猫和老鼠合伙

有一只猫认识了一只老鼠，便对它大谈特谈自己是多么喜欢老鼠，原意和它交朋友，弄得老鼠终于同意和猫住在一起，共同生活。“我们得准备过冬的东 西了，不然我们到冬天会挨饿的，”猫说，“至于你嘛，我的小老鼠，哪里也不要去，我真怕你会被什么老鼠夹子夹住。”老鼠接受了猫的好建议，于是它们买来了 一罐猪油，然而两个人都不知道该把猪油放在什么地方。它们左思考右思考，最后猫说：“我觉得这猪油放在教堂里是再合适不过的了，因为谁也不敢偷教堂里的东 西。我们把猪油藏在祭坛下，不到万不得已的时候决不动它。”猪油罐就这样被放到了安全的地方。可是没过多久，猫开始想吃猪油了，便对老鼠说：“小老鼠，我 想跟你说点事。我的表姐刚刚生了一个小宝宝，还请我当小宝贝的教母。那小宝贝全身雪白，带着一些褐色的斑点。我要抱着它去接受洗礼，所以今天要出去一下， 你一个人在家看家，好吗？”“好的，好的，”老鼠说，“你尽管去吧。要是有什么好吃的东西，千万要记着我。我很想尝一点洗礼时用的红葡萄酒。”这一切当然 都不是真的，因为猫并没有表姐，也没有被请去当教母。它直接去了教堂，偷偷爬到猪油罐那里，开始舔呀舔，把顶上一层猪油舔得精光。然后，它在城里的屋顶上 散了散步，想碰碰别的运气；接着便躺下来晒太阳。每当想起那罐猪油，它都情不自禁地舔舔自己的嘴唇。它一直等到天黑才回家。“啊，你终于回来了，”老鼠 说，“这一天肯定过得很开心吧？”“一切顺利。”猫答道。“你们给那孩子起了什么名字？”“没了顶层！”猫冷淡地说。“没了顶层！”老鼠叫了起来，“这个 古怪的名字可不多见。你们家常取这样的名字吗？”“那有什么？”猫说，“不比你的那些教子叫什么‘偷面包屑的’更糟吧？”

没过多久，猫又想吃猪油了。它对老鼠说：“你得帮我一个忙，再一个人看一次家。又有人请我当教母了，而且这个孩子的脖子上有一道白圈，我实在无法推 辞。”好心的老鼠同意了。猫从城墙后面溜进教堂，一口气吃掉了半罐猪油。“什么东西也没有比吃到自己的嘴里更好，”它说，心里对这一天的收获感到很满意。 等它到家时，老鼠问道：“这个孩子起的什么名字呀？”“吃了一半，”猫回答。“吃了一半！你在说什么呀？我长这么大了还从来没有听说过这样的名字。我敢打 赌，就是年历上也不会有这样的名字！”

不久，猫的嘴巴又开始流口水了，想再去舔一舔猪油。

“好事成三嘛，”它说，“又有人请我去当教母了。这个孩子除了爪子是白色的，浑身黑黝黝的，连一根白毛都没有。这是好几年才会碰上的事情，你当然会同 意我去的，是吗？”“没了顶层！吃了一半！”老鼠回答，“这些名字真怪！我实在弄不明白。”“你白天又不出门，”猫说，“整天穿着深灰色的皮袄，拖着长长 的尾巴，坐在家里胡思乱想，当然弄不明白啦！”趁着猫不在家，老鼠把屋子打扫了一下，把东西放得整整齐齐。可是那只馋猫把剩下的猪油吃得干干净净。“人只 有把东西吃得干干净净才能放心，”它自言自语地说。它吃得饱饱的，直到天黑了才挺着圆圆的肚子回家。老鼠看到它回来，立刻问它这第三个孩子起的什么名字。 “你也不会喜欢这个名字，”猫说，“它叫‘吃得精光’。”“吃得精光！”老鼠叫了起来，“这个名字太令人费解了！我从来没有在书上见过。吃得精光！这是什 么意思呢？”它摇摇头，蜷缩起身子，躺下睡着了。

从此，猫再也没有被邀请去当教母。可是冬天来到了，外面再也找不到任何吃的东西。老鼠想到了它们准备的过冬的东西，便说：“走吧，猫！我们去取储存的 猪油吧。我们可以美美吃上一顿。”“是的，”猫回答，“那准会把你美得就像把你那尖尖的舌头伸到窗外去喝西北风一样。”它们动身去教堂，可它们到达那里 后，看到猪油罐倒是还在那里，里面却是空的。“天哪！”老鼠说，“我现在终于明白是怎么回事了！你可真是个好朋友！你在去当什么教母的时候，把这猪油全吃 光了！先是吃了顶上一层，然后吃了一半，最后……” “你给我住嘴！”猫嚷道，“你要是再罗嗦，我连你也吃了！”“……吃得精光，”可怜的老鼠脱口而出。它刚把话说完，猫就扑到了它的身上，抓住它，把它吞进 了肚子。这世界就是这样！

Cat and Mouse in Partnership

A certain cat had made the acquaintance of a mouse, and had said so much to her about the great love and friendship she felt for her, that at length the mouse agreed that they should live and keep house together. But we must make a provision for winter, or else we shall suffer from hunger, said the cat, and you, little mouse, cannot venture everywhere, or you will be caught in a trap some day. The good advice was followed, and a pot of fat was bought, but they did not know where to put it. At length, after much consideration, the cat said, I know no place where it will be better stored up than in the church, for no one dares take anything away from there. We will set it beneath the altar, and not touch it until we are really in need of it. So the pot was placed in safety, but it was not long before the cat had a great yearning for it, and said to the mouse, I want to tell you something, little mouse, my cousin has brought a little son into the world, and has asked me to be godmother, he is white with brown spots, and I am to hold him over the font at the christening. Let me go out to-day, and you look after the house by yourself. Yes, yes, answered the mouse, by all means go, and if you get anything very good to eat, think of me, I should like a drop of sweet red christening wine myself. All this, however, was untrue, the cat had no cousin, and had not been asked to be godmother. She went straight to the church, stole to the pot of fat, began to lick at it, and licked the top of the fat off. Then she took a walk upon the roofs of the town, looked out for opportunities, and then stretched herself in the sun, and licked her lips whenever she thought of the pot of fat, and not until it was evening did she return home. Well, here you are again, said the mouse, no doubt you have had a merry day. All went off well, answered the cat. What name did they give the child. Top off, said the cat quite coolly. Top off, cried the mouse, that is a very odd and uncommon name, is it a usual one in your family. What does that matter, said the cat, it is no worse than crumb-stealer, as your God-children are called. Before long the cat was seized by another fit of yearning. She said to the mouse, you must do me a favor, and once more manage the house for a day alone. I am again asked to be godmother, and, as the child has a white ring round its neck, I cannot refuse. The good mouse consented, but the cat crept behind the town walls to the church, and devoured half the pot of fat. Nothing ever seems so good as what one keeps to oneself, said she, and was quite satisfied with her day's work. When she went home the mouse inquired, and what was this child christened. Half-done, answered the cat. Half-done. What are you saying. I never heard the name in my life, I'll wager anything it is not in the calendar. The cat's mouth soon began to water for some more licking. All good things go in threes, said she, I am asked to stand godmother again. The child is quite black, only it has white paws, but with that exception, it has not a single white hair on its whole body, this only happens once every few years, you will let me go, won't you. Top-off. Half-done, answered the mouse, they are such odd names, they make me very thoughtful. You sit at home, said the cat, in your dark-grey fur coat and long tail, and are filled with fancies, that's because you do not go out in the daytime. During the cat's absence the mouse cleaned the house, and put it in order but the greedy cat entirely emptied the pot of fat. When everything is eaten up one has some peace, said she to herself, and well filled and fat she did not return home till night. The mouse at once asked what name had been given to the third child. It will not please you more than the others, said the cat. He is called all-gone. All-gone, cried the mouse, that is the most suspicious name of all. I have never seen it in print. All-gone, what can that mean, and she shook her head, curled herself up, and lay down to sleep. From this time forth no one invited the cat to be godmother, but when the winter had come and there was no longer anything to be found outside, the mouse thought of their provision, and said, come cat, we will go to our pot of fat which we have stored up for ourselves - we shall enjoy that. Yes, answered the cat, you will enjoy it as much as you would enjoy sticking that dainty tongue of yours out of the window. They set out on their way, but when they arrived, the pot of fat certainly was still in its place, but it was empty. Alas, said the mouse, now I see what has happened, now it comes to light. You are a true friend. You have devoured all when you were standing godmother. First top off then half done, then -. Will you hold your tongue, cried the cat, one word more and I will eat you too. All gone was already on the poor mouse's lips, scarcely had she spoken it before the cat sprang on her, seized her, and swallowed her down. Verily, that is the way of the world.

莴苣姑娘

从前有一个男人和一个女人，他俩一直想要个孩子，可总也得不到。最后，女人只好希望上帝能赐给她一个孩子。他们家的屋子后面有个小窗户，从那里可以看到一个美丽的花园，里面长满了奇花异草。可是，花园的周围有一道高墙，谁也不敢进去，因为那个花园属于一个女巫。这个女巫的法力非常大，世界上人人都怕她。一天，妻子站在窗口向花园望去，看到一块菜地上长着非常漂亮的莴苣。这些莴苣绿油油、水灵灵的，立刻就勾起了她的食欲，非常想吃它们。这种欲望与日俱增，而当知道自己无论如何也吃不到的时候，她变得非常憔悴，脸色苍白，痛苦不堪。她丈夫吓坏了，问她：“亲爱的，你哪里不舒服呀？”“啊，”她回答，“我要是吃不到我们家后面那个园子里的莴苣，我就会死掉的。”丈夫因为非常爱她，便想：“与其说让妻子去死，不如给她弄些莴苣来，管它会发生什么事情呢。”黄昏时分，他翻过围墙，溜进了女巫的花园，飞快地拔了一把莴苣，带回来给她妻子吃。妻子立刻把莴苣做成色拉，狼吞虎咽地吃了下去。这莴苣的味道真是太好了，第二天她想吃的莴苣居然比前一天多了两倍。为了满足妻子，丈夫只好决定再次翻进女巫的园子。于是，黄昏时分，他偷偷地溜进了园子，可他刚从墙上爬下来，就吓了一跳，因为他看到女巫就站在他的面前。“你好大的胆子，”她怒气冲冲地说，“竟敢溜进我的园子来，像个贼一样偷我的莴苣！”“唉，”他回答，“可怜可怜我，饶了我吧。我是没办法才这样做的。我妻子从窗口看到了你园子中的莴苣，想吃得要命，吃不到就会死掉的。”女巫听了之后气慢慢消了一些，对他说：“如果事情真像你说的这样，我可以让你随便采多少莴苣，但我有一个条件：你必须把你妻子将要生的孩子交给我。我会让她过得很好的，而且会像妈妈一样对待她。”丈夫由于害怕，只好答应女巫的一切条件。妻子刚刚生下孩子，女巫就来了，给孩子取了个名字叫“莴苣”，然后就把孩子带走了。

“莴苣”慢慢长成了天底下最漂亮的女孩。孩子十二岁那年，女巫把她关进了一座高塔。这座高塔在森林里，既没有楼梯也没有门，只是在塔顶上有一个小小的窗户。每当女巫想进去，她就站在塔下叫道：

“莴苣，莴苣，

把你的头发垂下来。”

莴苣姑娘长着一头金丝般浓密的长发。一听到女巫的叫声，她便松开她的发辫，把顶端绕在一个窗钩上，然后放下来二十公尺。女巫便顺着这长发爬上去。

一两年过去了。有一天，王子骑马路过森林，刚好经过这座塔。这时，他突然听到美妙的歌声，不由得停下来静静地听着。唱歌的正是莴苣姑娘，她在寂寞中只好靠唱歌来打发时光。王子想爬到塔顶上去见她，便四处找门，可怎么也没有找到。他回到了宫中，那歌声已经深深地打动了他，他每天都要骑马去森林里听。一天，他站在一棵树后，看到女巫来了，而且听到她冲着塔顶叫道：

“莴苣，莴苣，

把你的头发垂下来。”

莴苣姑娘立刻垂下她的发辫，女巫顺着它爬了上去。王子想：“如果那就是让人爬上去的梯子，我也可以试试我的运气。”第二天傍晚，他来到塔下叫道：

“莴苣，莴苣，

把你的头发垂下来。”

头发立刻垂了下来，王子便顺着爬了上去。

莴苣姑娘看到爬上来的是一个男人时，真的大吃一惊，因为她还从来没有看到过男人。但是王子和蔼地跟她说话，说他的心如何如何被她的歌声打动，一刻也得不到安宁，非要来见她。莴苣姑娘慢慢地不再感到害怕，而当他问她愿不愿意嫁给他时，她见王子又年轻又英俊，便想：“这个人肯定会比那教母更喜欢我。”她于是就答应了，并把手伸给王子。她说：“我非常愿意跟你一起走，可我不知道怎么下去。你每次来的时候都给我带一根丝线吧，我要用丝线编一个梯子。等到梯子编好了，我就爬下来，你就把我抱到你的马背上。” 因为老女巫总是在白天来，所以他俩商定让王子每天傍晚时来。女巫什么也没有发现，直到有一天莴苣姑娘问她：“我问你，教母，我拉你的时候怎么总觉得你比那个年轻的王子重得多？他可是一下子就上来了。”“啊！你这坏孩子！”女巫嚷道，“你在说什么？我还以为你与世隔绝了呢，却不想你竟然骗了我！”她怒气冲冲地一把抓住莴苣姑娘漂亮的辫子，在左手上缠了两道，又用右手操起一把剪刀，喳喳喳几下，美丽的辫子便落在了地上。然后，她又狠心地把莴苣姑娘送到一片荒野中，让她凄惨痛苦地生活在那里。

莴苣姑娘被送走的当天，女巫把剪下来的辫子绑在塔顶的窗钩上。王子走来喊道：

“莴苣，莴苣，

把你的头发垂下来。”

女巫放下头发，王子便顺着爬了上去。然而，他没有见到心爱的莴苣姑娘，却看到女巫正恶狠狠地瞪着他。“啊哈！”她嘲弄王子说，“你是来接你的心上人的吧？可美丽的鸟儿不会再在窝里唱歌了。她被猫抓走了，而且猫还要把你的眼睛挖出来。你的莴苣姑娘完蛋了，你别想再见到她。”王子痛苦极了，绝望地从塔上跳了下去。他掉进了刺丛里，虽然没有丧生，双眼却被刺扎瞎了。他漫无目的地在森林里走着，吃的只是草根和浆果，每天都为失去爱人而伤心地痛哭。他就这样痛苦地在森林里转了好几年，最后终于来到了莴苣姑娘受苦的荒野。莴苣姑娘已经生下了一对双胞胎，一个儿子，一个女儿。王子听到有说话的声音，而且觉得那声音很耳熟，便朝那里走去。当他走近时，莴苣姑娘立刻认出了他，搂着他的脖子哭了起来。她的两滴泪水润湿了他的眼睛，使它们重新恢复了光明。他又能像从前一样看东西了。他带着妻子儿女回到自己的王国，受到了人们热烈的欢迎。他们幸福美满地生活着，直到永远。

Rapunzel

          There were once a man and a woman who had long in vain wished for a child. At length the woman hoped that God was about to grant her desire. These people had a little window at the back of their house from which a splendid garden could be seen, which was full of the most beautiful flowers and herbs. It was, however, surrounded by a high wall, and no one dared to go into it because it belonged to an enchantress, who had great power and was dreaded by all the world.

          One day the woman was standing by this window and looking down into the garden, when she saw a bed which was planted with the most beautiful rampion - rapunzel, and it looked so fresh and green that she longed for it, and had the greatest desire to eat some. This desire increased every day, and as she knew that she could not get any of it, she quite pined away, and began to look pale and miserable. Then her husband was alarmed, and asked, what ails you, dear wife. Ah, she replied, if I can't eat some of the rampion, which is in the garden behind our house, I shall die.

          The man, who loved her, thought, sooner than let your wife die, bring her some of the rampion yourself, let it cost what it will. At twilight, he clambered down over the wall into the garden of the enchantress, hastily clutched a handful of rampion, and took it to his wife. She at once made herself a salad of it, and ate it greedily. It tasted so good to her - so very good, that the next day she longed for it three times as much as before. If he was to have any rest, her husband must once more descend into the garden. In the gloom of evening, therefore, he let himself down again. But when he had clambered down the wall he was terribly afraid, for he saw the enchantress standing before him.

          How can you dare, said she with angry look, descend into my garden and steal my rampion like a thief. You shall suffer for it. Ah, answered he, let mercy take the place of justice, I only made up my mind to do it out of necessity. My wife saw your rampion from the window, and felt such a longing for it that she would have died if she had not got some to eat. Then the enchantress allowed her anger to be softened, and said to him, if the case be as you say, I will allow you to take away with you as much rampion as you will, only I make one condition, you must give me the child which your wife will bring into the world. It shall be well treated, and I will care for it like a mother.

          The man in his terror consented to everything, and when the woman was brought to bed, the enchantress appeared at once, gave the child the name of rapunzel, and took it away with her. Rapunzel grew into the most beautiful child under the sun. When she was twelve years old, the enchantress shut her into a tower, which lay in a forest, and had neither stairs nor door, but quite at the top was a little window. When the enchantress wanted to go in, she placed herself beneath it and cried, rapunzel, rapunzel, let down your hair to me.

          Rapunzel had magnificent long hair, fine as spun gold, and when she heard the voice of the enchantress she unfastened her braided tresses, wound them round one of the hooks of the window above, and then the hair fell twenty ells down, and the enchantress climbed up by it. After a year or two, it came to pass that the king's son rode through the forest and passed by the tower.

          

          Then he heard a song, which was so charming that he stood still and listened. This was rapunzel, who in her solitude passed her time in letting her sweet voice resound. The king's son wanted to climb up to her, and looked for the door of the tower, but none was to be found. He rode home, but the singing had so deeply touched his heart, that every day he went out into the forest and listened to it.

          Once when he was thus standing behind a tree, he saw that an enchantress came there, and he heard how she cried, rapunzel, rapunzel, let down your hair. Then rapunzel let down the braids of her hair, and the enchantress climbed up to her. If that is the ladder by which one mounts, I too will try my fortune, said he, and the next day when it began to grow dark, he went to the tower and cried, rapunzel, rapunzel, let down your hair. Immediately the hair fell down and the king's son climbed up.

          At first rapunzel was terribly frightened when a man, such as her eyes had never yet beheld, came to her. But the king's son began to talk to her quite like a friend, and told her that his heart had been so stirred that it had let him have no rest, and he had been forced to see her. Then rapunzel lost her fear, and when he asked her if she would take him for her husband, and she saw that he was young and handsome, she thought, he will love me more than old dame gothel does. And she said yes, and laid her hand in his. She said, I will willingly go away with you, but I do not know how to get down.

          Bring with you a skein of silk every time that you come, and I will weave a ladder with it, and when that is ready I will descend, and you will take me on your horse. They agreed that until that time he should come to her every evening, for the old woman came by day. The enchantress remarked nothing of this, until once rapunzel said to her, tell me, dame gothel, how it happens that you are so much heavier for me to draw up than the young king's son - he is with me in a moment. Ah.

          You wicked child, cried the enchantress. What do I hear you say. I thought I had separated you from all the world, and yet you have deceived me. In her anger she clutched rapunzel's beautiful tresses, wrapped them twice round her left hand, seized a pair of scissors with the right, and snip, snap, they were cut off, and the lovely braids lay on the ground. And she was so pitiless that she took poor rapunzel into a desert where she had to live in great grief and misery.

          On the same day that she cast out rapunzel, however, the enchantress fastened the braids of hair, which she had cut off, to the hook of the window, and when the king's son came and cried, rapunzel, rapunzel, let down your hair, she let the hair down. The king's son ascended, but instead of finding his dearest rapunzel, he found the enchantress, who gazed at him with wicked and venomous looks. Aha, she cried mockingly, you would fetch your dearest, but the beautiful bird sits no longer singing in the nest. The cat has got it, and will scratch out your eyes as well.

          Rapunzel is lost to you. You will never see her again. The king's son was beside himself with pain, and in his despair he leapt down from the tower. He escaped with his life, but the thorns into which he fell pierced his eyes. Then he wandered quite blind about the forest, ate nothing but roots and berries, and did naught but lament and weep over the loss of his dearest wife. Thus he roamed about in misery for some years, and at length came to the desert where rapunzel, with the twins to which she had given birth, a boy and a girl, lived in wretchedness.

          He heard a voice, and it seemed so familiar to him that he went towards it, and when he approached, rapunzel knew him and fell on his neck and wept. Two of her tears wetted his eyes and they grew clear again, and he could see with them as before. He led her to his kingdom where he was joyfully received, and they lived for a long time afterwards, happy and contented.

灰姑娘

從前，有一個富人的妻子得了重病，在臨終前，她把自己的獨生女兒叫到身邊說：“乖
女兒，媽去了以後會在九泉之下守護你、保佑你的。”說完她就閉上眼睛死了。

她被葬在了花園裡，小姑娘是一個虔誠而又善良的女孩，她每天都到她母親的墳前去哭
泣。冬天來了，大雪為她母親的墳蓋上了白色的毛毯。春風吹來，太陽又卸去了墳上的銀裝
素裹。冬去春來，人過境遷，他爸爸又娶了另外一個妻子。

新妻子帶著她以前生的兩個女兒一起來安家了。她們外表很美麗，但是內心卻非常丑陋
邪惡。她們到來之時，也就是這個可憐的小姑娘身受苦難之始。她們說：“要這樣一個沒用
的飯桶在廳堂裡干什麼？誰想吃上麵包，誰就得自己去掙得，滾到廚房裡做廚房女傭去
吧！”說完又脫去她漂亮的衣裳，給她換上灰色的舊外套，惡作劇似地嘲笑她，把她趕到廚
房裡去了。她被迫去干艱苦的活兒。每天天不亮就起來擔水、生火、做飯、洗衣，而且還要
忍受她們姐妹對她的漠視和折磨。到了晚上，她累得筋疲力盡時，連睡覺的床舖也沒有，不
得不睡在爐灶旁邊的灰燼中，這一來她身上都沾滿了灰燼，又髒，又難看，由於這個原因她
們就叫她灰姑娘。

有一次，父親要到集市去，他問妻子的兩個女兒，要他給她們帶什麼回來。第一個說：
“我要漂亮的衣裳。”第二個叫道：“我要珍珠和鑽石。”他又對自己的女兒說：“孩子，
你想要什麼？”灰姑娘說：“親愛的爸爸，就把你回家路上碰著你帽子的第一根樹枝折給我
吧。”父親回來時，他為前兩個女兒帶回了她們想要的漂亮衣服和珍珠鑽石。在路上，他穿
過一片濃密的矮樹林時，有一根榛樹枝條碰著了他，幾乎把他的帽子都要掃下來了，所以他
把這根樹枝折下來帶上了。回到家裡時，他把樹枝給了他女兒，她拿著樹枝來到母親的墳
前，將它栽到了墳邊。她每天都要到墳邊哭三次，每次傷心地哭泣時，淚水就會不斷地滴落
在樹枝上，澆灌著它，使樹枝很快長成了一棵漂亮的大樹。不久，有一只小鳥來樹上築巢，
她與小鳥交談起來。後來她想要什麼，小鳥都會給她帶來。

國王為了給自己的兒子選擇未婚妻，準備舉辦一個為期三天的盛大宴會，邀請了不少年
青漂亮的姑娘來參加。王子打算從這些參加舞會的姑娘中選一個作自己的新娘。灰姑娘的兩
個姐姐也被邀請去參加。她們把她叫來說道：“現在來為我們梳好頭髮，擦亮鞋子，繫好腰
帶，我們要去參加國王舉辦的舞會。”她按她們的要求給她們收拾打扮完畢後，禁不住哭了
起來，因為她自己也想去參加舞會。她苦苦哀求她的繼母讓她去，可繼母說道：“哎喲！灰
姑娘，你也想去？你穿什麼去呀！你連禮服也沒有，甚至連舞也不會跳，你想去參加什麼舞
會啊？”灰姑娘不停地哀求著，為了擺脫她的糾纏，繼母最後說道：“我把這一滿盆碗豆倒
進灰堆裡去，如果你在兩小時內把它們都揀出來了，你就可以去參加宴會。”說完，她將一
盆碗豆倒進灰燼裡，揚長而去。灰姑娘沒辦法，只好跑出後門來到花園裡喊道：

    “掠過天空的鴿子和斑鳩，
    飛來吧！飛到這裡來吧！
    快樂的鳥雀朋友們，
    飛來吧！快快飛到這裡來吧！
    大伙快來幫我忙，
    快快揀出灰中的碗豆來吧！”

先飛來的是從廚房窗子進來的兩隻白鴿，跟著飛來的是兩隻斑鳩，接著天空中所有的小
鳥都嘰嘰喳喳地拍動著翅膀，飛到了灰堆上。小白鴿低下頭開始在灰堆裡揀起來，一顆一顆
地揀，不停地揀！其它的鳥兒也開始揀，一顆一顆地揀，不停地揀！它們把所有的好豆子都
從灰裡揀出來放到了一個盤子裡面，只用一個小時就揀完了。她向它們道謝後，鳥雀從窗子
裡飛走開了。她懷著興奮的心情，端著盤子去找繼母，以為自己可以去參加舞宴了。但她卻
說道：“不行，不行！你這個邋遢女孩，你沒有禮服，不會跳舞，你不能去。”灰姑娘又苦
苦地哀求她讓她去。繼母這次說道：“如果你能在一個小時之內把這樣的兩盤碗豆從灰堆裡
揀出來，你就可以去了。”她滿以為這次可以擺脫灰姑娘了，說完將兩盤碗豆倒進了灰堆
裡，還攪和了一會，然後得意洋洋地走了。但小姑娘又跑到屋後的花園裡和前次一樣地喊道：

    “掠過天空的鴿子和斑鳩，
    飛來吧！飛到這裡來吧！
    快樂的鳥雀朋友們，
    飛來吧！快快飛到這裡來吧！
    大伙快來幫我忙，
    快快揀出灰中的碗豆來吧！”

先飛來的是從廚房窗子進來的兩隻白鴿，跟著飛來的是兩隻斑鳩，接著天空中所有的小
鳥都嘰嘰喳喳地拍動著翅膀，飛到了灰堆上。小白鴿低下頭開始在灰堆裡揀起來，一顆一顆
地揀，不停地揀！其它的鳥兒也開始揀，一顆一顆地揀，不停地揀！它們把所有的好豆子都
從灰裡揀出來放到了盤子裡面，這次只用半個小時就揀完了。鳥雀們飛去之後，灰姑娘端著
盤子去找繼母，懷著極其興奮的心情，以為自己可以去參加舞會了。但繼母卻說道：“算
了！你別再白費勁了，你是不能去的。你沒有禮服，不會跳舞，你只會給我們丟臉。”說完
他們夫妻與她自己的兩個女兒出發參加宴會去了。

現在，家裡的人都走了，只留下灰姑娘孤伶伶地一個人悲傷地坐在榛樹下哭泣：

    “榛樹啊！請你幫幫我，
    請你搖一搖，
    為我抖落金銀禮服一整套。”

她的朋友小鳥從樹上飛出來，為她帶了一套金銀制成的禮服和一雙光亮的絲制舞鞋。收
拾打扮、穿上禮服之後，灰姑娘在她兩個姐妹之後來到了舞廳。穿上豪華的禮服之後，她看
起來是如此高雅、漂亮、美麗動人極了。她們都認不出她，以為她一定是一位陌生的公主，
根本就沒有想到她就是灰姑娘，她們以為灰姑娘仍老老實實地待在家中的灰堆裡呢

王子看到她，很快向她走來，伸出手挽著她，請她跳起舞來。他再也不和其他姑娘跳舞
了，他的手始終不肯放開她。每當有人來請她跳舞時，王子總是說：“這位女士在與我跳
舞。”他們一起跳到很晚，她才想起要回家去了。王子想知道這位美麗的姑娘到底住在哪
裡，所以說道：“我送你回家去吧。”灰姑娘表面上同意了，但卻趁他不注意時，悄悄地溜
走，拔腿向家裡跑去。王子在後面緊追不捨，她只好跳進鴿子房並把門關上。王子等在外面
不肯離去，一直到她父親回家時，王子才上前告訴他，說那位他在舞會上遇到的不知道姓名
的姑娘藏進了這間鴿子房。當他們砸開鴿子房門時，裡面卻已空無一人，他只好失望地回宮
去了。父母進屋子時，灰姑娘已經身穿邋遢的衣服躺在灰堆邊上了，就像她一直躺在那兒似
地，昏暗的小油燈在煙囪柱上的牆洞裡搖晃著。實際上，灰姑娘剛才很快穿過鴿子房來到榛
樹前脫下了漂亮的禮服，將它們放回樹上，讓小鳥把它們帶走，自己則回到屋裡坐到了灰堆
上，穿上了她那灰色的外套。

第二天，當舞會又要開始時，她的爸爸、繼母和兩個姐妹都去了。灰姑娘來到樹下說：

    “榛樹啊！請你幫幫我，
    請你搖一搖，
    為我抖落金銀禮服一整套。”

那只小鳥來了，它帶來了一套比她前一天穿的那套更加漂亮的禮服。當她來到舞會大廳
時，她的美麗使所有的人驚訝不已。一直在等待她到來的王子立即上前挽著她的手，請她跳
起舞來。每當有人要請她跳舞時，他總是和前一天一樣說：“這位女士在與我跳舞。”到了
半夜她要回家去的時候，王子也和前一天一樣跟著她，以為這樣可以看到她進了哪一幢房
子。但她還是甩掉了他，並立即跳進了她父親房子後面的花園裡。花園裡有一棵很漂亮的大
梨樹，樹上結滿了成熟的梨。灰姑娘不知道自己該藏在什麼地方，只好爬到了樹上。王子沒
有看到她，他不知道她去了哪兒，只好又一直等到她父親回來，才走上前對他說：“那個與
我跳舞的不知姓名的姑娘溜走了，我認為她肯定是跳上梨樹去了。”父親暗想：“難道是灰
姑娘嗎？”於是，他要人去拿來一柄斧子，把樹砍倒了一看，樹上根本沒有人。當父親和繼
母到廚房來看時，灰姑娘和平時一樣正躺在灰燼裡。原來她跳上梨樹後，又從樹的另一邊溜
下來，脫下漂亮的禮服，讓榛樹上的小鳥帶了回去，然後又穿上了她自己的灰色小外套。

第三天，當她父親、繼母和兩個姐妹走了以後，她又來到花園裡說道：

    “榛樹啊！請你幫幫我，
    請你搖一搖，
    為我抖落金銀禮服一整套。”

她善良的朋友又帶來了一套比第二天那套更加漂亮的禮服和一雙純金編製的舞鞋。當她
趕到舞會現場時，大家都被她那無法用語言表達的美給驚呆了。王子只與她一個人跳舞，每
當有其他人請她跳舞時，他總是說：“這位女士是我的舞伴。”當午夜快要來臨時，她要回
家了，王子又要送她回去，並暗暗說道：“這次我可不能讓她跑掉了。”然而，灰姑娘還是
設法從他身邊溜走了。由於走得過於匆忙，她竟把左腳的金舞鞋失落在樓梯上了。

王子將舞鞋拾起，第二天來到他的國王父親面前說：“我要娶正好能穿上這只金舞鞋的
姑娘作我的妻子。”灰姑娘的兩個姐妹聽到這個消息後非常高興，因為她們都有一雙很漂亮
的腳，她們認為自己穿上那只舞鞋是毫無疑問的。姐姐由她媽媽陪著先到房子裡去試穿那只
舞鞋，可她的大腳趾卻穿不進去，那只鞋對她來說太小了。於是她媽媽拿給她一把刀說：
“沒關係，把大腳趾切掉！只要你當上了王后，還在乎這腳趾頭干嘛，你想到哪兒去根本就
不需要用腳了。”大女兒聽了，覺得有道理，這傻姑娘忍著痛苦切掉了自己的大腳趾，勉強
穿在腳上來到王子面。王子看她穿好了鞋子，就把她當成了新娘，與她並排騎在馬上，把她
帶走了。

但在他們出門回王宮的路上，經過後花園灰姑娘栽的那棵榛樹時，停在樹枝上的一只小
鴿子唱道：

    “再回去！再回去！
    快看那只鞋！
    鞋太小，不是為她做的！
    王子！王子！
    再找你的新娘吧，
    坐在你身邊的不是你的新娘！”

王子聽見後，下馬盯著她的腳看，發現鮮血正從鞋子裡流出來，他知道自己被欺騙了，
馬上掉轉馬頭，把假新娘帶回她的家裡說道：“這不是真新娘，讓另一個妹妹來試試這只鞋
子吧。”於是妹妹試著把鞋穿在腳上，腳前面進去了，可腳後跟太大了，就是穿不進去。她
媽媽讓她削去腳後跟穿進去，然後拉著她來到王子面前。王子看她穿好了鞋子，就把她當做
新娘扶上馬，並肩坐在一起離去了。

但當他們經過榛樹時，小鴿子仍棲息在樹枝頭上，它唱道：

    “再回去！再回去！
    快看那只鞋！
    鞋太小，不是為她做的！
    王子！王子！
    再找你的新娘吧，
    坐在你身邊的不是你的新娘！”

王子低頭一看，發現血正從舞鞋裡流出來，連她的白色長襪也浸紅了，他撥轉馬頭，同
樣把她送了回去，對她的父親說：”這不是真新娘，你還有女兒嗎？“父親回答說：“沒有
了，只有我前妻生的一個叫灰姑娘的小邋遢女兒，她不可能是新娘的。”然而，王子一定要
他把她帶來試一試。灰姑娘先把臉和手洗乾淨，然後走進來很有教養地向王子屈膝行禮。王
子把舞鞋拿給她穿，鞋子穿在她腳上就像是專門為她做的一樣。他走上前仔細看清楚她的臉
後，認出了她，馬上興奮的說道：“這才是我真正的新娘。”繼母和她的兩個姐妹大吃一
驚，當王子把灰姑娘扶上馬時，她們氣得臉都發白了，眼睜睜地看著王子把她帶走了。他們
來到榛樹邊時，小白鴿唱道：

    “回家吧！回家吧！
    快看那只鞋！
    王妃！這是為你做的鞋！
    王子！王子！
    快帶新娘回家去，
    坐在你身邊的才是真正的新娘”
    鴿子唱完之後，飛上前來，停在了灰姑娘的右肩上。他們一起向王宮走去。

Cinderella

      The wife of a rich man fell sick, and as she felt that her end
was drawing near, she called her only daughter to her bedside and
said, dear child, be good and pious, and then the
good God will always protect you, and I will look down on you
from heaven and be near you.  Thereupon she closed her eyes and
departed.  Every day the maiden went out to her mother's grave,
and wept, and she remained pious and good.  When winter came
the snow spread a white sheet over the grave, and by the time the
spring sun had drawn it off again, the man had taken another wife.
The woman had brought with her into the house two daughters,
who were beautiful and fair of face, but vile and black of heart.
Now began a bad time for the poor step-child.  Is the stupid goose
to sit in the parlor with us, they said.  He who wants to eat bread
must earn it.  Out with the kitchen-wench.  They took her pretty
clothes away from her, put an old grey bedgown on her, and gave
her wooden shoes.  Just look at the proud princess, how decked
out she is, they cried, and laughed, and led her into the kitchen.
There she had to do hard work from morning till night, get up
before daybreak, carry water, light fires, cook and wash.  Besides
this, the sisters did her every imaginable injury - they mocked her
and emptied her peas and lentils into the ashes, so that she was
forced to sit and pick them out again.  In the evening when she had
worked till she was weary she had no bed to go to, but had to sleep
by the hearth in the cinders.  And as on that account she always
looked dusty and dirty, they called her cinderella.
It happened that the father was once going to the fair, and he
asked his two step-daughters what he should bring back for them.
Beautiful dresses, said one, pearls and jewels, said the second.
And you, cinderella, said he, what will you have.  Father
break off for me the first branch which knocks against your hat on
your way home.  So he bought beautiful dresses, pearls and jewels
for his two step-daughters, and on his way home, as he was riding
through a green thicket, a hazel twig brushed against him and
knocked off his hat.  Then he broke off the branch and took it with
him.  When he reached home he gave his step-daughters the things
which they had wished for, and to cinderella he gave the branch
from the hazel-bush.  Cinderella thanked him, went to her mother's
grave and planted the branch on it, and wept so much that the tears
fell down on it and watered it.  And it grew and became a handsome
tree. Thrice a day cinderella went and sat beneath it, and wept and
prayed, and a little white bird always came on the tree, and if
cinderella expressed a wish, the bird threw down to her what she
had wished for.
      It happened, however, that the king gave orders for a festival
which was to last three days, and to which all the beautiful young
girls in the country were invited, in order that his son might choose
himself a bride.  When the two step-sisters heard that they too were
to appear among the number, they were delighted, called cinderella
and said, comb our hair for us, brush our shoes and fasten our
buckles, for we are going to the wedding at the king's palace.
Cinderella obeyed, but wept, because she too would have liked to
go with them to the dance, and begged her step-mother to allow
her to do so.  You go, cinderella, said she, covered in dust and
dirt as you are, and would go to the festival.  You have no clothes
and shoes, and yet would dance.  As, however, cinderella went on
asking, the step-mother said at last, I have emptied a dish of
lentils into the ashes for you, if you have picked them out again in
two hours, you shall go with us.  The maiden went through the
back-door into the garden, and called, you tame pigeons, you
turtle-doves, and all you birds beneath the sky, come and help me
to pick
           the good into the pot,
           the bad into the crop.
      Then two white pigeons came in by the kitchen window, and
afterwards the turtle-doves, and at last all the birds beneath the
sky, came whirring and crowding in, and alighted amongst the ashes.
And the pigeons nodded with their heads and began pick, pick,
pick, pick, and the rest began also pick, pick, pick, pick, and
gathered all the good grains into the dish.  Hardly had one hour
passed before they had finished, and all flew out again.  Then the
girl took the dish to her step-mother, and was glad, and believed
that now she would be allowed to go with them to the festival.
But the step-mother said, no, cinderella, you have no clothes and
you can not dance.  You would only be laughed at.  And as
cinderella wept at this, the step-mother said, if you can pick two
dishes of lentils out of the ashes for me in one hour, you shall go
with us.  And she thought to herself, that she most certainly
cannot do again.  When the step-mother had emptied the two
dishes of lentils amongst the ashes, the maiden went through the
back-door into the garden and cried, you tame pigeons, you
turtle-doves, and all you birds beneath the sky, come and help me
to pick
           the good into the pot,
           the bad into the crop.
      Then two white pigeons came in by the kitchen-window, and
afterwards the turtle-doves, and at length all the birds beneath the
sky, came whirring and crowding in, and alighted amongst the
ashes.  And the doves nodded with their heads and began pick,
pick, pick, pick, and the others began also pick, pick, pick, pick,
and gathered all the good seeds into the dishes, and before half an
hour was over they had already finished, and all flew out again.
Then the maiden was delighted, and believed that she might now go
with them to the wedding.  But the step-mother said, all this will
not help.  You cannot go with us, for you have no clothes and can
not dance.  We should be ashamed of you.  On this she turned her
back on cinderella, and hurried away with her two proud daughters.
As no one was now at home, cinderella went to her mother's
grave beneath the hazel-tree, and cried -
           shiver and quiver, little tree,
           silver and gold throw down over me.
      Then the bird threw a gold and silver dress down to her, and
slippers embroidered with silk and silver.  She put on the dress
with all speed, and went to the wedding.  Her step-sisters and the
step-mother however did not know her, and thought she must be a
foreign princess, for she looked so beautiful in the golden dress.
They never once thought of cinderella, and believed that she was
sitting at home in the dirt, picking lentils out of the ashes.  The
prince approached her, took her by the hand and danced with her.
He would dance with no other maiden, and never let loose of her
hand, and if any one else came to invite her, he said, this is my
partner.
      She danced till it was evening, and then she wanted to go home.
But the king's son said, I will go with you and bear you company,
for he wished to see to whom the beautiful maiden belonged.
She escaped from him, however, and sprang into the
pigeon-house.  The king's son waited until her father came, and
then he told him that the unknown maiden had leapt into the
pigeon-house.  The old man thought, can it be cinderella.  And
they had to bring him an axe and a pickaxe that he might hew
the pigeon-house to pieces, but no one was inside it.  And when they
got home cinderella lay in her dirty clothes among the ashes, and
a dim little oil-lamp was burning on the mantle-piece, for
cinderella had jumped quickly down from the back of the pigeon-house
and had run to the little hazel-tree, and there she had taken off
her beautiful clothes and laid them on the grave, and the bird had
taken them away again, and then she had seated herself in the
kitchen amongst the ashes in her grey gown.
      Next day when the festival began afresh, and her parents and
the step-sisters had gone once more, cinderella went to the
hazel-tree and said -
           shiver and quiver, my little tree,
           silver and gold throw down over me.
      Then the bird threw down a much more beautiful dress than on
the preceding day. And when cinderella appeared at the wedding
in this dress, every one was astonished at her beauty.  The king's
son had waited until she came, and instantly took her by the hand
and danced with no one but her.  When others came and invited
her, he said, this is my partner.  When evening came she wished
to leave, and the king's son followed her and wanted to see into
which house she went.  But she sprang away from him, and into
the garden behind the house.  Therein stood a beautiful tall tree on
which hung the most magnificent pears.  She clambered so nimbly
between the branches like a squirrel that the king's son did not
know where she was gone.  He waited until her father came, and
said to him, the unknown maiden has escaped from me, and I
believe she has climbed up the pear-tree.  The father thought,
can it be cinderella.  And had an axe brought and cut the
tree down, but no one was on it.  And when they got into the
kitchen, cinderella lay there among the ashes, as usual, for she
had jumped down on the other side of the tree, had taken the
beautiful dress to the bird on the little hazel-tree, and put on her
grey gown.
      On the third day, when the parents and sisters had gone away,
cinderella went once more to her mother's grave and said to the
little tree -
           shiver and quiver, my little tree,
           silver and gold throw down over me.
      And now the bird threw down to her a dress which was more
splendid and magnificent than any she had yet had, and the
slippers were golden.  And when she went to the festival in the
dress, no one knew how to speak for astonishment.  The king's son
danced with her only, and if any one invited her to dance, he said
this is my partner.
      When evening came, cinderella wished to leave, and the king's
son was anxious to go with her, but she escaped from him so quickly
that he could not follow her.  The king's son, however, had
employed a ruse, and had caused the whole staircase to be smeared
with pitch, and there, when she ran down, had the maiden's left
slipper remained stuck.  The king's son picked it up, and it was
small and dainty, and all golden.  Next morning, he went with it to
the father, and said to him, no one shall be my wife but she whose
foot this golden slipper fits.  Then were the two sisters glad,
for they had pretty feet.  The eldest went with the shoe into her
room and wanted to try it on, and her mother stood by.  But she
could not get her big toe into it, and the shoe was too small for
her.  Then her mother gave her a knife and said, cut the toe off,
when you are queen you will have no more need to go on foot.  The
maiden cut the toe off, forced the foot into the shoe, swallowed
the pain, and went out to the king's son.  Then he took her on his
his horse as his bride and rode away with her.  They were
obliged, however, to pass the grave, and there, on the hazel-tree,
sat the two pigeons and cried -
           turn and peep, turn and peep,
           there's blood within the shoe,
           the shoe it is too small for her,
           the true bride waits for you.
      Then he looked at her foot and saw how the blood was trickling
from it.  He turned his horse round and took the false bride
home again, and said she was not the true one, and that the
other sister was to put the shoe on.  Then this one went into her
chamber and got her toes safely into the shoe, but her heel was
too large.  So her mother gave her a knife and said,  cut a bit
off your heel, when you are queen you will have no more need
to go on foot.  The maiden cut a bit off her heel, forced
her foot into the shoe, swallowed the pain, and went out to the
king's son.  He took her on his horse as his bride, and rode away
with her, but when they passed by the hazel-tree, the two pigeons
sat on it and cried -
           turn and peep, turn and peep,
           there's blood within the shoe,
           the shoe it is too small for her,
           the true bride waits for you.
      He looked down at her foot and saw how the blood was running
out of her shoe, and how it had stained her white stocking quite
red.  Then he turned his horse and took the false bride home
again.  This also is not the right one, said he, have you no
other daughter.  No, said the man, there is still a little
stunted kitchen-wench which my late wife left behind her, but
she cannot possibly be the bride.  The king's son said he was
to send her up to him, but the mother answered, oh, no, she is
much too dirty, she cannot show herself.  But he absolutely
insisted on it, and cinderella had to be called.  She first
washed her hands and face clean, and then went and bowed down
before the king's son, who gave her the golden shoe.  Then she
seated herself on a stool, drew her foot out of the heavy
wooden shoe, and put it into the slipper, which fitted like a
glove.  And when she rose up and the king's son looked at her
face he recognized the beautiful maiden who had danced with
him and cried, that is the true bride.  The step-mother and
the two sisters were horrified and became pale with rage, he,
however, took cinderella on his horse and rode away with her.  As
they passed by the hazel-tree, the two white doves cried -
           turn and peep, turn and peep,
           no blood is in the shoe,
           the shoe is not too small for her,
           the true bride rides with you,
and when they had cried that, the two came flying down and
placed themselves on cinderella's shoulders, one on the right,
the other on the left, and remained sitting there.
When the wedding with the king's son was to be celebrated, the
two false sisters came and wanted to get into favor with
cinderella and share her good fortune.  When the betrothed
couple went to church, the elder was at the right side and the
younger at the left, and the pigeons pecked out one eye from
each of them.  Afterwards as they came back the elder was at
the left, and the younger at the right, and then the pigeons
pecked out the other eye from each.  And thus, for their
wickedness and falsehood, they were punished with blindness
all their days.

忠实的约翰

很久以前，有个老国王生了重病，当他意识到自己剩下的时间已经不多时，就对身边的人说：“传忠实的约翰进来见我。”忠实的约翰是一个仆人，老国王之所 以这样称呼他，是因为他侍候国王很久了，而且非常忠诚可靠，也最受老国王喜爱。当约翰来到床边时，国王说道：“我忠实的约翰，我知道自己不行了。现在我放 不下心的就是我的儿子，他还小，需要良师益友的辅助，除了你，我没有什么好托付的朋友了。如果你不发誓把他应该懂得的东西教给他，做他的干爹，我不能安然 瞑目。”听到这些话，约翰说道：“我决不会离他而去，我一定忠实地辅助他，即使献出我的生命也在所不惜。”国王欣然说道：“现在我就放心了。我死后，你领 着他把整座王宫的所有房间和库房，包括房子里的所有财宝看一遍。但要注意，有一间房子不能让他进去，就是那间挂有金屋公主画像的房间。如果他进去看了，就 会深深地爱上她，并会因此而陷入万劫不复的险境。你千万要负起这个责任来。”当忠实的约翰再一次问老国王发誓以后，老国王安然地躺在枕头上死去了。

老国王被安葬之后，忠实的约翰把老国王临终前的一切嘱托和自己的誓言都告诉了年青的国王，并说道：“我一定会忠实地执行自己的诺言，对你就像对你的父亲一样忠诚不二，即使献出自己的生命也在所不辞。”年青的国王哭泣着说：

“我永远也不会忘记你的忠心。”

丧事办完以后，忠实的约翰对他的小主人说：“现在你应该看看你所继承的财产了，我带你去你父亲的宫殿里看看吧。”接着他引导小主人在王宫上上下下的各 个地方都巡视了一遍，让他看过了所有的财富和豪华的房厅，唯独挂着图像的那间房子没有打开。因为，那里面挂着的画像只要门一打开就看得见。那画像画得实在 是太美了，让人看了会有种呼之欲出的感觉，世界上再也没有什么东西比画上的女子更可爱、更美丽了。年青的国王发现忠实的约翰总是直接走过这间房子，却并不 打开房门，就问道：“你为什么不打开这间房子呢？” 他回答说：“里面有会使你感到恐惧的东西。”但国王说：“我已把整个王宫看完了，也想知道这里面是什么。”说完，他走上去用力要打开那扇房门，可忠实的约 翰拉着他的后背说：“在你父亲临终前我发过誓，无论如何也不能让你走进这间房子，否则你和我都会大难临头的。”年青的国王固执地说道：“对我来说，最大的 不幸就是不能进去看看，只要没有进去看，我就会日夜不得安宁，所以你不打开它，我就不走。”

忠实的约翰看到他再怎么劝说，年青的国王就是不肯离去，心里有了不祥的预感，沉重地叹了叹气，从一大串钥匙中找出一片钥匙，打开了这个房子的门。门一 打开，约翰便先走了进去，站在了国王和画像之间，希望能挡着画像不让国王看见，但年青的国王却踮着脚尖从他的肩头看过去，一下子就看到了公主的肖像。目睹 画上穿金戴银的少女如此美丽动人、娇艳妩媚的容貌，他心情激动极了，竟马上倒在楼板上昏了过去。忠实的约翰赶紧将他扶起，把他抱到他自己的床上，心里一个 劲地想：“唉——！不幸已经降临在我们的头上，上帝啊！这可怎么办呢？”

经过努力，国王才好不容易被救醒，但他说的第一句话就是：“那美丽画像上的少女是谁呀？”忠实的约翰回答说：“那是金屋国王女儿的画像。”国王又继续 问道：“我太爱她了，就是树上的叶子全部变成我的舌头也难以诉说我对她的爱恋。我要去找她！哪怕是冒着生命危险也要去找她！你是我忠实的朋友，你必须帮助 我。”

对于如何来帮助年青的国王，满足他的愿望，约翰思考了很久，最后他对国王说：“据传说，她周围的一切用具都是金子做的：桌子、凳子、杯子、碟子和屋子 里的所有东西都是金质的，并且她还在不停地寻求新的财宝。你现在贮藏了许多金子，找一些工匠把这些金子做成各种容器和珍禽异兽，然后我们带着这些财宝去碰 碰运气吧。”于是，国王下令找来了所有技艺高超的金匠，他们夜以继日地用金子赶制各种工艺品，终于把金子都做成了最漂亮的珍玩。忠实的约翰把它们都装上一 条大船，他和国王都换上商人的服饰，这样别人也就不可能认出他们了。

一切准备停当后，他们扬帆出海了。经过昼夜不停的航行，他们终于找到了金屋国王管辖的领地。船靠岸后，忠实的约翰要国王待在船上等着他回来，他说： “或许我有可能把金屋公主带来，因此，你们要把船内收拾整齐，将金器珍玩摆设出来，整条船都要用它们装饰起来。”接着他把每样金制品都拿了一个放进篮子 里，上岸向王宫走去。

当他来到城堡的大院时，看见一口井边站着一个漂亮的少女，她正提着两只金桶在井里打水。就在少女担着金光闪闪的水桶转过身时，她也看到了这个陌生人， 她问他是谁。他走上前去说道：“我是一个商人。”说罢打开篮子，让她来看篮子里的东西。少女一看，惊奇地叫道：“嗬！多么漂亮的东西呀！”她放下水桶，把 一件又一件金器看过之后说道：“国王的女儿最喜欢这些东西了，应该让她看看，她会把这些全都买下的。”说完，她牵着他的手，把他带进了王宫，因为她是国王 女儿的一名侍女，她向卫兵说明情况之后，他们就放行了。

公主看过他带的这些货样后，非常兴奋地说道：“太漂亮了，我要把它们全买下。”忠实的约翰说道：“我只是一位富商的仆人，我带的这些和他放在船上的比 根本算不了什么，他那儿还有你从来没有见过的最精致最昂贵的金制工艺品哩！”公主听了之后，要他把所有的东西都拿上岸来，但他说道：“要拿的话得要不少天 才能卸完，因为太多了，就是把它们放在这儿最大的房间里也放不下呀。”他这一说，公主的好奇心和欲望越发大了，忍不住说道：“带我到你们的船上去吧，我要 亲自看看你主人的货物。”

忠实的约翰非常高兴，引着她来到岸边。当国王看见她时，他觉得自己的心都要跳出嗓子眼了，情不自禁地马上迎了上去。公主一上船他就引她进船舱去了。忠实的约翰来到船尾找着舵手，令他马上起航，“张满风帆！”他喊道，“让船在波涛中像鸟儿在空中飞行一样地前进。”

国王把船上的金制品一件一件地拿给公主过目，其中有各种各样的碟子、杯子、盆子和珍禽异兽等等。公主满心欢喜地欣赏着每一件艺术珍品，一点也没有察觉 船离岸起航。几个小时过去了，在看完所有的东西后，她很有礼貌地对这个商人表示了谢意，说她应该回家了。可当她走出船舱、来到船头时，才发现船早已离岸， 此刻船正张满风帆在茫茫大海上飞速航行。公主吓得尖声叫道：“上帝啊！我被诱骗了，被拐走了，落进了一个流动商贩的掌握之中，我宁可死去。”但国王却拉着 她的手说道：“我不是一个商人，我是一个国王，和你一样出身于王室。用这种蒙骗你的方法把你带出来，是因为我非常非常地爱你。当第一次看到你的画像时我就 情不自禁地昏倒在地上。”金屋公主听完后，这才放下心来。经过交谈了解，她很快也倾心于他，愿意嫁给他做妻子了。

但就在他们在茫茫大海上航行之时，却发生了这样一件事情。这天，忠实的约翰正坐在船头吹奏他的长笛，突然看见三只渡鸦在天空中向他飞过来，嘴里不停地 叽叽喳喳。约翰懂得鸟语，所以，他马上停止吹奏，留心听着渡鸦之间的对话。第一只渡鸦说：“他去了！他赢得了金屋公主的爱，让他去吧！”第二只渡鸦说： “不！他这一去，仍然得不到公主。” 第三只渡鸦说：“他这一去，一定能娶她，你们看他俩在船上并肩在一起的亲热样子吧！” 接着第一只渡鸦又开口说道：“那对他有什么用？不信你就看吧，当他们登上岸后，会有一匹红棕色的马向他跑来。看到那匹马，他肯定会骑上去。只要他骑上那匹 马，那马就会载着他跳到空中去，他就再也别想看到他的爱人了。”第二只渡鸦接着说道：“正是这样！正是这样！但有什么办法吗？”第一只渡鸦说：“有，有！ 如果有人坐上那匹马，抽出插在马鞍里的匕首把马刺死，年青的国王才能得救，可有谁知道呢？就是有人知道，谁又会告诉他呢？因为只要他将此事告诉国王，并因 此而救了国王的命，那么，他的腿从脚趾到膝部整个都会变成石头。”第二只渡鸦说：“正是这样，正是这样！但我还知道别的哩！尽管那马死了，国王还是娶不到 新娘。因为当他们一起走进王宫时，就会看到睡椅上有一套新婚礼服，那套礼服看起来就像用金子和银子编织而成的，其实那都是一些硫磺和沥膏。只要他穿上那套 礼服，礼服就会把他烧死，一直烧到骨髓里面去。”第三只渡鸦说道：“哎呀呀！难道就没救了吗？”第二只渡鸦说：“哦！有，有！如果有人抢上前去，抓起礼服 把它们扔进火盆里去，年青的国王就得救了。但那有什么用呢？要是有谁知道，并告诉了这个人，他按这种办法救了国王，那他的身体从膝盖到胸部都会变成石头， 谁又会这样干呢？”第三只渡鸦又说道：“还有，还有！我知道的还要多一些哩！即使礼服被烧掉了，但国王仍然娶不成新娘。因为，在结婚典礼之后，当舞会开始 时，只要年青的王后上去跳舞，她马上会倒在地上，脸色苍白得像死人一样。不过，这时要是有人上前扶起她，从她的右乳房中吸出三滴血，她才不会死去。但要是 有谁知道这些，又将这个方法告诉某个人，这个人按这个方法救了新娘，那他的身体从脚尖到头顶都会变成石头。”接着，渡鸦拍着翅膀飞走了。忠实的约翰已听懂 了一切，他开始犯愁了，可他并没有把他听到的事情告诉他的主人。因为他知道如果告诉了他，他一定会舍生救自己，最后他自言自语地说：“我一定要忠实地执行 我的诺言，那怕付出自己的生命也要救我的主人。”

在他们上岸后，渡鸦的预言应验了，岸边突然跳出一匹神俊的红棕色马来，国王喊道： “快看，他一定会把我们送到王宫去的。”说完就要去上马。说时迟，那时快，忠实的约翰抢在他之前骑上马，抽出匕首把马杀死了。国王的其他仆人原来就对他很 嫉妒，这一来，他们都叫道：“他杀死送国王回宫的骏马，太不像话了！”但国王却说道：“让他去做吧，他是我忠实的约翰，谁知道他这样做不是为了有好的结果 呢？”

当他们来到王宫，看见有间房子的靠椅上放着一套漂亮的礼服，礼服闪烁着金色和银色的光芒。年青的国王走上前去准备把它们拿起来，但忠实的约翰却把它们 一把抓过，扔进火里烧掉了。其他的仆人又咕哝着说：“看吧，现在他又把结婚礼服给烧掉了。”但国王还是说道：“谁知道他这么做是为了什么呢？让他做吧！他 是我忠实的仆人约翰。”

结婚盛典举行后，舞会开始了，新娘一走进舞场，约翰就全神贯注地盯着她的脸，突然间，新娘脸色苍白，就像死了一样倒在地上。约翰迅速地弹身向她跃去， 将她挟起，抱着她来到内室一张靠椅上，从她的右乳房中吸出了三滴血。新娘又开始呼吸，并活了过来。但年青的国王看到了全部过程，他不知道忠实的约翰为什么 要这样做，只是对他的胆大妄为非常气愤，便下令说道：“把他关到牢房里去。”

第二天上午，忠实的约翰被押出牢房，推到了绞刑架前，面对绞刑架，他说道：“在我死之前，我可以说件事吗？”国王回答说：“准许你的请求。”于是，约 翰将在海上听到渡鸦的对话以及他如何决心救自己主子的全部经过都说了出来，最后他说道：“我现在受到了错误的判决，但我自始至终都是忠实而真诚的。”

当听完约翰的叙述，国王大声呼喊道：“哎呀！我最忠实的约翰！请原谅我！请原谅我！快把他放下来！”但就在忠实的约翰说完最后一句话之后，他倒下去变 成了一块没有生命的石头。国王和王后趴在石像上悲痛不已，国王说道：“天哪！我竟然以这种忘恩负义的方法来对待你的忠诚呀！”他令人将石像扶起，抬到了他 的卧室，安放在自己的床边，使自己能经常看到它、哀悼它。他对石像说：“唉——！我忠实的约翰，但愿我能让你复活！”

过了一年，王后生下了两个双胞胎儿子，看着他们慢慢长大，她心里高兴极了。有一天，她去了教堂，两个儿子和国王待在王宫里。小家伙到处玩耍，国王对着 石像唉声叹气，哭泣着说道：“唉，我忠实的约翰，但愿我能够让你复活！”这一次，石像竟开始说话了，它说道：“国王啊！要是你为我能舍弃你最亲爱的人儿， 就能让我复活。”国王一听，坚定地说道：“为了你，我愿付出世界上的任何东西。”“既然这样，”石像说道，“只要你砍下你两个孩子的头，将他们的血洒在我 身上，我就会复活了。”听到这里，国王马上震惊起来，但他想到忠实的约翰是为他而死去的，想到他对自己忠心耿耿、誓死如归的高尚品行，便站直身来，拔出佩 剑，准备去砍下他两个孩子的头，将他们的血洒在石像上。但就在他拔出佩剑的一刹那，忠实的约翰复活了，他站在国王的面前，挡住了他的去路，说道：“你的真 心诚意应该得到报答。”两个孩子仍欢蹦活跳、喧闹嘻戏着，就像什么事也没有发生过一样。

国王满心欢喜。当他看到王后回来了，就想试一试她。他把忠实的约翰和两个儿子藏进了一个大衣橱里面。当走她进房子后，他对她说：“你去教堂祈祷了 吗？”王后回答：“是的，我总是思念着忠实的约翰，想着他对我们的忠诚。”国王说道：“亲爱的夫人，我们能够使约翰复活，但必须以我们小儿子的死作代价， 要救他就得舍去他们。”王后听了大吃一惊，脸唰地变得毫无血色，但她仍坚定地说道：“只好这样了，没有他无私的忠心与真诚，就没有我们的今天，没有我们的 小孩。”国王欣喜若狂地欢呼起来，因为妻子和自己的想法完全一样。他马上跑去打开衣橱，把两个孩子和忠实的约翰放了出来，说道：“上帝也会为此而感到骄 傲！他又和我们在一起了，我们的儿子也安然无恙。”接着他把全部经过告诉了她，大家高高兴兴欢地欢聚一堂，生活又充满了幸福和快乐。