格林童话故事：穿靴子的猫中英文版本

　　《穿靴子的猫》中文版

　　从前，有一个磨房主，死的时候给他那三个儿子留下的唯一财产仅仅是一个磨坊，一头驴和一只猫。这点儿遗产很快就被儿子们瓜分一空，既没有公证人也没有律师到场，因为他们一来，肯定就会把这些东西据为己有。

　　老大拿走了磨坊，老二带走了那头驴，最后只有那只猫留给了老三。老三只分得了这么一丁点儿财产，难免伤心难过，他可怜巴巴地说：“我的两个哥哥只要合伙就不难谋生，我呢，只有一只猫，如果我把它吃了，只能用它的皮做个手筒来暖手，最终免不了还得饿死街头。”

　　这些话都让那只猫听了去，它却假装什么也没有听见，只是一本正经地对他说：“我的主人，你用不着垂头丧气，只要你给我一个口袋，再让人给我做一双能穿着它在树丛中走动的靴子就行了。你也会发现，你分得的这份财产并不是那么糟糕。”

　　不管怎么说，这只猫还确实有点表演的天赋和狡猾的心眼。它在捉老鼠的时候，不管是大老鼠，还是小耗子，都逃不出它的手掌心。它总有办法藏在面粉里或是倒挂着装死，就在老鼠放心大胆地走进它时，它才会突然跃起抓住老鼠。主人对它的所作所为还是有点了解的，所以并没有丧失信心。尽管对猫的话将信将疑，主人还是按照猫说的将它要的东西准备齐全了。

　　猫拿到靴子后，马上就穿在了脚上。它将口袋悬挂到脖子上，用爪子将口袋上的绳子勒紧，然后就跑进了一个到处都是兔子的养兔场。它将麸子和生菜叶放进口袋中，四仰八叉地躺在地上装死。它计划着在那里守株待兔，等着某个不谙世事的年轻兔子前来自投罗网。口袋里的那些东西是用来吸引兔子上钩的。

　　它刚一躺下去，就有一只不怎么聪明的小兔子钻进了它的口袋，机灵的猫立即收紧绳子，将兔子装在了口袋里。猫很是洋洋自得，带着它的战利品到王宫里求见国王。猫被引领到楼上国王的房间，只见它卑躬屈膝地对国王说：“尊敬的国王陛下，我仅代表卡拉巴司侯爵向您敬献他最珍爱的兔子。”这只猫竟然自作主张将它的主人封为卡拉巴司侯爵。

　　王回答说：“告诉你的主人，很感谢他的礼物。我很高兴他能惦记着我。”

　　还有一次，猫躲在一片麦田里，依旧张开着它的那个大口袋。这次，居然逮着了两只鹌鹑。猫如法炮制，同样以卡拉巴司侯爵的名义将这两只鹌鹑进献给国王。国王仍旧高高兴兴地收下了这份礼物，还给了猫一点赏钱。

　　猫在两三个月里持续不断地以卡拉巴司侯爵的名义向国王进献不同的礼物，当然这些礼物都是它用相同的手段获得的。

　　终于，有一天，它得知国王将要带着宝贝公主到河边游玩，那个公主可是世上独一无二的大美女。猫对它的主人说：“如果你能照着我说的话做，你的好运气就会来了。很简单，你只要脱光了跳到河里我指定的那个地方去洗澡就行了，其他的事情由我来安排。”

　　卡拉巴司侯爵虽然不知道猫的.葫芦里到底装的什么药，但他还是照猫说的去做了。

　　当他跳到河里猫指定的那个地方去洗澡的时候，只听猫扯着嗓子朝国王经过的方向大声呼救：“快来人啊!救命啊!卡拉巴司侯爵掉到河里了!”

　　国王听到呼救声立刻从马车窗户里探出头来，他认出了那只猫，就是经常去给他送礼物的那只猫，于是，国王让侍卫赶紧去将卡拉巴司侯爵救上岸来。

　　正当侍卫们到河里去救卡拉巴司侯爵的时候，猫立即凑到国王跟前解释说，它的主人遭到抢劫，衣服全被小偷偷走了，尽管它在一边大喊，可是，小偷还是把侯爵扔到了河里。事实上，猫把它主人的衣服藏到了一块大石头下面。国王立刻派随他的服装师去挑选了一套华丽的服装送给卡拉巴司侯爵。

　　国王看到穿上了华丽衣服的侯爵十分喜爱，侯爵本来就生得眉清目秀，再加上有这么漂亮的衣服做陪衬，愈发得英俊潇洒，连公主都对他一见倾心了。尤其是在卡拉巴司毕恭毕敬地多看了公主几眼后，公主更是觉着自己爱上了这个年轻俊俏的侯爵。国王见此就邀请侯爵上车，同他们一起乘坐马车游玩。

　　猫眼见着事情进展得如此顺利，便兴高采烈地急速跑到前面去了。它对路边一些正在割草的农夫说：

　　“听着，如果你们不对国王说这片草地属于卡拉巴司侯爵的话，你们就会被剁成肉酱。”

　　当然，当国王问及这些割草人这是谁的草场时，他们都慑于猫的恐吓，异口同声地说：“这是属于卡拉巴司侯爵的草场。”

　　国王对卡拉巴司称赞道：“你的这份家产不错呀!”

　　“是的，”侯爵回答，“正像您看到的一样，这里年年都获丰收呀!”

　　他们继续往前走，猫又跑到割麦子的人那里，对他们说：“听着，如果你们不对国王说这片麦田属于卡拉巴司侯爵的话，你们就会被剁成肉酱。”

　　随后，国王的马车便走过来了。他看到麦子长势喜人，就想知道这块地的主人是谁。正在割麦子的农民又一致回答说是卡拉巴司侯爵的。国王听了十分高兴。

　　就这样，猫一路在前面走着，所到之处，它全用这样的恐吓让国王认为这一切都属于卡拉巴司侯爵。国王对他的富有不禁惊叹不已。

　　最后，猫来到一座气派的宫殿，那里住着一个吃人的魔鬼，他可是这里最富有的人，刚才他们一路经过的那些草场和麦田等都是食人魔的地盘。猫还通过刚才那些人仔细了解了谁是食人魔，他有什么本事等等。现在，猫来到了食人魔的宫殿里，他要求拜见这个食人魔。猫说，既然从他的城堡路过，如果不前来拜访一下，是不礼貌的。于是，食人魔彬彬有礼地接见了猫，还赐坐给它。

　　“我听说，”猫对食人魔说，“您的本事可大了，能将自己变成各种动物，比如说狮子啊大象啊什么的，是真的么?”

　　“当然是真的了。”食人魔很认真地回答，“好吧，为了让你相信，我就变个狮子给你看看。”

　　当看到食人魔真得变成了只狮子站在它面前时，猫吓坏了，赶忙跳上屋梁，这对猫来说，可是稍稍有点困难和危险，因为那双靴子可不适合做这么高难度的动作，而且还得在房梁上走两步。

　　不久，食人魔恢复了原形，猫也从房梁上蹿了下来。依然还表现得非常害怕的样子。

　　“我还听说，”猫喘着气小声说，“您还能将自己变成个很小很小的动物，像老鼠耗子似的。但是，我可不相信，您这样的身材怎么能变得那么小呢!”

　　“什么?不相信?”食人魔大声喊道，“等着瞧吧!”说完，他就变成了只小耗子，还在地板上不停地跑。猫见状一下就扑过去，将耗子吞进了肚里。

　　就在这时，国王也已经来到了城堡外面。猫听到了马车过吊桥的吱吱声，立即跑出来，笑容可掬地迎接国王：“欢迎光临，尊敬的国王陛下，欢迎您到卡拉巴司侯爵的城堡来!”

　　“什么?”国王看到如此气派的城堡也是侯爵的财产，竟然惊呼起来，“连这座城堡也是你的呀!这可是我见过最美丽的庭院和建筑了。我们进去欣赏一下吧!”

　　侯爵伸手搀扶着年轻美丽的公主，跟随国王一起走进了大厅。里面已经摆好了一桌丰盛的筵席，各种酒馔一应俱全，都是些雕刻精美的金银器皿。原来这些都是食人魔为他的朋友们准备的，可是，他的朋友们见国王在此，谁也没敢进来。

　　现在，国王也像他的女儿一样，被侯爵的杰出品质所吸引了。国王见公主已经完全沉浸在对卡拉巴司侯爵的爱慕中了，再加上卡拉巴司侯爵又是那么得富有，几杯酒下肚后，国王趁着高兴就对侯爵说：

　　“亲爱的侯爵，你是否愿意做我的女婿呢?”

　　侯爵朝国王深深地鞠了一躬，无比荣幸地接受了王国的美意。就在当天，他和公主举行了婚礼。

　　从此以后，猫也成了大人物，它已经不再去捕捉老鼠了，即便见到它在捉老鼠，也不过是在消遣!

　　《穿靴子的猫》英文版：

　　Chapter 1

　　Once there was a poor miller who only owned three things, a donkey, a cat and a mill. He could grindmeal with the mill. He could carry bags of meal to the market with his donkey. But, the cat, well, he couldn’t do anything with the cat except catch mice.

　　The miller also had three sons. The oldest son was very strong. The second son was very smart. And, the youngest son was only handsome.

　　When the old miller finally died he left all he had to his sons. To his oldest son he left the mill. The oldest son worked the mill and earned a living. The miller left his donkey to his second son.

　　The second son took the donkey and set out in search of his fortune. But, for the youngest son there was only the cat.

　　The youngest son was very fond of the cat, but he did not know what to do with him. I am going to starve. I will surely die with only this cat.

　　Just then, the cat began to laugh. Why are you laughing at me? Well, I was just thinking that if you are hungry and worried about starving, why don’t you cook me and eat me? You could use my fur to keep warm during the cold winter.

　　I would never do that to you, puss! Anyway, if you were not here, then I could be all alone.

　　Then what would I do? If you will buy me a brown bag and a pair of leather boots, you will see that I am worth more than a mill or an old donkey.

　　A brown bag and leather boots? How will that ever help me? After you give me these things, I will show you how valuable I am. You are a crazy cat, but, you never know.

　　Why not? So, the youngest son made up his mind to give the cat a chance. The cat looked so amazing in his new leather boots that the young master decided he must also buy him a hat and a cape as well.

　　I can not call you just plain puss any more. From now on, you will be puss-in-boots. And I have a new name for you too, young master. From now on, you will be the Marquis of Caracas because I have great plans for you.

　　Chapter 2

　　So that night, Puss-in-boots went into the open field to begin working on his great plans. He started by filling his bag with a little delicious bran and sow thistle to attract young rabbits. He left his bag in the middle of the field and pretended to be dead.

　　After a while, a family of young rabbits came hopping by, too young and inexperienced to understand the ways of the world.

　　One of the bunnies noticed the smell of the cat’s sack and decided to find out what was inside.Without thinking, he jumped into the open bag. Ha! You will make a delicious meal for the king.

　　With the rabbit in his bag, puss-in-boots began walking to the king’s castle. Before long, he stood before the king of the land. Sir, I have a delicious rabbit here for you. It is a gift from the noble lord, the marquis of Casabas. Please thank your master for his kindness.

　　The next day, puss-in-boots went hunting, and this time he was able to catch a large, plump partridge. Once again, puss-in-boots took his catch to the king of the land. My, my! Another gift from the marquisof Casabas? My master knows how much you enjoy a fine meal.

　　He only wants to please and serve you. Here, I will show your master that I am grateful. Please take this bag to him as a gift from the king.

　　As time went by, the cat gave more and more gifts to the king. And the king gave many gifts to the marquis of Casabas. Soon the cat and the king became very good friends.

　　Chapter 3

　　Then one day, puss-in-boots decided it was time for his master to meet the king’s daughter. She was the most beautiful princess in the entire world.

　　He found out that the king would be taking his daughter for a carriage ride the very next day on the road by the river. He had no time to waste. Puss-in-boots ran back to come up with a plan. Early the next morning, Hurry master.

　　You must come with me and bathe in the river by the road. What? Why should I bathe in the river? Just do as I tell you and you will be very lucky! Take off your clothes and get into the water quickly. But it’s cold, and I don’t know how to swim. Trust me.

　　So, the youngest son did as the cat said. Now, I have to hide these clothes and hope he will never have to wear them again.

　　Puss! Puss! Where are my clothes? Just then, the king’s carriage came into view. Puss! Puss! My clothes! Be quiet, or you will ruin everything!

　　Listen to what I say. I will do all the talking, okay? Help! My lord, the marquis of casabas, is drowning! Guards! Hurry! Help that man! My generous friend, the marquis of casabas, must not drown! So the guards of the king ran to the rescue of the poor miller’s son and saved him just in time.

　　Bring a robe to cover the marquis! He is shivering with a cold.

　　What has happened to the marquis, and where are his clothes? A terrible thing has happened, your majesty. His clothes have all been stolen. We were riding along the riverside so peacefully。

　　Suddenly, a bank of villains with weapons jumped out at us from behind some rocks and attacked us. The thieves stole everything he had and would have killed him too, but fortunately the marquis escaped and jumped into the river.Unfortunately though, my master doesn’t know how to swim.