Puss in Boots

A miller died, leaving three sons to divide his fortune among them. The eldest took the mill and the land around it; the second took the flocks and herds, and then there was nothing left for the third son, Jack, but three bits of silver money, and a little cat that lived in the mill.

一个磨坊主去世了，留下三个儿子来分他的家产。大儿子分得了磨坊和周围的地；二儿子分得了牛羊牲畜；这样一来，三儿子杰克便什么也没剩下，只分到三枚银币，还有一只住在磨坊里的小猫。

“This is all very well,” said Jack, “and the cat is a fine little cat and can feed on the mice it catches, but I do not see how I am to live on three pieces of money.”

“这倒也罢了，”杰克说，“这猫是只不错的小猫，能靠自己抓的老鼠糊口，可我实在不知道，光凭三枚银币，我该怎么过活。”

“Oh,” answered his brothers, “you will have to start out in the world and do the best you can for yourself.”

“哦，”他的哥哥们答道，“你得自己出去闯闯世界，尽力想办法过日子了。”

Jack took the little cat and started out.

杰克便带着小猫上路了。

“Do not be uneasy, master,” said the little cat. “You have three silver pieces. Take them and buy me a little pair of boots and a bag, and I will make your fortune for you.”

“别担心，主人，”小猫说。“你有三枚银币。拿去给我买一双小靴子和一个口袋，我会为你挣得一份家业的。”

Jack did not like to spend his money on a pair of boots for a cat, but he knew he was a wise little animal, so he did as he said. He went to a tailor, and for the three pieces of silver the tailor made him the prettiest pair of little boots that ever were seen, and when Puss drew them on they fitted exactly. The tailor also gave Jack an old bag that lay in the corner, and for which he had no use.

杰克本不愿把钱花在给一只猫买靴子上，可他知道这是只聪明伶俐的小动物，便照它说的办了。他去找了个裁缝，用那三枚银币，裁缝给它做了一双世上最漂亮的小靴子，猫咪一穿上，正合脚。裁缝还把角落里一个用不上的旧口袋，也送给了杰克。

Puss led Jack off into the country, and then he bade him sit down by the roadside and wait for his return. The little cat ran off into a wood near by, where there were a great many rabbit-holes, and there he managed to catch two fine fat rabbits. He put the rabbits in the bag and trotted away in his neat little boots until he came to the King’s palace. There he asked to see the King, and a cat in boots was such a strange sight that he was at once brought before his majesty.

猫咪把杰克领到乡下，然后叫他坐在路边等着自己回来。小猫跑进附近一片树林，那里有许多兔子洞，它设法逮住了两只肥美的兔子。它把兔子装进口袋，穿着那双整洁的小靴子一路小跑，直到来到国王的宫殿前。它在那儿求见国王，一只穿靴子的猫实在是件稀罕事，于是它立刻就被带到了国王面前。

The courtiers nudged each other and laughed when the cat came into court, but Puss marched up to the King and bowed low before him.

猫咪走进宫廷时，朝臣们互相推推挤挤，哈哈大笑，可猫咪径直走到国王跟前，深深鞠了一躬。

“Your Majesty, my master, the Marquis of Carrabas, has sent you a present of these two fine fat rabbits for your supper,” said he, and he took out the rabbits and presented them to the King.

“陛下，我的主人卡拉巴斯侯爵，差我给您送来这两只肥美的兔子，作为您晚餐的礼物，”它说着，取出兔子献给国王。

The King was very much pleased. He ordered a piece of money to be given to Puss, and bade the little animal thank his master for the fine present he had sent.

国王十分高兴。他下令赏给猫咪一枚银币，还叫这只小动物代他向主人致谢，感谢他送来这份好礼。

Puss ran back to where Jack was waiting, and gave him the piece of money. “There,” he said. “That is enough to pay for a bed and a supper at the inn.”

猫咪跑回杰克等候的地方，把那枚银币交给他。“瞧，”它说。“这够在旅店住一晚、吃顿晚饭的了。”

The next day Puss set off for the forest again, and this time it was a pair of fine fat partridges that he caught and carried to the King. “They are sent by my master, the Marquis of Carrabas,” said Puss.

第二天，猫咪又出发去了树林，这一回它逮到的是两只肥美的鹧鸪，带去献给国王。“这是我主人卡拉巴斯侯爵送来的，”猫咪说。

Again the King sent his thanks to the Marquis, and gave Puss a piece of money, which the little cat carried back to his master, and it was enough to buy Jack food and lodging.

国王又一次让人向侯爵致谢，还赏给猫咪一枚银币，小猫把这枚银币带回给它的主人，正好够杰克吃饭住宿的。

So it went on day after day. Every day Puss caught some fine game in the forest and took it to the King with the compliments of the Marquis of Carrabas, and every day the King thanked the cat and gave him a piece of money. The King began to wonder who the Marquis of Carrabas was and where he lived. He began to think the Marquis was a very generous fellow.

就这样一天天过去了。猫咪每天都在树林里逮到些好猎物，带去献给国王，说是卡拉巴斯侯爵的一片心意，国王每天都向猫咪致谢，赏它一枚银币。国王开始纳闷起来，这卡拉巴斯侯爵究竟是何许人，又住在哪里。他渐渐觉得，这位侯爵一定是个十分慷慨大方的人物。

One day the King went out for a pleasure ride with his daughter, and many of his court rode with him.

有一天，国王带着公主出去游玩骑马，宫中许多人也一同随行。

Puss came in haste to his master. “Come quick!” he cried. “We have done well enough so far, but the time has now come when I will make your fortune.”

猫咪匆匆忙忙地跑来找它的主人。“快来！”它喊道。“咱们到目前为止做得已经够好了，可现在正是我为你挣得一份家业的时候了。”

The cat then led Jack to a river, where he knew the King would pass before long. He then bade Jack take off his clothes and hide them under a rock, and then stand in the river up to his neck.

猫咪随即领着杰克来到一条河边，它知道国王不久便会打这儿经过。它叫杰克脱下衣服，藏在一块石头底下，然后站进河里，水要没到脖子。

Jack did this, though the water was so cold it made him shudder, and he did not know how Puss was to make his fortune in this way.

杰克照做了，尽管河水冷得他直打哆嗦，他也不明白猫咪打算怎样用这个法子为他挣得家业。

Puss waited until he saw his master well in the river, and then he ran to the road along which the King was coming.

猫咪等到看见主人稳稳当当地站在河里，便跑到国王要经过的大路上去。

“Help! help!” he cried. “Oh, help! My master—the noble Marquis of Carrabas! He will surely drown.”

“救命啊！救命啊！”它喊道。“哦，救命啊！我的主人——高贵的卡拉巴斯侯爵！他一定要淹死了。”

“What is the matter?” asked the King, stopping his coach, and the Princess and all the courtiers listened.

“出了什么事？”国王一边问，一边叫马车停下，公主和所有的朝臣也都竖起了耳朵。

“Oh, your Majesty!” cried the cat. “My noble master! He was attacked by robbers and they robbed him of everything and threw him in the river, and unless he receives help he will surely drown.”

“哦，陛下！”猫咪喊道。“我那高贵的主人啊！他遭到强盗袭击，他们抢走了他身上的一切，还把他扔进了河里，要是没人救他，他一定会淹死的。”

The King was very much concerned. He at once sent courtiers to draw Jack out from the river and dress him in robes of velvet and satin and gold lace.

国王大为担忧。他立刻派朝臣把杰克从河里拉了上来，给他穿上天鹅绒、缎子和金边花边做的华服。

Jack had never been so magnificently dressed before, and he looked a fine fellow indeed when he was brought to the King. His majesty was so pleased with Jack’s looks that he made him get into the coach and sit beside him, and the Princess was even better pleased with him than her father.

杰克从未穿得这样华丽体面过，被带到国王面前时，他看起来当真是一表人才。国王见杰克这般仪表堂堂，十分高兴，便叫他上了马车，坐在自己身边，而公主对他的中意，比她父亲还要更甚几分。

Meanwhile the little cat had hurried on far ahead of the coaches.

与此同时，小猫已经远远地跑到了马车队伍的前头。

Presently Puss came to a field where the harvesters were harvesting the grain. Puss marched up to them scowling fiercely and bristling out his whiskers until he looked twice as big again. The harvesters were frightened.

不一会儿，猫咪来到一片田地，收割的人正在那儿收割谷子。猫咪大步走到他们跟前，故意皱起眉头，作出一副凶恶的模样，胡须也支楞起来，看上去比平时大了一倍。收割的人都吓坏了。

“Listen, men,” cried Puss. “The King will soon come by this way with my master, the Marquis of Carrabas riding beside him. If he should ask you to whom this grain belongs, answer that it belongs to the noble Marquis of Carrabas. If you do not do this you shall be torn into pieces, and the shreds thrown into the river.”

“听着，各位，”猫咪喊道。“国王不久便会经过此地，我的主人卡拉巴斯侯爵正骑马跟他并肩而行。他要是问起这片谷子是谁的，你们就回答说，这是高贵的卡拉巴斯侯爵的。你们要是不这么说，就得被撕成碎片，碎片还得扔进河里去。”

The harvesters were more frightened than ever. They promised to do exactly as the cat bade them.

收割的人比先前更害怕了，都答应一定照猫咪吩咐的去做。

Then Puss ran on until he met a drover driving a great herd of cattle. Him, too, he frightened so that he promised if the King asked him to whom the herd belonged, he would say to the noble Marquis of Carrabas.

于是猫咪又一路跑去，碰见一个赶着一大群牛的赶牛人。它同样把这人吓得答应，要是国王问起这群牛是谁的，他就说是高贵的卡拉巴斯侯爵的。

A little farther on the cat met a shepherd with his sheep, and he also promised to say his flocks belonged to the Marquis of Carrabas.

再往前走一点，猫咪又碰见一个牧羊人带着他的羊群，牧羊人也答应说，他的羊群是卡拉巴斯侯爵的。

So it went on; it seemed as though everything was to be claimed by the Marquis of Carrabas.

就这样一路下去，仿佛一切东西都要归到卡拉巴斯侯爵名下似的。

Now all these things really belonged to an ogre who was very rich and fierce and strong and terrible, and after awhile Puss came to the castle where the ogre lived. The little cat was not afraid of ogres, however. He made his way into the castle and ran along into one room after another until he came to where the ogre was sitting.

其实这一切原本都属于一个食人妖，他极其富有，凶猛可怕，本领高强，过了一会儿，猫咪来到了这食人妖居住的城堡。可小猫并不惧怕食人妖。它径直走进城堡，一路穿过一个又一个房间，直到来到食人妖坐着的地方。

When the ogre saw the little cat in his fine shiny, creaking boots he was so amused that he laughed aloud. He had never seen such a sight before.

食人妖一见这只小猫穿着光亮吱嘎作响的漂亮靴子，觉得十分好笑，放声大笑起来。他从没见过这样的怪事。

“And where did you come from, my fine little cat?” he asked.

“我的好小猫，你是从哪儿来的呀？”他问道。

“Oh, from over the hills and far away.”

“哦，从山那边、很远很远的地方来的。”

“And what do you want here?”

“你到这儿来想干什么？”

“I only wanted to see you because everyone says you are the strongest and most wonderful ogre in all the world.”

“我只是想来见见您，因为人人都说，您是全天下最强壮、最了不起的食人妖。”

When the ogre heard that he was much pleased, for he was very vain.

食人妖听了这话十分得意，因为他生性十分虚荣。

“Well, and now you have seen me, what do you think of me?” he asked.

“好吧，现在你见着我了，你觉得我怎么样？”他问道。

Oh, Puss thought he was a very wonderful ogre indeed. And was it true that he had magic powers, too?

哦，猫咪觉得他真是个了不起的食人妖极了。他真的还有魔力吗？

Yes, the ogre had magic powers.

是的，食人妖是有魔力的。

“Can you change yourself into animals if you choose? A lion or an elephant for instance?” asked Puss.

“您想变成什么动物都能变吗？比如说狮子，或者大象？”猫咪问道。

Oh, yes, that was easy enough.

哦，是的，这对他来说是小事一桩。

“I should like to see you do that,” said the cat.

“我倒想亲眼见识见识，”猫咪说。

Well, the ogre was willing to oblige him. At once he turned himself into a lion, for he really had that power, and he was a very terrible looking lion indeed. He roared and lashed his tail and his mane bristled.

好吧，食人妖也乐意满足它的心愿。他立刻变成了一头狮子，因为他确实有这样的本领，而且变出来的是一头看着极其可怕的狮子。他咆哮着，甩打着尾巴，鬃毛也竖了起来。

Puss was so terrified that he sprang through the window and scrambled up the roof, though he almost slipped and fell on account of the boots. There he sat spitting and trembling.

猫咪吓得魂飞魄散，一下子从窗口跳了出去，爬上了屋顶，因为穿着那双靴子，它差点滑倒摔了下来。它就蹲在那儿，浑身发抖，嘶嘶叫个不停。

Then the ogre turned himself back into his own shape, and he laughed and laughed. “Come back, Puss,” he called, “I will not hurt you; but now you see that everything they told you was true.”

接着食人妖又变回了原来的模样，哈哈大笑起来。“回来吧，猫咪，”他喊道，“我不会伤害你的；不过现在你也看到了，人们跟你说的话，全都是真的。”

Puss came scrambling back into the room, and he looked very meek and timid.

猫咪这才爬回屋里，一副温顺胆怯的样子。

“Yes, I see it was all true,” he said. “But, Mr. Ogre, could you turn yourself into a small animal as well? That must be a great deal harder. Could you turn yourself into a mouse?”

“是的，我看这一切都是真的，”它说。“不过，食人妖先生，您能不能也变成一种小动物呢？那想必要难得多。您能变成一只老鼠吗？”

Yes, the ogre could do that, too, and at once he turned himself into a mouse, and ran, scampering gayly about the room. But he did not scamper long. “Ps-s-s-t!” with a bound Puss caught him and swallowed him down in a moment before he could even squeak, and that was the end of the ogre.

是的，食人妖也会这一手，他立刻变成了一只老鼠，欢快地在屋里跑来跑去。可他没能跑多久。“嗖！”猫咪猛地一跃，一把逮住他，还没等他叫出声来，转眼间就把他一口吞了下去，食人妖就这样完蛋了。

Meanwhile the King and the Princess and Jack were rolling along together in the fine coach and talking pleasantly together. The King was so pleased with Jack’s talk that he told the coachman to drive slowly, so they could have the more time together.

与此同时，国王、公主和杰克正一起坐在漂亮的马车里，一路愉快地交谈着。国王被杰克的谈吐迷住了，便吩咐车夫慢些走，好让他们多一点时间在一起。

Presently they came to the field of grain where the harvesters were at work.

不一会儿，他们来到收割人正在忙活的那片谷地。

“That is a fine field of grain,” said the King; and he leaned from the coach and called to the harvesters to know to whom the grain belonged.

“这片谷子长得真好，”国王说；他从马车里探出身来，问收割的人这谷子是谁的。

“To the noble Marquis of Carrabas!” answered the harvesters.

“是高贵的卡拉巴斯侯爵的！”收割的人答道。

The King turned to Jack. “My dear Marquis, why did you not tell me it belonged to you?”

国王转向杰克。“我亲爱的侯爵，你怎么不早告诉我，这是你的呢？”

“I had forgotten,” answered Jack.

“我给忘了，”杰克答道。

Soon after they came to the drover. The King admired the herd of cattle and asked the drover to whom they belonged.

不久之后，他们又碰见了那个赶牛人。国王赞叹着那群牛，问赶牛人这些牛是谁的。

“To the noble Marquis of Carrabas,” answered the drover.

“是高贵的卡拉巴斯侯爵的，”赶牛人答道。

The King turned to Jack, and complimented him upon his herds. He began to think the Marquis must be very rich.

国王转向杰克，夸赞了他的牛群。他开始觉得，这位侯爵想必是极其富有的了。

Then they came to the shepherd, and it was the same thing; his flocks belonged to the Marquis of Carrabas. In the forest the woodsmen said the wood belonged to the Marquis. It seemed as though the Marquis were richer than the King himself.

接着他们又碰见了牧羊人，情形也是一样；他的羊群也是卡拉巴斯侯爵的。到了树林里，樵夫们也说，这片树林是侯爵的。看起来，这位侯爵简直比国王本人还要富有。

At last they came to the ogre’s grand castle, and the King asked Jack to whom it belonged. Before Jack could answer the doors were thrown open, and the little cat ran out into the road. “Welcome, welcome, your majesty,” he cried. “Welcome to the castle of the Marquis of Carrabas.”

终于，他们来到了食人妖那座宏伟的城堡前，国王问杰克这是谁的城堡。杰克还没来得及回答，大门便被打开了，小猫跑了出来，来到路上。“欢迎，欢迎，陛下，”它喊道。“欢迎光临卡拉巴斯侯爵的城堡。”

“So this is where you live,” said the King.

“原来这就是你住的地方，”国王说。

“Yes, this is where I live,” answered Jack.

“是的，这就是我住的地方，”杰克答道。

The cat invited them to alight and led the way into a long dining-hall. There the servants had prepared a magnificent feast, for now they, as well as the castle and everything in it, belonged to Jack.

猫咪请他们下车，领着他们走进一间长长的宴会厅。仆人们已经在那里备下了一场盛大的宴席，因为如今这些仆人，还有这座城堡以及城堡里的一切，都归杰克所有了。

The King and the Princess took their places at the table, and Jack sat between them. They ate and drank and feasted to their hearts’ content, and the King had never tasted more delicious food, and it was all served on golden plates far finer than those he ate from in his own castle.

国王和公主在桌旁就座，杰克坐在他们中间。他们尽情地吃着、喝着、享用着这场盛宴，国王从未尝过这样美味的食物，而且这一切都盛在金盘子里，比他自己城堡里用的盘子还要精美得多。

At the end of the feast the King turned to Jack and said, “My dear Marquis, you must be a very rich man.”

宴席结束时，国王转向杰克，说道：“我亲爱的侯爵，你想必是个非常富有的人吧。”

“I am so rich,” answered Jack, “that I really do not know how much I have.”

“我富有到，”杰克答道，“连自己究竟有多少财产，都不清楚了。”

“It seems to me,” said the King, “that you ought to marry a princess, for no everyday girl would do for you.”

“在我看来，”国王说，“你应该娶一位公主才是，寻常人家的姑娘，实在配不上你。”

Yes, Jack would like to marry a princess, but it would have to be the right princess.

是的，杰克是想娶一位公主，不过必须是那位对的公主才行。

“Then how would my daughter do?” asked the King.

“那么我的女儿可合适？”国王问道。

At that Jack was ready to jump out of his skin with joy, for the Princess was so sweet and pretty that he loved her already. “Yes, she would do better than anyone else in the world.” And the Princess did not say nay.

杰克一听，高兴得都快跳起来了，因为公主是那样甜美可人，他早已倾心于她。“是的，她比世上任何人都更合适。”而公主也没有说不愿意。

So Jack went back with the King and the Princess to his own palace, and then the Princess and Jack were married, and lived happily ever after.

于是杰克便随国王和公主一同回到自己的宫殿，公主和杰克结了婚，从此过上了幸福快乐的生活。

The little cat lived in the palace with them, and always the softest cushion, and the warmest corner by the fire were left for him.

小猫也一同住进了宫殿，最柔软的坐垫、炉火边最暖和的角落，永远都为它留着。

As for Jack’s brothers, when they heard of the good fortune that had come to Jack, and how he had won a princess for a wife, they wished they had kept Puss and given him the mill and the flocks and herds.

至于杰克的哥哥们，等他们听说杰克交上了这样的好运，还娶了一位公主为妻，都后悔当初没有留下猫咪，把磨坊和牛羊都给了它才是。