Long before you or I were born, there reigned, in a country a great way off, a king who had three sons. This king once fell very ill--so ill that nobody thought he could live. His sons were very much grieved at their father’s sickness; and as they were walking together very mournfully in the garden of the palace, a little old man met them and asked what was the matter. They told him that their father was very ill, and that they were afraid nothing could save him. ‘I know what would,’ said the little old man; ‘it is the Water of Life. If he could have a draught of it he would be well again; but it is very hard to get.’ Then the eldest son said, ‘I will soon find it’: and he went to the sick king, and begged that he might go in search of the Water of Life, as it was the only thing that could save him. ‘No,’ said the king. ‘I had rather die than place you in such great danger as you must meet with in your journey.’ But he begged so hard that the king let him go; and the prince thought to himself, ‘If I bring my father this water, he will make me sole heir to his kingdom.’
早在你我出生之前，遥远的国度里有一位国王，他有三个儿子。这位国王曾病得很重，重到无人认为他能活下来。他的儿子们因父亲的病情而极度悲痛；当他们悲伤地在宫殿花园中散步时，一位小老翁迎面走来，询问发生了什么事。他们告诉老翁，他们的父亲病得很重，担心无人能救他。‘我知道什么可以救他，’小老翁说，‘那就是生命之水。只要国王喝上一口，就会痊愈；但这水极难获取。’于是大儿子说道：‘我很快就能找到它。’他走到病重的国王面前，恳求允许他去寻找生命之水，因为这是唯一能救父亲的东西。‘不，’国王说，‘我宁愿死去，也不愿让你在旅途中遭遇如此巨大的危险。’但他苦苦哀求，国王最终同意让他出发；王子心想：‘如果我带回这水给父亲，他便会立我为王国的唯一继承人。’
Then he set out: and when he had gone on his way some time he came to a deep valley, overhung with rocks and woods; and as he looked around, he saw standing above him on one of the rocks a little ugly dwarf, with a sugarloaf cap and a scarlet cloak; and the dwarf called to him and said, ‘Prince, whither so fast?’ ‘What is that to thee, you ugly imp?’ said the prince haughtily, and rode on.
于是他便启程上路；走了不久，来到一个深邃的山谷，谷中岩石嶙峋，林木葱郁。他环顾四周，见一块岩石上站着一个矮小丑陋的侏儒，头戴尖顶帽，身披猩红斗篷。那侏儒向他喊道：‘王子，为何如此匆忙？’王子傲慢地答道：‘这与你何干，你这丑小鬼？’说罢便策马继续前行。
But the dwarf was enraged at his behaviour, and laid a fairy spell of ill-luck upon him; so that as he rode on the mountain pass became narrower and narrower, and at last the way was so straitened that he could not go to step forward: and when he thought to have turned his horse round and go back the way he came, he heard a loud laugh ringing round him, and found that the path was closed behind him, so that he was shut in all round. He next tried to get off his horse and make his way on foot, but again the laugh rang in his ears, and he found himself unable to move a step, and thus he was forced to abide spellbound.
但侏儒因他的行为而勃然大怒，便对他施下厄运的魔法；于是当他骑马穿越山口时，道路变得越来越狭窄，最终变得如此逼仄，以至于他无法再向前迈出一步。当他试图调转马头原路返回时，却听到一阵响亮的笑声在他四周回荡，发现身后的路径已被封死，他因此被完全困住。接着他尝试下马步行，但笑声再次在耳边响起，他发现自己寸步难行，最终只能被困在原地动弹不得。
Meantime the old king was lingering on in daily hope of his son’s return, till at last the second son said, ‘Father, I will go in search of the Water of Life.’ For he thought to himself, ‘My brother is surely dead, and the kingdom will fall to me if I find the water.’ The king was at first very unwilling to let him go, but at last yielded to his wish. So he set out and followed the same road which his brother had done, and met with the same elf, who stopped him at the same spot in the mountains, saying, as before, ‘Prince, prince, whither so fast?’ ‘Mind your own affairs, busybody!’ said the prince scornfully, and rode on.
与此同时，老国王仍日复一日地期盼着儿子的归来，直到次子终于说道：‘父亲，我要去寻找生命之水。’他心想：‘哥哥一定已经死了，若我能找到那水，王位便归我所有。’起初国王极不愿让他离开，但最终仍顺从了他的愿望。于是次子启程，沿着兄长走过的同一条路前行，途中再次遇见那位精灵；精灵在同样的山间地点拦住了他，一如先前般问道：‘王子啊，王子，为何如此匆忙？’王子轻蔑地答道：‘管好你自己的事吧，多管闲事的家伙！’随后便策马离去。
But the dwarf put the same spell upon him as he put on his elder brother, and he, too, was at last obliged to take up his abode in the heart of the mountains. Thus it is with proud silly people, who think themselves above everyone else, and are too proud to ask or take advice.
但侏儒对他施了和对他哥哥一样的咒语，他最终也不得不搬进群山深处。骄傲愚蠢的人往往如此，他们自视甚高，不屑于向他人请教或接受建议。
When the second prince had thus been gone a long time, the youngest son said he would go and search for the Water of Life, and trusted he should soon be able to make his father well again. So he set out, and the dwarf met him too at the same spot in the valley, among the mountains, and said, ‘Prince, whither so fast?’ And the prince said, ‘I am going in search of the Water of Life, because my father is ill, and like to die: can you help me? Pray be kind, and aid me if you can!’ ‘Do you know where it is to be found?’ asked the dwarf. ‘No,’ said the prince, ‘I do not. Pray tell me if you know.’ ‘Then as you have spoken to me kindly, and are wise enough to seek for advice, I will tell you how and where to go. The water you seek springs from a well in an enchanted castle; and, that you may be able to reach it in safety, I will give you an iron wand and two little loaves of bread; strike the iron door of the castle three times with the wand, and it will open: two hungry lions will be lying down inside gaping for their prey, but if you throw them the bread they will let you pass; then hasten on to the well, and take some of the Water of Life before the clock strikes twelve; for if you tarry longer the door will shut upon you for ever.’
二王子离开许久之后，小儿子说他要出发去寻找生命之水，相信很快就能让父亲康复。于是他便启程了，在群山中的同一处山谷里，他也遇到了那个矮人。矮人问道：‘王子，为何如此匆忙？’王子回答：‘我要去寻找生命之水，因为我的父亲病重，恐怕不久于人世；您能帮帮我吗？求您行个方便，若能相助，请助我一臂之力！’矮人问：‘您知道它在哪里吗？’王子说：‘不知道。恳请您告诉我是否知晓。’矮人道：‘既然您对我说话和气，又懂得虚心求教，我便告诉您如何前往以及何处可寻。您要寻找的水源出自一座魔法城堡中的一口井；为了安全抵达，我将赠您一根铁杖和两片小面包。用铁杖敲击城堡的铁门三下，门便会打开；门内躺着两只饥饿的狮子，正张着嘴等待猎物，若您将面包扔给它们，它们便会让您通行；随后立刻奔向那口井，在钟声敲响十二点之前取一些生命之水；若拖延过久，门便会对您永远关闭。’
Then the prince thanked his little friend with the scarlet cloak for his friendly aid, and took the wand and the bread, and went travelling on and on, over sea and over land, till he came to his journey’s end, and found everything to be as the dwarf had told him. The door flew open at the third stroke of the wand, and when the lions were quieted he went on through the castle and came at length to a beautiful hall. Around it he saw several knights sitting in a trance; then he pulled off their rings and put them on his own fingers. In another room he saw on a table a sword and a loaf of bread, which he also took. Further on he came to a room where a beautiful young lady sat upon a couch; and she welcomed him joyfully, and said, if he would set her free from the spell that bound her, the kingdom should be his, if he would come back in a year and marry her. Then she told him that the well that held the Water of Life was in the palace gardens; and bade him make haste, and draw what he wanted before the clock struck twelve.
于是，王子感谢了那位披着猩红斗篷的小朋友的友好相助，拿起了魔杖和面包，继续踏上旅程，跨越海洋与陆地，直到抵达旅途的终点，发现一切正如矮人所说的那样。他用魔杖敲了第三下，大门便自动敞开；待狮子安静下来后，他穿过城堡，最终来到一座美丽的厅堂。厅堂四周，几位骑士正陷入沉睡；他便摘下他们指上的戒指，戴在自己手指上。在另一间屋子里，桌上放着一把剑和一条面包，他也一并取走。再往前走，他来到一间屋子，一位美丽的年轻女子正坐在沙发上；她欣喜地欢迎他，并说，只要他能解除束缚她的魔法，王国便归他所有，但前提是他需在一年后回来与她成婚。随后，她告诉他，盛有生命之水的井就在宫殿的花园里，并催促他抓紧时间，在钟敲十二下之前取走所需之物。
He walked on; and as he walked through beautiful gardens he came to a delightful shady spot in which stood a couch; and he thought to himself, as he felt tired, that he would rest himself for a while, and gaze on the lovely scenes around him. So he laid himself down, and sleep fell upon him unawares, so that he did not wake up till the clock was striking a quarter to twelve. Then he sprang from the couch dreadfully frightened, ran to the well, filled a cup that was standing by him full of water, and hastened to get away in time. Just as he was going out of the iron door it struck twelve, and the door fell so quickly upon him that it snapped off a piece of his heel.
他继续前行，穿过美丽的花园，来到一处令人愉悦的阴凉之地，那里摆放着一张长椅。他感到疲惫，心想不如稍作休息，欣赏周围的美景。于是他躺下，不知不觉便睡着了，直到时钟敲响差一刻十二点时才惊醒。他惊恐地从长椅上跳起，跑到井边，用旁边的一只杯子盛满水，然后急忙赶在时间结束前离开。就在他正要走出铁门时，钟声敲响了十二下，大门迅速合上，竟将他脚后跟的一块肉咬了下来。
When he found himself safe, he was overjoyed to think that he had got the Water of Life; and as he was going on his way homewards, he passed by the little dwarf, who, when he saw the sword and the loaf, said, ‘You have made a noble prize; with the sword you can at a blow slay whole armies, and the bread will never fail you.’ Then the prince thought to himself, ‘I cannot go home to my father without my brothers’; so he said, ‘My dear friend, cannot you tell me where my two brothers are, who set out in search of the Water of Life before me, and never came back?’ ‘I have shut them up by a charm between two mountains,’ said the dwarf, ‘because they were proud and ill-behaved, and scorned to ask advice.’ The prince begged so hard for his brothers, that the dwarf at last set them free, though unwillingly, saying, ‘Beware of them, for they have bad hearts.’ Their brother, however, was greatly rejoiced to see them, and told them all that had happened to him; how he had found the Water of Life, and had taken a cup full of it; and how he had set a beautiful princess free from a spell that bound her; and how she had engaged to wait a whole year, and then to marry him, and to give him the kingdom.
当他确认自己安全无恙时，想到已得到生命之水，不禁欣喜若狂。在归途中，他遇见了一位小矮人；小矮人见到那把剑和那块面包，便说：‘你获得了珍贵的战利品！这把剑一挥便能斩杀千军万马，这块面包也永远取之不尽。’于是王子心想：‘我不能就这样空手回去见父亲，必须带上我的兄弟们。’他便对小矮人说：‘亲爱的朋友，能否告诉我，我那两个比我先出发去寻找生命之水的兄弟如今身在何处？他们至今杳无音信。’小矮人答道：‘因他们傲慢无礼、不屑求教，我已用魔法将他们囚禁在两山之间。’王子苦苦哀求，恳请释放他的兄弟，小矮人虽不情愿，最终仍松开了他们，并警告道：‘你要小心他们，因为他们心地不善。’然而，这位兄长见到兄弟们时仍欣喜万分，将所发生的一切尽数告知：他如何寻得生命之水，如何取了一杯；又如何解救了一位被魔法束缚的美丽公主；以及她曾许诺等待一年，届时便与他成婚，并将王国交予他统治。
Then they all three rode on together, and on their way home came to a country that was laid waste by war and a dreadful famine, so that it was feared all must die for want. But the prince gave the king of the land the bread, and all his kingdom ate of it. And he lent the king the wonderful sword, and he slew the enemy’s army with it; and thus the kingdom was once more in peace and plenty. In the same manner he befriended two other countries through which they passed on their way.
于是他们三人一同继续前行，归途中经过一个因战争和可怕饥荒而满目疮痍的国家，人们都担心所有人将因饥饿而死。王子将自己带来的面包送给当地国王，举国上下得以分食。他又借出那把神奇的宝剑，国王用它击败了敌军，从此王国重获和平与丰足。在归途上，他也以同样的方式帮助了另外两个途经的国家。
When they came to the sea, they got into a ship and during their voyage the two eldest said to themselves, ‘Our brother has got the water which we could not find, therefore our father will forsake us and give him the kingdom, which is our right’; so they were full of envy and revenge, and agreed together how they could ruin him. Then they waited till he was fast asleep, and poured the Water of Life out of the cup, and took it for themselves, giving him bitter sea-water instead.
当他们来到海边时，登上一艘船。在航行途中，两位哥哥私下商议道：‘弟弟找到了我们未曾寻得的生命之水，父亲定会因此抛弃我们，将本属于我们的王国交给他。’于是他们心中充满嫉妒与仇恨，密谋如何毁掉他。待弟弟熟睡后，他们将生命之水从杯中倒出，据为己有，并换以苦涩的海水给他。
When they came to their journey’s end, the youngest son brought his cup to the sick king, that he might drink and be healed. Scarcely, however, had he tasted the bitter sea-water when he became worse even than he was before; and then both the elder sons came in, and blamed the youngest for what they had done; and said that he wanted to poison their father, but that they had found the Water of Life, and had brought it with them. He no sooner began to drink of what they brought him, than he felt his sickness leave him, and was as strong and well as in his younger days. Then they went to their brother, and laughed at him, and said, ‘Well, brother, you found the Water of Life, did you? You have had the trouble and we shall have the reward. Pray, with all your cleverness, why did not you manage to keep your eyes open? Next year one of us will take away your beautiful princess, if you do not take care. You had better say nothing about this to our father, for he does not believe a word you say; and if you tell tales, you shall lose your life into the bargain: but be quiet, and we will let you off.’
当他们抵达旅程的终点时，小儿子将杯子递给生病的国王，让他喝下以恢复健康。然而，他刚尝到那苦涩的海水，病情反而比之前更重了。这时，两个哥哥走了进来，指责小儿子做了坏事，说他企图毒害父亲，而他们却找到了生命之水，并把它带了回来。小王子刚喝下他们带来的水，便感到病痛离去，身体变得和年轻时一样强壮健康。随后，他们来到弟弟面前，嘲笑他说：‘好吧，弟弟，你找到了生命之水？你吃了苦头，功劳却归我们。凭你的聪明劲儿，怎么就没把眼睛睁大点呢？明年如果你不多加小心，我们中的一个就会把你美丽的公主带走。最好别对父亲提起这事，因为他根本不信你说的话；要是你告状，不仅白忙一场，还会丢掉性命。还是闭嘴吧，我们会放你一马。’
The old king was still very angry with his youngest son, and thought that he really meant to have taken away his life; so he called his court together, and asked what should be done, and all agreed that he ought to be put to death. The prince knew nothing of what was going on, till one day, when the king’s chief huntsmen went a-hunting with him, and they were alone in the wood together, the huntsman looked so sorrowful that the prince said, ‘My friend, what is the matter with you?’ ‘I cannot and dare not tell you,’ said he. But the prince begged very hard, and said, ‘Only tell me what it is, and do not think I shall be angry, for I will forgive you.’ ‘Alas!’ said the huntsman; ‘the king has ordered me to shoot you.’ The prince started at this, and said, ‘Let me live, and I will change dresses with you; you shall take my royal coat to show to my father, and do you give me your shabby one.’ ‘With all my heart,’ said the huntsman; ‘I am sure I shall be glad to save you, for I could not have shot you.’ Then he took the prince’s coat, and gave him the shabby one, and went away through the wood.
老国王对他的小儿子依然非常愤怒，认为他确实意图谋害自己的性命；于是他把朝臣们召集起来，询问该如何处置，所有人都一致同意应当将他处死。王子对此一无所知，直到有一天，国王的首席猎手与他一同去打猎，两人在林中独处时，猎手神情悲戚，王子便问道：‘我的朋友，你怎么了？’‘我既不敢也不能告诉你，’猎手答道。但王子苦苦哀求，说：‘只要告诉我发生了什么，不要以为我会生气，因为我会原谅你。’‘唉！’猎手说，‘国王命令我射杀你。’王子闻言大惊，说道：‘让我活命吧，我和你换穿衣服；你把我的皇家外套拿去给父亲看，而把你自己那件破旧的衣裳给我。’‘我非常乐意，’猎手说，‘我很高兴能救你，因为我实在无法射杀你。’于是猎手脱下王子的外套，换上那件破旧的衣裳，随后穿过树林离开了。
Some time after, three grand embassies came to the old king’s court, with rich gifts of gold and precious stones for his youngest son; now all these were sent from the three kings to whom he had lent his sword and loaf of bread, in order to rid them of their enemy and feed their people. This touched the old king’s heart, and he thought his son might still be guiltless, and said to his court, ‘O that my son were still alive! how it grieves me that I had him killed!’ ‘He is still alive,’ said the huntsman; ‘and I am glad that I had pity on him, but let him go in peace, and brought home his royal coat.’ At this the king was overwhelmed with joy, and made it known throughout all his kingdom, that if his son would come back to his court he would forgive him.
不久之后，三位盛大的使团来到老国王的宫廷，带着黄金和宝石作为厚礼赠予他的小儿子；这些礼物皆来自他曾借出宝剑与面包的三位国王，用以助他们铲除敌人、供养百姓。此举深深触动了老国王的心，他开始相信儿子或许并无罪责，便对朝臣说道：‘但愿我的儿子还活着！我竟亲手将他处死，实在令我痛心！’猎人说：‘他还活着，我很庆幸当时对他起了怜悯之心，不仅放他平安离去，还带回了他的皇家礼服。’国王闻言欣喜若狂，随即向全国宣告：只要他的儿子肯回到宫廷，他必予以宽恕。
Meanwhile the princess was eagerly waiting till her deliverer should come back; and had a road made leading up to her palace all of shining gold; and told her courtiers that whoever came on horseback, and rode straight up to the gate upon it, was her true lover; and that they must let him in: but whoever rode on one side of it, they must be sure was not the right one; and that they must send him away at once.
与此同时，公主正急切地等待她的救星归来；她命人修筑了一条通往宫殿的金色大道，并告诉侍从们：凡骑马径直沿此道驰至宫门者，便是她真正的爱人，必须放他入内；而凡从道路一侧绕行者，必非其人，须立即将其遣返。
The time soon came, when the eldest brother thought that he would make haste to go to the princess, and say that he was the one who had set her free, and that he should have her for his wife, and the kingdom with her. As he came before the palace and saw the golden road, he stopped to look at it, and he thought to himself, ‘It is a pity to ride upon this beautiful road’; so he turned aside and rode on the right-hand side of it. But when he came to the gate, the guards, who had seen the road he took, said to him, he could not be what he said he was, and must go about his business.
不久，大哥哥便决定动身前往公主处，声称是自己救了她，并要娶她为妻，连同她的王国一并占有。当他来到宫殿前，看到那条金光大道时，他停下脚步凝视着它，心想：‘骑着这样美丽的道路实在可惜。’于是他便绕到路的右侧骑行。然而当他到达城门时，守卫们看到他走的路径，便对他说：‘你并非你所声称的那个人，请另谋他事吧。’
The second prince set out soon afterwards on the same errand; and when he came to the golden road, and his horse had set one foot upon it, he stopped to look at it, and thought it very beautiful, and said to himself, ‘What a pity it is that anything should tread here!’ Then he too turned aside and rode on the left side of it. But when he came to the gate the guards said he was not the true prince, and that he too must go away about his business; and away he went.
不久之后，二王子也踏上了同样的旅程；当他来到那条黄金大道，马蹄刚踏上路面时，他便停下脚步凝视着它，觉得它无比美丽，心中暗想：‘真可惜竟有人要踏足此处！’于是他也转向左侧，沿着大道的左边继续前行。然而当他到达城门时，守卫们告诉他并非真正的王子，让他也回去办自己的事；于是他只好离去。
Now when the full year was come round, the third brother left the forest in which he had lain hid for fear of his father’s anger, and set out in search of his betrothed bride. So he journeyed on, thinking of her all the way, and rode so quickly that he did not even see what the road was made of, but went with his horse straight over it; and as he came to the gate it flew open, and the princess welcomed him with joy, and said he was her deliverer, and should now be her husband and lord of the kingdom. When the first joy at their meeting was over, the princess told him she had heard of his father having forgiven him, and of his wish to have him home again: so, before his wedding with the princess, he went to visit his father, taking her with him. Then he told him everything; how his brothers had cheated and robbed him, and yet that he had borne all those wrongs for the love of his father. And the old king was very angry, and wanted to punish his wicked sons; but they made their escape, and got into a ship and sailed away over the wide sea, and where they went to nobody knew and nobody cared.
当时，整整一年过去了，三弟终于离开了藏身多年的森林，不再惧怕父亲的怒火，启程去寻找他已订婚的未婚妻。他一路前行，心中满是对她的思念，骑马疾驰，甚至未曾留意脚下的道路是由什么铺就，径直策马而过。当他来到城门时，大门自动敞开，公主欣喜地迎接了他，称他为她的救星，并说从今以后他将成为她的丈夫和王国的主宰。当重逢的喜悦稍歇，公主告诉他，她已听说父亲原谅了他，并希望他回家。于是，在迎娶公主之前，他带着她一同去探望父亲。他将一切原委告知父亲：他的哥哥们如何欺骗并掠夺了他，而他却因对父亲的爱而默默承受了所有不公。老国王勃然大怒，欲严惩这些恶子；但他们趁机逃脱，登上一艘船，扬帆驶向茫茫大海，此后去了何处，无人知晓，也无人关心。
And now the old king gathered together his court, and asked all his kingdom to come and celebrate the wedding of his son and the princess. And young and old, noble and squire, gentle and simple, came at once on the summons; and among the rest came the friendly dwarf, with the sugarloaf hat, and a new scarlet cloak.
如今，老国王召集了他的朝臣，并号召全国上下前来庆祝他儿子与公主的婚礼。无论老少、贵族还是侍从，无论绅士还是平民，一接到召唤便纷纷赶来；其中还有那位友善的小矮人，戴着糖帽，身披崭新的猩红斗篷。
And the wedding was held, and the merry bells run. And all the good people they danced and they sung, And feasted and frolick’d I can’t tell how long.
婚礼如期举行，欢快的铃声响起。所有善良的人们载歌载舞，尽情宴饮嬉戏，不知持续了多久。