第12章 打火匣 The Tinder－Box(4/7)

首发：~第12章 打火匣 The Tinder－Box

于是他回去取了打火匣，然后巫婆把他从树里拉了上来，他又站在了大路上，口袋、背包、帽子和靴子里都装满了金子。

so he went back and fetched the tinder - box, and then the witch drew him up out of the tree, and he stood again in the high road, with his pockets, his knapsack, his cap, and his boots full of gold

“你打算拿打火匣做什么？”

“what are you going to do with the tinder - box”

士兵问道。

asked the soldier

“这与你无关，” 巫婆回答道；

“that is nothing to you,” replied the witch;

“你已经拿到钱了，现在把打火匣给我。”

“you have the money, now give me the tinder - box”

“我告诉你，” 士兵说，“如果你不告诉我你打算拿它做什么，我就拔出剑砍下你的头。”

“i tell you what,” said the soldier, “if you don’t tell me what you are going to do with it, i will draw my sword and cut off your head”

“不。” 巫婆说。

“no,” said the witch

士兵立刻砍下了她的头，她就躺在地上了。

the soldier immediately cut off her head, and there she lay on the ground

然后他把所有的钱都包在她的围裙里，像捆包裹一样把它背在背上，把打火匣放在口袋里，然后向最近的城镇走去。

then he tied up all his money in her apron, and slung it on his back like a bundle, put the tinder - box in his pocket, and walked off to the nearest town

那是一个非常不错的城镇，他住进了最好的旅店，点了一顿全是他最爱吃的菜的晚餐，因为现在他富有了，有很多钱。

it was a very nice town, and he put up at the best inn, and ordered a dinner of all his favorite dishes, for now he was rich and had plenty of money

给他擦靴子的仆人认为，对于这样一位富有的绅士来说，他穿的这双靴子实在是太破旧了，因为他还没有买新的呢。

the servant, who cleaned his boots, thought they certainly were a shabby pair to be worn by such a rich gentleman, for he had not yet bought any new ones

然而，第二天，他购置了一些好衣服和合适的靴子，于是我们的士兵很快就被当作一位体面的绅士，人们都来拜访他，告诉他城里所有值得一看的奇观，以及国王美丽的女儿 —— 公主的事。

the next day, however, he procured some good clothes and proper boots, so that our soldier soon became known as a fine gentleman, and the people visited him, and told him all the wonders that were to be seen in the town, and of the king’s beautiful daughter, the princess

“我在哪里能见到她呢？”

“where can i see her”

士兵问道。

asked the soldier

“根本见不到她，” 他们说；

“she is not to be seen at all,” they said;

“她住在一座巨大的铜城堡里，周围是城墙和塔楼。

“she lives in a large copper castle, surrounded by walls and towers

除了国王本人，没有人能进出，因为有一个预言说她将嫁给一个普通士兵，而国王一想到这样的婚姻就无法忍受。”

no one but the king himself can pass in or out, for there has been a prophecy that she will marry a mon soldier, and the king cannot bear to think of such a marriage”

“我非常想见见她，” 士兵想；

“i should like very much to see her,” thought the soldier;

但是他得不到许可去见她。

but he could not obtain permission to do so

不过，他度过了一段非常愉快的时光；

however, he passed a very pleasant time;

他去剧院，在国王的花园里驾车游玩，还给穷人很多钱，他这样做非常善良；

went to the theatre, drove in the king’s garden, and gave a great deal of money to the poor, which was very good of him;

他还记得过去身无分文的时候是什么样的。

he remembered what it had been in olden times to be without a shilling

现在他富有了，有漂亮的衣服，还有很多朋友，他们都宣称他是个好人，是个真正的绅士，这一切让他非常高兴。

now he was rich, had fine clothes, and many friends, who all declared he was a fine fellow and a real gentleman, and all this gratified him exceedingly

但他的钱不会永远花不完；

but his money would not last forever;

由于他每天花销和赠送出去很多钱，却没有收入，最后他发现自己只剩下两先令了。

and as he spent and gave away a great deal daily, and received none, he found himself at last with only two shillings left