首发:~第1章 皇帝的新装 The Emperor’s New Suit
每天有许多来自世界各地的陌生人到来。
every day many strangers from all parts of the globe arrived
一天,两个骗子来到了这个城市;
one day two swindlers came to this city;
他们让人们相信他们是织工,并宣称他们能织出能想象到的最精美的布。
they made people believe that they were weavers, and declared they could manufacture the finest cloth to be imagined
他们说,他们的颜色和图案不仅格外美丽,而且用他们的材料制成的衣服有一个奇妙的特性:任何不称职或者愚蠢得不可救药的人都看不见。
their colours and patterns, they said, were not only exceptionally beautiful, but the clothes made of their material possessed the wonderful quality of being invisible to any man who was unfit for his office or unpardonably stupid
“那一定是很棒的布,” 皇帝想。
“that must be wonderful cloth,” thought the emperor
“如果我穿上用这种布做的衣服,我就能找出我的帝国里哪些人不称职,我就能区分聪明人和愚蠢的人。
“if i were to be dressed in a suit made of this cloth i should be able to find out which men in my empire were unfit for their places, and i could distinguish the clever from the stupid
我必须马上让人给我织这种布。”
i must have this cloth woven for me without delay”
于是他预先给了骗子一大笔钱,好让他们立刻开始工作。
and he gave a large sum of money to the swindlers, in advance, that they should set to work without any loss of time
他们支起了两架织布机,假装非常努力地工作,但在织布机上什么也没做。
they set up two looms, and pretended to be very hard at work, but they did nothing whatever on the looms
他们索要最精美的丝绸和最贵重的金布;
they asked for the finest silk and the most precious gold - cloth;
他们把得到的东西都拿走了,在空织布机上一直工作到深夜。
all they got they did away with, and worked at the empty looms till late at night
“我很想知道他们织布织得怎么样了,” 皇帝想。
“i should very much like to know how they are getting on with the cloth,” thought the emperor
但当他想起不称职的人是看不见这布的时候,他就感到相当不安。
but he felt rather uneasy when he remembered that he who was not fit for his office could not see it
就他个人而言,他认为自己没什么好害怕的,但他还是觉得先派别人去看看情况比较明智。
personally, he was of opinion that he had nothing to fear, yet he thought it advisable to send somebody else first to see how matters stood
城里的每个人都知道这种布料有多么非凡的特性,所有人都急于看看他们的邻居有多坏或者有多愚蠢。
everybody in the town knew what a remarkable quality the stuff possessed, and all were anxious to see how bad or stupid their neighbours were
“我要派我诚实的老大臣去织工那儿,” 皇帝想。
“i shall send my honest old minister to the weavers,” thought the emperor
“他最能判断这布料看起来怎么样,因为他很聪明,没有人比他更了解自己的职责。”
“he can judge best how the stuff looks, for he is intelligent, and nobody understands his office better than he”
这位善良的老大臣走进骗子们坐在空织布机前的房间。
the good old minister went into the room where the swindlers sat before the empty looms
“上天保佑我们!” 他想,然后睁大了眼睛,“我根本什么都看不见,” 但他没有说出来。
“heaven preserve us!” he thought, and opened his eyes wide, “i cannot see anything at all,” but he did not say so
两个骗子都请他走近些,指着空织布机问他是否不欣赏这精美的图案和美丽的颜色。
both swindlers requested him to e near, and asked him if he did not admire the exquisite pattern and the beautiful colours, pointing to the empty looms
可怜的老大臣尽了最大的努力,但他什么也看不见,因为根本没有东西可看。
the poor old minister tried his very best, but he could see nothing, for there was nothing to be seen
“哦,天哪,” 他想,“我会这么愚蠢吗?
“oh dear,” he thought, “can i be so stupid
我从来没有这样想过,而且谁也不能知道这件事!有没有可能我不称职呢?
i should never have thought so, and nobody must know it! is it possible that i am not fit for my office
不,不,我不能说我看不见布。”
no, no, i cannot say that i was unable to see the cloth”
“喂,你没有什么话要说吗?”
“now, have you got nothing to say”
其中一个骗子说,同时假装忙着织布。
said one of the swindlers, while he pretended to be busily weaving
“哦,它非常漂亮,极其美丽,” 老大臣透过眼镜看了看回答说。
“oh, it is very pretty, exceedingly beautiful,” replied the old minister looking through his glasses
“多么美丽的图案,多么鲜艳的颜色啊!我要告诉皇帝我非常喜欢这块布。”
“what a beautiful pattern, what brilliant colours! i shall tell the emperor that i like the cloth very much”
“我们很高兴听到这个消息,” 两个织工说,然后向他描述了颜色并解释了奇特的图案。
“we are pleased to hear that,” said the two weavers, and described to him the colours and explained the curious pattern
老大臣仔细地听着,以便能向皇帝转述他们的话;他也确实这么做了。
the old minister listened attentively, that he might relate to the emperor what they said; and so he did