第49章 養豬人 The Swineherd(第1/9 頁)

《養豬人》，1842 年

the Swineherd, 1842

從前有一位貧窮的王子，他擁有一個王國。

there was once a poor prince, who had a kingdom.

他的王國非常小，但仍然足夠大到可以用來成婚；而且他也想結婚。

his kingdom was very small, but still quite large enough to marry upon; and he wished to marry.

他對皇帝的女兒說：“你願意嫁給我嗎？” 這確實顯得他有點太冒失了。

It was certainly rather cool of him to say to the Emperor’s daughter, “will you have me?”

但他就是這麼做了；因為他的名字遠近聞名；而且有一百隻公主會回答：“願意！” 並且 “衷心感謝您。”

but so he did; for his name was renowned far and wide; and there were a hundred princesses who would have answered, “Yes!” and “thank you kindly.”

我們來看看這位公主是怎麼說的。

we shall see what this princess said.

聽著！

Listen!

碰巧在王子的父親下葬的地方，長著一棵玫瑰樹 —— 一棵極其美麗的玫瑰樹，它每五年才開一次花，而且即便開花也只開一朵，但那可是一朵玫瑰啊！它的香氣如此芬芳，以至於聞到它香味的人都會忘卻所有的煩惱和憂愁。

It happened that where the prince’s father lay buried, there grew a rose tree — a most beautiful rose tree, which blossomed only once in every five years, and even then bore only one flower, but that was a rose! It smelt so sweet that all cares and sorrows were forgotten by him who inhaled its fragrance.

而且，王子還有一隻夜鶯，它唱歌的方式美妙極了，彷彿所有甜美的旋律都藏在它小小的喉嚨裡。

And furthermore, the prince had a nightingale, who could sing in such a manner that it seemed as though all sweet melodies dwelt in her little throat.

所以公主將會得到這朵玫瑰和這隻夜鶯；於是它們就被放進了大銀盒子裡，送去給她了。

So the princess was to have the rose, and the nightingale; and they were accordingly put into large silve