There was once a merchant who had only one child, a son, that was very young, and barely able to run alone. He had two richly laden ships then making a voyage upon the seas, in which he had embarked all his wealth, in the hope of making great gains, when the news came that both were lost. Thus from being a rich man he became all at once so very poor that nothing was left to him but one small plot of land; and there he often went in an evening to take his walk, and ease his mind of a little of his trouble.
从前有一位商人，他只有一个孩子，是个年幼的儿子，连独自走路都还不太会。当时他有两只满载货物的船正在海上航行，他把所有的财富都押在了这两艘船上，指望能大赚一笔。然而消息传来，两艘船都沉没了。于是，这位富人转眼间变得一贫如洗，只剩下小小一块土地；他常常在傍晚时分去那里散步，借此稍稍排解心中的忧愁。
One day, as he was roaming along in a brown study, thinking with no great comfort on what he had been and what he now was, and was like to be, all on a sudden there stood before him a little, rough-looking, black dwarf. ‘Prithee, friend, why so sorrowful?’ said he to the merchant; ‘what is it you take so deeply to heart?’ ‘If you would do me any good I would willingly tell you,’ said the merchant. ‘Who knows but I may?’ said the little man: ‘tell me what ails you, and perhaps you will find I may be of some use.’ Then the merchant told him how all his wealth was gone to the bottom of the sea, and how he had nothing left but that little plot of land. ‘Oh, trouble not yourself about that,’ said the dwarf; ‘only undertake to bring me here, twelve years hence, whatever meets you first on your going home, and I will give you as much as you please.’ The merchant thought this was no great thing to ask; that it would most likely be his dog or his cat, or something of that sort, but forgot his little boy Heinel; so he agreed to the bargain, and signed and sealed the bond to do what was asked of him.
有一天，他正漫无目的地走着，陷入沉思，心中对过去、现在以及未来的境况感到十分不安。忽然间，一个矮小、外表粗犷的黑人侏儒出现在他面前。‘朋友，为何如此悲伤？’他对商人问道，‘你究竟在为何事忧心忡忡？’‘若您能助我，我愿如实相告。’商人答道。‘谁又知道呢？’那小人说，‘告诉我你的烦恼，或许我能帮上忙。’于是商人告诉他，自己所有的财富都已沉入海底，如今只剩下一小块土地。‘哦，不必为此烦恼，’侏儒说道，‘只要你答应在十二年后回家时，无论首先见到什么，都带给我，我便随你取用多少财富。’商人觉得这要求并不过分，心想多半会是他的狗或猫之类，却忘了他的小儿子海因尔；于是他便答应了这笔交易，并签字画押，承诺履行所托之事。
But as he drew near home, his little boy was so glad to see him that he crept behind him, and laid fast hold of his legs, and looked up in his face and laughed. Then the father started, trembling with fear and horror, and saw what it was that he had bound himself to do; but as no gold was come, he made himself easy by thinking that it was only a joke that the dwarf was playing him, and that, at any rate, when the money came, he should see the bearer, and would not take it in.
但当他走近家门时，他的小儿子见到他高兴极了，便悄悄跟在他身后，紧紧抱住他的腿，仰起小脸看着他笑。父亲顿时惊得浑身发抖，恐惧和惊恐涌上心头，意识到自己究竟许下了什么诺言；然而由于金币尚未到来，他便安慰自己说那只是小矮人在开玩笑，无论如何，等钱一到，他就能见到送钱的人，而不会收下它了。
About a month afterwards he went upstairs into a lumber-room to look for some old iron, that he might sell it and raise a little money; and there, instead of his iron, he saw a large pile of gold lying on the floor. At the sight of this he was overjoyed, and forgetting all about his son, went into trade again, and became a richer merchant than before.
大约一个月后，他上楼走进一间杂物间，想找些旧铁去卖，好筹点钱；结果没找到铁，却看见地板上堆着一大堆金子。看到这情景，他欣喜若狂，把儿子的事抛在脑后，重新做起生意来，成了比从前更富有的商人。
Meantime little Heinel grew up, and as the end of the twelve years drew near the merchant began to call to mind his bond, and became very sad and thoughtful; so that care and sorrow were written upon his face. The boy one day asked what was the matter, but his father would not tell for some time; at last, however, he said that he had, without knowing it, sold him for gold to a little, ugly-looking, black dwarf, and that the twelve years were coming round when he must keep his word. Then Heinel said, ‘Father, give yourself very little trouble about that; I shall be too much for the little man.’
与此同时，小海内尔渐渐长大。随着十二年的期限临近，商人开始想起他签下的契约，变得非常悲伤和忧虑，脸上写满了愁苦与哀伤。有一天，男孩问父亲出了什么事，但父亲起初不愿告知；最后，他还是说了出来：原来他在不知情的情况下，为了金钱将儿子卖给了一个又小又丑的黑矮人，而十二年的期限已到，他必须履行诺言。于是海内尔说：‘父亲，您不必为此太过烦恼，我一定能对付那个小家伙。’
When the time came, the father and son went out together to the place agreed upon: and the son drew a circle on the ground, and set himself and his father in the middle of it. The little black dwarf soon came, and walked round and round about the circle, but could not find any way to get into it, and he either could not, or dared not, jump over it. At last the boy said to him. ‘Have you anything to say to us, my friend, or what do you want?’ Now Heinel had found a friend in a good fairy, that was fond of him, and had told him what to do; for this fairy knew what good luck was in store for him. ‘Have you brought me what you said you would?’ said the dwarf to the merchant. The old man held his tongue, but Heinel said again, ‘What do you want here?’ The dwarf said, ‘I come to talk with your father, not with you.’ ‘You have cheated and taken in my father,’ said the son; ‘pray give him up his bond at once.’ ‘Fair and softly,’ said the little old man; ‘right is right; I have paid my money, and your father has had it, and spent it; so be so good as to let me have what I paid it for.’ ‘You must have my consent to that first,’ said Heinel, ‘so please to step in here, and let us talk it over.’ The old man grinned, and showed his teeth, as if he should have been very glad to get into the circle if he could. Then at last, after a long talk, they came to terms. Heinel agreed that his father must give him up, and that so far the dwarf should have his way: but, on the other hand, the fairy had told Heinel what fortune was in store for him, if he followed his own course; and he did not choose to be given up to his hump-backed friend, who seemed so anxious for his company.
到了约定的时间，父子二人一同前往指定地点：儿子在地上画了一个圆圈，然后让父亲和自己站在圈中。那个小黑矮人很快便来了，围着圆圈转来转去，却找不到进入的方法，他要么无法跳过，要么不敢跳过。最后，男孩对他说：‘朋友，你有什么要对我们说的吗？或者你究竟想要什么？’原来，海因尔已经结识了一位喜爱他的好仙女，仙女告诉了他该怎么做；因为这位仙女知道即将降临在他身上的好运。矮人问商人：‘你答应给我的东西带来了吗？’老人默不作声，但海因尔又问道：‘你到这里来做什么？’矮人说：‘我是来找你父亲谈事的，不是找你。’儿子说道：‘你欺骗并坑害了我的父亲，请立刻把借据还给他。’‘慢着，’小老头说，‘公道自在人心；我已经付了钱，你父亲也收下了，并且花掉了；所以请你行个方便，让我得到我花钱买来的东西。’海因尔答道：‘那必须先得到我的同意，请进圈里来，我们好好商量一下。’老人咧嘴一笑，露出牙齿，仿佛若能进入圆圈便心满意足似的。最后，经过一番长谈，双方达成了协议。海因尔同意父亲必须将他交出，在这方面矮人可以如愿；然而另一方面，仙女也告诉海因尔，只要他坚持自己的道路，等待他的将是怎样的好运；因此他不愿被交给那个急于与他作伴的驼背朋友。
So, to make a sort of drawn battle of the matter, it was settled that Heinel should be put into an open boat, that lay on the sea-shore hard by; that the father should push him off with his own hand, and that he should thus be set adrift, and left to the bad or good luck of wind and weather. Then he took leave of his father, and set himself in the boat, but before it got far off a wave struck it, and it fell with one side low in the water, so the merchant thought that poor Heinel was lost, and went home very sorrowful, while the dwarf went his way, thinking that at any rate he had had his revenge.
于是，为了将此事以某种方式了结，人们决定将海内尔放入一艘停泊在海岸边的敞口小船中；由他的父亲亲手将他推离岸边，让他随波逐流，听凭风浪的吉凶安排。随后，他与父亲告别，登上小船。然而船尚未驶远，便有一波浪头打来，使船身一侧倾斜入水。商人见状，以为可怜的海内尔已遭不测，便伤心地回家；而小矮人则离去，心想至少自己已报了仇。
The boat, however, did not sink, for the good fairy took care of her friend, and soon raised the boat up again, and it went safely on. The young man sat safe within, till at length it ran ashore upon an unknown land. As he jumped upon the shore he saw before him a beautiful castle but empty and dreary within, for it was enchanted. ‘Here,’ said he to himself, ‘must I find the prize the good fairy told me of.’ So he once more searched the whole palace through, till at last he found a white snake, lying coiled up on a cushion in one of the chambers.
然而，船并没有沉没，因为好仙女照顾了她的朋友，很快又将船托起，让它继续安全前行。年轻人安然坐在船中，直到最后船搁浅在一片陌生的土地上。当他跳上岸时，看到面前矗立着一座美丽的城堡，但里面空荡而阴森，因为它被施了魔法。'这里，'他对自己说，'就是我必须找到好仙女告诉我的奖品的地方。'于是，他再次将整个宫殿搜寻了一遍，直到最后在一间屋子里发现一条白蛇，正蜷缩在垫子上。
Now the white snake was an enchanted princess; and she was very glad to see him, and said, ‘Are you at last come to set me free? Twelve long years have I waited here for the fairy to bring you hither as she promised, for you alone can save me. This night twelve men will come: their faces will be black, and they will be dressed in chain armour. They will ask what you do here, but give no answer; and let them do what they will--beat, whip, pinch, prick, or torment you--bear all; only speak not a word, and at twelve o’clock they must go away. The second night twelve others will come: and the third night twenty-four, who will even cut off your head; but at the twelfth hour of that night their power is gone, and I shall be free, and will come and bring you the Water of Life, and will wash you with it, and bring you back to life and health.’ And all came to pass as she had said; Heinel bore all, and spoke not a word; and the third night the princess came, and fell on his neck and kissed him. Joy and gladness burst forth throughout the castle, the wedding was celebrated, and he was crowned king of the Golden Mountain.
如今，那条白蛇是一位被施了魔法的公主；她见到他非常高兴，说道：‘你终于来救我了吗？为了等仙女把你带来，我已经在这里苦苦等待了整整十二年。正如她所承诺的那样，只有你能解救我。今晚会有十二个人前来：他们的脸是黑色的，身穿锁子甲。他们会问你在这里做什么，但你不要回答；无论他们对你做什么——打你、鞭打、掐你、刺你或折磨你——都要忍受，只是不要说一个字，到了十二点他们就会离开。第二晚会有另外十二人到来；第三晚则有二十四人，他们甚至会砍下你的头颅；但在那一夜的第十二个时辰，他们的法力就会消失，我也将获得自由，我会前来为你带来生命之水，用它为你清洗，让你恢复生机与健康。’一切正如她所说的那样发生了：海内尔忍受了一切，一言不发；到了第三晚，公主来了，扑到他怀里亲吻他。城堡里充满了喜悦与欢欣，婚礼随即举行，他被加冕为金山的国王。
They lived together very happily, and the queen had a son. And thus eight years had passed over their heads, when the king thought of his father; and he began to long to see him once again. But the queen was against his going, and said, ‘I know well that misfortunes will come upon us if you go.’ However, he gave her no rest till she agreed. At his going away she gave him a wishing-ring, and said, ‘Take this ring, and put it on your finger; whatever you wish it will bring you; only promise never to make use of it to bring me hence to your father’s house.’ Then he said he would do what she asked, and put the ring on his finger, and wished himself near the town where his father lived.
他们生活得非常幸福，王后生下了一个儿子。就这样过了八年，国王想起了自己的父亲，开始渴望再见他一面。但王后反对他前往，说道：‘我知道如果你去了，灾祸就会降临到我们头上。’然而，他不肯罢休，直到她答应为止。在他出发时，王后送给他一枚许愿戒指，并说：‘戴上这枚戒指，把它戴在手指上；无论你想要什么，它都会为你实现；但你要答应我，永远不要用它把我带到你的父亲家中。’于是他说会照她所说去做，将戒指戴在手指上，并许愿让自己来到父亲居住的城市附近。
Heinel found himself at the gates in a moment; but the guards would not let him go in, because he was so strangely clad. So he went up to a neighbouring hill, where a shepherd dwelt, and borrowed his old frock, and thus passed unknown into the town. When he came to his father’s house, he said he was his son; but the merchant would not believe him, and said he had had but one son, his poor Heinel, who he knew was long since dead: and as he was only dressed like a poor shepherd, he would not even give him anything to eat. The king, however, still vowed that he was his son, and said, ‘Is there no mark by which you would know me if I am really your son?’ ‘Yes,’ said his mother, ‘our Heinel had a mark like a raspberry on his right arm.’ Then he showed them the mark, and they knew that what he had said was true.
海内尔转眼间便来到了城门，但守卫因他衣着奇特而不肯放他入城。于是他走到附近的一座山上，那里住着一位牧羊人，他便借来牧羊人的旧外衣，就这样乔装成普通人进入了城镇。当他来到父亲家时，声称自己是他的儿子，但商人并不相信，说他只有一个儿子，就是可怜的海内尔，而据他所知，海内尔早已去世；加之他衣着寒酸，像个穷牧羊人，商人甚至不肯给他一点吃的。然而国王仍坚持说他就是自己的儿子，并问道：‘如果我真的就是你的儿子，难道就没有什么标记能让你认出我吗？’母亲回答说：‘我们的海内尔右臂上有一个像覆盆子一样的印记。’于是他向他们展示了那个印记，他们这才明白他所说的是真的。
He next told them how he was king of the Golden Mountain, and was married to a princess, and had a son seven years old. But the merchant said, ‘that can never be true; he must be a fine king truly who travels about in a shepherd’s frock!’ At this the son was vexed; and forgetting his word, turned his ring, and wished for his queen and son. In an instant they stood before him; but the queen wept, and said he had broken his word, and bad luck would follow. He did all he could to soothe her, and she at last seemed to be appeased; but she was not so in truth, and was only thinking how she should punish him.
随后，他告诉他们自己是金山的国王，已娶了一位公主为妻，并育有一个七岁的儿子。但商人说道：‘这绝不可能属实；真正优秀的国王怎会穿着牧羊人的衣服四处游荡！’听到这话，儿子心中恼怒，忘记了之前的誓言，转动了戒指，祈求让王后和儿子现身。刹那间，他们便出现在他面前；然而王后哭泣着说，他违背了诺言，厄运将随之而来。他竭尽全力安抚她，她最终似乎平息了怒气；但实际上并非如此，她只是在盘算如何惩罚他。
One day he took her to walk with him out of the town, and showed her the spot where the boat was set adrift upon the wide waters. Then he sat himself down, and said, ‘I am very much tired; sit by me, I will rest my head in your lap, and sleep a while.’ As soon as he had fallen asleep, however, she drew the ring from his finger, and crept softly away, and wished herself and her son at home in their kingdom. And when he awoke he found himself alone, and saw that the ring was gone from his finger. ‘I can never go back to my father’s house,’ said he; ‘they would say I am a sorcerer: I will journey forth into the world, till I come again to my kingdom.’
有一天，他带她走出城去散步，并指给她看那艘小船被放入宽阔水域的地方。随后他坐下来说：‘我实在太累了，坐到我身边来，让我把头枕在你的膝上，小睡一会儿。’然而，他一入睡，她便从他手指上取下戒指，悄悄溜走，许愿自己和儿子回到他们自己的王国。当他醒来时，发现自己孤身一人，发现戒指已从手指上消失。他说：‘我再也不能回父亲的家了，他们会说我是个巫师；我将远行江湖，直到再次回到我的王国。’
So saying he set out and travelled till he came to a hill, where three giants were sharing their father’s goods; and as they saw him pass they cried out and said, ‘Little men have sharp wits; he shall part the goods between us.’ Now there was a sword that cut off an enemy’s head whenever the wearer gave the words, ‘Heads off!’; a cloak that made the owner invisible, or gave him any form he pleased; and a pair of boots that carried the wearer wherever he wished. Heinel said they must first let him try these wonderful things, then he might know how to set a value upon them. Then they gave him the cloak, and he wished himself a fly, and in a moment he was a fly. ‘The cloak is very well,’ said he: ‘now give me the sword.’ ‘No,’ said they; ‘not unless you undertake not to say, “Heads off!” for if you do we are all dead men.’ So they gave it him, charging him to try it on a tree. He next asked for the boots also; and the moment he had all three in his power, he wished himself at the Golden Mountain; and there he was at once. So the giants were left behind with no goods to share or quarrel about.
于是，他启程前行，来到一座山丘，那里有三个巨人正在分他们父亲的遗产；当他们看见他经过时，便喊道：‘小个子的人头脑灵活，让他来替我们分配这些财物吧。’其中有一把剑，只要佩戴者说出‘斩首！’，就能砍下敌人的头颅；还有一件斗篷，能让穿戴者隐身，或使其变成任何想要的形态；以及一双靴子，能载着穿戴者去往任何他想去的地方。海内尔说，他们得先让他试试这些神奇的东西，之后他才能知道该如何给它们估价。于是他们把斗篷给了他，他心想自己变成一只苍蝇，转眼间便真的化作了一只苍蝇。‘这件斗篷确实不错，’他说，‘现在把那把剑给我吧。’‘不行，’他们说，‘除非你答应不说“斩首！”否则我们全都得死。’于是他们把剑也交给了他，并嘱咐他先在树上试试。接着他又索要那双靴子；一旦三样宝物都掌握在他手中，他便心想自己到了金山，瞬间便已抵达。就这样，巨人们被抛在后面，既无财物可分，也无事可争了。
As Heinel came near his castle he heard the sound of merry music; and the people around told him that his queen was about to marry another husband. Then he threw his cloak around him, and passed through the castle hall, and placed himself by the side of the queen, where no one saw him. But when anything to eat was put upon her plate, he took it away and ate it himself; and when a glass of wine was handed to her, he took it and drank it; and thus, though they kept on giving her meat and drink, her plate and cup were always empty.
海内尔走近城堡时，听到了欢快的音乐声；周围的人们告诉他，他的王后即将嫁给另一位丈夫。于是他将斗篷披在身上，穿过城堡大厅，悄悄站在王后身旁，无人察觉。每当有人将食物放到她盘子里，他便将其拿走自己吃掉；当有人递给她一杯酒时，他也接过一饮而尽。因此，尽管人们不断为她端上食物和饮品，她的盘子和杯子始终空空如也。
Upon this, fear and remorse came over her, and she went into her chamber alone, and sat there weeping; and he followed her there. ‘Alas!’ said she to herself, ‘was I not once set free? Why then does this enchantment still seem to bind me?’
听到这话，恐惧与悔恨涌上她的心头，她独自走进房间，坐在那里哭泣；他随后也跟了进去。'唉！'她暗自思忖，'我难道不是曾经获得过自由吗？为何这魔咒似乎仍在束缚着我？'
‘False and fickle one!’ said he. ‘One indeed came who set thee free, and he is now near thee again; but how have you used him? Ought he to have had such treatment from thee?’ Then he went out and sent away the company, and said the wedding was at an end, for that he was come back to the kingdom. But the princes, peers, and great men mocked at him. However, he would enter into no parley with them, but only asked them if they would go in peace or not. Then they turned upon him and tried to seize him; but he drew his sword. ‘Heads Off!’ cried he; and with the word the traitors’ heads fell before him, and Heinel was once more king of the Golden Mountain.
‘虚伪善变之人！’他说，‘确实曾有一人将你解救出来，如今他已再次来到你身旁；可你是如何对待他的？难道他不该受到这样的待遇吗？’随后他走出殿外，遣散了众人，宣布婚礼就此终结，因为他已重返王国。然而众王子、贵族和权贵们却嘲笑他。但他不愿与他们多言，只问他们愿否和平离去。于是他们转而围攻他，企图将他擒获；他却拔剑出鞘，高呼‘斩首！’话音未落，叛徒们的头颅便纷纷落地，海内尔再次成为金山之王。