【译】The Talisman

A Prince and a Princess were still celebrating their honeymoon. They were extremely happy; only one thought disturbed them， and that was how to retain their present happiness. For that reason they wished to own a talisman with which to protect themselves against any unhappiness in their marriage.

王子和公主还在度蜜月。他们非常的幸福；只是有一个想法一直困扰着他们，那就是如何保持他们目前的幸福。因为这个原因他们希望得到一个可以保护他们的婚姻免受不幸侵扰的神方。

Now， they had often been told about a man who lived out in the forest， acclaimed by everybody for his wisdom and known for his good advice in every need and difficulty. So the Prince and Princess called upon him and told him about their heart's desire. After the wise man had listened to them he said， “Travel through every country in the world， and wherever you meet a completely happily married couple， ask them for a small piece of the linen they wear close to the body， and when you receive this， you must always carry it on you. That is a sure remedy!”

如今，他们被告知森林里住着这样一个人，每个人都说他的智慧和学识可以对每一个需求和困难提供好的建议。所以王子和公主召他来然后告诉他关于他们内心的渴望。智者听完他们的诉求然后说，“”去所有的国家旅游吧，不管你们在哪遇到真正幸福的已婚夫妇，请他们给你一小片他们穿在身上的亚麻衣服小片，当你收到智慧，你一定要一直拿着它。这是最好的方法！”

the Prince and the Princess rode forth， and on their way they soon heard of a knight and his wife who were said to be living the most happily married life. They went to the knight's castle and asked him and his wife if their marriage was truly as happy as was rumored.

王子和公主离开家出去寻找，他们在路上很快就听说一位伯爵和他的妻子据说拥有非常幸福的婚姻生活。他们去了伯爵的城堡然后问他和他的妻子是否他们的婚姻真的如传说的一样幸福。

“Yes， of course，” was the answer， “with the one exception that we have no children!”

“是的，当然，”他们回答道。“有个例外是我们没有孩子！”

Here then the talisman was not to be found， and the Prince and Princess continued their journey in search of the completely happily married couple.

因此在这里没有找到神方，王子和公主继续他们的旅程去寻找真正的幸福已婚夫妇。

As they traveled on， they came to a country where they heard of an honest citizen who lived in perfect unity and happiness with his wife. So to him they went， and asked if he really was as happily married as people said.

当他们继续旅行，他们来到一个国家，在这儿他们听说一位正直的市民和他的妻子的生活完美统一非常幸福。所以他们去找他，问他师傅真的如人们所说的那样拥有幸福的婚姻。

“Yes， I am，” answered the man. “My wife and I live in perfect harmony; if only we didn't have so many children， for they give us a lot of worries and sorrows!”

“是的，我是的，”这个人回答道。“我的妻子和我生活的非常和谐；如果我们没有那么多孩子的话就更好了，因为他们给我们带来太多的担忧和悲伤！”

So neither with him was the talisman to be found， and the Prince and the Princess continued their journey through the country， always inquiring about happily married couples; but none presented themselves.

所以他们又没有发现神方，王子和公主继续他们穿越国家的旅行，一直在询问幸福的已婚夫妇，但是没有一个人出现在他们面前。

One day， as they rode along fields and meadows， they noticed a shepherd close by the road， cheerfully playing his flute. Just then a woman carrying a child in her arm， and holding a little boy by the hand， walked towards him. As soon as the shepherd saw her， he greeted her and took the little child， whom he kissed and caressed. The shepherd's dog ran to the boy， licked his little hand， and barked and jumped with joy. In the meantime the woman arranged a meal she had brought along， and then said， “Father， come and eat now!” The man sat down and took of the food， but the first bite he gave to the little boy， and the second he divided between the boy and the dog. All this was observed by the Prince and the Princess， who walked closer， and spoke to them， saying， “You must be a truly happily married couple.”

一天，当他们经过田野和牧场的时候，他们注意到路上的一个牧羊人走近他们，他高兴的吹着他的长笛。就在这时一个女人抱着一个孩子，手里牵着一个小男孩，走向他。很快牧羊人看着她，向她致意然后抱过小婴儿，小心翼翼的亲吻他。牧羊人的小狗跑向小男孩，舔着他的小手。高兴的叫着跳着。同时女人分配了她一直带着的午饭，然后说，“爸爸先过来吃！”男人坐下来然后拿过食物，但是第一口他给了小男孩，然后第二口他分给了小男孩和小狗。所有这些都被王子和公主看到了，他们走的更近，然后跟他们说，“你一定是正真的幸福已婚夫妇。”

“Yes， that we are，” said the man. “God be praised; no prince or princess could be happier than we are!”

“是的，我们是的。”男人说道，“上帝保佑，没有王子和公主会比我们幸福！”

“Now listen then，” said the Prince. “Do us a favor， and you shall never reGREt it. Give us a small piece of the linen garment you wear close to your body!”

“现在听我说，”王子说到，“请帮我们一个忙，你不会后悔的。给我们你们贴身穿的亚麻衣服的一小片碎片！”

As he spoke， the shepherd and his wife looked strangely at each other， and finally he said， “God knows we would be only too happy to give you not only a small piece， but the whole shirt， or undergarment， if we only had them， but we own not as much as a rag!”

当他说的时候，牧羊人和他的妻子奇怪着看着对方，最后他说，“上帝知道我很乐意给你不只是一小片，就算是一整个T恤或者内衣如果我们有的话，但是我们自己连一小片碎步都没有。”

So the Prince and the Princess journeyed on， their mission unaccomplished. Finally， their unsuccessful roaming discouraged them， and they decided to return home. As they passed the wise man's hut， they stopped by， related all their travel experiences， and reproached him for giving them such poor advice.

所以王子和公主继续旅行，他们的任务没有完成，最后，他们失败的漫步寻求让他们很失望，然后他们决定回家。当他们经过智者的房子时，他们停下来，想到他们所有的旅行经验然后责备他给他们这么个不靠谱建议。

At that the wise man smiled and said， “Has your trip really been all in vain? Are you not returning richer in knowledge?”

智者笑着然后说，“你们的旅程真的是徒劳的嘛？你们每天得到更富足的学识吗？”

“Yes，” answered the Prince， “I have gained this knowledge， that contentment is a rare gift on this earth.”
“不”王子回答道，“我得到了一个知识，那就是知足在这个世界上是最珍贵的礼物。”

“And I have learned，” said the Princess， “that to be contented， one needs nothing more than simply - to be contented!”
“我也学到了，”公主说道，“为了满足，一个人只需要知足而已。”

Whereupon the Prince took the Princess' hand; they looked at each other with an expression of deepest love. And the wise man blessed them and said， “In your own hearts you have found the true talisman! Guard it carefully， and the evil spirit of discontentment shall never in all eternity have any power over you!”

于是王子握着公主的手，他们充满深深爱意的看着对方，智者祝愿他们并说，“在你们自己的内心你已经找到了真正的神方，小心的保卫它，不知足的邪恶精神对你们也无能为力了。”