Riquet with the Tuft

Once upon a time there was a Queen who had a son so ugly and so misshapen that it was long disputed whether he had human form. A fairy who was at his birth said, however, that he would be very amiable for all that, since he would have uncommon good sense. She even added that it would be in his power, by virtue of a gift she had just then given him, to bestow as much sense as he pleased on the person he loved the best. All this somewhat comforted the poor Queen.

从前有一位王后，生了一个儿子，长得又丑又畸形，人们甚至长期争论他是否算得上有人的模样。可是在他出生时在场的一位仙女说，尽管如此，他将来会十分讨人喜欢，因为他会有非凡的智慧。她还说，凭借她刚刚赐给他的一件礼物，他将有能力把自己所愿意的智慧，赐给他最爱的那个人。这些话多少安慰了这位可怜的王后。

It is true that this child no sooner began to talk than he said a thousand pretty things, and in all his actions there was an intelligence that was quite charming. I forgot to tell you that he was born with a little tuft of hair upon his head, which made them call him Riquet with the Tuft, for Riquet was the family name.

的确，这孩子刚一开口说话，就说出千百句讨人喜欢的话，他的一举一动都透着一种令人着迷的聪慧。我忘了告诉你们，他生下来头顶就有一小撮头发，因此人们叫他"里凯头发"，因为里凯是他的家族姓氏。

Seven or eight years later the Queen of a neighboring kingdom had two daughters who were twins. The first born of these was more beautiful than the day; whereat the Queen was so very glad that those present were afraid that her excess of joy would do her harm. The same fairy who was present at the birth of little Riquet with the Tuft was here also, and, to moderate the Queen's gladness, she declared that this little Princess should have no sense at all, but should be as stupid as she was pretty. This mortified the Queen extremely; but afterward she had a far greater sorrow, for the second daughter proved to be very ugly.

七八年后，邻国的王后生了一对双胞胎女儿。头生的那个女儿美若天仙，王后因此欣喜万分，在场的人都担心她会因过度喜悦而伤了身体。当年在小里凯出生时在场的那位仙女，这次也在场，她为了压一压王后的兴头，便宣布这位小公主将全无智慧，只会像她美丽一样地愚笨。这话让王后十分沮丧；但随后她又遭遇了更大的悲伤，因为二女儿生下来竟十分丑陋。

"Do not afflict yourself so much, madam," said the fairy. "Your daughter shall have her recompense; she shall have so great a portion of sense that the want of beauty will hardly be perceived."

"夫人，不要如此伤心，"仙女说道，"您的女儿将会得到补偿；她将拥有极大的智慧，使人几乎察觉不到她容貌的欠缺。"

"God grant it," replied the Queen; "but is there no way to make the eldest, who is so pretty, have any sense?"

"但愿如此，"王后答道，"可是有没有办法让那位如此美丽的长女也拥有一点智慧呢？"

"I can do nothing for her, madam, as to sense," answered the fairy, "but everything as to beauty; and as there is nothing I would not do for your satisfaction, I give her for gift that she shall have power to make handsome the person who shall best please her."

"夫人，在智慧方面我无能为力，"仙女答道，"但在美貌方面我却无所不能；既然没有什么是我不愿为您做的，我便赐给她一件礼物：凡是最讨她欢心的人，她都有能力使其变得英俊。"

As these princesses grew up, their perfections grew with them. All the public talk was of the beauty of the elder and the rare good sense of the younger. It is true also that their defects increased considerably with their age. The younger visibly grew uglier and uglier, and the elder became every day more and more stupid: she either made no answer at all to what was asked her, or said something very silly. She was with all this so unhandy that she could not place four pieces of china upon the mantelpiece without breaking one of them, nor drink a glass of water without spilling half of it upon her clothes.

随着两位公主渐渐长大，她们各自的优点也随之增长。举国上下谈论的都是长女的美貌和幼女罕见的聪慧。同样确实的是，她们的缺陷也随着年岁增长而日益加重。妹妹肉眼可见地越来越丑，姐姐却一天比一天更加愚笨：别人问她话，她要么一言不发，要么说出些十分愚蠢的话来。她笨拙到这种地步，以至于在壁炉架上摆四件瓷器都能打破一件，喝一杯水也总要洒掉半杯在衣服上。

Although beauty is a very great advantage in young people, the younger sister was always the more preferred in society. People would indeed go first to the Beauty to look upon and admire her, but turn aside soon after to the Wit to hear a thousand most entertaining and agreeable things; and it was amazing to see, in less than a quarter of an hour's time, the elder with not a soul near her, and the whole company crowding about the younger.

尽管美貌对年轻人来说是极大的优势，但在社交场合中，人们总是更偏爱妹妹。人们的确会先去看那位美人，欣赏赞叹一番，可不多时便转身去找那位才女，听她说上千百件最有趣、最动听的事情；而令人惊讶的是，不消一刻钟工夫，姐姐身边便无一人问津，众人却都挤在妹妹周围。

The elder, dull as she was, could not fail to notice this; and without the slightest regret would have given all her beauty to have half her sister's wit. The Queen, prudent as she was, could not help reproaching her several times for her stupidity, which almost made the poor Princess die of grief.

姐姐虽然迟钝，却也不能不注意到这一点；她甘愿把自己的全部美貌都换来妹妹智慧的一半，丝毫不觉得可惜。王后虽谨慎，却也忍不住多次因她的愚笨而责备她，几乎让这可怜的公主伤心欲绝。

One day, as she had hidden herself in a wood to bewail her misfortune, she saw coming to her a very disagreeable little man, but most magnificently dressed. This was the young Prince Riquet with the Tuft, who having fallen in love with her upon seeing her picture,—many of which were distributed all the world over,—had left his father's kingdom to have the pleasure of seeing and talking with her. Overjoyed to find her thus alone, he addressed himself to her with all imaginable politeness and respect. Having observed, after he had paid her the ordinary compliments, that she was extremely melancholy, he said to her:—

一天，她躲进树林里独自哀叹自己的不幸，忽见一个极不讨喜的小个子男人向她走来，穿着却极其华丽。这正是年轻的里凯头发王子，他因见过公主的画像——那画像曾流传世界各地——而爱上了她，便离开父王的国土，前来一睹她的芳容，与她畅谈。他见她孤身一人，欣喜若狂，便以极尽礼貌与敬意的态度上前搭话。他向她道了些寻常的恭维话之后，注意到她十分忧郁，便对她说道：

"I cannot comprehend, madam, how a person so beautiful as you are can be so sorrowful as you seem to be; for though I can boast of having seen a great number of exquisitely charming ladies, I can say that I never beheld any one whose beauty approaches yours."

"夫人，我实在无法理解，像您这样美丽的人，怎会如此忧伤；因为虽说我曾见过许多极为动人的美貌女子，但我可以说，我从未见过有谁的美貌能与您相比。"

"You are pleased to say so," answered the Princess, and here she stopped.

"您过奖了，"公主答道，说到这里便停住了。

"Beauty," replied Riquet with the Tuft, "is such a great advantage, that it ought to take place of all things besides; and since you possess this treasure, I can see nothing that can possibly very much afflict you."

"美貌，"里凯头发答道，"是如此巨大的优势，理应凌驾于其他一切之上；既然您拥有这份财富，我实在看不出有什么能让您如此苦恼。"

"I had far rather," cried the Princess, "be as ugly as you are, and have sense, than have the beauty I possess, and be as stupid as I am."

"我宁愿，"公主叫道，"像您一样丑陋而拥有智慧，也不愿拥有我现在的美貌却像我这样愚笨。"

"There is nothing, madam," returned he, "shows more that we have good sense than to believe we have none; and it is the nature of that excellent quality that the more people have of it, the more they believe they want it."

"夫人，"他答道，"再没有什么比自认无智更能证明一个人确有智慧的了；这正是这一优良品质的天性，一个人拥有得越多，就越觉得自己缺乏它。"

"I do not know that," said the Princess; "but I know very well that I am very senseless, and that vexes me mightily."

"这个我不知道，"公主说，"可我很清楚自己十分愚钝，这让我烦恼极了。"

"If that be all which troubles you, madam, I can very easily put an end to your affliction."

"夫人，若您所烦恼的仅是这一件事，我便能轻而易举地为您解除这苦恼。"

"And how will you do that?" cried the Princess.

"您要如何做到？"公主叫道。

"I have the power, madam," replied Riquet with the Tuft, "to give to that person whom I love best as much good sense as can be had; and as you, madam, are that very person, it will be your fault only if you have not as great a share of it as any one living, provided you will be pleased to marry me."

"夫人，我有这样的能力，"里凯头发答道，"能把人所能拥有的最好的智慧，赐给我最爱的人；而夫人您正是那个人，倘若您不能拥有世间任何人所能拥有的最大一份智慧，那便只是您自己的过错了——只要您肯答应嫁给我。"

The Princess was quite confused, and answered not a word.

公主十分窘迫，一句话也答不上来。

"I see," replied Riquet with the Tuft, "that this proposal does not please you, and I do not wonder at it; but I will give you a whole year to consider it."

"我看得出，"里凯头发答道，"这个提议并不合您的心意，这我也不感到奇怪；不过我愿给您整整一年的时间考虑。"

The Princess had so little sense and, at the same time, so great a longing to have some, that she imagined the end of that year would never come, so she accepted the proposal which was made her.

公主智慧甚少，却又如此渴望拥有智慧，以至于她以为那一年的期限永远不会到来，于是便答应了向她提出的这个请求。

She had no sooner promised Riquet with the Tuft that she would marry him on that day twelvemonth than she found herself quite otherwise than she was before: she had an incredible faculty of speaking whatever she had in her mind in a polite, easy, and natural manner.

她刚刚答应在一年后的今天嫁给里凯头发，便发觉自己与从前判若两人：她如今拥有一种不可思议的才能，能以文雅、从容而自然的方式，把心中所想的一切说出来。

She began that moment a very gallant conversation with Riquet with the Tuft, which she kept up at such a rate that Riquet with the Tuft believed he had given her more sense than he had reserved for himself.

她当即便与里凯头发展开了一场极为风趣的交谈，谈兴之高，竟使里凯头发以为自己把智慧都给了她，反倒没给自己留下多少。

When she returned to the palace, the whole court knew not what to think of such a sudden and extraordinary change; for they heard from her now as much sensible discourse and as many infinitely witty phrases as they had heard stupid and silly impertinences before. The whole court was overjoyed beyond imagination at it. It pleased all but her younger sister, because, having no longer the advantage of her in respect of wit, she appeared in comparison with her a very disagreeable, homely girl.

她回到王宫时，满朝上下都不知该作何感想——如此突然、如此惊人的变化；因为如今从她口中听到的，尽是明智的谈吐与无数机智绝妙的话语，与从前听惯的那些愚蠢可笑的胡言乱语判若两人。满朝上下无不为之欣喜若狂。唯独她的妹妹不悦，因为她在才智上已不再占优，与姐姐相比，她反倒显得是个惹人厌、其貌不扬的姑娘了。

The King governed himself by her advice, and would even sometimes hold a council in her apartment. The news of this change in the Princess spread everywhere; the young princes of the neighboring kingdoms strove all they could to gain her favor, and almost all of them asked her in marriage; but she found not one of them had sense enough for her. She gave them all a hearing, but would not engage herself to any.

国王凡事都听从她的建议，有时甚至在她的寝宫召开御前会议。公主这番转变的消息传遍四方；邻国的年轻王子们都竭尽全力争取她的青睐，几乎人人都向她求婚；可她发现他们之中没有一个人的智慧足以配得上她。她一一接见了他们，却不肯与任何人订下婚约。

However, there came one so powerful, so rich, so witty, and so handsome that she could not help feeling a strong inclination toward him. Her father perceived it, and told her that she was her own mistress as to the choice of a husband, and that she might declare her intentions. She thanked her father, and desired him to give her time to consider it.

然而，后来来了一位王子，权势显赫、家财万贯、才智过人又相貌堂堂，她不由得对他心生强烈的好感。她的父亲察觉到了这一点，便告诉她，她可以自己做主选择丈夫，尽可表明自己的心意。她谢过父亲，请他容她考虑一些时日。

She went by chance to walk in the same wood where she met Riquet with the Tuft, the more conveniently to think what she ought to do. While she was walking in a profound meditation, she heard a confused noise under her feet, as it were of a great many people busily running backward and forward. Listening more attentively, she heard one say:—

她碰巧走进了当年遇见里凯头发的那片树林，好更从容地思考自己该如何是好。她正沉思漫步之际，忽听脚下传来一阵嘈杂声，仿佛有许多人在忙忙碌碌地跑来跑去。她仔细一听，听见有人说：

"Bring me that pot," another, "Give me that kettle," and a third, "Put some wood upon the fire."

"把那口锅给我拿来。"另一个说："把那把水壶给我。"还有一个说："往火里加些柴。"

The ground at the same time opened, and she saw under her feet a great kitchen full of cooks, kitchen helps, and all sorts of officers necessary for a magnificent entertainment. There came out of it a company of cooks, to the number of twenty or thirty, who went to plant themselves about a very long table set up in the forest, with their larding pins in their hands and fox tails in their caps, and began to work, keeping time to a very harmonious tune.

就在这时，地面裂开了，她看见脚下有一间偌大的厨房，里面挤满了厨师、帮厨和各种为盛大宴会所需的执事。从中走出一队厨师，约有二三十人，他们走到林中搭起的一张长桌旁站定，手持插肉针，帽子上插着狐狸尾巴，随着一支和谐的曲调打着拍子，开始忙碌起来。

The Princess, all astonished at this sight, asked them for whom they worked.

公主见此情景，大为惊讶，便问他们是为谁效劳。

"For Prince Riquet with the Tuft," said the chief of them, "who is to be married to-morrow."

"为里凯头发王子，"为首的一人说道，"他明日就要成婚了。"

The Princess, more surprised than ever, and recollecting all at once that it was now that day twelvemonth on which she had promised to marry the Prince Riquet with the Tuft, was ready to sink into the ground.

公主愈发惊讶，猛然想起今天正是一年前她答应嫁给里凯头发王子的那一天，几乎要瘫倒在地。

What made her forget this was that when she made this promise, she was very silly; and having obtained that vast stock of sense which the prince had bestowed upon her, she had entirely forgotten the things she had done in the days of her stupidity. She continued her walk, but had not taken thirty steps before Riquet with the Tuft presented himself to her, gallant and most magnificently dressed, like a prince who was going to be married.

她之所以忘了这件事，是因为当初许下这诺言时，她还十分愚钝；而自从获得王子赐予她的那一大笔智慧之后，她便把自己愚笨时所做的事全都忘光了。她继续往前走，还没走出三十步，里凯头发便出现在她面前，衣着华美、风度翩翩，俨然一位即将成婚的王子。

"You see, madam," said he, "I am exact in keeping my word, and doubt not in the least but you are come hither to perform your promise."

"夫人，您瞧，"他说道，"我信守诺言，分毫不差，我也毫不怀疑您正是为履行诺言而来。"

"I frankly confess," answered the Princess, "that I have not yet come to a decision in this matter, and I believe I never shall be able to arrive at such a one as you desire."

"我坦白承认，"公主答道，"我在这件事上尚未拿定主意，而且我相信我永远也做不出您所期望的那种决定。"

"You astonish me, madam," said Riquet with the Tuft.

"夫人，您真令我吃惊，"里凯头发说道。

"I can well believe it," said the Princess; "and surely if I had to do with a clown, or a man of no sense, I should find myself very much at a loss. 'A princess always keeps her word,' he would say to me, 'and you must marry me, since you promised to do so.' But as he to whom I talk is the one man in the world who is master of the greatest sense and judgment, I am sure he will hear reason.

"这我完全相信，"公主说道，"倘若我面对的是一个粗鲁无礼、毫无见识的男人，我确实会十分为难。他大概会对我说：'公主向来言而有信，您既已许下诺言，就必须嫁给我。'可是我如今说话的对象，是世间最富智慧、最有见识的人，我相信他会听从道理的。

"You know that when I was but a fool I could scarcely make up my mind to marry you; why will you have me, now I have so much judgment as you gave me, come to such a decision which I could not then make up my mind to agree to? If you sincerely thought to make me your wife, you have been greatly in the wrong to deprive me of my dull simplicity, and make me see things much more clearly than I did."

"您知道，当初我还是个傻瓜的时候，都几乎下不了决心嫁给您；如今我有了您所赐予的这些见识，您却要我作出当初连想都不敢想的决定，这是为什么呢？倘若您当真诚心想娶我为妻，那么您夺去我那单纯愚钝的心智、让我把事情看得比从前清楚得多，实在是大错特错了。"

"If a man of no wit and sense," replied Riquet with the Tuft, "would be well received, as you say, in reproaching you for breach of your word, why will you not let me, madam, have the same usage in a matter wherein all the happiness of my life is concerned? Is it reasonable that persons of wit and sense should be in a worse condition than those who have none? Can you pretend this, you who have so great a share, and desired so earnestly to have it?

"倘若一个毫无智慧见识的人，"里凯头发答道，"能像您所说的那样，因您违背诺言而受到宽待，那夫人，为何您不肯同样宽待我呢？我一生的幸福都系于此事。难道有智慧、有见识的人反倒该比毫无见识的人处境更差吗？您怎能这样说呢，您自己就拥有这样大的一份智慧，而且是您自己曾如此殷切地渴望得到的？

"But let us come to the fact, if you please. Putting aside my ugliness and deformity, is there anything in me which displeased you? Are you dissatisfied with my birth, my wit, my humor, or my manners?"

"不过我们还是回到正题上来吧。撇开我的丑陋与畸形不谈，我身上是否还有什么令您不满意的地方？您对我的出身、我的才智、我的性情或是我的举止，有什么不满吗？"

"Not at all," answered the Princess; "I love you and respect you in all that you mention."

"完全没有，"公主答道，"这一切您所说的，我都爱慕并且敬重。"

"If it be so," said Riquet with the Tuft, "I am happy, since it is in your power to make me the most amiable of men."

"倘若如此，"里凯头发说道，"我便十分欣慰了，因为如今是否能让我成为世间最可爱的男子，全在于您。"

"How can that be?" said the Princess.

"这怎么可能呢？"公主说道。

"It is done," said Riquet with the Tuft, "if you love me enough to wish it was so; and that you may no ways doubt, madam, of what I say, know that the same fairy who on my birthday gave me for gift the power of making the person who should please me witty and judicious, has in like manner given you for gift the power of making him whom you love and to whom you would grant the favor, to be extremely handsome."

"这已经成了，"里凯头发说道，"只要您真心愿意，希望它成真；而且夫人，为了让您对我所说的话不再有丝毫怀疑，请您知道，当年在我出生那天，同一位仙女赐给我的礼物，是能让最讨我欢心的人变得聪慧睿智的能力，她也同样赐给了您一件礼物，能让您所爱、且愿意赐予恩惠的那个人，变得极为英俊。"

"If it be so," said the Princess, "I wish with all my heart that you may be the most lovable prince in the world, and I bestow my gift on you as much as I am able."

"倘若如此，"公主说道，"我便真心希望您成为世间最可爱的王子，我愿尽我所能，把这份礼物赐予您。"

The Princess had no sooner pronounced these words than Riquet with the Tuft appeared to her the finest prince upon earth, the handsomest and most amiable man she ever saw. Some affirm that it was not the fairy's charms, but love alone, which worked the change.

公主这话音刚落，里凯头发在她眼中便已成了天底下最俊美的王子，是她所见过最英俊、最可爱的男子。有人说，这并非仙女的魔法所致，而全是爱情的力量使然。

They say that the Princess, having made due reflection on the perseverance of her lover, his discretion, and all the good qualities of his mind, his wit and judgment, saw no longer the deformity of his body, nor the ugliness of his face; that his hump seemed to her no more than the grand air of one having a broad back, and that whereas till then she saw him limp horribly, she now found it nothing more than a certain sidling air, which charmed her.

据说公主细细回想了她这位情郎的坚忍、他的谨慎，以及他心智上的种种美德、他的才智与见识之后，便再也看不见他身体的畸形，也看不见他面容的丑陋；他背上的驼峰，在她眼中不过是一种宽厚背影所带来的堂堂气度；从前她见他走路瘸得厉害，如今却只觉得那不过是一种别具风韵的斜行姿态，令她着迷。

They say further that his eyes, which were squinted very much, seemed to her most bright and sparkling, that their irregularity passed in her judgment for a mark of the warmth of his affection, and, in short, that his great red nose was, in her opinion, somewhat martial and heroic in character.

据说他那对斜视得厉害的眼睛，在她看来变得炯炯有神、熠熠生辉；那双眼的不端正，在她心目中反倒成了他一片深情的印记；而他那只又大又红的鼻子，在她看来，也自有一种英武豪迈的气概。

However it was, the Princess promised immediately to marry him, on condition that he obtained the King's consent. The King, knowing that his daughter highly esteemed Riquet with the Tuft, whom he knew also for a most sage and judicious prince, received him for his son-in-law with pleasure, and the next morning their nuptials were celebrated, as Riquet with the Tuft had foreseen, and according to the orders he had given a long time before.

不管怎样，公主当即答应嫁给他，条件是须先征得国王的同意。国王深知女儿对里凯头发极为敬重，也深知他是一位极为贤明睿智的王子，便欣然接纳他为女婿；次日清晨，他们的婚礼便如里凯头发早已预见的那样举行了，一切都按他很久以前所下的安排进行。