《皇帝的新装》的译文：
Long ago and far away, there lived an Emperor. This Emperor was very vain and could think about nothing but his clothes. He had wardrobes and cupboards full of clothes. They filled his spare bedrooms and upstairs corridors of the palace.
The courtiers were worried that the wardrobes would begin to appear downstairs and in their chambers.
The Emperor spent hours every morning getting dressed. He had to choose his outfit, preferable a new one, and the shoes and wig to go with it. Mid-morning, he invariably changed into something more formal for his short meetings with his counsellors and advisors. He would change again for lunch, and then again for a rest in the afternoon. He just had to change for dinner and them again for the evening!
He kept all the weavers, tailors, cobblers and silk merchants of the city very busy and very happy!
News of the Emperor spread to distant kingdoms and finally came to the ears of two very shady characters.
"Could we?" they asked themselves. "Could we fool the Emperor who loves new clothes?"
"Let's try," they decided.
They left their homes and travelled to the Emperor's city. there they saw the many shops selling clothes, shoes and fabrics. For, if the Emperor dressed finely, so too did his couriers. The two travellers went to the palace along with many other tradesmen hoping to sell their wares to the Emperor.
They asked to meet the Emperor.
"We have something very special to show him," they told the Chamberlain.
"That's what everyone says," said the Chamberlain.
"Ah, but his is magical," said one, "We have invented a new cloth by using a very special and secret method."
The Chamberlain felt that it was his duty to bring new items to the Emperor's attention and he went to tell him.
"Something magical?" said the Emperor, who was changing for lunch and admiring himself in the mirror.
"Oh, I love new things, Show the two weavers in."
The two weavers were shown in, and began to describe their cloth to the Emperor.
"It is gold, silver and rainbow coloured, all at the same time," said one. "It shimmers."
"It feels like silk, but is as warm as wool," said the second.
"It is as light as air," said the first. "A most wonderful fabric."
The Emperor was enchanted. He must have an outfit from this new cloth.
"There is a grand parade in the city in two weeks time," he said. "I need a new outfit for it. Can one be ready in time?"
"Oh yes, your Majesty," said the weavers. "But there is a problem. The cloth is very expensive to make."
"No matter," said the Emperor, waving his hand. "Money is no objest. I must have an outfit. Just see the Chamberlain and he'll sort it out. Make it here in the palace."
The Chamberlain showed the two weavers to a large airy room and they set to work. They asked for a loom, and a sack of gold to start buying materials.
The Chamberlain followed the Emperor's orders and they were denied nothing.
The weavers worked away behind closed doors. The loom could be heard clattering away. Every now and them a courtier would stand and listen at the door. News of the magic cloth had spread.
Finally, the Emperor could stand it no more.
"Chamberlain, go to the weavers and see how the cloth is processing. The parade is only a week way."
The Chamberlain knocked at the door and waited.
"Enter!" said the weavers. They had been expecting someone soon!
"The Emperor has sent me to check on the progress of the cloth," said the Chamberlain, staring at the empty loom.
"Is it not beautiful?" said one of the weavers, holding out nothing to the Chamberlain. "See the lustre, feel the softness!"
"Um," said the Chamberlain, not quite sure what to say.
"Oh wise Chamberlain," said the other weaver.
"Now you can see why it is magical. Only the truly clever and brilliant can see the cloth. Most people would see an empty loom, but a clever man like you will see our wonderful cloth."
"Of course," said the Chamberlain, not wanting to look stupid. "It really is quite marvellous. Those colours, that shimmer of the gold and silver threads. Marvellous."
"Oh, you are so wise," said the weavers.
The Emperor was very impatient and couldn't wait for the Chamberlain to return. After ten minutes of pacing up and down, he went to the weavers' room, followed by half of his court.
He threw the doors open, and saw the empty loom.
"Why!" he cried in a surprised voice.
"Your Majesty," said the Chamberlain quickly. " A wise man such as yourself can surely see the colours and sheen of this magical cloth."
"Of course I can," said the Emperor, wondering why he could not. "It's beautiful. Simply enchanting. When can my outfit be made? Send for the royal tailors!"
"Your Majesty," said the two weavers. "We would be delighted to make your outfit for you. There is no need to trouble your hard-working tailor. It is such a difficult fabric to cut and sew. We will make the suit."
"Very well," said the Emperor. "First fitting tomorrow."
The courtiers had followed the Emperor, and they now came into the room. Of course, they could see nothing on the loom for there was nothing to see.
"Is it not beautiful?" said one of the weavers. "Of course, only the wise and very clever can see the beauty of the cloth. Look at the colours, feel the weight."
The courtiers queued up to look at the colours and feel the weight, and each went away exclaiming over the marvellous cloth which was indeed as light as air. But each courtier secretly wondered if they were really stupid, as they had seen nothing at all.
The two weavers then set to work as tailors.
They muttered and discussed at the Emperor's fittings, stitching here, cutting there until at last the suit was made.
The following day was the day of the parade.
"Am I not the handsomest of men in my marvellour suit?" said the Emperor to the Chamberlain, as he showed off his new outfit. "Just look at the tiny stitches and the lacework. Truly marvellous."
"Undoubtedly, sir," said the Chamberlain. "There is no outfit on earth to equal this one."
The Emperor was dressed in his new suit and ready for the parade. News of his amazing outfit had reached the people of the town and all wanted to see him. There were people crowded along the sides of the streets.
The parade began!
People gasped. "What a suit!" they cried.
"What suit?" asked a small boy, who had not heard of the magical cloth. "The Emperor has no clothes on at all!"
"It's true! No clothes! The Emperor is naked!" the people cried.
And the Emperor was very ashamed. He had been so vain, and now he had been made to look a fool.
As for the two tailors -- they were in fact thieves, and had long since left the town with their bags of gold. Probably laughing all the way!
But the Emperor is a wiser man now, and spends a lot more time with his advisors and far less with his tailors.
许多年以前有一位皇帝，他非常喜欢穿好看的新衣服。他为了要穿得漂亮，把所有的钱都花到衣服上去了，他一点也不关心他的军队，也不喜欢去看戏。除非是为了炫耀一下新衣服，他也不喜欢乘着马车逛公园。他每天每个钟头要换一套新衣服。人们提到皇帝时总是说：“皇上在会议室里。”但是人们一提到他时，总是说：“皇上在更衣室里。”
在他住的那个大城市里，生活很轻松，很愉快。每天有许多外国人到来。有一天来了两个骗子。他们说他们是织工。他们说，他们能织出谁也想象不到的最美丽的布。这种布的色彩和图案不仅是非常好看，而且用它缝出来的衣服还有一种奇异的作用，那就是凡是不称职的人或者愚蠢的人，都看不见这衣服。
“那正是我最喜欢的衣服！”皇帝心里想。“我穿了这样的衣服，就可以看出我的王国里哪些人不称职；我就可以辨别出哪些人是聪明人，哪些人是傻子。是的，我要叫他们马上织出这样的布来！”他付了许多现款给这两个骗子，叫他们马上开始工作。
他们摆出两架织机来，装做是在工作的样子，可是他们的织机上什么东西也没有。他们接二连三地请求皇帝发一些最好的生丝和金子给他们。他们把这些东西都装进自己的腰包，却假装在那两架空空的织机上忙碌地工作，一直忙到深夜。
“我很想知道他们织布究竟织得怎样了，”皇帝想。不过，他立刻就想起了愚蠢的人或不称职的人是看不见这布的。他心里的确感到有些不大自在。他相信他自己是用不着害怕的。虽然如此，他还是觉得先派一个人去看看比较妥当。全城的人都听说过这种布料有一种奇异的力量，所以大家都很想趁这机会来测验一下，看看他们的邻人究竟有多笨，有多傻。
“我要派诚实的老部长到织工那儿去看看，”皇帝想。“只有他能看出这布料是个什么样子，因为他这个人很有头脑，而且谁也不像他那样称职。”
因此这位善良的老部长就到那两个骗子的工作地点去。他们正在空空的织机上忙忙碌碌地工作着。
“这是怎么一回事儿？”老部长想，把眼睛睁得有碗口那么大。
“我什么东西也没有看见！”但是他不敢把这句话说出来。
那两个骗子请求他走近一点，同时问他，布的花纹是不是很美丽，色彩是不是很漂亮。他们指着那两架空空的织机。
这位可怜的老大臣的眼睛越睁越大，可是他还是看不见什么东西，因为的确没有什么东西可看。
“我的老天爷！”他想。“难道我是一个愚蠢的人吗？我从来没有怀疑过我自己。我决不能让人知道这件事。难道我不称职吗？——不成；我决不能让人知道我看不见布料。”
“哎，您一点意见也没有吗？”一个正在织布的织工说。
“啊，美极了！真是美妙极了！”老大臣说。他戴着眼镜仔细地看。“多么美的花纹！多么美的色彩！是的，我将要呈报皇上说我对于这布感到非常满意。”
“嗯，我们听到您的话真高兴，”两个织工一起说。他们把这些稀有的色彩和花纹描述了一番，还加上些名词儿。这位老大臣注意地听着，以便回到皇帝那里去时，可以照样背得出来。事实上他也就这样办了。
这两个骗子又要了很多的钱，更多的丝和金子，他们说这是为了织布的需要。他们把这些东西全装进腰包里，连一根线也没有放到织机上去。不过他们还是继续在空空的机架上工作。
过了不久，皇帝派了另一位诚实的官员去看看，布是不是很快就可以织好。他的运气并不比头一位大臣的好：他看了又看，但是那两架空空的织机上什么也没有，他什么东西也看不出来。
“您看这段布美不美？”两个骗子问。他们指着一些美丽的花纹，并且作了一些解释。事实上什么花纹也没有。
“我并不愚蠢！”这位官员想。“这大概是因为我不配担当现在这样好的官职吧？这也真够滑稽，但是我决不能让人看出来！”因此他就把他完全没有看见的布称赞了一番，同时对他们说，他非常喜欢这些美丽的颜色和巧妙的花纹。“是的，那真是太美了，”他回去对皇帝说。
城里所有的人都在谈论这美丽的布料。
当这布还在织的时候，皇帝就很想亲自去看一次。他选了一群特别圈定的随员——其中包括已经去看过的那两位诚实的大臣。这样，他就到那两个狡猾的骗子住的地方去。这两个家伙正以全副精神织布，但是一根线的影子也看不见。“您看这不漂亮吗？”那两位诚实的官员说。“陛下请看，多么美丽的花纹！多么美丽的色彩！”他们指着那架空空的织机，因为他们以为别人一定会看得见布料的。
“这是怎么一回事儿呢？”皇帝心里想。“我什么也没有看见！这真是荒唐！难道我是一个愚蠢的人吗？难道我不配做皇帝吗？这真是我从来没有碰见过的一件最可怕的事情。”
“啊，它真是美极了！”皇帝说。“我表示十二分地满意！”
于是他点头表示满意。他装做很仔细地看着织机的样子，因为他不愿意说出他什么也没有看见。跟他来的全体随员 也仔细地看了又看，可是他们也没有看出更多的东西。不过，他们也照着皇帝的话说：“啊，真是美极了！”他们建议皇帝用这种新奇的、美丽的布料做成衣服，穿上这衣服亲自去参加快要举行的游行大典。“真美丽！真精致！真是好极了！”每人都随声附和着。每人都有说不出的快乐。皇帝赐给骗子每人一个爵士的头衔和一枚可以挂在纽扣洞上的勋章；并且还封他们为“御聘织师”。
第二天早晨游行大典就要举行了。在头天晚上，这两个骗子整夜不睡，点起16支蜡烛。你可以看到他们是在赶夜工，要完成皇帝的新衣。他们装做把布料从织机上取下来。他们用两把大剪刀在空中裁了一阵子，同时又用没有穿线的针缝了一通。最后，他们齐声说：“请看！新衣服缝好了！”
皇帝带着他的一群最高贵的骑士们亲自到来了。这两个骗子每人举起一只手，好像他们拿着一件什么东西似的。他们说：“请看吧，这是裤子，这是袍子！这是外衣！”等等。“这衣服轻柔得像蜘蛛网一样：穿着它的人会觉得好像身上没有什么东西似的——这也正是这衣服的妙处。”
“一点也不错，”所有的骑士们都说。可是他们什么也没有看见，因为实际上什么东西也没有。
“现在请皇上脱下衣服，”两个骗子说，“我们要在这个大镜子面前为陛下换上新衣。
皇帝把身上的衣服统统都脱光了。这两个骗子装做把他们刚才缝好的新衣服一件一件地交给他。他们在他的腰围那儿弄了一阵子，好像是系上一件什么东西似的：这就是后裾（注：后裾（Slaebet）就是拖在礼服后面的很长的一块布；它是封建时代欧洲贵族的一种装束。）。皇帝在镜子面前转了转身子，扭了扭腰肢。
“上帝，这衣服多么合身啊！式样裁得多么好看啊！”大家都说。“多么美的花纹！多么美的色彩！这真是一套贵重的衣服！”
“大家已经在外面把华盖准备好了，只等陛下一出去，就可撑起来去游行！”典礼官说。
“对，我已经穿好了，”皇帝说，“这衣服合我的身么？”于是他又在镜子面前把身子转动了一下，因为他要叫大家看出他在认真地欣赏他美丽的服装。那些将要托着后裾的内臣们，都把手在地上东摸西摸，好像他们真的在拾其后裾似的。他们开步走，手中托着空气——他们不敢让人瞧出他们实在什么东西也没有看见。
这么着，皇帝就在那个富丽的华盖下游行起来了。站在街上和窗子里的人都说：“乖乖，皇上的新装真是漂亮！他上衣下面的后裾是多么美丽！衣服多么合身！”谁也不愿意让人知道自己看不见什么东西，因为这样就会暴露自己不称职，或是太愚蠢。皇帝所有的衣服从来没有得到这样普遍的称赞。
“可是他什么衣服也没有穿呀！”一个小孩子最后叫出声来。
“上帝哟，你听这个天真的声音！”爸爸说。于是大家把这孩子讲的话私自低声地传播开来。
“他并没有穿什么衣服！有一个小孩子说他并没有穿什么衣服呀！”
“他实在是没有穿什么衣服呀！”最后所有的老百姓都说。
皇帝有点儿发抖，因为他似乎觉得老百姓所讲的话是对的。不过他自己心里却这样想：“我必须把这游行大典举行完毕。”因此他摆出一副更骄傲的神气，他的内臣们跟在他后面走，手中托着一个并不存在的后裾。