英文
The Nix of the Mill-Pond
There was once upon a time a miller who lived with his wife in great contentment. They had money and land, and their prosperity increased year by year more and more. But ill-luck comes like a thief in the night, as their wealth had increased so did it again decrease, year by year, and at last the miller could hardly call the mill in which he lived, his own. He was in great distress, and when he lay down after his day's work, found no rest, but tossed about in his bed, full of care.
One morning he rose before daybreak and went out into the open air, thinking that perhaps there his heart might become lighter. As he was stepping over the mill-dam the first sunbeam was just breaking forth, and he heard a rippling sound in the pond. He turned round and perceived a beautiful woman, rising slowly out of the water. Her long hair, which she was holding off her shoulders with her soft hands, fell down on both sides, and covered her white body. He soon saw that she was the Nix of the Mill-pond, and in his fright did not know whether he should run away or stay where he was. But the nix made her sweet voice heard, called him by his name, and asked him why he was so sad? The miller was at first struck dumb, but when he heard her speak so kindly, he took heart, and told her how he had formerly lived in wealth and happiness, but that now he was so poor that he did not know what to do.“Be easy,”answered the nix,“I will make you richer and happier than you have ever been before, only you must promise to give me the young thing which has just been born in your house.”
“What else can that be,”thought the miller,“but a young puppy or kitten?”and he promised her what she desired. The nix descended into the water again, and he hurried back to his mill, consoled and in good spirits. He had not yet reached it, when the maid-servant came out of the house, and cried to him to rejoice, for his wife had given birth to a little boy. The miller stood as if struck by lightning; he saw very well that the cunning nix had been aware of it, and had cheated him. Hanging his head, he went up to his wife's bedside and when she said,“Why do you not rejoice over the fine boy?”he told her what had befallen him, and what kind of a promise he had given to the nix.“Of what use to me are riches and prosperity?”he added,“if I am to lose my child; but what can I do?”Even the relations, who had come thither to wish them joy, did not know what to say.
In the meantime prosperity again returned to the miller's house. All that he undertook succeeded, it was as if presses and coffers filled themselves of their own accord, and as if money multiplied nightly in the cupboards. It was not long before his wealth was greater than it had ever been before. But he could not rejoice over it untroubled, for the bargain which he had made with the nix tormented his soul. Whenever he passed the mill-pond, he feared she might ascend and remind him of his debt. He never let the boy himself go near the water.“Beware,”he said to him,“if you do but touch the water, a hand will rise, seize you, and draw you down.”But as year after year went by and the nix did not show herself again, the miller began to feel at ease.
The boy grew up to be a youth and was apprenticed to a huntsman. When he had learnt everything, and had become an excellent huntsman, the lord of the village took him into his service. In the village lived a beautiful and true-hearted maiden, who pleased the huntsman, and when his master perceived that, he gave him a little house, the two were married, lived peacefully and happily, and loved each other with all their hearts.
One day the huntsman was chasing a roe; and when the animal turned aside from the forest into the open country, he pursued it and at last shot it. He did not notice that he was now in the neighbourhood of the dangerous mill-pond, and went, after he had disembowelled the stag, to the water, in order to wash his blood-stained hands. Scarcely, however, had he dipped them in than the nix ascended, smilingly wound her dripping arms around him, and drew him quickly down under the waves, which closed over him.
When it was evening, and the huntsman did not return home, his wife became alarmed. She went out to seek him, and as he had often told her that he had to be on his guard against the snares of the nix, and dared not venture into the neighbourhood of the mill-pond, she already suspected what had happened. She hastened to the water, and when she found his hunting-pouch lying on the shore, she could no longer have any doubt of the misfortune. Lamenting her sorrow, and wringing her hands, she called on her beloved by name, but in vain. She hurried across to the other side of the pond, and called him anew; she reviled the nix with harsh words, but no answer followed. The surface of the water remained calm, only the crescent moon stared steadily back at her.
The poor woman did not leave the pond. With hasty steps, she paced round and round it, without resting a moment, sometimes in silence, sometimes uttering a loud cry, sometimes softly sobbing. At last her strength came to an end, she sank down to the ground and fell into a heavy sleep. Presently a dream took possession of her.
She was anxiously climbing upwards between great masses of rock;thorns and briars caught her feet, the rain beat in her face, and the wind tossed her long hair about. When she had reached the summit, quite a different sight presented itself to her; the sky was blue, the air soft, the ground sloped gently downwards, and on a green meadow, gay with flowers of every colour, stood a pretty cottage. She went up to it and opened the door; there sat an old woman with white hair, who beckoned to her kindly. At that very moment, the poor woman awoke, day had already dawned, and she at once resolved to act in accordance with her dream. She laboriously climbed the mountain; everything was exactly as she had seen it in the night. The old woman received her kindly, and pointed out a chair on which she might sit.“You must have met with a misfortune,”she said,“since you have sought out my lonely cottage.”With tears, the woman related what had befallen her.“Be comforted,”said the old woman,“I will help you. Here is a golden comb for you. Tarry till the full moon has risen, then go to the mill-pond, seat yourself on the shore, and comb your long black hair with this comb. When you have done, lay it down on the bank, and you will see what will happen.”
The woman returned home, but the time till the full moon came, passed slowly. At last the shining disc appeared in the heavens, then she went out to the mill-pond, sat down and combed her long black hair with the golden comb, and when she had finished, she laid it down at the water's edge. It was not long before there was a movement in the depths, a wave rose, rolled to the shore, and bore the comb away with it. In not more than the time necessary for the comb to sink to the bottom, the surface of the water parted, and the head of the huntsman arose. He did not speak, but looked at his wife with sorrowful glances. At the same instant, a second wave came rushing up, and covered the man's head. All had vanished, the mill-pond lay peaceful as before, and nothing but the face of the full moon shone on it.
Full of sorrow, the woman went back, but again the dream showed her the cottage of the old woman. Next morning she again set out and complained of her woes to the wise woman. The old woman gave her a golden flute, and said,“Tarry till the full moon comes again, then take this flute; play a beautiful air on it, and when you have finished, lay it on the sand; then you will see what will happen.”
The wife did as the old woman told her. No sooner was the flute lying on the sand than there was a stirring in the depths, and a wave rushed up and bore the flute away with it. Immediately afterwards the water parted, and not only the head of the man, but half of his body also arose. He stretched out his arms longingly towards her, but a second wave came up, covered him, and drew him down again.
“Alas, what does it profit me?”said the unhappy woman,“that I should see my beloved, only to lose him again!”Despair filled her heart anew, but the dream led her a third time to the house of the old woman. She set out, and the wise woman gave her a golden spinning-wheel, consoled her and said,“All is not yet fulfilled, tarry until the time of the full moon, then take the spinning-wheel, seat yourself on the shore, and spin the spool full, and when you have done that, place the spinningwheel near the water, and you will see what will happen.”
The woman obeyed all she said exactly; as soon as the full moon showed itself, she carried the golden spinning-wheel to the shore, and span industriously until the flax came to an end, and the spool was quite filled with the threads. No sooner was the wheel standing on the shore than there was a more violent movement than before in the depths of the pond, and a mighty wave rushed up, and bore the wheel away with it. Immediately the head and the whole body of the man rose into the air, in a water-spout. He quickly sprang to the shore, caught his wife by the hand and fled. But they had scarcely gone a very little distance, when the whole pond rose with a frightful roar, and streamed out over the open country. The fugitives already saw death before their eyes, when the woman in her terror implored the help of the old woman, and in an instant they were transformed, she into a toad, he into a frog. The flood which had overtaken them could not destroy them, but it tore them apart and carried them far away.
When the water had dispersed and they both touched dry land again, they regained their human form, but neither knew where the other was;they found themselves among strange people, who did not know their native land. High mountains and deep valleys lay between them. In order to keep themselves alive, they were both obliged to tend sheep. For many long years they drove their flocks through field and forest and were full of sorrow and longing.
When spring had once more broken forth on the earth, they both went out one day with their flocks, and as chance would have it, they drew near each other. They met in a valley, but did not recognize each other;yet they rejoiced that they were no longer so lonely. Henceforth they each day drove their flocks to the same place; they did not speak much, but they felt comforted. One evening when the full moon was shining in the sky, and the sheep were already at rest, the shepherd pulled the flute out of his pocket, and played on it a beautiful but sorrowful air. When he had finished he saw that the shepherdess was weeping bitterly.“Why are you weeping?”he asked.“Alas,”answered she,“thus shone the full moon when I played this air on the flute for the last time, and the head of my beloved rose out of the water.”He looked at her, and it seemed as if a veil fell from his eyes, and he recognized his dear wife, and when she looked at him, and the moon shone in his face she knew him also. They embraced and kissed each other, and no one need ask if they were happy.
中文
女水妖
从前有一个磨坊主，和妻子一起过着快乐的生活。他们有钱，有田产，一年比一年富裕。可是一夜之间，不幸降临：当初他的财富增长迅速，如今一年年急遽减少，到头来磨坊主连他自己住的磨坊都很难说是他的了。他忧虑重重，白天干了一天活，夜里躺在床上，辗转反侧，无法安宁。
有一天，天还没亮他就起来，想到外面去散散心。他走过磨坊水堤，朝阳正射来第一道旭光，他听见水塘里有哗哗的水声，回头一看，只见一个美貌女子从水里缓缓升起来。被她娇嫩的双手拢住的长长的头发越过她的肩膀，从两侧流泻下来，遮住她白皙的身躯。他很清楚这是池塘里的女水妖，由于害怕，他不晓得自己该逃走还是该站住不动。女水妖温柔的声音叫着他的名字，问他为什么这样悲哀。磨坊主起初默不作声，后来听她说话十分和气友善，便鼓起勇气，向她讲述以前他的生活多么幸福富裕，现在多么贫困，自己也不知道该怎么办才好。“你放心，”女水妖回答说，“我能使你比从前更富裕、更幸福，只是你得答应把你家里刚生下来的给我。”
“除了生个小狗、小猫，”磨坊主心里想，“还能生什么？”便答应了她的要求。女水妖又沉下水去，磨坊主心情愉快，充满信心地快步走回磨坊。他还没到家里，使女就走出门口朝他大声喊，说他有喜事了，他的妻子给他生了一个男孩。磨坊主像触了电似的站住。他明白了：狡猾的女水妖早已知道，骗他上当。他低着头走到妻子床前，妻子问他：“这个男孩这么漂亮，你怎么不高兴？”他把遇见女水妖和他答应女水妖的事向她讲了。“如果失去孩子，”他接着说，“幸福和财富有什么用？我该怎么办呢？”对此，前来贺喜的亲戚也想不出什么好办法。
在此期间，磨坊主家又福星高照了。不管他做什么，总能成功，箱子、柜子仿佛自己装满了似的，一夜之间，柜橱里的钱多起来了。没过多久，他的财富就比以前还要多。但他并不快活：对女水妖的许诺使他心中痛苦。每当他走到水塘边，总担心女水妖会从水里冒出来向他讨债。他严禁男孩走近水塘边。“你要小心，”他对孩子说，“你一碰到水塘的水，就会有一只手伸出来抓住你，把你拖下水去。”然而时光流逝，年复一年，女水妖没再出现，磨坊主心里才踏实下来。
那男孩长成了小伙子，跟随一个猎人学艺，学成归来，成了一个精明能干的猎人，村里的老爷雇用了他。村子里有一个美丽率真的姑娘，猎人很喜欢她，老爷知道了，送给他一所小房子。两人举行了婚礼，倾心相爱，过着安宁幸福的生活。
有一天，猎人追赶一只鹿。那只鹿从森林里奔逃到旷野上，猎人紧追不舍，终于一枪把它撂倒在地上。但他没察觉自己就在那危险的水塘附近，取出猎物的内脏后，他双手沾满了血，便走去水塘边洗手。他的手刚伸进水里，女水妖就升上来，伸出湿淋淋的臂膀，笑着搂住他，把他拖下水去，波浪很快就淹没了他的头顶。
到了晚上，猎人没有回家，他的妻子担心他，就跑出去找他，以前他常跟她讲起他必须提防女水妖暗算，不敢走近水塘边，所以她已有出事了的不祥预感。她匆匆赶去水塘，看见猎人的袋子放在岸边，她已不再怀疑是不是大祸临头了。她悲痛万分，绞着双手，呼喊至爱的亲人的名字，然而无济于事；她又跑到水塘对岸呼唤他，狠狠咒骂女水妖，还是没有任何回答。池水如镜，平静无波，水底下只有月亮的半张脸一动不动地仰望着她。
可怜的妻子仍不离开水塘。她绕着它一圈又一圈地快步疾走，有时默不作声，有时发出一声激烈的呼喊，有时口中低声喃喃，绝不休息。最后她终于精疲力尽，倒在地上睡着了，睡得很深沉。不一会儿她就做了一个梦。
她梦见自己在巨大的岩石之间向上爬，心里惊惧万分；荆棘、藤蔓钩她的脚，雨打着她的脸，风吹乱她长长的头发。她爬上山顶，映入眼帘的是截然不同的另一番景象。天蓝蓝的，柔风轻拂，地缓缓下沉，在一片姹紫嫣红鲜花怒放的葱绿草地上，有一座干净的草屋。她走过去推开草屋的门，一个白发老妇人坐在屋里，向她和蔼地招手。就在这时，这个可怜的女人醒了。天已经亮了，她决定立即遵从梦中的指引。她艰难地爬上山顶，一切和夜里梦中所见一样。老妇人亲切接待她，指着一张椅子叫她坐下。“你找到我这孤寂的草屋，一定有不幸的遭遇。”老妇人说。女人含泪向她讲述了她的遭遇。“你放心吧，”老婆婆说，“我会帮助你，给你一把金梳子。你要耐心等待，等到圆月升上天空，那时你就去坐在池塘边上，用这把梳子梳你的长长的黑发，梳完了，把梳子放在池塘岸边，你就会看见要发生的事情。”
女人回去等待月圆，觉得时间过得很慢。一轮明月终于升上天空，她走出家门，来到池塘边坐下，用金梳子梳理她长长的黑色的头发，梳完了，把梳子放在池塘岸边。不久，哗啦一声，从水深处掀起一股波浪，卷到岸边，卷走了金梳子。很快，过了大约金梳子沉到水底所需要的那么长时间，水面分开了，猎人的头冒了出来。他不说话，悲哀地凝视着他的妻子。就在这一瞬间，第二股波浪哗啦啦卷过来，盖住猎人的脑袋。一切都消失了，池塘又平静如初，只有圆月的面庞在池面上闪光。
女人绝望地回家，梦中她又见到老婆婆的草屋。第二天早晨她再次上路，向智慧的老妇人诉说她的苦难。老婆婆给她一支金笛，说：“你要耐心等待，等到圆月再升上天空，你就去坐在池塘边上，用这支金笛吹奏出一首美妙的曲子，吹完了，把笛子放在池塘岸边，你就会看见要发生的事情。”
女人照老婆婆说的去做。笛子刚放在池塘岸边，哗啦一声，从水深处掀起一股波浪，卷到岸边，卷走了金笛。池水随即分开，不仅仅猎人的头，而且他的半个身子都露出了水面。他充满渴望地朝她张开双臂，但是第二股浪头喧嚣而来，盖住他，又把他拖下水去。
“啊，”不幸的女子说，“我只见到我至爱的亲人一面，就又失去了他，这有何用？”她的心里又充满了哀伤，但她第三次来到老婆婆那座草屋。智慧的老妇人给她一个金纺车，安慰她说：“不是所有的事情都做完了，你要耐心等待，等到圆月再升上天空，那时你就带上这辆纺车去坐在池塘边纺线，纺一满轴，纺完了，把纺车放在池塘岸边，你就会看见要发生的事情。”
女人完全照此办理。圆月一升上天空，她就把金纺车搬到池塘边辛勤纺线，直到亚麻纺完，线轴缠满了线。她刚把金纺车放在岸边，水深处响起比前两次都更厉害的喧嚣声，一阵大浪汹涌而来，卷走了纺车。随即，猎人的头和全身随着一股涌起的水柱一起升上来。他迅速跳到岸上，拉着妻子的手一起逃跑。可是，他们才走了一小段路程，整个池塘的水汹涌澎湃，发出惊心动魄的咆哮，迅猛地冲向广阔的原野。两个逃亡者看见死期已近在眼前。惊恐中，妻子向老婆婆呼救，就在这一瞬间，他们变了，她变成一只蛤蟆，他变成一只青蛙。洪水淹到他们身边，淹不死他们，但冲散了他们俩，把他们冲到很远很远的地方。
水退了，他们两个接触到干的土地，又都恢复了原先的人形。但谁都不知道另一个人在什么地方。他们生活在陌生人中间，人们对他们的家乡一无所知。他们只好以牧羊谋生，长年累月赶着羊群，穿过田野和森林，心中充满悲伤和思念。
又一年春回大地，两人在同一天出来放羊，他们偶然走近了彼此。他看见远远的山坡上有一群羊，便赶着羊群到那儿去。他们在一个山谷里相遇，两人谁都没有认出对方来，但他们都为不再孤独一人而高兴。从此他们天天一起放羊，他们说话不多，但心情愉快。一天晚上，皓月当空，羊儿都已睡了，牧羊人从口袋里取出笛子，吹了一支优美而哀伤的曲子。一曲终了，他发现牧羊女在伤心地哭泣。“你为什么哭泣？”他问道。“啊，”她回答说，“我最后一次用笛子吹奏这支曲子，看见我至爱的亲人从水里冒出头来的时候，天上也是这样的满月。”他凝视着她，仿佛一下子去掉了遮眼布：他认出了他的妻子；当月光照在他的脸上，她也认出了他。他们拥抱、亲吻。他们是否幸福，那就不用问了。
