Puss in Boots (A. E. Johnson translation)

A certain miller had three sons, and when he died the sole worldly goods which he bequeathed to them were his mill, his ass, and his cat. This little legacy was very quickly divided up, and you may be quite sure that neither notary nor attorney were called in to help, for they would speedily have grabbed it all for themselves.

从前有个磨坊主，他有三个儿子，他去世时留给他们的全部家产，只有一座磨坊、一头驴子和一只猫。这份微薄的遗产很快就分好了，你尽可以放心，他们并没有请公证人或律师来帮忙分家，因为要是请了，这些人转眼就会把家产全都据为己有。

The eldest son took the mill, and the second son took the ass. Consequently all that remained for the youngest son was the cat, and he was not a little disappointed at receiving such a miserable portion.

大儿子分到了磨坊，二儿子分到了驴子。于是剩给小儿子的，就只有那只猫了，他分到这么一份可怜的家产，心里颇不是滋味。

'My brothers,' said he, 'will be able to get a decent living by joining forces, but for my part, as soon as I have eaten my cat and made a muff out of his skin, I am bound to die of hunger.'

“我的哥哥们，”他说，“合伙经营，日子总能过得过去，可我呢，只怕等我把这猫吃了，再把它的皮做成手笼之后，就非得饿死不可了。”

These remarks were overheard by Puss, who pretended not to have been listening, and said very soberly and seriously:

这些话恰好被猫听见了，它假装没在听，然后一本正经、十分严肃地说道：

'There is not the least need for you to worry, Master. All you have to do is to give me a pouch, and get a pair of boots made for me so that I can walk in the woods. You will find then that your share is not so bad after all.'

“主人，您完全用不着为此担忧。您只需给我一个口袋，再给我做一双靴子，好让我能在树林里走动。到时候您就会发现，您分到的这一份其实一点也不差。”

Now this cat had often shown himself capable of performing cunning tricks. When catching rats and mice, for example, he would hide himself amongst the meal and hang downwards by the feet as though he were dead. His master, therefore, though he did not build too much on what the cat had said, felt some hope of being assisted in his miserable plight.

要知道，这只猫早就多次显露过施展狡黠把戏的本领。比如捉老鼠的时候，它就会藏身在面粉堆里，倒挂着双脚装死。因此，虽然主人对猫说的这番话不敢抱太大指望，心里却也生出了几分希望，觉得也许能借此摆脱眼下的窘境。

On receiving the boots which he had asked for, Puss gaily pulled them on. Then he hung the pouch round his neck, and holding the cords which tied it in front of him with his paws, he sallied forth to a warren where rabbits abounded. Placing some bran and lettuce in the pouch, he stretched himself out and lay as if dead. His plan was to wait until some young rabbit, unlearned in worldly wisdom, should come and rummage in the pouch for the eatables which he had placed there.

猫拿到自己要的靴子后，兴高采烈地穿了上去。接着它把口袋挂在脖子上，用两只前爪抓住系口袋的绳子，抵在胸前，大摇大摆地朝一处兔子成群的猎场走去。它在口袋里放了些麸皮和莴苣，然后伸直了身子，一动不动地躺着，装成死了的样子。它的算盘是，等着哪只不谙世事的小兔子跑来，把爪子伸进口袋里翻找它放在里面的吃食。

Hardly had he laid himself down when things fell out as he wished. A stupid young rabbit went into the pouch, and Master Puss, pulling the cords tight, killed him on the instant.

它刚躺下没多久，事情便如它所愿发生了。一只愚蠢的小兔子钻进了口袋里，猫先生猛地一拉绳子，当场就把它勒死了。

Well satisfied with his capture, Puss departed to the king's palace. There he demanded an audience, and was ushered upstairs. He entered the royal apartment, and bowed profoundly to the king.

猫对这次的收获十分满意，便动身前往国王的王宫。到了那里，它请求觐见，被领着上了楼。它走进王室的房间，向国王深深一躬。

'I bring you, Sire,' said he, 'a rabbit from the warren of the marquis of Carabas (such was the title he invented for his master), which I am bidden to present to you on his behalf.'

“陛下，”它说道，“我给您带来了一只卡拉巴斯侯爵（这是它给主人编造的头衔）猎场里的兔子，他吩咐我代他献给您。”

'Tell your master,' replied the king, 'that I thank him, and am pleased by his attention.'

“告诉你的主人，”国王答道，“我谢谢他，也很欣赏他这份心意。”

Another time the cat hid himself in a wheatfield, keeping the mouth of his bag wide open. Two partridges ventured in, and by pulling the cords tight he captured both of them. Off he went and presented them to the king, just as he had done with the rabbit from the warren. His Majesty was not less gratified by the brace of partridges, and handed the cat a present for himself.

又有一次，这猫藏身在一片麦田里，把口袋的开口大大地敞开着。两只鹧鸪冒冒失失地钻了进去，它猛地一拉绳子，把两只都逮住了。它便动身把这两只鹧鸪献给国王，就跟先前献那只猎场兔子时一样。国王陛下对这一对鹧鸪同样十分满意，还赏了猫一份礼物。

For two or three months Puss went on in this way, every now and again taking to the king, as a present from his master, some game which he had caught. There came a day when he learned that the king intended to take his daughter, who was the most beautiful princess in the world, for an excursion along the river bank.

就这样过了两三个月，猫时不时地把自己捕到的猎物带去献给国王，说是它主人送的礼物。有一天，它得知国王打算带着自己的女儿——那位举世无双的美丽公主——沿河岸出游散心。

'If you will do as I tell you,' said Puss to his master, 'your fortune is made. You have only to go and bathe in the river at the spot which I shall point out to you. Leave the rest to me.'

“只要您照我说的做，”猫对主人说道，“您的富贵就有着落了。您只需到我指给您看的那处河边去洗个澡。剩下的事就交给我吧。”

The marquis of Carabas had no idea what plan was afoot, but did as the cat had directed.

卡拉巴斯侯爵完全不知道猫在打什么主意，可还是照猫说的做了。

While he was bathing the king drew near, and Puss at once began to cry out at the top of his voice:

他正在洗澡时，国王的车驾渐渐驶近，猫立刻扯开嗓子大喊起来：

'Help! help! the marquis of Carabas is drowning!'

“救命啊！救命啊！卡拉巴斯侯爵要淹死了！”

At these shouts the king put his head out of the carriage window. He recognised the cat who had so often brought him game, and bade his escort go speedily to the help of the marquis of Carabas.

国王听见这喊声，把头探出车窗。他认出了这只多次给他献猎物的猫，便吩咐随行的人赶紧去救卡拉巴斯侯爵。

While they were pulling the poor marquis out of the river, Puss approached the carriage and explained to the king that while his master was bathing robbers had come and taken away his clothes, though he had cried 'Stop, thief!' at the top of his voice. As a matter of fact, the rascal had hidden them under a big stone. The king at once commanded the keepers of his wardrobe to go and select a suit of his finest clothes for the marquis of Carabas.

正当他们把这可怜的侯爵从河里拉出来时，猫走近马车，向国王解释说，他主人洗澡时，来了几个强盗把他的衣服偷走了，尽管他当时扯着嗓子大喊“抓贼！抓贼！”也无济于事。事实上，是这狡猾的猫自己把衣服藏到了一块大石头底下。国王当即下令，让掌管他衣物的人去挑一套他最上等的衣服，送给卡拉巴斯侯爵穿。

The king received the marquis with many compliments, and as the fine clothes which the latter had just put on set off his good looks (for he was handsome and comely in appearance), the king's daughter found him very much to her liking. Indeed, the marquis of Carabas had not bestowed more than two or three respectful but sentimental glances upon her when she fell madly in love with him. The king invited him to enter the coach and join the party.

国王对侯爵大加称赞地接见了他，而侯爵刚穿上的这身华服，更衬出他本就俊美的相貌（因为他本来就长得英俊潇洒），国王的女儿对他一见倾心。的确，卡拉巴斯侯爵不过朝她投去两三次恭敬却又含情脉脉的目光，她便已深深地爱上了他。国王邀他上车，一同随行。

Delighted to see his plan so successfully launched, the cat went on ahead, and presently came upon some peasants who were mowing a field.

猫见自己的计划如此顺利地展开，心中十分得意，便先行一步，不久便遇见几个正在割草的农夫。

'Listen, my good fellows,' said he; 'if you do not tell the king that the field which you are mowing belongs to the marquis of Carabas, you will all be chopped up into little pieces like mince-meat.'

“听着，好伙计们，”它说道，“你们要是不告诉国王，说你们割的这块地是卡拉巴斯侯爵的，你们个个都要被剁成肉酱一样的碎块。”

In due course the king asked the mowers to whom the field on which they were at work belonged.

不多时，国王果然向割草的人们打听，他们正在劳作的这块地是谁家的。

'It is the property of the marquis of Carabas,' they all cried with one voice, for the threat from Puss had frightened them.

“这是卡拉巴斯侯爵的地产，”他们异口同声地喊道，因为猫的那番威胁把他们吓坏了。

'You have inherited a fine estate,' the king remarked to Carabas.

“你继承了一份好家业啊，”国王对卡拉巴斯说道。

'As you see for yourself, Sire,' replied the marquis; 'this is a meadow which never fails to yield an abundant crop each year.'

“陛下您也亲眼看见了，”侯爵答道，“这是一片草地，年年都能有丰厚的收成，从未歉收过。”

Still travelling ahead, the cat came upon some harvesters.

猫继续在前面赶路，又遇见了一群正在收割的人。

'Listen, my good fellows,' said he; 'if you do not declare that every one of these fields belongs to the marquis of Carabas, you will all be chopped up into little bits like mince-meat.'

“听着，好伙计们，”它说道，“你们要是不说这些田地都是卡拉巴斯侯爵的，你们个个都要被剁成肉酱一样的碎块。”

The king came by a moment later, and wished to know who was the owner of the fields in sight.

不一会儿国王的车驾经过这里，也想知道眼前这些田地是谁的。

'It is the marquis of Carabas,' cried the harvesters.

“是卡拉巴斯侯爵的，”收割的人们喊道。

At this the king was more pleased than ever with the marquis.

国王听了这话，对侯爵越发满意了。

Preceding the coach on its journey, the cat made the same threat to all whom he met, and the king grew astonished at the great wealth of the marquis of Carabas.

猫一路走在马车前头，对沿途遇见的每个人都发出同样的威胁，国王也越来越惊讶于卡拉巴斯侯爵这般巨大的财富。

Finally Master Puss reached a splendid castle, which belonged to an ogre. He was the richest ogre that had ever been known, for all the lands through which the king had passed were part of the castle domain.

最后，猫先生来到了一座富丽堂皇的城堡前，那是一个食人妖魔的地盘。这是有史以来最富有的一个食人妖魔，因为国王一路经过的那些土地，全都属于这座城堡的领地。

The cat had taken care to find out who this ogre was, and what powers he possessed. He now asked for an interview, declaring that he was unwilling to pass so close to the castle without having the honour of paying his respects to the owner.

猫早已留意打探清楚，这个食人妖魔究竟是何方神圣，又有着怎样的法力。这时它便请求会面，说自己路过城堡附近，若不进去向堡主致以敬意，实在于心不安。

The ogre received him as civilly as an ogre can, and bade him sit down.

这食人妖魔按它那种妖魔的礼数，还算客气地接待了它，并请它坐下。

'I have been told,' said Puss, 'that you have the power to change yourself into any kind of animal—for example, that you can transform yourself into a lion or an elephant.'

“我听说，”猫说道，“您有本事把自己变成任何一种动物——比如说，您能把自己变成一头狮子，或者一头大象。”

'That is perfectly true,' said the ogre, curtly; 'and just to prove it you shall see me turn into a lion.'

“这是千真万确的，”食人妖魔简短地说道，“为了向你证明这一点，你马上就能看见我变成一头狮子。”

Puss was so frightened on seeing a lion before him that he sprang on to the roof—not without difficulty and danger, for his boots were not meant for walking on the tiles.

猫一见眼前真出现了一头狮子，吓得一下子跳到了屋顶上去——这可不容易，还挺危险的，因为它那双靴子本就不是为了在瓦片上行走而做的。

Perceiving presently that the ogre had abandoned his transformation, Puss descended, and owned to having been thoroughly frightened.

不久，它看见食人妖魔已经变回原形，便从屋顶上下来，坦白说自己确实被吓得不轻。

'I have also been told,' he added, 'but I can scarcely believe it, that you have the further power to take the shape of the smallest animals—for example, that you can change yourself into a rat or a mouse. I confess that to me it seems quite impossible.'

“我还听说，”它接着说道，“不过我实在难以相信，说您还有本事变成最小的动物——比如说，您能把自己变成一只老鼠，或者一只耗子。我承认，在我看来这简直是不可能的事。”

'Impossible?' cried the ogre; 'you shall see!' And in the same moment he changed himself into a mouse, which began to run about the floor. No sooner did Puss see it than he pounced on it and ate it.

“不可能？”食人妖魔喊道，“你等着瞧吧！”话音未落，它已经变成了一只老鼠，开始在地板上跑来跑去。猫一见这情形，立刻扑了上去，把它吃掉了。

Presently the king came along, and noticing the ogre's beautiful mansion desired to visit it. The cat heard the rumble of the coach as it crossed the castle drawbridge, and running out to the courtyard cried to the king:

不久国王也来到了这里，看见这座妖魔的华美宅邸，便想进去参观一番。猫听见马车驶过城堡吊桥时发出的隆隆声，便跑到院子里，冲着国王喊道：

'Welcome, your Majesty, to the castle of the marquis of Carabas!'

“欢迎陛下光临卡拉巴斯侯爵的城堡！”

'What's that?' cried the king. 'Is this castle also yours, marquis? Nothing could be finer than this courtyard and the buildings which I see all about. With your permission we will go inside and look round.'

“这是怎么回事？”国王喊道。“这座城堡也是您的吗，侯爵？我眼前所见的这座院子和这些建筑，实在是再华美不过了。承蒙允许，我们就进去看看吧。”

The marquis gave his hand to the young princess, and followed the king as he led the way up the staircase. Entering a great hall they found there a magnificent collation. This had been prepared by the ogre for some friends who were to pay him a visit that very day. The latter had not dared to enter when they learned that the king was there.

侯爵把手伸给年轻的公主，跟随国王的脚步，一路走上台阶。他们走进一间大厅，只见里面摆着一桌盛大的酒席。这本是那食人妖魔为几位当天要来拜访他的朋友所准备的。可这几位朋友听说国王在场，便不敢进来了。

The king was now quite as charmed with the excellent qualities of the marquis of Carabas as his daughter. The latter was completely captivated by him. Noting the great wealth of which the marquis was evidently possessed, and having quaffed several cups of wine, he turned to his host, saying:

如今国王对卡拉巴斯侯爵的种种优秀品质，简直和他女儿一样倾心。他女儿则早已完全被他迷住了。国王见侯爵显然拥有如此巨大的财富，又喝下了好几杯美酒，便转向自己的这位东道主，说道：

'It rests with you, marquis, whether you will be my son-in-law.'

“侯爵，你愿不愿意做我的女婿，这就全看你自己的意思了。”

The marquis, bowing very low, accepted the honour which the king bestowed upon him. The very same day he married the princess.

侯爵深深一躬，接受了国王赐予他的这份殊荣。就在当天，他便迎娶了公主。

Puss became a personage of great importance, and gave up hunting mice, except for amusement.

猫从此成了一位举足轻重的人物，除了图个乐子，再也不去捕鼠了。