The Twelve Brothers

There were once on a time a king and a queen who lived happily together and had twelve children, but they were all boys. Then said the King to his wife, “If the thirteenth child which thou art about to bring into the world, is a girl, the twelve boys shall die, in order that her possessions may be great, and that the kingdom may fall to her alone.”

从前有一位国王和一位王后，两人和和美美地生活在一起，育有十二个孩子，可全都是男孩。国王对妻子说：“若是你即将生下的第十三个孩子是个女孩，那十二个男孩都得死，好让她一个人独享全部家业，江山也归她一人所有。”

He caused likewise twelve coffins to be made, which were already filled with shavings, and in each lay the little pillow for the dead, and he had them taken into a locked-up room, and then he gave the Queen the key of it, and bade her not to speak of this to any one.

他还叫人打造了十二口棺材，里面已经填满了刨花，每口棺材里都放着一个供死者使用的小枕头，他叫人把这些棺材搬进一间锁着的屋子里，随后把钥匙交给王后，嘱咐她此事切不可对任何人提起。

The mother, however, now sat and lamented all day long, until the youngest son, who was always with her, and whom she had named Benjamin, from the Bible, said to her, “Dear mother, why art thou so sad?”

然而王后从此终日以泪洗面，直到最小的儿子——他总是待在她身边，她给他取了个圣经里的名字叫本雅明——对她说：“亲爱的母亲，您为何这样忧伤？”

“Dearest child,” she answered, “I may not tell thee.” But he let her have no rest until she went and unlocked the room, and showed him the twelve coffins ready filled with shavings. Then she said, “my dearest Benjamin, thy father has had these coffins made for thee and for thy eleven brothers, for if I bring a little girl into the world, you are all to be killed and buried in them.” And as she wept while she was saying this, the son comforted her and said, “Weep not, dear mother, we will save ourselves, and go hence.”

“我的心肝儿，”她答道，“我不能告诉你。”可他不依不饶，缠着她不放，她终于去开了那间屋子的锁，给他看那十二口已经填好刨花的棺材。她说：“我最亲爱的本雅明，你父亲叫人打造了这些棺材，是给你和你那十一个哥哥用的，因为若是我生下一个女儿，你们就都要被杀死，埋进这些棺材里。”她一边说，一边哭泣，儿子便安慰她说：“母亲，别哭了，我们自己会想办法逃出去的。”

But she said, “Go forth into the forest with thy eleven brothers, and let one sit constantly on the highest tree which can be found, and keep watch, looking towards the tower here in the castle. If I give birth to a little son, I will put up a white flag, and then you may venture to come back, but if I bear a daughter, I will hoist a red flag, and then fly hence as quickly as you are able, and may the good God protect you.

可她说：“到林子里去吧，带上你那十一个哥哥，让其中一个一直坐在能找到的最高的树上放哨，望着这城堡里的这座塔楼。要是我生下的是个小儿子，我就挂一面白旗，那时你们便可以放心回来；可要是我生下的是个女儿，我就升一面红旗，那时你们要尽快逃走，愿善良的上帝保佑你们。

And every night I will rise up and pray for you—in winter that you may be able to warm yourself at a fire, and in summer that you may not faint away in the heat.”

我每晚都会起身为你们祈祷——冬天愿你们能烤上一堆火取暖，夏天愿你们不至于在酷热中晕倒。”

After she had blessed her sons therefore, they went forth into the forest. They each kept watch in turn, and sat on the highest oak and looked towards the tower. When eleven days had passed and the turn came to Benjamin, he saw that a flag was being raised. It was, however, not the white, but the blood-red flag which announced that they were all to die. When the brothers heard that, they were very angry and said, “Are we all to suffer death for the sake of a girl? We swear that we will avenge ourselves!—wheresoever we find a girl, her red blood shall flow.”

于是她为儿子们祝了福，他们便动身前往林子里去了。他们轮流放哨，坐在最高的一棵橡树上，望着那座塔楼。十一天过去了，轮到本雅明放哨时，他看见有一面旗子升了起来。然而升起的不是白旗，而是那预示着他们都要死去的血红色旗子。兄弟们听到这消息，个个怒火中烧，说道：“难道我们都要为了一个女孩子而白白送命？我们发誓要报这个仇！——无论在哪里遇见女孩，都要让她的鲜血流淌。”

Thereupon they went deeper into the forest, and in the midst of it, where it was the darkest, they found a little bewitched hut, which was standing empty. Then said they, “Here we will dwell, and thou Benjamin, who art the youngest and weakest, thou shalt stay at home and keep house, we others will go out and get food.” Then they went into the forest and shot hares, wild deer, birds and pigeons, and whatsoever there was to eat; this they took to Benjamin, who had to dress it for them in order that they might appease their hunger. They lived together ten years in the little hut, and the time did not appear long to them.

于是他们更深地走进林子里，在林子最幽暗的深处，找到了一间中了魔法的小屋，屋子空无一人。他们便说：“我们就住在这儿吧，本雅明，你年纪最小、身子最弱，就留在家里操持家务，我们其余的人出去打猎觅食。”于是他们进了林子，猎取野兔、野鹿、飞禽和鸽子，凡是能吃的东西，都带回来给本雅明，让他给他们烹调，好填饱肚子。他们就这样在这间小屋里一起住了十年，日子过得并不觉得漫长。

The little daughter which their mother the Queen had given birth to, was now grown up; she was good of heart, and fair of face, and had a golden star on her forehead. Once, when it was the great washing, she saw twelve men’s shirts among the things, and asked her mother, “To whom do these twelve shirts belong, for they are far too small for father?” Then the Queen answered with a heavy heart, “Dear child, these belong to thy twelve brothers.” Said the maiden, “Where are my twelve brothers, I have never yet heard of them?” She replied, “God knows where they are, they are wandering about the world.”

母亲王后所生下的那个小女儿，如今已经长大成人；她心地善良，容貌秀丽，额头上还有一颗金色的星星。有一次，正逢大洗衣的日子，她在衣物中看见十二件男人的衬衫，便问母亲：“这十二件衬衫是谁的呀？给父亲穿实在太小了。”王后心情沉重地答道：“亲爱的孩子，这些是你十二个哥哥的。”少女说道：“我那十二个哥哥在哪里呀？我从来没听说过他们。”王后答道：“天知道他们在哪儿，他们正在世上四处流浪呢。”

Then she took the maiden and opened the chamber for her, and showed her the twelve coffins with the shavings, and pillows for the head. “These coffins,” said she, “were destined for thy brothers, but they went away secretly before thou wert born,” and she related to her how everything had happened; then said the maiden, “Dear mother, weep not, I will go and seek my brothers.”

于是王后带着女儿，打开了那间密室，给她看那十二口装着刨花和头枕的棺材。“这些棺材，”她说，“本是为你的哥哥们准备的，可他们在你出生之前就偷偷离开了。”于是她把事情的原委都告诉了女儿；女儿听罢说道：“亲爱的母亲，别哭了，我要去找我的哥哥们。”

So she took the twelve shirts and went forth, and straight into the great forest. She walked the whole day, and in the evening she came to the bewitched hut. Then she entered it and found a young boy, who asked, “From whence comest thou, and whither art thou bound?” and was astonished that she was so beautiful, and wore royal garments, and had a star on her forehead.

于是她带上那十二件衬衫，动身出发，径直走进了那片大森林。她走了整整一天，傍晚时分来到了那间中了魔法的小屋。她走进屋去，见到一个年轻的男孩，男孩问她：“你从哪里来，要到哪里去？”一面惊叹她生得如此美丽，穿着王室的衣裳，额头上还有一颗星星。

And she answered, “I am a king’s daughter, and am seeking my twelve brothers, and I will walk as far as the sky is blue until I find them.” She likewise showed him the twelve shirts which belonged to them. Then Benjamin saw that she was his sister, and said, “I am Benjamin, thy youngest brother.”

她答道：“我是国王的女儿，正在寻找我那十二个哥哥，就算要走到天涯海角，我也要找到他们。”她也把那十二件属于他们的衬衫拿给他看。本雅明这才认出她是自己的姐姐，说道：“我就是本雅明，你最小的弟弟。”

And she began to weep for joy, and Benjamin wept also, and they kissed and embraced each other with the greatest love. But after this he said, “Dear sister, there is still one difficulty. We have agreed that every maiden whom we meet shall die, because we have been obliged to leave our kingdom on account of a girl.” Then said she, “I will willingly die, if by so doing I can deliver my twelve brothers.”

她喜极而泣，本雅明也哭了，两人满怀深情地相拥而吻。可随后他说：“亲爱的姐姐，还有一件难事。我们曾经约定，凡是遇见的女子都要处死，因为我们正是为了一个女孩才被迫离开自己的王国的。”她说道：“我甘愿一死，只要这样能救出我那十二个哥哥。”

“No,” answered he, “thou shalt not die, seat thyself beneath this tub until our eleven brothers come, and then I will soon come to an agreement with them.”

“不，”他答道，“你不能死，先坐到这只木盆底下藏起来，等我那十一个哥哥回来，我自会跟他们商量出个办法来。”

She did so, and when it was night the others came from hunting, and their dinner was ready. And as they were sitting at table, and eating, they asked, “What news is there?” Said Benjamin, “Don’t you know anything?” “No,” they answered. He continued, “You have been in the forest and I have stayed at home, and yet I know more than you do.” “Tell us then,” they cried. He answered, “But promise me that the first maiden who meets us shall not be killed.” “Yes,” they all cried, “she shall have mercy, only do tell us.”

她照办了，到了晚上，其余的人打猎回来，晚饭也已经备好。他们围坐在桌旁吃饭的时候，问道：“有什么消息吗？”本雅明说：“你们什么都不知道吗？”“不知道，”他们答道。他接着说：“你们一直在林子里，我却待在家里，可我知道的却比你们多。”“那快告诉我们吧，”他们喊道。他答道：“可你们得先答应我，我们遇见的第一个女子不可以被杀。”“好，”他们都喊道，“饶她一命就是，你快说吧。”

Then said he, “Our sister is here,” and he lifted up the tub, and the King’s daughter came forth in her royal garments with the golden star on her forehead, and she was beautiful, delicate and fair. Then they were all rejoiced, and fell on her neck, and kissed and loved her with all their hearts.

于是他说道：“我们的姐姐就在这儿，”说着掀起了木盆，国王的女儿便从里面走了出来，身穿王室的衣裳，额头上闪着金色的星星，生得美丽、娇柔、秀丽动人。众兄弟见了都欣喜若狂，纷纷搂住她的脖子，满心欢喜地亲吻她、疼爱她。

Now she stayed at home with Benjamin and helped him with the work. The eleven went into the forest and caught game, and deer, and birds, and wood-pigeons that they might have food, and the little sister and Benjamin took care to make it ready for them. She sought for the wood for cooking and herbs for vegetables, and put the pans on the fire so that the dinner was always ready when the eleven came. She likewise kept order in the little house, and put beautifully white clean coverings on the little beds, and the brothers were always contented and lived in great harmony with her.

从此她便留在家中，帮本雅明操持家务。那十一个哥哥进林子里捕猎野味、鹿、飞禽和斑鸠，好有食物可吃，小妹妹和本雅明便负责给他们烹调。她去找柴火来做饭，找草药来做菜，把锅放在火上，好让哥哥们回来时晚饭总是备好的。她还把这间小屋收拾得井井有条，给小床铺上洁白干净的床罩，兄弟们个个都心满意足，和她相处得十分融洽。

Once on a time the two at home had prepared a beautiful entertainment, and when they were all together, they sat down and ate and drank and were full of gladness. There was, however, a little garden belonging to the bewitched house wherein stood twelve lily flowers, which are likewise called students. She wished to give her brothers pleasure, and plucked the twelve flowers, and thought she would present each brother with one while at dinner. But at the self-same moment that she plucked the flowers the twelve brothers were changed into twelve ravens, and flew away over the forest, and the house and garden vanished likewise.

有一次，家里的这两个人筹备了一场丰盛的宴席，等大家都聚齐了，便坐下来吃喝，个个满心欢喜。这中了魔法的屋子旁边有一座小花园，园里种着十二朵百合花，人们也叫它们“学子花”。她想让哥哥们高兴高兴，便摘下了这十二朵花，打算晚饭时分给每个哥哥一朵。可就在她摘下这些花的同一瞬间，十二个哥哥都变成了十二只乌鸦，飞过森林远去了，那间屋子和花园也随之一同消失了。

And now the poor maiden was alone in the wild forest, and when she looked around, an old woman was standing near her who said, “My child, what hast thou done? Why didst thou not leave the twelve white flowers growing? They were thy brothers, who are now for evermore changed into ravens.” The maiden said, weeping, “Is there no way of delivering them?”

可怜的少女如今独自一人身处荒野的森林之中，她四下张望，看见一个老妇人站在她身旁，说道：“我的孩子，你做了什么好事啊？你为何不让那十二朵白花好好开着呢？它们正是你的哥哥们，如今永远都变成乌鸦了。”少女哭着说道：“难道没有办法救他们了吗？”

“No,” said the woman, “there is but one in the whole world, and that is so hard that thou wilt not deliver them by it, for thou must be dumb for seven years, and mayst not speak or laugh, and if thou speakest one single word, and only an hour of the seven years is wanting, all is in vain, and thy brothers will be killed by the one word.”

“有，”老妇人说，“可全世界只有这一个办法，而且难到你恐怕救不了他们，因为你必须一连七年都当哑巴，不能说话，也不能笑，只要你说出一个字，哪怕这七年只差一个钟头就满了，一切都会前功尽弃，你的哥哥们也会因为你这一个字而丧命。”

Then said the maiden in her heart, “I know with certainty that I shall set my brothers free,” and went and sought a high tree and seated herself in it and span, and neither spoke nor laughed.

于是少女在心里暗自说道：“我一定能救出我的哥哥们。”她便去找了一棵高大的树，坐在树上纺纱，既不说话，也不发笑。

Now it so happened that a king was hunting in the forest, who had a great greyhound which ran to the tree on which the maiden was sitting, and sprang about it, whining, and barking at her. Then the King came by and saw the beautiful King’s daughter with the golden star on her brow, and was so charmed with her beauty that he called to ask her if she would be his wife.

恰巧有一位国王正在林中打猎，他带着一只大猎犬，那猎犬跑到少女坐着的那棵树下，围着树蹦跳，一边呜咽，一边冲她狂吠。国王随后来到，看见了这位额头上有一颗金星的美丽公主，被她的美貌深深迷住，便叫人问她是否愿意做他的妻子。

She made no answer, but nodded a little with her head. So he climbed up the tree himself, carried her down, placed her on his horse, and bore her home. Then the wedding was solemnized with great magnificence and rejoicing, but the bride neither spoke nor smiled.

她没有回答，只是微微点了点头。于是国王亲自爬上树，把她抱了下来，扶她上马，带她回了宫。婚礼办得极为隆重、盛大欢庆，可新娘却始终既不说话，也不微笑。

When they had lived happily together for a few years, the King’s mother, who was a wicked woman, began to slander the young Queen, and said to the King, “This is a common beggar girl whom thou hast brought back with thee. Who knows what impious tricks she practises secretly! Even if she be dumb, and not able to speak, she still might laugh for once; but those who do not laugh have bad consciences.” At first the King would not believe it, but the old woman urged this so long, and accused her of so many evil things, that at last the King let himself be persuaded and sentenced her to death.

他们幸福地共同生活了几年之后，国王的母亲是个心肠歹毒的女人，开始在国王面前诽谤这位年轻的王后，对国王说：“这不过是你带回来的一个普通的乞丐女子罢了。谁知道她私底下在耍什么邪门歪道呢！就算她是个哑巴，不能说话，她好歹也该笑一笑吧；不肯笑的人，心里准是有鬼。”国王起初不肯相信，可老妇人再三劝说，又编造出种种恶行来诬陷她，最后国王终于被说动了，判处她死刑。

And now a great fire was lighted in the courtyard in which she was to be burnt, and the King stood above at the window and looked on with tearful eyes, because he still loved her so much. And when she was bound fast to the stake, and the fire was licking at her clothes with its red tongue, the last instant of the seven years expired. Then a whirring sound was heard in the air, and twelve ravens came flying towards the place, and sank downwards, and when they touched the earth they were her twelve brothers, whom she had delivered. They tore the fire asunder, extinguished the flames, set their dear sister free, and kissed and embraced her.

于是在庭院里燃起了一大堆火，要把她烧死，国王站在楼上的窗前，含泪望着，因为他心里仍然深深爱着她。就在她被牢牢绑在火刑柱上、烈焰的红舌头正舔向她的衣裳时，七年的最后一刻终于到了。这时空中传来一阵嗡嗡的响声，十二只乌鸦朝这地方飞来，落到了地上，一触地便都变回了她所救赎的十二个哥哥。他们把烈火撕开，扑灭了火焰，救出了亲爱的姐姐，拥抱着她，亲吻着她。

And now as she dared to open her mouth and speak, she told the King why she had been dumb, and had never laughed. The King rejoiced when he heard that she was innocent, and they all lived in great unity until their death. The wicked step-mother was taken before the judge, and put into a barrel filled with boiling oil and venomous snakes, and died an evil death.

如今她终于敢开口说话了，便把自己为何一直当哑巴、从不发笑的缘由告诉了国王。国王得知她是清白无辜的，欣喜万分，从此一家人和睦相处，直到白头偕老。而那心肠歹毒的婆婆则被带上了公堂，被扔进一只装满滚油和毒蛇的木桶里，落得个悲惨的下场。