当太阳落山时，他们就会变成人，掉进海里淹死。

when the sun set, they would change to men, fall into the sea and be drowned.

于是她从内心深处祈祷，但仍然看不到礁石的踪影。

then she offered a prayer from her inmost heart, but still no appearance of the rock.

乌云逼近，阵阵狂风预示着一场暴风雨即将来临，而从一团浓厚、沉重的乌云中，闪电一道接一道地迸发出来。

dark clouds came nearer, the gusts of wind told of a ing storm, while from a thick, heavy mass of clouds the lightning burst forth flash after flash.

太阳已经落到海平线的时候，天鹅们迅速俯冲下来，艾丽莎的头都震颤起来；

the sun had reached the edge of the sea, when the swans darted down so swiftly, that Eliza’s head trembled;

她以为他们要坠落了，但他们又向前飞去。

she believed they were falling, but they again soared onward.

不一会儿，她看到就在他们下方的礁石，而此时太阳已经有一半被海浪遮住了。

presently she caught sight of the rock just below them, and by this time the sun was half hidden by the waves.

这块礁石看起来不比一只海豹探出水面的头大多少。

the rock did not appear larger than a seal’s head thrust out of the water.

他们下降得如此之快，当他们的脚触到礁石的时候，礁石只像一颗星星一样闪着光，最后像一张烧过的纸最后的火星一样消失了。

they sunk so rapidly, that at the moment their feet touched the rock, it shone only like a star, and at last disappeared like the last spark in a piece of burnt paper.

然后她看到她的兄弟们紧紧地围站在她身边，手臂挽在一起。

then she saw her brothers standing closely round her with their arms linked together.

这里刚好容得下他们，一点多余的空间都没有。

there was but just room enough for them, and not the smallest space to spare.

海浪冲击着礁石，飞沫溅到他们身上。

the sea dashed against the rock, and covered them with spray.

天空不断被闪电照亮，一阵又一阵的雷声滚滚而过。

the heavens were lighted up with continual flashes, and peal after peal of thunder rolled.

但是姐弟们手挽着手坐在一起，唱着圣歌，从圣歌中他们获得了希望和勇气。

but the sister and brothers sat holding each other’s hands, and singing hymns, from which they gained hope and courage.

清晨时分，空气变得平静安宁，日出时，天鹅们带着艾丽莎从礁石上飞走了。

In the early dawn the air became calm and still, and at sunrise the swans flew away from the rock with Eliza.

大海仍然波涛汹涌，从他们在空中的高处看，深绿色海浪上的白色泡沫看起来就像数百万只天鹅在水面上游动。

the sea was still rough, and from their high position in the air, the white foam on the dark green waves looked like millions of swans swimming on the water.

随着太阳升得更高，艾丽莎看到在她前方的空中漂浮着一列山脉，山顶上有闪闪发光的大片冰层。

As the sun rose higher, Eliza saw before her, floating on the air, a range of mountains, with shining masses of ice on their summits.

在中央，矗立着一座显然有一英里长的城堡，一排排圆柱层层叠叠，而城堡周围，棕榈树摇曳，花朵盛开，花朵大如磨坊的轮子。

In the centre, rose a castle apparently a mile long, with rows of columns, rising one above another, while, around it, palm - trees waved and flowers bloomed as large as mill wheels.

她问这是否就是他们正在赶往的地方。

She asked if this was the land to which they were hastening.

天鹅们摇了摇头，因为她所看到的是 “摩根勒菲”（Fata morgana）那美丽而变幻无穷的云中之城，凡人是无法进入的。

the swans shook their heads, for what she beheld were the beautiful ever - changing cloud palaces of the “Fata morgana,” into which no mortal can enter.

艾丽莎还在凝视着这一景象时，山脉、森林和城堡都消失了，取而代之的是二十座宏伟的教堂拔地而起，有着高耸的塔楼和尖顶的哥特式窗户。

Eliza was still gazing at the scene, when mountains, forests, and castles melted away, and twenty stately churches rose in their stead, with high towers and pointed gothic windows.

艾丽莎甚至想象自己能听到管风琴的音调，但她听到的其实是大海的潺潺声。

Eliza even fancied she could hear the tones of the organ, but it was the music of the murmuring sea which she heard.

当他们靠近教堂时，教堂也变成了一队船只，看起来像是在她下方航行；

As they drew nearer to the churches, they also changed into a fleet of ships, which seemed to be sailing beneath her;

但当她再看时，发现那只是海面上飘过的一层海雾。

but as she looked again, she found it was only a sea mist gliding over the ocean.

于是，不断变幻的景象持续在她眼前掠过，直到最后她看到了他们要前往的真正陆地，那里有蓝色的山脉、雪松森林，还有城市和宫殿。

So there continued to pass before her eyes a constant change of scene, till at last she saw the real land to which they were bound, with its blue mountains, its cedar forests, and its cities and palaces.

早在太阳落山之前，她就坐在一个大洞穴前的一块岩石上，洞穴的地面上长满了繁茂而又纤细的绿色蔓生植物，看起来就像一块绣花地毯。

Long before the sun went down, she sat on a rock, in front of a large cave, on the floor of which the over - grown yet delicate green creeping plants looked like an embroidered carpet.

“现在我们就等着听你今晚梦到什么了。” 最小的哥哥边说边把妹妹带到她的卧室。

“Now we shall expect to hear what you dream of to - night,” said the youngest brother, as he showed his sister her bedroom.

“愿上天让我梦到如何拯救你们。” 她回答道。

“heaven grant that I may dream how to save you,” she replied.

这个想法在她脑海中如此根深蒂固，以至于她诚挚地向上帝祈求帮助，甚至在睡梦中她还在继续祈祷。

And this thought took such hold upon her mind that she prayed earnestly to God for help, and even in her sleep she continued to pray.

然后她觉得自己好像正在高空中朝着 “摩根勒菲” 的云中之城飞去，一位仙女出来迎接她，仙女外表光彩照人、美丽非凡，但又很像在森林里给她浆果并告诉她头戴金冠的天鹅的那位老妇人。

then it appeared to her as if she were flying high in the air, towards the cloudy palace of the “Fata morgana,” and a fairy came out to meet her, radiant and beautiful in appearance, and yet very much like the old woman who had given her berries in the wood, and who had told her of the swans with golden crowns on their heads.

“你的兄弟们能够被解救，” 她说，“只要你有勇气和毅力。

“Your brothers can be released,” said she, “if you have only courage and perseverance.

的确，水比你娇嫩的双手还要柔软，然而它却能把石头打磨成各种形状；

true, water is softer than your own delicate hands, and yet it polishes stones into shapes;

它不会像你的手指那样感到疼痛，它没有灵魂，也不会遭受你将要忍受的那种痛苦和折磨。

it feels no pain as your fingers would feel, it has no soul, and cannot suffer such agony and torment as you will have to endure.

你看到我手里拿的荨麻了吗？

do you see the stinging nettle which I hold in my hand?

在你睡觉的洞穴周围长着很多这种荨麻，但除非是长在教堂墓地里的坟墓上的，否则对你都没有任何用处。

quantities of the same sort grow round the cave in which you sleep, but none will be of any use to you unless they grow upon the graves in a churchyard.

你必须去采集这些荨麻，哪怕它们会在你手上烫起水泡。

these you must gather even while they burn blisters on your hands.

用你的手脚把它们弄碎，它们就会变成亚麻，你必须用这些亚麻纺线织布，做成十一件长袖的上衣；

break them to pieces with your hands and feet, and they will bee flax, from which you must spin and weave eleven coats with long sleeves;

如果把这些上衣披在十一只天鹅身上，魔法就会被破除。

if these are then thrown over the eleven swans, the spell will be broken.

但是记住，从你开始这项任务的那一刻起，直到任务完成，即使这要花费你数年的时间，你都不能说话。

but remember, that from the moment you mence your task until it is finished, even should it occupy years of your life, you must not speak.

你说出的第一个字就会像一把致命的匕首刺进你兄弟们的心脏。

the first word you utter will pierce through the hearts of your brothers like a deadly dagger.

他们的生命就悬于你的舌尖。

their lives hang upon your tongue.

记住我告诉你的一切。”

Remember all I have told you.”

她一说完，就用荨麻轻轻地碰了一下她的手，一阵火烧般的疼痛让艾丽莎醒了过来。

And as she finished speaking, she touched her hand lightly with the nettle, and a pain, as of burning fire, awoke Eliza.

天已大亮，在她睡觉的地方旁边就躺着一株荨麻，就像她在梦中见到的那株一样。

It was broad daylight, and close by where she had been sleeping lay a nettle like the one she had seen in her dream.

她跪下来向上帝致谢。

She fell on her knees and offered her thanks to God.

然后她走出洞穴，开始用她娇嫩的双手工作。

then she went forth from the cave to begin her work with her delicate hands.

她在那些难看的荨麻中摸索着，荨麻在她的手和胳膊上烫起了很大的水泡，但她下定决心，如果能解救亲爱的兄弟们，她甘愿忍受这一切。

She groped in amongst the ugly nettles, which burnt great blisters on her hands and arms, but she determined to bear it gladly if she could only release her dear brothers.

于是她光着脚把荨麻弄碎，然后纺起麻线来。

So she bruised the nettles with her bare feet and spun the flax.

日落时分，她的兄弟们回来了，当他们发现她不能说话时非常害怕。

At sunset her brothers returned and were very much frightened when they found her dumb.

他们以为这是邪恶的继母施的某种新魔法。

they believed it to be some new sorcery of their wicked step - mother.

但是当他们看到她的手时，就明白了她在为他们做什么，最小的弟弟哭了，他的眼泪落下的地方疼痛就消失了，烫起的水泡也不见了。

but when they saw her hands they understood what she was doing on their behalf, and the youngest brother wept, and where his tears fell the pain ceased, and the burning blisters vanished.

她整夜都在干活，因为在解救亲爱的兄弟们之前她无法休息。

She kept to her work all night, for she could not rest till she had released her dear brothers.

在接下来的一整天里，当她的兄弟们都不在的时候，她独自坐着，但时间从来没有过得这么快过。

during the whole of the following day, while her brothers were absent, she sat in solitude, but never before had the time flown so quickly.

一件上衣已经织好，她开始织第二件的时候，听到了猎人的号角声，她害怕极了。

one coat was already finished and she had begun the second, when she heard the huntsman’s horn, and was struck with fear.

声音越来越近，她听到狗叫声，惊恐地逃进了山洞。

the sound came nearer and nearer, she heard the dogs barking, and fled with terror into the cave.

她急忙把采来的荨麻捆成一捆，然后坐在上面。

She hastily bound together the nettles she had gathered into a bundle and sat upon them.

立刻，一只大狗从山谷里向她飞奔而来，接着一只又一只；

Immediately a great dog came bounding towards her out of the ravine, and then another and another;

它们大声地叫着，跑回去，然后又跑过来。

they barked loudly, ran back, and then came again.

没过几分钟，所有的猎人都站在了山洞前，其中最英俊的是这个国家的国王。

In a very few minutes all the huntsmen stood before the cave, and the handsomest of them was the king of the country.

他向她走来，因为他从未见过如此美丽的少女。

he advanced towards her, for he had never seen a more beautiful maiden.

“我可爱的孩子，你是怎么来到这里的？”

“how did you e here, my sweet child?”

他问道。

he asked.

但是艾丽莎摇了摇头。

but Eliza shook her head.

她不敢说话，因为这会以她兄弟们的生命为代价。

She dared not speak, at the cost of her brothers’ lives.

她把手藏在围裙下面，这样国王就看不到她一定正在遭受的痛苦了。

And she hid her hands under her apron, so that the king might not see how she must be suffering.

“跟我来，” 他说；

“e with me,” he said;

“你不能留在这里。

“here you cannot remain.

如果你既美丽又善良，我将给你穿上丝绸和天鹅绒的衣服，我将把一顶金王冠戴在你的头上，你将在我最富有的城堡里居住、统治并安家。”

If you are as good as you are beautiful, I will dress you in silk and velvet, I will place a golden crown upon your head, and you shall dwell, and rule, and make your home in my richest castle.”

然后他把她抱上了马。

And then he lifted her on his horse.

她哭着，绞着双手，但是国王说：“我只希望你幸福。

She wept and wrung her hands, but the king said, “I wish only for your happiness.

将来有一天你会为此感谢我的。”

A time will e when you will thank me for this.”

然后他骑着马飞奔过山峦，把她抱在身前，猎人们跟在他们后面。

And then he galloped away over the mountains, holding her before him on this horse, and the hunters followed behind them.

当太阳落山时，他们接近了一座美丽的王城，城里有教堂和圆顶建筑。

As the sun went down, they approached a fair royal city, with churches, and cupolas.

到达城堡后，国王带她走进大理石大厅，大厅里有大型喷泉在喷水，墙壁和天花板上都挂满了华丽的画作。

on arriving at the castle the king led her into marble halls, where large fountains played, and where the walls and the ceilings were covered with rich paintings.

但她对这所有壮丽的景象都视而不见，她只能哀伤哭泣。

but she had no eyes for all these glorious sights, she could only mourn and weep.

她耐心地任由女人们给她穿上华丽的长袍，在她头发上编织珍珠，给她长满水泡的手指戴上柔软的手套。

patiently she allowed the women to array her in royal robes, to weave pearls in her hair, and draw soft gloves over her blistered fingers.

当她身着华服站在他们面前时，她看起来美得耀眼，宫廷里的人都向她深深鞠躬。

As she stood before them in all her rich dress, she looked so dazzlingly beautiful that the court bowed low in her presence.

然后国王宣布他打算娶她为新娘，但大主教摇了摇头，低声说这位美丽的年轻少女只是个女巫，她蒙蔽了国王的双眼，蛊惑了他的心。

then the king declared his intention of making her his bride, but the archbishop shook his head, and whispered that the fair young maiden was only a witch who had blinded the king’s eyes and bewitched his heart.

但国王不愿听这些话；

but the king would not listen to this;

他命人奏响音乐，端上最精致的菜肴，让最可爱的少女们跳舞。

he ordered the music to sound, the daintiest dishes to be served, and the loveliest maidens to dance.

之后他带她穿过芬芳的花园和高大的厅堂，但她的唇边没有一丝笑意，眼中也没有一丝光彩。

After - wards he led her through fragrant gardens and lofty halls, but not a smile appeared on her lips or sparkled in her eyes.

她看起来就是悲伤的化身。

She looked the very picture of grief.

然后国王打开了她要睡觉的小房间的门；

then the king opened the door of a little chamber in which she was to sleep;

房间里装饰着华丽的绿色挂毯，看起来就像他发现她的那个山洞。

it was adorned with rich green tapestry, and resembled the cave in which he had found her.

地板上放着她用荨麻纺成的那捆亚麻，天花板下挂着她做好的上衣。

on the floor lay the bundle of flax which she had spun from the nettles, and under the ceiling hung the coat she had made.

这些东西是一个猎人当作稀奇之物从山洞里带回来的。

these things had been brought away from the cave as curiosities by one of the huntsmen.

“在这里你可以在梦中回到山洞里的老家了。” 国王说；

“here you can dream yourself back again in the old home in the cave,” said the king;

“这是你以前做的活计。

“here is the work with which you employed yourself.

现在身处这所有的荣华富贵之中，想起那段时光会让你觉得有趣的。”

It will amuse you now in the midst of all this splendor to think of that time.”

当艾丽莎看到所有这些贴近她内心的东西时，嘴角泛起了一丝微笑，红晕涌上了她的脸颊。

when Eliza saw all these things which lay so near her heart, a smile played around her mouth, and the crimson blood rushed to her cheeks.

她想到了她的兄弟们，一想到他们即将被解救，她就非常高兴，于是亲吻了国王的手。

She thought of her brothers, and their release made her so joyful that she kissed the king’s hand.

然后他把她紧紧搂在怀里。

then he pressed her to his heart.

很快，欢快的教堂钟声宣告了婚宴的开始，表明这个来自森林的美丽哑女即将成为这个国家的王后。

Very soon the joyous church bells announced the marriage feast, and that the beautiful dumb girl out of the wood was to be made the queen of the country.

然后大主教在国王耳边说了些恶毒的话，但这些话并没有进入他的心里。

then the archbishop whispered wicked words in the king’s ear, but they did not sink into his heart.

婚礼仍然要举行，大主教本人不得不把王冠戴在新娘的头上；

the marriage was still to take place, and the archbishop himself had to place the crown on the bride’s head;

出于他邪恶的怨恨，他把狭窄的王冠紧紧地压在她的额头上，使她感到疼痛。

in his wicked spite, he pressed the narrow circlet so tightly on her forehead that it caused her pain.

但更沉重的东西压在她的心头 —— 为她兄弟们的悲伤。

but a heavier weight encircled her heart — sorrow for her brothers.

她感觉不到身体上的疼痛。

She felt not bodily pain.

她的嘴紧闭着；

her mouth was closed;

只要说出一个字就会要了她兄弟们的命。

a single word would cost the lives of her brothers.

但她爱着这位善良、英俊的国王，他每天都想尽一切办法让她越来越幸福；

but she loved the kind, handsome king, who did everything to make her happy more and more each day;

她全心全意地爱着他，她的眼睛里闪烁着她不敢言说的爱意。

she loved him with all her heart, and her eyes beamed with the love she dared not speak.

哦！要是她能信赖他，把自己的悲痛告诉他就好了。

oh! if she had only been able to confide in him and tell him of her grief.

但在任务完成之前她必须保持沉默。

but dumb she must remain till her task was finished.

因此，夜里她悄悄溜进为模仿山洞而布置的小房间，迅速地织完一件又一件上衣。

therefore at night she crept away into her little chamber, which had been decked out to look like the cave, and quickly wove one coat after another.

但当她开始织第七件的时候，发现已经没有亚麻了。

but when she began the seventh she found she had no more flax.

她知道自己要用的荨麻长在教堂墓地里，而且必须自己去采摘。

She knew that the nettles she wanted to use grew in the churchyard, and that she must pluck them herself.

她要怎么去那里呢？

how should she get out there?

“哦，与我内心所忍受的折磨相比，我手指的疼痛算得了什么呢？”

“oh, what is the pain in my fingers to the torment which my heart endures?”

她说。

said she.

“我必须冒险一试，上天不会拒绝帮助我的。”

“I must venture, I shall not be denied help from heaven.”

然后，她怀着一颗颤抖的心，仿佛要去做一件坏事似的，在明亮的月光下悄悄溜进花园，穿过狭窄的小径和空无一人的街道，一直来到教堂墓地。

then with a trembling heart, as if she were about to perform a wicked deed, she crept into the garden in the broad moonlight, and passed through the narrow walks and the deserted streets, till she reached the churchyard.

然后她看到在一块宽阔的墓碑上有一群食尸鬼。

then she saw on one of the broad tombstones a group of ghouls.

这些丑陋的生物脱下破衣服，好像要洗澡似的，然后用又长又瘦的手指挖开新坟，拖出尸体并吞食人肉！艾丽莎不得不从它们身边经过，它们恶狠狠地盯着她，但她默默祈祷，采集了那些刺人的荨麻，然后带着它们回到城堡。

these hideous creatures took off their rags, as if they intended to bathe, and then clawing open the fresh graves with their long, skinny fingers, pulled out the dead bodies and ate the flesh! Eliza had to pass close by them, and they fixed their wicked glances upon her, but she prayed silently, gathered the burning nettles, and carried them home with her to the castle.

只有一个人看到了她，那就是大主教 —— 当所有人都睡着的时候，他却醒着。

one person only had seen her, and that was the archbishop — he was awake while everybody was asleep.

现在他认为自己的看法显然是正确的。

Now he thought his opinion was evidently correct.

王后肯定有问题。

All was not right with the queen.

她是个女巫，蛊惑了国王和所有的臣民。

She was a witch, and had bewitched the king and all the people.

他悄悄地把自己的所见所忧告诉了国王，当那些刻薄的话语从他口中说出时，圣徒的雕像都摇起了头，好像在说：

Secretly he told the king what he had seen and what he feared, and as the hard words came from his tongue, the carved images of the saints shook their heads as if they would say.

“不是这样的。

“It is not so.

艾丽莎是无辜的。”

Eliza is innocent.”

但是大主教却有另外的解读；

but the archbishop interpreted it in another way;

他认为圣像们是在指证她，是在对她的恶行摇头。

he believed that they witnessed against her, and were shaking their heads at her wickedness.

两颗大大的泪珠从国王的脸颊滚落，他满腹狐疑地回到家，夜里他佯装入睡，但其实并未真正睡着，因为他看到艾丽莎每晚都会起身然后消失在自己的房间里。

two large tears rolled down the king’s cheeks, and he went home with doubt in his heart, and at night he pretended to sleep, but there came no real sleep to his eyes, for he saw Eliza get up every night and disappear in her own chamber.

日复一日，他的眉头越皱越紧，艾丽莎看到了却不明白缘由，这让她惊恐，也让她为兄弟们担心得心跳不已。

From day to day his brow became darker, and Eliza saw it and did not understand the reason, but it alarmed her and made her heart tremble for her brothers.

她滚烫的泪珠像珍珠一样在华丽的天鹅绒和钻石上闪烁，而所有看到她的人都希望自己能成为王后。

her hot tears glittered like pearls on the regal velvet and diamonds, while all who saw her were wishing they could be queens.

与此同时，她的任务几乎就要完成了；

In the mean time she had almost finished her task;

只差一件铠甲上衣了，但她已经没有亚麻了，连一根荨麻也没有了。

only one coat of mail was wanting, but she had no flax left, and not a single nettle.

她必须再冒险去一次教堂墓地，最后一次采几把荨麻。

once more only, and for the last time, must she venture to the churchyard and pluck a few handfuls.

她害怕地想着那孤独的行程，还有那些可怕的食尸鬼，但她意志坚定，对上天的信赖也毫不动摇。

She thought with terror of the solitary walk, and of the horrible ghouls, but her will was firm, as well as her trust in providence.

艾丽莎出发了，国王和大主教跟在她后面。

Eliza went, and the king and the archbishop followed her.

他们看到她穿过小门消失在教堂墓地里，当他们走近些时，看到食尸鬼像艾丽莎之前看到的那样坐在墓碑上，国王转过头去，因为他以为她和食尸鬼在一起 —— 就在当天晚上，她的头还靠在他的胸膛上呢。

they saw her vanish through the wicket gate into the churchyard, and when they came nearer they saw the ghouls sitting on the tombstone, as Eliza had seen them, and the king turned away his head, for he thought she was with them — she whose head had rested on his breast that very evening.

“民众必须审判她。” 他说，很快所有人都判定她应被处以火刑。

“the people must condemn her,” said he, and she was very quickly condemned by every one to suffer death by fire.

她被带出华丽的王宫大厅，被带到一个阴暗、沉闷的牢房里，风呼啸着吹过铁栅栏。

Away from the gorgeous regal halls was she led to a dark, dreary cell, where the wind whistled through the iron bars.

他们没有给她天鹅绒和丝绸衣服，而是给了她自己织的铠甲上衣来蔽体，给了她一捆荨麻当枕头；

Instead of the velvet and silk dresses, they gave her the coats of mail which she had woven to cover her, and the bundle of nettles for a pillow;

但他们给她的东西没有比这更让她高兴的了。

but nothing they could give her would have pleased her more.

她满心欢喜地继续做着自己的活儿，同时祈求帮助，而街头的男孩们唱着嘲笑她的歌，没有一个人用一句友善的话来安慰她。

She continued her task with joy, and prayed for help, while the street - boys sang jeering songs about her, and not a soul forted her with a kind word.

傍晚时分，她听到格栅处传来天鹅翅膀的扑腾声，是她最小的弟弟 —— 他找到了姐姐，她喜极而泣，尽管她知道这很可能是自己生命中的最后一个夜晚。

towards evening, she heard at the grating the flutter of a swan’s wing, it was her youngest brother — he had found his sister, and she sobbed for joy, although she knew that very likely this would be the last night she would have to live.

但她仍然可以抱有希望，因为她的任务几乎就要完成了，而且她的兄弟们都来了。

but still she could hope, for her task was almost finished, and her brothers were e.

然后大主教来了，按照他对国王的承诺，在她生命的最后时刻陪伴她。

then the archbishop arrived, to be with her during her last hours, as he had promised the king.

但她摇了摇头，用表情和手势请求他不要留下来；

but she shook her head, and begged him, by looks and gestures, not to stay;

因为她知道在这个夜晚必须完成任务，否则她所有的痛苦、泪水和不眠之夜就都白白忍受了。

for in this night she knew she must finish her task, otherwise all her pain and tears and sleepless nights would have been suffered in vain.

大主教一边退下，一边恶语相向；

the archbishop withdrew, uttering bitter words against her;

但可怜的艾丽莎知道自己是无辜的，仍勤奋地继续工作。

but poor Eliza knew that she was innocent, and diligently continued her work.

小老鼠在地上跑来跑去，它们把荨麻拖到她脚边，尽它们所能来帮忙；

the little mice ran about the floor, they dragged the nettles to her feet, to help as well as they could;

画眉鸟站在窗格栅外，整夜尽可能甜美地为她唱歌，使她振作精神。

and the thrush sat outside the grating of the window, and sang to her the whole night long, as sweetly as possible, to keep up her spirits.

天还蒙蒙亮，离日出至少还有一个小时，十一位兄弟站在城堡门口，要求被带到国王面前。

It was still twilight, and at least an hour before sunrise, when the eleven brothers stood at the castle gate, and demanded to be brought before the king.

他们被告知不行，天还几乎没亮，而且国王正在睡觉，他们不敢打扰他。

they were told it could not be, it was yet almost night, and as the king slept they dared not disturb him.

他们威胁，他们哀求。

they threatened, they entreated.

然后卫兵出现了，连国王本人也出现了，询问这喧闹声是怎么回事。

then the guard appeared, and even the king himself, inquiring what all the noise meant.

就在这时太阳升起了。

At this moment the sun rose.

十一位兄弟不见了，只见十一只野天鹅从城堡上空飞走了。

the eleven brothers were seen no more, but eleven wild swans flew away over the castle.

现在所有的人都从城门蜂拥而出，去看女巫被烧死。

And now all the people came streaming forth from the gates of the city, to see the witch burnt.

一匹老马拉着她乘坐的囚车。

An old horse drew the cart on which she sat.

他们给她穿上了一件粗麻布衣服。

they had dressed her in a garment of coarse sackcloth.

她美丽的头发松散地垂在肩上，脸色惨白，嘴唇无声地嚅动着，而手指还在编织着绿色的亚麻。

her lovely hair hung loose on her shoulders, her cheeks were deadly pale, her lips moved silently, while her fingers still worked at the green flax.

即使在走向死亡的路上，她也不愿放弃自己的任务。

Even on the way to death, she would not give up her task.

十件铠甲上衣放在她脚边，她正在努力织第十一件，而民众们却嘲笑她，说道：“看这个女巫，她在喃喃自语呢！她手里都没有赞美诗集。

the ten coats of mail lay at her feet, she was working hard at the eleventh, while the mob jeered her and said, “See the witch, how she mutters! She has no hymn - book in her hand.

她坐在那儿摆弄着她那丑恶的巫术。

She sits there with her ugly sorcery.

咱们把它撕成千万片吧。”

Let us tear it in a thousand pieces.”

然后他们朝她挤过来，本要毁掉那些铠甲上衣的，但就在这时，十一只野天鹅从她头顶飞过，落在了车上。

And then they pressed towards her, and would have destroyed the coats of mail, but at the same moment eleven wild swans flew over her, and alighted on the cart.

然后它们扇动着巨大的翅膀，人群惊恐地向一旁退去。

then they flapped their large wings, and the crowd drew on one side in alarm.

“这是上天表明她是无辜的迹象。” 很多人小声说道；

“It is a sign from heaven that she is innocent,” whispered many of them;

但他们不敢大声说出来。

but they ventured not to say it aloud.

当刽子手抓住她的手，要把她从车上拉下来的时候，她急忙把十一件铠甲上衣扔到天鹅们身上，它们立刻变成了十一位英俊的王子；

As the executioner seized her by the hand, to lift her out of the cart, she hastily threw the eleven coats of mail over the swans, and they immediately became eleven handsome princes;

但最小的王子有一只天鹅的翅膀，而不是胳膊；

but the youngest had a swan’s wing, instead of an arm;

因为她没能织完那件上衣的最后一只袖子。

for she had not been able to finish the last sleeve of the coat.

“现在我可以说话了。” 她大声说道。

“Now I may speak,” she exclaimed.

“我是无辜的。”

“I am innocent.”

看到所发生事情的民众们，像在圣人面前一样向她鞠躬；

then the people, who saw what happened, bowed to her, as before a saint;

但她在兄弟们的怀里昏死过去，因为悬念、痛苦和折磨而不堪重负。

but she sank lifeless in her brothers’ arms, overe with suspense, anguish, and pain.

“是的，她是无辜的。” 大哥说道；

“Yes, she is innocent,” said the eldest brother;

然后他讲述了所发生的一切；

and then he related all that had taken place;

他说话的时候，空气中弥漫起一股好像来自数百万朵玫瑰的香气。

and while he spoke there rose in the air a fragrance as from millions of roses.

柴堆里的每一根柴都生了根，长出了枝条，变成了一道又高又密的树篱，上面开满了玫瑰；

Every piece of faggot in the pile had taken root, and threw out branches, and appeared a thick hedge, large and high, covered with roses;

而在这一切之上盛开着一朵洁白闪亮的花，像星星一样闪闪发光。

while above all bloomed a white and shining flower, that glittered like a star.

当艾丽莎从昏厥中醒来，心中充满平静与幸福时，国王摘下这朵花，放在艾丽莎的胸前。

this flower the king plucked, and placed in Eliza’s bosom, when she awoke from her swoon, with peace and happiness in her heart.

所有的教堂钟声都自动敲响了，鸟儿成群结队地飞来。

And all the church bells rang of themselves, and the birds came in great troops.

于是一支结婚的队伍返回城堡，这样的队伍是任何国王都从未见过的。

And a marriage procession returned to the castle, such as no king had ever before seen.