There was once a king’s son who had a bride whom he loved very much. And when he was sitting beside her and very happy, news came that his father lay sick unto death, and desired to see him once again before his end. Then he said to his beloved: ‘I must now go and leave you, I give you a ring as a remembrance of me. When I am king, I will return and fetch you.’ So he rode away, and when he reached his father, the latter was dangerously ill, and near his death. He said to him: ‘Dear son, I wished to see you once again before my end, promise me to marry as I wish,’ and he named a certain king’s daughter who was to be his wife. The son was in such trouble that he did not think what he was doing, and said: ‘Yes, dear father, your will shall be done,’ and thereupon the king shut his eyes, and died.
从前有一位国王的儿子，他深爱着一位未婚妻。当他正与心爱的人幸福地坐在一起时，传来消息说他的父亲病危，希望在临终前再见他一面。于是他对爱人说：‘我现在必须离开你，我送你一枚戒指作为纪念。等我成为国王后，我会回来接你。’说完他便骑马离去。当他到达父亲身边时，父亲已病入膏肓，命在旦夕。父亲对他说：‘亲爱的儿子，我在临终前想再见你一面，答应我按我的意愿结婚吧。’并指定了一位国王的公主作为他的妻子。儿子因悲痛而心神恍惚，未加思索便答道：‘是的，亲爱的父亲，您的意愿将得以实现。’说完，国王闭上了眼睛，与世长辞。
When therefore the son had been proclaimed king, and the time of mourning was over, he was forced to keep the promise which he had given his father, and caused the king’s daughter to be asked in marriage, and she was promised to him. His first betrothed heard of this, and fretted so much about his faithfulness that she nearly died. Then her father said to her: ‘Dearest child, why are you so sad? You shall have whatsoever you will.’ She thought for a moment and said: ‘Dear father, I wish for eleven girls exactly like myself in face, figure, and size.’ The father said: ‘If it be possible, your desire shall be fulfilled,’ and he caused a search to be made in his whole kingdom, until eleven young maidens were found who exactly resembled his daughter in face, figure, and size.
因此，当王子被宣布为王且哀悼期结束后，他被迫履行对父亲的承诺，派人向国王的女儿求婚，她也被许配给了他。他的第一位未婚妻得知此事后，因担忧他的忠诚而极度悲痛，几乎死去。于是她的父亲对她说：‘亲爱的孩子，你为何如此悲伤？你想要什么我都会满足你。’她沉思片刻后说道：‘亲爱的父亲，我希望能有十一个女孩，她们在容貌、身材和体型上都与我一模一样。’父亲回答说：‘只要有可能，你的愿望就会实现。’于是他下令在全国范围内搜寻，最终找到了十一位年轻少女，她们的容貌、身材和体型都与他的女儿完全相同。
When they came to the king’s daughter, she had twelve suits of huntsmen’s clothes made, all alike, and the eleven maidens had to put on the huntsmen’s clothes, and she herself put on the twelfth suit. Thereupon she took her leave of her father, and rode away with them, and rode to the court of her former betrothed, whom she loved so dearly. Then she asked if he required any huntsmen, and if he would take all of them into his service. The king looked at her and did not know her, but as they were such handsome fellows, he said: ‘Yes,’ and that he would willingly take them, and now they were the king’s twelve huntsmen.
当他们来到国王的女儿面前时，她让人做了十二套猎人的衣服，全都一模一样。十一个侍女都穿上了猎人的衣服，她自己则穿上了第十二套。随后，她向父亲告别，与他们一同骑马前往她曾经订婚、深爱的前未婚夫所在的宫廷。她询问国王是否需要猎人，是否愿意将他们都收为仆役。国王打量着她，却认不出她来，但见他们个个英俊非凡，便说道：‘好的，’并乐意将他们全部录用。从此，他们成了国王的十二名猎人。
The king, however, had a lion which was a wondrous animal, for he knew all concealed and secret things. It came to pass that one evening he said to the king: ‘You think you have twelve huntsmen?’ ‘Yes,’ said the king, ‘they are twelve huntsmen.’ The lion continued: ‘You are mistaken, they are twelve girls.’ The king said: ‘That cannot be true! How will you prove that to me?’ ‘Oh, just let some peas be strewn in the ante-chamber,’ answered the lion, ‘and then you will soon see. Men have a firm step, and when they walk over peas none of them stir, but girls trip and skip, and drag their feet, and the peas roll about.’ The king was well pleased with the counsel, and caused the peas to be strewn.
然而，国王养着一头狮子，这是一只神奇的动物，因为它知晓一切隐秘和秘密之事。一天傍晚，狮子对国王说：‘你以为你有十二名猎人吗？’国王答道：‘是的，他们确实是十二名猎人。’狮子接着说：‘你错了，他们其实是十二位姑娘。’国王说：‘这不可能！你要如何向我证明呢？’‘哦，只需让一些豌豆撒在前厅里，’狮子回答，‘很快你就会明白。男子步伐稳健，走过豌豆时不会使其移动；而女子脚步轻浮跳跃，拖着脚走，豌豆便会滚动起来。’国王对这一建议非常满意，便命人撒下了豌豆。
There was, however, a servant of the king’s who favoured the huntsmen, and when he heard that they were going to be put to this test he went to them and repeated everything, and said: ‘The lion wants to make the king believe that you are girls.’ Then the king’s daughter thanked him, and said to her maidens: ‘Show some strength, and step firmly on the peas.’ So next morning when the king had the twelve huntsmen called before him, and they came into the ante-chamber where the peas were lying, they stepped so firmly on them, and had such a strong, sure walk, that not one of the peas either rolled or stirred. Then they went away again, and the king said to the lion: ‘You have lied to me, they walk just like men.’ The lion said: ‘They have been informed that they were going to be put to the test, and have assumed some strength. Just let twelve spinning-wheels be brought into the ante-chamber, and they will go to them and be pleased with them, and that is what no man would do.’ The king liked the advice, and had the spinning-wheels placed in the ante-chamber.
然而，国王有一位仆人偏爱那些猎人。当他听说他们即将接受这项考验时，便前去告知他们一切，并说：‘狮子是想让国王相信你们是女孩。’于是，国王的公主向这位仆人致谢，并对她的侍女们说：‘拿出些力气来，坚定地踩在豌豆上。’第二天清晨，国王召见那十二名猎人，当他们走进铺着豌豆的前厅时，脚步如此坚定有力，以至于没有一颗豌豆滚动或挪动分毫。随后他们离开，国王便对狮子说：‘你对我撒谎了，他们的步态就像男人一样。’狮子回答：‘他们已得知要接受考验，因此故意表现出力量。只需让人将十二台纺车搬进前厅，她们定会前去查看并为之欣喜，而这是任何男子都不会做的。’国王觉得这个建议很好，便命人将纺车摆在前厅里。
But the servant, who was well disposed to the huntsmen, went to them, and disclosed the project. So when they were alone the king’s daughter said to her eleven girls: ‘Show some constraint, and do not look round at the spinning-wheels.’ And next morning when the king had his twelve huntsmen summoned, they went through the ante-chamber, and never once looked at the spinning-wheels. Then the king again said to the lion: ‘You have deceived me, they are men, for they have not looked at the spinning-wheels.’ The lion replied: ‘They have restrained themselves.’ The king, however, would no longer believe the lion.
但那位对猎人们心存善意的仆人走上前去，将计划告知了他们。于是当众人独处时，国王的女儿对她的十一个女儿说：‘要克制自己，不要回头去看那些纺车。’第二天早上，国王召来他的十二名猎人，他们穿过前厅，一次也没有回头看那些纺车。随后国王再次对狮子说：‘你欺骗了我，她们是男人，因为她们没有看那些纺车。’狮子回答说：‘她们克制了自己。’然而，国王再也不相信狮子的话了。
The twelve huntsmen always followed the king to the chase, and his liking for them continually increased. Now it came to pass that once when they were out hunting, news came that the king’s bride was approaching. When the true bride heard that, it hurt her so much that her heart was almost broken, and she fell fainting to the ground. The king thought something had happened to his dear huntsman, ran up to him, wanted to help him, and drew his glove off. Then he saw the ring which he had given to his first bride, and when he looked in her face he recognized her. Then his heart was so touched that he kissed her, and when she opened her eyes he said: ‘You are mine, and I am yours, and no one in the world can alter that.’ He sent a messenger to the other bride, and entreated her to return to her own kingdom, for he had a wife already, and someone who had just found an old key did not require a new one. Thereupon the wedding was celebrated, and the lion was again taken into favour, because, after all, he had told the truth.
十二位猎人总是跟随国王去打猎，国王对他们的喜爱与日俱增。有一次，他们正在打猎时，传来消息说国王的未婚妻即将抵达。真正的未婚妻听到这个消息后，心痛欲裂，几乎昏厥倒地。国王以为他亲爱的猎人出了什么事，急忙跑过去想要帮忙，并摘下了他的手套。这时，他看到了自己送给第一位新娘的戒指，再看她的面容，便认出了她。国王的心被深深触动，亲吻了她，当她睁开眼睛时，国王说：‘你是我的，我也是你的，世上无人能改变这一点。’他派人去通知另一位未婚妻，恳请她返回自己的王国，因为他已有妻子，而一个刚刚找到旧钥匙的人并不需要新钥匙。随后婚礼举行，狮子也重新获得恩宠，毕竟它说的是真话。