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英语小故事,带翻译.txt你不能让所有人满意,因为不是所有的人都是人成功人士是在牛B的路上,一路勃起你以为我会眼睁睁看着你去送死吗?我会闭上眼睛的中秋节来历(英文版)The joyous Mid-Autumn Festival was celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth moon, around the time of the autumn equinox(秋分). Many referred to it simply as the Fifteenth of the Eighth Moon.农历8月15日是中国的中秋节,接近秋分时节。很多人将中秋节简单的理解为与“8月15的月亮”相关。This day was also considered as a harvest festival since fruits, vegetables and grain had been harvested by this time and food was abundant. Food offerings were placed on an altar set up in the courtyard. Apples, pears, peaches, grapes, pomegranates(石榴), melons, oranges and pomelos(柚子) might be seen. Special foods for the festival included moon cakes, cooked taro(芋头)and water caltrope(菱角), a type of water chestnut resembling black buffalo horns. Some people insisted that cooked taro be included because at the time of creation, taro was the first food discovered at night in the moonlight. Of all these foods, it could not be omitted from the Mid-Autumn Festival.The round moon cakes, measuring about three inches in diameter and one and a half inches in thickness, resembled Western fruitcakes in taste and consistency. These cakes were made with melon seeds(西瓜子), lotus seeds(莲籽), almonds(杏仁), minced meats, bean paste, orange peels and lard(猪油). A golden yolk(蛋黄) from a salted duck egg was placed at the center of each cake, and the golden brown crust was decorated with symbols of the festival. Traditionally, thirteen moon cakes were piled in a pyramid to symbolize the thirteen moons of a complete year, that is, twelve moons plus one intercalary(闰月的) moon. uUlsda EThe Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festivity for both the Han and minority nationalities. The custom of worshipping the moon can be traced back as far as the ancient Xia and Shang Dynasties (2000 B.C.-1066 B.C.). In the Zhou Dynasty(1066 B.C.-221 B.C.), people hold ceremonies to greet winter and worship the moon whenever the Mid-Autumn Festival sets in. It becomes very prevalent in the Tang Dynasty(618-907 A.D.) that people enjoy and worship the full moon. In the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279 A.D.), however, people send round moon cakes to their relatives as gifts in expression of their best wishes of family reunion. When it becomes dark, they look up at the full silver moon or go sightseeing on lakes to celebrate the festival. Since the Ming (1368-1644 A.D. ) and Qing Dynasties (1644-1911A.D.), the custom of Mid-Autumn Festival celebration becomes unprecedented popular. Together with the celebration there appear some special customs in different parts of the country, such as burning incense(熏香), planting Mid-Autumn trees, lighting lanterns on towers and fire dragon dances. However, the custom of playing under the moon is not so popular as it used to be nowadays, but it is not less popular to enjoy the bright silver moon. Whenever the festival sets in, people will look up at the full silver moon, drinking wine to celebrate their happy life or thinking of their relatives and friends far from home, and extending all of their best wishes to them.Moon Cakes月饼There is this story about the moon-cake. during the Yuan dynasty (A.D. 1280-1368) China was ruled by the Mongolian people. Leaders from the preceding Sung dynasty (A.D. 960-1280) were unhappy at submitting to the foreign rule, and set how to coordinate the rebellion without being discovered. The leaders of the rebellion, knowing that the Moon Festival was drawing near, ordered the making of special cakes. Backed into each moon cake was a message with the outline of the attack. On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels successfully attached and overthrew the government. Today, moon cakes are eaten to commemorate this legend and was called the Moon Cake.For generations, moon cakes have been made with sweet fillings of nuts, mashed red beans, lotus-seed paste or Chinese dates(枣子), wrapped in a pastry. Sometimes a cooked egg yolk can be found in the middle of the rich tasting dessert. People compare moon cakes to the plum pudding and fruit cakes which are served in the English holiday seasons.中秋节的来历农历八月十五,是我国传统的中秋节,也是我国仅次于春节的第二大传统节日。八月十五恰在秋季的中间,故谓之中秋节。我国古历法把处在秋季中间的八月,称为“仲秋”,所以中秋节又叫“仲秋节”。中秋节是个古老的节日,祭月赏月是节日的重要习俗。古代帝王有春天祭日,秋天祭月的社制,民家也有中秋祭月之风,到了后来赏月重于祭月,严肃的祭祀变成了轻松的欢娱。中秋赏月的风俗在唐代极盛,许多诗人的名篇中都有咏月的诗句,宋代、明代、清代宫廷和民间的拜月赏月活动更具规模。我国各地至今遗存着许多“拜月坛”、“拜月亭”、“望月楼”的古迹。北京的“月坛”就是明嘉靖年间为皇家祭月修造的。每当中秋月亮升起,于露天设案,将月饼、石榴、枣子等瓜果供于桌案上,拜月后,全家人围桌而坐,边吃边谈,共赏明月。根据史籍的记载,“中秋”一词最早出现在周礼一书中。到魏晋时,有“谕尚书镇牛淆,中秋夕与左右微服泛江”的记载。直到唐朝初年,中秋节才成为固定的节日。唐书太宗记记载有“八月十五中秋节”。中秋节的盛行始于宋朝,至明清时,已与元旦齐名,成为我国的主要节日之一。这也是我国仅次于春节的第二大传统节日。中秋节起源的另一个说法是:农历八月十五这一天恰好是稻子成熟的时刻,各家都拜土地神。中秋可能就是秋报的遗俗。中秋节的传说中秋节的传说是非常丰富的,嫦娥奔月、吴刚伐桂、玉兔捣药之类的神话故事流传甚广。嫦娥奔月相传,远古一个名叫后羿的英雄,射下九个太阳,并严令最后一个太阳按时起落,为民造福。后羿因此受到百姓的尊敬和爱戴,娶了个美丽善良的妻子,名叫嫦娥。后羿除传艺狩猎外,终日和妻子在一起,人们都羡慕这对郎才女貌的恩爱夫妻。不少志士也慕名前来投师学艺,心术不正的蓬蒙也混了进来。一天,后羿到昆仑山访友求道,巧遇由此经过的王母娘娘,便向王母娘娘求得一包不死药。据说,服下此药,能即刻升天成仙。然而,后羿舍不得撇下妻子,只好暂时把不死药交给嫦娥珍藏。嫦娥将药藏进梳妆台的百宝匣里,不料被小人蓬蒙看见了,他想偷吃不死药自己成仙。三天后,后羿率众徒外出狩猎,心怀鬼胎的蓬蒙假装生病,留了下来。待后羿率众人走后不久,蓬蒙手持宝剑闯入内宅后院,威逼嫦娥交出不死药。嫦娥知道自己不是蓬蒙的对手,危急之时她当机立断,转身打开百宝匣,拿出不死药一口吞了下去。嫦娥吞下药,身子立时向天上飞去。由于嫦娥牵挂着丈夫,便飞落到离人间最近的月亮上成了仙傍晚,后羿回到家,侍女们哭诉了白天发生的事。后羿既惊又怒,抽剑去杀恶徒,蓬蒙早逃走了,后羿气得捶胸顿足,悲痛欲绝,仰望着夜空呼唤爱妻的名字,这时他惊奇地发现,今天的月亮格外皎洁明亮,而且有个晃动的身影酷似嫦娥。他拼命朝月亮追去,可是他追三步,月亮退三步,他退三步,月亮进三步,无论怎样也追不到跟前。后羿无可奈何,又思念妻子,只好派人到嫦娥喜爱的后花园里,摆上香案,放上她平时最爱吃的蜜食鲜果,遥祭在月宫里眷恋着自己的嫦娥。百姓们闻知嫦娥奔月成仙的消息后,纷纷在月下摆设香案,向善良的嫦娥祈求吉祥平安。从此,中秋节拜月的风俗在民间传开了。吴刚折桂相传月亮上的广寒宫前的桂树生长繁茂,有五百多丈高,下边有一个人常在砍伐它,但是每次砍下去之后,被砍的地方又立即合拢了。几千年来,就这样随砍随合,这棵桂树永远也不能被砍光。据说这个砍树的人名叫吴刚,是汉朝西河人,曾跟随仙人修道,到了天界,但是他犯了错误,仙人就把他贬谪到月宫,日日做这种徒劳无功的苦差事,以示惩处。李白诗中有“欲斫月中桂,持为寒者薪”的记载。玉兔捣药相传月亮之中有一只兔子,浑身洁白如玉,故称作“玉兔”。白兔拿着玉杵,跪地捣药,成蛤蟆丸,服用此等药丸可以长生成仙。久而久之,玉兔便成为月亮的代名词。中秋“赏月”种种追月 香港人过了八月十五中秋,兴犹未尽,还要在八月十六的夜晚再过一次,俗称“追月”。十六的晚上,人们扶老携幼,带着帐篷灯具、美酒佳肴,来到海滩,听涛赏月,吟诗弈棋,品酒谈笑。此时,蓝天碧海与月光烛光相映生辉,引人入胜。行月 当月亮升起的时候,广西侗族各村寨的群众踏着月光来到山村开阔地,笙管齐鸣,载歌载舞。远听声乐震天,近观舞姿婆娑,恰似一个大舞台飘在如水的月色里。望月 中秋之夜,月亮即将升起时,朝鲜族人民争先爬上事先用木杆和松枝搭成的“望月”架。俗谓先看到月亮者可获好运。尔后,人们敲起长鼓铜锣,吹起洞箫,一起合跳农家乐舞。走月 流行于苏州一带。中秋之夜,妇女们相约出游,访亲会友,赏月观花,此来彼往,络绎不绝,直至夜深方散。圆月 陕西长安一带民间在中秋节这天,家家做团圆馍,中间放芝麻和糖等作料,放在锅里烙熟,全家人一同食之,谓之“圆月”。寻月 藏族同胞度中秋有水中“寻月”习俗。是日夜晚,青年儿童沿着河流,寻找倒映在水中的明月,直至夜深,方归家吃团圆月饼。英语软件祭月 锡伯族于中秋夜,在庭院中设一供桌,上面摆上切开的西瓜及其他果品,然后全家人向月亮叩拜,请月神下凡,品尝人间的瓜果。鄂伦春族也有类似习俗,祈求月神保佑,万事如意。乞月 中秋夜半之后,广东东莞未婚的男青年三五成群地在月光下燃烧香烛,向月下老人祭拜。传说,此刻是月老为凡间男女牵线做媒之时,月老可为虔诚的小伙子觅上一个美貌多情的伴侣。学英语软件照月 浙东民间有“照月”得子风俗。传说,久婚不孕的妇女,在中秋月圆当空时,独自坐于皎洁的月光之下,可以祈求月神赐福,受孕得子。各地中秋节的习俗中秋佳节,人们最主要的活动是赏月和吃月饼了。但中国地缘广大,人口众多,风俗各异,中秋节的过法也是多种多样,并带有浓厚的地方特色。在福建浦城,女子过中秋要穿行南浦桥,以求长寿。龙岩人吃月饼时,家长会在中央挖出直径二三寸的圆饼供长辈食用,意思是秘密事不能让晚辈知道。广东潮汕各地有中秋拜月的习俗,主要是妇女和小孩,有“男不圆月,女不祭灶”的俗谚。晚上,皓月初升,妇女们便在院子里、阳台上设案当空祷拜。红烛高燃,香烟缭绕,桌上还摆满佳果和饼食作为祭礼。江苏省无锡县中秋夜要烧斗香。香斗四周糊有纱绢,绘有月宫中的景色。也有香斗以线香编成,上面插有纸扎的魁星及彩色旌旗。江西省吉安县在中秋节的傍晚,每个村都用稻草烧瓦罐。待瓦罐烧红后,再放醋进去。这时就会有香味飘满全村。新城县过中秋时,自八月十一夜起就悬挂通草灯,直至八月十七止。提高英语听力安徽省婺源中秋节,儿童以砖瓦堆一中空宝塔。塔上挂以帐幔匾额等装饰品,又置一桌于塔前,陈设各种敬“塔神”的器具。夜间则内外都点上灯烛。绩溪中秋儿童打中秋炮。中秋炮是以稻草扎成发辫状,浸湿后再拿起来向石上打击,使之发出巨响并有游火龙的风俗。火龙是以稻草扎成的龙,身上插有香柱。游火龙时有锣鼓队同行,游遍各村后再送至河中。四川省人过中秋除了吃月饼外,还要打粑、杀鸭子、吃麻饼、蜜饼等。在北方,山东省庆云县农家在八月十五祭土谷神,称为“青苗社”。河北省万全县称中秋为“小元旦”,月光纸上绘有太阴星君及关帝夜阅春秋像。河间县人认为中秋雨为苦雨,若中秋节下雨,当地人则认为青菜必定味道不佳。我国有二十多个少数民族也过中秋节,但节俗各异。壮族习惯于在河中的竹排房上用米饼拜月,少女在水面放花灯,以测一生的幸福,并演唱优美的请月姑民歌。仡佬族在节前的“虎日”,全寨合宰一头公牛,将牛心留到中秋夜祭祖灵,迎新谷,他们称为“八月节”。黎族称中秋节为“八月会”或“调声节”。届时各集镇举行歌舞聚会,每村由一“调声头”(即领队)率领男女青年参加。人员到齐后,大家互赠月饼、香糕、甜粑、花巾、彩扇和背心,成群结队,川流不息。入夜便聚集在火旁,烤食野味,痛饮米酒,开展盛大的调声对歌演唱,未婚青年趁机挑寻未来的伴侣。英语听力软件中秋节吃毛芋五华县转水镇有一个奇特的传统。每年中秋节晚上,乡亲们每家每户都要蒸一锅带皮的芋头,在赏月时,全家人先吃芋头后吃月饼,并在剥芋皮时说“剥鬼皮”。据说这样一能“避邪”,二是为了纪念人民起义。传说元朝末期,统治者对汉人进行残酷的统治和压迫,因害怕广大劳动人民起来造反,在每十户劳动人民中就驻一个朝廷的爪牙。这些凶恶的家伙专门监视民众的生活起居,肆意搜刮民脂民膏残害百姓。他们还规定每十户人家共用一把菜刀,谁要用刀都要从爪牙手里借出。为了反抗这些坏事做绝的爪牙,推翻统治阶级,有个聪明的人想了一个联络大众的办法,他扮成卖芋头的商人,在熟芋头皮下藏着字条送到每家每户,要求人民在中秋之夜赏月时统一行动,把这些爪牙全部杀掉。最后,全国各地的人民起义推翻了元朝的统治。后来人们为了纪念这次起义行动,每逢中秋节晚上就摆着熟芋头和细茶、老酒、月饼等,一边赏月一边谈论着家事国事,并讲述那久远而传奇的故事。中秋佳联撷萃中秋赏月,古往今来,文人雅士给我们留下了许多情景交融的佳联奇对。四川巫峡瑶台有一联:月月月明,八月月明明分外;山山山秀,巫山山秀秀非常。此联以叠词的方式写出了“月到中秋分外明”的特色,使中秋月色与巫山秀色相对,工整自然,珠联璧合。古代有一才子,仰望中秋月,吟上联曰:天上月圆,人间月半,月月月圆逢月半。但他苦思冥想,对不出相媲美的下联,直到那年的除夕之夜,才触动灵感,吟出下联:今夜年尾,明日年头,年年年尾接年头。此联结构严谨,浅显明快。某年中秋,苏东坡与家人赏月至夜半,出一上联要三个儿子对:半夜二更半。其第三个儿子应对曰:中秋八月中。对得工整贴切,出奇制胜。杭州市有一座浙江贡院,院门口有一副对联描写了时令与涨潮的关系:下笔千言,正桂子香时槐花黄后;出门一眺,看西湖月满东海潮来。生动准确,意境优美。清代郑板桥在扬州瘦西湖小金山岛的“月观”上书联:月来满地水;云起一天山。形象贴切,充满诗情画意。有副拆字联:日月同明天不黑,山丘共岳地非低。还有三副回文联:月锁云中云锁月;人归夜半夜归人。月弦上挂上弦月;星斗北移北斗星。月上楼头楼上月;名题榜首榜题名。To be kind-hearted 热心肠One evening, it was raining and the wind was blowing hard. An old couple came to an inn and prepared to put up for the night (投宿)there. A young man received them with open arms(热情地), but said “Im sorry! Our guest rooms here are all full and the inns nearby are all full, too, for there will be an important meeting to be held here tomorrow.”Hearing the young mans words, the old couple felt very disappointed, and turned around to leave.Just as they were leaving, the young man came up to them and stopped them: “Madam and sir, if you dont mind, you can sleep in my bedroom for a night.”The next evening, the old couple took out lots of money to give it to the young man, but he refused to take it. “No!You neednt pay me any money, for I only lend my room to you.” said the young man with a smile on his face.“Youre great, young man! Its very kind of you. Maybe one day, Ill build a hotel for you!” said the old man gratefully.With these words, the old couple left.Gazing at their receding figures, the young man only laughed and went on working.Several years later, the young man suddenly received a letter from the old couple, inviting him to go to Manhattan(曼哈顿) .The young man met the old couple in front of a luxury hotel(豪华饭店).“Do you still remember what I said to you several years ago? Look! This is the hotel that I built for you!” said the old man.Soon, the young man became the manager of the hotel. (T)True or (F) False1. The young man accepted it happily when the old couple gave the money to him.2. The young man had thought the old man was only joking about building a hotel for him, but the old man kept his wordTHE SWINEHERD猪倌There was once a poor Prince, who had a kingdom. His kingdom was very small,but still quite large enough to marry upon; and he wished to marry.It was certainly rather cool of him to say to the Emperors daughter, Willyou have me? But so he did; for his name was renowned far and wide; and therewere a hundred princesses who would have answered, Yes! and Thank youkindly. We shall see what this princess said.Listen!It happened that where the Princes father lay buried, there grew a rosetree-a most beautiful rose tree, which blossomed only once in every fiveyears, and even then bore only one flower, but that was a rose! It smelt sosweet that all cares and sorrows were forgotten by him who inhaled itsfragrance.And furthermore, the Prince had a nightingale, who could sing in such a mannerthat it seemed as though all sweet melodies dwelt in her little throat. So thePrincess was to have the rose, and the nightingale; and they were accordinglyput into large silver caskets, and sent to her.The Emperor had them brought into a large hall, where the Princess was playingat Visiting, with the ladies of the court; and when she saw the caskets withthe presents, she clapped her hands for joy.Ah, if it were but a little pussy-cat! said she; but the rose tree, with itsbeautiful rose came to view.Oh, how prettily it is made! said all the court ladies.It is more than pretty, said the Emperor, it is charming!But the Princess touched it, and was almost ready to cry.Fie, papa! said she. It is not made at all, it is natural!Let us see what is in the other casket, before we get into a bad humor, saidthe Emperor. So the nightingale came forth and sang so delightfully that atfirst no one could say anything ill-humored of her.Superbe! Charmant! exclaimed the ladies; for they all used to chatter French,each one worse than her neighbor.How much the bird reminds me of the musical box that belonged to our blessedEmpress, said an old knight. Oh yes! These are the same tones, the sameexecution.Yes! yes! said the Emperor, and he wept like a child at the remembrance.I will still hope that it is not a real bird, said the Princess.Yes, it is a real bird, said those who had brought it. Well then let thebird fly, said the Princess; and she positively refused to see the Prince.However, he was not to be discouraged; he daubed his face over brown andblack; pulled his cap over his ears, and knocked at the door.Good day to my lord, the Emperor! said he. Can I have employment at thepalace?Why, yes, said the Emperor. I want some one to take care of the pigs, forwe have a great many of them.So the Prince was appointed Imperial Swineherd. He had a dirty little roomclose by the pigsty; and there he sat the whole day, and worked. By theevening he had made a pretty little kitchen-pot. Little bells were hung allround it; and when the pot was boiling, these bells tinkled in the mostcharming manner, and played the old melody, Ach! du lieber Augustin, Alles ist weg, weg, weg!* * Ah! dear Augustine! All is gone, gone, gone!But what was still more curious, whoever held his finger in the smoke of thekitchen-pot, immediately smelt all the dishes that were cooking on everyhearth in the city-this, you see, was something quite different from therose.Now the Princess happened to walk that way; and when she heard the tune, shestood quite still, and seemed pleased; for she could play Lieber Augustine;it was the only piece she knew; and she played it with one finger.Why there is my piece, said the Princess. That swineherd must certainlyhave been well educated! Go in and ask him the price of the instrument.So one of the court-ladies must run in; however, she drew on wooden slippersfirst.What will you take for the kitchen-pot? said the lady.I will have ten kisses from the Princess, said the swineherd.Yes, indeed! said the lady.I cannot sell it for less, rejoined the swineherd.He is an impudent fellow! said the Princess, and she walked on; but when shehad gone a little way, the bells tinkled so prettily Ach! du lieber Augustin, Alles ist weg, weg, weg!Stay, said the Princess. Ask him if he will have ten kisses from the ladiesof my court.No, thank you! said the swineherd. Ten kisses from the Princess, or I keepthe kitchen-pot myself.That must not be, either! said the Princess. But do you all stand before methat no one may see us.And the court-ladies placed themselves in front of her, and spread out theirdresses-the swineherd got ten kisses, and the Princess-the kitchen-pot.That was delightful! The pot was boiling the whole evening, and the whole ofthe following day. They knew perfectly well what was cooking at every firethroughout the city, from the chamberlains to the cobblers; the court-ladiesdanced and clapped their hands.We know who has soup, and who has pancakes for dinner to-day, who hascutlets, and who has eggs. How interesting!Yes, but keep my secret, for I am an Emperors daughter.The swineherd-that is to say-the Prince, for no one knew that he was otherthan an ill-favored swineherd, let not a day pass without working atsomething; he at last constructed a rattle, which, when it was swung round,played all the waltzes and jig tunes, which have ever been heard since thecreation of the world.Ah, that is superbe! said the Princess when she passed by. I have neverheard prettier compositions! Go in and ask him the price of the instrument;but mind, he shall have no more kisses!He will have a hundred kisses from the Princess! said the lady who had beento ask.I think he is not in his right senses! said the Princess, and walked on, butwhen she had gone a little way, she stopped again. One must encourage art,said she, I am the Emperors daughter. Tell him he shall, as on yesterday,have ten kisses from me, and may take the rest from the ladies of the court.Oh-but we should not like that at all! said they. What are you muttering?asked the Princess. If I can kiss him, surely you can. Remember that you oweeverything to me. So the ladies were obliged to go to him again.A hundred kisses from the Princess, said he, or else let everyone keep hisown!Stand round! said she; and all the ladies stood round her whilst thekissing was going on.What can be the reason for such a crowd close by the pigsty? said theEmperor, who happened just then to step out on the balcony; he rubbed hiseyes, and put on his spectacles. They are the ladies of the court; I must godown and see what they are about! So he pulled up his slippers at the heel,for he had trodden them down.As soon as he had got into the court-yard, he moved very softly, and theladies were so much engrossed with counting the kisses, that all might go onfairly, that they did not perceive the Emperor. He rose on his tiptoes.What is all this? said he, when he saw what was going on, and he boxed thePrincesss ears with his slipper, just as the swineherd was taking theeighty-sixth kiss.March out! said the Emperor, for he was very angry; and both Princess andswineherd were thrust out of the city.The Princess now stood and wept, the swineherd scolded, and the rain poureddown.Alas! Unhappy creature that I am! said the Princess. If I had but marriedthe handsome young Prince! Ah! how unfortunate I am!And the swineherd went behind a tree, washed the black and brown color fromhis face, threw off his dirty clothes, and stepped forth in his princelyrobes; he looked so noble that the Princess could not help bowing before him.I am come to despise thee, said he. Thou wouldst not have an honorablePrince! Thou couldst not prize the rose and the nightingale, but thou wastready to kiss the swineherd for the sake of a trumpery plaything. Thou artrightly served.He then went back to his own little kingdom, and shut the door of his palacein her face. Now she might well sing, Ach! du lieber Augustin, Alles ist weg, weg, weg!参考译文:从前有一个贫穷的王子,他有一个王国。王国虽然非常小,可是还是够供给他结婚的费用,而结婚正是他现在想要做的事情。他也真有些大胆,居然敢对皇帝的女儿说:“你愿意要我吗?”不过他敢这样说,也正是因为他的名字远近都知道。成千成百的公主都会高高兴兴地说“愿意”。不过我们看看这位公主会不会这样说吧。现在我们听吧,在这王子的父亲的墓上长着一棵玫瑰一棵很美丽的玫瑰。它五年才开一次花,而且每次只开一朵。但这是一朵多么好的玫瑰花啊!它发出那么芬芳的香气,无论谁只须闻一下,就会忘掉一切忧愁和烦恼。王子还有一只夜莺。这鸟儿唱起歌来,就好像它小小的喉咙里包藏着一切和谐的调子似的,这朵玫瑰花和这只夜莺应该送给那位公主。因此这两件东西就被放在两个大银匣里,送给她了。皇帝下命令叫把这礼物送进大殿,好让他亲眼看看。公主正在大殿里和她的侍女们作“拜客”的游戏,因为她们没有别的事情可做。当她看到大银匣子里的礼品时,就兴高采烈地拍起手来。“我希望那里面是一只小猫!”她说。可是盒子里却是一朵美丽的玫瑰花。“啊,这花做得多么精巧啊!”侍女们齐声说。“它不仅精巧,”皇帝说,“而且美丽。”公主把花摸了一下。她几乎哭出来了。“呸,爸爸!”她说,“这花不是人工做的,它是一朵天然的玫瑰花!”“呸!”所有的宫女都说,“这只是一朵天然的花!”“我们暂且不要生气,让我们先看看另一只盒子里是什么再说吧。”皇帝说。于是那只夜莺就跳出来了。它唱得那么好听,他们一时还想不出什么话来说它不好。“Superbe!Charmant!”侍女们齐声说,因为她们都喜欢讲法国话,但是一个比一个讲得糟。这是法语,意思是:“好极了!真迷人!”旧时欧洲的统治阶级都以能讲法语为荣。“这鸟儿真使我记起死去的皇后的那个八音盒,”一位老侍臣说。“是的,它的调子,它的唱法完全跟那个八音盒一样。”“对的。”皇帝说。于是他就像一个小孩子似的哭起来了。“我不相信它是一只天然的鸟儿。”公主说。“不,它是一只天然的鸟儿!”那些送礼物来的人说。“那么就让这只鸟儿飞走吧。”公主说。但是她无论如何不让王子来看她。不过王子并不因此失望。他把自己的脑袋涂成棕里透黑,把帽子拉下来盖住眉毛,于是就来敲门。“日安,皇上!”他说,“我能在宫里找到一个差事吗?”“嗨,找事的人实在太多了,”皇帝说,“不过让我想想看吧我需要一个会看猪的人,因为我养了很多猪。”这样,王子就被任命为皇家的猪倌了。他们给了他一间猪棚旁边的简陋小屋,他不得不在这里面住下。但是他从早到晚都坐在那里工作。到了晚上,他做好了一口很精致的小锅,边上挂着许多铃。当锅煮开了的时候,这些铃就美妙地响起来,奏出一支和谐的老调:啊,我亲爱的奥古斯丁, 一切都完了,完了,完了!不过这锅巧妙的地方是:假如有人把手指伸到锅中冒出来的蒸气里,他就立刻可以闻到城里每个灶上所煮的食物的味道。这锅跟玫瑰花比起来,完全是两回事儿。公主恰恰跟她的侍女们从这儿走过。当她听到这个调子的时候,就停下来;她显得非常高兴,因为她也会弹“啊,我亲爱的奥古斯丁”这个调子。这是她会弹的惟一的调子,不过她只是用一个指头弹。“嗯,这正是我会弹的一个调子!”她说。“他一定是一个有教养的猪倌!你们听着,进去问问他,这个乐器要多少钱。”因此,一位侍女只好走进去了。可是在进去以前,她先换上了一双木套鞋。因为怕把她的脚弄脏了。“你这个锅要多少钱?”侍女问。“我只要公主给我接十个吻就够了。”牧猪人说。“我的老天爷!”侍女说。“是的,少一个吻也不卖。”猪倌说。“唔,他怎么说?”公主问。
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