The swineherd 猪倌
作者:古文学 时间:2017/12/18 8:50:17 阅读:次 类别:英语童话
THESWINEHERD
TherewasonceapoorPrince,whohadakingdom.Hiskingdomwasverysmall,butstillquitelargeenoughtomarryupon;andhewishedtomarry.
ItwascertainlyrathercoolofhimtosaytotheEmperor’sdaughter,"Willyouhaveme?"Butsohedid;forhisnamewasrenownedfarandwide;andtherewereahundredprincesseswhowouldhaveanswered,"Yes!"and"Thankyoukindly."Weshallseewhatthisprincesssaid.
Listen!IthappenedthatwherethePrince’sfatherlayburied,theregrewarosetree--amostbeautifulrosetree,whichblossomedonlyonceineveryfiveyears,andeventhenboreonlyoneflower,butthatwasarose!Itsmeltsosweetthatallcaresandsorrowswereforgottenbyhimwhoinhaleditsfragrance.
Andfurthermore,thePrincehadanightingale,whocouldsinginsuchamannerthatitseemedasthoughallsweetmelodiesdweltinherlittlethroat.SothePrincesswastohavetherose,andthenightingale;andtheywereaccordinglyputintolargesilvercaskets,andsenttoher.
TheEmperorhadthembroughtintoalargehall,wherethePrincesswasplayingat"Visiting,"withtheladiesofthecourt;andwhenshesawthecasketswiththepresents,sheclappedherhandsforjoy.
"Ah,ifitwerebutalittlepussy-cat!"saidshe;buttherosetree,withitsbeautifulrosecametoview.
"Oh,howprettilyitismade!"saidallthecourtladies.
"Itismorethanpretty,"saidtheEmperor,"itischarming!"
ButthePrincesstouchedit,andwasalmostreadytocry.
"Fie,papa!"saidshe."Itisnotmadeatall,itisnatural!"
"Letusseewhatisintheothercasket,beforewegetintoabadhumor,"saidtheEmperor.Sothenightingalecameforthandsangsodelightfullythatatfirstnoonecouldsayanythingill-humoredofher.
"Superbe!Charmant!"exclaimedtheladies;fortheyallusedtochatterFrench,eachoneworsethanherneighbor.
"HowmuchthebirdremindsmeofthemusicalboxthatbelongedtoourblessedEmpress,"saidanoldknight."Ohyes!Thesearethesametones,thesameexecution."
"Yes!yes!"saidtheEmperor,andheweptlikeachildattheremembrance.
"Iwillstillhopethatitisnotarealbird,"saidthePrincess.
"Yes,itisarealbird,"saidthosewhohadbroughtit."Wellthenletthebirdfly,"saidthePrincess;andshepositivelyrefusedtoseethePrince.
However,hewasnottobediscouraged;hedaubedhisfaceoverbrownandblack;pulledhiscapoverhisears,andknockedatthedoor.
"Gooddaytomylord,theEmperor!"saidhe."CanIhaveemploymentatthepalace?"
"Why,yes,"saidtheEmperor."Iwantsomeonetotakecareofthepigs,forwehaveagreatmanyofthem."
SothePrincewasappointed"ImperialSwineherd."Hehadadirtylittleroomclosebythepigsty;andtherehesatthewholeday,andworked.Bytheeveninghehadmadeaprettylittlekitchen-pot.Littlebellswerehungallroundit;andwhenthepotwasboiling,thesebellstinkledinthemostcharmingmanner,andplayedtheoldmelody,"Ach!dulieberAugustin,Allesistweg,weg,weg!"**"Ah!dearAugustine!Allisgone,gone,gone!"
Butwhatwasstillmorecurious,whoeverheldhisfingerinthesmokeofthekitchen-pot,immediatelysmeltallthedishesthatwerecookingoneveryhearthinthecity--this,yousee,wassomethingquitedifferentfromtherose.
NowthePrincesshappenedtowalkthatway;andwhensheheardthetune,shestoodquitestill,andseemedpleased;forshecouldplay"LieberAugustine";itwastheonlypiecesheknew;andsheplayeditwithonefinger.
"Whythereismypiece,"saidthePrincess."Thatswineherdmustcertainlyhavebeenwelleducated!Goinandaskhimthepriceoftheinstrument."
Sooneofthecourt-ladiesmustrunin;however,shedrewonwoodenslippersfirst.
"Whatwillyoutakeforthekitchen-pot?"saidthelady.
"IwillhavetenkissesfromthePrincess,"saidtheswineherd.
"Yes,indeed!"saidthelady.
"Icannotsellitforless,"rejoinedtheswineherd.
"Heisanimpudentfellow!"saidthePrincess,andshewalkedon;butwhenshehadgonealittleway,thebellstinkledsoprettily"Ach!dulieberAugustin,Allesistweg,weg,weg!"
"Stay,"saidthePrincess."Askhimifhewillhavetenkissesfromtheladiesofmycourt."
"No,thankyou!"saidtheswineherd."TenkissesfromthePrincess,orIkeepthekitchen-potmyself."
"Thatmustnotbe,either!"saidthePrincess."Butdoyouallstandbeforemethatnoonemayseeus."
Andthecourt-ladiesplacedthemselvesinfrontofher,andspreadouttheirdresses--theswineherdgottenkisses,andthePrincess--thekitchen-pot.
Thatwasdelightful!Thepotwasboilingthewholeevening,andthewholeofthefollowingday.Theyknewperfectlywellwhatwascookingateveryfirethroughoutthecity,fromthechamberlain’stothecobbler’s;thecourt-ladiesdancedandclappedtheirhands.
"Weknowwhohassoup,andwhohaspancakesfordinnerto-day,whohascutlets,andwhohaseggs.Howinteresting!"
"Yes,butkeepmysecret,forIamanEmperor’sdaughter."
Theswineherd--thatistosay--thePrince,fornooneknewthathewasotherthananill-favoredswineherd,letnotadaypasswithoutworkingatsomething;heatlastconstructedarattle,which,whenitwasswunground,playedallthewaltzesandjigtunes,whichhaveeverbeenheardsincethecreationoftheworld.
"Ah,thatissuperbe!"saidthePrincesswhenshepassedby."Ihaveneverheardprettiercompositions!Goinandaskhimthepriceoftheinstrument;butmind,heshallhavenomorekisses!"
"HewillhaveahundredkissesfromthePrincess!"saidtheladywhohadbeentoask.
"Ithinkheisnotinhisrightsenses!"saidthePrincess,andwalkedon,butwhenshehadgonealittleway,shestoppedagain."Onemustencourageart,"
saidshe,"IamtheEmperor’sdaughter.Tellhimheshall,asonyesterday,havetenkissesfromme,andmaytaketherestfromtheladiesofthecourt."
"Oh--butweshouldnotlikethatatall!"saidthey."Whatareyoumuttering?"
askedthePrincess."IfIcankisshim,surelyyoucan.Rememberthatyouoweeverythingtome."Sotheladieswereobligedtogotohimagain.
"AhundredkissesfromthePrincess,"saidhe,"orelseleteveryonekeephisown!"
"Standround!"saidshe;andalltheladiesstoodroundherwhilstthekissingwasgoingon.
"Whatcanbethereasonforsuchacrowdclosebythepigsty?"saidtheEmperor,whohappenedjustthentostepoutonthebalcony;herubbedhiseyes,andputonhisspectacles."Theyaretheladiesofthecourt;Imustgodownandseewhattheyareabout!"Sohepulleduphisslippersattheheel,forhehadtroddenthemdown.
Assoonashehadgotintothecourt-yard,hemovedverysoftly,andtheladiesweresomuchengrossedwithcountingthekisses,thatallmightgoonfairly,thattheydidnotperceivetheEmperor.Heroseonhistiptoes.
"Whatisallthis?"saidhe,whenhesawwhatwasgoingon,andheboxedthePrincess’searswithhisslipper,justastheswineherdwastakingtheeighty-sixthkiss.
"Marchout!"saidtheEmperor,forhewasveryangry;andbothPrincessandswineherdwerethrustoutofthecity.
ThePrincessnowstoodandwept,theswineherdscolded,andtherainpoureddown.
"Alas!UnhappycreaturethatIam!"saidthePrincess."IfIhadbutmarriedthehandsomeyoungPrince!Ah!howunfortunateIam!"
Andtheswineherdwentbehindatree,washedtheblackandbrowncolorfromhisface,threwoffhisdirtyclothes,andsteppedforthinhisprincelyrobes;helookedsonoblethatthePrincesscouldnothelpbowingbeforehim.
"Iamcometodespisethee,"saidhe."Thouwould’stnothaveanhonorablePrince!Thoucould’stnotprizetheroseandthenightingale,butthouwastreadytokisstheswineherdforthesakeofatrumperyplaything.Thouartrightlyserved."
Hethenwentbacktohisownlittlekingdom,andshutthedoorofhispalaceinherface.Nowshemightwellsing,"Ach!dulieberAugustin,Allesistweg,weg,weg!"
猪倌
从前有一个贫穷的王子,他有一个王国.王国虽然非常小,可是还是够供给他结婚的费用,而结婚正是他现在想要做的事情.
他也真有些大胆,居然敢对皇帝的女儿说:“你愿意要我吗?”不过他敢这样说,也正是因为他的名字远近都知道.成千成百的公主都会高高兴兴地说“愿意”.不过我们看看这位公主会不会这样说吧.
现在我们听吧,在这王子的父亲的墓上长着一棵玫瑰——一棵很美丽的玫瑰.它五年才开一次花,而且每次只开一朵.但这是一朵多么好的玫瑰花啊!它发出那么芬芳的香气,无论谁只须闻一下,就会忘掉一切忧愁和烦恼.王子还有一只夜莺.这鸟儿唱起歌来,就好像它小小的喉咙里包藏着一切和谐的调子似的,这朵玫瑰花和这只夜莺应该送给那位公主.因此这两件东西就被放在两个大银匣里,送给她了.
皇帝下命令叫把这礼物送进大殿,好让他亲眼看看.公主正在大殿里和她的侍女们作“拜客”的游戏,因为她们没有别的事情可做.当她看到大银匣子里的礼品时,就兴高采烈地拍起手来.
“我希望那里面是一只小猫!”她说.
可是盒子里却是一朵美丽的玫瑰花.
“啊,这花做得多么精巧啊!”侍女们齐声说.
“它不仅精巧,”皇帝说,“而且美丽.”
公主把花摸了一下.她几乎哭出来了.
“呸,爸爸!”她说,“这花不是人工做的,它是一朵天然的玫瑰花!”
“呸!”所有的宫女都说,“这只是一朵天然的花!”
“我们暂且不要生气,让我们先看看另一只盒子里是什么再说吧.”皇帝说.于是那只夜莺就跳出来了.它唱得那么好听,他们一时还想不出什么话来说它不好.
“Superbe!Charmant!①”侍女们齐声说,因为她们都喜欢讲法国话,但是一个比一个讲得糟.
①这是法语,意思是:“好极了!真迷人!”旧时欧洲的统治阶级都以能讲法语为荣.
“这鸟儿真使我记起死去的皇后的那个八音盒,”一位老侍臣说.“是的,它的调子,它的唱法完全跟那个八音盒一样.”
“对的.”皇帝说.于是他就像一个小孩子似的哭起来了.
“我不相信它是一只天然的鸟儿.”公主说.
“不,它是一只天然的鸟儿!”那些送礼物来的人说.
“那么就让这只鸟儿飞走吧.”公主说.但是她无论如何不让王子来看她.
不过王子并不因此失望.他把自己的脑袋涂成棕里透黑,把帽子拉下来盖住眉毛,于是就来敲门.
“日安,皇上!”他说,“我能在宫里找到一个差事吗?”
“嗨,找事的人实在太多了,”皇帝说,“不过让我想想看吧——我需要一个会看猪的人,因为我养了很多猪.”
这样,王子就被任命为皇家的猪倌了.他们给了他一间猪棚旁边的简陋小屋,他不得不在这里面住下.但是他从早到晚都坐在那里工作.到了晚上,他做好了一口很精致的小锅,边上挂着许多铃.当锅煮开了的时候,这些铃就美妙地响起来,奏出一支和谐的老调:
啊,我亲爱的奥古斯丁,
一切都完了,完了,完了!
不过这锅巧妙的地方是:假如有人把手指伸到锅中冒出来的蒸气里,他就立刻可以闻到城里每个灶上所煮的食物的味道.这锅跟玫瑰花比起来,完全是两回事儿.
公主恰恰跟她的侍女们从这儿走过.当她听到这个调子的时候,就停下来;她显得非常高兴,因为她也会弹“啊,我亲爱的奥古斯丁”这个调子.这是她会弹的惟一的调子,不过她只是用一个指头弹.
“嗯,这正是我会弹的一个调子!”她说.“他一定是一个有教养的猪倌!你们听着,进去问问他,这个乐器要多少钱.”
因此,一位侍女只好走进去了.可是在进去以前,她先换上了一双木套鞋①.
①因为怕把她的脚弄脏了.
“你这个锅要多少钱?”侍女问.
“我只要公主给我接十个吻就够了.”牧猪人说.
“我的老天爷!”侍女说.
“是的,少一个吻也不卖.”猪倌说.
“唔,他怎么说?”公主问.
“我真没有办法传达他的话,”侍女说,“听了真是骇人!”
“那么,你就低声一点说吧.”于是侍女就低声说了.
“他太没有礼貌啦!”公主说完遍走开了.不过,她没有走多远,铃声又动听地响起来了:
啊,我亲爱的奥古斯丁,
一切都完了,完了,完了!
“听着,”公主说.“去问问他愿意不愿意让我的侍女给他十个吻.”
“谢谢您,不成,”猪倌回答说.“要公主给我十个吻,否则我的锅就不卖.”
“这真是一桩讨厌的事情!”公主说.“不过最低限度你们得站在我的周围,免得别人看见我.”
于是侍女们都在她的周围站着,同时把她们的裙子撒开.猪倌接了十个吻,她得到了那口锅.
她们真是欢天喜地啦!这口锅里整天整夜不停地煮东西;她们现在清清楚楚地知道城里每一个厨房里所煮的东西,包括从鞋匠一直到家臣们的厨房里所煮的东西.侍女们都跳起舞,鼓起掌来.
“我们现在完全知道谁家在喝甜汤和吃煎饼,谁家在吃稀饭和肉排啦.这多有趣啊!”
“非常有趣!”女管家说.
“是的,但不准你们声张,因为我是皇帝的女儿!”
“愿上帝保佑我们!”大家齐声说.
那个猪倌,也就是说,那位王子——她们当然一点也不知道他是王子,都以为他只是一个猪倌——是决不会让一天白白地过去而不做出一点事情来的.因此他又做了一个能发出嘎嘎声的玩具.你只要把猪倌玩具旋转几下,它就能奏出大家从开天辟地以来就知道的“华尔兹舞曲”、“快步舞曲”和“波兰舞曲”.
“这真是Superbe!”公主在旁边走过的时候说.“我从来没有听到过比这更美的音乐!你们听呀!进去问问他这个乐器值多少钱;不过我不能再给他什么吻了.”
“他要求公主给他一百个吻.”那个到里面去问了的侍女说.
“我想他是疯了!”公主说.于是她就走开了.不过她没有走几步路,便又停了下来.“我们应该鼓励艺术才是!”她说.“我是皇帝的女儿啊!告诉他,像上次一样,他可以得到十个吻,其余的可以由我的侍女给他.”
“哎呀!我们可不愿意干这种事情!”侍女们齐声说.
“废话!”公主说.“我既然可以让人吻几下,你们当然也可以的.请记住:是我给你们吃饭,给你们钱花的.”
这样,侍女们只得又到猪倌那儿去一趟.
“我要公主亲自给我一百个吻,”他是,“否则双方不必谈什么交易了.”
“你们都站拢来吧!”她说.所有的侍女都围着她站着;于是猪倌就开始接吻了.
“围着猪倌的一大群人是干什么的?”皇帝问.他这时已经走到阳台上来了.他揉揉双眼,戴上眼镜.“怎么,原来是侍女们在那儿捣什么鬼!我要亲自下去看一下.”
他把便鞋后跟拉上——这本来是一双好鞋子;他喜欢随意把脚伸进去,所以就把后跟踩塌了.
天啊,你看他那副匆忙的样子!
他一跑进院子,就轻轻地走过去.侍女们都在忙于计算吻的数目,为的是要使交易公平,不使他吻得太多或太少.她们都没有注意到皇帝的到来.皇帝轻轻地踮起脚尖来.
“这是怎么一回事呀?”他看到他们接吻的时候说.当猪倌正被吻到第八十六下的时候,他就用拖鞋在他们的头上打了几下.“滚你们的!”皇帝说,因为他真的生气了.于是公主和猪倌一齐被赶出了他的国土.
公主站在屋外,哭了起来.猪倌也发起牢骚来.天正下着大雨.
“唉,我这个可怜人!”公主说.“我要是答应那个可爱的王子倒好了!唉,我是多么不幸啊!”
猪倌于是走到一株大树后面,擦掉脸上的颜色,脱掉身上破烂的衣服,穿上一身王子的服装,又走了出来.他是那么好看,连这位公主都不得不在他面前弯下腰来.
“你,我现在有点瞧不起你了,”他说,“一个老老实实的王子你不愿意要,玫瑰和夜莺你也不欣赏;但是为了得到一个玩具,你却愿意去和一个猪倌接吻.现在你总算得到报应了.”
于是他走进他的王国,把她关在门外,并且把门闩也插上了.现在只有她站在外边,唱——
啊,我亲爱的奥古斯丁,
一切都完了,完了,完了!
TherewasonceapoorPrince,whohadakingdom.Hiskingdomwasverysmall,butstillquitelargeenoughtomarryupon;andhewishedtomarry.
ItwascertainlyrathercoolofhimtosaytotheEmperor’sdaughter,"Willyouhaveme?"Butsohedid;forhisnamewasrenownedfarandwide;andtherewereahundredprincesseswhowouldhaveanswered,"Yes!"and"Thankyoukindly."Weshallseewhatthisprincesssaid.
Listen!IthappenedthatwherethePrince’sfatherlayburied,theregrewarosetree--amostbeautifulrosetree,whichblossomedonlyonceineveryfiveyears,andeventhenboreonlyoneflower,butthatwasarose!Itsmeltsosweetthatallcaresandsorrowswereforgottenbyhimwhoinhaleditsfragrance.
Andfurthermore,thePrincehadanightingale,whocouldsinginsuchamannerthatitseemedasthoughallsweetmelodiesdweltinherlittlethroat.SothePrincesswastohavetherose,andthenightingale;andtheywereaccordinglyputintolargesilvercaskets,andsenttoher.
TheEmperorhadthembroughtintoalargehall,wherethePrincesswasplayingat"Visiting,"withtheladiesofthecourt;andwhenshesawthecasketswiththepresents,sheclappedherhandsforjoy.
"Ah,ifitwerebutalittlepussy-cat!"saidshe;buttherosetree,withitsbeautifulrosecametoview.
"Oh,howprettilyitismade!"saidallthecourtladies.
"Itismorethanpretty,"saidtheEmperor,"itischarming!"
ButthePrincesstouchedit,andwasalmostreadytocry.
"Fie,papa!"saidshe."Itisnotmadeatall,itisnatural!"
"Letusseewhatisintheothercasket,beforewegetintoabadhumor,"saidtheEmperor.Sothenightingalecameforthandsangsodelightfullythatatfirstnoonecouldsayanythingill-humoredofher.
"Superbe!Charmant!"exclaimedtheladies;fortheyallusedtochatterFrench,eachoneworsethanherneighbor.
"HowmuchthebirdremindsmeofthemusicalboxthatbelongedtoourblessedEmpress,"saidanoldknight."Ohyes!Thesearethesametones,thesameexecution."
"Yes!yes!"saidtheEmperor,andheweptlikeachildattheremembrance.
"Iwillstillhopethatitisnotarealbird,"saidthePrincess.
"Yes,itisarealbird,"saidthosewhohadbroughtit."Wellthenletthebirdfly,"saidthePrincess;andshepositivelyrefusedtoseethePrince.
However,hewasnottobediscouraged;hedaubedhisfaceoverbrownandblack;pulledhiscapoverhisears,andknockedatthedoor.
"Gooddaytomylord,theEmperor!"saidhe."CanIhaveemploymentatthepalace?"
"Why,yes,"saidtheEmperor."Iwantsomeonetotakecareofthepigs,forwehaveagreatmanyofthem."
SothePrincewasappointed"ImperialSwineherd."Hehadadirtylittleroomclosebythepigsty;andtherehesatthewholeday,andworked.Bytheeveninghehadmadeaprettylittlekitchen-pot.Littlebellswerehungallroundit;andwhenthepotwasboiling,thesebellstinkledinthemostcharmingmanner,andplayedtheoldmelody,"Ach!dulieberAugustin,Allesistweg,weg,weg!"**"Ah!dearAugustine!Allisgone,gone,gone!"
Butwhatwasstillmorecurious,whoeverheldhisfingerinthesmokeofthekitchen-pot,immediatelysmeltallthedishesthatwerecookingoneveryhearthinthecity--this,yousee,wassomethingquitedifferentfromtherose.
NowthePrincesshappenedtowalkthatway;andwhensheheardthetune,shestoodquitestill,andseemedpleased;forshecouldplay"LieberAugustine";itwastheonlypiecesheknew;andsheplayeditwithonefinger.
"Whythereismypiece,"saidthePrincess."Thatswineherdmustcertainlyhavebeenwelleducated!Goinandaskhimthepriceoftheinstrument."
Sooneofthecourt-ladiesmustrunin;however,shedrewonwoodenslippersfirst.
"Whatwillyoutakeforthekitchen-pot?"saidthelady.
"IwillhavetenkissesfromthePrincess,"saidtheswineherd.
"Yes,indeed!"saidthelady.
"Icannotsellitforless,"rejoinedtheswineherd.
"Heisanimpudentfellow!"saidthePrincess,andshewalkedon;butwhenshehadgonealittleway,thebellstinkledsoprettily"Ach!dulieberAugustin,Allesistweg,weg,weg!"
"Stay,"saidthePrincess."Askhimifhewillhavetenkissesfromtheladiesofmycourt."
"No,thankyou!"saidtheswineherd."TenkissesfromthePrincess,orIkeepthekitchen-potmyself."
"Thatmustnotbe,either!"saidthePrincess."Butdoyouallstandbeforemethatnoonemayseeus."
Andthecourt-ladiesplacedthemselvesinfrontofher,andspreadouttheirdresses--theswineherdgottenkisses,andthePrincess--thekitchen-pot.
Thatwasdelightful!Thepotwasboilingthewholeevening,andthewholeofthefollowingday.Theyknewperfectlywellwhatwascookingateveryfirethroughoutthecity,fromthechamberlain’stothecobbler’s;thecourt-ladiesdancedandclappedtheirhands.
"Weknowwhohassoup,andwhohaspancakesfordinnerto-day,whohascutlets,andwhohaseggs.Howinteresting!"
"Yes,butkeepmysecret,forIamanEmperor’sdaughter."
Theswineherd--thatistosay--thePrince,fornooneknewthathewasotherthananill-favoredswineherd,letnotadaypasswithoutworkingatsomething;heatlastconstructedarattle,which,whenitwasswunground,playedallthewaltzesandjigtunes,whichhaveeverbeenheardsincethecreationoftheworld.
"Ah,thatissuperbe!"saidthePrincesswhenshepassedby."Ihaveneverheardprettiercompositions!Goinandaskhimthepriceoftheinstrument;butmind,heshallhavenomorekisses!"
"HewillhaveahundredkissesfromthePrincess!"saidtheladywhohadbeentoask.
"Ithinkheisnotinhisrightsenses!"saidthePrincess,andwalkedon,butwhenshehadgonealittleway,shestoppedagain."Onemustencourageart,"
saidshe,"IamtheEmperor’sdaughter.Tellhimheshall,asonyesterday,havetenkissesfromme,andmaytaketherestfromtheladiesofthecourt."
"Oh--butweshouldnotlikethatatall!"saidthey."Whatareyoumuttering?"
askedthePrincess."IfIcankisshim,surelyyoucan.Rememberthatyouoweeverythingtome."Sotheladieswereobligedtogotohimagain.
"AhundredkissesfromthePrincess,"saidhe,"orelseleteveryonekeephisown!"
"Standround!"saidshe;andalltheladiesstoodroundherwhilstthekissingwasgoingon.
"Whatcanbethereasonforsuchacrowdclosebythepigsty?"saidtheEmperor,whohappenedjustthentostepoutonthebalcony;herubbedhiseyes,andputonhisspectacles."Theyaretheladiesofthecourt;Imustgodownandseewhattheyareabout!"Sohepulleduphisslippersattheheel,forhehadtroddenthemdown.
Assoonashehadgotintothecourt-yard,hemovedverysoftly,andtheladiesweresomuchengrossedwithcountingthekisses,thatallmightgoonfairly,thattheydidnotperceivetheEmperor.Heroseonhistiptoes.
"Whatisallthis?"saidhe,whenhesawwhatwasgoingon,andheboxedthePrincess’searswithhisslipper,justastheswineherdwastakingtheeighty-sixthkiss.
"Marchout!"saidtheEmperor,forhewasveryangry;andbothPrincessandswineherdwerethrustoutofthecity.
ThePrincessnowstoodandwept,theswineherdscolded,andtherainpoureddown.
"Alas!UnhappycreaturethatIam!"saidthePrincess."IfIhadbutmarriedthehandsomeyoungPrince!Ah!howunfortunateIam!"
Andtheswineherdwentbehindatree,washedtheblackandbrowncolorfromhisface,threwoffhisdirtyclothes,andsteppedforthinhisprincelyrobes;helookedsonoblethatthePrincesscouldnothelpbowingbeforehim.
"Iamcometodespisethee,"saidhe."Thouwould’stnothaveanhonorablePrince!Thoucould’stnotprizetheroseandthenightingale,butthouwastreadytokisstheswineherdforthesakeofatrumperyplaything.Thouartrightlyserved."
Hethenwentbacktohisownlittlekingdom,andshutthedoorofhispalaceinherface.Nowshemightwellsing,"Ach!dulieberAugustin,Allesistweg,weg,weg!"
猪倌
从前有一个贫穷的王子,他有一个王国.王国虽然非常小,可是还是够供给他结婚的费用,而结婚正是他现在想要做的事情.
他也真有些大胆,居然敢对皇帝的女儿说:“你愿意要我吗?”不过他敢这样说,也正是因为他的名字远近都知道.成千成百的公主都会高高兴兴地说“愿意”.不过我们看看这位公主会不会这样说吧.
现在我们听吧,在这王子的父亲的墓上长着一棵玫瑰——一棵很美丽的玫瑰.它五年才开一次花,而且每次只开一朵.但这是一朵多么好的玫瑰花啊!它发出那么芬芳的香气,无论谁只须闻一下,就会忘掉一切忧愁和烦恼.王子还有一只夜莺.这鸟儿唱起歌来,就好像它小小的喉咙里包藏着一切和谐的调子似的,这朵玫瑰花和这只夜莺应该送给那位公主.因此这两件东西就被放在两个大银匣里,送给她了.
皇帝下命令叫把这礼物送进大殿,好让他亲眼看看.公主正在大殿里和她的侍女们作“拜客”的游戏,因为她们没有别的事情可做.当她看到大银匣子里的礼品时,就兴高采烈地拍起手来.
“我希望那里面是一只小猫!”她说.
可是盒子里却是一朵美丽的玫瑰花.
“啊,这花做得多么精巧啊!”侍女们齐声说.
“它不仅精巧,”皇帝说,“而且美丽.”
公主把花摸了一下.她几乎哭出来了.
“呸,爸爸!”她说,“这花不是人工做的,它是一朵天然的玫瑰花!”
“呸!”所有的宫女都说,“这只是一朵天然的花!”
“我们暂且不要生气,让我们先看看另一只盒子里是什么再说吧.”皇帝说.于是那只夜莺就跳出来了.它唱得那么好听,他们一时还想不出什么话来说它不好.
“Superbe!Charmant!①”侍女们齐声说,因为她们都喜欢讲法国话,但是一个比一个讲得糟.
①这是法语,意思是:“好极了!真迷人!”旧时欧洲的统治阶级都以能讲法语为荣.
“这鸟儿真使我记起死去的皇后的那个八音盒,”一位老侍臣说.“是的,它的调子,它的唱法完全跟那个八音盒一样.”
“对的.”皇帝说.于是他就像一个小孩子似的哭起来了.
“我不相信它是一只天然的鸟儿.”公主说.
“不,它是一只天然的鸟儿!”那些送礼物来的人说.
“那么就让这只鸟儿飞走吧.”公主说.但是她无论如何不让王子来看她.
不过王子并不因此失望.他把自己的脑袋涂成棕里透黑,把帽子拉下来盖住眉毛,于是就来敲门.
“日安,皇上!”他说,“我能在宫里找到一个差事吗?”
“嗨,找事的人实在太多了,”皇帝说,“不过让我想想看吧——我需要一个会看猪的人,因为我养了很多猪.”
这样,王子就被任命为皇家的猪倌了.他们给了他一间猪棚旁边的简陋小屋,他不得不在这里面住下.但是他从早到晚都坐在那里工作.到了晚上,他做好了一口很精致的小锅,边上挂着许多铃.当锅煮开了的时候,这些铃就美妙地响起来,奏出一支和谐的老调:
啊,我亲爱的奥古斯丁,
一切都完了,完了,完了!
不过这锅巧妙的地方是:假如有人把手指伸到锅中冒出来的蒸气里,他就立刻可以闻到城里每个灶上所煮的食物的味道.这锅跟玫瑰花比起来,完全是两回事儿.
公主恰恰跟她的侍女们从这儿走过.当她听到这个调子的时候,就停下来;她显得非常高兴,因为她也会弹“啊,我亲爱的奥古斯丁”这个调子.这是她会弹的惟一的调子,不过她只是用一个指头弹.
“嗯,这正是我会弹的一个调子!”她说.“他一定是一个有教养的猪倌!你们听着,进去问问他,这个乐器要多少钱.”
因此,一位侍女只好走进去了.可是在进去以前,她先换上了一双木套鞋①.
①因为怕把她的脚弄脏了.
“你这个锅要多少钱?”侍女问.
“我只要公主给我接十个吻就够了.”牧猪人说.
“我的老天爷!”侍女说.
“是的,少一个吻也不卖.”猪倌说.
“唔,他怎么说?”公主问.
“我真没有办法传达他的话,”侍女说,“听了真是骇人!”
“那么,你就低声一点说吧.”于是侍女就低声说了.
“他太没有礼貌啦!”公主说完遍走开了.不过,她没有走多远,铃声又动听地响起来了:
啊,我亲爱的奥古斯丁,
一切都完了,完了,完了!
“听着,”公主说.“去问问他愿意不愿意让我的侍女给他十个吻.”
“谢谢您,不成,”猪倌回答说.“要公主给我十个吻,否则我的锅就不卖.”
“这真是一桩讨厌的事情!”公主说.“不过最低限度你们得站在我的周围,免得别人看见我.”
于是侍女们都在她的周围站着,同时把她们的裙子撒开.猪倌接了十个吻,她得到了那口锅.
她们真是欢天喜地啦!这口锅里整天整夜不停地煮东西;她们现在清清楚楚地知道城里每一个厨房里所煮的东西,包括从鞋匠一直到家臣们的厨房里所煮的东西.侍女们都跳起舞,鼓起掌来.
“我们现在完全知道谁家在喝甜汤和吃煎饼,谁家在吃稀饭和肉排啦.这多有趣啊!”
“非常有趣!”女管家说.
“是的,但不准你们声张,因为我是皇帝的女儿!”
“愿上帝保佑我们!”大家齐声说.
那个猪倌,也就是说,那位王子——她们当然一点也不知道他是王子,都以为他只是一个猪倌——是决不会让一天白白地过去而不做出一点事情来的.因此他又做了一个能发出嘎嘎声的玩具.你只要把猪倌玩具旋转几下,它就能奏出大家从开天辟地以来就知道的“华尔兹舞曲”、“快步舞曲”和“波兰舞曲”.
“这真是Superbe!”公主在旁边走过的时候说.“我从来没有听到过比这更美的音乐!你们听呀!进去问问他这个乐器值多少钱;不过我不能再给他什么吻了.”
“他要求公主给他一百个吻.”那个到里面去问了的侍女说.
“我想他是疯了!”公主说.于是她就走开了.不过她没有走几步路,便又停了下来.“我们应该鼓励艺术才是!”她说.“我是皇帝的女儿啊!告诉他,像上次一样,他可以得到十个吻,其余的可以由我的侍女给他.”
“哎呀!我们可不愿意干这种事情!”侍女们齐声说.
“废话!”公主说.“我既然可以让人吻几下,你们当然也可以的.请记住:是我给你们吃饭,给你们钱花的.”
这样,侍女们只得又到猪倌那儿去一趟.
“我要公主亲自给我一百个吻,”他是,“否则双方不必谈什么交易了.”
“你们都站拢来吧!”她说.所有的侍女都围着她站着;于是猪倌就开始接吻了.
“围着猪倌的一大群人是干什么的?”皇帝问.他这时已经走到阳台上来了.他揉揉双眼,戴上眼镜.“怎么,原来是侍女们在那儿捣什么鬼!我要亲自下去看一下.”
他把便鞋后跟拉上——这本来是一双好鞋子;他喜欢随意把脚伸进去,所以就把后跟踩塌了.
天啊,你看他那副匆忙的样子!
他一跑进院子,就轻轻地走过去.侍女们都在忙于计算吻的数目,为的是要使交易公平,不使他吻得太多或太少.她们都没有注意到皇帝的到来.皇帝轻轻地踮起脚尖来.
“这是怎么一回事呀?”他看到他们接吻的时候说.当猪倌正被吻到第八十六下的时候,他就用拖鞋在他们的头上打了几下.“滚你们的!”皇帝说,因为他真的生气了.于是公主和猪倌一齐被赶出了他的国土.
公主站在屋外,哭了起来.猪倌也发起牢骚来.天正下着大雨.
“唉,我这个可怜人!”公主说.“我要是答应那个可爱的王子倒好了!唉,我是多么不幸啊!”
猪倌于是走到一株大树后面,擦掉脸上的颜色,脱掉身上破烂的衣服,穿上一身王子的服装,又走了出来.他是那么好看,连这位公主都不得不在他面前弯下腰来.
“你,我现在有点瞧不起你了,”他说,“一个老老实实的王子你不愿意要,玫瑰和夜莺你也不欣赏;但是为了得到一个玩具,你却愿意去和一个猪倌接吻.现在你总算得到报应了.”
于是他走进他的王国,把她关在门外,并且把门闩也插上了.现在只有她站在外边,唱——
啊,我亲爱的奥古斯丁,
一切都完了,完了,完了!