THE EMPEROR S NEW CLOTHESMany years ago, there was an Emperor, who was so excessively fond of new clothes, that he spent all his money in dress. He did not trouble himself in the least about his soldiers; nor did he care to go either to the theatre or the chase, except for the opportunities then afforded him for displaying his new clothes. He had a different suit for each hour of the day; and as of any other king or emperor, one is accustomed to say, he is sitting in council, it was always said of him, The Emperor is sitting in his wardrobe. Time passed merrily in the large town which was his capital; strangers arrived every day at the court. One day, two rogues, calling themselves weavers, made their appearance. They gave out that they knew how to weave stuffs of the most beautiful colors and elaborate patterns, the clothes manufactured from which should have the wonderful property of remaining invisible to everyone who was unfit for the office he held, or who was extraordinarily simple in character. These must, indeed, be splendid clothes! thought the Emperor. Had I such a suit, I might at once find out what men in my realms are unfit for their office, and also be able to distinguish the wise from the foolish! This stuff must be woven for me immediately. And he caused large sums of money to be given to both the weavers in order that they might begin their work directly.So the two pretended weavers set up two looms, and affected to work very busily, though in reality they did nothing at all. They asked for the most delicate silk and the purest gold thread; put both into their own knapsacks; and then continued their pretended work at the empty looms until late at night. I should like to know how the weavers are getting on with my cloth, said the Emperor to himself, after some little time had elapsed; he was, however, rather embarrassed, when he remembered that a simpleton, or one unfit for his office, would be unable to see the manufacture. To be sure, he thought he had nothing to risk in his own person; but yet, he would prefer sending somebody else, to bring him intelligence about the weavers, and their work, before he troubled himself in the affair. All the people throughout the city had heard of the wonderful property the cloth was to possess; and all were anxious to learn how wise, or how ignorant, their neighbors might prove to be. I will send my faithful old minister to the weavers, said the Emperor at last, after some deliberation, he will be best able to see how the cloth looks; for he is a man of sense, and no one can be more suitable for his office than he is. So the faithful old minister went into the hall, where the knaves were working with all their might, at their empty looms. What can be the meaning of this? thought the old man, opening his eyes very wide. I cannot discover the least bit of thread on the looms. However, he did not express his thoughts aloud.The impostors requested him very courteously to be so good as to come nearer their looms; and then asked him whether the design pleased him, and whether the colors were not very beautiful; at the same time pointing to the empty frames. The poor old minister looked and looked, he could not discover anything on the looms, for a very good reason, viz: there was nothing there. What! thought he again. Is it possible that I am a simpleton? I have never thought so myself; and no one must know it now if I am so. Can it be, that I am unfit for my office? No, that must not be said either. I will never confess that I could not see the stuff. Well, Sir Minister! said one of the knaves, still pretending to work. You do not say whether the stuff pleases you. Oh, it is excellent! replied the old minister, looking at the loom through his spectacles. This pattern, and the colors, yes, I will tell the Emperor without delay, how very beautiful I think them. We shall be much obliged to you, said the impostors, and then they named the different colors and described the pattern of the pretended stuff. The old minister listened attentively to their words, in order that he might repeat them to the Emperor; and then the knaves asked for more silk and gold, saying that it was necessary to complete what they had begun. However, they put all that was given them into their knapsacks; and continued to work with as much apparent diligence as before at their empty looms.The Emperor now sent another officer of his court to see how the men were getting on, and to ascertain whether the cloth would soon be ready. It was just the same with this gentleman as with the minister; he surveyed the looms on all sides, but could see nothing at all but the empty frames. Does not the stuff appear as beautiful to you, as it did to my lord the minister? asked the impostors of the Emperor s second ambassador; at the same time making the same gestures as before, and talking of the design and colors which were not there. I certainly am not stupid! thought the messenger. It must be, that I am not fit for my good, profitable office! That is very odd; however, no one shall know anything about it. And accordingly he praised the stuff he could not see, and declared that he was delighted with both colors and patterns. Indeed, please your Imperial Majesty, said he to his sovereign when he returned, the cloth which the weavers are preparing is extraordinarily magnificent. The whole city was talking of the splendid cloth which the Emperor had ordered to be woven at his own expense.And now the Emperor himself wished to see the costly manufacture, while it was still in the loom. Accompanied by a select number of officers of the court, among whom were the two honest men who had already admired the cloth, he went to the crafty impostors, who, as soon as they were aware of the Emperor s approach, went on working more diligently than ever; although they still did not pass a single thread through the looms. Is not the work absolutely magnificent? said the two officers of the crown, already mentioned. If your Majesty will only be pleased to look at it! What a splendid design! What glorious colors! and at the same time they pointed to the empty frames; for they imagined that everyone else could see this exquisite piece of workmanship. How is this? said the Emperor to himself. I can see nothing! This is indeed a terrible affair! Am I a simpleton, or am I unfit to be an Emperor? That would be the worst thing that could happen Oh! the cloth is charming, said he, aloud. It has my complete approbation. And he smiled most graciously, and looked closely at the empty looms; for on no account would he say that he could not see what two of the officers of his court had praised so much. All his retinue now strained their eyes, hoping to discover something on the looms, but they could see no more than the others; nevertheless, they all exclaimed, Oh, how beautiful! and advised his majesty to have some new clothes made from this splendid material, for the approaching procession. Magnificent! Charming! Excellent! resounded on all sides; and everyone was uncommonly gay. The Emperor shared in the general satisfaction; and presented the impostors with the riband of an order of knighthood, to be worn in their button holes, and the title of Gentlemen Weavers. The rogues sat up the whole of the night before the day on which the procession was to take place, and had sixteen lights burning, so that everyone might see how anxious they were to finish the Emperor s new suit. They pretended to roll the cloth off the looms; cut the air with their scissors; and sewed with needles without any thread in them. See! cried they, at last. The Emperor s new clothes are ready! And now the Emperor, with all the grandees of his court, came to the weavers; and the rogues raised their arms, as if in the act of holding something up, saying, Here are your Majesty s trousers! Here is the scarf! Here is the mantle! The whole suit is as light as a cobweb; one might fancy one has nothing at all on, when dressed in it; that, however, is the great virtue of this delicate cloth. Yes indeed! said all the courtiers, although not one of them could see anything of this exquisite manufacture. If your Imperial Majesty will be graciously pleased to take off your clothes, we will fit on the new suit, in front of the looking glass. The Emperor was accordingly undressed, and the rogues pretended to array him in his new suit; the Emperor turning round, from side to side, before the looking glass. How splendid his Majesty looks in his new clothes, and how well they fit! everyone cried out. What a design! What colors! These are indeed royal robes! The canopy which is to be borne over your Majesty, in the procession, is waiting, announced the chief master of the ceremonies. I am quite ready, answered the Emperor. Do my new clothes fit well? asked he, turning himself round again before the looking glass, in order that he might appear to be examining his handsome suit.The lords of the bedchamber, who were to carry his Majesty s train felt about on the ground, as if they were lifting up the ends of the mantle; and pretended to be carrying something; for they would by no means betray anything like simplicity, or unfitness for their office.So now the Emperor walked under his high canopy in the midst of the procession, through the streets of his capital; and all the people standing by, and those at the windows, cried out, Oh! How beautiful are our Emperor s new clothes! What a magnificent train there is to the mantle; and how gracefully the scarf hangs! in short, no one would allow that he could not see these much admired clothes; because, in doing so, he would have declared himself either a simpleton or unfit for his office. Certainly, none of the Emperor s various suits, had ever made so great an impression, as these invisible ones. But the Emperor has nothing at all on! said a little child. Listen to the voice of innocence! exclaimed his father; and what the child had said was whispered from one to another. But he has nothing at all on! at last cried out all the people. The Emperor was vexed, for he knew that the people were right; but he thought the procession must go on now! And the lords of the bedchamber took greater pains than ever, to appear holding up a train, although, in reality, there was no train to hold.皇帝的新装许多年以前，有一位皇帝，为了要穿得漂亮，他不惜把他所有的钱都花掉。他既不关心他的军队，也不喜欢去看戏，也不喜欢乘着马车去游公园——除非是为了炫耀一下他的新衣服，他每一天每一点钟都要换一套衣服。人们提到他的时候总是说：“皇上在更衣室里。”
有一天,他居住的那个大城市里，来了两个骗子。他们自称是织工，说他们能够织出人类所能见到的最美丽的布。这种布不仅色彩和图案都分外美丽，而且缝出来的衣服还有一种奇异的特性：任何不称职的或者愚蠢得不可救药人，都看不见这衣服。
“那正是理想的衣服！”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和自己的职位不相称；我就可以辨别出哪些人是聪明人，哪些人是傻子。是的，我要叫他们马上为我织出这样的布来！”于是他付了许多现款给这两个骗子，好使他们马上开始工作。
他们摆出两架织机，装作是在工作的样子，可是他们的织布机上连一点东西的影子也没有。他们急迫地请求发给他们一些最细的生丝和最好的金子。他们把这些东西都装进自己的腰包，只在那两架空织布机上忙忙碌碌，一直搞到深夜。
“我倒很想知道，他们衣料究竟织得怎样了。”皇帝想。不过，当他想起凡是愚蠢的或不称职的人就看不见这布料的时候，他心里的确感到有些不大自然。他相信他自己是无须害怕的。虽然如此，他仍然觉得，先派一个人去看看工作的进展情形比较妥当。全城的人都听说这织品有一种多么奇异的力量，所以大家也都很渴望借这个机会来测验一下：他们的邻人究竟有多么笨，或者有多么傻。
“我要派我诚实的老大臣到织工那儿去。”皇帝想，“他最能看出这布料是什么样子，因为他这个人很有理智，同时就称职这点来说，谁也不及他称职。”
这位善良的老大臣来到那两个骗子的屋子里，看见他们正在空织布机上忙碌地工作着。
“愿上帝可怜我吧！”老大臣想。他把眼睛睁得特别大，“我什么东西也没有看见！”但是他不敢把这句话说出来。
那两个骗子请他走近一点，同时指着那两架空织布机问他花纹是不是很美丽，色彩是不是很漂亮。可怜的老大臣的眼睛越睁越大，可是他仍然看不见什么东西，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。这一点决不能让任何人知道。难道我是不称职的吗？不成！我决不能让人知道我看不见布料。”
“嗳，您一点意见也没有吗？”一个正在织布的骗子说。
“哎呀，美极了！真是美妙极了！”老大臣一边说，一边从他的眼镜里仔细地看，“多么美的花纹！多么美的色彩！是的，我将要呈报皇上，我对于这布料非常满意。”
“嗯，我们听了非常高兴。”两个骗子齐声说。于是他们就把这些稀有的色彩和花纹描述了一番，还加上些名词。老大臣注意地听着，以便回到皇帝那儿去的时候，可以照样背出来。事实上他也这样做了。
这两个骗子又要了更多的钱，更多的生丝和金子，说是为了织布的需要。他们把这些东西全装进腰包里。
过了不久，皇帝又派了另外一位诚实的官员去看工作进行的情况。这位官员的运气并不比头一位大臣好：他看了又看，但是那两架空织布机上什么也没有，他什么东西也看不出来。
“你看这段布美不美？”两个骗子问。他们指着，描述着一些美丽的花纹——事实上它们并不存在。
“我并不愚蠢呀！”这位官员想，“这大概是我不配有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，同时对他们保证说，他对这些美丽的颜色和巧妙的花纹感到很满意。“是的，那真是太美了！”他对皇帝说。
城里所有的人都在谈论着这美丽的布料。
当布料还在织机上的时候，皇帝就很想亲自去它看一次。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。然后，他就到那两个狡猾的骗子所在的地方去。这两个家伙正在以全副精力织布，但是一根线的影子也看不见。
“您看这布华丽不华丽？”那两位诚实的官员说，“陛下请看：多么美的花纹！多么美的色彩！”他们指着那架空织布机，因为他们相信别人一定可以看得见布料。
“这是怎么一回事呢？”皇帝心里想，“我什么也没有看见！这可骇人听闻了。难道我是一个愚蠢的人吗？难道我不够资格当一个皇帝吗？这可是我遇见的一件最可怕的事情。”“哎呀，真是美极了！”皇帝说，“我十二分地满意！”
于是他就点头表示出他的满意。他仔细地看着织布机，因为他不愿意说出他什么也没有看见。跟着他来的全体随员也仔细地看了又看，可是他们也没有比别人看到更多的东西。不过，像皇帝一样，他们也说：“哎呀，真是美极了！”他们向皇帝建议，用这种新奇的、美丽的布料做成衣服，穿着这衣服去参加快要举行的游行大典。“这布是华丽的！精致的！无双的！”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扣眼上的勋章，同时还封他们为“御聘织师”。
第二天早上，游行大典就要举行了。在头一天晚上，两个骗子整夜都没有睡，点起１６支以上的蜡烛。人们可以看到他们是在赶夜工，要把皇帝的新衣完成。他们装作是在把布料从织布机上取下来。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来了。两个骗子每人举起一只手，好像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！”“这衣服轻柔得像蜘蛛网一样，穿的人会觉得好像身上没有什么东西似的，这也正是这些衣服的优点。”
“一点也不错。”所有的骑士都说。可是他们什么也没有看见，因为什么东西也没有。
“现在请皇上脱下衣服，”两个骗子说，“好让我们在这个大镜子面前为您换上新衣。”
皇帝把他所有的衣服都脱下来了。两个骗子装作一件一件地把他们刚才缝好的新衣服交给他。他们在他的腰围那儿弄了一阵子，好像是为他系上一件什么东西似的——这就是后裙。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！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！”
“大家都在外面等待，准备好了华盖，以便举在陛下头上去参加游行大典！”典礼官说。
“对，我已经穿好了，”皇帝说，“这衣服合我的身吗？”于是他又在镜子面前把身子转动了一下，因为他要使大家觉得他在认真地观看他的美丽的新装。
那些托后裙的内臣都把手在地上东摸西摸，好像他们正在拾取衣裙似的。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。
这样，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！他上衣下面的后裙是多么美丽！这件衣服真合他的身材！”谁也不愿意让人知道自己什么也看不见，因为这样就会显示自己不称职，或是太愚蠢。皇帝所有的衣服从来没有获得过这样的称赞。
“可是他什么衣服也没有穿呀！”一个小孩子最后叫了出来。
“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真的。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，手中托着一条并不存在的后裙。
来源:可可英语看到此处说明本文对你还是有帮助的，关于“英文童话故事大全中英双语 第13期:皇帝的新装”留言是大家的经验之谈相信也会对你有益，推荐继续阅读下面的相关内容，与本文相关度极高！
