The Miraculous Hen

Beyond thrice-nine lands, in the thrice-tenth realm—it was not in our kingdom—once an old man and an old woman lived in great need and poverty. They had two sons, who were very young and as yet of no use for field work. So the old man got up himself, and himself did all the work; he went out and looked after the labourers, and for all that he could only earn a few pence.

在那三十九片土地之外，在第三十个国度里——那可不是我们这个王国——从前有一对老夫妻，日子过得十分贫苦，什么都缺。他们有两个儿子，年纪还小，还没法下地干活。于是老头儿只好自己起早贪黑，凡事都亲力亲为；他出门去照看雇工，可这样忙来忙去，也只能挣得几个铜板。

As he was going home one day he met a sorry drunkard, who had a hen in his hands. “Will you, old man, buy my hen?”

一天，他正往家走，遇见一个可怜的酒鬼，手里提着一只母鸡。"老人家，你要不要买我这只鸡？"

“What do you want for it?”

"你要多少钱？"

“Give me fifty kopeks for it.”

"给我五十戈比吧。"

“No, brother; take these few pence—that will be enough for you; you will get a pint and can drink it out on your way home and go to sleep.”

"不行，兄弟；拿着这几个铜板吧——够你喝一壶了，你可以在回家的路上喝个痛快，然后睡上一觉。"

So the drunkard took the pence and gave the old man the hen.

于是这酒鬼接过铜板，把母鸡给了老头儿。

Then the old man returned home. But they were very hungry there; there was not a crust of bread. “Here,” he said, as he came in, to his wife, “here is a hen I have bought you.”

老头儿便回了家。可家里已经饿得不行了；连一块面包皮都没有。"瞧，"他一进门便对妻子说道，"我给你买了只鸡。"

But his wife turned on him fiercely and scolded him. “What an old fool you are! You must have gone utterly mad: our children are sitting down at home without any bread, and you buy a hen which you must feed!”

可他妻子却勃然大怒，把他骂了个狗血喷头。"你这老糊涂，简直是老糊涂透顶了！我们的孩子都饿得坐在家里没面包吃，你倒买回一只鸡来，还得喂它！"

“Hold your tongue, foolish woman; does a hen eat so much? Why, she will lay us an egg and will bring us chicks; we can sell the chicks and then buy bread.”

"闭嘴吧，蠢婆娘；鸡能吃多少东西？它会给我们下蛋，还会孵出小鸡来；我们把小鸡卖了，就能买面包了。"

So the old man made a little nest and he put the hen under the stove. In the morning he looked, and the hen had laid a jewel of absolutely natural colours. So the old man said to his wife, “Now, old lady; amongst other folks the hens lay eggs, but our hen lays jewels: what shall we do?”

于是老头儿搭了个小窝，把鸡放在炉子底下。第二天早晨他一看，鸡下了一颗色泽天然、光彩夺目的宝石。老头儿便对妻子说道："老太婆，别人家的鸡下的是蛋，我们家的鸡下的可是宝石：这该怎么办才好？"

“Take it into the city; possibly somebody may buy it.”

"拿到城里去；说不定有人愿意买呢。"

So the old man went into the city, went into all the inns by turns and showed his precious stone. All the merchants gathered round him and began valuing the stone. They valued it and valued it, and it was at last bought for five hundred roubles.

于是老头儿进了城，一家接一家地走遍了所有的客栈，把自己那块宝石拿出来给人看。所有的商人都围了过来，开始估算这块宝石的价值。他们估了又估，最后以五百卢布的价钱把它买了下来。

From that day the old man went on trading in precious stones which his hen laid him, and he very soon became enriched, had himself inscribed into the merchants’ guild, put up a shop, hired apprentices, and set up seafaring ships to carry his wares into foreign lands. One day he was going into foreign parts, and he bade his wife have a great heed to the hen: “Treasure her more than your eyes; should she be lost, you shall forfeit your own head.”

从那天起，老头儿便靠贩卖他那只鸡下的宝石做起了买卖，没过多久就发了财，还给自己在商人行会里挂了名，开了间铺子，雇了几个学徒，还置办了几艘商船，把自己的货物运往异国他乡。有一天，他要出海到外国去，临行前嘱咐妻子好生看管那只鸡："要把它看得比你的眼珠子还金贵；要是它丢了，你自己的脑袋也保不住。"

As soon as he had gone the old woman began to think evil thoughts. For she was great friends with one of the young apprentices.

他前脚刚走，老太婆便动起了坏心思。因为她跟一个年轻学徒相好得很。

“Where do you get these precious stones from?” the apprentice asked her.

"你这些宝石都是从哪儿弄来的？"那学徒问她。

“Oh, it is our hen that lays them.”

"哦，是我们家那只鸡下的。"

So the apprentice took the hen, looked, and under the right wing he saw written in gold: “Whoever eats this hen’s head shall become a king, and whoever eats her liver shall spit out gold.”

于是那学徒拿起鸡来一看，只见右边翅膀底下用金字写着："凡吃这鸡头者，必成为王；凡吃这鸡肝者，必能吐出金子来。"

So he told the wife, “Bake me the hen for supper.”

于是他便对老太婆说："给我把这鸡烤了当晚饭吧。"

“Oh, my dear friend, how can I? My husband will be coming back and will punish me.”

"哦，我的好朋友，这可怎么行？我丈夫回来会罚我的。"

But the apprentice would not listen to any argument. “Bake it,” he said—that was all.

可这学徒根本听不进任何劝说。"烤了吧，"他说——就这么一句话。

The next day the old woman got supper ready, made ready to twist the hen’s neck and to roast it for supper with the head and the liver. The cook twisted the hen’s neck and put her into the oven, and himself went out. But in that time the two little children of the house, who were at school, ran in, looked into the oven, and wanted to nibble. The elder brother ate the head and the youngest ate the liver.

第二天，老太婆便备好了晚饭，准备拧断鸡脖子，把鸡连头带肝一起烤了当晚饭。厨子拧断了鸡脖子，把它放进炉子，自己便出去了。可就在这时，家里两个正在上学的小孩子跑了进来，往炉子里一看，便想尝一尝。哥哥吃了鸡头，弟弟吃了鸡肝。

When supper-time came, the hen was put on the table, but when the apprentice saw that both the head and the liver were missing he was very angry, quarrelled with the old woman and went home. The old woman followed him and wheedled, but he still insisted: “You bring your children, take their liver out and brains, and give them me for supper; otherwise I will have nothing to do with you.”

到了晚饭时分，那只鸡被端上了桌，可那学徒一见鸡头和鸡肝都不见了，顿时勃然大怒，跟老太婆吵了一架，便回家去了。老太婆跟着他一路哄劝，可他仍旧执意坚持："把你的孩子带来，取出他们的肝和脑子，拿来给我当晚饭；不然我跟你就此断绝往来。"

So the old woman put her children to bed, called the cook and bade him take them whilst they were asleep into the wood, there kill them and extract their liver and their brains and get them ready for supper. The cook took the children into the slumbrous forest, stopped, and made ready to whet the knife.

于是老太婆把两个孩子哄睡了，叫来厨子，吩咐他趁孩子熟睡时把他们带进树林里，杀了取出肝和脑子，备好当晚饭。厨子把两个孩子带进那片昏昏欲睡的森林，停下脚步，正要磨刀。

The boys woke up and asked, “Why are you sharpening the knife?”

两个男孩醒了过来，问道："你磨刀做什么？"

“Because your mother has bidden me take out your liver and brains and cook them.”

"因为你们的母亲吩咐我，取出你们的肝和脑子来煮。"

“Oh, grandfather, little dove, do not slay us; we will give you all the gold you desire, only pity us and let us free.” So the younger brother filled his skirt with gold, and the cook was contented with this and he set them free.

"哦，爷爷，我的好人，别杀我们；我们愿意给您所有您想要的金子，只求您可怜可怜我们，放我们一条生路吧。"于是弟弟便把自己的衣摆装满了金子，厨子对此十分满意，便放了他们。

So the boys went forth into the forest and he turned back. Fortunately for him a bitch came his way, so he took her two puppies, took their livers and brains, roasted them and gave them for supper. The apprentice was very pleased with the dish, swallowed it all, and became neither a king nor a king’s son, but simply a fool.

于是两个男孩走进了森林，厨子则转身回去了。幸运的是，路上正好有一条母狗经过，他便抓了她的两只小狗，取出它们的肝和脑子，烤熟了当晚饭端了上去。那学徒对这道菜十分满意，全都吞了下去，结果既没成为国王，也没成为王子，而是变成了一个十足的傻瓜。

The boys went out of the wood on the broad road, and went whither their eyes gazed—maybe far, maybe short, they went. Soon the road divided into two, and a column stood there, and on the column it was written:

两个男孩走出森林，来到大路上，随心所欲地一路走去——也许走了很远，也许没走多久。不多时，大路分成了两条，路口立着一根石柱，石柱上写着：

“WHO GOES TO THE RIGHT SHALL RECEIVE A KINGDOM, WHO GOES TO THE LEFT SHALL RECEIVE MUCH OF EVIL AND OF GRIEF, BUT HE SHALL MARRY A FAIR PRINCESS.”

"向右走的人，将得到一个王国， 向左走的人，将历尽种种邪恶与悲苦， 但他将娶得一位美丽的公主为妻。"

So the brothers considered this inscription, and decided to go in different directions; the elder went to the right and the younger to the left.

于是兄弟俩琢磨了这段碑文，决定各走一条路；哥哥往右走，弟弟往左走。

The elder went on and on, and soon came to an unknown capital city. He also saw a mass of people, only they were all mourning and sad. So he begged shelter of a poor old widow. “Will you protect,” he said, “a foreigner from the dark night?”

哥哥一路走啊走，不久便来到一座陌生的都城。他看见城里熙熙攘攘的人群，可个个都愁眉苦脸、哀伤悲戚。于是他向一位穷苦的老寡妇讨个住处。"能否，"他说道，"请您收留一个远道而来的外乡人，让他免受这漆黑夜色之苦？"

“I should be very glad to have you,” she said, “but I cannot put you anywhere, I am so closely packed.”

"我倒是很乐意收留你，"她说道，"可我这儿实在挤得没地方安置你了。"

“Do let me in, bábushka; I am such a simple youth, just as you are; you can find me some small space, some kind of nook for the night.”

"求您让我进去吧，老奶奶；我不过是个和您一样普普通通的年轻人；您总能给我腾出个小角落，好让我过一夜的。"

So the old woman admitted him, and they began to speak.

于是老妇人便让他进了屋，两人攀谈起来。

“Why, bábushka,” the stranger asked, “is there such a throng in the city, why are rooms so dear, and why are the people all mourning and melancholy?”

"老奶奶，"这位外乡人问道，"城里为何有这么多人拥来挤去，房子为何这么贵，人们又为何一个个哀伤沮丧呢？"

“Well, our king has just died, and the boyárs have sent the town-crier out to announce that old and young are to assemble, and each of them is to have a candle, and with the candles they are to go into the cathedral, and whosesoever’s candle lights of itself is to be king.”

"是这样的，我们的国王刚刚驾崩了，那些贵族大臣便派了传令官出去宣告，让老老少少都聚集起来，每人手持一支蜡烛，拿着蜡烛走进大教堂，谁的蜡烛自己燃了起来，谁就是新王。"

So in the morning the boy got up, washed, prayed to God, said the grace for the bread and salt and the soft bed which his hostess had given him, and went into the cathedral. When he got there, if you had been there three years you could not have counted all those people. And he took a candle in his hand, and it lit up at once. So they all burst upon him and began to blow out his candle, to damp it, but the flame lit all the brighter. There was no help for it: they acknowledged him as their king, and dressed him in golden apparel and led him to the palace.

于是第二天早晨，男孩起了床，梳洗一番，向上帝祷告，为女主人给他的面包、盐和柔软的床铺致谢，便前往大教堂去了。他到了那儿一看，就算你在那儿待上三年，也数不清那儿有多少人。他手里拿了一支蜡烛，蜡烛立刻自己燃了起来。众人便一拥而上，想把他的蜡烛吹灭、弄湿，可那火焰却烧得越发明亮。这下没办法了：大家都承认他是他们的国王，给他穿上金光灿灿的礼服，把他领去了王宫。

But the younger brother, who had turned to the left, heard that there was a fair princess in a certain kingdom who was indescribably lovely. But she was very grudging, and she announced in all countries that she would only marry the man who could feed her army for three whole years; yet every one had to try his luck. So the boy went there, and he went on his way, went on the broad road. And he spat into his little bag, and spat it full of pure gold.

至于往左走的弟弟，他听说在某个王国里有一位美若天仙、美得难以言喻的公主。可她十分吝啬，向全国宣布，只有谁能供养她的军队整整三年，她才肯嫁给谁；不过人人都可以来碰碰运气。于是这男孩便动身前去，一路走在大道上。他往自己那个小口袋里吐了口唾沫，那口袋便装满了纯金。

Well, it may be long, it may be short, it may be near, it may be far, but he at last reached the fair princess, and he said he would accomplish her task. He had no need to ask for gold, he simply had to spit and there it was. For three years he maintained the princess’s army, gave it food and drink and dress.

也许走了很久，也许没走多久，也许不远，也许很远，他终于来到了那位美丽公主的面前，说他愿意完成她的这个任务。他根本不需要去讨要金子，只要吐一口唾沫，金子便有了。他用整整三年的时间供养公主的军队，给他们衣食供应齐全。

So the time came for a jolly feast and for the wedding. But the princess was still full of wiles. She asked herself and she sought to know whence God had sent him such enormous wealth. So she invited him to be her guest, received him, honoured him. And the doughty youth fell sick, and he vomited up the liver of the hen, and the Tsarévna swallowed it. From that day gold fell from her lips, and she would not have her bridegroom with her. “What shall I do with this ignoramus?” she asked her boyárs, and she asked her generals. “He has had the idiotic idea of wanting to marry me.”

于是欢庆和婚礼的日子终于到了。可这位公主心里仍旧诡计多端。她心里琢磨着，也想弄清楚，上帝究竟从哪儿赐给了他这么大一笔财富。于是她邀他做客，接待他，礼遇他。这位勇敢的少年却生了病，吐出了那鸡肝，公主便一口把它吞了下去。从那天起，她的嘴唇间便开始掉出金子来，她也不肯再要这位新郎了。"这个蠢货，我该拿他怎么办呢？"她问她的贵族大臣们，又问她的将军们。"他竟异想天开，想娶我为妻。"

So the boyárs said he must be hung, and the generals said he must be shot. But the Tsarévna had a better idea—that he ought to be sent to hell.

于是贵族大臣们说该把他绞死，将军们说该把他枪毙。可公主却想出了个更妙的主意——该把他送下地狱去。

So the doughty youth escaped and once more set forth on his road. And he had only one thought in his mind, how he should make himself wise and revenge himself on the Tsarévna for her unkind jest. So he went on and went on, and he came into the dreamy wood, and he looked and he saw three men fighting with their fists.

于是这位勇敢的少年逃了出来，再度踏上了自己的路途。他心里只有一个念头，那就是该怎样变得聪明起来，好为公主这场无情的戏弄向她报仇。他一路走啊走，来到了一片梦幻般的森林，抬头一看，只见三个人正在挥拳打架。

“What are you fighting about?”

"你们在打什么？"

“We have three finds in the road, and we cannot divide them; every one wants them for himself.”

"我们在路上捡到了三样东西，可没法分，人人都想据为己有。"

“What are the finds? what are you contending for?”

"是什么东西？你们在争什么？"

“Look, this is a barrel: you only have to knock it, and a soldier leaps out of its mouth. This is a flying carpet: wherever you think it will take you. And this is a whip: strike a maiden and say ‘You have been a maiden, now become a mare,’ and she will become a mare at once.”

"你瞧，这是个木桶：你只要敲一敲它，一名士兵就会从桶口跳出来。这是块飞毯：你想到哪儿，它就带你到哪儿。这是根鞭子：抽打一个姑娘，说一声'你曾是姑娘，如今变成母马吧'，她立刻就会变成一匹母马。"

“These are valuable gifts, and they are hard to divide. But this is the way out: I will send an arrow in this direction, and you all run after it; he who reaches it first shall have the barrel, and the second shall have the flying carpet, and the third shall have the whip.”

"这些都是宝贵的东西，很难分配。不过我倒有个办法：我朝这个方向射出一支箭，你们都跟着跑去追；谁先追到，谁就得木桶，第二个人得飞毯，第三个人得鞭子。"

“Very well; shoot the dart.”

"好吧；把箭射出去吧。"

So the youth sent out the arrow very far. The three darted after it and ran, and they never looked up. But the doughty youth took the barrel and the whip, sat upon the flying carpet, waved it one end, and he rose higher than the forest that stood there, lower than the clouds above, and he flew whither he would.

于是这少年把箭射得远远的。那三个人便追着箭跑了出去，头也不回地一路狂奔。可这位勇敢的少年却拿起木桶和鞭子，坐上了飞毯，一挥毯子的一角，便腾空而起，飞得比那片树林还高，比头顶的云彩还低，朝着他想去的地方飞去。

So he went back to the forbidden lands of the fair princess, began beating the barrel, and an enormous army came out; infantry, cavalry and artillery, with cannon and with powder waggons. And the mighty host rolled on and rolled on. The doughty youth asked for a horse, mounted it, and went up to his army and commanded it. The drums beat out and the trumpets sounded, and the army went at a pace.

于是他飞回了那位美丽公主的禁地，开始敲打那木桶，顿时冒出了一支庞大的军队；步兵、骑兵、炮兵，还带着大炮和运送弹药的马车。这支浩浩荡荡的大军滚滚向前，滚滚向前。这位勇敢的少年讨来一匹马，骑上去，走到自己的军队跟前发号施令。战鼓擂响，号角吹起，大军便浩浩荡荡地开拔了。

Then the Tsarévna saw from her rooms and was very much frightened, and sent her boyárs and generals to ask for peace. The good youth bade these ambassadors be seized, had them cruelly and savagely punished and sent them back to the Tsarévna, who was to come herself and ask for a reconciliation.

公主从自己的宫殿里望见这一切，吓得魂飞魄散，便派了贵族大臣和将军们前去求和。这位好心的少年下令把这些使者都抓起来，狠狠地、残酷地惩罚了一番，又把他们送回公主那儿去，要她亲自前来求和解。

Well, there was no help for it: so the Tsarévna herself got out of her carriage, recognised him and swooned. But he took the whip, struck her on the back: “You are a maiden, now become a mare!” And the Tsarévna turned into a mare. He bridled and rode her, and went to the kingdom of his elder brother. He galloped at a full pace, put both spurs into her back and used a scourge of three iron rods, and the army followed him, an unbelievable host.

事已至此，公主也没了办法：只得亲自下了马车，一眼就认出了他，当场晕倒过去。可他拿起那根鞭子，朝她背上一抽："你曾是姑娘，如今变成母马吧！"公主便当即变成了一匹母马。他给她套上笼头，骑着她，前往哥哥所在的那个王国去了。他策马疾驰，双脚的马刺一起用力刺进她的背，还用三根铁棍做成的鞭子抽打她，那支难以计数的大军也一路跟随在他身后。

It may be long, it may be short, at last they came to the boundary, and the doughty youth stopped, collected his army into the barrel, and went to the capital. He went straight to the royal palace, and the king himself saw him and looked at the mare and began to wonder: “What is this great hero approaching? I have never seen such a fine mare in all my life.” So he sent his generals to trade for that horse.

也许过了很久，也许没多久，他们终于来到了边境，这位勇敢的少年停下脚步，把大军都收进了木桶里，便前往京城去了。他径直走进王宫，国王亲眼见了他，又看了看那匹母马，不禁大为惊奇："这是何等的一位英雄前来了？我这辈子还从没见过这么好的一匹母马呢。"于是他便派了将军们前去商谈买下这匹马。

“No, what an envious king you have!” said the youth. “It would evidently be out of the question in your city to come here with a young wife; if you are so greedy for a mare, you would certainly take away my wife.”

"不行，你们的国王可真够贪心的！"这少年说道。"要是我带着年轻的妻子来到你们城里，这事显然是行不通的；你们要是这么眼馋这匹母马，肯定连我的妻子也一并抢走了。"

Then he went to the palace and said, “Hail, brother!”

接着他便走进了王宫，说道："你好啊，哥哥！"

“Oh, I never knew you!”

"哦，我都没认出你来！"

So they set to kissing each other.

于是两人便亲吻起来。

“What sort of barrel have you?”

"你这木桶是干什么用的？"

“That is for drinking. How should I journey forth on the road otherwise?”

"是用来喝酒解渴的。不然我这一路上该怎么赶路呢？"

“And the carpet?”

"那这块毯子呢？"

“Sit down and you will find out.”

"你坐上去，自会明白。"

So they sat on the flying carpet, and the younger brother shook it at the corner and they flew higher than the forest, lower than the wandering cloud, straight back to their own country. So they flew back, took a room with their father, and as to who they were they never told their father and mother. So they then thought they would give a feast to all the christened world. They assembled all the people in countless hosts, and for three whole days they gave food and drink to all without requital, without any charge.

于是他们坐上了飞毯，弟弟一抖毯子的一角，两人便腾空而起，飞得比那片树林还高，比那飘荡的云彩还低，径直飞回了自己的祖国。他们就这样飞了回去，跟父亲同住一间屋子，可他们究竟是谁，却始终没告诉父母。于是他们便想，要为全体信教之人举办一场宴席。他们召集了数不清的人群，一连三天，供大家吃喝，分文不取，一律免费。

And afterwards every one began saying had any one a tale of wonder to tell; let him start. But no one would say: “We, it is said, are strange folk, but——”

宴会之后，大家又开始说，谁要是有什么稀奇的故事，尽管讲出来吧。可谁也不肯开口："大家都说我们是些怪人，可是——"

“Well, I will tell you a story,” said the younger brother; “only do not talk until the end. Whoever interrupts three times is to be ruthlessly punished.” So they all agreed.

"好吧，我给你们讲个故事，"弟弟说道，"不过在我讲完之前不许插嘴。谁要是打断我三次，就要受到毫不留情的惩罚。"于是大家都答应了。

And he began to tell how the two old folks had lived together, how they had had a hen which laid jewels, and how the mother had made friends with the apprentice. “What a lie!” interrupted the mistress. But the son went on with his tale. And he narrated how they had twisted the hen’s neck, and the mother again interrupted. At last the story went up to the point when the old woman wished to take away the children, and again she would not stand it: “It is untrue!” she said. “Could ever such a thing happen? Could ever a mother wish to be torn from her children?”

于是他便开始讲起那对老夫妻是怎么一起生活的，他们是怎么养了一只会下宝石的母鸡，母亲又是怎么跟那学徒相好的。"胡说八道！"女主人打断道。可儿子仍旧接着往下讲。他讲到他们怎样拧断了鸡的脖子，母亲又打断了一次。故事讲到老太婆要杀害孩子那一段时，她实在忍不住了："这不是真的！"她说道。"哪有这样的事？哪有母亲会想着要从自己孩子身边被撕开？"

“Obviously, it is possible. Look at us, mother; we are your children.”

"显然是有可能的。您瞧瞧我们，母亲；我们正是您的孩子啊。"

Then the whole story came out, and the father bade his wife be chopped up into bits. He tied the apprentice to the tail of horses, and the horses broke in every direction and scattered his bones over the fields. “Let the dog die a dog’s death!” said the old man. And he gave all his property to the poor and went to live in his elder son’s kingdom.

于是整件事的真相便都揭露了出来，父亲下令把妻子剁成碎块。他又把那学徒绑在几匹马的尾巴上，那些马四散奔逃，把他的骨头撒了一地。"让这条狗死个狗的死法吧！"老头儿说道。他把自己所有的财产都分给了穷人，去到大儿子的王国里过起了日子。

But the younger son smote his mare with the back of his hand and said, “You are a mare; now become a maiden!” So the mare turned into the fair Tsarévna. They made peace, became friends and wedded. It was a magnificent wedding.

而那小儿子则用手背拍了拍那匹母马，说道："你是匹母马；如今变回姑娘吧！"于是那匹母马便变回了美丽的公主。他们重归于好，结为夫妻，喜结连理。那是一场盛大无比的婚礼。

I was there, I drank mead and it flowed up to my beard, but none came into my mouth.

我也在场，喝了蜂蜜酒，酒都流到了我的胡子上，可一滴也没流进我嘴里。