《护身符》，1836 年

the talisman, 1836

一对王子和公主仍在庆祝他们的蜜月。

A prince and a princess were still celebrating their honeymoon.

他们极其幸福；只有一个念头困扰着他们，那就是如何保持他们目前的幸福。

they were extremely happy; only one thought disturbed them, and that was how to retain their present happiness.

为此，他们希望拥有一个护身符，来保护自己免受婚姻中的任何不幸。

For that reason they wished to own a talisman with which to protect themselves against any unhappiness in their marriage.

他们经常听说森林里住着一位智者，他广受大家赞誉，每当人们遇到困难或需要建议时，都会去找他。

Now, they had often been told about a man who lived out in the forest, acclaimed by everybody for his wisdom and known for his good advice in every need and difficulty.

于是王子和公主拜访了他，并告诉他他们心中的愿望。

So the prince and princess called upon him and told him about their heart’s desire.

听完他们的诉说后，智者说道：“你们环游世界，每遇到一对完全幸福的夫妻，就向他们要一块贴身穿的衣服碎片。拿到碎片后，你们必须一直随身带着它。这是万无一失的解决办法！”

After the wise man had listened to them he said, “travel through every country in the world, and wherever you meet a pletely happily married couple, ask them for a small piece of the linen they wear close to the body, and when you receive this, you must always carry it on you. that is a sure remedy!”

王子和公主启程出发了，一路上他们很快就听说了一位骑士和他的妻子，据说他们过着最幸福的婚姻生活。

the prince and the princess rode forth, and on their way they soon heard of a knight and his wife who were said to be living the most happily married life.

他们去了骑士的城堡，问他和他的妻子他们的婚姻是否真的像传闻中那样幸福。

they went to the knight’s castle and asked him and his wife if their marriage was truly as happy as was rumored.

“是的，当然幸福，”他们回答说，“唯一的遗憾是我们没有孩子！”

“Yes, of course,” was the answer, “with the one exception that we have no children!”

结果他们并没有找到护身符，于是王子和公主继续他们的旅程，去寻找完全幸福的夫妻。

here then the talisman was not to be found, and the prince and princess continued their journey in search of the pletely happily married couple.

他们继续前行，来到了一个国家，听说那里住着一位诚实的市民，他和妻子过着完全和睦幸福的生活。

As they traveled on, they came to a country where they heard of an honest citizen who lived in perfect unity and happiness with his wife.

于是他们去找他，问他的婚姻是否真的像人们说的那样幸福。

So to him they went, and asked if he really was as happily married as people said.

“是的，我是。” 那个人回答道。

“Yes, I am,” answered the man.

“我和我的妻子相处得非常融洽，唯一的遗憾是我们有太多的孩子，他们给我们带来了许多烦恼和悲伤！”

“my wife and I live in perfect harmony; if only we didn’t have so many children, for they give us a lot of worries and sorrows!”

所以他这里也没有护身符，王子和公主继续在这个国家旅行，总是询问幸福的夫妻，但一直没有找到。

So neither with him was the talisman to be found, and the prince and the princess continued their journey through the country, always inquiring about happily married couples; but none presented themselves.

有一天，当他们骑马穿过田野和草地时，注意到路边有一个牧羊人正在愉快地吹着长笛。

one day, as they rode along fields and meadows, they noticed a shepherd close by the road, cheerfully playing his flute.

就在这时，一个女人怀里抱着一个孩子，手里牵着一个小男孩向他走来。

Just then a woman carrying a child in her arm, and holding a little boy by the hand, walked towards him.

牧羊人一看到她，就向她打招呼，接过小孩，亲吻并抚摸着他。

As soon as the shepherd saw her, he greeted her and took the little child, whom he kissed and caressed.

牧羊人的狗跑向男孩，舔着他的小手，欢快地叫着跳着。

与此同时，女人摆好了带来的饭菜，然后说：“爸爸，过来吃饭吧！”男人坐下来开始吃饭，但他第一口先喂给了抱着的孩子，第二口则分给了小男孩和狗。

In the meantime the woman arranged a meal she had brought along, and then said, “Father, e and eat now!” the man sat down and took of the food, but the first bite he gave to the little boy, and the second he divided between the boy and the dog.

这一切都被王子和公主看到了，他们走近他们，对他们说：“你们一定是一对非常幸福的夫妻。”

All this was observed by the prince and the princess, who walked closer, and spoke to them, saying, “You must be a truly happily married couple.”

“是的，我们是。” 男人说。“感谢上帝；没有哪个王子或公主能比我们更幸福！”

“Yes, that we are,” said the man. “God be praised; no prince or princess could be happier than we are!”

“现在听我说，”王子说道，“帮我们一个忙，你们绝不会后悔的。给我们一块你们贴身穿的衣服碎片吧！”

“Now listen then,” said the prince. “do us a favor, and you shall never regret it. Give us a small piece of the linen garment you wear close to your body!”

他说这话时，牧羊人和他的妻子奇怪地相互看了一眼，最后他说：“上帝知道，如果我们有的话，我们很乐意给你们，不仅是一块小碎片，而是整件衬衫或内衣，但我们连一块破布都没有！”

As he spoke, the shepherd and his wife looked strangely at each other, and finally he said, “God knows we would be only too happy to give you not only a small piece, but the whole shirt, or undergarment, if we only had them, but we own not as much as a rag!”

于是王子和公主继续前行，他们的任务没有完成。

So the prince and the princess journeyed on, their mission unacplished.

最后，他们徒劳的游历让他们感到沮丧，他们决定回家。

Finally, their unsuccessful roaming discouraged them, and they decided to return home.

当他们经过智者的小屋时，他们停下来，讲述了他们所有的旅行经历，并责备他给了他们如此糟糕的建议。

As they passed the wise man’s hut, they stopped by, related all their travel experiences, and reproached him for giving them such poor advice.

听到这里，智者微笑着说：“你们的旅行真的白费了吗？你们不是带着更丰富的知识回来了吗？”