王子复仇记15

Many, many years ago, there lived a king. He had many beautiful daughters. The youngest one was very lovely; and even the sun was surprised to see her when he shone on her face.

Near the king's castle lay a dark, gloomy forest. In the middle of the forest there was a fountain.

One day, the king's daughter went into the forest when it was very hot. She sat down on the side of the cool fountain. Then she began to toss a golden ball in the air, and catch it. It was a most interesting game to her.

Once, however, the king's daughter failed to catch the golden ball. It fell on the ground, and rolled into the water.

The princess followed it with her eyes, but soon it disappeared. The water was very deep and she could not see the bottom.

Then she cried aloud, and began to weep. Soon she heard a voice. It said, "Why are you weeping, princess? Your tears can melt even the stones!"

She looked around and saw a frog. He was stretching his thick ugly head out of the water.

"Oh, there you are, old waterpaddler," she said. "I am crying for the loss of my golden ball. It has fallen into the fountain."

"Then weep no more," said the frog. "I can get it for you. But what will you give me if I fetch your plaything?"

"Oh, I will give you anything, dear frog," she replied. "What will you want─my dresses, my pearls and jewels, or my golden crown?"

"I don't want any of them," answered the frog. "Your clothes, your pearls and your jewels, or even your golden crown, are nothing to me. I want you to love me, and let me be your companion. I'd like to sit at your table, eat from your golden plate, and drink out of your cup, and sleep in your nice bed. If you promise me all this, I will dive down into the water and bring up your pretty golden ball."

"Oh, yes," she replied. "I will promise you anything if only you bring back my ball."

But she thought to herself that a silly frog like him would not be a suitable companion.

很久很久以前，有一位国王，他有很多美丽的女儿。而小女儿更是楚楚动人，连太阳照在她脸上时都会觉得惊讶。

在国王的城堡附近有一片幽暗的森林。森林中央有一座喷水池。

有一天，天气很热，国王的小女儿到森林里去。她坐在清凉的喷水池旁边。然后她开始往空中拋金球，再把它接住。对她来说，这是非常有趣的游戏。

然而，有一次国王的女儿没能将球接住。它掉在地上，然后滚进水中。

公主的眼光追随着它，不久球就消失了。水非常地深，她见不到底。

这时她大声喊叫，开始哭了起来。不久她听到一个声音说：『你为什幺哭呢，公主？你的眼泪甚至能把石头溶化掉。』

她四处看了一下，看到了一只青蛙，它那肥厚而又丑陋的脑袋正伸出水面。

她说：『哦，原来是你这划水家伙在这儿。我哭是因为我的金球不见了。它掉到喷水池里去了。』

青蛙说：『不要哭了，我可以帮你拿回来。但是如果我把你的玩具找回来，你要给我什幺呢？』

她回答说：『哦，我会给你任何东西，亲爱的青蛙。你要什幺 ──我的衣服、珍珠、珠宝还是我金色的王冠呢？』

青蛙答道：『我不要这些东西。你的衣服、珍珠、珠宝，甚至于你金色的王冠对我来说，不值一文。我要你爱我，并让我做你的伴侣。我要坐在妳桌子前，用你的金盘吃东西，用你的杯子喝水，并睡在你舒适的床上。如果你答应我这些，我就潜到水里去把你漂亮的金球拿上来。』

她回答说：『哦，好的。只要你把我的金球拿回来，我什幺都答应你。』

但是她心想，像它那样愚笨的青蛙是不配和人类交往的。