摘要：MANY YEARS AGO, there was an Emperor, who was so excessively fond of new clothes, that he spent all his money in dress.
THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES
皇帝的新装
MANY YEARS AGO, there was an Emperor, who was so excessively fond of new clothes, that he spent all his money in dress.
许多年前，有一位皇帝，他酷爱新衣，把所有的钱都花在穿衣打扮上。
He did not trouble himself in the least about his soldiers; nor did he care to go either to the theatre or the chase, except for the opportunities then afforded him for displaying his new clothes.
他一点也不关心自己的士兵；除非能展示新衣，否则他既不看戏，也不打猎。
He had a different suit for each hour of the day; and as of any other king or emperor, one is accustomed to say, "he is sitting in council," it was always said of him, "The Emperor is sitting in his wardrobe."
他一天每个小时都要换一套衣服；别人说起皇帝总说“他在开会”，而说起他总要说“皇帝在更衣室里”。
Time passed merrily in the large town which was his capital; strangers arrived every day at the court.
时光在帝国首都这座大城里愉快地流逝；每天都有陌生人来到宫廷。
One day, two rogues, calling themselves weavers, made their appearance.
一天，两个自称织工的骗子出现了。
They gave out that they knew how to weave stuffs of the most beautiful colors and elaborate patterns, the clothes manufactured from which should have the wonderful property of remaining invisible to everyone who was unfit for the office he held, or who was extraordinarily simple in character.
他们声称能织出色彩最艳丽、图案最精美的布料，用它做成的衣服有一个奇妙特性：凡是不称职或极其愚蠢的人都看不见它。
"These must, indeed, be splendid clothes!" thought the Emperor.
“这衣服必定妙极！”皇帝暗想。
"Had I such a suit, I might at once find out what men in my realms are unfit for their office, and also be able to distinguish the wise from the foolish!
“我若穿上此衣，便可立刻查出国内哪些人不称职，也能分辨贤愚！
This stuff must be woven for me immediately."
此布必须即刻为我织成。”
And he caused large sums of money to be given to both the weavers in order that they might begin their work directly.
于是他赐给两人重金，让他们马上动工。
So the two pretended weavers set up two looms, and affected to work very busily, though in reality they did nothing at all.
于是两个骗子摆出两架织机，装出忙碌纺织的样子，其实什么都没织。
They asked for the most delicate silk and the purest gold thread; put both into their own knapsacks; and then continued their pretended work at the empty looms until late at night.
他们索要最细的丝线和最纯的金线，全部塞进自己的背包，然后在空织机上假装工作到深夜。
"I should like to know how the weavers are getting on with my cloth," said the Emperor to himself, after some little time had elapsed;
“不知织工把我的布织得怎样了。”过了些时日，皇帝自言自语道。
he was, however, rather embarrassed, when he remembered that a simpleton, or one unfit for his office, would be unable to see the manufacture.
可一想到蠢人或庸官会看不见布料，他便有些为难。
To be sure, he thought he had nothing to risk in his own person; but yet, he would prefer sending somebody else, to bring him intelligence about the weavers, and their work, before he troubled himself in the affair.
他自认不必亲自冒险，于是决定先派别人去探个究竟。
All the people throughout the city had heard of the wonderful property the cloth was to possess; and all were anxious to learn how wise, or how ignorant, their neighbors might prove to be.
全城百姓都已听说此布的神奇特性，无不急于知道邻居是贤是愚。
"I will send my faithful old minister to the weavers," said the Emperor at last, after some deliberation,
“我要派忠诚的老大臣去查看。”皇帝终于决定。
"he will be best able to see how the cloth looks; for he is a man of sense, and no one can be more suitable for his office than he is."
“他最有见识，定能看出布料如何；他称职无比。”
So the faithful old minister went into the hall, where the knaves were working with all their might, at their empty looms.
于是老大臣走进大殿，只见两个骗子在空织机前“全力”纺织。
"What can be the meaning of this?" thought the old man, opening his eyes very wide.
“这是怎么回事？”老大臣瞪大眼睛暗想。
"I cannot discover the least bit of thread on the looms."
“织机上连一根线也没有。”
However, he did not express his thoughts aloud.
然而他并未说出口。
The impostors requested him very courteously to be so good as to come nearer their looms;
骗子们彬彬有礼地请他走近织机。
and then asked him whether the design pleased him, and whether the colors were not very beautiful; at the same time pointing to the empty frames.
又问花样是否合意，颜色是否美丽，一边指着空空的机架。
The poor old minister looked and looked, he could not discover anything on the looms, for a very good reason, viz: there was nothing there.
可怜的大臣看了又看，还是什么也看不见——原因很简单：机上本就空无一物。
"What!" thought he again.
“什么！”他又想。
"Is it possible that I am a simpleton?
“难道我是蠢货？
I have never thought so myself; and no one must know it now if I am so.
我从没这么想过；就算真是，也绝不能让任何人知道。
Can it be, that I am unfit for my office?
难道我不称职？
No, that must not be said either.
不，绝不能承认。
I will never confess that I could not see the stuff."
我绝不承认自己看不见布料。”
"Well, Sir Minister!" said one of the knaves, still pretending to work.
“大臣阁下！”一个骗子假装边织边问。
"You do not say whether the stuff pleases you."
“您还没说布料是否合意？”
"Oh, it is excellent!" replied the old minister, looking at the loom through his spectacles.
“啊，妙极了！”老大臣隔着眼镜答道。
"This pattern, and the colors, yes, I will tell the Emperor without delay, how very beautiful I think them."
“这花样、这颜色，我定要立刻奏明皇上，真是美不胜收。”
"We shall be much obliged to you," said the impostors, and then they named the different colors and described the pattern of the pretended stuff.
“多谢大人。”骗子们又说出一堆颜色和图案，绘声绘色。
The old minister listened attentively to their words, in order that he might repeat them to the Emperor;
老大臣认真记下，好回去学给皇帝听。
and then the knaves asked for more silk and gold, saying that it was necessary to complete what they had begun.
骗子又索要更多丝和金，说是为了完成布料。
However, they put all that was given them into their knapsacks; and continued to work with as much apparent diligence as before at their empty looms.
然而所得尽入其囊，仍空织如故。
The Emperor now sent another officer of his court to see how the men were getting on, and to ascertain whether the cloth would soon be ready.
皇帝又派一名官员前去查看进度。
It was just the same with this gentleman as with the minister; he surveyed the looms on all sides, but could see nothing at all but the empty frames.
此人与老大臣一样，只见空机，不见布料。
"Does not the stuff appear as beautiful to you, as it did to my lord the minister?" asked the impostors of the Emperor's second ambassador;
“大人难道不觉得这布与老大臣所见一样美吗？”骗子问第二位使者。
at the same time making the same gestures as before, and talking of the design and colors which were not there.
同时再次比划，滔滔不绝地描述那并不存在的花色。
"I certainly am not stupid!" thought the messenger.
“我绝不愚蠢！”使者暗想。
"It must be, that I am not fit for my good, profitable office!
“那一定是我配不上这肥缺！
That is very odd; however, no one shall know anything about it."
虽奇怪，但绝不能让人知道。”
And accordingly he praised the stuff he could not see, and declared that he was delighted with both colors and patterns.
于是他大赞布料，声称颜色与图案皆令他倾倒。
"Indeed, please your Imperial Majesty," said he to his sovereign when he returned,
“启奏陛下，”回宫后他奏道，
"the cloth which the weavers are preparing is extraordinarily magnificent."
“织工所制布料，华丽绝伦。”
The whole city was talking of the splendid cloth which the Emperor had ordered to be woven at his own expense.
全城都在议论皇帝自掏腰包命人织出的华服。
And now the Emperor himself wished to see the costly manufacture, while it was still in the loom.
皇帝终于决定亲自去看尚在机上的贵重布料。
Accompanied by a select number of officers of the court, among whom were the two honest men who had already admired the cloth, he went to the crafty impostors, who, as soon as they were aware of the Emperor's approach, went on working more diligently than ever; although they still did not pass a single thread through the looms.
他带着一群亲信，包括那两位已“见”过布料的忠臣，来到骗子面前。骗子闻讯，更加卖力地空织。
"Is not the work absolutely magnificent?" said the two officers of the crown, already mentioned.
“难道这布料不美吗？”那两位官员又问。
"If your Majesty will only be pleased to look at it! What a splendid design! What glorious colors!"
“陛下请看！花样何等华美，颜色何等绚丽！”
and at the same time they pointed to the empty frames;
他们同时指向空空的机架；
for they imagined that everyone else could see this exquisite piece of workmanship.
他们以为别人都能看见这件杰作。
"How is this?" said the Emperor to himself.
“怎会如此？”皇帝暗想。
"I can see nothing! This is indeed a terrible affair!
“我什么也看不见！这可糟了！
Am I a simpleton, or am I unfit to be an Emperor?
我是蠢货，还是不配做皇帝？
That would be the worst thing that could happen
Oh! the cloth is charming," said he, aloud.
那才是最可怕的——啊！这布料真美。”他大声说。
"It has my complete approbation."
“朕极为满意。”
And he smiled most graciously, and looked closely at the empty looms; for on no account would he say that he could not see what two of the officers of his court had praised so much.
他微笑着贴近空织机细看；绝不肯承认自己看不见那被群臣盛赞的布料。
All his retinue now strained their eyes, hoping to discover something on the looms, but they could see no more than the others; nevertheless, they all exclaimed, "Oh, how beautiful!"
随从们拼命张望，仍一无所见，却齐声高呼：“美极了！”
and advised his majesty to have some new clothes made from this splendid material, for the approaching procession.
并劝皇帝用这布料赶制新衣，以备即将举行的游行。
"Magnificent! Charming! Excellent!" resounded on all sides; and everyone was uncommonly gay.
“华丽！迷人！绝妙！”赞叹声四起，人人喜笑颜开。
The Emperor shared in the general satisfaction; and presented the impostors with the riband of an order of knighthood, to be worn in their button-holes, and the title of "Gentlemen Weavers."
皇帝也龙颜大悦，赐给骗子勋章缎带，并封他们为“御用织师”。
The rogues sat up the whole of the night before the day on which the procession was to take place, and had sixteen lights burning, so that everyone might see how anxious they were to finish the Emperor's new suit.
游行前夜，骗子通宵不寐，点起十六支蜡烛，以示赶工之勤。
They pretended to roll the cloth off the looms; cut the air with their scissors; and sewed with needles without any thread in them.
他们假装把布从机上取下，用空剪子裁布，用无线的针缝制。
"See!" cried they, at last.
“瞧！”他们最后喊道。
"The Emperor's new clothes are ready!"
“皇帝的新衣完成了！”
And now the Emperor, with all the grandees of his court, came to the weavers;
皇帝率百官来到织房；
and the rogues raised their arms, as if in the act of holding something up, saying,
骗子举起双臂，仿佛托起衣物，说道：
"Here are your Majesty's trousers! Here is the scarf! Here is the mantle!
“这是陛下的裤子！这是披肩！这是外套！
The whole suit is as light as a cobweb; one might fancy one has nothing at all on, when dressed in it; that, however, is the great virtue of this delicate cloth."
整套衣服轻如蛛丝，穿上就像什么都没穿，这正是此布的妙处。”
"Yes indeed!" said all the courtiers, although not one of them could see anything of this exquisite manufacture.
“确实如此！”百官齐声附和，尽管他们什么也看不见。
"If your Imperial Majesty will be graciously pleased to take off your clothes, we will fit on the new suit, in front of the looking glass."
“请陛下宽衣，容臣等为陛下在镜前试穿新衣。”
The Emperor was accordingly undressed, and the rogues pretended to array him in his new suit;
皇帝遂被脱去衣服，骗子假装为他穿上新装；
the Emperor turning round, from side to side, before the looking glass.
皇帝在镜前转来转去，自我欣赏。
"How splendid his Majesty looks in his new clothes, and how well they fit!" everyone cried out.
“陛下新衣真合身，真威仪！”众人齐声赞美。
"What a design! What colors! These are indeed royal robes!"
“何等花样！何等色彩！真乃帝王之服！”
"The canopy which is to be borne over your Majesty, in the procession, is waiting," announced the chief master of the ceremonies.
“游行时陛下头顶的华盖已备妥。”典礼官奏道。
"I am quite ready," answered the Emperor.
“朕已就绪。”皇帝答。
"Do my new clothes fit well?" asked he, turning himself round again before the looking glass, in order that he might appear to be examining his handsome suit.
“新衣可还合身？”他又在镜前转身，装作仔细端详。
The lords of the bedchamber, who were to carry his Majesty's train felt about on the ground, as if they were lifting up the ends of the mantle;
侍从们假装托起拖裙，手在地上摸索；
and pretended to be carrying something; for they would by no means betray anything like simplicity, or unfitness for their office.
他们绝不敢显出愚蠢或不称职的样子。
So now the Emperor walked under his high canopy in the midst of the procession, through the streets of his capital;
于是皇帝头顶华盖，在游行队伍中穿过首都大街；
and all the people standing by, and those at the windows, cried out, "Oh! How beautiful are our Emperor's new clothes!
百姓与楼窗观者齐呼：“啊！皇帝的新衣真美丽！
What a magnificent train there is to the mantle; and how gracefully the scarf hangs!"
拖裙何等华丽，披肩何等飘逸！”
in short, no one would allow that he could not see these much-admired clothes; because, in doing so, he would have declared himself either a simpleton or unfit for his office.
总之，没人肯承认自己看不见这衣服，因为那就等于自认愚蠢或不称职。
Certainly, none of the Emperor's various suits, had ever made so great an impression, as these invisible ones.
皇帝所有的衣服中，从未有像这套“看不见”的衣服这般引人注目。
"But the Emperor has nothing at all on!" said a little child.
“可皇帝什么也没穿呀！”一个小孩说。
"Listen to the voice of innocence!" exclaimed his father; and what the child had said was whispered from one to another.
“听听这天真之言！”父亲叹道，孩子的话悄悄传开。
"But he has nothing at all on!" at last cried out all the people.
“他什么也没穿！”最终，所有人都喊了出来。
The Emperor was vexed, for he knew that the people were right; but he thought the procession must go on now!
皇帝懊恼，却知百姓所言属实；但他想游行必须继续！
And the lords of the bedchamber took greater pains than ever, to appear holding up a train, although, in reality, there was no train to hold.
那些寝宫大臣们也比以往更卖力气，装作在提着裙裾的样子，尽管实际上根本没有裙裾可提。
来源：马铃薯是白色