向太陽揮揮手

A long time ago in a kingdom by the sea there lived a Princess tall and bright as a sunflower. Whatever the royal tutors taught her, she mastered with ease. 

很久很久以前，在海濱的一個王國裡住著一位如向日葵高挺、陽光的公主。不論皇室的老師教些甚麼，冰雪聰穎的她都能融會貫通。

She could tally the royal treasure on her gold and silver abacus, and charm even the Wizard with her enchantments. In short, she had every gift but love, for in all the kingdom there was no suitable match for her. 

她不僅能用算盤計算出皇室金庫的價值，法術也能和巫師相抗衡。儘管她集三千寵愛於一身，卻在王國裡找不到相匹配的男孩而始終單身。

So she played the zither and designed great tapestries and trained her finches to eat from her hand, for she had a way with animals. 

除了會彈琴、紡織，靠著親近動物的本事，雀鳥都願意啄食她手中的飼料。

Yet she was bored and lonely, as princesses often are, being a breed apart. Seeing her situation, the Wizard came to see her one day, a strange and elegant creature trotting along at his heels. The Princess clapped her hands in delight, for she loved anything odd. 

但寂寞和孤獨仍然環繞著她，尤其公主這個身分更讓她覺得跟大家格格不入。巫師把這一切都看在眼裡。一天，巫師帶著一隻奇特而優雅的動物去找公主。一向喜愛新奇事物的公主看到了這隻從未見過的動物十分開心。

"What is it?" she cried. The Wizard grimaced. 

"Who knows?" he said. "It's supposed to be something enchanted. I got it through the mail." 

公主問，「這是甚麼？」

「不知道。」巫師笑著說。「我從網路上本來要買其他更奇幻的東西。」

The Royal Wizard looked a little shamefaced. It was not the first time he had been taken in by mail-order promises. 

"It won't turn into anything else," he explained. "It just is what it is." 

巫師有點尷尬。這不是他第一次被郵購詐騙。

「它不會變成其他東西」巫師解釋，「這就是它原本的樣子」

"But what is it?" 

"They call it a dog," the Wizard said. "An Afghan hound." 

「但這到底是甚麼？」

「他們叫它做獵狗」巫師說，「阿富汗犬」

Since in this kingdom dogs had never been seen, the Princess was quite delighted. When she brushed the silky, golden dog, she secretly thought it looked rather like her, with its thin aristocratic features and delicate nose. Actually, the Wizard had thought so too, but you can never be sure what a Princess will take as an insult. 

在這個王國內是第一次出現獵狗，公主十分的興奮。當她撫摸著它金色如絲的毛時，心裡暗自覺得它高雅的形象跟尖挺的鼻子，跟自己不是如出一轍嗎？事實上，巫師也是這樣想，但怕公主覺得被比喻成獵狗是個天大的汙辱而沒說出口。

In any case, the Princess and the dog became constant companions. It followed her on her morning rides and slept at the foot of her bed every night. When she talked, it watched her so attentively that she often thought it understood. 

公主和獵狗便成了形影不離的夥伴。她們披著晨曦出遊，晚上獵狗就躺在公主的腳邊睡覺。當公主講話時，獵狗總是若有所思地往著她，不禁讓公主覺得，或許獵狗也聽得懂她說話。

Still, a dog is a dog and not a Prince, and the Princess longed to marry. Often she sat at her window in the high tower, her embroidery idle in her aristocratic hands, and gazed down the road, dreaming of a handsome prince in flashing armor. 

但是，獵狗就是獵狗，不是王子；公主還是渴望婚姻。她常常從高塔的窗邊望著底下的道路，高貴的手中握著自己縫的女工，並幻想著英俊瀟灑的王子會穿著閃閃發亮的盔甲在遠方出現。

One summer day word came that the Prince of a neighboring kingdom wished to discuss an alliance. The royal maids confided that he was dashing and princely, and the Princess's heart leaped with joy. Eagerly she awaited the betrothal feast. 

某個夏天的午後出現了好消息：鄰國的王子要來商談聯姻的事。女僕說，王子不僅長的一表人才，人品也是萬中選一。這讓公主聽的芳心可可、不可名狀，一心只期待著晚宴的到來。

When the Prince entered the great banquet hall and cast his dark, romantic gaze upon her, the Princess nearly swooned in her chair. She sat shyly while everyone toasted the Prince and the golden Princess and peace forever between the two kingdoms. The dog watched quietly from its accustomed place at her feet. 

當王子走進了華麗的宴會並將深邃目光集中在公主身上時，她幾乎陷入了心醉神迷的歡樂。當大家都在舉杯敬祝王子、公主以及兩國永久的和平時，她只羞怯的坐著。獵狗一如往常地坐在公主腳邊並靜靜的看著。

After many leisurely courses, the great feast ended, and the troubadors began to play. The Prince and Princess listened to the lyrical songs honoring their love, and she let him hold her hand under the table - an act noted with triumphant approval by the King and Queen. The Princess was filled with happiness that such a man would love her. 

隨著儀式一個個過去，晚宴接近尾聲，輪到吟遊詩人開始唱曲。聽著頌揚王子、公主之間浪漫愛情的詞曲，他們在桌子底下也手牽著手。這一切都被國王跟王后看在眼底。公主十分的開心，能有這樣一個完美的人愛著她。

At last the troubadors swung into a waltz, and it was time for the Prince and Princess to lead the dance. Her heart bursting with joy, the Princess rose to take his arm. But as she rose to her feet, a great shadow darkened the Prince's face, and he stared at her as if stricken. 

吟遊詩人唱起了華爾滋，代表著王子跟公主要加入舞池。帶著歡愉的心情，公主站起來要挽著王子時，王子的臉上突然一陣陰霾閃過，並且僵直的看著公主。

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