皇帝的新装

艾米莉

皇帝的新装

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．

译文

第二天早晨游行大典就要举行了。在头天晚上，这两个骗子整夜不睡，点起16支蜡烛。这样，每个人都可以看到他们是在赶夜工，要完成皇帝的新衣。他们装作把布料从织布机上取下来。他们用两把大剪刀在空中裁了一阵子，同时又用没有穿线的针缝了一通。最后，他们齐声说：“请看！新衣服缝好了！”

皇帝带着他的一群高贵的骑士亲自到来了。这两个骗子每人举起一只手，好像他们拿着一件什么东西似的。他们说：“请看吧，这是裤子，这是袍子！这是外衣！这衣服轻柔得像蜘蛛网一样：穿着它的人会觉得好像身上没有什么东西似的——这也正是这件衣服的妙处。”

“一点儿也不错，”所有的骑士都这么说。可是他们什么也没有看见，因为实际上什么东西也没有。

“现在请陛下脱下衣服，”两个骗子说，“我们要在这个大镜子面前为陛下换上新衣。”

皇帝把身上的衣服统统都脱光了。这两个骗子装作在用新衣服为皇帝打扮。皇帝在镜子面前转了转身子，扭了扭腰肢。

“上帝，这衣服多么合身哪！式样裁得多么好看哪！”大家都说。“多么美的花纹！多么美的色彩！这真是一套贵重的衣服！”

“大家已经在外面把华盖准备好了，只等陛下一出去，就可以撑起来去游行！”典礼官说。

“对，我已经穿好了，”皇帝说，“这衣服合我的身吗？”于是他又在镜子面前把身子转动了一下，因为他要叫大家看出他在认真地欣赏他美丽的服装。

那些将要托着后裾的内臣们，都把手在地上东摸西摸，好像他们真的在拾其后裾似的。他们开步走，手中托着空气——他们不敢让人瞧出他们什么东西也没有看见。

注释

rogues流氓；无赖；歹徒

procession队伍；行

pretend假装

roll卷

loom织布机

scissor剪刀

sew缝合

needle针

thread穿过

Emperor皇帝；君主

grandees贵族

court法院

weaver编织者

Majesty威严；王权

trousers长裤

scarf围巾

mantle斗篷

cobweb蜘蛛网

virtue美德；优点

delicate精致的；雅致的

courtier侍臣

exquisite精致的；细腻的

manufacture制造；产品；制造业

Imperial帝国的；皇帝的

graciously雅致地

undressed裸体的

array阵列；排列

royal王室

robes长袍；礼服

canopy华盖

ceremony仪式；典礼

appear to be好像是；仿佛；似乎在

lords上议院

mantle地幔；斗篷

bedchamber卧室；寝室

train裙裾

lifting举起；起重

betray背叛；泄露

simplicity朴素；天真

unfitness不胜任；不适当