The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Once upon a time there was a king who had twelve daughters, each one more beautiful than the others. They slept together in one room, where their beds stood next to each other. At night when they were lying there, the king closed their door and barred it. However, when he opened it the next morning he saw that their shoes had been danced to pieces. No one could determine how it had happened. Then the king proclaimed that whoever could discover where they went dancing each night could chose one of them for his wife and become king after his death. However, anyone who attempted this, but failed to make the discovery after three days and nights, would forfeit his life.
A prince soon presented himself, offering to undertake the venture. He was well received, and that evening was taken to a room adjacent to the bedroom. A bed was made for him there, and he was told to watch where they went and danced. So they would not be able to do anything in secret, or go out to some other place, the door to their room was left open. However, the prince's eyes felt as heavy as lead, and he fell asleep. When he awoke the next morning, the twelve had been dancing, for their shoes all had holes in their soles. The same thing happened the second and the third evenings, and his head was chopped off without mercy. Many others came to try this risky venture, but they too all lost their lives.
Now it happened that a poor soldier, who was wounded and could no longer serve in the army, was making his way to the city where the king lived. An old woman met him and asked him where he was going. "I'm not exactly sure myself," he said, then jokingly added, "But I would like to discover where the princesses are dancing their shoes to pieces, and then become king."
"That is not so difficult," said the old woman. "Do not drink the wine that they will bring you in the evening." Then she gave him a cloak and said, "When you put this on you will become invisible, and you can follow the twelve."
Having receiving this good advice, the soldier became serious, took heart, went to the king, and announced himself as a suitor. He, like the others, was well received, and was given royal clothes to wear. That evening at bedtime he was escorted to the anteroom. Just as he was going to bed, the oldest princess brought him a goblet of wine. However, he had tied a sponge beneath his chin and let the wine run into it, drinking not a single drop himself. He lay down, and after a little while began to snore as if he were in the deepest sleep. The twelve princesses heard him and laughed. The oldest one said, "He could have spared his life as well!"
Then they got up, opened their wardrobes, chests, and closets, took out their best clothes, and made themselves beautiful in front of their mirrors, all the time jumping about in anticipation of the dance. Only the youngest one said, "I'm not sure. You are all very happy, but I'm afraid that something bad is going to happen!"
"You snow goose," said the oldest one. "You are always afraid! Have you forgotten how many princes have been here for nothing? I wouldn't even have had to give this soldier a sleeping potion. He would never have woken up."
When they were ready, they first approached the soldier, but he did not move at all, and as soon as they thought it was safe, the oldest one went to her bed and knocked on it. It immediately sank beneath the floor, and they all climbed down through the opening, one after the other, the oldest one leading the way. The soldier saw everything, and without hesitating he put on the cloak and followed after the youngest one. Halfway down the stairs he stepped on her dress. Frightened, she called out, "Who's there? Who is holding my dress?"
"Don't be so stupid," said the oldest one. "You just caught yourself on a hook."
They continued until they came to a magnificent walkway between rows of trees. Their leaves were all made of silver, and they shone and glistened. The soldier thought to himself, "You'd better take some proof," and he broke off a twig.
A loud cracking sound came from the tree. The youngest one called out again, "It's not right. Didn't you hear that sound?"
The oldest one said, "That is just a joyful salute that they are firing because soon we will have disenchanted our princes."
Then they came to a walkway where the trees were all made of gold, and finally to a third one, where they were made of clear diamonds. He broke a twig from each of these. The cracking sound frightened the youngest one each time, but the oldest one insisted that it was only the sounds of joyful salutes. They continued on until they came to a large body of water. Twelve boats were there, and in each boat there sat a handsome prince waiting for them. Each prince took a princess into his boat.
The soldier sat next to the youngest princess, and her prince said, "I don't know why the boat is so much heavier today. I have to row with all my strength in order to make it go."
"It must be the warm weather," said the youngest princess. "It's too hot for me as well."
On the other side of the water there was a beautiful, brightly illuminated castle. Joyful music, kettle drums, and trumpets sounded forth. They rowed over and went inside. Each prince danced with his princess. The invisible soldier danced along as well, and whenever a princess held up a goblet of wine, he drank it empty as she lifted it to her mouth. This always frightened the youngest one, but the oldest one silenced her every time. They danced there until three o'clock the next morning when their shoes were danced to pieces and they had to stop. The princes rowed them back across the water. This time the soldier took a seat next to the oldest princess in the lead boat. They took leave from their princes on the bank and promised to come back the next night.
When they were on the steps the soldier ran ahead and got into bed. When the twelve tired princesses came in slowly, he was again snoring so loudly that they all could hear him. "We are safe from him," they said. Then they took off their beautiful clothes and put them away, placed their worn out shoes under their beds, and went to bed.
The next morning the soldier said nothing, for he wanted to see the amazing thing once again. He went along the second and third nights, and everything happened as before. Each time they danced until their shoes were in pieces. The third time he also took along a goblet as a piece of evidence.
The hour came when he was to give his answer, and he brought the three twigs and the goblet before the king. The twelve princesses stood behind the door and listened to what he had to say. The king asked, "Where did my daughters dance their shoes to pieces?"
He answered, "in an underground castle with twelve princes." Then he told the whole story and brought forth the pieces of evidence. The king summoned his daughters and asked them if the soldier had told the truth. Seeing that they had been betrayed, and that their denials did no good, they had to admit everything.
Then the king asked him which one he wanted for a wife. He answered, "I myself am no longer young, so give me the oldest one."
Their wedding was held the same day, and the kingdom was promised to him following the king's death. But the princes had as many days added to their curse as they had spent nights dancing with the twelve princesses.
有个国王，他有十二个女儿，个个长得如花似玉。她们都在同一个房间睡觉，十二张床并排放着，晚上上床睡觉后，房门就被关起来锁上了。有一个时期，每天早上起来后，国王发现她们的鞋子都磨破了，就像她们跳了一整夜舞似的。到底发生了甚么事，她们到哪儿去过了，没有人知道。
於是，国王通告全国：如果有人能解开这个秘密，找出这些公主整夜在哪儿跳舞，他就可以娶一个他最喜欢的公主作妻子，还可以继承王位。但要是这人在三天以后没查清结果，他就得被处死。
不久从邻国来了一位王子，受到了热情的接待。晚上他被带到了一个房间里，这房间正在公主们卧室的隔壁。为了能听到看到可能发生的一切，他坐下后将房门敞开，一刻也不停地注视着。可不久这位王子就睡着了，第二天早上醒来后，可以看出，公主们还是跳了一整夜的舞，因为她们的鞋底上都有磨破的洞眼。接着两个晚上都发生了相同的情况，王子没能解开这个谜。国王下令将他的头砍了下来。继他之后，又有几个人来试过，但他们的命运和这位王子一样，都没有找出结果而丢了性命。
恰好有一个老兵经过这个国王的领地，他在作战中受了伤，不能再参加战斗了。一天，他在穿越树林时，遇到了一个老婆婆，老婆婆问他要到哪里去，这位老兵回答说："我也不知道我去哪儿，该干甚么去。"接着又自我嘲弄地说："也许我该去探听那些公主是在哪儿跳舞才对，这样的话，将来还可以当国王呢。"老太婆一听，说道："对，对！这不是甚么难事，只要留心不喝公主给你的酒之类的东西，并且在她们要离去时，你假装睡熟了就成。"
临别，她送给他一件披风，说道："只要你把这件披风披在身上，她们就看不见你的踪影了。然后，你就可以跟着公主到她们去的任何地方。"老兵听了这些忠告后，决定去试一试自己的运气。
他来到国王面前，说他愿意接受这项冒险的任务。和其他应试的人一样，他也受到了热情的款待，国王还下令把漂亮的王室礼服给他穿上。到了晚上，他被带到了外室。进房后，他刚准备躺下，国王的大公主就给他端来了一杯葡萄酒，但这位士兵悄悄地把酒全倒掉了，一滴也没有喝下。然后躺在床上，不久就大声地打起鼾来，好像睡得很沉似的。十二个公主听到他的鼾声，都开心地大笑起来，大公主说："这?伙本来还可以干一些更聪明一点的事，不必到这儿来送死的。"说完，她们都起床打开各自的抽屉和箱子，拿出了漂亮的衣服，对着镜子打扮起来。这时，最小的公主说道："我感到有些不对劲，你们这么兴奋，可我觉得非常不安，我想一定有不幸的事情将降临到我们头上。""你犯甚么傻呀！"大公主说，"你老是担心这，担心那，难道你忘了那么多王子想窥探我们，结果都徒劳送命了吗？瞧这老兵，即使我不给他安眠药吃，他也会呼呼大睡的。"
公主们打扮完毕后，再去看了看士兵，只见他鼾声依旧，睡在床上一动也不动。这一来，她们便自以为无人知晓，相当安全了。大公主走到自己的床前拍了拍手，床马上沉到地板里面，一扇地板门突然打开了。士兵看见大公主领头，她们一个接一个地钻进了地板门。他想到再不能耽误时间了，马上跳起来，披上老太婆送给他的那件披风，紧随她们而去。在下楼梯时，一不小心，他踩到了小公主的礼服。她对她的姐妹们大声说道："怎么搞的，谁抓住了我的礼服了？"大公主说道："你别疑神疑鬼了，肯定是被墙上的钉子挂着了。"她们下去后，走进了一片令人赏心悦目的小树林，树叶全是银子做的，闪烁着美丽的光芒。士兵想找一个来过这地方的证物，所以他折了一段树枝，树枝"卡嚓！""哗啦！"地发出了声响，小公主又说道："我觉得有些反常，你们听到这声音了吗？这声音以前可没有听到过。"大公主说："这声音一定是我们的王子发出的，只有他们才会对我们的到来欢呼雀跃。"
说着，她们又走进了另一片小树林，这片树林的叶子都是金子做的。再往前，到了第三片小树林，所有的叶子都是用光采夺目的钻石做的。士兵每到一片树林，都要折下一根树枝留作证物，每次也都发出了"卡嚓！""哗啦！"的声响，这响动总是使小公主担惊受怕，而大公主又总是说这是王子们在欢呼。
她们不停地往前走，最后来到了一个大湖边，湖上有十二条小船，每条船上都有一个英俊的王子，他们似乎一直在这儿等公主的到来。到了岸边，每个公主都各自上了一条船，士兵则跟着小公主上了同一条船。
当他们在湖上划动小船时，与小公主和士兵在一条船上的那个王子说："怎么会是这样啊！好像这船今天特别重似的，我尽力划动，船却没有平时前进那么快，我都累坏了。"小公主说："这只是天气有点暖和，我也觉得非常热。"
湖泊的对岸，矗立着一座美丽的宫殿，宫殿里灯火辉煌，从里面还传来了愉快的音乐，有管声和号声，还有喇叭声。他们上岸后，一起走进宫殿，十二个王子都开始与公主们跳起舞来。他们一直看不见那位士兵，士兵跟着他们一起跳舞，他们也不知道。每当有公主端起葡萄酒时，士兵总是暗暗上前将酒喝完。待公主把酒杯端到嘴边时，杯子已空了。见到这样情况，那小公主更感到害怕了，大公主却老是要她不要做声。
舞一直跳到了凌晨三点钟，所有的鞋子都已磨穿了，到这时，她们才念念不舍地离开。王子们又用船把她们送过湖来，这次，士兵上的是大公主的那条船。到了湖岸，公主和王子互相道别，她们答应第二天晚上再来。
当她们回到楼梯口时，士兵立即跑到她们的前面，自己先到床上去躺下了。当这十二姊妹拖着疲惫不堪的身子慢慢上来后，立即就听到了睡在床上的士兵所发出的鼾声。她们说道："现在可以安心了。"说完，各自宽衣解带，脱掉鞋子，扔在床下，都躺下睡觉了。
早晨起来，士兵对晚上的所见所闻只字不提，他还想多看几次这样的奇遇，所以接连第二个夜晚和第三个夜晚他又去了。每次所发生的一切都和前一次一样，公主们每次跳舞都要跳到她们的鞋子穿眼才回到卧室。不过，在第三个晚上，士兵又拿走了一只金?作为他到过那里的证物。
第四天，他解开这秘密的期限到了，他带着那三根树枝和那只金?，来到国王面前。此时，十二个公主都站在门后张着耳朵，想听听他究竟说些甚么。国王问道："我的十二个女儿晚上是在哪儿跳舞？"士兵回答道："她们是在地下的一座宫殿里与十二个王子跳舞。"接着，他告诉了国王自己所看见和发生的一切，拿出了他带来的三根树枝和金?给国王看。国王把公主都叫来，问她们士兵说的这些是不是都是真的。她们见一切都已经被发现，再否认所发生的事也没有用了，只好全部承认了。
秘密解开了，国王问士兵他想选择哪一个公主作他的妻子，他回答说："我年纪不小了，你就把大公主许配给我吧！"於是，他们当天就举行了婚礼，士兵还被选定为王位的继承人。
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