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格林童话英文版:King Thrushbeard
添加时间:2014-03-12 16:13:07 浏览次数: 作者:Grimms
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  • A king had a daughter who was beautiful beyond all measure, but so proud and haughty1 withal that no suitor was good enough for her. She sent away one after the other, and ridiculed2 them as well.

    Once the king made a great feast and invited thereto, from far and near, all the young men likely to marry. They were all marshalled in a row according to their rank and standing3. First came the kings, then the grand-dukes, then the princes, the earls, the barons4, and the gentry5. Then the king's daughter was led through the ranks, but to each one she had some objection to make. One was too fat, the wine-barrel, she said. Another was too tall, long and thin has little in. The third was too short, short and thick is never quick. The fourth was too pale, as pale as death. The fifth too red, a fighting cock. The sixth was not straight enough, a green log dried behind the stove.

    So she had something to say against each one, but she made herself especially merry over a good king who stood quite high up in the row, and whose chin had grown a little crooked6. Look, she cried and laughed, he has a chin like a thrush's beak7. And from that time he got the name of king thrushbeard.

    But the old king, when he saw that his daugher did nothing but mock the people, and despised all the suitors who were gathered there, was very angry, and swore that she should have for her husband the very first beggar that came to his doors.

    A few days afterwards a fiddler came and sang beneath the windows, trying to earn a few pennies. When the king heard him he said, let him come up. So the fiddler came in, in his dirty, ragged8 clothes, and sang before the king and his daughter, and when he had ended he asked for a trifling9 gift. The king said, your song has pleased me so well that I will give you my daughter there, to wife.

    The king's daughter shuddered10, but the king said, I have taken an oath to give you to the very first beggar-man and I will keep it. All she could say was in vain. The priest was brought, and she had to let herself be wedded11 to the fiddler on the spot. When that was done the king said, now it is not proper for you, a beggar-woman, to stay any longer in my palace, you may just go away with your husband.

    The beggar-man led her out by the hand, and she was obliged to walk away on foot with him. When they came to a large forest she asked, to whom does that beautiful forest belong. It belongs to king thrushbeard. If you had taken him, it would have been yours. Ah, unhappy girl that I am, if I had but taken king thrushbeard.

    Afterwards they came to a meadow, and she asked again, to whom does this beautiful green meadow belong. It belongs to king thrushbeard. If you had taken him, it would have been yours. Ah, unhappy girl that I am, if I had but taken king thrushbeard.

    Then they came to a large town, and she asked again, to whom does this fine large town belong. It belongs to king thrushbeard. If you had taken him, it would have been yours. Ah, unhappy girl that I am, if I had but taken king thrushbeard. It does not please me, said the fiddler, to hear you always wishing for another husband. Am I not good enough for you.

    At last they came to a very little hut, and she said, oh goodness. What a small house. To whom does this miserable12, tiny hovel belong. The fiddler answered, that is my house and yours, where we shall live together.

    She had to stoop in order to go in at the low door. Where are the servants, said the king's daughter. What servants, answered the beggar-man. You must yourself do what you wish to have done. Just make a fire at once, and set on water to cook my supper, I am quite tired. But the king's daughter knew nothing about lighting13 fires or cooking, and the beggar-man had to lend a hand himself to get anything fairly done. When they had finished their scanty14 meal they went to bed. But he forced her to get up quite early in the morning in order to look after the house.

    For a few days they lived in this way as well as might be, and came to the end of all their provisions. Then the man said, wife, we cannot go on any longer eating and drinking here and earning nothing. You must make baskets. He went out, cut some willows15, and brought them home. Then she began to make baskets, but the tough willows wounded her delicate hands.

    I see that this will not do, said the man. You had better spin, perhaps you can do that better. She sat down and tried to spin, but the hard thread soon cut her soft fingers so that the blood ran down. See, said the man, you are fit for no sort of work. I have made a bad bargain with you. Now I will try to make a business with pots and earthenware16. You must sit in the market-place and sell the ware17. Alas18, thought she, if any of the people from my father's kingdom come to the market and see me sitting there, selling, how they will mock me. But it was of no use, she had to yield unless she chose to die of hunger. For the first time she succeeded well, for the people were glad to buy the woman's wares19 because she was good-looking, and they paid her what she asked. Many even gave her the money and left the pots with her as well. So they lived on what she had earned as long as it lasted, then the husband bought a lot of new crockery. With this she sat down at the corner of the market-place, and set it out round about her ready for sale. But suddenly there came a drunken hussar galloping20 along, and he rode right amongst the pots so that they were all broken into a thousand bits. She began to weep, and did now know what to do for fear. Alas, what will happen to me, cried she. What will my husband say to this. She ran home and told him of the misfortune. Who would seat herself at a corner of the market-place with crockery, said the man. Leave off crying, I see very well that you cannot do any ordinary work, so I have been to our king's palace and have asked whether they cannot find a place for a kitchen-maid, and they have promised me to take you. In that way you will get your food for nothing.

    The king's daughter was now a kitchen-maid, and had to be at the cook's beck and call, and do the dirtiest work. In both her pockets she fastened a little jar, in which she took home her share of the leavings, and upon this they lived.

    It happened that the wedding of the king's eldest21 son was to be celebrated22, so the poor woman went up and placed herself by the door of the hall to look on. When all the candles were lit, and people, each more beautiful than the other, entered, and all was full of pomp and splendor23, she thought of her lot with a sad heart, and cursed the pride and haughtiness24 which had humbled25 her and brought her to so great poverty.

    The smell of the delicious dishes which were being taken in and out reached her, and now and then the servants threw her a few morsels27 of them. These she put in her jars to take home.

    All at once the king's son entered, clothed in velvet28 and silk, with gold chains about his neck. And when he saw the beautiful woman standing by the door he seized her by the hand, and would have danced with her. But she refused and shrank with fear, for she saw that it was king thrushbeard, her suitor whom she had driven away with scorn. Her struggles were of no avail, he drew her into the hall. But the string by which her pockets were hung broke, the pots fell down, the soup ran out, and the scraps29 were scattered30 all about. And when the people saw it, there arose general laughter and derision, and she was so ashamed that she would rather have been a thousand fathoms31 below the ground. She sprang to the door and would have run away, but on the stairs a man caught her and brought her back. And when she looked at him it was king thrushbeard again. He said to her kindly32, do not be afraid, I and the fiddler who has been living with you in that wretched hovel are one. For love of you I disguised myself so. And I also was the hussar who rode through your crockery. This was all done to humble26 your proud spirit, and to punish you for the insolence33 with which you mocked me.

    Then she wept bitterly and said, I have done great wrong, and am not worthy34 to be your wife. But he said, be comforted, the evil days are past. Now we will celebrate our wedding. Then the maids-in-waiting came and put on her the most splendid clothing, and her father and his whole court came and wished her happiness in her marriage with king thrushbeard, and the joy now began in earnest. I wish you and I had been there too.



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    1 haughty [ˈhɔ:ti] 4dKzq   第9级
    adj.傲慢的,高傲的
    参考例句:
    • He gave me a haughty look and walked away. 他向我摆出傲慢的表情后走开。
    • They were displeased with her haughty airs. 他们讨厌她高傲的派头。
    2 ridiculed [ˈrɪdɪˌkju:ld] 81e89e8e17fcf40595c6663a61115a91   第8级
    v.嘲笑,嘲弄,奚落( ridicule的过去式和过去分词 )
    参考例句:
    • Biosphere 2 was ultimately ridiculed as a research debade, as exfravagant pseudoscience. 生物圈2号最终被讥讽为科研上的大失败,代价是昂贵的伪科学。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • She ridiculed his insatiable greed. 她嘲笑他的贪得无厌。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    3 standing [ˈstændɪŋ] 2hCzgo   第8级
    n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
    参考例句:
    • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing. 地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
    • They're standing out against any change in the law. 他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
    4 barons [ˈbærənz] d288a7d0097bc7a8a6a4398b999b01f6   第9级
    男爵( baron的名词复数 ); 巨头; 大王; 大亨
    参考例句:
    • The barons of Normandy had refused to countenance the enterprise officially. 诺曼底的贵族们拒绝正式赞助这桩买卖。
    • The barons took the oath which Stephen Langton prescribed. 男爵们照斯蒂芬?兰顿的指导宣了誓。
    5 gentry [ˈdʒentri] Ygqxe   第11级
    n.绅士阶级,上层阶级
    参考例句:
    • Landed income was the true measure of the gentry. 来自土地的收入是衡量是否士绅阶层的真正标准。
    • Better be the head of the yeomanry than the tail of the gentry. 宁做自由民之首,不居贵族之末。
    6 crooked [ˈkrʊkɪd] xvazAv   第7级
    adj.弯曲的;不诚实的,狡猾的,不正当的;v.弯成钩形(crook的过去式和过去分词)
    参考例句:
    • He crooked a finger to tell us to go over to him. 他弯了弯手指,示意我们到他那儿去。
    • You have to drive slowly on these crooked country roads. 在这些弯弯曲曲的乡间小路上你得慢慢开车。
    7 beak [bi:k] 8y1zGA   第8级
    n.鸟嘴,茶壶嘴,钩形鼻
    参考例句:
    • The bird had a worm in its beak. 鸟儿嘴里叼着一条虫。
    • This bird employs its beak as a weapon. 这种鸟用嘴作武器。
    8 ragged [ˈrægɪd] KC0y8   第7级
    adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的
    参考例句:
    • A ragged shout went up from the small crowd. 这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
    • Ragged clothing infers poverty. 破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。
    9 trifling [ˈtraɪflɪŋ] SJwzX   第10级
    adj.微不足道的;没什么价值的
    参考例句:
    • They quarreled over a trifling matter. 他们为这种微不足道的事情争吵。
    • So far Europe has no doubt, gained a real conveniency, though surely a very trifling one. 直到现在为止,欧洲无疑地已经获得了实在的便利,不过那确是一种微不足道的便利。
    10 shuddered [ˈʃʌdəd] 70137c95ff493fbfede89987ee46ab86   第8级
    v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 );发抖;(机器、车辆等)突然震动;颤动
    参考例句:
    • He slammed on the brakes and the car shuddered to a halt. 他猛踩刹车,车颤抖着停住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • I shuddered at the sight of the dead body. 我一看见那尸体就战栗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    11 wedded [ˈwedɪd] 2e49e14ebbd413bed0222654f3595c6a   第9级
    adj.正式结婚的;渴望…的,执著于…的v.嫁,娶,(与…)结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 )
    参考例句:
    • She's wedded to her job. 她专心致志于工作。
    • I was invited over by the newly wedded couple for a meal. 我被那对新婚夫妇请去吃饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    12 miserable [ˈmɪzrəbl] g18yk   第7级
    adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的
    参考例句:
    • It was miserable of you to make fun of him. 你取笑他,这是可耻的。
    • Her past life was miserable. 她过去的生活很苦。
    13 lighting [ˈlaɪtɪŋ] CpszPL   第7级
    n.照明,光线的明暗,舞台灯光
    参考例句:
    • The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting. 煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
    • The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic. 那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。
    14 scanty [ˈskænti] ZDPzx   第9级
    adj.缺乏的,仅有的,节省的,狭小的,不够的
    参考例句:
    • There is scanty evidence to support their accusations. 他们的指控证据不足。
    • The rainfall was rather scanty this month. 这个月的雨量不足。
    15 willows [ˈwiləuz] 79355ee67d20ddbc021d3e9cb3acd236   第8级
    n.柳树( willow的名词复数 );柳木
    参考例句:
    • The willows along the river bank look very beautiful. 河岸边的柳树很美。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • Willows are planted on both sides of the streets. 街道两侧种着柳树。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
    16 earthenware [ˈɜ:θnweə(r)] Lr5xL   第9级
    n.土器,陶器
    参考例句:
    • She made sure that the glassware and earthenware were always spotlessly clean. 她总是把玻璃器皿和陶器洗刷得干干净净。
    • They displayed some bowls of glazed earthenware. 他们展出了一些上釉的陶碗。
    17 ware [weə(r)] sh9wZ   第9级
    n.(常用复数)商品,货物
    参考例句:
    • The shop sells a great variety of porcelain ware. 这家店铺出售品种繁多的瓷器。
    • Good ware will never want a chapman. 好货不须叫卖。
    18 alas [əˈlæs] Rx8z1   第10级
    int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)
    参考例句:
    • Alas! The window is broken! 哎呀! 窗子破了!
    • Alas, the truth is less romantic. 然而,真理很少带有浪漫色彩。
    19 wares [weəz] 2eqzkk   第9级
    n. 货物, 商品
    参考例句:
    • They sold their wares at half-price. 他们的货品是半价出售的。
    • The peddler was crying up his wares. 小贩极力夸耀自己的货物。
    20 galloping [ˈgæləpɪŋ] galloping   第7级
    adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式
    参考例句:
    • The horse started galloping the moment I gave it a good dig. 我猛戳了马一下,它就奔驰起来了。
    • Japan is galloping ahead in the race to develop new technology. 日本在发展新技术的竞争中进展迅速,日新月异。
    21 eldest [ˈeldɪst] bqkx6   第8级
    adj.最年长的,最年老的
    参考例句:
    • The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne. 国王的长子是王位的继承人。
    • The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son. 城堡和土地限定由长子继承。
    22 celebrated [ˈselɪbreɪtɪd] iwLzpz   第8级
    adj.有名的,声誉卓著的
    参考例句:
    • He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England. 不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
    • The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience. 观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。
    23 splendor ['splendə] hriy0   第10级
    n.光彩;壮丽,华丽;显赫,辉煌
    参考例句:
    • Never in his life had he gazed on such splendor. 他生平从没有见过如此辉煌壮丽的场面。
    • All the splendor in the world is not worth a good friend. 人世间所有的荣华富贵不如一个好朋友。
    24 haughtiness ['hɔ:tɪnəs] drPz4U   第9级
    n.傲慢;傲气
    参考例句:
    • Haughtiness invites disaster,humility receives benefit. 满招损,谦受益。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • Finally he came to realize it was his haughtiness that held people off. 他终于意识到是他的傲慢态度使人不敢同他接近。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    25 humbled [ˈhʌmbld] 601d364ccd70fb8e885e7d73c3873aca   第7级
    adj. 卑下的,谦逊的,粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下,贬低
    参考例句:
    • The examination results humbled him. 考试成绩挫了他的傲气。
    • I am sure millions of viewers were humbled by this story. 我相信数百万观众看了这个故事后都会感到自己的渺小。
    26 humble [ˈhʌmbl] ddjzU   第7级
    adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;vt.降低,贬低
    参考例句:
    • In my humble opinion, he will win the election. 依我拙见,他将在选举中获胜。
    • Defeat and failure make people humble. 挫折与失败会使人谦卑。
    27 morsels [ˈmɔ:səlz] ed5ad10d588acb33c8b839328ca6c41c   第11级
    n.一口( morsel的名词复数 );(尤指食物)小块,碎屑
    参考例句:
    • They are the most delicate morsels. 这些确是最好吃的部分。 来自辞典例句
    • Foxes will scratch up grass to find tasty bug and beetle morsels. 狐狸会挖草地,寻找美味的虫子和甲壳虫。 来自互联网
    28 velvet [ˈvelvɪt] 5gqyO   第7级
    n.丝绒,天鹅绒;adj.丝绒制的,柔软的
    参考例句:
    • This material feels like velvet. 这料子摸起来像丝绒。
    • The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing. 新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。
    29 scraps [skræps] 737e4017931b7285cdd1fa3eb9dd77a3   第7级
    油渣
    参考例句:
    • Don't litter up the floor with scraps of paper. 不要在地板上乱扔纸屑。
    • A patchwork quilt is a good way of using up scraps of material. 做杂拼花布棉被是利用零碎布料的好办法。
    30 scattered ['skætəd] 7jgzKF   第7级
    adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的
    参考例句:
    • Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来,塞进文件夹里。
    31 fathoms [ˈfæðəmz] eef76eb8bfaf6d8f8c0ed4de2cf47dcc   第10级
    英寻( fathom的名词复数 )
    参考例句:
    • The harbour is four fathoms deep. 港深为四英寻。
    • One bait was down forty fathoms. 有个鱼饵下沉到四十英寻的深处。
    32 kindly [ˈkaɪndli] tpUzhQ   第8级
    adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地
    参考例句:
    • Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable. 她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
    • A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman. 一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
    33 insolence ['ɪnsələns] insolence   第10级
    n.傲慢;无礼;厚颜;傲慢的态度
    参考例句:
    • I've had enough of your insolence, and I'm having no more. 我受够了你的侮辱,不能再容忍了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
    • How can you suffer such insolence? 你怎么能容忍这种蛮横的态度? 来自《简明英汉词典》
    34 worthy [ˈwɜ:ði] vftwB   第7级
    adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的
    参考例句:
    • I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust. 我认为他不值得信赖。
    • There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned. 没有值得一提的事发生。

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