“你愿意帮我吗？”见青年站在旁边不走，老婆婆问。“你的背直挺挺的，你的腿脚利索，对你来说是小事一桩。再说我的家离这儿不远，就在这座山背后的荒原上。你很快就能走到。”青年对老婆婆充满同情，说：“虽然我父亲不是农民而是位富有的伯爵，但为了让你看看并非只有农民才能背东西，我愿意帮你背回去。”“如果你愿意试一试，我非常高兴，”她说，“你肯定得走一小时的路，可这对你算得了什么，那儿的梨和苹果你也捎上。”年轻的伯爵听说要走一小时，便有点疑虑，可老婆婆不放过他，把草捆拴在他背上，再把两只篮子挎在他手腕上。“你瞧，相当轻松。”她说。“不，不轻松，”伯爵满面愁容地回答，“草捆压在背上挺沉，好像里面被装满了大石头，苹果和梨也重得像灌了铅。我几乎快喘不上来气了。”他很想把东西全放下，但是老太太不让。“瞧啊，”她讥讽道，“这位年轻先生拿不了我这个老太婆能拿得了的东西。说漂亮话他在行，真干起来却想逃之夭夭。还站在那儿干吗呢？”她继续说，“出发吧！没有人会替你背的。”只要走的是平路，年轻人还能坚持，但当他们来到山前，不得不朝上爬，脚下的石头像活了一样往下滚，他就吃不消了。汗珠一颗颗挂在额上，流到背上叫他感觉一会儿热，一会儿冷。“老婆婆，”他说，“我不行了，我想休息一会儿。”“这里不行！”老太婆回答，“我们到了目的地以后，你才能休息，现在你必须往前走，谁知道你打的什么主意。”“老婆婆，你好不讲理！”伯爵说，想放下草捆，但是枉费心机。包袱牢牢地拴在背上，好像长在了一起。他转过来，转过去，但就是甩不掉它。老太婆哈哈大笑，高兴得舞动着她的拐杖。“别生气，亲爱的，”她说，“你的脸红得跟火鸡一样了。耐心的背着你的草捆吧，到家后我会给你一份满意的礼物的。”伯爵无可奈何，只好认命耐心地跟在老太婆后面慢慢走去。老太婆好像越来越矫健，他的草捆却越变越沉重。突然，她就像一个草捆，跳到草捆上并且自己坐在顶部。她虽然枯瘦如柴，却比最胖的乡下姑娘还重。年轻人两膝打颤，可要是不往前走吧，老婆婆又会用树枝和麻秆抽打他的腿。他气喘吁吁地爬上山，终于到了老婆婆的家，这时他差不多要倒下了。那些鹅看见老婆婆，便竖起了翅膀，伸着脖子朝她跑来，哦哦地叫着不停。一个上了年纪的女人手里拿着根树枝，跟在鹅后面走来。她又高又壮，丑得像个夜叉。“妈妈，”她对老婆婆说，“出了什么事，你在外面待这么久？”“没事儿，我的女儿，”老婆婆回答，“我没遇到什么坏事，恰恰相反，这位好心的先生帮我背东西，不仅如此，我走累了，他还连我一起背上。这段路对我们来说根本不算远，我们很高兴，还一直闹着玩玩哩。”终于，老婆婆走过来，从年轻人背上取下草捆，接过他腕上的篮子，非常和蔼地看着他说：“现在坐到门前的长凳上去好好休息休息。你理应得到的你那份报酬，也一定少不了。”然后她对牧鹅女说：“我的女儿，你进屋去，你不适合同一位年轻的先生单独呆在一起，人不应火上加油，否则他会爱上你的。”伯爵听了哭笑不得，心想：“这样一个宝贝，哪怕她再年轻三十岁，也打动不了我的心啊。”这时候，老婆婆像抚摸孩子一样抚摸她的鹅，随后和女儿一道进屋去了。年轻人躺在苹果树下的一条长凳上。空气温馨宜人，四周铺展着绿色的草地，草地上开满了樱草、野麝香和无数各色各样的花。一条清清的小溪从草地中间流过，阳光照在水面上闪闪发亮，白鹅有的来来去去地散步，有的在水中嬉戏。“这儿真美呀，”青年说，“可我累得眼皮都抬不起来了，我得睡一会儿。但愿别起风把我的腿从身上吹跑，它们真软得跟火绒似的。”
When he had slept a little while， the old woman came and shook him till he awoke. “Sit up，”said she， “you can not stay here. I have certainly treated you ill enough， still it has not cost you your life. Of money and land you have no need， here is something else for you.” Thereupon she thrust a little box into his hand， which was cut out of a single emeraldemerald n.［矿］祖母绿， 翡翠， 绿宝石， 翠绿色. “Take great care of it，”said she， “it will bring you good fortune.” The count sprang up， and as he felt that he was quite fresh， and had recovered his vigorvigor n.精力， 活力， he thanked the old woman for her present， and set off without even once looking back at the beautiful daughter.When he was already some way off， he still heard in the distance the noisy cry of the geese.
刚睡了一会儿，老婆婆就走来把他摇醒。“起来，”她说，“你不能留在这里。不错，我是让你吃不少的苦，但还不至于有生命危险。金银财宝你不需要，我要给你别的东西。”说着便把一只用整块绿宝石精雕而成的小匣儿放到他手中，并且说：“好好保管，它会给你带来好运。”伯爵跳起来，因为他感到自己非常清醒和重新有劲儿了。他于是感谢老太太送他这件礼物，随后便上了路，对于那美丽的小女儿甚至没有回头看一眼。走了一大段路，他还听见远处传来鹅群的欢叫声。
For three days the count had to wander in the wilderness before he could find his way out. He then reached a large town， and as no one knew him， he was led into the royal palace， where the king and queen were sitting on their throne. The count fell on one knee， drew the emerald box out of his pocket， and laid it at the queens feet. She bade him rise and hand her the little box. Hardly， however， had she opened it， and looked thereintherein adv.在那里， than she fell as if dead to the ground. The count was seized by the kings servants， and was being led to prison， when the queen opened her eyes， and ordered them to release him， and every one was to go out， as she wished to speak with him in private.
伯爵在荒野里转悠了三天，才找到出路。然后，他来到一座大城市，因为没人认识他，便被带到了王宫里。国王和王后坐在宝座上，他单膝跪下，从口袋里掏出绿宝石雕成的小匣儿，放到王后跟前。王后叫他起来，把匣儿递给她。不等打开匣子看上一眼，她就昏倒在地了。国王的侍从把伯爵抓了起来，要把他投进监狱。这时王后睁开了眼睛，命令把他放了，还叫所有的人都出去，她要和伯爵单独谈话。
When the queen was alone， she began to weep bitterly， and said， “Of what use to me are the splendors and honors with which I am surrounded. Every morning I awake in pain and sorrow. I had three daughters， the youngest of whom was so beautiful that the whole world looked on her as a wonder. She was as white as snow， as rosy as appleblossom， and her hair as radiantradiant adj.发光的， 辐射的， 容光焕发的 as sunbeams. When she cried， not tears fell from her eyes， but pearls and jewels only. When she was fifteen years old， the king summonedsummon v.召集， 召唤， 号召， 鼓起， 振作 all three sisters to come before his throne. You should have seen how all the people gazedgaze v.盯， 凝视 when the youngest entered， it was just as if the sun were rising.Then the king spoke， “My daughters， I know not when my last day may arrive. I will today decide what each shall receive at my death. You all love me， but the one of you who loves me best， shall fare the best.”Each of them said she loved him best.“Can you not express to me，” said the king， “how much you do love me， and thus I shall see what you mean.” The eldest spoke， “I love my father as dearly as the sweetest sugar.” The second， “I love my father as dearly as my prettiest dress.” But the youngest was silent. Then the father said， “And you， my dearest child， how much do you love me？”“I do not know， and can compare my love with nothing.” But her father insisted that she should name something. So she said at last， “The best food does not please me without salt， therefore I love my father like salt.” When the king heard that， he fell into a passionpassion n.激情， 热情， and said，“If you love me like salt， your love shall also be repaid you with salt.” Then he divided the kingdom between the two elder， but caused a sack of salt to be bound on the back of the youngest， and two servants had to lead her forth into the wild forest.”
剩下王后一个人，她伤心地哭了起来，说：“我身边的荣华富贵对我有何用，每天早晨我总是伴着忧愁和痛苦醒来，我本来有三个女儿，其中小女儿非常美丽，大家都说她简直是个奇迹。她像雪一样白净，像苹果花一样娇艳，她的金发像灿烂的阳光。她哭的时候，眼眼里流下来的不是泪水，而是珍珠和宝石。她十五岁那年，国王传三个女儿来他宝座前，当小女儿进来时，就像正在开起的太阳。你真该看看在场那些人是怎样睁大了眼睛！国王说：‘孩子们，我不知道我的末日哪一天到来，我要在今天决定你们每个在我死后得到些什么。你们三个都爱我，但其中最爱的那个应得到最好的东西。’三个女儿都说自己最爱他。‘你们能告诉我，你们怎么爱我吗？’国王问。‘这样，我就知道你们是怎么想的。’大女儿说：‘我爱父亲像爱最甜的点心。’二女儿说：‘我爱父亲像爱我最漂亮的衣服。’小女儿却沉默不语，父亲便问她：‘你呢，我最亲爱的孩子，你是怎样爱我的？’‘我不知道，’她回答说，‘没有任何东西能和我对你的爱相比。’父亲却坚持要她说，于是她终于说了：‘没有盐，再好的佳肴我也不喜欢，所以，我爱父亲就像爱盐一样。’国王听了，很生气地说：‘既然你像爱盐一样爱我，那就用盐来回报你的爱好了。’于是他把王国分给两个大女儿，却让人捆一袋盐在小女儿身上，还命令两个侍从把她押到荒无人烟的森林里去。”