The Emperor’s New Clothes

◎ 許華峰/譯

The Emperor’s New Clothes

◎ 許華峰/譯

And now the Emperor himself wished to see the costly manufacture，while it was still in the loom．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．

“Is not the work absolutely magnificent？”said the two officers of the crown，already mentioned．“If your Majesty will only be pleased to look at it！What a splendid design！What glorious colors！”and at the same time they pointed to the empty frames；for they imagined that everyone else could see this exquisite piece of workmanship．

“How is this？”said the Emperor to himself．“I can see nothing！ This is indeed a terrible affair！Am I a simpleton，or am I unfit to be an Emperor？That would be the worst thing that could happen——Oh！ The cloth is charming，”said he，aloud．“It has my complete approbation．”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．All his retinue now strained their eyes，hoping to discoversomething on the looms，butthey could see no more than the others；nevertheless，they all exclaimed，“Oh， how beautiful！”and advised his majesty to have some new clothes made from this splendid material，for the approaching procession．

“Magnificent！Charming！Excellent！”resounded on allsides；and everyone was uncommonly gay．The Emperorshared in the generalsatisfaction；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．”

（To be continued …）

譯文

當(dāng)這布還在織的時(shí)候，皇帝就很想親自去看一次。他選了一群特別圈定的隨員——其中包括已經(jīng)去看過(guò)的那兩位誠(chéng)實(shí)的大臣。這樣，他就到那兩個(gè)狡猾的騙子住的地方去了。這兩個(gè)家伙正以全副精神織布，但是一根線(xiàn)的影子也看不見(jiàn)。“您看這不漂亮嗎？”那兩位誠(chéng)實(shí)的官員說(shuō)。“陛下請(qǐng)看，多么美麗的花紋！多么美麗的色彩！”他們指著那架空空的織機(jī)，因?yàn)樗麄円詾閯e人一定會(huì)看得見(jiàn)布料的。

“這是怎么一回事兒呢？”皇帝心里想。“我什么也沒(méi)有看見(jiàn)！這真是荒唐！難道我是一個(gè)愚蠢的人嗎？難道我不配做皇帝嗎？這真是我從來(lái)沒(méi)有碰見(jiàn)過(guò)的一件最可怕的事情。”

“啊，它真是美極了！”皇帝說(shuō)，“我表示十二分的滿(mǎn)意！”

于是他點(diǎn)頭表示滿(mǎn)意。他裝作很仔細(xì)地看著織機(jī)的樣子，因?yàn)樗辉敢庹f(shuō)出他什么也沒(méi)有看見(jiàn)。跟他來(lái)的全體隨員也仔細(xì)地看了又看，可是他們也沒(méi)有看出更多的東西。不過(guò)，他們也照著皇帝的話(huà)說(shuō)：“啊，真是美極了！”他們建議皇帝用這種新奇的、美麗的布料做成衣服，穿上這衣服去參加快要舉行的游行大典。“真美麗！真精致！真是好極了！”每人都隨聲附和著。每人都有說(shuō)不出的快樂(lè)。皇帝賜給騙子每人一個(gè)爵士的頭銜和一枚可以?huà)煸诩~扣洞上的勛章；還封他們?yōu)椤坝缚棊煛薄?/p>

（未完待續(xù)……）

注釋

manufacture制造；產(chǎn)品；制造業(yè)

loom織布機(jī)

crafty狡猾的；靈巧的

impostor騙子；冒充者

diligently勤奮地；勤勉地

magnificent高尚的；壯麗的；華麗的

splendid輝煌的；燦爛的；極好的；

frame框架；結(jié)構(gòu)

exquisite精致的；細(xì)膩的；優(yōu)美的，

workmanship手藝，工藝

approbation認(rèn)可；贊許；批準(zhǔn)

graciously和藹地；仁慈地；雅致地

retinue隨行人員；扈從

strain拉緊；濫用

majesty威嚴(yán)；最高權(quán)威，王權(quán)

procession隊(duì)伍，行列

riband緞帶

knighthood騎士