《野天鹅》，1838 年
the wild Swans, 1838
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安徒生这个故事的素材来源是马蒂亚斯?温特的《十一只天鹅》（收录于这个故事注释的末尾），发表于他 1823 年的《丹麦民间故事集》。
Andersen’s source for this tale was matthias winther’s “the Eleven Swans” (included at the end of the annotations to this tale), published in his danish Folktales of 1823.
很容易想象安徒生为什么会被这样一个包含着对他来说代表神秘、灵性和壮美之鸟的故事所吸引。
It is easy to imagine why Andersen would have been drawn to a tale that included majestic birds that represented for him mystery, spirituality, and sublime beauty.
安徒生肯定也被故事中不能说话的女主人公所吸引，她像小美人鱼一样默默忍受痛苦，直至荣耀和蜕变的时刻。
Andersen must also have been drawn to the mute heroine of the tale, who, like the little mermaid, suffers in silence until her moment of glory and transfiguration.
安徒生作为独子长大，在友谊中总是寻找 “兄弟” 和 “姐妹”，他在这个故事中看到了一种兄弟姐妹团结的幻想，这是他在现实生活中永远无法实现的。
Raised as an only child and always seeking “brothers” and “sisters” in his friendships, Andersen saw in this story a fantasy of sibling solidarity that he could never realize in real life.
格林兄弟在 1812 年和 1815 年出版的《儿童故事和家庭故事集》中收录了这类故事的版本。
the brothers Grimm had included versions of this tale type in their children’s Stories and household tales published in 1812 and 1815.
在《十二个兄弟》中，一个女孩意外地把她的兄弟们变成了渡鸦。
In “twelve brothers,” a girl accidentally turns her brothers into ravens;
在《七只渡鸦》中，一位父亲诅咒他的儿子们，把他们变成了渡鸦。
In “Seven Ravens,” a father curses his sons, transforming them into ravens;
在《六只天鹅》中，一个邪恶的王后施咒使她的继子们着魔。
In “Six Swans,” a wicked queen casts the spell that enchants her stepsons.
所有这些故事都展示了如何凭借英勇的决心和由衷的慷慨解除诅咒。
All of these tales show how curses can be undone with heroic determination and heartfelt generosity.
对于文化评论家玛丽娜?沃纳来说，这些故事是童年的最爱，因为它们讲述了女性英雄主义的故事。
For the cultural critic marina warner, these stories were childhood favorites, for they tell a tale of female heroism:
“我没有兄弟，但在夜里等待入睡时，我会幻想自己有兄弟，也许像故事里的女孩一样有许多高大英俊的青年兄弟，并且我会为他们做些了不起的事，让他们意识到我是他们中的一员，也就是说，在勇气、决心和优雅方面与他们相当。”
“I had no brothers, but I fantasized, at night, as I waited to go to sleep, that I had, perhaps even as many tall and handsome youths as the girl in the story, and that I would do something magnificent for them that would make them realize I was one of them, as it were, their equal in courage and determination and grace”.
《野天鹅》和许多同类民间故事一样，充满梦幻色彩，但女主人公以坚定不移的决心完成任务，她和兄弟们之间的情谊依然温柔、牢固且不可分割。
“the wild Swans,” like its many folkloric cousins, is the stuff of dreams, but its heroine acplishes her task with unwavering resolve, and the bond between her and the brothers remains tender, strong, and indissoluble.
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在冬天燕子飞去的那个遥远国度里，住着一位国王，他有十一个儿子和一个名叫艾丽莎的女儿。
Far away in the land to which the swallows fly when it is winter, dwelt a king who had eleven sons, and one daughter, named Eliza.
这十一个兄弟都是王子，每人上学时胸前都佩戴着一颗星，身侧佩带着一把剑。
the eleven brothers were princes, and each went to school with a star on his breast, and a sword by his side.
他们用钻石笔在金板上写字，学习功课非常快，阅读也很轻松，所以每个人都能看出他们是王子。
they wrote with diamond pencils on gold slates, and learnt their lessons so quickly and read so easily that every one might know they were princes.
他们的妹妹艾丽莎坐在一个小玻璃凳上，有一本满是图画的书，这本书的价格相当于半个王国。
their sister Eliza sat on a little stool of plate - glass, and had a book full of pictures, which had cost as much as half a kingdom.
哦，这些孩子确实很幸福，但这种幸福不会永远持续下去。
oh, these children were indeed happy, but it was not to remain so always.
他们的父亲是这个国家的国王，他娶了一个非常邪恶的王后，她一点也不喜欢这些可怜的孩子。
their father, who was king of the country, married a very wicked queen, who did not love the poor children at all.
他们从婚礼后的第一天就知道了这一点。
they knew this from the very first day after the wedding.
宫殿里举行了盛大的庆祝活动，孩子们玩起了接待宾客的游戏。
In the palace there were great festivities, and the children played at receiving pany;
但她并没有像往常一样把剩下的蛋糕和苹果给他们，而是给了他们一杯沙子，还让他们假装这是蛋糕。
but instead of having, as usual, all the cakes and apples that were left, she gave them some sand in a tea - cup, and told them to pretend it was cake.
一星期后，她把小艾丽莎送到乡下的一个农夫和他妻子那里，然后向国王编造了许多关于年轻王子们的不实之事，国王便不再为他们费心了。
the week after, she sent little Eliza into the country to a peasant and his wife, and then she told the king so many untrue things about the young princes, that he gave himself no more trouble respecting them.
“到外面的世界去自谋生路吧。” 王后说。
“Go out into the world and get your own living,” said the queen.
“像没有声音的大鸟一样飞走。”
“Fly like great birds, who have no voice.”
但她不能如自己所愿把他们变得丑陋，因为他们变成了十一只美丽的野天鹅。
but she could not make them ugly as she wished, for they were turned into eleven beautiful wild swans.
然后，伴随着一阵奇怪的叫声，他们飞出宫殿的窗户，越过公园，飞向远处的森林。
then, with a strange cry, they flew through the windows of the palace, over the park, to the forest beyond.
当他们飞过农夫的小屋时，正是清晨，他们的妹妹艾丽莎正在屋里睡觉。
It was early morning when they passed the peasant’s cottage, where their sister Eliza lay asleep in her room.
他们在屋顶盘旋，扭动着长长的脖子，拍打着翅膀，但没有人听到他们的声音，也没有人看到他们，所以最后他们不得不飞到高高的云层之上飞走了；
they hovered over the roof, twisted their long necks and flapped their wings, but no one heard them or saw them, so they were at last obliged to fly away, high up in the clouds;
他们飞遍广阔的世界，直到来到一片茂密、阴暗的树林，这片树林一直延伸到海边。
and over the wide world they flew till they came to a thick, dark wood, which stretched far away to the seashore.
可怜的小艾丽莎独自在房间里玩着一片绿叶，因为她没有别的玩具，她在叶子上穿了一个洞，透过洞看太阳，就好像看到了兄弟们清澈的眼睛，当温暖的阳光照在她的脸颊上时，她想起了兄弟们给她的所有亲吻。
poor little Eliza was alone in her room playing with a green leaf, for she had no other playthings, and she pierced a hole through the leaf, and looked through it at the sun, and it was as if she saw her brothers’ clear eyes, and when the warm sun shone on her cheeks, she thought of all the kisses they had given her.
一天又一天就这样过去了；
one day passed just like another;
有时，风儿沙沙地吹过玫瑰丛的叶子，会对玫瑰低语：“谁能比你们更美丽呢！” 但玫瑰们会摇摇头说：“艾丽莎比我们美。”
sometimes the winds rustled through the leaves of the rose - bush, and would whisper to the roses, “who can be more beautiful than you!” but the roses would shake their heads, and say, “Eliza is.”
当老妇人在星期天坐在小屋门口读她的赞美诗集时，风会吹动书页，对书说：“谁能比你更虔诚呢？”
And when the old woman sat at the cottage door on Sunday, and read her hymn - book, the wind would flutter the leaves, and say to the book, “who can be more pious than you?”
然后赞美诗集会回答：“艾丽莎。”
and then the hymn - book would answer “Eliza.”
玫瑰和赞美诗集说的都是事实。
And the roses and the hymn - book told the real truth.
十五岁时，她回到家中，但王后看到她如此美丽时，心中充满了怨恨和憎恶。
At fifteen she returned home, but when the queen saw how beautiful she was, she became full of spite and hatred towards her.
她很想把她也变成一只天鹅，像她的兄弟们一样，但她还不敢这么做，因为国王想要见他的女儿。
willingly would she have turned her into a swan, like her brothers, but she did not dare to do so yet, because the king wished to see his daughter.
一天清晨，王后走进浴室；
Early one morning the queen went into the bath - room;
浴室是用大理石建造的，有柔软的垫子，垫子边缘装饰着最美丽的挂毯。
it was built of marble, and had soft cushions, trimmed with the most beautiful tapestry.
她带了三只蟾蜍，亲吻了它们，然后对其中一只说：“当艾丽莎来洗澡时，你坐到她的头上，这样她就会变得和你一样愚蠢。”
She took three toads with her, and kissed them, and said to one, “when Eliza es to the bath, seat yourself upon her head, that she may bee as stupid as you are.”
接着她对另一只说：“你趴在她的额头上，这样她就会变得和你一样丑陋，这样她的父亲就认不出她了。”
then she said to another, “place yourself on her forehead, that she may bee as ugly as you are, and that her father may not know her.”
“你停在她的心上。” 她对第三只小声说，“这样她就会心生恶念，然后遭受痛苦。”
“Rest on her heart,” she whispered to the third, “then she will have evil inclinations, and suffer in consequence.”
于是她把蟾蜍放进清澈的水里，它们立刻就变成了绿色。
So she put the toads into the clear water, and they turned green immediately.
然后她叫来艾丽莎，帮她脱衣服，让她进入浴缸。
She next called Eliza, and helped her to undress and get into the bath.
当艾丽莎把头浸到水里时，一只蟾蜍坐在她的头发上，一只坐在她的额头上，还有一只坐在她的胸脯上，但她似乎没有注意到它们，当她从水里站起来时，水上漂着三朵红罂粟花。
As Eliza dipped her head under the water, one of the toads sat on her hair, a second on her forehead, and a third on her breast, but she did not seem to notice them, and when she rose out of the water, there were three red poppies floating upon it.
要不是这些生物有毒或者被女巫亲吻过，它们就会变成红玫瑰了。
had not the creatures been venomous or been kissed by the witch, they would have been changed into red roses.
不管怎样，它们变成了花，因为它们曾停留在艾丽莎的头上和心上。
At all events they became flowers, because they had rested on Eliza’s head, and on her heart.
她太善良、太纯洁了，巫术对她没有任何威力。
She was too good and too innocent for witchcraft to have any power over her.
当邪恶的王后看到这个情形时，她用核桃汁擦脸，这样她的脸就变得很黑。
when the wicked queen saw this, she rubbed her face with walnut - juice, so that she was quite brown;
然后她弄乱自己美丽的头发，在上面涂抹令人作呕的油膏，直到人们完全认不出美丽的艾丽莎。
then she tangled her beautiful hair and smeared it with disgusting ointment, till it was quite impossible to recognize the beautiful Eliza.
当她的父亲看到她时，大为震惊，宣称她不是自己的女儿。
when her father saw her, he was much shocked, and declared she was not his daughter.
除了看门狗和燕子，没有人认识她；
No one but the watch - dog and the swallows knew her;
而它们只是可怜的动物，什么也说不出来。
and they were only poor animals, and could say nothing.
于是可怜的艾丽莎哭了起来，想起了她那十一个都已离开的兄弟。
then poor Eliza wept, and thought of her eleven brothers, who were all away.
她悲伤地偷偷离开宫殿，整天在田野和荒野上行走，直到来到那片大森林。
Sorrowfully, she stole away from the palace, and walked, the whole day, over fields and moors, till she came to the great forest.
她不知道该往哪个方向走；
She knew not in what direction to go;
但她非常不开心，非常想念她的兄弟们，他们和她一样被驱逐到外面的世界，所以她决定去找他们。
but she was so unhappy, and longed so for her brothers, who had been, like herself, driven out into the world, that she was determined to seek them.
她刚到森林里不久，夜晚就来临了，她完全迷失了道路。
She had been but a short time in the wood when night came on, and she quite lost the path;
于是她躺在柔软的苔藓上，做了晚祷，然后把头靠在一个树桩上。
so she laid herself down on the soft moss, offered up her evening prayer, and leaned her head against the stump of a tree.
整个大自然一片寂静，轻柔温和的微风轻拂着她的额头。
All nature was still, and the soft, mild air fanned her forehead.
成百上千只萤火虫的光在草丛和苔藓间闪烁，就像绿色的火焰；
the light of hundreds of glow - worms shone amidst the grass and the moss, like green fire;
要是她用手哪怕是很轻地触碰一根小树枝，这些闪闪发光的昆虫就会像流星一样落在她周围。
and if she touched a twig with her hand, ever so lightly, the brilliant insects fell down around her, like shooting - stars.
一整夜她都梦到了自己的兄弟们。
All night long she dreamt of her brothers.
她和他们又变成了孩子，在一起玩耍。
She and they were children again, playing together.
她看到他们正用钻石笔在金板上写字，而她在看那本价值半个王国的美丽画册。
She saw them writing with their diamond pencils on golden slates, while she looked at the beautiful picture - book which had cost half a kingdom.
他们不像往常那样在写单词和字母；
they were not writing lines and letters, as they used to do;
而是在描述他们所做的高尚事迹，以及他们所有的发现和见闻。
but descriptions of the noble deeds they had performed, and of all they had discovered and seen.
在画册里，一切也都是活的。
In the picture - book, too, everything was living.
鸟儿在唱歌，人们从画册里走出来，和艾丽莎以及她的兄弟们说话；
the birds sang, and the people came out of the book, and spoke to Eliza and her brothers;
但是，当书页翻动时，他们又迅速回到自己的位置，这样一切就又井然有序了。
but, as the leaves turned over, they darted back again to their places, that all might be in order.
当她醒来时，太阳已经高高地挂在天空；
when she awoke, the sun was high in the heavens;
然而她看不到太阳，因为高大的树木把树枝茂密地伸展在她头顶上方；
yet she could not see him, for the lofty trees spread their branches thickly over her head;
但阳光透过树叶的缝隙这里那里地闪烁着，就像一层金色的薄雾。
but his beams were glancing through the leaves here and there, like a golden mist.
新鲜的绿叶散发出甜美的香气，鸟儿几乎停落在她的肩膀上。
there was a sweet fragrance from the fresh green verdure, and the birds almost perched upon her shoulders.
她听到许多泉水潺潺流淌，所有的泉水都流入一个有着金色沙滩的湖泊。
She heard water rippling from a number of springs, all flowing in a lake with golden sands.
湖的四周灌木丛生，有一处被一只鹿踏出了一个缺口，艾丽莎从这里下到水边。
bushes grew thickly round the lake, and at one spot an opening had been made by a deer, through which Eliza went down to the water.
湖水是如此清澈，要不是风把树枝和灌木的枝叶吹得沙沙作响、摇曳摆动，它们就会像画在湖底一样；
the lake was so clear that, had not the wind rustled the branches of the trees and the bushes, so that they moved, they would have appeared as if painted in the depths of the lake;
因为每一片叶子，不管是在阴影里还是在阳光下，都倒映在水中。
for every leaf was reflected in the water, whether it stood in the shade or the sunshine.
艾丽莎一看到自己的脸，发现它又黑又丑，就非常害怕；
As soon as Eliza saw her own face, she was quite terrified at finding it so brown and ugly;
但是当她弄湿小手，擦了擦眼睛和额头时，白皙的皮肤又重新露了出来；
but when she wetted her little hand, and rubbed her eyes and forehead, the white skin gleamed forth once more;
她脱掉衣服，在清凉的水中浸了浸之后，在整个广阔的世界里再也找不到比她更美丽的公主了。
and, after she had undressed, and dipped herself in the fresh water, a more beautiful king’s daughter could not be found in the wide world.
她重新穿好衣服，编好长发后，就走到汩汩流淌的泉水边，用手心捧了些水喝。
As soon as she had dressed herself again, and braided her long hair, she went to the bubbling spring, and drank some water out of the hollow of her hand.
然后她向森林深处走去，不知道自己要去哪里。
then she wandered far into the forest, not knowing whither she went.
她想起了自己的兄弟们，并且确信上帝不会抛弃她。
She thought of her brothers, and felt sure that God would not forsake her.
是上帝让野苹果在森林里生长，以满足饥饿之人的需求，现在他把她领到一棵这样的树下，树上果实累累，树枝都被压弯了。
It is God who makes the wild apples grow in the wood, to satisfy the hungry, and he now led her to one of these trees, which was so loaded with fruit, that the boughs bent beneath the weight.
在这里她吃了午饭，在树枝下支了些支撑物，然后就向森林最阴暗的深处走去。
here she held her noonday repast, placed props under the boughs, and then went into the gloomiest depths of the forest.
周围非常安静，她能听到自己的脚步声，也能听到脚下每一片枯叶被踩碎时发出的沙沙声。
It was so still that she could hear the sound of her own footsteps, as well as the rustling of every withered leaf which she crushed under her feet.
一只鸟也看不见，一缕阳光也无法穿透大树那又粗又黑的树枝。
Not a bird was to be seen, not a sunbeam could penetrate through the large, dark boughs of the trees.
它们高大的树干紧紧地挨在一起，以至于当她向前看时，就好像自己被围在格子架里一样。
their lofty trunks stood so close together, that, when she looked before her, it seemed as if she were enclosed within trellis - work.
她以前从未体验过这样的孤独。
Such solitude she had never known before.
夜晚非常黑暗。
the night was very dark.
苔藓里没有一只萤火虫在闪烁。
Not a single glow - worm glittered in the moss.
她悲伤地躺下睡觉；
Sorrowfully she laid herself down to sleep;
过了一会儿，在她看来，头顶上的树枝好像分开了，天使们温柔的眼睛从天堂俯视着她。
and, after a while, it seemed to her as if the branches of the trees parted over her head, and that the mild eyes of angels looked down upon her from heaven.
早晨醒来时，她不知道这是自己做的梦，还是真的发生过。
when she awoke in the morning, she knew not whether she had dreamt this, or if it had really been so.
然后她继续游荡；
then she continued her wandering;
但她没向前走多少步，就遇到一个提着一篮子浆果的老妇人，老妇人给了她一些吃。
but she had not gone many steps forward, when she met an old woman with berries in her basket, and she gave her a few to eat.
然后艾丽莎问她是否看到十一位王子骑马穿过森林。
then Eliza asked her if she had not seen eleven princes riding through the forest.
“没有，” 老妇人回答说，“但我昨天看到十一只天鹅，头上戴着金冠，在附近的河里游水。”
“No,” replied the old woman, “but I saw yesterday eleven swans, with gold crowns on their heads, swimming on the river close by.”
然后她带着艾丽莎又走了一小段路，来到一个倾斜的河岸，一条小河在河岸脚下蜿蜒流淌。
then she led Eliza a little distance farther to a sloping bank, and at the foot of it wound a little river.
河岸上的树木把它们长长的、长满叶子的树枝伸到水面上，相互交错，在树枝自然伸展无法相交的地方，树根就从土里挣脱出来，这样树枝就能在垂到水面上方时交织在一起。
the trees on its banks stretched their long leafy branches across the water towards each other, and where the growth prevented them from meeting naturally, the roots had torn themselves away from the ground, so that the branches might mingle their foliage as they hung over the water.
艾丽莎向老妇人告别，沿着流淌的河流前行，一直走到开阔的大海岸边。
Eliza bade the old woman farewell, and walked by the flowing river, till she reached the shore of the open sea.
在那里，在这位年轻少女的眼前，是浩瀚的大海，但是海面上不见一片帆影，甚至连一条小船也看不到。
And there, before the young maiden’s eyes, lay the glorious ocean, but not a sail appeared on its surface, not even a boat could be seen.
她要怎样才能继续前行呢？
how was she to go farther?
她注意到海边无数的卵石是怎样被海水的作用磨得又平又圆的。
She noticed how the countless pebbles on the sea - shore had been smoothed and rounded by the action of the water.
玻璃、铁、石头，所有放在那里混在一起的东西，都被同一种力量塑造成形，摸起来像她自己娇嫩的手一样光滑，甚至更光滑。
Glass, iron, stones, everything that lay there mingled together, had taken its shape from the same power, and felt as smooth, or even smoother than her own delicate hand.
“海水不知疲倦地奔腾着，” 她说，“直到把所有坚硬的东西都磨得平滑；
“the water rolls on without weariness,” she said, “till all that is hard bees smooth;
我在自己的任务中也要不知疲倦。
so will I be unwearied in my task.
感谢你们的教诲，波光粼粼的海浪；
thanks for your lessons, bright rolling waves;
我的心告诉我，你们会把我带到我亲爱的兄弟们身边。”
my heart tells me you will lead me to my dear brothers.”
在覆盖着泡沫的海草上，有十一根白色的天鹅羽毛，她把它们收集起来放在一起。
on the foam - covered sea - weeds, lay eleven white swan feathers, which she gathered up and placed together.
羽毛上有水滴；
drops of water lay upon them;
不知道这是露珠还是泪水。
whether they were dew - drops or tears no one could say.
虽然海边很孤独，但她并没有察觉到，因为不断流动的大海在几个小时内展现出的变化比变化最多的湖泊在一整年里产生的变化还要多。
Lonely as it was on the sea - shore, she did not observe it, for the ever - moving sea showed more changes in a few hours than the most varying lake could produce during a whole year.
如果一朵厚重的乌云升起，就好像大海在说：“我也可以看起来阴森愤怒。”
If a black heavy cloud arose, it was as if the sea said, “I can look dark and angry too;”
然后风开始吹，海浪翻滚时变成白色的泡沫。
and then the wind blew, and the waves turned to white foam as they rolled.
当风停歇，云朵在红色的阳光映照下泛着红光时，大海看起来就像一片玫瑰花瓣。
when the wind slept, and the clouds glowed with the red sunlight, then the sea looked like a rose leaf.
但是不管它那白色如镜的海面多么平静地停歇着，岸边仍然有波动，因为海浪像熟睡孩子的胸脯一样起伏着。
but however quietly its white glassy surface rested, there was still a motion on the shore, as its waves rose and fell like the breast of a sleeping child.
当太阳即将落山时，艾丽莎看到十一只头戴金冠的白色天鹅朝着陆地飞来，一只接一只，就像一条长长的白色丝带。
when the sun was about to set, Eliza saw eleven white swans with golden crowns on their heads, flying towards the land, one behind the other, like a long white ribbon.
然后艾丽莎从岸边的斜坡走下去，躲在灌木丛后面。
then Eliza went down the slope from the shore, and hid herself behind the bushes.
天鹅们就在离她很近的地方降落，拍打着它们巨大的白色翅膀。
the swans alighted quite close to her and flapped their great white wings.
太阳一落到水面下，天鹅的羽毛就脱落了，十一位英俊的王子，艾丽莎的兄弟们，就站在了她的身旁。
As soon as the sun had disappeared under the water, the feathers of the swans fell off, and eleven beautiful princes, Eliza’s brothers, stood near her.
她大声叫了出来，因为尽管他们变化很大，但她立刻就认出了他们。
She uttered a loud cry, for, although they were very much changed, she knew them immediately.
她跳进他们的怀抱，一个个地叫着他们的名字。
She sprang into their arms, and called them each by name.
然后，王子们再次见到自己的小妹妹是多么高兴啊，因为他们认出了她，尽管她已经长得又高又美丽。
then, how happy the princes were at meeting their little sister again, for they recognized her, although she had grown so tall and beautiful.
他们欢笑，他们哭泣，很快就明白了他们的母亲对他们所有人是多么的恶毒。
they laughed, and they wept, and very soon understood how wickedly their mother had acted to them all.
“我们兄弟几个，” 最年长的王子说，“只要太阳还在天空中，就会像野天鹅一样到处飞翔；
“we brothers,” said the eldest, “fly about as wild swans, so long as the sun is in the sky;
但是一旦太阳落到山后面，我们就恢复人形。”
but as soon as it sinks behind the hills, we recover our human shape.
因此，在日落之前我们必须总是靠近一个能让我们歇脚的地方；
therefore must we always be near a resting place for our feet before sunset;
因为如果在我们恢复人形的时候正在朝着云层飞翔，我们就会深深地坠入大海。
for if we should be flying towards the clouds at the time we recovered our natural shape as men, we should sink deep into the sea.
我们不住在这里，而是住在大洋彼岸一个同样美丽的地方，我们要长途飞越这片海洋；
we do not dwell here, but in a land just as fair, that lies beyond the ocean, which we have to cross for a long distance;
在我们的航程中没有岛屿可以让我们过夜；
there is no island in our passage upon which we could pass, the night;
只有一块从海里冒出来的小礁石，即使我们紧紧地挤在一起，在上面也几乎不能安全站立。
nothing but a little rock rising out of the sea, upon which we can scarcely stand with safety, even closely crowded together.
如果大海波涛汹涌，海浪的泡沫就会溅到我们身上，然而即使是这块礁石我们也要感谢上帝；
If the sea is rough, the foam dashes over us, yet we thank God even for this rock;
我们在上面熬过了一个个整夜，否则我们永远也到不了我们亲爱的祖国，因为我们飞越海洋要花费一年中最长的两天时间。
we have passed whole nights upon it, or we should never have reached our beloved fatherland, for our flight across the sea occupies two of the longest days in the year.
我们被允许每年回家乡一次，停留十一天，在此期间我们飞越森林，再看一眼我们父亲居住的宫殿，我们出生的地方，以及我们母亲安葬的教堂。
we have permission to visit out home once in every year, and to remain eleven days, during which we fly across the forest to look once more at the palace where our father dwells, and where we were born, and at the church, where our mother lies buried.
在这里，似乎连树木和灌木丛都与我们有亲缘关系。
here it seems as if the very trees and bushes were related to us.
野马在平原上奔腾跳跃，就像我们小时候看到的那样。
the wild horses leap over the plains as we have seen them in our childhood.
烧炭工唱着古老的歌谣，我们小时候曾跟着这些歌谣跳舞。
the charcoal burners sing the old songs, to which we have danced as children.
这就是我们的祖国，我们被爱的纽带牵引至此；
this is our fatherland, to which we are drawn by loving ties;
在这里我们找到了你，我们亲爱的小妹妹。
and here we have found you, our dear little sister.
我们还能在这里再停留两天，然后就必须飞到一个美丽但不是我们家乡的地方；
two days longer we can remain here, and then must we fly away to a beautiful land which is not our home;
我们怎样才能把你带上呢？
and how can we take you with us?
我们既没有船也没有艇。”
we have neither ship nor boat.”
“我要怎样才能破除这个魔法呢？”
“how can I break this spell?”
他们的妹妹说道。
said their sister.
然后她几乎谈了一整晚这件事，只睡了几个小时。
And then she talked about it nearly the whole night, only slumbering for a few hours.
艾丽莎被天鹅们在头顶振翅高飞时发出的沙沙声吵醒了。
Eliza was awakened by the rustling of the swans’ wings as they soared above.
她的兄弟们又变成了天鹅，他们一圈一圈地越飞越远，直到飞得很远；
her brothers were again changed to swans, and they flew in circles wider and wider, till they were far away;
但是其中一只，最小的天鹅，留了下来，把头靠在妹妹的膝上，她抚摸着他的翅膀；
but one of them, the youngest swan, remained behind, and laid his head in his sister’s lap, while she stroked his wings;
他们一整天都待在一起。
and they remained together the whole day.
傍晚时分，其他的天鹅回来了，太阳落山时他们又恢复了人形。
towards evening, the rest came back, and as the sun went down they resumed their natural forms.
“明天，” 其中一个说，“我们就要飞走了，要过一整年才会再回来。
“to - morrow,” said one, “we shall fly away, not to return again till a whole year has passed.
但是我们不能把你留在这里。
but we cannot leave you here.
你有勇气跟我们一起走吗？
have you courage to go with us?
我的手臂足够强壮，可以背你穿过树林；
my arm is strong enough to carry you through the wood;
我们所有的翅膀加起来难道还不够强壮，不能带你飞越海洋吗？”
and will not all our wings be strong enough to fly with you over the sea?”
“是的，带上我吧。” 艾丽莎说。
“Yes, take me with you,” said Eliza.
然后他们用柔韧的柳枝和灯心草编了一整夜的网。
then they spent the whole night in weaving a net with the pliant willow and rushes.
网很大也很结实。
It was very large and strong.
艾丽莎躺在网上，当太阳升起，她的兄弟们又变成野天鹅时，他们用嘴叼起网，带着仍在熟睡的亲爱的妹妹飞上云端。
Eliza laid herself down on the net, and when the sun rose, and her brothers again became wild swans, they took up the net with their beaks, and flew up to the clouds with their dear sister, who still slept.
阳光照在她的脸上，于是一只天鹅飞到她头顶上方，用它宽阔的翅膀为她遮挡阳光。
the sunbeams fell on her face, therefore one of the swans soared over her head, so that his broad wings might shade her.
当艾丽莎醒来时，他们已经离陆地很远了。
they were far from the land when Eliza woke.
她觉得自己一定还在做梦，感觉自己被带到这么高的空中、在海面上飞行，这对她来说太奇怪了。
She thought she must still be dreaming, it seemed so strange to her to feel herself being carried so high in the air over the sea.
她身边放着一根长满美丽熟透浆果的树枝，还有一捆甜草根；
by her side lay a branch full of beautiful ripe berries, and a bundle of sweet roots;
是她最小的哥哥为她采来并放在她身边的。
the youngest of her brothers had gathered them for her, and placed them by her side.
她向他微笑表示感谢；
She smiled her thanks to him;
她知道就是他一直在她上方盘旋，用翅膀为她遮荫。
she knew it was the same who had hovered over her to shade her with his wings.
他们现在飞得很高，下方的一艘大船看起来就像一只掠过海浪的白色海鸥。
they were now so high, that a large ship beneath them looked like a white sea - gull skimming the waves.
一朵在他们身后飘浮的大云看起来像一座巨大的山峰，在云上艾丽莎看到了自己和十一只天鹅的影子，看起来巨大无比。
A great cloud floating behind them appeared like a vast mountain, and upon it Eliza saw her own shadow and those of the eleven swans, looking gigantic in size.
总体而言，这构成了一幅她从未见过的更美丽的画面；
Altogether it formed a more beautiful picture than she had ever seen;
但是随着太阳升得更高，云朵被抛在身后，那幅有阴影的画面消失了。
but as the sun rose higher, and the clouds were left behind, the shadowy picture vanished away.
一整天他们都像一支带翼的箭在空中飞行，但比平常飞得慢，因为他们带着妹妹。
onward the whole day they flew through the air like a winged arrow, yet more slowly than usual, for they had their sister to carry.
天气似乎有暴风雨的倾向，艾丽莎非常焦虑地看着西沉的太阳，因为还看不到海里的那块小礁石。
the weather seemed inclined to be stormy, and Eliza watched the sinking sun with great anxiety, for the little rock in the ocean was not yet in sight.
在她看来，天鹅们似乎在奋力扇动着翅膀。
It appeared to her as if the swans were making great efforts with their wings.
唉！她就是他们不能飞得更快的原因。
Alas! she was the cause of their not advancing more quickly.
当太阳落山时，他们就会变成人，掉进海里淹死。
when the sun set, they would change to men, fall into the sea and be drowned.
于是她从内心深处祈祷，但仍然看不到礁石的踪影。
then she offered a prayer from her inmost heart, but still no appearance of the rock.
乌云逼近，阵阵狂风预示着一场暴风雨即将来临，而从一团浓厚、沉重的乌云中，闪电一道接一道地迸发出来。
dark clouds came nearer, the gusts of wind told of a ing storm, while from a thick, heavy mass of clouds the lightning burst forth flash after flash.
太阳已经落到海平线的时候，天鹅们迅速俯冲下来，艾丽莎的头都震颤起来；
the sun had reached the edge of the sea, when the swans darted down so swiftly, that Eliza’s head trembled;
她以为他们要坠落了，但他们又向前飞去。
she believed they were falling, but they again soared onward.
不一会儿，她看到就在他们下方的礁石，而此时太阳已经有一半被海浪遮住了。
presently she caught sight of the rock just below them, and by this time the sun was half hidden by the waves.
这块礁石看起来不比一只海豹探出水面的头大多少。
the rock did not appear larger than a seal’s head thrust out of the water.
他们下降得如此之快，当他们的脚触到礁石的时候，礁石只像一颗星星一样闪着光，最后像一张烧过的纸最后的火星一样消失了。
they sunk so rapidly, that at the moment their feet touched the rock, it shone only like a star, and at last disappeared like the last spark in a piece of burnt paper.
然后她看到她的兄弟们紧紧地围站在她身边，手臂挽在一起。
then she saw her brothers standing closely round her with their arms linked together.
这里刚好容得下他们，一点多余的空间都没有。
there was but just room enough for them, and not the smallest space to spare.
海浪冲击着礁石，飞沫溅到他们身上。
the sea dashed against the rock, and covered them with spray.
天空不断被闪电照亮，一阵又一阵的雷声滚滚而过。
the heavens were lighted up with continual flashes, and peal after peal of thunder rolled.
但是姐弟们手挽着手坐在一起，唱着圣歌，从圣歌中他们获得了希望和勇气。
but the sister and brothers sat holding each other’s hands, and singing hymns, from which they gained hope and courage.
清晨时分，空气变得平静安宁，日出时，天鹅们带着艾丽莎从礁石上飞走了。
In the early dawn the air became calm and still, and at sunrise the swans flew away from the rock with Eliza.
大海仍然波涛汹涌，从他们在空中的高处看，深绿色海浪上的白色泡沫看起来就像数百万只天鹅在水面上游动。
the sea was still rough, and from their high position in the air, the white foam on the dark green waves looked like millions of swans swimming on the water.
随着太阳升得更高，艾丽莎看到在她前方的空中漂浮着一列山脉，山顶上有闪闪发光的大片冰层。
As the sun rose higher, Eliza saw before her, floating on the air, a range of mountains, with shining masses of ice on their summits.
在中央，矗立着一座显然有一英里长的城堡，一排排圆柱层层叠叠，而城堡周围，棕榈树摇曳，花朵盛开，花朵大如磨坊的轮子。
In the centre, rose a castle apparently a mile long, with rows of columns, rising one above another, while, around it, palm - trees waved and flowers bloomed as large as mill wheels.
她问这是否就是他们正在赶往的地方。
She asked if this was the land to which they were hastening.
天鹅们摇了摇头，因为她所看到的是 “摩根勒菲”（Fata morgana）那美丽而变幻无穷的云中之城，凡人是无法进入的。
the swans shook their heads, for what she beheld were the beautiful ever - changing cloud palaces of the “Fata morgana,” into which no mortal can enter.
艾丽莎还在凝视着这一景象时，山脉、森林和城堡都消失了，取而代之的是二十座宏伟的教堂拔地而起，有着高耸的塔楼和尖顶的哥特式窗户。
Eliza was still gazing at the scene, when mountains, forests, and castles melted away, and twenty stately churches rose in their stead, with high towers and pointed gothic windows.
艾丽莎甚至想象自己能听到管风琴的音调，但她听到的其实是大海的潺潺声。
Eliza even fancied she could hear the tones of the organ, but it was the music of the murmuring sea which she heard.
当他们靠近教堂时，教堂也变成了一队船只，看起来像是在她下方航行；
As they drew nearer to the churches, they also changed into a fleet of ships, which seemed to be sailing beneath her;
但当她再看时，发现那只是海面上飘过的一层海雾。
but as she looked again, she found it was only a sea mist gliding over the ocean.
于是，不断变幻的景象持续在她眼前掠过，直到最后她看到了他们要前往的真正陆地，那里有蓝色的山脉、雪松森林，还有城市和宫殿。
So there continued to pass before her eyes a constant change of scene, till at last she saw the real land to which they were bound, with its blue mountains, its cedar forests, and its cities and palaces.
早在太阳落山之前，她就坐在一个大洞穴前的一块岩石上，洞穴的地面上长满了繁茂而又纤细的绿色蔓生植物，看起来就像一块绣花地毯。
Long before the sun went down, she sat on a rock, in front of a large cave, on the floor of which the over - grown yet delicate green creeping plants looked like an embroidered carpet.
“现在我们就等着听你今晚梦到什么了。” 最小的哥哥边说边把妹妹带到她的卧室。
“Now we shall expect to hear what you dream of to - night,” said the youngest brother, as he showed his sister her bedroom.
“愿上天让我梦到如何拯救你们。” 她回答道。
“heaven grant that I may dream how to save you,” she replied.
这个想法在她脑海中如此根深蒂固，以至于她诚挚地向上帝祈求帮助，甚至在睡梦中她还在继续祈祷。
And this thought took such hold upon her mind that she prayed earnestly to God for help, and even in her sleep she continued to pray.
然后她觉得自己好像正在高空中朝着 “摩根勒菲” 的云中之城飞去，一位仙女出来迎接她，仙女外表光彩照人、美丽非凡，但又很像在森林里给她浆果并告诉她头戴金冠的天鹅的那位老妇人。
then it appeared to her as if she were flying high in the air, towards the cloudy palace of the “Fata morgana,” and a fairy came out to meet her, radiant and beautiful in appearance, and yet very much like the old woman who had given her berries in the wood, and who had told her of the swans with golden crowns on their heads.
“你的兄弟们能够被解救，” 她说，“只要你有勇气和毅力。
“Your brothers can be released,” said she, “if you have only courage and perseverance.
的确，水比你娇嫩的双手还要柔软，然而它却能把石头打磨成各种形状；
true, water is softer than your own delicate hands, and yet it polishes stones into shapes;
它不会像你的手指那样感到疼痛，它没有灵魂，也不会遭受你将要忍受的那种痛苦和折磨。
it feels no pain as your fingers would feel, it has no soul, and cannot suffer such agony and torment as you will have to endure.
你看到我手里拿的荨麻了吗？
do you see the stinging nettle which I hold in my hand?
在你睡觉的洞穴周围长着很多这种荨麻，但除非是长在教堂墓地里的坟墓上的，否则对你都没有任何用处。
quantities of the same sort grow round the cave in which you sleep, but none will be of any use to you unless they grow upon the graves in a churchyard.
你必须去采集这些荨麻，哪怕它们会在你手上烫起水泡。
these you must gather even while they burn blisters on your hands.
用你的手脚把它们弄碎，它们就会变成亚麻，你必须用这些亚麻纺线织布，做成十一件长袖的上衣；
break them to pieces with your hands and feet, and they will bee flax, from which you must spin and weave eleven coats with long sleeves;
如果把这些上衣披在十一只天鹅身上，魔法就会被破除。
if these are then thrown over the eleven swans, the spell will be broken.
但是记住，从你开始这项任务的那一刻起，直到任务完成，即使这要花费你数年的时间，你都不能说话。
but remember, that from the moment you mence your task until it is finished, even should it occupy years of your life, you must not speak.
你说出的第一个字就会像一把致命的匕首刺进你兄弟们的心脏。
the first word you utter will pierce through the hearts of your brothers like a deadly dagger.
他们的生命就悬于你的舌尖。
their lives hang upon your tongue.
记住我告诉你的一切。”
Remember all I have told you.”
她一说完，就用荨麻轻轻地碰了一下她的手，一阵火烧般的疼痛让艾丽莎醒了过来。
And as she finished speaking, she touched her hand lightly with the nettle, and a pain, as of burning fire, awoke Eliza.
天已大亮，在她睡觉的地方旁边就躺着一株荨麻，就像她在梦中见到的那株一样。
It was broad daylight, and close by where she had been sleeping lay a nettle like the one she had seen in her dream.
她跪下来向上帝致谢。
She fell on her knees and offered her thanks to God.
然后她走出洞穴，开始用她娇嫩的双手工作。
then she went forth from the cave to begin her work with her delicate hands.
她在那些难看的荨麻中摸索着，荨麻在她的手和胳膊上烫起了很大的水泡，但她下定决心，如果能解救亲爱的兄弟们，她甘愿忍受这一切。
She groped in amongst the ugly nettles, which burnt great blisters on her hands and arms, but she determined to bear it gladly if she could only release her dear brothers.
于是她光着脚把荨麻弄碎，然后纺起麻线来。
So she bruised the nettles with her bare feet and spun the flax.
日落时分，她的兄弟们回来了，当他们发现她不能说话时非常害怕。
At sunset her brothers returned and were very much frightened when they found her dumb.
他们以为这是邪恶的继母施的某种新魔法。
they believed it to be some new sorcery of their wicked step - mother.
但是当他们看到她的手时，就明白了她在为他们做什么，最小的弟弟哭了，他的眼泪落下的地方疼痛就消失了，烫起的水泡也不见了。
but when they saw her hands they understood what she was doing on their behalf, and the youngest brother wept, and where his tears fell the pain ceased, and the burning blisters vanished.
她整夜都在干活，因为在解救亲爱的兄弟们之前她无法休息。
She kept to her work all night, for she could not rest till she had released her dear brothers.
在接下来的一整天里，当她的兄弟们都不在的时候，她独自坐着，但时间从来没有过得这么快过。
during the whole of the following day, while her brothers were absent, she sat in solitude, but never before had the time flown so quickly.
一件上衣已经织好，她开始织第二件的时候，听到了猎人的号角声，她害怕极了。
one coat was already finished and she had begun the second, when she heard the huntsman’s horn, and was struck with fear.
声音越来越近，她听到狗叫声，惊恐地逃进了山洞。
the sound came nearer and nearer, she heard the dogs barking, and fled with terror into the cave.
她急忙把采来的荨麻捆成一捆，然后坐在上面。
She hastily bound together the nettles she had gathered into a bundle and sat upon them.
立刻，一只大狗从山谷里向她飞奔而来，接着一只又一只；
Immediately a great dog came bounding towards her out of the ravine, and then another and another;
它们大声地叫着，跑回去，然后又跑过来。
they barked loudly, ran back, and then came again.
没过几分钟，所有的猎人都站在了山洞前，其中最英俊的是这个国家的国王。
In a very few minutes all the huntsmen stood before the cave, and the handsomest of them was the king of the country.
他向她走来，因为他从未见过如此美丽的少女。
he advanced towards her, for he had never seen a more beautiful maiden.
“我可爱的孩子，你是怎么来到这里的？”
“how did you e here, my sweet child?”
他问道。
he asked.
但是艾丽莎摇了摇头。
but Eliza shook her head.
她不敢说话，因为这会以她兄弟们的生命为代价。
She dared not speak, at the cost of her brothers’ lives.
她把手藏在围裙下面，这样国王就看不到她一定正在遭受的痛苦了。
And she hid her hands under her apron, so that the king might not see how she must be suffering.
“跟我来，” 他说；
“e with me,” he said;
“你不能留在这里。
“here you cannot remain.
如果你既美丽又善良，我将给你穿上丝绸和天鹅绒的衣服，我将把一顶金王冠戴在你的头上，你将在我最富有的城堡里居住、统治并安家。”
If you are as good as you are beautiful, I will dress you in silk and velvet, I will place a golden crown upon your head, and you shall dwell, and rule, and make your home in my richest castle.”
然后他把她抱上了马。
And then he lifted her on his horse.
她哭着，绞着双手，但是国王说：“我只希望你幸福。
She wept and wrung her hands, but the king said, “I wish only for your happiness.
将来有一天你会为此感谢我的。”
A time will e when you will thank me for this.”
然后他骑着马飞奔过山峦，把她抱在身前，猎人们跟在他们后面。
And then he galloped away over the mountains, holding her before him on this horse, and the hunters followed behind them.
当太阳落山时，他们接近了一座美丽的王城，城里有教堂和圆顶建筑。
As the sun went down, they approached a fair royal city, with churches, and cupolas.
到达城堡后，国王带她走进大理石大厅，大厅里有大型喷泉在喷水，墙壁和天花板上都挂满了华丽的画作。
on arriving at the castle the king led her into marble halls, where large fountains played, and where the walls and the ceilings were covered with rich paintings.
但她对这所有壮丽的景象都视而不见，她只能哀伤哭泣。
but she had no eyes for all these glorious sights, she could only mourn and weep.
她耐心地任由女人们给她穿上华丽的长袍，在她头发上编织珍珠，给她长满水泡的手指戴上柔软的手套。
patiently she allowed the women to array her in royal robes, to weave pearls in her hair, and draw soft gloves over her blistered fingers.
当她身着华服站在他们面前时，她看起来美得耀眼，宫廷里的人都向她深深鞠躬。
As she stood before them in all her rich dress, she looked so dazzlingly beautiful that the court bowed low in her presence.
然后国王宣布他打算娶她为新娘，但大主教摇了摇头，低声说这位美丽的年轻少女只是个女巫，她蒙蔽了国王的双眼，蛊惑了他的心。
then the king declared his intention of making her his bride, but the archbishop shook his head, and whispered that the fair young maiden was only a witch who had blinded the king’s eyes and bewitched his heart.
但国王不愿听这些话；
but the king would not listen to this;
他命人奏响音乐，端上最精致的菜肴，让最可爱的少女们跳舞。
he ordered the music to sound, the daintiest dishes to be served, and the loveliest maidens to dance.
之后他带她穿过芬芳的花园和高大的厅堂，但她的唇边没有一丝笑意，眼中也没有一丝光彩。
After - wards he led her through fragrant gardens and lofty halls, but not a smile appeared on her lips or sparkled in her eyes.
她看起来就是悲伤的化身。
She looked the very picture of grief.
然后国王打开了她要睡觉的小房间的门；
then the king opened the door of a little chamber in which she was to sleep;
房间里装饰着华丽的绿色挂毯，看起来就像他发现她的那个山洞。
it was adorned with rich green tapestry, and resembled the cave in which he had found her.
地板上放着她用荨麻纺成的那捆亚麻，天花板下挂着她做好的上衣。
on the floor lay the bundle of flax which she had spun from the nettles, and under the ceiling hung the coat she had made.
这些东西是一个猎人当作稀奇之物从山洞里带回来的。
these things had been brought away from the cave as curiosities by one of the huntsmen.
“在这里你可以在梦中回到山洞里的老家了。” 国王说；
“here you can dream yourself back again in the old home in the cave,” said the king;
“这是你以前做的活计。
“here is the work with which you employed yourself.
现在身处这所有的荣华富贵之中，想起那段时光会让你觉得有趣的。”
It will amuse you now in the midst of all this splendor to think of that time.”
当艾丽莎看到所有这些贴近她内心的东西时，嘴角泛起了一丝微笑，红晕涌上了她的脸颊。
when Eliza saw all these things which lay so near her heart, a smile played around her mouth, and the crimson blood rushed to her cheeks.
她想到了她的兄弟们，一想到他们即将被解救，她就非常高兴，于是亲吻了国王的手。
She thought of her brothers, and their release made her so joyful that she kissed the king’s hand.
然后他把她紧紧搂在怀里。
then he pressed her to his heart.
很快，欢快的教堂钟声宣告了婚宴的开始，表明这个来自森林的美丽哑女即将成为这个国家的王后。
Very soon the joyous church bells announced the marriage feast, and that the beautiful dumb girl out of the wood was to be made the queen of the country.
然后大主教在国王耳边说了些恶毒的话，但这些话并没有进入他的心里。
then the archbishop whispered wicked words in the king’s ear, but they did not sink into his heart.
婚礼仍然要举行，大主教本人不得不把王冠戴在新娘的头上；
the marriage was still to take place, and the archbishop himself had to place the crown on the bride’s head;
出于他邪恶的怨恨，他把狭窄的王冠紧紧地压在她的额头上，使她感到疼痛。
in his wicked spite, he pressed the narrow circlet so tightly on her forehead that it caused her pain.
但更沉重的东西压在她的心头 —— 为她兄弟们的悲伤。
but a heavier weight encircled her heart — sorrow for her brothers.
她感觉不到身体上的疼痛。
She felt not bodily pain.
她的嘴紧闭着；
her mouth was closed;
只要说出一个字就会要了她兄弟们的命。
a single word would cost the lives of her brothers.
但她爱着这位善良、英俊的国王，他每天都想尽一切办法让她越来越幸福；
but she loved the kind, handsome king, who did everything to make her happy more and more each day;
她全心全意地爱着他，她的眼睛里闪烁着她不敢言说的爱意。
she loved him with all her heart, and her eyes beamed with the love she dared not speak.
哦！要是她能信赖他，把自己的悲痛告诉他就好了。
oh! if she had only been able to confide in him and tell him of her grief.
但在任务完成之前她必须保持沉默。
but dumb she must remain till her task was finished.
因此，夜里她悄悄溜进为模仿山洞而布置的小房间，迅速地织完一件又一件上衣。
therefore at night she crept away into her little chamber, which had been decked out to look like the cave, and quickly wove one coat after another.
但当她开始织第七件的时候，发现已经没有亚麻了。
but when she began the seventh she found she had no more flax.
她知道自己要用的荨麻长在教堂墓地里，而且必须自己去采摘。
She knew that the nettles she wanted to use grew in the churchyard, and that she must pluck them herself.
她要怎么去那里呢？
how should she get out there?
“哦，与我内心所忍受的折磨相比，我手指的疼痛算得了什么呢？”
“oh, what is the pain in my fingers to the torment which my heart endures?”
她说。
said she.
“我必须冒险一试，上天不会拒绝帮助我的。”
“I must venture, I shall not be denied help from heaven.”
然后，她怀着一颗颤抖的心，仿佛要去做一件坏事似的，在明亮的月光下悄悄溜进花园，穿过狭窄的小径和空无一人的街道，一直来到教堂墓地。
then with a trembling heart, as if she were about to perform a wicked deed, she crept into the garden in the broad moonlight, and passed through the narrow walks and the deserted streets, till she reached the churchyard.
然后她看到在一块宽阔的墓碑上有一群食尸鬼。
then she saw on one of the broad tombstones a group of ghouls.
这些丑陋的生物脱下破衣服，好像要洗澡似的，然后用又长又瘦的手指挖开新坟，拖出尸体并吞食人肉！艾丽莎不得不从它们身边经过，它们恶狠狠地盯着她，但她默默祈祷，采集了那些刺人的荨麻，然后带着它们回到城堡。
these hideous creatures took off their rags, as if they intended to bathe, and then clawing open the fresh graves with their long, skinny fingers, pulled out the dead bodies and ate the flesh! Eliza had to pass close by them, and they fixed their wicked glances upon her, but she prayed silently, gathered the burning nettles, and carried them home with her to the castle.
只有一个人看到了她，那就是大主教 —— 当所有人都睡着的时候，他却醒着。
one person only had seen her, and that was the archbishop — he was awake while everybody was asleep.
现在他认为自己的看法显然是正确的。
Now he thought his opinion was evidently correct.
王后肯定有问题。
All was not right with the queen.
她是个女巫，蛊惑了国王和所有的臣民。
She was a witch, and had bewitched the king and all the people.
他悄悄地把自己的所见所忧告诉了国王，当那些刻薄的话语从他口中说出时，圣徒的雕像都摇起了头，好像在说：
Secretly he told the king what he had seen and what he feared, and as the hard words came from his tongue, the carved images of the saints shook their heads as if they would say.
“不是这样的。
“It is not so.
艾丽莎是无辜的。”
Eliza is innocent.”
但是大主教却有另外的解读；
but the archbishop interpreted it in another way;
他认为圣像们是在指证她，是在对她的恶行摇头。
he believed that they witnessed against her, and were shaking their heads at her wickedness.
两颗大大的泪珠从国王的脸颊滚落，他满腹狐疑地回到家，夜里他佯装入睡，但其实并未真正睡着，因为他看到艾丽莎每晚都会起身然后消失在自己的房间里。
two large tears rolled down the king’s cheeks, and he went home with doubt in his heart, and at night he pretended to sleep, but there came no real sleep to his eyes, for he saw Eliza get up every night and disappear in her own chamber.
日复一日，他的眉头越皱越紧，艾丽莎看到了却不明白缘由，这让她惊恐，也让她为兄弟们担心得心跳不已。
From day to day his brow became darker, and Eliza saw it and did not understand the reason, but it alarmed her and made her heart tremble for her brothers.
她滚烫的泪珠像珍珠一样在华丽的天鹅绒和钻石上闪烁，而所有看到她的人都希望自己能成为王后。
her hot tears glittered like pearls on the regal velvet and diamonds, while all who saw her were wishing they could be queens.
与此同时，她的任务几乎就要完成了；
In the mean time she had almost finished her task;
只差一件铠甲上衣了，但她已经没有亚麻了，连一根荨麻也没有了。
only one coat of mail was wanting, but she had no flax left, and not a single nettle.
她必须再冒险去一次教堂墓地，最后一次采几把荨麻。
once more only, and for the last time, must she venture to the churchyard and pluck a few handfuls.
她害怕地想着那孤独的行程，还有那些可怕的食尸鬼，但她意志坚定，对上天的信赖也毫不动摇。
She thought with terror of the solitary walk, and of the horrible ghouls, but her will was firm, as well as her trust in providence.
艾丽莎出发了，国王和大主教跟在她后面。
Eliza went, and the king and the archbishop followed her.
他们看到她穿过小门消失在教堂墓地里，当他们走近些时，看到食尸鬼像艾丽莎之前看到的那样坐在墓碑上，国王转过头去，因为他以为她和食尸鬼在一起 —— 就在当天晚上，她的头还靠在他的胸膛上呢。
they saw her vanish through the wicket gate into the churchyard, and when they came nearer they saw the ghouls sitting on the tombstone, as Eliza had seen them, and the king turned away his head, for he thought she was with them — she whose head had rested on his breast that very evening.
“民众必须审判她。” 他说，很快所有人都判定她应被处以火刑。
“the people must condemn her,” said he, and she was very quickly condemned by every one to suffer death by fire.
她被带出华丽的王宫大厅，被带到一个阴暗、沉闷的牢房里，风呼啸着吹过铁栅栏。
Away from the gorgeous regal halls was she led to a dark, dreary cell, where the wind whistled through the iron bars.
他们没有给她天鹅绒和丝绸衣服，而是给了她自己织的铠甲上衣来蔽体，给了她一捆荨麻当枕头；
Instead of the velvet and silk dresses, they gave her the coats of mail which she had woven to cover her, and the bundle of nettles for a pillow;
但他们给她的东西没有比这更让她高兴的了。
but nothing they could give her would have pleased her more.
她满心欢喜地继续做着自己的活儿，同时祈求帮助，而街头的男孩们唱着嘲笑她的歌，没有一个人用一句友善的话来安慰她。
She continued her task with joy, and prayed for help, while the street - boys sang jeering songs about her, and not a soul forted her with a kind word.
傍晚时分，她听到格栅处传来天鹅翅膀的扑腾声，是她最小的弟弟 —— 他找到了姐姐，她喜极而泣，尽管她知道这很可能是自己生命中的最后一个夜晚。
towards evening, she heard at the grating the flutter of a swan’s wing, it was her youngest brother — he had found his sister, and she sobbed for joy, although she knew that very likely this would be the last night she would have to live.
但她仍然可以抱有希望，因为她的任务几乎就要完成了，而且她的兄弟们都来了。
but still she could hope, for her task was almost finished, and her brothers were e.
然后大主教来了，按照他对国王的承诺，在她生命的最后时刻陪伴她。
then the archbishop arrived, to be with her during her last hours, as he had promised the king.
但她摇了摇头，用表情和手势请求他不要留下来；
but she shook her head, and begged him, by looks and gestures, not to stay;
因为她知道在这个夜晚必须完成任务，否则她所有的痛苦、泪水和不眠之夜就都白白忍受了。
for in this night she knew she must finish her task, otherwise all her pain and tears and sleepless nights would have been suffered in vain.
大主教一边退下，一边恶语相向；
the archbishop withdrew, uttering bitter words against her;
但可怜的艾丽莎知道自己是无辜的，仍勤奋地继续工作。
but poor Eliza knew that she was innocent, and diligently continued her work.
小老鼠在地上跑来跑去，它们把荨麻拖到她脚边，尽它们所能来帮忙；
the little mice ran about the floor, they dragged the nettles to her feet, to help as well as they could;
画眉鸟站在窗格栅外，整夜尽可能甜美地为她唱歌，使她振作精神。
and the thrush sat outside the grating of the window, and sang to her the whole night long, as sweetly as possible, to keep up her spirits.
天还蒙蒙亮，离日出至少还有一个小时，十一位兄弟站在城堡门口，要求被带到国王面前。
It was still twilight, and at least an hour before sunrise, when the eleven brothers stood at the castle gate, and demanded to be brought before the king.
他们被告知不行，天还几乎没亮，而且国王正在睡觉，他们不敢打扰他。
they were told it could not be, it was yet almost night, and as the king slept they dared not disturb him.
他们威胁，他们哀求。
they threatened, they entreated.
然后卫兵出现了，连国王本人也出现了，询问这喧闹声是怎么回事。
then the guard appeared, and even the king himself, inquiring what all the noise meant.
就在这时太阳升起了。
At this moment the sun rose.
十一位兄弟不见了，只见十一只野天鹅从城堡上空飞走了。
the eleven brothers were seen no more, but eleven wild swans flew away over the castle.
现在所有的人都从城门蜂拥而出，去看女巫被烧死。
And now all the people came streaming forth from the gates of the city, to see the witch burnt.
一匹老马拉着她乘坐的囚车。
An old horse drew the cart on which she sat.
他们给她穿上了一件粗麻布衣服。
they had dressed her in a garment of coarse sackcloth.
她美丽的头发松散地垂在肩上，脸色惨白，嘴唇无声地嚅动着，而手指还在编织着绿色的亚麻。
her lovely hair hung loose on her shoulders, her cheeks were deadly pale, her lips moved silently, while her fingers still worked at the green flax.
即使在走向死亡的路上，她也不愿放弃自己的任务。
Even on the way to death, she would not give up her task.
十件铠甲上衣放在她脚边，她正在努力织第十一件，而民众们却嘲笑她，说道：“看这个女巫，她在喃喃自语呢！她手里都没有赞美诗集。
the ten coats of mail lay at her feet, she was working hard at the eleventh, while the mob jeered her and said, “See the witch, how she mutters! She has no hymn - book in her hand.
她坐在那儿摆弄着她那丑恶的巫术。
She sits there with her ugly sorcery.
咱们把它撕成千万片吧。”
Let us tear it in a thousand pieces.”
然后他们朝她挤过来，本要毁掉那些铠甲上衣的，但就在这时，十一只野天鹅从她头顶飞过，落在了车上。
And then they pressed towards her, and would have destroyed the coats of mail, but at the same moment eleven wild swans flew over her, and alighted on the cart.
然后它们扇动着巨大的翅膀，人群惊恐地向一旁退去。
then they flapped their large wings, and the crowd drew on one side in alarm.
“这是上天表明她是无辜的迹象。” 很多人小声说道；
“It is a sign from heaven that she is innocent,” whispered many of them;
但他们不敢大声说出来。
but they ventured not to say it aloud.
当刽子手抓住她的手，要把她从车上拉下来的时候，她急忙把十一件铠甲上衣扔到天鹅们身上，它们立刻变成了十一位英俊的王子；
As the executioner seized her by the hand, to lift her out of the cart, she hastily threw the eleven coats of mail over the swans, and they immediately became eleven handsome princes;
但最小的王子有一只天鹅的翅膀，而不是胳膊；
but the youngest had a swan’s wing, instead of an arm;
因为她没能织完那件上衣的最后一只袖子。
for she had not been able to finish the last sleeve of the coat.
“现在我可以说话了。” 她大声说道。
“Now I may speak,” she exclaimed.
“我是无辜的。”
“I am innocent.”
看到所发生事情的民众们，像在圣人面前一样向她鞠躬；
then the people, who saw what happened, bowed to her, as before a saint;
但她在兄弟们的怀里昏死过去，因为悬念、痛苦和折磨而不堪重负。
but she sank lifeless in her brothers’ arms, overe with suspense, anguish, and pain.
“是的，她是无辜的。” 大哥说道；
“Yes, she is innocent,” said the eldest brother;
然后他讲述了所发生的一切；
and then he related all that had taken place;
他说话的时候，空气中弥漫起一股好像来自数百万朵玫瑰的香气。
and while he spoke there rose in the air a fragrance as from millions of roses.
柴堆里的每一根柴都生了根，长出了枝条，变成了一道又高又密的树篱，上面开满了玫瑰；
Every piece of faggot in the pile had taken root, and threw out branches, and appeared a thick hedge, large and high, covered with roses;
而在这一切之上盛开着一朵洁白闪亮的花，像星星一样闪闪发光。
while above all bloomed a white and shining flower, that glittered like a star.
当艾丽莎从昏厥中醒来，心中充满平静与幸福时，国王摘下这朵花，放在艾丽莎的胸前。
this flower the king plucked, and placed in Eliza’s bosom, when she awoke from her swoon, with peace and happiness in her heart.
所有的教堂钟声都自动敲响了，鸟儿成群结队地飞来。
And all the church bells rang of themselves, and the birds came in great troops.
于是一支结婚的队伍返回城堡，这样的队伍是任何国王都从未见过的。
And a marriage procession returned to the castle, such as no king had ever before seen.