The Sleeping Princess

睡美人

　　I

　　Once there was a Kingand a Queen. For many years they had wanted a child， and no child had come tothem.

　　Then the Queen had achild. It was a girl. The King was very glad.

　　You know what a fairyis. Many fairies lived near the King’s house. When the Queen’s child came， theKing went to all the fairies and said， “The Queen has a child. Do come tothe house and see our new little girl.” All the fairies said， “We arevery glad： we will come today .”

　　One of the fairies hadgone away on a journey： she had been very far away. She had not come back whenthe Queen’s child came. When she came back， one of the fairies said to her，“The Queen has a child， and the King came to us and said， ”Come andsee our new little girl. “”

　　But this fairy was abad fairy； the bad fairy said， “The King went to all of you： why did henot come to me？ I shall go and see the King’s child； but I shall give her somebad thing.”

　　All the good fairieswent to the King’s house， and saw the little girl； and they all gave her somegood thing. One said， “I give her this good thing： she shall haveriches.” One fairy said， “I give her this good thing； she shallbecome a brave woman.” One said， “I give her this good thing： sheshall become a good woman.” All gave some good thing.

　　Then there came thebad fairy. She said， “The King went to all the fairies but he did not cometo me， so I shall give the child some bad thing. She will have riches； she willbecome brave； she will become good. But， when she is a woman， she will prick herhand with a needle， and die.”

　　The poor Queen did notknow what to do. The King said to the good fairies， “The poor girl shallnot die. Can you not help me？ Say that she shall not die！” The goodfairies said， “ We cannot help you. What the bad fairy has said will come.Your child will prick her hand with a needle； but she shall not die. She shallsleep for many years. Then a king’s son shall come and kiss her. And she willawake. He shall wake her with a kiss.” Then the fairies went away.

　　The King sent for allhis men and all the Queen’s women， and said， “Go and bring me all theneedles that are in the house.”

　　They brought all theneedles that they could find， and the King took them， and threw them into ariver far away.

　　Then he said，“See that no needle comes into this house. See that no man and no womanbrings a needle near my child. I shall kill them if they do.”

　　（一）

　　从前，有一位国王和一位王后，多年来他们一直希望有个小孩，但他们还是没有孩子。

　　后来，王后有了一个孩子，是女孩，国王十分高兴。

　　你知道仙女是什么。很多仙女住在王宫附近。当王后的小孩出世后，国王去告诉所有的仙女说：“王后生了一个孩子，你们一定到王宫来，看看我们刚出世的小女孩。”仙女们说：“我们很高兴，今天我们一定去看看。”

　　她们当中有一位仙女已经出门旅行去了，她已经到了很远的地方。王后的小孩出世时她还没有回来。当她回来后，一位仙女对她说：“王后生了一个女孩，国王来告诉过我们说，’来看看我们刚出世的小女孩’。”

　　可是，这位仙女是一个坏仙女。坏仙女说：“国王来告诉你们大家，但为什么就不来告诉我呢？我一定要去看看国王的孩子，我要给她咒一些坏事。”

　　好的仙女们来到了王宫，见到了小女孩，她们大家都给她说了些吉利的话。一位说：“我给她这样吉利的话：她一定会发财。”一位说：“我给她这样吉利的话：她一定会成为一位勇敢的女性。”一位说：“我给她这样吉利的话：她一定会成为一名好女人。”大家都说了些吉利的话。

　　然后，坏仙女来到这里，她说：“国王去告诉了所有的仙女，他就是不来告诉我。所以，我要给小孩咒一些坏事。她会发财，会成为一名勇敢的女性，也会成为一名好女人。但是，当她成年后，她将用针刺破手而死去。”

　　可怜的王后不知道如何是好。国王对那些好仙女说：“这可怜的女孩子不能死，你们不能帮助我吗？求你们说一声她不会死去！”

　　好的仙女们说：“我们不能帮助您，坏仙女所预言的必将应验，你的孩子将会用针刺破手，但是，她不一定死，她要沉睡很多年。然后，有一位王子会来吻她，她将会醒来。他的吻会把她唤醒。”然后，仙女们走了。

　　国王叫来他的所有男仆和王后的所有女仆，说：“去把房间里所有的针都给我搜罗来。”他们去把所有能够找到的针都拿来了，然后，国王拿着这些针，把它们扔到很远的一条河里去了。

　　接着他说：“千万注意，别让一枚针进到这所房子里来。还要注意，谁也不准带着针靠近我的孩子。如果他们敢这样做，我就杀了他们。”