The emperors new suit 皇帝的新装

Theemperorsnewsuit

Many,manyyearsagolivedanemperor,whothoughtsomuchofnewclothesthathespentallhismoneyinordertoobtainthem;hisonlyambitionwastobealwayswelldressed.Hedidnotcareforhissoldiers,andthetheatredidnotamusehim;theonlything,infact,hethoughtanythingofwastodriveoutandshowanewsuitofclothes.Hehadacoatforeveryhouroftheday;andasonewouldsayofaking"Heisinhiscabinet,"soonecouldsayofhim,"Theemperorisinhisdressing-room."
Thegreatcitywhereheresidedwasverygay;everydaymanystrangersfromallpartsoftheglobearrived.Onedaytwoswindlerscametothiscity;theymadepeoplebelievethattheywereweavers,anddeclaredtheycouldmanufacturethefinestclothtobeimagined.Theircoloursandpatterns,theysaid,werenotonlyexceptionallybeautiful,buttheclothesmadeoftheirmaterialpossessedthewonderfulqualityofbeinginvisibletoanymanwhowasunfitforhisofficeorunpardonablystupid.
"Thatmustbewonderfulcloth,"thoughttheemperor."IfIweretobedressedinasuitmadeofthisclothIshouldbeabletofindoutwhichmeninmyempirewereunfitfortheirplaces,andIcoulddistinguishthecleverfromthestupid.Imusthavethisclothwovenformewithoutdelay."Andhegavealargesumofmoneytotheswindlers,inadvance,thattheyshouldsettoworkwithoutanylossoftime.Theysetuptwolooms,andpretendedtobeveryhardatwork,buttheydidnothingwhateveronthelooms.Theyaskedforthefinestsilkandthemostpreciousgold-cloth;alltheygottheydidawaywith,andworkedattheemptyloomstilllateatnight.
"Ishouldverymuchliketoknowhowtheyaregettingonwiththecloth,"thoughttheemperor.Buthefeltratheruneasywhenherememberedthathewhowasnotfitforhisofficecouldnotseeit.Personally,hewasofopinionthathehadnothingtofear,yethethoughtitadvisabletosendsomebodyelsefirsttoseehowmattersstood.Everybodyinthetownknewwhataremarkablequalitythestuffpossessed,andallwereanxioustoseehowbadorstupidtheirneighbourswere.
"Ishallsendmyhonestoldministertotheweavers,"thoughttheemperor."Hecanjudgebesthowthestufflooks,forheisintelligent,andnobodyunderstandshisofficebetterthanhe."
Thegoodoldministerwentintotheroomwheretheswindlerssatbeforetheemptylooms."Heavenpreserveus!"hethought,andopenedhiseyeswide,"Icannotseeanythingatall,"buthedidnotsayso.Bothswindlersrequestedhimtocomenear,andaskedhimifhedidnotadmiretheexquisitepatternandthebeautifulcolours,pointingtotheemptylooms.Thepooroldministertriedhisverybest,buthecouldseenothing,fortherewasnothingtobeseen."Ohdear,"hethought,"canIbesostupid?Ishouldneverhavethoughtso,andnobodymustknowit!IsitpossiblethatIamnotfitformyoffice?No,no,IcannotsaythatIwasunabletoseethecloth."
"Now,haveyougotnothingtosay?"saidoneoftheswindlers,whilehepretendedtobebusilyweaving.
"Oh,itisverypretty,exceedinglybeautiful,"repliedtheoldministerlookingthroughhisglasses."Whatabeautifulpattern,whatbrilliantcolours!IshalltelltheemperorthatIliketheclothverymuch."
"Wearepleasedtohearthat,"saidthetwoweavers,anddescribedtohimthecoloursandexplainedthecuriouspattern.Theoldministerlistenedattentively,thathemightrelatetotheemperorwhattheysaid;andsohedid.
Nowtheswindlersaskedformoremoney,silkandgold-cloth,whichtheyrequiredforweaving.Theykepteverythingforthemselves,andnotathreadcameneartheloom,buttheycontinued,ashitherto,toworkattheemptylooms.
Soonafterwardstheemperorsentanotherhonestcourtiertotheweaverstoseehowtheyweregettingon,andiftheclothwasnearlyfinished.Liketheoldminister,helookedandlookedbutcouldseenothing,astherewasnothingtobeseen.
"Isitnotabeautifulpieceofcloth?"askedthetwoswindlers,showingandexplainingthemagnificentpattern,which,however,didnotexist.
"Iamnotstupid,"saidtheman."ItisthereforemygoodappointmentforwhichIamnotfit.Itisverystrange,butImustnotletanyoneknowit;"andhepraisedthecloth,whichhedidnotsee,andexpressedhisjoyatthebeautifulcoloursandthefinepattern."Itisveryexcellent,"hesaidtothe
emperor.
Everybodyinthewholetowntalkedaboutthepreciouscloth.Atlasttheemperorwishedtoseeithimself,whileitwasstillontheloom.Withanumberofcourtiers,includingthetwowhohadalreadybeenthere,hewenttothetwocleverswindlers,whonowworkedashardastheycould,butwithoutusinganythread.
"Isitnotmagnificent?"saidthetwooldstatesmenwhohadbeentherebefore."YourMajestymustadmirethecoloursandthepattern."Andthentheypointedtotheemptylooms,fortheyimaginedtheotherscouldseethecloth.
"Whatisthis?"thoughttheemperor,"Idonotseeanythingatall.Thatisterrible!AmIstupid?AmIunfittobeemperor?Thatwouldindeedbethemostdreadfulthingthatcouldhappentome."
"Really,"hesaid,turningtotheweavers,"yourclothhasourmostgraciousapproval;"andnoddingcontentedlyhelookedattheemptyloom,forhedidnotliketosaythathesawnothing.Allhisattendants,whowerewithhim,lookedandlooked,andalthoughtheycouldnotseeanythingmorethantheothers,theysaid,liketheemperor,"Itisverybeautiful."
Andalladvisedhimtowearthenewmagnificentclothesatagreatprocessionwhichwassoontotakeplace."Itismagnificent,beautiful,excellent,"oneheardthemsay;everybodyseemedtobedelighted,andtheemperorappointedthetwoswindlers"ImperialCourtweavers."
Thewholenightprevioustothedayonwhichtheprocessionwastotakeplace,theswindlerspretendedtowork,andburnedmorethansixteencandles.Peopleshouldseethattheywerebusytofinishtheemperor’snewsuit.Theypretendedtotaketheclothfromtheloom,andworkedaboutintheairwithbigscissors,andsewedwithneedleswithoutthread,andsaidatlast:"Theemperor’snewsuitisreadynow."
Theemperorandallhisbaronsthencametothehall;theswindlersheldtheirarmsupasiftheyheldsomethingintheirhandsandsaid:"Thesearethetrousers!""Thisisthecoat!"and"Hereisthecloak!"andsoon."Theyareallaslightasacobweb,andonemustfeelasifonehadnothingatalluponthebody;butthatisjustthebeautyofthem."
"Indeed!"saidallthecourtiers;buttheycouldnotseeanything,fortherewasnothingtobeseen.
"DoesitpleaseyourMajestynowtograciouslyundress,"saidtheswindlers,"thatwemayassistyourMajestyinputtingonthenewsuitbeforethelargelooking-glass?"
Theemperorundressed,andtheswindlerspretendedtoputthenewsuituponhim,onepieceafteranother;andtheemperorlookedathimselfintheglassfromeveryside.
"Howwelltheylook!Howwelltheyfit!"saidall."Whatabeautifulpattern!Whatfinecolours!Thatisamagnificentsuitofclothes!"
Themasteroftheceremoniesannouncedthatthebearersofthecanopy,whichwastobecarriedintheprocession,wereready.
"Iamready,"saidtheemperor."Doesnotmysuitfitmemarvellously?"Thenheturnedoncemoretothelooking-glass,thatpeopleshouldthinkheadmiredhisgarments.
thechamberlains,whoweretocarrythetrain,stretchedtheirhandstothegroundasiftheyliftedupatrain,andpretendedtoholdsomethingintheirhands;theydidnotlikepeopletoknowthattheycouldnotseeanything.
Theemperormarchedintheprocessionunderthebeautifulcanopy,andallwhosawhiminthestreetandoutofthewindowsexclaimed:"Indeed,theemperor’snewsuitisincomparable!Whatalongtrainhehas!Howwellitfitshim!"
Nobodywishedtoletothersknowhesawnothing.forthenhewouldhavebeenunfitforhisofficeortoostupid.Neveremperor’sclothesweremoreadmired.
"Buthehasnothingonatall,"saidalittlechildatlast."Goodheavens!listentothevoiceofaninnocentchild,"saidthefather,andonewhisperedtotheotherwhatthechildhadsaid."Buthehasnothingonatall,"criedatlastthewholepeople.Thatmadeadeepimpressionupontheemperor,foritseemedtohimthattheywereright;buthethoughttohimself,"NowImustbearuptotheend."Andthechamberlainswalkedwithstillgreaterdignity,asiftheycarriedthetrainwhichdidnotexist.

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