有个国王，他有十二个女儿，个个长得如花似玉。她们都在同一个房间睡觉，十二张床并排放着，晚上上床睡觉后，房门就被关起来锁上了。有一个时期，每天早上起来后，国王发现她们的鞋子都磨破了，就像她们跳了一整夜舞似的。到底发生了什么事，她们到哪儿去过了，没有人知道。
于是，国王通告全国：如果有人能解开这个秘密，找出这些公主整夜在哪儿跳舞，他就可以娶一个他最喜欢的公主作妻子，还可以继承王位。但要是这人在三天以后没查清结果，他就得被处死。
不久从邻国来了一位王子，受到了热情的接待。晚上他被带到了一个房间里，这房间正在公主们卧室的隔壁。为了能听到看到可能发生的一切，他坐下后将房门敞开，一刻也不停地注视着。可不久这位王子就睡着了，第二天早上醒来后，可以看出，公主们还是跳了一整夜的舞，因为她们的鞋底上都有磨破的洞眼。接着两个晚上都发生了相同的情况，王子没能解开这个谜。国王下令将他的头砍了下来。继他之后，又有几个人来试过，但他们的命运和这位王子一样，都没有找出结果而丢了性命。
恰好有一个老兵经过这个国王的领地，他在作战中受了伤，不能再参加战斗了。一天，他在穿越树林时，遇到了一个老婆婆，老婆婆问他要到哪里去，这位老兵回答说：“我也不知道我去哪儿，该干什么去。”接着又自我嘲弄地说：“也许我该去探听那些公主是在哪儿跳舞才对，这样的话，将来还可以当国王呢。”老太婆一听，说道：“对，对！这不是什么难事，只要留心不喝公主给你的酒之类的东西，并且在她们要离去时，你假装睡熟了就成。”
临别，她送给他一件披风，说道：“只要你把这件披风披在身上，她们就看不见你的踪影了。然后，你就可以跟着公主到她们去的任何地方。”老兵听了这些忠告后，决定去试一试自己的运气。
他来到国王面前，说他愿意接受这项冒险的任务。和其他应试的人一样，他也受到了热情的款待，国王还下令把漂亮的王室礼服给他穿上。到了晚上，他被带到了外室。进房后，他刚准备躺下，国王的大公主就给他端来了一杯葡萄酒，但这位士兵悄悄地把酒全倒掉了，一滴也没有喝下。然后躺在床上，不久就大声地打起鼾来，好像睡得很沉似的。十二个公主听到他的鼾声，都开心地大笑起来，大公主说：“这家伙本来还可以干一些更聪明一点的事，不必到这儿来送死的。”说完，她们都起床打开各自的抽屉和箱子，拿出了漂亮的衣服，对着镜子打扮起来。这时，最小的公主说道：“我感到有些不对劲，你们这么兴奋，可我觉得非常不安，我想一定有不幸的事情将降临到我们头上。”“你犯什么傻呀！”大公主说，“你老是担心这，担心那，难道你忘了那么多王子想窥探我们，结果都徒劳送命了吗？瞧这老兵，即使我不给他安眠药吃，他也会呼呼大睡的。”
公主们打扮完毕后，再去看了看士兵，只见他鼾声依旧，睡在床上一动也不动。这一来，她们便自以为无人知晓，相当安全了。大公主走到自己的床前拍了拍手，床马上沉到地板里面，一扇地板门突然打开了。士兵看见大公主领头，她们一个接一个地钻进了地板门。他想到再不能耽误时间了，马上跳起来，披上老太婆送给他的那件披风，紧随她们而去。在下楼梯时，一不小心，他踩到了小公主的礼服。她对她的姐妹们大声说道：“怎么搞的，谁抓住了我的礼服了？”大公主说道：“你别疑神疑鬼了，肯定是被墙上的钉子挂着了。”她们下去后，走进了一片令人赏心悦目的小树林，树叶全是银子做的，闪烁着美丽的光芒。士兵想找一个来过这地方的证物，所以他折了一段树枝，树枝“咔嚓！”“哗啦！”地发出了声响，小公主又说道：“我觉得有些反常，你们听到这声音了吗？这声音以前可没有听到过。”大公主说：“这声音一定是我们的王子发出的，只有他们才会对我们的到来欢呼雀跃。”
说着，她们又走进了另一片小树林，这片树林的叶子都是金子做的。再往前，到了第三片小树林，所有的叶子都是用光采夺目的钻石做的。士兵每到一片树林，都要折下一根树枝留作证物，每次也都发出了“咔嚓！”“哗啦！”的声响，这响动总是使小公主担惊受怕，而大公主又总是说这是王子们在欢呼。
她们不停地往前走，最后来到了一个大湖边，湖上有十二条小船，每条船上都有一个英俊的王子，他们似乎一直在这儿等公主的到来。到了岸边，每个公主都各自上了一条船，士兵则跟着小公主上了同一条船。
当他们在湖上划动小船时，与小公主和士兵在一条船上的那个王子说：“怎么会是这样啊！好像这船今天特别重似的，我尽力划动，船却没有平时前进那么快，我都累坏了。”小公主说：“这只是天气有点暖和，我也觉得非常热。”
湖泊的对岸，矗立着一座美丽的宫殿，宫殿里灯火辉煌，从里面还传来了愉快的音乐，有管声和号声，还有喇叭声。他们上岸后，一起走进宫殿，十二个王子都开始与公主们跳起舞来。他们一直看不见那位士兵，士兵跟着他们一起跳舞，他们也不知道。每当有公主端起葡萄酒时，士兵总是暗暗上前将酒喝完。待公主把酒杯端到嘴边时，杯子已空了。见到这样情况，那小公主更感到害怕了，大公主却老是要她不要做声。
舞一直跳到了凌晨三点钟，所有的鞋子都已磨穿了，到这时，她们才念念不舍地离开。王子们又用船把她们送过湖来，这次，士兵上的是大公主的那条船。到了湖岸，公主和王子互相道别，她们答应第二天晚上再来。
当她们回到楼梯口时，士兵立即跑到她们的前面，自己先到床上去躺下了。当这十二姊妹拖着疲惫不堪的身子慢慢上来后，立即就听到了睡在床上的士兵所发出的鼾声。她们说道：“现在可以安心了。”说完，各自宽衣解带，脱掉鞋子，扔在床下，都躺下睡觉了。
早晨起来，士兵对晚上的所见所闻只字不提，他还想多看几次这样的奇遇，所以接连第二个夜晚和第三个夜晚他又去了。每次所发生的一切都和前一次一样，公主们每次跳舞都要跳到她们的鞋子穿眼才回到卧室。不过，在第三个晚上，士兵又拿走了一只金杯作为他到过那里的证物。
第四天，他解开这秘密的期限到了，他带着那三根树枝和那只金杯，来到国王面前。此时，十二个公主都站在门后张着耳朵，想听听他究竟说些什么。国王问道：“我的十二个女儿晚上是在哪儿跳舞？”士兵回答道：“她们是在地下的一座宫殿里与十二个王子跳舞。”接着，他告诉了国王自己所看见和发生的一切，拿出了他带来的三根树枝和金杯给国王看。国王把公主都叫来，问她们士兵说的这些是不是都是真的。她们见一切都已经被发现，再否认所发生的事也没有用了，只好全部承认了。
秘密解开了，国王问士兵他想选择哪一个公主作他的妻子，他回答说：“我年纪不小了，你就把大公主许配给我吧！”于是，他们当天就举行了婚礼，士兵还被选定为王位的继承人。
THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES
There was a king who had twelve beautiful daughters. They slept in twelve beds all in one room; and when they went to bed, the doors were shut and locked up; but every morning their shoes were found to be quite worn throughas ifthey had been danced in all night; and yet nobody could find out how it happened, or where they had been.
Then the king made it known to all the land,that ifany person could discover the secret, and find out where it was that the princesses[ˈprɪnsɛsɪz]danced in the night, he should have the one he liked best for his wife, and should be king after his death; but whoever tried and did not succeed, after three days and nights, should be put to death.
A king’s son soon came. He was well entertained[ˌentərˈteɪnd], and in the evening was taken to the chamber next to the one where the princesses lay in their twelve beds. There he was to sit and watch where they went to dance; and, in order that nothing might pass without his hearing it, the door of his chamber[ˈtʃeɪmbər]卧室was left open. But the king’s son soon fell asleep; and when he awoke in the morning he found that the princesses had all been dancing, for the soles[soʊlz]鞋底of their shoes were full of holes. The same thing happened the second and third night: so the king ordered his head to be cut off.After him came several others; but they had all the same luck, and all lost their lives in the same manner.
Now it chanced that an old soldier, who had been wounded in battle and could fight no longer, passed through the country where this king reigned[reɪnd]统治: and as he was travelling through a wood, he met an old woman, who asked him where he was going. ‘I hardly know where I am going, or what I had better do,’ said the soldier; ‘but I think I should like very well to find out where it is that the princesses[ˈprɪnsɛsɪz]dance, and then in time I might be a king.’ ‘Well,’ said the old dame[deɪm]女士, ‘that is no very hard task: only take care not to drink any of the wine which one of the princesses will bring to you in the evening; and as soon as she leaves you pretend to be fast asleep.’
Then she gave him a cloak[kloʊk]斗篷, and said, ‘As soon as you put that on you will become invisible[ɪnˈvɪzəbl], and you will then be able to follow the princesses wherever they go.’When the soldier heard all this goodcounsel, he determined[dɪˈtɜːrmɪnd]to try his luck: so he went to the king, and said he was willing to undertake the task.
He was as well received as the others had been, and the king ordered fine royal[ˈrɔɪəl]robes[roʊbz]to be given him; and when the evening came he was led to the outer chamber. Just as he was going to lie down, the eldest of the princesses brought[brɔːt]him a cup of wine; but the soldier threw it all away secretly, taking care not to drink a drop[drɑːp]. Then he laid himself down on his bed, and in a little while began to snore[snɔːr]very loud as if he was fast asleep. When the twelve princesses heard[hɜːrd]this they laughed[læft]heartily[ˈhɑːrtɪli]尽情地; and the eldest said, ‘This fellow too might have done a wiser thing than lose his life in this way!’ Then they rose[roʊz]up and opened their drawers[drɔːrz]and boxes, and took out all their fine clothes, and dressed themselves at the glass, and skipped[skɪpt]about as if they were eager[ˈiːɡər]to begin dancing. But the youngest said,‘I don’t know how it is, while you are so happy I feel very uneasy[ʌnˈiːzi]不安; I am sure some mischance[ˌmɪsˈtʃæns]不幸will befall[bɪˈfɔːl]us.’‘You simpleton[ˈsɪmpltən]傻瓜,’ said the eldest, ‘you are always afraid; have you forgotten how many kings’ sons have already watched in vain? And as for this soldier, even if I had not given him his sleeping draught[dræft]药水, he would have slept soundly[ˈsaʊndli]酣睡enough.’
When they were all ready, they went and looked at the soldier; but he snored on, and did not stir[stɜːr]hand or foot: so they thought they were quite safe; and the eldest went up to her own bed andclapped her hands, and the bed sank[sæŋk]into the floor and a trap-door[træp dɔːr]地板门flew[fluː]open. The soldier saw them going down through the trap-door one after another, the eldest leading the way; and thinking he had no time to lose, he jumped up, put on the cloak which the old woman had given him, and followed them; but in the middle of the stairs he trod[trɑːd]踩on the gown[ɡaʊn]of the youngest[ˈjʌŋgəst]princess, and she cried out to her sisters, ‘All is not right; someone took hold of my gown.’ ‘You silly creature!’ said the eldest, ‘it is nothing but a nail[neɪl]in the wall.’ Then down they all went, and at the bottom they found themselves in a most delightful grove of trees树丛;; and the leaves were all of silver[ˈsɪlvər], and glittered[ˈɡlɪtərd]and sparkled[ˈspɑːrkld]闪耀beautifully. The soldier wished to take away some token[ˈtoʊkən]of the place; so he broke off a little branch, and there came a loud noise from the tree. Then the youngest daughter said again, ‘I am sure all is not right—did not you hear that noise? That never happened before.’ But the eldest[ˈeldɪst]said, ‘It is only our princes[ˈprɪnsəz], who are shouting for joy at our approach[əˈproʊtʃ].’
Then they came to another grove of trees, where all the leaves were of gold; and afterwards to a third, where the leaves were all glittering diamonds. And the soldier broke a branch from each; and every time there was a loud noise, which made the youngest sister tremble[ˈtrembl]with fear; but the eldest still said, it was only the princes[ˈprɪnsəz], who were crying for joy. So they went on till they came to a great lake; and at the side of the lake there lay twelve little boats with twelve handsome princes in them, who seemed to be waiting there for the princesses.
One of the princesses went into each boat, and the soldier stepped into the same boat with the youngest. As they were rowing over the lake, the prince who was in the boat with the youngest princess and the soldier said, ‘I do not know why it is, but though[ðoʊ]虽然I am rowing with all my might we do not get on so fast as usual, and I am quite tired: the boat seems very heavy today.’‘It is only the heat of the weather,’ said the princess: ‘I feel it very warm too.’
On the other side of the lake stood a fine illuminated[ɪˈluːmɪneɪtɪd]castle[ˈkæsl], from which came the merry music of horns[hɔːrnz]and trumpets[ˈtrʌmpɪts]. There they all landed, and went into the castle, and each prince danced with his princess; and the soldier, who was all the time invisible, danced with them too; and when any of the princesses had a cup of wine set by her, he drank it all up, so that when she put the cup to her mouth it was empty. At this, too, the youngest sister was terribly frightened, but the eldest always silenced her.
*with all one’s might竭尽全力
*as usual像往常一样
*On the other side of the lake stood a fine illuminated castle在强调状语时，当句首状语为表示地点的介词词组时，句子须全部倒装。例如：
1）Round the corner walked a large policeman.
2）Under the table was lying a half-conscious young man.
原句倒转语序可以还原成a fine illuminated castle stood On the other side of the lake.
from which引导非限制性定语从句，相当于关系副词where，came the merry music of horns and trumpets也是全部倒装的语序，当表示地点的状语位于句首时，其后用完全倒装形式。
They danced on till three o'clock in the morning, and then all their shoeswere worn out, so that theywere obliged[əˈblaɪdʒd]toleave off. The princes rowed them back again over the lake (but this time the soldier placed himself in the boat with the eldest princess[ˈprɪnses]); and on the opposite[ˈɑːpəzɪt]shore[ʃɔːr]theytook leave ofeach other, the princesses promising to come again the next night.
When they came to the stairs, the soldier ran on before the princesses, and laid himself down; and as the twelve sisters slowly came up very much tired, they heard him snoring in his bed; so they said, 'Now all is quite safe'; then they undressed[ʌnˈdrest]themselves,put awaytheir fine clothes,pulled offtheir shoes, and went to bed.
In the morning the soldier said nothing about what had happened, but determined to see more of this strangeadventure, and went again the second and third night; and everything happened just as before; the princesses danced each time till their shoes were worn to pieces, and then returned home. However, on the third night the soldier carried away one of the golden cups as a token[ˈtoʊkən]of where he had been.
*be worn out（物）破旧；疲惫不堪；用坏了的
*be obliged to do不得不，被迫做
*take leave of向…告别
*put away把…收拾起来
*pull off脱下
*adventure历险，奇遇
As soon asthe time came when he was todeclarethe secret, he was taken before the king with the three branches and the golden cup; and the twelve princesses stood listening behind the door to hear what he would say. And when the king asked him. 'Where do my twelve daughters dance at night?' he answered, 'With twelve princes in a castle underground.' And then he told the king all that had happened, and showed him the three branches and the golden cup which he had brought with him.
Then the kingcalled forthe princesses, and asked them whether what the soldier said was true: and when they saw that they were discovered, and that itwas of no useto deny what had happened, theyconfessedit all. And the king asked the soldier which of them he would choose for his wife; and he answered, 'I am not very young, so I will have the eldest[ˈeldɪst].'—And they were married that very day, and the soldier was chosen to be the king'sheir[er].
*as soon as一…就…
*declare[dɪ'kleə] v. 正式宣布
*call for召唤
*be of no use = useless无用的
*confess[kən'fes] v. 坦白
*heir[eə] n. 继承人
标签： 十二个跳舞的公主