三只小鸟
About a thousand or more years ago， there were in this country nothing but small kings， and one of them who lived on the Keuterberg was very fond of hunting. Once on a time when he was riding forth from his castle with his huntsmen， three girls were watching their cows upon the mountain， and when they saw the king with all his followers， the eldest girl pointed to him， and called to the two other girls， “Hullo. Hullo. If I do not get that one， I will have none.”Then the second girl answered from the other side of the hill， and pointed to the one who was on the kings right hand， “Hullo. Hullo. If I do not get him， I will have no one.” Meanwhile， the youngest girl pointed to the one who was on the kings left hand， “Hullo. Hullo. If I do not get him， I will have no one.” These， however， were the two ministers. The king heard all this， and when he had come back from the chasechase n.追赶， 追击， he caused the three girls to be brought to him， and asked them what they had said yesterday on the mountain. This they would not tell him， so the king asked the eldest if she really would take him for her husband. Then she said， yes， and the two ministers married the two sisters， for they were all three fair and beautiful of face， especially the queen， who had hair like flaxflax n.亚麻， 麻布， 亚麻织品， 亚麻制的.
大约一千多年前吧，我们这个地方全住着些小国的国王，其中的一个就住在科哀特山上。这位国王非常喜欢打猎。一次，他领着猎手们走出宫殿，碰巧山脚有三位少女在放牛。她们看见国王和他那些侍从，最年长的少女就指着国王对另外两个大声说：“喂！喂！除了他，我谁都不嫁。”第二位姑娘指着走在国王右手边的那个人，从山的另一边大声搭话：“喂！喂！除了他，我谁都不嫁。”这时，最小的少女指着走在国王左手边那个人，大声说：“喂！喂！除了他，我谁都不嫁。”其实那两个人都是大臣。她们的话全被国王听见了；他打猎归来，就派人把那三位少女叫到自己跟前，问她们昨天在山脚说了些什么话。她们现在却不愿说。于是国王就问年纪最大的少女，她是不是想他成为她的丈夫？她回答说：是的。那两位大臣同样问了她的两位妹妹。因为她们三个看上去都很聪明美丽，尤其是王后有着一头亚麻色的秀发。
But the two sisters had no children， and once when the king was obliged to go from home he invited them to come to the queen in order to cheer her， for she was about to bear a child. She had a little boy who brought a bright red star into the world with him. Then the two sisters said to each other that they would throw the beautiful boy into the water. When they had thrown him in—I believe it was into the Weser—a little bird flew up into the air， which sang—“To thy death art thou sped until Gods word be said. In the white lily bloom， brave boy， is thy tombtomb n.坟墓.”
她那两位妹妹都没有孩子。一天，当国王不得不出门远行，为了让王后高兴，他就请她的妹妹来陪伴王后，因为当时正赶上她即将生孩子了。国王走后，她生了一个小男孩，身上有一颗鲜红的痣。两个妹妹密谋要把那个可爱的男孩扔进河里。她们刚把他扔下河——我想是威悉河吧，一只小鸟就飞到空中，唱道：
“他是否会死，
以后才知道。
变一束百合花吧！
乖孩子，你看好不好？”
When the two heard that， they were frightened to death， and ran away in great haste. When the king came home they told him that the queen had been delivered of a dog. Then the king said， “What God does， is well done.”
两个姨妈一听，心中十分害怕，转身跑开了。国王回来，她们对他说，王后生了只狗。国王回答：“上帝做什么总有道理。”
But a fisherman who dwelt near the water fished the little boy out again while he was still alive， and as his wife had no children， they rearedrear vt.培养， 饲养， 举起， 树立， 栽种 him. When a year had gone by， the king again went away， and the queen had another little boy， whom the false sisters likewise took and threw into the water. Then up flew a little bird again and sang—“To thy death art thou sped until Gods word be said. In the white lily bloom， brave boy， is thy tomb.”
可是，在那河边住着一位渔夫，他把那个小男孩又捞上来了，当时他还有一口气。渔夫的妻子没有孩子，他们收养了他。一年后，国王又出远门去了，恰巧这时王后又生了一个男孩，那两个凶狠的妹妹又抱走孩子，扔进了河里。一只小鸟又飞到空中唱道：
“他是否会死，
以后才知道。
变一束百合花吧！
乖孩子，你看好不好？”
And when the king came back， they told him that the queen had once more given birth to a dog， and he again said， “What God does， is well done.” The fisherman， however， fished this one also out of the water， and reared him. Then the king again journeyed forth， and the queen had a little girl， whom also the false sisters threw into the water. Then again a little bird flew up on high and sang—“To thy death art thou sped until Gods word be said. In the white lily bloom， bonnybonny adj.漂亮的， 健美的 girl， is thy tomb.”
国王回来时，她们对他说，王后又生了一只狗。他还是回答：“上帝做什么总有道理。”然而，渔夫又把这个孩子打捞起来，抱回家去抚养。不久，国王又出门去了，这次王后生了一个小女孩。她也被那个狠心的姨妈扔进了河里。小鸟再一次飞到空中唱道：
“他是否会死，
以后才知道。
变一束百合花吧！
乖孩子，你看好不好？”
And when the king came home they told him that the queen had been delivered of a cat. Then the king grew angry， and ordered his wife to be cast into prison， and therein was she shut up for many long years.
国王回家来的时候，她们对他说，这次王后生了一只猫，国王终于生气了，将妻子投入监狱。王后在狱中待了很久。
When the children had grown up， the eldest once went out with some other boys to fish， but the other boys would not have him with them， and said， “Go your way， foundlingfoundling n.弃儿， 育婴堂.”Hereupon he was much troubled， and asked the old fisherman if that was true. The fisherman told him that once when he was fishing he had drawn him out of the water. So the boy said he would go forth and seek his father. The fisherman， however， entreated him to stay， but he would not let himself be hindered， and at last the fisherman consented. Then the boy went on his way and walked for many days， and at last he came to a great stretch of water by the side of which stood an old woman fishing.