A long time ago there was an Emperor who loved new clothes. He spent his whole life searching for new things to wear. He didn't do any of the things which Emperors are supposed to do. He never visited his army, never made a speech, never opened a new school or hospital... no, the only time his people saw him was when he walked through the city showing off his newest clothes. People would see him and whisper, 'Look at his wonderful hat.' Or 'Those silk trousers! What beautiful colours!'
很久以前，有一位皇帝酷爱新衣。他一生都在寻找新衣服穿。他从不干皇帝该干的事。他从未视察过军队，从未发表过演讲，从未开办过新学校或医院……不，他的人民唯一能见到他的时候，就是他穿过城市炫耀自己最新的衣服。人们会看到他，并窃窃私语：“看他的帽子多棒啊。”或者“看那丝绸裤子！颜色多漂亮啊！”
'Fine,' said the tall stranger. 'Tell your Emperor that he's just missed the chance to buy the most wonderful, magical clothes the world has ever seen. Goodbye.'
“好吧，”高个子陌生人说，“告诉你们的皇帝，他刚刚错过了一个购买世界上从未见过的最神奇、最奇妙的衣服的机会。再见。”
'Impossible,' said the palace gatekeeper. 'A box of new shoes has just arrived from China and His Majesty will be spending the whole day trying them on. He'll have no time to see people.'
“不可能，”宫廷守门人说，“一箱新鞋刚从中国运来，陛下将花一整天的时间试穿。他没时间见人。”
One day two strangers arrived in the city. One was a very tall thin man with a long pointed nose. The other, small and round, had not a single hair on his head. The strange pair drove their cart straight to the Emperor's palace, and asked to see the Emperor.
有一天，两个陌生人来到了这座城市。其中一个是个高瘦的男人，长着一只尖鼻子。另一个则身材矮小，圆滚滚的，头上连一根头发都没有。这对奇怪的组合驾着马车直奔皇宫，要求觐见皇帝。
'Of course Your Majesty will be able to see our magical cloth but anyone who is stupid or not fit for his job will see nothing. To stupid people our cloth will be invisible.'
“当然，陛下一定能看见我们的魔法布，但任何愚蠢或不胜任其职的人将什么都看不见。对于愚蠢的人来说，我们的布将是隐形的。”
'Wait,' said the gatekeeper. 'Magical, you say? Perhaps His Majesty might spare a moment for you. Wait there.'
“等等，”看门人说，“你是说魔法？也许陛下会为你留出一点时间。你在那儿等着。”
'Your Majesty,' said the small round stranger, 'my partner and I have invented a cloth which is not only very beautiful but is also magic. We wondered if Your Majesty might be interested in such a cloth.'
“陛下，”这位身材矮小、圆滚滚的陌生人说道，“我和我的搭档发明了一种布料，它不仅非常漂亮，而且还有魔力。我们想知道陛下是否会对这种布料感兴趣。”
'Magic?' said the Emperor pretending not to be very interested. 'What magic?'
“魔法？”皇帝假装不太感兴趣地说，“什么魔法？”？
The Emperor sat up very straight. 'This is brilliant,' he thought. 'Here's a chance to find out which of my people are fit for their jobs and which of them are fools.'
皇帝坐直了身子。“这太棒了，”他想，“这是个机会，可以借此发现我的臣民中哪些人能胜任工作，哪些人是蠢材。”
'It's not cheap,' said the tall stranger. 'It'll cost...
“这可不便宜，”那个高大的陌生人说道，“得花不少钱。”。..
Now the Emperor would never miss a chance to buy unusual clothes, so before long the two strangers were standing in front of the great man and his ministers, all eager to see what the two had brought.
皇帝从不错过购买稀奇衣物的机会，因此没过多久，那两名陌生人便站在了这位大人物和他的大臣们面前，所有人都急切地想看看他们带来了什么。
'Alright,' he said. 'Make me some of your magic cloth. Make it for me now.'
“好吧，” 他说，“给我织出你们那种神奇的布料，现在就为我织。”
'Good,' he said. 'They've made a start.'
“很好，” 他说，“他们已经开始动工了。”
'It doesn't matter what it costs,' said the Emperor. 'Whatever you ask I'll pay.'
“花多少钱都无所谓，” 皇帝说，“你们要多少报酬，我都给。”
'Excuse me,' he said. 'May I come in?'
“打扰一下，” 他说，“我可以进来吗？”
The strangers were given two bags of gold coins and a room where they could set up their huge wooden looms. Then they locked the door... and started to work. The Emperor listened at the door and smiled excitedly.
陌生人拿到了两袋金币，还被安排了一间屋子，用来摆放他们巨大的木制织布机。随后他们锁上门…… 开始 “工作”。皇帝在门外侧耳倾听，兴奋地笑了起来。
But... what the Emperor didn't know was that these two strangers were cheats who had come to trick him. They were just pretending to work. They kept their looms moving but no silk or thread was used and not a stitch of cloth was made. The strangers looked at their empty looms and their two bags of gold and laughed.
可皇帝并不知道，这两个陌生人是前来欺骗他的骗子。他们只是假装在干活，织布机不停运转，却没有用一丝丝线，也没有织出一寸布料。两人看着空空的织布机和到手的两袋黄金，暗自窃笑。
'Enjoying their work,' said the Emperor. 'That's good sign.'
“他们干得很投入，” 皇帝说，“这是个好兆头。”
For two days and two nights the Emperor listened to the strangers working and on the third day he sent his Chief Minister to see how they were getting on. The Chief Minister knocked politely on the door.
整整两天两夜，皇帝都在门外听着两人干活的动静。第三天，他派丞相前去查看织布进度。丞相彬彬有礼地敲响了房门。
The door opened.
门开了。
'Of course,' said the tall stranger. 'Come and see the magic cloth. I think you will be quite surprised.'
“请进，” 高个子陌生人说道，“快来看看这神奇的布料，我相信您一定会大吃一惊。”
'Like the colours?' said the tall thin stranger.
“您喜欢这布料的颜色吗？” 瘦高个陌生人问道。
'It's um... beautiful,' said the Chief Minister.
“这…… 太美了。” 丞相说道。
Well the Chief Minister was surprised. Actually the Chief Minister was horrified because what he saw hanging on the looms was... nothing. He put on his glasses, put his face right up to the loom but he could not see a single thread of cloth. 'Oh no,' he thought. 'This means that I'm a fool and that I'm not fit to do my job. No-one must know. I must pretend that I see the cloth.'
丞相心里十分震惊，实则惶恐不已，因为织布机上空空如也，什么都没有。他戴上眼镜，凑近织布机仔细打量，依旧连一根丝线都看不到。他心想：糟了，难道我是个蠢人，不配身居高位？这件事绝不能让人知道，我必须假装自己能看见这块布料。
'The colours? Oh yes,' said the Chief Minister. 'Magnificent. The Emperor is going to just love those colours.'
“颜色简直绝了，太华丽了，” 丞相连忙附和，“陛下一定会十分喜欢这些色彩。”
'So what do you think?' said the short round stranger.
“那您觉得这布料怎么样？” 矮胖的陌生人问道。
'Then tell him he's going to need to pay us more money,' said the short round stranger. 'Magic thread is very expensive. Tell him we need two more bags of gold if we are to make enough cloth for a suit of clothes.'
“那你回去告诉陛下，还需要再给我们加钱，” 矮胖陌生人说，“这种神奇丝线造价极高，要织出一整套衣服的布料，还得再给我们两袋金币。”
The Emperor was very excited when he heard about the magnificent cloth and he told a servant to take the strangers two more bags of gold.
皇帝听闻布料精美绝伦，满心欢喜，立刻吩咐仆人再给两人送去两袋金币。
'Certainly,' said the Chief Minister and he scurried back to the Emperor.
“遵命。” 丞相说完，匆匆回去向皇帝复命。
The servant did as he was told and then took at look at the magic cloth and saw... nothing.
仆人遵照吩咐送来了金币，转头去看那神奇的布料，却什么也没看见。
'Put the money on the table,' said the tall stranger pretending to work on his loom.
“把钱放在桌上吧。” 高个子陌生人一边假装织布，一边说道。
As he left the room and walked back to the Emperor's chamber the servant heard the chink of gold coins and the unmistakable sound of laughter.
仆人离开房间返回宫殿时，听到了金币碰撞的叮当声，还有清晰的笑声。
'Lovely, isn't it,' said the short round stranger without looking up from his work. Now the servant didn't want the whole world to think he was a fool and unfit for his job so of course he said, 'Oh yes. The most beautiful cloth I have ever seen.'
“这布料美极了，对吧？” 矮胖陌生人头也不抬地故作忙碌。仆人可不想被人当成蠢人、丢了差事，于是连忙附和：“是啊，这是我见过最美的布料。”
News of the beautiful magic cloth quickly spread. The Emperor could wait no longer and demanded to see the cloth for himself. So, with all his ministers and his servants following behind, the Emperor went to the strangers' room and knocked on the door.
神奇布料的消息很快传遍全城。皇帝再也按捺不住，决定亲自前去看一看。于是他带着文武百官和一众仆人，来到两人的住处，敲响了房门。
The Emperor looked at the looms, stared at the cloth and saw... nothing. He rubbed his eyes and looked again. Still nothing. His heart was beating. The colour had drained from his face. The cloth was invisible.
皇帝望着织布机，盯着上面所谓的布料，却什么也没看见。他揉了揉眼睛再看，依旧空空如也。他心跳加速，脸色煞白，这块布料根本就是无形的。
And of course his ministers and servants all agreed. None of them could really see any cloth either but nobody wanted to be thought a fool so they all said, 'Magnificent... beautiful... quite, quite brilliant!'
随行的大臣和仆人们也纷纷附和。其实没人看得见布料，但谁都不愿被当成傻子，全都夸赞道：“太华美了…… 太漂亮了…… 简直无与伦比！”
'This is a disaster,' he thought. 'Everyone will know I'm a fool and unfit to be Emperor. I'm finished. I'll have to resign, give up my Empire, admit I'm not up to the job.'
皇帝暗自心想：这下完了，所有人都会知道我是个蠢人，不配当皇帝。我彻底完了，只能退位让贤，放弃我的江山，承认自己无能。
'Magnificent! This is the most beautiful cloth I have ever seen.'
“太华丽了！这是我见过最美的布料。”
And then he thought. 'No! I'm not going to allow this to happen. I am the Emperor and I'm going to carry on being the Emperor.' And so he said...
可他转念一想：不行！我绝不能任由这种事发生。我是皇帝，必须继续坐稳皇位。于是他开口说道……
And then someone started to clap. Others joined in... and soon the whole court was cheering the two strangers who smiled and bowed very low like actors on a stage.
这时有人率先鼓起掌来，其他人也纷纷响应…… 顷刻间，满朝文武都为两人欢呼喝彩。两个骗子面带微笑，像舞台上的演员一样深深鞠躬。
When the cheering died down the Emperor asked the two strangers if they could make him a suit of clothes from the magic cloth. The tall stranger stroked his long chin and said, 'Your Majesty, a suit of clothes made from this fine cloth will cost you two more bags of gold.'
欢呼声渐渐平息后，皇帝询问两人能否用这块神奇布料为自己缝制一套新衣。高个子陌生人摸着长长的下巴说：“陛下，用这块上等布料缝制一整套衣服，还需再支付两袋金币。”
'Of course. Whatever. Pay them!' ordered the Emperor. So the money was paid and the two cheats got to work.
“没问题，要多少都给！立刻赏给他们！” 皇帝下令道。金币很快送了过来，两个骗子随即开始 “缝制新衣”。
First they squeezed him into a pair of invisible trousers.
他们先是假装给皇帝穿上了一条无形的裤子。
Now different sounds came from the strangers' room. Peering through the keyhole the Emperor could see scissors cutting invisible cloth and needles stitching with invisible thread. He longed to see his beautiful new clothes but the Emperor knew now that they would always remain invisible to him because he was a fool. The cheating strangers worked through the night and in the morning they told the Emperor that his new clothes were ready. The Emperor was very excited and he announced that he would wear his new clothes that very morning and walk through his city so that his people could admire his latest outfit. So the Emperor got undressed and the strangers helped him on with his new clothes.
屋子里传来了别样的声响。皇帝透过钥匙孔往里看，仿佛看到剪刀裁剪着无形的布料，针线穿梭缝制着衣衫。他满心期待看到自己的华美新衣，却也心知肚明：自己是个蠢人，永远看不见这套衣服。两个骗子忙活了一整夜，次日清晨告知皇帝新衣已经做好。皇帝欣喜不已，当即下令当天上午就穿着新衣巡游全城，让百姓一睹他的新装风采。于是皇帝褪去衣衫，任由两人为他穿戴这身无形的新衣。
'No,' said the Emperor. 'Very comfortable. Very comfortable indeed actually.'
“不紧，” 皇帝说，“很合身，实在是太舒服了。”
'Trousers not too tight, Your Majesty?' they asked.
“陛下，裤子不紧绷吧？” 两人假意问道。
The strangers fastened invisible buttons and buckles, eased the Emperor into an invisible shirt and coat and placed an invisible hat on his head. Finally, as they tied up the invisible laces on his invisible shoes, they said, 'So how do the clothes feel, Your Majesty?'
骗子们假装系上无形的纽扣和腰带，帮皇帝穿上无形的内衬与外袍，还为他戴上了一顶无形的礼帽。最后一边系着无形的鞋带，一边问道：“陛下，这身衣服穿起来感觉如何？”
'I don't know,' said the Emperor. 'What do you think would be the best colour to go with this magnificent outfit?'
“我也说不上来，” 皇帝说，“你们觉得配什么颜色的配饰，最衬这身华服？”
'Certainly,' said the small round stranger. 'What colour gloves shall I fetch?'
“遵命，” 矮胖陌生人说道，“不知陛下想要什么颜色的手套？”
'Yes. That's what I think too,' said the Emperor. 'Fetch me some purple gloves and then I'll be ready.'
“甚好，我也是这么想的，” 皇帝说，“取一副紫色手套来，我就可以出发了。”
'Very light,' said the Emperor. 'It almost feels like I'm not wearing anything at all. Now fetch me a pair of gloves. I don't want to get cold hands today.'
“衣服轻盈极了，” 皇帝说道，“几乎像什么都没穿一样。快去拿副手套来，我可不想冻着手。”
'Purple, I think, Your Majesty,' said the tall thin stranger.
“依臣之见，紫色最为合适，陛下。” 瘦高个陌生人说道。
The city streets were full. A great crowd had come to see the Emperor's new clothes. Everyone was excited, but they were also a bit scared. Everyone was thinking the same thought. 'What if I can't see the clothes? What if it turns out that I'm a fool?'
城里的街道人山人海，百姓们都赶来一睹皇帝的新装。众人既好奇又惶恐，心里都想着同一个念头：万一我看不见衣服怎么办？那不就说明我是个蠢人吗？
The Emperor led the procession out of the Palace and into the streets. He walked very slowly with his head in the air and a proud smile on his face and, although the people could see no clothes, they all clapped and praised the wonderful colours and the beautiful design. 'Oh dear,' thought the Emperor. 'All my people can see my clothes. I must be the only fool in the whole city.'
皇帝带着仪仗队伍走出皇宫，走上街头。他昂首挺胸，缓步前行，脸上带着骄傲的笑容。百姓们明明什么衣服都没看见，却纷纷鼓掌称赞衣服色彩绚丽、款式精美。皇帝心里暗自懊恼：完了，所有百姓都能看见新衣，难道全城只有我一个蠢人？
And now people started whispering amongst themselves.
这时，人群中开始有人窃窃私语。
'Yes he is,' said the little boy. 'He's all bare. I can see...'
“是啊，他什么都没穿。我看得清清楚楚……” 小男孩说道。
Everything went quiet. The people looked at the little boy. The people looked at the Emperor.
周遭瞬间安静下来，众人看看小男孩，又看看皇帝。
'No he's not,' said the boy's father.
“别乱说！” 男孩的父亲连忙制止。
And then a little boy pointed at the Emperor and said, 'He's got nothing on!'
就在这时，一个小男孩指着皇帝大声说道：“他什么衣服都没穿！”
'Quiet!' said the boy's father.
“住口！” 男孩的父亲急忙呵斥。
'But he hasn't got any clothes,' said the little boy. 'He's all bare.'
“可他确实没穿衣服啊，浑身光溜溜的。” 小男孩委屈地说道。
'Poor fools,' thought the Emperor. 'Of course they can't see my clothes. Just proves it. Fools every single one of them.'
皇帝心里不屑地想：一群可怜的蠢人，他们根本不配看见我的新衣。这下证实了，他们全都是愚笨之人。
'Don't be silly,' said the boy's father. 'I'm sorry, Your Majesty. My son doesn't know what he's saying. He's just a stupid boy. Your clothes are beautiful.'
“别傻了，”男孩的父亲说，“对不起，陛下。我儿子不知道自己在说什么。他只是个傻孩子。您的衣服很漂亮。”
'The boy's right,' they said. 'The Emperor's got nothing on.' The whispering spread and then people started pointing and laughing. 'He's all bare. He's got nothing on.'
“这孩子说得对，”他们说，“皇帝什么都没穿。”窃窃私语声四起，接着人们开始指指点点，哈哈大笑。“他光着身子。什么都没穿。”
And slowly, proudly he walked on through the city streets dressed in nothing but a pair of purple gloves.
他慢慢地、骄傲地走在城市的街道上，身上只戴着一副紫色手套。