The Frog Prince 青蛙王子

Many, many years ago, there lived a king. He had many beautiful daughters. And 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 into the fountain.
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。然后她开始往空中抛金球，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，不久它就消失了。水非常深，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：“你为什么哭呢，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。”

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 could not be fit to associate with mankind.

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，你要给我什么呢？”
她回答说：“哦，我会给你任何东西，亲爱的青蛙。你要什么－－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，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。我要坐在你桌子上，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，我什么都答应你。”
但是她心想，像它那样愚笨的青蛙是不配和人类交往的。

The frog believed the king' s daughter. He dipped his head under the water and dived to the bottom. After a while he carried the ball to the surface, and threw it onto the grass.
When the king' s daughter saw the beautiful ball, she was full of joy. She took it and ran away as fast as she could.
Wait, wait, cried the frog. Take me with you! I can't run as fast as you. But the young princess would not listen to the frog's croaking. She ran to the palace as fast as she could, and soon forgot the poor frog. So the frog returned to the fountain and remained there.
The next day, however, when the princess was sitting with the king and eating out of her own little golden plate, she heard a strange noise on the marble steps outside. Then came a knock on the door, and a voice cried, Lovely princess, open the door for me. So she rose and went to the door.

青蛙相信国王女儿的话。它把头浸入水里，潜至水底。过了一会儿，它把球带出水面，并把它抛在草地上。
国王的女儿看到她漂亮的球时，非常高兴。她把它拿起来，然后飞快地跑掉了。
青蛙叫道：“等一等，带我一起走。我没有办法和你跑得一样快。”但是这位年轻的公主根本不理青蛙的叫声。她尽快地跑回皇宫，不久就把那可怜的青蛙忘记了。于是青蛙返回喷水池旁并待在那儿。
然而，第二天当公主和国王坐在一起，用她的小金盘吃东西时，她听到外面大理石台阶上传来奇怪的声音。然后传来敲门声，一个声音叫道：“美丽的公主，请为我开门。”于是她就起身走到门口去。