上床睡覺後，房門就被關起來鎖上了。有一個時期，每天早上起來後，國王發現她們的鞋子都磨破了，就像她們跳了一整夜舞似的。到底發生了甚麼事，她們到哪兒去過了，沒有人知道。於是，國王通告全國：如果有人能解開這個秘密，找出這些公主整夜在哪兒跳舞，他就可以娶一個他最喜歡的公主作妻子，還可以繼承王位。但要是這人在三天以後沒查清結果，他就得被處死。
A prince soon presented himself, offering to undertake the venture. He was well received, and that evening was taken to a room adjacent to the bedroom. A bed was made for him there, and he was told to watch where they went and danced. So they would not be able to do anything in secret, or go out to some other place, the door to their room was left open. However, the prince's eyes felt as heavy as lead, and he fell asleep. When he awoke the next morning, the twelve had been dancing, for their shoes all had holes in their soles. The same thing happened the second and the third evenings, and his head was chopped off without mercy. Many others came to try this risky venture, but they too all lost their lives.
不久從鄰國來了一位王子，受到了熱情的接待。晚上他被帶到了一個房間裡，這房間正在公主們臥室的隔壁。為了能聽到看到可能發生的一切，他坐下後將房門敞開，一刻也不停地注視著。可不久這位王子就睡著了，第二天早上醒來後，可以看出，公主們還是跳了一整夜的舞，因為她們的鞋底上都有磨破的洞眼。接著兩個晚上都發生了相同的情況，王子沒能解開這個謎。國王下令將他的頭砍了下來。繼他之後，又有幾個人來試過，但他們的命運和這位王子一樣，都沒有找出結果而丟了性命。
Now it happened that a poor soldier, who was wounded and could no longer serve in the army, was making his way to the city where the king lived. An old woman met him and asked him where he was going. "I'm not exactly sure myself," he said, then jokingly added, "But I would like to discover where the princesses are dancing their shoes to pieces, and then become king."
恰好有一個老兵經過這個國王的領地，他在作戰中受了傷，不能再參加戰鬥了。一天，他在穿越樹林時，遇到了一個老婆婆，老婆婆問他要到哪裡去，這位老兵回答說：“我也不知道我去哪兒，該幹甚麼去。”接著又自我嘲弄地說：“也許我該去探聽那些公主是在哪兒跳舞才對，這樣的話，將來還可以當國王呢。”老太婆一聽，說道：“對，對!這不是甚麼難事，只要留心不喝公主給你的酒之類的東西，並且在她們要離去時，你假裝睡熟了就成。”
"That is not so difficult," said the old woman. "Do not drink the wine that they will bring you in the evening." Then she gave him a cloak and said, "When you put this on you will become invisible, and you can follow the twelve."
臨別，她送給他一件披風，說道：“只要你把這件披風披在身上，她們就看不見你的蹤影了。然後，你就可以跟著公主到她們去的任何地方。”老兵聽了這些忠告後，決定去試一試自己的運氣。
Having receiving this good advice, the soldier became serious, took heart, went to the king, and announced himself as a suitor. He, like the others, was well received, and was given royal clothes to wear. That evening at bedtime he was escorted to the anteroom. Just as he was going to bed, the oldest princess brought him a goblet of wine. However, he had tied a sponge beneath his chin and let the wine run into it, drinking not a single drop himself. He lay down, and after a little while began to snore as if he were in the deepest sleep. The twelve princesses heard him and laughed. The oldest one said, "He could have spared his life as well!"
他來到國王面前，說他願意接受這項冒險的任務。和其他應試的人一樣，他也受到了熱情的款待，國王還下令把漂亮的王室禮服給他穿上。到了晚上，他被帶到了外室。進房後，他剛準備躺下，國王的大公主就給他端來了一杯葡萄酒，但這位士兵悄悄地把酒全倒掉了，一滴也沒有喝下。然後躺在床上，不久就大聲地打起鼾來，好像睡得很沉似的`。十二個公主聽到他的鼾聲，都開心地大笑起來，大公主說：“這傢伙本來還可以幹一些更聰明一點的事，不必到這兒來送死的。”
Then they got up, opened their wardrobes, chests, and closets, took out their best clothes, and made themselves beautiful in front of their mirrors, all the time jumping about in anticipation of the dance. Only the youngest one said, "I'm not sure. You are all very happy, but I'm afraid that something bad is going to happen!"
說完，她們都起床開啟各自的抽屜和箱子，拿出了漂亮的衣服，對著鏡子打扮起來。這時，最小的公主說道：“我感到有些不對勁，你們這麼興奮，可我覺得非常不安，我想一定有不幸的事情將降臨到我們頭上。”
"You snow goose," said the oldest one. "You are always afraid! Have you forgotten how many princes have been here for nothing? I wouldn't even have had to give this soldier a sleeping potion. He would never have woken up."
“你犯甚麼傻呀!”大公主說，“你老是擔心這，擔心那，難道你忘了那麼多王子想窺探我們，結果都徒勞送命了嗎?瞧這老兵，即使我不給他安眠的藥吃，他也會呼呼大睡的。”
When they were ready, they first approached the soldier, but he did not move at all, and as soon as they thought it was safe, the oldest one went to her bed and knocked on it. It immediately sank beneath the floor, and they all climbed down through the opening, one after the other, the oldest one leading the way. The soldier saw everything, and without hesitating he put on the cloak and followed after the youngest one. Halfway down the stairs he stepped on her dress. Frightened, she called out, "Who's there? Who is holding my dress?"
公主們打扮完畢後，再去看了看士兵，只見他鼾聲依舊，睡在床上一動也不動。這一來，她們便自以為無人知曉，相當安全了。大公主走到自己的床前拍了拍手，床馬上沉到地板裡面，一扇地板門突然打開了。士兵看見大公主領頭，她們一個接一個地鑽進了地板門。他想到再不能耽誤時間了，馬上跳起來，披上老太婆送給他的那件披風，緊隨她們而去。在下樓梯時，一不小心，他踩到了小公主的禮服。她對她的姐妹們大聲說道：“怎麼搞的，誰抓住了我的禮服了?”
"Don't be so stupid," said the oldest one. "You just caught yourself on a hook."
大公主說道：“你別疑神疑鬼了，肯定是被牆上的釘子掛著了。”
They continued until they came to a magnificent walkway between rows of trees. Their leaves were all made of silver, and they shone and glistened. The soldier thought to himself, "You'd better take some proof," and he broke off a twig.
她們下去後，走進了一片令人賞心悅目的小樹林，樹葉全是銀子做的，閃爍著美麗的光芒。士兵想找一個來過這地方的證物，所以他折了一段樹枝.
A loud cracking sound came from the tree. The youngest one called out again, "It's not right. Didn't you hear that sound?"
樹枝“卡嚓!”“嘩啦!”地發出了聲響，小公主又說道：“我覺得有些反常，你們聽到這聲音了嗎?這聲音以前可沒有聽到過。”
The oldest one said, "That is just a joyful salute that they are firing because soon we will have disenchanted our princes."
大公主說：“這聲音一定是我們的王子發出的，只有他們才會對我們的到來歡呼雀躍。”
Then they came to a walkway where the trees were all made of gold, and finally to a third one, where they were made of clear diamonds. He broke a twig from each of these. The cracking sound frightened the youngest one each time, but the oldest one insisted that it was only the sounds of joyful salutes. They continued on until they came to a large body of water. Twelve boats were there, and in each boat there sat a handsome prince waiting for them. Each prince took a princess into his boat.
說著，她們又走進了另一片小樹林，這片樹林的葉子都是金子做的。再往前，到了第三片小樹林，所有的葉子都是用光采奪目的鑽石做的。士兵每到一片樹林，都要折下一根樹枝留作證物，每次也都發出了“卡嚓!”“嘩啦!”的聲響，這響動總是使小公主擔驚受怕，而大公主又總是說這是王子們在歡呼。
她們不停地往前走，最後來到了一個大湖邊，湖上有十二條小船，每條船上都有一個英俊的王子，他們似乎一直在這兒等公主的到來。到了岸邊，每個公主都各自上了一條船，士兵則跟著小公主上了同一條船。
The soldier sat next to the youngest princess, and her prince said, "I don't know why the boat is so much heavier today. I have to row with all my strength in order to make it go."
當他們在湖上划動小船時，與小公主和士兵在一條船上的那個王子說：“怎麼會是這樣啊!好像這船今天特別重似的，我盡力划動，船卻沒有平時前進那麼快，我都累壞了。”
"It must be the warm weather," said the youngest princess. "It's too hot for me as well."
小公主說：“這只是天氣有點暖和，我也覺得非常熱。”
On the other side of the water there was a beautiful, brightly illuminated castle. Joyful music, kettle drums, and trumpets sounded forth. They rowed over and went inside. Each prince danced with his princess. The invisible soldier danced along as well, and whenever a princess held up a goblet of wine, he drank it empty as she lifted it to her mouth. This always frightened the youngest one, but the oldest one silenced her every time. They danced there until three o'clock the next morning when their shoes were danced to pieces and they had to stop. The princes rowed them back across the water. This time the soldier took a seat next to the oldest princess in the lead boat. They took leave from their princes on the bank and promised to come back the next night.
湖泊的對岸，矗立著一座美麗的宮殿，宮殿裡燈火輝煌，從裡面還傳來了愉快的音樂，有管聲和號聲，還有喇叭聲。他們上岸後，一起走進宮殿，十二個王子都開始與公主們跳起舞來。他們一直看不見那位士兵，士兵跟著他們一起跳舞，他們也不知道。每當有公主端起葡萄酒時，士兵總是暗暗上前將酒喝完。待公主把酒杯端到嘴邊時，杯子已空了。見到這樣情況，那小公主更感到害怕了，大公主卻老是要她不要做聲。
舞一直跳到了凌晨三點鐘，所有的鞋子都已磨穿了，到這時，她們才念念不捨地離開。王子們又用船把她們送過湖來，這次，士兵上的是大公主的那條船。到了湖岸，公主和王子互相道別，她們答應第二天晚上再來。
When they were on the steps the soldier ran ahead and got into bed. When the twelve tired princesses came in slowly, he was again snoring so loudly that they all could hear him. "We are safe from him," they said. Then they took off their beautiful clothes and put them away, placed their worn out shoes under their beds, and went to bed.
當她們回到樓梯口時，士兵立即跑到她們的前面，自己先到床上去躺下了。當這十二姊妹拖著疲憊不堪的身子慢慢上來後，立即就聽到了睡在床上計程車兵所發出的鼾聲。她們說道：“現在可以安心了。”說完，各自寬衣解帶，脫掉鞋子，扔在床下，都躺下睡覺了。
The next morning the soldier said nothing, for he wanted to see the amazing thing once again. He went along the second and third nights, and everything happened as before. Each time they danced until their shoes were in pieces. The third time he also took along a goblet as a piece of evidence.
早晨起來，士兵對晚上的所見所聞隻字不提，他還想多看幾次這樣的奇遇，所以接連第二個夜晚和第三個夜晚他又去了。每次所發生的一切都和前一次一樣，公主們每次跳舞都要跳到她們的鞋子穿眼才回到臥室。不過，在第三個晚上，士兵又拿走了一隻金?作為他到過那裡的證物。
The hour came when he was to give his answer, and he brought the three twigs and the goblet before the king. The twelve princesses stood behind the door and listened to what he had to say. The king asked, "Where did my daughters dance their shoes to pieces?"
他解開這秘密的期限到了，他帶著那三根樹枝和那隻金?，來到國王面前。此時，十二個公主都站在門後張著耳朵，想聽聽他究竟說些甚麼。國王問道：“我的十二個女兒晚上是在哪兒跳舞?”
He answered, "in an underground castle with twelve princes." Then he told the whole story and brought forth the pieces of evidence. The king summoned his daughters and asked them if the soldier had told the truth. Seeing that they had been betrayed, and that their denials did no good, they had to admit everything.
士兵回答道：“她們是在地下的一座宮殿裡與十二個王子跳舞。”接著，他告訴了國王自己所看見和發生的一切，拿出了他帶來的三根樹枝和金?給國王看。國王把公主都叫來，問她們士兵說的這些是不是都是真的。她們見一切都已經被發現，再否認所發生的事也沒有用了，只好全部承認了。
Then the king asked him which one he wanted for a wife. He answered, "I myself am no longer young, so give me the oldest one."
秘密解開了，國王問士兵他想選擇哪一個公主作他的妻子，他回答說：“我年紀不小了，你就把大公主許配給我吧!”
Their wedding was held the same day, and the kingdom was promised to him following the king's death.
於是，他們當天就舉行了婚禮，士兵還被選定為王位的繼承人。