皇帝的新裝

艾米莉

皇帝的新裝

艾米莉

The Emperor’s New Clothes

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．They pretended to roll the cloth off the looms；cut the air with their scissors；and sewed with needles without any thread in them．“See！”cried they，at last．“The Emperor’s new clothes are ready！”

And now the Emperor，with all the grandees of his court，came to the weavers；and the rogues raised their arms，as if in the act of holding something up，saying，“Here are your Majesty’s trousers！Here is the scarf！ Here is the mantle！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．”

“Yes indeed！”said all the courtiers，although not one of them could see anything of this exquisite manufacture．

“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．”

The Emperor was accordingly undressed，and the rogues pretended to array him in his new suit；the Emperor turning round，from side to side， before the looking glass．

“How splendid his Majesty looks in his new clothes，and how well they fit！”everyone cried out.“What a design！ What colors！ These are indeed royal robes！”

“The canopy which is to be borne over your Majesty，in the procession， is waiting.”announced the chief master of the ceremonies．

“I am quite ready，”answered the Emperor．“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．

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； and pretended to be carrying something； for they would by no means betray anything like simplicity， or unfitness for their office．

譯文

第二天早晨游行大典就要舉行了。在頭天晚上，這兩個騙子整夜不睡，點起16支蠟燭。這樣，每個人都可以看到他們是在趕夜工，要完成皇帝的新衣。他們裝作把布料從織布機上取下來。他們用兩把大剪刀在空中裁了一陣子，同時又用沒有穿線的針縫了一通。最后，他們齊聲說：“請看！新衣服縫好了！”

皇帝帶著他的一群高貴的騎士親自到來了。這兩個騙子每人舉起一只手，好像他們拿著一件什么東西似的。他們說：“請看吧，這是褲子，這是袍子！這是外衣！這衣服輕柔得像蜘蛛網一樣：穿著它的人會覺得好像身上沒有什么東西似的——這也正是這件衣服的妙處。”

“一點兒也不錯，”所有的騎士都這么說。可是他們什么也沒有看見，因為實際上什么東西也沒有。

“現在請陛下脫下衣服，”兩個騙子說，“我們要在這個大鏡子面前為陛下換上新衣。”

皇帝把身上的衣服統統都脫光了。這兩個騙子裝作在用新衣服為皇帝打扮。皇帝在鏡子面前轉了轉身子，扭了扭腰肢。

“上帝，這衣服多么合身哪！式樣裁得多么好看哪！”大家都說。“多么美的花紋！多么美的色彩！這真是一套貴重的衣服！”

“大家已經在外面把華蓋準備好了，只等陛下一出去，就可以撐起來去游行！”典禮官說。

“對，我已經穿好了，”皇帝說，“這衣服合我的身嗎？”于是他又在鏡子面前把身子轉動了一下，因為他要叫大家看出他在認真地欣賞他美麗的服裝。

那些將要托著后裾的內臣們，都把手在地上東摸西摸，好像他們真的在拾其后裾似的。他們開步走，手中托著空氣——他們不敢讓人瞧出他們什么東西也沒有看見。

注釋

rogues流氓；無賴；歹徒

procession隊伍；行

pretend假裝

roll卷

loom織布機

scissor剪刀

sew縫合

needle針

thread穿過

Emperor皇帝；君主

grandees貴族

court法院

weaver編織者

Majesty威嚴；王權

trousers長褲

scarf圍巾

mantle斗篷

cobweb蜘蛛網

virtue美德；優點

delicate精致的；雅致的

courtier侍臣

exquisite精致的；細膩的

manufacture制造；產品；制造業

Imperial帝國的；皇帝的

graciously雅致地

undressed裸體的

array陣列；排列

royal王室

robes長袍；禮服

canopy華蓋

ceremony儀式；典禮

appear to be好像是；仿佛；似乎在

lords上議院

mantle地幔；斗篷

bedchamber臥室；寢室

train裙裾

lifting舉起；起重

betray背叛；泄露

simplicity樸素；天真

unfitness不勝任；不適當