THE WATER OF LIFE
生命之水
Long before you or I were born, there reigned, in a country a great way off, a king who had three sons.
在你我出生很久以前，遥远的国度里有一位国王，他有三个儿子。
This king once fell very ill—so ill that nobody thought he could live.
这位国王有一次得了重病——病得很重，没人认为他能活下来。
His sons were very much grieved at their father's sickness; 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.
儿子们为父亲的病情感到非常悲伤；当他们在王宫花园里悲伤地一起散步时，一位小老头遇见了他们，问他们出了什么事。
They told him that their father was very ill, and that they were afraid nothing could save him.
他们告诉他，他们的父亲病得很重，恐怕没有什么能救他了。
'I know what would,' said the little old man; 'it is the Water of Life.
"我知道有什么办法，"小老头说，"那就是生命之水。
If he could have a draught of it he would be well again; but it is very hard to get.'
如果他能喝上一口，就能康复；但这水很难得到。"
Then the eldest son said, 'I will soon find it': 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.
这时大儿子说："我很快就能找到它。"于是他去见生病的国王，请求让他去寻找生命之水，因为这是唯一能救国王的东西。
'No,' said the king.
"不行，"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，也不愿让你在旅途中遇到这么大的危险。"
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.'
但他苦苦哀求，国王终于同意了；王子心想："如果我把这水带给父亲，他会让我成为他王国的唯一继承人。"
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; 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; and the dwarf called to him and said, 'Prince, whither so fast?'
于是他出发了：走了一段时间后，他来到一个深谷，周围是岩石和树林；他环顾四周，看见一块岩石上站着一个丑陋的小矮人，戴着尖顶帽，穿着猩红色斗篷；小矮人叫住他说："王子，这么急着去哪里？"
'What is that to thee, you ugly imp?' said the prince haughtily, and rode on.
"这与你有什么关系，你这个丑八怪？"王子傲慢地说，继续骑马前进。
But the dwarf was enraged at his behaviour, and laid a fairy spell of ill-luck upon him; 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: 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.
但小矮人对他的行为非常愤怒，对他施了一个不幸的魔法；于是当他骑马前进时，山路变得越来越窄，最后窄得一步也走不了：当他想调转马头原路返回时，听到周围传来一阵大笑，发现身后的路也被封住了，他被困住了。
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.
接着他试图下马步行，但笑声又在耳边响起，他发现自己一步也动不了，就这样被咒语困住了。
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.'
与此同时，老国王日复一日地盼着儿子回来，最后二儿子说："父亲，我要去找生命之水。"
For he thought to himself, 'My brother is surely dead, and the kingdom will fall to me if I find the water.'
因为他心想："哥哥肯定死了，如果我找到水，王国就会归我。"
The king was at first very unwilling to let him go, but at last yielded to his wish.
国王起初很不愿意让他去，但最后还是答应了他的请求。
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?'
于是他出发了，沿着哥哥走过的路前进，遇到了同一个小精灵，小精灵在山里的同一个地方拦住他，像以前一样说："王子，王子，这么急着去哪里？"
'Mind your own affairs, busybody!' said the prince scornfully, and rode on.
"管好你自己的事，爱管闲事的家伙！"王子轻蔑地说，继续骑马前进。
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.
但小矮人对他施了和他哥哥一样的咒语，他最终也被迫住在深山里。
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，他们认为自己比别人都高明，太骄傲而不愿征求或接受建议。
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.
当二王子离开很久以后，小儿子说他要去寻找生命之水，相信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，小矮人也在山里的同一个山谷里遇见了他，说："王子，这么急着去哪里？"
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? Pray be kind, and aid me if you can!'
王子说："我要去找生命之水，因为我父亲病得很重，快要死了：你能帮我吗？请发发善心，如果可以的话帮帮我！"
'Do you know where it is to be found?' asked the dwarf.
"你知道在哪里能找到吗？"小矮人问。
'No,' said the prince, 'I do not.
"不知道，"王子说，"我不知道。
Pray tell me if you know.'
如果你知道，请告诉我。"
'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.
"既然你对我说话这么客气，而且明智地寻求建议，我就告诉你怎么去，去哪里。
The water you seek springs from a well in an enchanted castle; and, that you may be able to reach it in safety, I will give you an iron wand and two little loaves of bread; strike the iron door of the castle three times with the wand, and it will open: two hungry lions will be lying down inside gaping for their prey, but if you throw them the bread they will let you pass; then hasten on to the well, and take some of the Water of Life before the clock strikes twelve; for if you tarry longer the door will shut upon you for ever.'
你要找的水从一座魔法城堡的井里涌出；为了让你能安全到达那里，我给你一根铁杖和两个小面包；用铁杖敲城堡的铁门三下，门就会打开：里面躺着两只饥饿的狮子，张着嘴等着猎物，但如果你把面包扔给它们，它们就会让你过去；然后赶紧到井边，在钟敲十二点之前取一些生命之水；如果你停留太久，门就会永远关上。"
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.
然后王子感谢了他那位穿着猩红色斗篷的小朋友的友好帮助，拿起铁杖和面包，继续旅行，漂洋过海，直到旅程结束，发现一切都和小矮人说的一样。
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.
铁杖敲了三下，门就开了，狮子安静下来后，他穿过城堡，终于来到一个漂亮的大厅。
Around it he saw several knights sitting in a trance; then he pulled off their rings and put them on his own fingers.
他看到大厅周围坐着几个昏睡的骑士；于是他摘下他们的戒指，戴在自己的手指上。
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，他看到桌子上有一把剑和一条面包，他也拿走了。
Further on he came to a room where a beautiful young lady sat upon a couch; 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.
再往前走，他来到一个房间，一位美丽的年轻女士坐在沙发上；她高兴地欢迎他，并说，如果他能把她从束缚她的咒语中解救出来，如果他一年后回来娶她，王国就归他。
Then she told him that the well that held the Water of Life was in the palace gardens; and bade him make haste, and draw what he wanted before the clock struck twelve.
然后她告诉他，装有生命之水的井在皇宫花园里；并嘱咐他快点，在钟敲十二点之前取他想要的水。
He walked on; and as he walked through beautiful gardens he came to a delightful shady spot in which stood a couch; 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.
他继续往前走；当他走过美丽的花园时，来到一个宜人的树荫下，那里有一张沙发；他感到累了，心想休息一会儿，欣赏周围的美景。
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，不知不觉睡着了，直到钟敲十一点四十五分才醒来。
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.
他吓得从沙发上跳起来，跑到井边，把身边的一个杯子装满水，及时匆匆离开。
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，钟敲了十二点，门很快落下，夹掉了他脚后跟的一块肉。
When he found himself safe, he was overjoyed to think that he had got the Water of Life; 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; with the sword you can at a blow slay whole armies, and the bread will never fail you.'
当他发现自己安全了，想到自己得到了生命之水，他欣喜若狂；当他在回家的路上经过小矮人时，小矮人看到剑和面包，说："你得到了宝贵的奖品；用这把剑，你可以一击杀死整支军队，这面包永远吃不完。"
Then the prince thought to himself, 'I cannot go home to my father without my brothers'; 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?'
然后王子心想："没有我的兄弟们，我不能回家见父亲。"于是他说："我亲爱的朋友，你能告诉我我的两个哥哥在哪里吗？他们在我之前出发寻找生命之水，再也没有回来。"
'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.'
"我用魔法把他们关在两座山之间，"小矮人说，"因为他们骄傲无礼，不屑于征求意见。"
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.'
王子苦苦哀求释放他的兄弟们，小矮人虽然不情愿，但最后还是释放了他们，说："小心他们，因为他们心肠不好。"
Their brother, however, was greatly rejoiced to see them, and told them all that had happened to him; how he had found the Water of Life, and had taken a cup full of it; and how he had set a beautiful princess free from a spell that bound her; and how she had engaged to wait a whole year, and then to marry him, and to give him the kingdom.
然而，弟弟见到他们非常高兴，告诉他们发生在他身上的一切；他如何找到生命之水，取了满满一杯；如何把一位美丽的公主从咒语中解救出来；公主如何答应等他一年，然后嫁给他，并把王国给他。
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，在回家的路上来到一个被战争和可怕的饥荒蹂躏的国家，人们担心所有人都会饿死。
But the prince gave the king of the land the bread, and all his kingdom ate of it.
但王子把面包给了这个国家的国王，全国的人都吃了面包。
And he lent the king the wonderful sword, and he slew the enemy's army with it; and thus the kingdom was once more in peace and plenty.
他还把那把神奇的剑借给了国王，国王用它杀死了敌人的军队；于是王国又恢复了和平与富足。
In the same manner he befriended two other countries through which they passed on their way.
他以同样的方式帮助了他们途中经过的另外两个国家。
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'; so they were full of envy and revenge, and agreed together how they could ruin him.
当他们来到海边，上了一艘船，在航行中，两个哥哥心想："我们的弟弟找到了我们找不到的水，因此父亲会抛弃我们，把本该属于我们的王国给他。"于是他们充满了嫉妒和报复心，一起商量如何毁掉他。
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，把杯子里的生命之水倒掉，自己留着，换成了苦涩的海水。
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，小儿子把杯子带给生病的国王，让他喝了好起来。
Scarcely, however, had he tasted the bitter sea-water when he became worse even than he was before; and then both the elder sons came in, and blamed the youngest for what they had done; and said that he wanted to poison their father, but that they had found the Water of Life, and had brought it with them.
然而，他刚尝到苦涩的海水，病情就比以前更重了；这时两个哥哥走进来，把自己做的事归咎于弟弟；说他想毒死父亲，但他们找到了生命之水，并带了回来。
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.
他一喝他们带来的水，就觉得病痛消失了，变得像年轻时一样强壮健康。
Then they went to their brother, and laughed at him, and said, 'Well, brother, you found the Water of Life, did you?
然后他们走到弟弟面前，嘲笑他说："好啊，弟弟，你找到了生命之水，是吗？
You have had the trouble and we shall have the reward.
你费了力气，我们却要得到奖赏。
Pray, with all your cleverness, why did not you manage to keep your eyes open?
请问，以你的聪明才智，为什么没能保持清醒呢？
Next year one of us will take away your beautiful princess, if you do not take care.
如果你不小心，明年我们中的一个会抢走你美丽的公主。
You had better say nothing about this to our father, for he does not believe a word you say; and if you tell tales, you shall lose your life into the bargain: but be quiet, and we will let you off.'
你最好不要把这件事告诉父亲，因为他不会相信你的话；如果你告状，你会连命都保不住：但你要是安静点，我们就放过你。"
The old king was still very angry with his youngest son, and thought that he really meant to have taken away his life; so he called his court together, and asked what should be done, and all agreed that he ought to be put to death.
老国王仍然对小儿子非常生气，认为他真的想夺走自己的生命；于是他召集宫廷大臣，问该怎么办，大家一致认为应该处死他。
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?'
王子对所发生的事情一无所知，直到有一天，国王的首席猎人与他一起去打猎，他们单独在森林里时，猎人看起来非常悲伤，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.'
但王子苦苦哀求，说："只要告诉我是什么事，不要以为我会生气，因为我会原谅你的。"
'Alas!' said the huntsman; 'the king has ordered me to shoot you.'
"唉！"猎人说："国王命令我射死你。"
The prince started at this, and said, 'Let me live, and I will change dresses with you; you shall take my royal coat to show to my father, and do you give me your shabby one.'
王子听到这话吓了一跳，说："让我活下去，我和你换衣服；你把我的王袍拿去给我父亲看，把你的破衣服给我。"
'With all my heart,' said the huntsman; 'I am sure I shall be glad to save you, for I could not have shot you.'
"我非常乐意，"猎人说："我很高兴能救你，因为我不能射死你。"
Then he took the prince's coat, and gave him the shabby one, and went away through the wood.
然后他拿了王子的外套，给了他自己的破衣服，穿过树林走了。
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; 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.
过了一段时间，三个盛大的使团来到老国王的宫廷，给小儿子带来了丰厚的黄金和宝石礼物；这些都是他曾借过剑和面包的三个国王送来的，为了感谢他帮助他们消灭敌人、养活人民。
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!
这触动了老国王的心，他认为儿子可能是无辜的，对宫廷大臣说："啊，要是我的儿子还活着就好了！
how it grieves me that I had him killed!'
我让人杀了他，真是太伤心了！"
'He is still alive,' said the huntsman; 'and I am glad that I had pity on him, but let him go in peace, and brought home his royal coat.'
"他还活着，"猎人说："我很高兴我可怜他，放他平安走了，并带回了他的王袍。"
At this the king was overwhelmed with joy, and made it known thoughout all his kingdom, that if his son would come back to his court he would forgive him.
国王听了欣喜若狂，向全国宣布，如果他的儿子愿意回到宫廷，他会原谅他。
Meanwhile the princess was eagerly waiting till her deliverer should come back; and had a road made leading up to her palace all of shining gold; 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: but whoever rode on one side of it, they must be sure was not the right one; and that they must send him away at once.
与此同时，公主急切地等待着她的救命恩人回来；她让人修了一条通往宫殿的金光闪闪的路；并告诉她的朝臣，凡是骑马直接沿着这条路来到 gate 的人，就是她的真爱；他们必须让他进来：但凡是骑到路的一边的人，肯定不是对的人；他们必须立刻把他送走。
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.
不久，大哥想尽快去见公主，说他是解救她的人，他应该娶她为妻，并得到王国。
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'; so he turned aside and rode on the right-hand side of it.
当他来到宫殿前，看到金色的路，他停下来看了看，心想："在这么漂亮的路上骑马太可惜了。"于是他转向右边骑了过去。
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 gate 时，卫兵们看到了他走的路，对他说，他不可能是他所说的那个人，必须走开。
The second prince set out soon afterwards on the same errand; 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!'
不久，二王子也为了同样的目的出发了；当他来到金色的路上，他的马刚踏上一只脚，他就停下来看，觉得它非常美丽，心想："任何东西在这里踩踏都是多么可惜啊！"
Then he too turned aside and rode on the left side of it.
于是他也转向左边骑了过去。
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; and away he went.
但当他来到 gate 时，卫兵们说他不是真正的王子，他也必须走开；于是他就走了。
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.
现在整整一年过去了，三弟离开了因害怕父亲愤怒而躲藏的森林，出发去寻找他的未婚妻。
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; 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.
于是他继续赶路，一路上想着她，骑得飞快，甚至没看清路是用什么铺的，就骑着马径直过去了；当他来到 gate 时，门开了，公主高兴地欢迎他，说他是她的救命恩人，现在应该做她的丈夫和王国的君主。
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: so, before his wedding with the princess, he went to visit his father, taking her with him.
当他们见面的最初喜悦过去后，公主告诉他，她听说他的父亲已经原谅了他，希望他回家：于是，在他和公主结婚之前，他带着她去看望父亲。
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.
然后他把一切都告诉了父亲；他的兄弟们如何欺骗和抢劫他，而他为了爱父亲，忍受了所有这些委屈。
And the old king was very angry, and wanted to punish his wicked sons; 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.
老国王非常生气，想惩罚他的坏儿子们；但他们逃跑了，上了一艘船，在广阔的大海上航行，他们去了哪里，没人知道，也没人关心。
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宫廷，邀请全国人民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; and among the rest came the friendly dwarf, with the sugarloaf hat, and a new scarlet cloak.
无论老少、贵族和平民，都立刻应召而来；其中还有那位戴着尖顶帽、穿着新猩红色斗篷的友好小矮人。
And the wedding was held, and the merry bells run.
婚礼举行了，欢快的钟声敲响了。
And all the good people they danced and they sung,
所有善良的人们又跳又唱，
And feasted and frolick'd I can't tell how long.
他们宴饮嬉戏，我不知道有多久。