双语格林童话：忠实的约翰 Faithful Johannes(1)
Once upon a time there was an old king who was ill. He thought, "I am lying on what must be my deathbed," then said, "Have faithful Johannes come to me."
很久以前，有个老国王生了重病，当他意识到自己剩下的时间已经不多时，就对身边的人说：「传忠实的约翰进来见我。」
Faithful Johannes was his favorite servant, and was so called, because he had been so loyal to him for his whole life long. When he approached the bed the king said to him, "Most faithful Johannes, I feel that my end is near. My only concern is for my son. He is still young and may not always have the best judgment. I will not be able to close my eyes in peace if you do not promise to teach him everything that he ought to know, and to be his foster father."
忠实的约翰是一个仆人，老国王之所以这样称呼他，是因为他侍候国王很久了，而且非常忠诚可靠，也最受老国王喜爱。当约翰来到床边时，国王说道：「我忠实的约翰，我知道自己不行了。现在我放不下心的就是我的儿子，他还小，需要良师益友的辅助，除了你，我没有甚么好托付的朋友了。如果你不发誓把他应该懂得的东西教给他，做他的乾爹，我不能安然瞑目。」
Faithful Johannes answered, "I will not forsake him, and will serve him faithfully, even if it costs me my life."
听到这些话，约翰说道：「我决不会离他而去，我一定忠实地辅助他，即使献出我的生命也在所不惜。」
At this, the old king said, "Then I will die in comfort and peace," adding, "After my death, show him the entire castle —— all the chambers, halls, and vaults, and all the treasures which lie therein. But do not show him the last chamber in the long gallery, which contains the portrait of the Princess of the Golden Roof. If he sees that picture, he will fall violently in love with her, will fall down unconscious, and will put himself at great risk for her sake. You must protect him from that."
国王欣然说道：「现在我就放心了。我死后，你领着他把整座王宫的所有房间和库房，包括房子里的所有财宝看一遍。但要注意，有一间房子不能让他进去，就是那间挂有金屋公主画像的房间。如果他进去看了，就会深深地爱上她，并会因此而陷入万劫不复的险境。你千万要负起这个责任来。」
After faithful Johannes had once more given his promise to the old king about this, the latter said no more, but laid his head on his pillow and died.
当忠实的约翰再一次问老国王发誓以后，老国王安然地躺在枕头上死去了。
After the old king had been carried to his grave, faithful Johannes told the young king all that he had promised his father on his deathbed, and said, "I will surely keep my promise, and will be loyal to you as I have been loyal to him, even if it should cost me my life."
老国王被安葬之后，忠实的约翰把老国王临终前的一切嘱托和自己的誓言都告诉了年青的国王，并说道：「我一定会忠实地执行自己的诺言，对你就像对你的父亲一样忠诚不二，即使献出自己的生命也在所不辞。」年青的国王哭泣着说：「我永远也不会忘记你的忠心。」
（编辑:joice）
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