格林童話：千皮獸(英)

　　Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

　　Once upon a time there was a king, who had a wife with golden hair, and she was so beautiful that her equal was not to be found anywhere on earth.

　　It happened that she fell ill, and when she felt that she was about to die, she called the king to her and said, "If you want to remarry after my death then do not take anyone who is not as beautiful as I am, and who does not have such golden hair as mine. That you must promise me."

　　After the king had promised her this, she closed her eyes and died.

　　For a long time the king could not be comforted, and he did not consider taking a second wife. Finally his councilors said, "There is no other way. The king must remarry, so that we will have a queen."

　　Then messengers were sent out far and wide to seek a bride, who in beauty was entirely the equal of the deceased queen. However, no such bride could be found in the whole world. And even if a bride this beautiful had been found, she would not have had such golden hair. Thus the messengers returned home without success.

　　Now the king had a daughter who was just as beautiful as her deceased mother, and who also had such golden hair. After she had come of age, the king looked at her one day that she resembled his deceased wife in every way, and he suddenly felt a great love for her.

　　Then he said to his councilors, "I will marry my daughter, for she is the image of my deceased wife, and nowhere else can I find a bride who is her equal."

　　When the councilors heard this they were horrified and said, "God has forbidden that a father should marry his daughter. Nothing good can come from sin, and the kingdom will be pulled along into ruin."

　　The daughter was even more horrified when she heard her father's decision. Hoping to dissuade him from his intentions, she said to him, "Before I fulfill your wish, I must have three dresses: one as golden as the sun, one as silver as the moon, and one that glistens like the stars. Further, I must have a cloak put together from a thousand kinds of pelts and fur. Every animal in your kingdom must contribute a piece of its skin for it."

　　Now she thought, "That will be entirely impossible for him to achieve, and in this way I will divert my father from his wicked thoughts."

　　But the king did not give in, and the most skilled maidens in his kingdom had to weave the three dresses, one as golden as the sun, one as silver as the moon, and one that glistened like the stars. And his huntsmen had to capture all the animals in his entire kingdom and take a piece of skin from each one. From these a cloak of a thousand kinds of fur was made.

　　Finally, when everything was finished, the king had the cloak brought to him. Spreading it out, he said, "Tomorrow is our wedding day."

　　When the king's daughter saw that there was no more hope to change her father's mind, she made the decision to run away. During the night, while everyone was asleep, she got up and took three things from among her valuables: a golden ring, a little golden spinning wheel, and a little golden reel. She put the three dresses from the sun, moon, and stars into a nutshell, put on the cloak of all kinds of fur, blackened her hands and face with soot. Then surrendering herself to God, she set forth. She walked the entire night until she came to a great forest. Being tired, she sat down in a hollow tree and fell asleep.

　　The sun came up, and she continued to sleep, and she was still asleep by broad daylight. Now it came to pass that the king who owned these woods was hunting in them. When his dogs approached the tree they sniffed then ran around it barking.

　　The king said to the huntsmen. "See what kind of wild animal is hiding there."

　　The huntsmen followed his command, and when they returned they said, "A strange animal, like none we have ever seen before, is lying in the hollow tree. There are a thousand kinds of fur on its skin. It is just lying there asleep."

　　The king said, "See if you can capture it alive, then tie it onto the cart and bring it along."

　　When the huntsmen took hold of the girl, she awoke. Filled with fear, she cried out, "I am a poor child who has been abandoned by her father and mother. Have pity on me and take me with you."

　　Then they said, "All-Kinds-of-Fur, you are good for the kitchen. Come with us. You can sweep up the ashes."

　　Thus they set her on the cart and drove her home to the royal castle. There they showed her a little cubbyhole under the stairs, where the light of day never entered, and said, "This is where you can live and sleep, you furry little animal."

　　Then she was sent to the kitchen, where she carried wood and water, tended the fire, plucked the poultry, sorted vegetables, swept up the ashes, and did all the dirty work.

　　All-Kinds-of-Fur lived there miserable for a long time. Oh, you beautiful princess, what will become of you?

　　Now one day it happened that a banquet was being held in the castle, and she said to the cook, "May I go up for a little while and take a look? I will stand outside the door."

　　The cook answered, "Yes, go ahead. But you have to be back here in a half hour and carry out the ashes."

　　Then she took her oil lamp and went into her cubbyhole. Taking off her fur cloak, she washed the soot from her hands and face so that her full beauty again came to light. Then she opened the nut and took out her dress that glistened like the sun. And after she had done all this she went upstairs to the banquet. Everyone stepped out of her way, for no one knew her, and everyone thought that she was a princess.

　　The king approached her, reached his hand out to her, and danced with her, and thought in his heart, "My eyes have never before seen such beauty."

　　When the dance had ended, she curtsied, and while the king was looking around, she disappeared, and no one knew where she had gone. The guards who stood watch in front of the castle were called and questioned, but no one had seen her.

　　Now she had run back to her cubbyhole, quickly taken off her dress, blackened her hands and face, put on the fur cloak, and was once again All-Kinds-of-Fur.

　　After she had returned to the kitchen and was about to set to work and sweep up the ashes, the cook said, "That's enough until tomorrow. Make the king's soup for me, so I can have a look upstairs, but don't let a hair fall into it, or in the future there will nothing more for you to eat."

　　Then the cook went away, and All-Kinds-of-Fur made soup for the king. She made bread soup, and as good as she knew how. When it was done, she got her golden ring from the cubbyhole and placed it in the bowl that the soup was in.

　　When the dance was over, the king had his soup brought to him. He ate it, and it tasted so good to him, that he thought he had never eaten a better soup. But when he reached the bottom of the bowl, he saw a golden ring lying there, and he could not imagine how it had gotten there.

　　He ordered the cook to come before him. The cook was terrified when he heard this order, and he said to All-Kinds-of-Fur, "For sure you let a hair fall into the soup. If that's true, you'll get a beating."

　　When the cook came before the king he was asked who had cooked the soup, and he answered, "I cooked it."

　　The king said, "That is not true, for it was made in a different way, and much better than usual."

　　The cook answered, "I must confess that I did not cook it, it was the little furry animal."

　　The king said, "Go and have her come up here."

　　When All-Kinds-of-Fur arrived, the king asked, "Who are you."

　　"I am a poor child who no longer has a father or a mother."

　　He asked further, "What are you doing in my castle?"

　　She answered, "I am good for nothing, except having boots thrown at my head."

　　He asked further, "Where did you get the ring that was in the soup?"

　　She answered, "I do not know anything about the ring."

　　Thus the king could learn nothing, and he had to send her away again.

　　Some time later there was another banquet, and All-Kinds-of-Fur, as before, asked the cook for permission to have a look. He answered, "Yes, but come back in a half hour and cook the bread soup for the king that he likes so much."

　　She ran to her cubbyhole, quickly washed herself then took from the nut the dress that was as silver as the moon and put it on. Then she went upstairs and looked like a princess. The king came up to her and was delighted to see her again, and because a dance was just beginning, they danced together. But as soon as the dance was over she again disappeared so quickly that the king did not notice where she went.

　　She ran to her cubbyhole, turned herself back into a furry animal, and went to the kitchen to make the bread soup. While the cook was upstairs she got the golden spinning wheel and put it in the bowl, so that the soup was prepared on top of it. Then it was taken to the king, who ate it, and it tasted as good to him as the last time. He had the cook brought before him, who again had to confess that All-Kinds-of-Fur had made the soup. All-Kinds-of-Fur again came before the king, and she answered that she was only good for having boots thrown at her head, and that she knew nothing at all about the little golden spinning wheel.

　　When the king gave a banquet for the third time, everything happened as before. But this time the cook said, "You are a witch, you furry animal, always putting something in the soup that makes it very good and taste better to the king." But because she asked, he allowed her to look in on the ball at the appointed time.

　　This time she put on the dress that glistened like the stars, and thus clothed she stepped into the hall. The king danced again with the beautiful maiden, thinking that she had never been so beautiful. And while he was dancing he placed a golden ring on her finger, without her noticing it. Further, he had ordered that this dance should last a long time. When it was over, he tried to keep hold of her by her hands, but she tore herself loose and jumped so quickly into the crowd that she disappeared before his eyes. She ran as fast as she could to her cubbyhole beneath the steps, but because she had stayed away too long, more than a half hour, she could not take off the beautiful dress, but instead just threw the fur cloak on over it. And in her haste she did not cover herself entirely with soot, and one finger remained white.

　　All-Kinds-of-Fur now ran into the kitchen, made the bread soup for the king, and while the cook was away, put the golden reel in it.

　　When the king found the reel at the bottom of his bowl had All-Kinds-of-Fur called before him. Catching sight of the white finger, he saw the ring that he had put on her while they were dancing. He seized her by the hand and held her fast. As she attempted to free herself and run away, her fur cloak opened a little, and the dress of stars glistened out. The king grabbed the cloak and tore it off. He golden hair appeared, and she stood there in full splendor, no longer able to hide. And after she had wiped the soot and ashes from her face, she was more beautiful than anyone who had ever been seen on earth.

　　The king said, "You are my dear bride, and we shall never part."

　　Then their wedding was celebrated, and they lived happily until they died.

　　從前有個國王，他的妻子長著一頭金發(fā)，她的美貌在世界上是絕無僅有的。可不幸的是她病倒了，而且很快就要死了。她將國王叫到跟前說：「如果你想在我死后再娶，答應(yīng)我一定要娶一個和我一樣美、一樣有一頭金發(fā)的女人?！箛醮饝?yīng)了，王后便閉上眼睛死了。

　　國王難過了很長時間，根本無心再娶。最后他的大臣們說：「不能再這樣下去了，國王一定要再娶一個，我們也好有個王后?！轨妒窍蛩拿姘朔脚沙鍪拐?，尋找和已故王后一樣美麗的姑娘。可是全國都找遍了卻沒有找到，偶爾找到一個漂亮的，又沒有王后那樣的金發(fā)，使者們只好空手而歸。

　　國王有個女兒，長得和母親一模一樣，而且也是一頭金發(fā)，她一天一天長大了。國王看著她，覺得她無處不似已故的妻子，因而對她產(chǎn)生了強烈的愛。他對大臣們說：「我要娶我女兒，她就是我前妻的再現(xiàn)。我再也找不到有誰更像她了?！勾蟪紓兇篌@失色地說：「上帝是禁止父親娶女兒的。犯這樣的罪不會有好結(jié)果，而且整個國家都會遭殃的?！?/p>

　　公主得知父親的打算后更是震驚，可她希望能使父親改變主意。於是她對父親說：「在我答應(yīng)你的要求之前，我必須得到三件衣服：一件像太陽那樣金光閃耀、一件像月亮那樣銀光四溢、一件像星星那樣明亮閃爍。除此以外，我還要一件斗篷，必須是用上千種不同動物的皮毛縫制的。你國度里的每一種動物都必須獻上一塊皮毛?！构飨耄骸高@些都是不可能辦到的。這樣就可以讓父親改變主意了。然而國王沒有放棄，他吩咐手藝最巧的姑娘織那三件衣服……一件像太陽般閃耀、一件像月亮般流銀、一件像星星般璀燦;他還吩咐最優(yōu)秀的獵人去捕捉每一種動物，然后取其皮毛縫制千獸皮斗篷。等一切準備停當，國王叫人在公主面前展開斗篷，說：」我們明天就舉行婚禮?！腹饕豢礇]法讓父親回心轉(zhuǎn)意，便決定遠走他鄉(xiāng)。晚上，當人們都睡熟之后，公主從珠寶盒里取出一個金戒指、一個金紡輪和一個金線軸，然后將陽光、月亮和星星三件衣服等物裝進一只小匣子，用煙灰將手腳和臉涂得黑黑的，披上千獸皮斗篷出發(fā)了。她聽天由命地走了一整夜，來到一座大森林里。她累極了，便爬進一個樹洞睡著了。

　　太陽出來了，公主還沒醒;中午了，她仍然熟睡著。這森林是一個國王的，那天他剛巧出來打獵，獵狗跑到樹洞口嗅了又嗅，然后圍著樹」汪汪「直叫。國王對跟來的獵手說：」去看看是甚么野獸躲在那兒。「獵人去了之后回來說：」有頭奇怪的動物在樹洞里睡覺，身上的皮是上千種獸皮拼起來的。我們以前還從沒見過這種動物呢?！竾蹯妒钦f：」試試能不能活捉。如果能就捆好讓我?guī)Щ赝鯇m去?！斧C手抓住了公主，姑娘驚恐萬狀地喊道：」我是個被父母遺棄的可憐的孩子，可憐可憐我，帶我走吧?！斧C手說：」千皮獸，我看你在廚房里幫著掃掃爐灰還行。跟我來吧?！杆麄冏尮魃狭笋R車，把她帶回了王宮，指著樓梯底下一間不透光的衣帽間對她說：」毛傢伙，你住在這兒吧。「從此公主被派到廚房扛柴火、挑水、掃爐膛灰、拔雞鴨毛、揀菜、掏爐膛……，干各種又髒又累的活兒。千皮獸在那里度過了很長一段時間的悲慘生活。啊，美麗的公主，你現(xiàn)在都成甚么模樣了!

　　然而有一天，宮里開宴會，公主對廚師說：」能讓我上樓看一看么?只在門外看看?！浮谷グ??！笍N師說，」不過過半小時你得回來掏爐膛灰。「公主拿起油燈回到自己那間斗室，脫下毛斗篷，洗凈臉上和手腳上的煙黑，她的美貌立刻大放光彩。她打開小匣子，拿出那件金光燦爛的衣服穿上，走進宴會大廳。人們紛紛給她讓路，盡管沒人認識她，可都覺得她有公主的氣派。國王走過來，伸手邀請她跳舞，心想：」我還從來沒見過這么美麗的人呢!「一曲終了時，公主向國王行了個曲膝禮。等國王抬頭再看時，公主已不知去向了。他召來站在宮門口的衛(wèi)兵問，可誰都說沒見過。公主跑回了那間斗室，迅速脫下衣服，把臉和手腳重新涂上黑煙灰，穿上毛斗篷來到廚房掃爐灰。廚師說：」明早再掃爐灰吧，先給國王做一碗湯，我要上樓去看看。當心別把頭發(fā)之類的髒東西掉進湯里，否則我罰你挨餓!「廚師走了，千皮獸為國王做了一碗麵包湯，這是她做得最好的一種，然后將她帶來的金戒指放到湯里。

　　國王跳完舞，叫人把湯送去。他很愛喝那種湯，似乎以前從來沒有喝過這么好味道的湯。喝到最后，他發(fā)現(xiàn)了那只金戒指，簡直不敢相信。他命人去召廚師，廚師一聽國王召見，嚇得對千皮獸說：」準是你把頭發(fā)掉進湯里了。如果真是那樣，我非狠狠揍你一頓不可?！杆麃淼絿趺媲?，國王問他湯是誰做的。廚師說：」我做的?！竾跤终f：」不對，湯的味道比以前好多了，而且做法不同?！笍N師回答說：」我承認湯的確不是我做的，是那個毛傢伙做的?！竾跽f：」叫他來?！盖かF來到國王面前，國王問：」你是甚么人?「」我是個沒有父母的可憐姑娘?！竾跤謫枺骸鼓阍谖覍m里有甚么用?「她回答說：」我的作用就是讓人踢打?！竾踅又鴨枺骸箿锏慕鸾渲改睦飦淼?「」我不知道甚么金戒指。「國王一看甚么都問不出來，只好讓她回去了。

　　不久，國王又舉行舞會。千皮獸像前一次那樣求廚師讓她上樓看熱鬧。廚師說：」去吧。不過過半小時你得回來做國王愛喝的那種湯?！杆饝?yīng)著跑回房間，迅速洗凈煙黑，換上那件如月光流淌般的衣服，像公主那樣走進了舞會廳。國王迎上前來，很高興又見到她。舞樂響起，他們一起跳啊跳，可等樂曲終了時，她又迅速消失了，快得連國王自己都沒看清她去了哪里。公主連跑帶跳地逃進自己房間，將自己又變成了毛乎乎的動物，跑回廚房準備國王的湯去了。等廚師上樓看熱鬧的時候，她悄悄地將金紡輪放進湯碗里。仆人將湯端給國王，他還像上次那樣愛喝。他召來廚師，他承認湯是千皮獸做的。國王又叫人把她召來，可她的回答還是和上次一樣，并且說她根本不知道金紡輪的事。

　　當國王再次舉行舞會時，一切如前面兩次那樣發(fā)生了。廚師問：」毛傢伙，你準是個巫婆。你總是往湯里放點甚么，使國王格外愛喝你做的湯，不愛喝我做的?！缚捎伸端目嗫嗾埱?，廚師還是答應(yīng)讓她上樓看，但必須在指定時間內(nèi)返回。這次，公主穿上了那件星光閃爍的衣服來到大廳。國王又走上前來和她跳舞，心想她這樣更加漂亮了，并趁她不注意的時候往她手指上套了個戒指。國王命令延長舞曲，所以當一曲結(jié)束時，規(guī)定的時間已經(jīng)超過了。國王想抓牢公主的手，可她掙脫了，迅速穿過人群不見了。她來不及脫下華麗的服裝，只是草草披上獸毛斗篷。匆忙中她也沒顧上把各個部位仔細涂黑，竟然有個指頭漏了涂。她急忙回到廚房給國王做湯，并且趁廚師不在時將金線軸放進湯里。當國王發(fā)現(xiàn)碗里的金線軸時，馬上召來千皮獸，發(fā)現(xiàn)了那只沒有涂黑的白晰的手指，并且看到了自己在跳舞時給她套上的戒指。他緊緊抓住這只手，公主想掙脫，斗篷開了一條縫，衣服上的星光立刻泄漏出來。國王抓住斗篷一拽，公主那金色的秀發(fā)頓時大放光彩。她站在那兒，婷婷玉立，再也無法躲藏了。等她洗凈煙黑，那份美更是無與倫比的了。國王說：」你就是我親愛的新娘，請別再離開我?！杆麄儺敃r就舉行了婚禮，并幸福地生活著，一直到老。