格林童話:the Six Swans六隻天鵝

the Six Swans

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

A king was once hunting in a GREat forest, and he chased his prey so eagerly that none of his men could follow him. As evening approached he stopped and looked around, and saw that he was lost. He looked for a way out of the woods, but he could not find one. Then he saw an old woman with a bobbing head who approached him. She was a witch.

"My dear woman," he said to her, "can you show me the way through the woods?"

"Oh, yes, your majesty," she answered, "I can indeed. However, there is one condition, and if you do not fulfill it, you will never get out of these woods, and will die here of hunger."

"What sort of condition is it?" asked the king.

"I have a daughter," said the old woman, "who is as beautiful as anyone you could find in all the world, and who well deserves to become your wife. If you will make her your queen, I will show you the way out of the woods."

the king was so frightened that he consented, and the old woman led him to her cottage, where her daughter was sitting by the fire. She received the king as if she had been expecting him. He saw that she was very beautiful, but in spite of this he did not like her, and he could not look at her without secretly shuddering.

After he had lifted the girl onto his horse, the old woman showed him the way, and the king arrived again at his royal castle, where the wedding was celebrated.

the king had been married before, and by his first wife he had seven children, six boys and one girl. He loved them more than anything else in the world.

Fearing that the stepmother might not treat them well, even do them harm, he took them to a secluded castle which stood in the middle of a forest. It was so well hidden, and the way was so difficult to find, that he himself would not have found it, if a wise woman had not given him a ball of magic yarn. Whenever he threw it down in front of him, it would unwind itself and show him the way.

However, the king went out to his dear children so often that the queen took notice of his absence. She was curious and wanted to know what he was doing out there all alone in the woods. She gave a large sum of money to his servants, and they revealed the secret to her. They also told her about the ball of yarn which could point out the way all by itself.

She did not rest until she discovered where the king kept the ball of yarn. Then she made some little shirts of white silk. Having learned the art of witchcraft from her mother, she sewed a magic charm into each one of them. Then one day when the king had ridden out hunting, she took the little shirts and went into the woods. The ball of yarn showed her the way.

the children, seeing that someone was approaching from afar, thought that their dear father was coming to them. Full of joy, they ran to meet him. Then she threw one of the shirts over each of them, and when the shirts touched their bodies they were transformed into swans, and they flew away over the woods.

the queen went home very pleased, believing that she had gotten rid of her stepchildren. However, the girl had not run out with her brothers, and the queen knew nothing about her.

the next day the king went to visit his children, but he found no one there but the girl.

"Where are your brothers?" asked the king.

"Oh, dear father," she answered, "they have gone away and left me alone."

then she told him that from her window she had seen how her brothers had flown away over the woods as swans. She showed him the feathers that they had dropped into the courtyard, and which she had gathered up.

the king mourned, but he did not think that the queen had done this wicked deed. Fearing that the girl would be stolen away from him as well, he wanted to take her away with him, but she was afraid of her stepmother and begged the king to let her stay just this one more night in the castle in the woods.

the poor girl thought, "I can no longer stay here. I will go and look for my brothers."

And when night came she ran away and went straight into the woods. She walked the whole night long without stopping, and the next day as well, until she was too tired to walk any further.

then she saw a hunter's hut and went inside. She found a room with six little beds, but she did not dare to get into one of them. Instead she crawled under one of them and lay down on the hard ground where she intended to spend the night.

the sun was about to go down when she heard a rushing sound and saw six swans fly in through the window. Landing on the floor, they blew on one another, and blew all their feathers off. Then their swan-skins came off just like shirts. The girl looked at them and recognized her brothers. She was happy and crawled out from beneath the bed. The brothers were no less happy to see their little sister, but their happiness did not last long.

"You cannot stay here," they said to her. "This is a robbers' den. If they come home and find you, they will murder you."

"Can't you protect me?" asked the little sister.

"No," they answered. "We can take off our swan-skins for only a quarter hour each evening. Only during that time do we have our human forms. After that we are again transformed into swans."

Crying, the little sister said, "Can you not be redeemed?"

"Alas, no," they answered. "The conditions are too difficult. You would not be allowed to speak or to laugh for six years, and in that time you would have to sew together six little shirts from asters for us. And if a single word were to come from your mouth, all your work would be lost."

After the brothers had said this, the quarter hour was over, and they flew out the window again as swans.

Nevertheless, the girl firmly resolved to redeem her brothers, even if it should cost her her life. She left the hunter's hut, went to the middle of the woods, seated herself in a tree, and there spent the night. The next morning she went out and gathered asters and began to sew. She could not speak with anyone, and she had no desire to laugh. She sat there, looking only at her work.

After she had already spent a long time there it happened that the king of the land was hunting in these woods. His huntsmen came to the tree where the girl was sitting.

they called to her, saying, "Who are you?" But she did not answer.

"Come down to us," they said. "We will not harm you."

She only shook her head. When they pressed her further with questions, she threw her golden necklace down to them, thinking that this would satisfy them. But they did not stop, so she then threw her belt down to them, and when this did not help, her garters, and then —— one thing at a time —— everything that she had on and could do without, until finally she had nothing left but her shift.

the huntsmen, however, not letting themselves be dissuaded, climbed the tree, lifted the girl down, and took her to the king.

the king asked, "Who are you? What are you doing in that tree?"

But she did not answer. He asked her in every language that he knew, but she remained as speechless as a fish. Because she was so beautiful, the king's heart was touched, and he fell deeply in love with her. He put his cloak around her, lifted her onto his horse in front of himself, and took her to his castle. There he had her dressed in rich garments, and she glistened in her beauty like bright daylight, but no one could get a word from her.

At the table he seated her by his side, and her modest manners and courtesy pleased him so much that he said, "My desire is to marry her, and no one else in the world."

A few days later they were married.

Now the king had a wicked mother who was dissatisfied with this marriage and spoke ill of the young queen. "Who knows," she said, "where the girl who cannot speak comes from? She is not worthy of a king."

A year later, after the queen had brought her first child into the world, the old woman took it away from her while she was asleep, and smeared her mouth with blood. Then she went to the king and accused her of being a cannibal. The king could not believe this, and would not allow anyone to harm her. She, however, sat the whole time sewing on the shirts, and caring for nothing else.

the next time, when she again gave birth to a beautiful boy, the deceitful mother-in-law did the same thing again, but the king could not bring himself to believe her accusations.

He said, "She is too pious and good to do anything like that. If she were not speechless, and if she could defend herself, her innocence would come to light."

But when the old woman stole away a newly born child for the third time, and accused the queen, who did not defend herself with a single word, the king had no choice but to bring her to justice, and she was sentenced to die by fire.

When the day came for the sentence to be carried out, it was also the last day of the six years during which she had not been permitted to speak or to laugh, and she had thus delivered her dear brothers from the magic curse. The six shirts were finished. Only the left sleeve of the last one was missing. When she was led to the stake, she laid the shirts on her arm. Standing there, as the fire was about to be lighted, she looked around, and six swans came flying through the air. Seeing that their redemption was near, her heart leapt with joy.

the swans rushed towards her, swooping down so that she could throw the shirts over them. As soon as the shirts touched them their swan-skins fell off, and her brothers stood before her in their own bodies, vigorous and handsome. However, the youngest was missing his left arm. In its place he had a swan's wing.

they embraced and kissed one another. Then the queen went to the king, who was GREatly moved, and she began to speak, saying, "Dearest husband, now I may speak and reveal to you that I am innocent, and falsely accused."

then she told him of the treachery of the old woman who had taken away their three children and hidden them.

then to the king's GREat joy they were brought forth. As a punishment, the wicked mother-in-law was tied to the stake and burned to ashes. But the king and the queen with her six brothers lived many long years in happiness and peace.

從前，有一位國王在大森林裏狩獵，他奮力追趕一頭野獸，隨從們卻沒有能跟上他。天色漸晚，國王停下腳步環顧四周，這才發現自己已經迷了路。他想從森林裏出來，可怎麼也找不到路。這時，國王看見一個不住地點頭的老太婆朝他走來，那是個女巫。「您好，」國王對她說，「您能不能告訴我走出森林的路？」「啊，可以，國王陛下，」女巫回答說，「我當然能告訴您，不過有個條件。要是您不答應的話，就永遠休想走出森林，您會在森林裏餓死的。」

「甚麼條件呢？」國王問道。

「我有個女兒，長得很美，」老巫婆回答說，「她的美貌無與倫比，做您的妻子綽綽有餘。要是您願意娶她做王后，我就告訴您走出森林的路。」國王憂心如焚，只好答應了女巫的條件。老巫婆把國王領到她的小屋子裏，只見她的女兒正坐在那兒烤火。女兒接待了國王，那神色好像她早就料到國王會來似的。國王覺得她長得的確美麗非凡，可是並不喜歡她，一看見她就不由得心驚膽戰。等國王把姑娘抱上了馬，老巫婆才把路告訴國王。國王回到王宮之後，便和姑娘舉行了婚禮。

國王曾經有過一次婚姻，他的第一個妻子給他生了七個孩子：六男一女，國王特別疼愛他們。婚禮之後，國王擔心繼母虐待孩子，更擔心他們受到繼母的傷害，於是就把他們送進森林中的一座孤零零的古城堡里居住。城堡位於密林深處，路極其難找，要不是有位女巫送給國王一個奇妙的線團兒，連他自己也休想找到。只要國王把線團兒在地上往前一拋，線團兒就會自己打開，爲國王引路。國王經常去看望他心愛的孩子們，而王后發現國王經常不在身邊，很是好奇，總想弄明白國王獨自一個人到森林裏幹甚麼去了。她用大量的金錢收買了國王的隨從，這些人就向她泄漏了其中的祕密，還把能引路的線團兒也告訴了她。從此，王后便心神不寧，直到知道了國王收藏線團兒的地方之後，她才安下心來。隨後，王后用白綢縫了幾件小襯衫，她跟母親學過巫術，就在每件襯衫裏縫了一道符咒。一天，國王騎馬狩獵去了，王后便帶着這些小襯衫走進森林，用線團兒在前面給她引路。孩子們遠遠地看見有人來了，以爲是自己親愛的父親來看望他們，個個歡天喜地，都跑着去迎接。就在這時，繼母朝他們每人拋過去一件小襯衫。小襯衫一碰到他們的身體，眨眼之間他們就一個個地變成了天鵝，飛上天空，消失在遠方。王后回到宮中，心花怒放，以爲打發了這些繼子女。誰知那個女孩並沒有和她的兄長們一快兒跑出來迎接，而王后對此卻一無所知。第二天，國王去看望這幾個孩子，發現只有女兒一個人在城堡。「你哥哥們呢？」國王問道。「唉，別提了，親愛的爸爸，」女兒回答說，「他們都走了，只剩下我孤零零一個人啦！」接着，她告訴父親，她從自己房間的小窗裏看見，哥哥們都變成了天鵝，在森林的上空飛走了。說着她還把羽毛拿出來給父親看，這些羽毛是他們掉在院子裏的，是她拾回來的。國王悲痛欲絕，卻怎麼也沒有想到，這件傷天害理的事是王后所爲。他擔心女兒也被從他身邊奪走，就想帶她回去，可女兒懼怕繼母，懇求國王允許她在林中古堡裏再呆一夜。

可憐的姑娘心想：「我在這裏一天也不能再呆了，我要去尋找哥哥們。」夜幕降臨時，她跑出城堡，逕直朝密林中走去。她走了整整一夜，第二天又一刻不停地走了一整天，直到累得筋疲力盡，再也走不動一步了，這才停下了腳步。就在這時，她看見一間獵人棲身的小屋，便走了進去，發現屋子裏有六張小牀，可她不敢躺在牀上，於是就爬到一張牀下，躺在了硬梆梆的地上，準備在那裏過夜。太陽快落山的時候，她忽然聽見沙沙的聲響，看見六隻天鵝從窗口飛了進來。天鵝們飛落在地上，相互吹着氣，吹掉了身上的全部羽毛，接着，它們的天鵝皮也像脫去襯衫一樣從身上脫落了。這時，姑娘再看他們，發現原來是她的幾個哥哥。她喜出望外，急忙從牀下爬出來，她的哥哥們一見自己的小妹妹，也異常高興。可是，他們高興的時間卻很短。「你說甚麼也不能呆在這兒，」他們對小妹妹說，「這可是個強盜出沒的地方，要是他們回來發現了你，你就沒命啦。」「你們難道不能保護我嗎？」小妹妹問道。「不能啊，」他們回答說，「我們每天晚上只有一刻鐘的時間可以脫掉天鵝皮，恢復人形，然後我們又要馬上變成天鵝的呀。」小妹妹一聽哭了起來，邊哭邊說：「難道你們就不能得救嗎？」「唉，還是不成呵，」他們回答道，「那些條件實在是太苛刻啦！要整整六年啊，你既不許說話，也不許笑出聲來，而且在這六年裏，你還必須用水馬齒草爲我們縫六件小襯衫。只要你嘴裏漏出一個字，一切努力就前功盡棄啦。」哥哥們話音剛落，一刻鐘的時間就到了，他們又變成了天鵝，從窗口飛走了。

姑娘呢，下定決心不惜付出一切，哪怕是自己的生命，也要救哥哥們。夜幕降臨時，她離開小屋，走進密林深處，爬到一棵樹上過了一夜。第二天早上，她便四處採集水馬齒，開始縫襯衫。她不能和任何人說話，也沒心思笑，所以就坐在那裏，只顧低着頭忙手裏的活兒。她在森林裏就這樣過了很長一段時間，直到有一天，當地的國王到森林裏來打獵，獵手們來到姑娘坐在上面的那棵樹跟前。他們發現了她便大聲地跟她打招呼，問她說：「你是誰呀？」可她默不作答。「快下來吧，」他們對她說：「我們不會傷害你的。」她聽了只是搖了搖頭。他們還是一個勁兒地問這問那，她就把自己的金項煉扔給了他們，心想這下他們該滿足了吧。誰知這些傢伙還是不肯罷休，於是她又把腰帶扔給了他們，可仍然無濟於事。接着，她又把吊襪帶和身上所有可有可無的東西都一件件地扔給了他們，最後身上只穿着內衣。可就是這樣，這些獵手還是賴着不走，並且爬到樹上把姑娘抱了下來，領到國王面前。國王問她：「你是誰？在樹上幹甚麼呢？」可她並不回答。國王於是用自己會說的每一種語言問她，她卻仍然悶不作聲。姑娘異常美麗的容貌打動了國王的心，他深深地愛上了她。國王把自己的斗篷披在她身上，抱她上了馬，讓她坐在自己的前面，帶着她回到了王宮。隨即，國王吩咐給她穿上五彩繽紛的服裝，這樣一來，她就越發光彩照人、美若天仙啦，可她就是一語不發。吃飯的時候，國王讓她坐在自己身邊。姑娘舉止端莊，彬彬有禮，國王格外喜歡，就喃喃自語道：「她就是我心目中的王后，我非她不娶。」幾天之後，國王和姑娘結下了百年之好。

誰知國王的母親刁鑽惡毒，對這樁婚事很是不滿，常說年輕王后的壞話。「有誰知道呢，」她說，「這個不會說話的臭丫頭是從哪裏鑽出來的？她根本不配作王后！」轉眼一年過去了，王后的第一個孩子出生了。老太婆趁王后睡着了，把孩子給抱走了，還在王后的嘴上塗了一些鮮血。然後，她到國王面前去誣告王后，說她是吃人的妖怪。國王聽了不肯相信，也不容許誰傷害王后。可王后呢，對一切都置若罔聞，只是一刻不停地坐着縫襯衫。第二次，王后又生了一個漂亮的男孩，這個歹毒的婆婆再次故伎重演，國王聽了還是不肯相信，他說：「她那麼虔誠，心地那麼善良，不會做出這種事來。要是她會說話，能爲自己辯解的話，她的清白無辜就大白於天下啦。」可是，老太婆把第三個剛剛出生的孩子偷走之後，又去誣告王后，王后還是一句爲自己辯解的話也沒說，國王束手無策，只得把王后交給法庭審理，法庭判決用火刑處死她。

行刑的那天，剛好是她不能說話也不能笑的那六年的最後一天，而且她已經能把親愛的哥哥們從魔法中解救出來了。六件襯衫已經縫好，只是最後一件左邊還少一隻袖子。在被押往火刑柱的時候，她把那些襯衫搭在胳膊上。她被推上了火刑柱，木柴即將點燃了。王后在最後關頭環顧四周，恰在這時，空中有六隻天鵝朝她飛來。她心裏明白，她就要得救了，她的心激動得歡跳起來。天鵝掠過長空飛了過來，落在了她的附近，她便把襯衫朝他們扔了過去……天鵝剛一碰着襯衫，身上的天鵝皮立即就脫落了。她的哥哥們又恢復了人形，個個生龍活虎、英俊標緻，他們就站在她的面前，她的小哥哥卻少了一隻左胳膊，肩上仍然長着一隻天鵝翅膀。兄妹們相互又是擁抱，又是親吻。隨後，王后走到深受感動的國王面前，開口講了起來：「親愛的夫君，現在我可以開口說話了，可以向您表明，我是清白無辜的，遭到了誣陷。」接着，她跟國王講述了老婆婆傷天害理的行徑……她偷走了她的三個孩子，把他們藏了起來。一會兒，孩子們被送到國王面前了，國王心潮澎湃，激動不已。刁鑽惡毒的老婆婆受到了應得的懲罰，被捆綁在火刑柱上燒成了灰燼。從此以後，國王和王后與她六個哥哥幸福安寧地生活了很多年。