Now it happened one day that the golden ball, instead of falling back into the maiden's little hand which had sent it aloft, dropped to the ground near the edge of the well and rolled in. The King's daughter followed it with her eyes as it sank, but the well was deep, so deep that the bottom could not be seen. Then she began to weep, and she wept and wept as if she could never be comforted. And in the midst of her weeping she heard a voice saying to her.
有一天，小公主把球抛出后，球却没有落回她抛球的小手里，球掉在井边，然后就滚进了井里，小公主眼睁睁地看着它下沉。 那口井很深，简直是深不见底，小公主开始哭泣。 哭呀哭呀，似乎谁也安慰不了她。 就在这时，她听到有个声音对她说，
In the old times, when peo ple could have all they wished, there lived a King whose daughters were all handsome, but the youngest was so beautiful that the sun himself, who has seen so much, wondered each time he shone over her because of her beauty. Near the royal castle there was a great dark wood, and in the wood under an old linden tree was a well; and when the day was hot, the King's daughter used to go forth into the wood and sit by the brink of the cool well, and if the time seemed long, she would take out a golden ball, and throw it up and catch it again, and this was her favorite pastime.
在人们还可以实现愿望的古代，那时候有个国王，他有好几位公主。 虽然每位公主都貌美如花，但是她们中的小公主更是光艳照人，连见过很多世面的太阳，在每次向她洒下万道金光时，也因她的美而惊奇不已。 在国王城堡附近有一片广阔无垠的黑森林。在林中的一棵老菩堤树下，有一口水井。 天气炎热时，小公主总会到林中的那口井边，坐在凉爽的井台上。 如果呆的时间比较长，她还会拿出一个金球，在手里抛上抛下，这是她最喜欢的游戏。
And when she looked to see where the voice came from, there was nothing but a frog stretching his thick ugly head out of the water.
小公主抬起头来朝发出声音的地方看去，发现有只青蛙正把那难看的笨脑袋瓜子伸出水面。
"What ails you, King's daughter The tears would melt a heart of stone. "
“什么事使您如此伤心啊，公主？您的眼泪连铁石心肠的人也能感动。
"Whatever you like, dear frog, "said she; "any of my clothes, my pearls and jewels, or even the golden crown that I wear. "
“你要什么我就给你什么，亲爱的青蛙，”公主说。 “我的任何衣服，珍珠宝石，甚至我头上的金冠。 都可以。
"Your clothes, your pearls and jewels, and your golden crown are not for me. " answered the frog; "but if you would love me, and have me for your companion and playfellow, and let me sit by you at table, and eat from your plate, and drink from your cup, and sleep in your little bed-if you would promise all this, then would I dive below the water and fetch you your golden ball again. "
你的衣服，你的珍珠宝石，你的金冠我都用不着，”青蛙回答说，“但是，如果你会爱我，把我当作你的同伴和游伴，用餐时坐在你身边，同吃一盘菜，同喝一杯水，而且还要睡在你的小床上。 如果你答应所有这些条件，那么我就潜入水底，替你把金球再拿上来。
"Oh, is it you, old waddler"said she. "I weep because my golden ball has fallen into the well. "
“噢！是你吗？你这个摇摇晃晃的家伙，”小公主说道。 “我是在为我掉到井里的金球而哭呀。
"Never mind, do not weep, "answered the frog; "I can help you; but what will you give me if I fetch up your ball again"
“没有关系，别哭了。 ”青蛙回答。 “我能够帮助你，但是如果我再把你的球捡起来，你会给我什么报酬呢？
"Oh, yes," she answered; "I will promise it all, whatever you want, if you will only get me my ball again. "
“好的，”公主答道，“无论你提出什么要求我都同意，只要你再把球给我拿回来。
But the frog, as soon as he heard her promise, drew his head under the water and sank down out of sight. But after a while he came to the surface again with the ball in his mouth, and he threw it on the grass.
然而那青蛙一听到她表示同意，就一缩头钻进水里不见踪影了。 一会儿，它嘴里衔着球冒出了水面，然后就把球扔在草地上。
The King's daughter was overjoyed to see her pretty plaything again, and she caught it up and ran off with it.
当公主看到她的漂亮的玩具时，心里非常欢喜，拣起球就走了。
The next day, when the King's daughter was sitting at table with the King and all the court, and eating from her golden plate, there came a knocking at the door, and a voice crying, "Youngest King's daughter, let me in!"
第二天，当小公主和皇帝以及所有朝臣们坐在桌旁，正在从金盘中取食用餐时，突然有敲门声，并且有声音喊道：“国王的小公主，快开门让我进来呀！
But she thought to herself, "what nonsense he talks! as if he could do anything but sit in the water and croak with the other frogs, or could possibly be anyone's companion. "
但是公主又暗暗自己在想，“他在讲什么废话！好像什么事它都能干似的。 他除了和其它青蛙一样坐在井里呱呱叫而外，或者说他还可能成为别人的同伴。
But it was of no use. The King's daughter would not listen to his croaking, but made haste home, and very soon forgot all about the poor frog, who had to betake himself to his well again.
但这样叫也没有用，公主不听青蛙呱呱叫，只是赶着回家，并且很快就把可怜的青蛙全忘了，那只青蛙毫无办法只有回到自己的井里。
"Stop, stop! "cried the frog. "Take me up, too; I cannot run as fast as you!"
“等等，等等！”青蛙叫道。 “把我也拣起来。 我可不能跑得像你那么快。
And she got up and ran to see who it could be, but when she opened the door, there was the frog sitting outside. Then she shut the door hastily and went back to her seat, feeling very uneasy. The King noticed how quickly her heart was beating and said:
小公主起身跑去看那究竟可能是谁，当她发现门外坐着的是那只青蛙。 她急急忙忙把门关上，然后回到自己的座位上，心里感到十分不安。 国王看到她心情很紧张，于是就问道：
"My child, what are you afraid of Is there a giant standing at the door ready to carry you away"
“孩子，你害怕什么？是不是门外站着个巨人准备要把你抢去呀？
"Oh, no, "answered she; "No giant, but a horrid frog. "
“啊，没有，”她回答，“不是巨人，是只可怕的青蛙。
"Oh dear father," answered she, "when I was sitting by the well yesterday, and playing with my golden ball, it fell into the water, and while I was crying for the loss of it, the frog came and got it again for me on condition I would let him be my companion, but I never thought that he could leave the water and come after me; but now there he is outside the door, and he wants to come in to me. "
“啊，亲爱的父王，”公主答道，“昨天我坐在井边玩球时，球掉进了水里。 当我在为此而哭泣时，那只青蛙跑来为我拣回了球，条件是要我让它成为我的伴侣。 当时我并没有想到它能离开水井而跟我走的。 但是现在它却已到了门外，要来找我。
"Youngest King's daughter, Open to me! By the well water What promised you me Youngest King's daughter Now open to me!"
“小公主，快来替我开门！ 你在井边答应过我什么事？小公主，快来开门。
And then they all heard him knocking the second time and crying:
正在这时，他们都听到了青蛙再次的敲门声和叫喊声：
"Lift me up to sit by you. "
“请把我抱起来，让我坐在你身旁。
"And what does the frog want" asked the King.
“那只青蛙要什么？”国王问道。
" That which you have promised must you perform, "said the king; "so go now and let him in. "
国王说：“你答应做的事一定要做，所以你现在就去开门让他进来。
So she went and opened the door, and the frog hopped in, following at her heels, till she reached her chair. Then he stopped and cried:
于是，小公主去开了门。 青蛙紧跟在她的后面。 一跳一跳地一直跟到她的椅子前。 然后，青蛙停下来说道：
And so she did; but everybody saw how unwilling she was, and the frog feasted heartily, butevery morsel seemed to stick in her throat.
小公主照做了，但每个人都看得出她是多么地不情愿。 青蛙开始开怀大嚼，但是小公主却感到每一小口似乎都难以下咽。
But she delayed doing it until the King ordered her. When once the frog was on the chair, he wanted to get on the table; and there he sat and said! "Now push your golden plate a little nearer, so that we may eat together. "
但是小公主一直等到国王命令她，她才把青蛙放在椅子上。 青蛙一上了椅子，又要求，让他坐在桌子上。 坐上了桌子后，青蛙说道，“请把你的金盘子推到离我近一点的地方，这样我才能和你一起吃！
"That which you have promised in your time of necessity, must you now perform."
“你在需要别人帮助时答应别人的事，现在你一定要言出必行。
Then the King's daughter began to weep, and was afraid of the cold frog; she could not even touch him, and now he actually wanted to sleep in her pretty clean bed. Now the King grew angry with her, saying:
小公主听罢开始哭泣，她害拍那冷冰冰的青蛙，连碰也不敢碰他，而他现在硬要睡在她那又漂亮又干净的床上。 于是国王对她变得很生气，他说：
"I have had enough now," said the frog at last, "And as I am tired, you must carry me to your room, and make ready your silken bed, and we will lie down and go to sleep."
最后，青蛙说：“我吃饱了，而且因为我觉得疲倦了，你现在必须把我抱到你的房间去，把你的锦缎的床铺好，我们要一起躺下睡觉。
So she picked up the frog with her finger and thumb, carried him upstairs and put him in a corner, and when she had lain down to sleep, he came creeping up, saying!"I am tired and want sleep as much as you; take me up, or I will tell your father."
于是，小公主用大拇指和另一个手指把青蛙拈起来带上了楼，并且将它放在屋里的一个角落里。 当小公主自己躺在床上准备睡觉时，青蛙爬了过来，对小公主说：“我和你一样累，我同样也要睡觉，请你把我抱上床。 否则我就去告诉国王。
"Now will you be quiet, you horrid frog!"
“你这个可怕的青蛙，现在你可以安静了吧！
But as he fell, he ceased to be a frog, and became all at once a prince with beautiful kind eyes. And it came to pass that, with her father's consent, they became bride and bridegroom. And he told her how a wicked witch had bound him by her spells, and how no one but she alone could have released him, and that they two would go together to his father's kingdom. And there came to the door a carriage drawn by eight white horses, with white plumes on their heads, and with golden harness, and behind the carriage was standing faithful Henry, the servant of the young prince. Now, faithful Henry had suffered such care and pain when his master was turned into a frog, that he had been obliged to wear three iron bands over his heart, to keep it from breaking with trouble and anxiety. When the carriage started to take the prince to his kingdom, and faithful Henry had helped them both in, he got up behind, and was full of joy at his master's deliverence. And when they had gone a part of the way, the prince heard a sound at the back of the carriage, as if something had broken, and he turned round and cried:
然而，青蛙掉下时不再是个青蛙了，突然间变成了一个有着一双迷人而亲切的眼睛的王子。 事情后来演变成在国王同意下，他们结为夫妇成了新娘和新郎。 王子告诉公主，他是如何地被一个邪恶的女巫用咒语作弄，而只有小公主一人才能解求他。 他还告诉公主他将带着她返回自己父王的国度。 于是，有一天，王宫前来了一辆由八匹白色骏马拉着的马车，马头上还插着白羽毛，背上是金鞍。 在马车后面站着王子的忠仆亨利。 在王子被变成青蛙的日子里，亨利心情非常沉痛，因此他箍了三个法圈在他心的周围，以免他的心由于过分不安和担忧而破碎。 那一天亨利首先帮助王子与公主上了马车，当马车带着王子朝着他的国家出发时，亨利心里充满了喜悦，他上了车，站在车后，为王子得到拯救而高兴。 马车走了一段路时，王子就听到车后咔嚓一声，好像什么东西震断了，于是他回过头大声说道：
Then she felt beside herself with the rage, and picking him up, she threw the frog with all her strength against the wall, crying:
这时，小公主简直怒不可遏。 她把青蛙拾起，然后用尽全身力气向墙上扔去，一边叫道：
Again, and yet once again there was the same sound, and the prince thought it must be the wheel breaking, but it was the breaking of the other bands from faithful Henry's heart, Because it was now so relieved and happy.
接着，同样的声音又响起了，王子以为一定是车轮断了，而实际上断的是亨利箍在心口的另外两个铁箍，因为忠实的亨利现在已心花怒放了。
"Henry, the wheel must breaking!"but Henry answered:
“亨利，一定是轮子断了！”但是亨利答道：
"The wheel does not break, Tis the band round my heart That, to lessen its ache, When I grieved for your sake, I bound round my heart."
“轮子没有断，而是箍在我心上的铁圈，当我为你而伤心时，为了减缓我的心痛，我在心的周围箍了铁圈。