童話故事學英文：國王的新衣 The Emperor’s New Clothes（下）

喜歡穿新衣服的國王，付了一大筆錢給兩個自稱是織布工人的騙子…..

故事承續自「 國王的新衣 The Emperor’s New Clothes（上） 」

The emperor sent officials to observe the weavers’ progress. They were startled when they saw nothing, but they reported back to him how wonderful the material was so they wouldn’t appear stupid and unfit for their positions.

國王派了一些大臣去看織布的進度。當他們什麼也沒看見的時候，都嚇了一跳，但是他們還是向國王回報布料很棒，這樣才不會顯得他們很笨，無法做好他們的工作。

They advised him to have it made into clothes that he could wear in a grand procession. At last the emperor wished to see it himself. With a number of courtiers, including the two who had already been there, he went to the two swindlers.

他們甚至還建議國王，要做一件大遊行時穿的衣服。最後，國王自己也想看看，所以國王與一些大臣就過去參觀了兩個騙子的織布坊。

 “Is it not magnificent?” asked the statesmen who had been there before. They pointed to the empty looms, for they thought the others could see the cloth.

之前來幫國王檢查的大臣，指著空空的織布機說：「這不是很漂亮嗎？」因為他們以為別人一定看得見布料。

 “What is this?” thought the emperor, “I do not see anything at all. This is terrible! Am I stupid? Am I unfit to be emperor? That would indeed be the most dreadful thing that could happen to me.”

國王心想：「這是什麼？」「我什麼都沒看見，怎麼會這樣！難道我很笨嗎？難道我不適合當國王嗎？在我身上竟然發生這樣可怕的事情。」

 “Goodness, they suit you well!” they all said. “What a pattern! What colors! Such luxurious clothes!”

大臣們馬上說：「天啊，很適合您！」「真棒的圖案！真美的顏色！好華麗的衣服啊！」

 “Yes, I am ready!” said the emperor. “Don’t they fit well?” He turned toward the mirror, because it had to appear as though he were admiring himself in all his glory.

「好，我準備好了！」國王轉身照鏡子說：「這不是非常適合嗎？」他就像在欣賞自己所有的榮耀一樣。

So the Emperor went in procession, and everyone in the streets said, “How incomparable are the Emperor’s new clothes!” No one would let it be perceived that he could see nothing, for that would have shown that he was not fit for his office, or was very stupid. No clothes of the Emperor’s had ever had such a success as these.      

 於是，國王參加了遊行，在街上的每個人都說：「國王的新衣真的沒人比得上！」「真適合！」沒人想讓別人知道，其實自己看不見國王的新衣，因為這樣就顯得自己不聰明，或非常愚蠢。國王的新衣服從來沒有受過這麼大的歡迎。

 “But he has nothing on!” a little child cried out at last.

最後有個小孩子大叫：「但他沒穿衣服啊！」

 “Good Lord, just hear what that innocent boy says!” said the father.

爸爸說：「天啊，聽聽這個天真的小孩說了什麼！」

“A small child said that he doesn’t have anything on!”

「一個小孩子說國王什麼也沒穿！」

 Finally everyone was saying, “He doesn’t have anything on!”

最後每個人都說：「他沒穿衣服啊！」

 The emperor shuddered; he knew that they were right, but he thought, “The procession must go on!” He carried on even more proudly.

 國王發起抖來，他知道大家是對的，但他認為：「遊行必須有始有終！」於是他更加驕傲地繼續走下去。

《重點單字》

observe (v.) 觀察
The patient must be observed constantly.
病人必須持續被觀察。

luxurious (adj.) 豪華的
They had a candlelit dinner at a luxurious restaurant.
他們在高級餐廳吃燭光晚餐。

procession (n.) 行列
There was a procession of children.
小孩子排成一列。

incomparable (adj.) 無與倫比的
The quality of their products is incomparable.
他們的產品是無與倫比的。

innocent (adj.) 天真的
He is an innocent child.
他是個天真的小孩。

shudder (v.) 發抖
She shuddered with fear upon hearing the scream.
她聽到尖叫聲而害怕得發抖。

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