皇帝的新衣

作者简介汉斯·克里斯蒂安·安徒生(Heinz Christian Andersen 1805—1875)丹麦作家。1805年4月2日生于丹麦菲英岛欧登塞的贫民区。父亲是个穷鞋匠，曾志愿服役，抗击拿破仑·波拿巴的侵略，退伍后于1816年病故。当洗衣工的母亲不久即改嫁。安徒生从小就为贫困所折磨，先后在几家店铺里做学徒，没有受过正规...

《皇帝的新衣》书籍封面图

汉斯·克里斯蒂安·安徒生(Heinz Christian Andersen 1805—1875)丹麦作家。1805年4月2日生于丹麦菲英岛欧登塞的贫民区。父亲是个穷鞋匠，曾志愿服役，抗击拿破仑·波拿巴的侵略，退伍后于1816年病故。当洗衣工的母亲不久即改嫁。安徒生从小就为贫困所折磨，先后在几家店铺里做学徒，没有受过正规教育。少年时代即对舞台发生兴趣，幻想当一名歌唱家、演员或剧作家。1819年在哥本哈根皇家剧院当了一名小配角。后因嗓子失润被解雇。从此开始学习写作，但写的剧本完全不适宜于演出，没有为剧院所采用。1822年得到剧院导演约纳斯·科林的资助，就读于斯莱厄尔瑟的一所文法学校。这一年他写了《青年的尝试》一书，以威廉·克里斯蒂安·瓦尔特的笔名发表。这个笔名包括了威廉·莎士比亚、安徒生自己和司各特的名字。1827年发表第一首诗《垂死的小孩》，1829年，他进入哥本哈根大学学习。他的第一部重要作品《1828和1829年从霍尔门运河至阿迈厄岛东角步行记》于1829年问世。这是一部富于幽默感的游记，颇有德国作家霍夫曼的文风。这部游记的出版使安徒生得到了社会的初步承认。此后他继续从事戏剧创作。1831年他去德国旅行，归途中写了旅游札记。1833年去意大利，创作了一部诗剧《埃格内特和美人鱼》和一部以意大利为背景的长篇小说《即兴诗人》(1835)。小说出版后不久，就被翻译成德文和英文，标志着作者开始享有国际声誉。

一个一眼就可看穿的骗局，竟然畅行无阻，最终演出一场荒唐的闹剧。读完这篇童话，我们首先会嘲笑那个愚蠢的爱慕虚荣的皇帝，不过，如果注意到上自皇帝下至百姓，几乎人人都会有违心地说假话这一现象，我们的思考也许能更深入一层。

这篇故事写于1837年，和同年写的另一部童话《海的女儿》合成一本小集子出版。这时安徒生只有32岁，也就是他开始创作童话后的第三年。但从这篇童话中可以看出，安徒生对社会的观察是多么深刻。他在这里揭露了以皇帝为首的统治阶级是何等虚荣、铺张浪费，何等愚蠢。骗子们看出了他们的特点，就提出“凡是不称职的人或者愚蠢的人，都看不见这衣服。”的说法。他们当然看不见，因为根本就没有什么衣服。但是他们心虚，都怕人们发现他们既不称职，又十分愚蠢，就众口一词地称赞那不存在的衣服是如何美丽，穿在身上是如何漂亮，还要举行一个游行大典，赤身露体，招摇过市，让百姓都来欣赏和诵赞。不幸这个可笑的骗局，一到老百姓面前就被揭穿了。“皇帝”下不了台，仍然要装腔作势，“必须把这游行大典举行完毕”，而且“因此他还要摆出一副更骄傲的神气”。这种弄虚作假但极愚蠢的统治者，大概在任何时代都会存在。因此这篇童话在任何时候也都具有现实意义。

这个有趣的童话为我们描绘了这样一个故事：一位奢侈的国王每天只顾着穿衣服，不管其他任何事，最后竟然还受骗，穿着……不，是什么都没穿去游行！没有人去揭穿谎言，甚至还夸耀，最后一个孩子天真的一句话才结束了这场闹剧。

读完这篇童话,我情不自禁地问自己,作为一国之君,为什么这个国王竟会被欺骗了这么久呢？毫无疑问，这都是因为这个国王的虚荣心。为了这所谓的虚荣心，全天下的百姓、臣子乃至国王都心甘情愿地被别人骗。他们心甘情愿地被别人骗，也心安理得地骗别人。童话中的那两个骗子之所以能得逞，是因为他们看到了人们心中的一个盲点——自愿将自己这一致命弱点暴露给别人，并且让他们加以利用，也要得到虚荣的满足。

实际上，虚荣心是与生拒来的，但是，孩提时的虚荣心是单纯的，随着涉世的深入，虚荣心就越来越深地腐蚀着人们。读完这篇童话后，我真心地希望这世上的人们，不要为了一时虚荣的满足而放弃做人的原则，放弃那一颗真诚的心。

我们更应该保持天真浪漫的童心 、敢于说真话 !

许多年前，有一位皇帝，为了穿得漂亮，不惜把所有的钱都花掉。他既不关心他的军队，也不喜欢去看戏，他也不喜欢乘着马车逛公园——除非是为了炫耀一下他的新衣服。他每天每个钟头要换一套新衣服。人们提到他总是说：“皇上在更衣室里。”

有一天，他的京城来了两个骗子，自称是织工，说能织出人间最美丽的布。这种布不仅色彩和图案都分外美丽，而且缝出来的衣服还有一种奇怪的特性：任何不称职的或者愚蠢得不可救药的人，都看不见这衣服。

“那真是最理想的衣服！”皇帝心里想，“我穿了这样的衣服，就可以看出我的王国里哪些人不称职；我就可以辨别出哪些人是聪明人，哪些人是傻子。是的，我要叫他们马上织出这样的布来！”他付了许多现款给这两个骗子，叫他们马上开始工作。

他们摆出两架织布机，装作是在工作的样子，可是他们的织布机上连一点东西的影子也没有。他们急迫地请求发给他们一些最细的生丝和最好的金子。他们把这些东西都装进自己的腰包，只在那两架空空的织布机上忙忙碌碌，直到深夜。

“我倒是很想知道布料究竟织得怎样了，”皇帝想。不过，想起凡是愚蠢或不称职的人就看不见这布，他心里的确感到有些不大自然。他相信他自己是无须害怕的，但仍然觉得先派一个人去看看工作的进展情形比较妥当。全城的人都听说过这织品有一种多么神奇的力量，所以大家也都很想借这机会来测验一下：他们的邻人究竟有多笨，有多傻。

“我要派诚实的老大臣到织工那儿去，”皇帝想，“他最能看出这布料是什么样子，因为他很有理智，就称职这一点，谁也不及他。”

这位善良的老大臣就来到那两个骗子的屋子里，看到他们正在空空的织机上忙碌地工作。

“愿上帝可怜我吧！”老部长想，他把眼睛睁得特别大，“我什么东西也没有看见！”但是他没敢把这句话说出口来。

那两个骗子请求他走近一点，同时指着那两架空织布机问他花纹是不是很美丽，色彩是不是很漂亮。可怜的老大臣眼睛越睁越大，仍然看不见什么东西，因为的确没有东西。

“我的老天爷！”他想。“难道我是愚蠢的吗？我从来没有怀疑过自己。这一点决不能让人知道这件事。难道我是不称职吗？不成！我决不能让人知道我看不见布料。”

“哎，您一点意见也没有吗？”一个正在织布的骗子说。

“哎呀，美极了！真是美极了！”老大臣一边说一边从他的眼镜里仔细地看，“多么美的花纹！多么美的色彩！是的，我将要呈报皇上，我对这布非常满意。”

“嗯，我们听了非常高兴。”两个骗子齐声说。于是他们就把色彩和稀有的花纹描述了一番，还加上些名词。老大臣注意地听着，以便回到皇帝那儿可以照样背出来。事实上他也就这样做了。

这两个骗子又要了更多的钱，更多的生丝和金子，说是为了织布的需要。他们把这些东西全装进了腰包。

过了不久，皇帝又派了另一位诚实的官员去看工作的进展。这位官员的运气并不比头一位大臣好：他看了又看，但是那两架空织布机上什么也没有，他什么东西也看不出来。

“您看这段布美不美？”两个骗子问。他们指着，描述着一些美丽的花纹——事实上它们并不存在。

“我并不愚蠢呀！”这位官员想，“这大概是我不配有现在这样好的官职吧。这也真够滑稽，但是我决不能让人看出来！”他就把他完全没有看见的布称赞了一番，同时保证说，他对这些美丽的颜色和巧妙的花纹感到很满意。“是的，那真是太美了，”他回去对皇帝说。

城里所有的人都在谈论这美丽的布料。

皇帝就很想亲自去看一次。他选了一群特别圈定的随员——其中包括已经去看过的那两位诚实的大臣。他就到那两个狡猾的骗子那里去。这两个家伙正在以全副精神织布，但是一根丝的影子也看不见。

“您看这布华丽不华丽？”那两位诚实的官员说，“陛下请看：多么美的花纹！多么美的色彩！”他们指着那架空织布机，他们相信别人一定看得见布料的。

“这是怎么一回事呢？”皇帝心里想。“我什么也没有看见！这骇人听闻了。难道我是一个愚蠢的人吗？难道我不配做皇帝吗？这可是最可怕的事情。” “哎呀，真是美极了！”皇帝说。“我十分满意！”

于是他点头表示满意。他仔细地看着织机的样子，他不愿意说出什么也没看到。跟他来的全体随员也仔细地看了又看，可是他们也没比别人看到更多的东西。他们像皇帝一样，也说：“哎呀，真是美极了！”他们向皇帝建议用这种新奇的、美丽的布料做成衣服，穿着这衣服去参加快要举行的游行大典。“这布是华丽的！精致的！无双的！”每人都随声附和着。每人都有说不出的快乐。皇帝赐给骗子每人一个“御聘织师”的头衔，封他们为爵士，并授予一枚可以挂在扣眼上的勋章。

第二天早上，游行大典就要举行了。头一天夜晚，两个骗子整夜点起十六支以上的蜡烛。人们可以看到他们是在赶夜工，要把皇帝的新衣完成。他们装作从织布机上取下布料，用两把大剪刀在空中裁了一阵子，同时用没有穿线的针缝了一通。最后，他们齐声说：“请看！新衣服缝好了！”

皇帝亲自带着一群最高贵的骑士们来了。两个骗子各举起一只手，好像拿着一件什么东西似的。他们说：“请看吧，这是裤子，这是袍子，这是外衣。”“这衣服轻柔得像蜘蛛网一样，穿的人会觉得好像身上没有什么东西似的，这正是这些衣服的优点。”

“一点也不错，”所有的骑士都说。可是他们什么也看不见，因为什么东西也没有。

“现在请皇上脱下衣服，”两个骗子说，“好让我们在这个大镜子面前为您换上新衣。”

皇帝把他所有的衣服都脱下来。两个骗子装作一件一件地把他们刚才缝好的新衣服交给他。他们在他的腰周围那儿弄了一阵子，好像是系上一件什么东西似的：这就是后裾（注：后裾（Slaebet）就是拖在礼服后面的很长的一块布；它是封建时代欧洲贵族的一种装束。）。皇上在镜子面前转了转身子，扭了扭腰。

“上帝，这衣服多么合身啊！裁得多么好看啊！”大家都说。“多么美的花纹！多么美的色彩！这真是贵重的衣服！”

“大家都在外面等待，准备好了华盖，以便举在陛下头顶上一参加游行大典。”典礼官说。

“对，我已经穿好了。”皇帝说，“这衣服合我的身吗？”于是他又在镜子面前把身子转动了一下，因为他要使大家看出他在认真地观看他美丽的新装。

那些将要托着后裾的内臣们都把手在地上东摸西摸，好像他们正在拾起后裾似的。他们开步走，手中托着空气——他们不敢让人瞧出他们实在什么东西也没看见。

这样，皇帝就在那个富丽的华盖下游行起来了。站在街上和窗子里的人都说：“乖乖！皇上的新装真是漂亮！他上衣下面的后裾是多么美丽！这件衣服真合他的身材！”谁也不愿意让人知道自己什么东西也看不见，因为这样就会显出自己不称职，或是太愚蠢。皇帝所有的衣服从来没有获得过这样的称赞。

“可是他什么衣服也没有穿呀！”一个小孩子最后叫了出声来。

“上帝哟，你听这个天真的声音！”爸爸说。于是大家把这孩子讲的话私自低声地传播开来。

“他并没有穿什么衣服！有一个小孩子说他并没有穿什么衣服呀！”

“他实在是没有穿什么衣服呀！”最后所有的老百姓都说。 皇帝有点儿发抖，因为他觉得百姓们所讲的话似乎是真的。不过他自己心里却这样想：“我必须把这游行大典举行完毕。”因此他摆出一副更骄傲的神气，他的内臣们跟在他后面走，手中托着一个并不存在的后裙。

那个裸体的皇帝在游行受到嘲笑后恼羞成怒,当场宣布:“谁说坏话,立即逮来,杀!”结果四五十人被就地处死。从此,皇帝再不穿别的衣服。有一次,他的爱妃陪他喝酒,无意间讲了一句:“啊呀,把胸膛弄脏了!”另一次,一位大臣辞职后说:“再不用看不穿衣服的皇帝了。”都因犯了皇帝的禁令而被杀。有一次皇帝巡行京城，因为经过的街道多，说笑的老百姓也越多，皇帝竟杀了一千多老百姓。有一个慈心的老大臣为了改变这种状况，想了一个办法，去对皇帝说：“你向来喜欢新衣服，还是另做一套新的换上吧！”可是皇帝硬说这套神奇的衣服永远不会旧，把他关进了监狱。终于有一天，皇帝要杀老百姓时，大家一起扑上去打皇帝，兵士和大臣也倒向了人民那一边，皇帝身体一软就瘫在地上。就这样那个天真的小孩便当上了皇帝，造福于民！

《皇帝的新衣》十分注意叙述的清晰性和完整性。它所用的叙事方式，是儿童们最易接受的顺叙法，落笔就写主要人物，介绍皇帝爱穿新衣的“癖好”，然后引出骗子，接着写织布，做衣，最后写皇帝穿上“新衣”参加游行大典，在人们面前出尽洋相。故事顺序展开，一环紧扣一环，逐步引向高潮，最后简短作结，且又留有想像余地。这样的写法，既能适应少年儿童的智力水平，又能满足他们的好奇心，同时也有利于培养他们周密的思考能力、清晰的表达能力和丰富的想像能力。

《皇帝的新衣》十分注意突出重点，对于关键性的情节和细节，运用多种手法，不断加以重复，反复进行交代。这篇童话中，凡属重要的情节和细节，诸如皇帝爱穿新衣的“癖好”，骗子的阴谋诡计，他们吹嘘自己所织出的衣料的“特性”，他们在织布机上的“空忙”情况，大臣、官员和皇帝察看织布情况时的心理动态，皇帝穿“新衣”上街游行和被老百姓识破的过程，等等，作者都用不同的方式，重复地加以叙述和描绘。这种成年人可能会感到“嗦”的描述方式却正符合少年儿童的心理特征，使他们觉得是在娓娓而谈，清楚明白，引人入胜。

《皇帝的新衣》还十分注意叙述方式的多样化，使故事显得更加生动、活泼、有趣。作者在叙述整个故事时，有时采用明白流畅的白描手法，有时通过精彩的对话，有时则细致地揭示人物的内心活动。通过这样多种方式的相互交叉，灵活运用，大大增强了作品的生动性，有利于吸引儿童的注意力，激发他们的兴趣，使他们随着故事情节的逐步展开，很自然地接受作品的内容，在潜移默化之中，受到感染和教育。

安徒生在这里揭露了以皇帝为首的统治阶级是何等虚荣、铺张浪费，而且最重要的是，何等愚蠢。

骗子们看出了他们的特点，就提出“凡是不称职的人或者愚蠢的人，都看不见这衣服。”他们当然看不见，因为根本就没有什么衣服。但是他们心虚，都怕人们发现他们既不称职，而又愚蠢，就异口同声地称赞那不存在的衣服是如何美丽，穿在身上是如何漂亮，还要举行一个游行大典，赤身露体，招摇过市，让百姓都来欣赏和诵赞。不幸这个可笑的骗局，一到老百姓面前就被揭穿了。“皇帝”下不了台，仍然要装腔作势，“必须把这游行大典举行完毕”，而且“因此他还要摆出一副更骄傲的神气”。

这种弄虚作假但极愚蠢的统治者，大概在任何时代都会存在。因此这篇童话在任何时候也都具有现实意义。

Many years ago there was an Emperor so exceedingly fond of newclothes that he spent all his money on being well dressed. Hecared nothing about reviewing his soldiers, going to the theatre,or going for a ride in his carriage, except to show off his newclothes. He had a coat for every hour of the day, and instead ofsaying, as one might, about any other ruler, "The King's incouncil," here they always said. "The Emperor's in hisdressing room."

In the great city where he lived, life was always gay. Everyday many strangers came to town, and among them one day came twoswindlers. They let it be known they were weavers, and they saidthey could weave the most magnificent fabrics imaginable. Notonly were their colors and patterns uncommonly fine, but clothesmade of this cloth had a wonderful way of becoming invisible toanyone who was unfit for his office, or who was unusuallystupid.

"Those would be just the clothes for me," thought theEmperor. "If I wore them I would be able to discover which men inmy empire are unfit for their posts. And I could tell the wisemen from the fools. Yes, I certainly must get some of the stuffwoven for me right away." He paid the two swindlers a large sumof money to start work at once.

They set up two looms and pretended to weave, though therewas nothing on the looms. All the finest silk and the purest oldthread which they demanded went into their traveling bags, whilethey worked the empty looms far into the night.

"I'd like to know how those weavers are getting onwith the cloth," the Emperor thought, but he felt slightlyuncomfortable when he remembered that those who were unfit fortheir position would not be able to see the fabric. Itcouldn't have been that he doubted himself, yet he thoughthe'd rather send someone else to see how things were going.The whole town knew about the cloth's peculiar power, andall were impatient to find out how stupid their neighborswere.

"I'll send my honest old minister to the weavers," theEmperor decided. "He'll be the best one to tell me how thematerial looks, for he's a sensible man and no one does hisduty better."

So the honest old minister went to the room where the twoswindlers sat working away at their empty looms.

"Heaven help me," he thought as his eyes flew wide open, "Ican't see anything at all". But he did not say so.

Both the swindlers begged him to be so kind as to come nearto approve the excellent pattern, the beautiful colors. Theypointed to the empty looms, and the poor old minister stared ashard as he dared. He couldn't see anything, because therewas nothing to see. "Heaven have mercy," he thought. "Can it bethat I'm a fool? I'd have never guessed it, and not asoul must know. Am I unfit to be the minister? It would never doto let on that I can't see the cloth."

"Don't hesitate to tell us what you think of it," saidone of the weavers.

"Oh, it's beautiful -it's enchanting." The oldminister peered through his spectacles. "Such a pattern, whatcolors!" I'll be sure to tell the Emperor how delighted Iam with it."

"We're pleased to hear that," the swindlers said. Theyproceeded to name all the colors and to explain the intricatepattern. The old minister paid the closest attention, so that hecould tell it all to the Emperor. And so he did.

The swindlers at once asked for more money, more silk andgold thread, to get on with the weaving. But it all went intotheir pockets. Not a thread went into the looms, though theyworked at their weaving as hard as ever.

The Emperor presently sent another trustworthy official tosee how the work progressed and how soon it would be ready. Thesame thing happened to him that had happened to the minister. Helooked and he looked, but as there was nothing to see in thelooms he couldn't see anything.

"Isn't it a beautiful piece of goods?" the swindlersasked him, as they displayed and described their imaginarypattern.

"I know I'm not stupid," the man thought, "so it mustbe that I'm unworthy of my good office. That'sstrange. I mustn't let anyone find it out, though." So hepraised the material he did not see. He declared he was delightedwith the beautiful colors and the exquisite pattern. To theEmperor he said, "It held me spellbound."

All the town was talking of this splendid cloth, and theEmperor wanted to see it for himself while it was still in thelooms. Attended by a band of chosen men, among whom were his twoold trusted officials-the ones who had been to the weavers-he setout to see the two swindlers. He found them weaving with mightand main, but without a thread in their looms.

"Magnificent," said the two officials already duped. "Justlook, Your Majesty, what colors! What a design!" They pointed tothe empty looms, each supposing that the others could see thestuff.

"What's this?" thought the Emperor. "I can't seeanything. This is terrible!

Am I a fool? Am I unfit to be the Emperor? What a thing tohappen to me of all people! - Oh! It's very pretty,"he said. "It has my highest approval." And he nodded approbationat the empty loom. Nothing could make him say that hecouldn't see anything.

His whole retinue stared and stared. One saw no more thananother, but they all joined the Emperor in exclaiming, "Oh!It's very pretty," and they advised him to wearclothes made of this wonderful cloth especially for the greatprocession he was soon to lead. "Magnificent! Excellent! Unsurpassed!" were bandied from mouth to mouth, and everyone didhis best to seem well pleased. The Emperor gave each of theswindlers a cross to wear in his buttonhole, and the title of"Sir Weaver."

Before the procession the swindlers sat up all night andburned more than six candles, to show how busy they werefinishing the Emperor's new clothes. They pretended to takethe cloth off the loom. They made cuts in the air with hugescissors. And at last they said, "Now the Emperor's newclothes are ready for him."

Then the Emperor himself came with his noblest noblemen, andthe swindlers each raised an arm as if they were holdingsomething. They said, "These are the trousers, here's thecoat, and this is the mantle," naming each garment. "All of themare as light as a spider web. One would almost think he hadnothing on, but that's what makes them so fine."

"Exactly," all the noblemen agreed, though they could seenothing, for there was nothing to see.

"If Your Imperial Majesty will condescend to take yourclothes off," said the swindlers, "we will help you on with yournew ones here in front of the long mirror."

The Emperor undressed, and the swindlers pretended to puthis new clothes on him, one garment after another. They took himaround the waist and seemed to be fastening something - that washis train-as the Emperor turned round and round before thelooking glass.

"How well Your Majesty's new clothes look.Aren't they becoming!" He heard on all sides, "Thatpattern, so perfect! Those colors, so suitable! It is amagnificent outfit."

Then the minister of public processions announced: "YourMajesty's canopy is waiting outside."

"Well, I'm supposed to be ready," the Emperor said,and turned again for one last look in the mirror. "It is aremarkable fit, isn't it?" He seemed to regard his costumewith the greatest interest.

The noblemen who were to carry his train stooped low andreached for the floor as if they were picking up his mantle. Thenthey pretended to lift and hold it high. They didn't dareadmit they had nothing to hold.

So off went the Emperor in procession under his splendidcanopy. Everyone in the streets and the windows said, "Oh, howfine are the Emperor's new clothes! Don't they fithim to perfection? And see his long train!" Nobody would confessthat he couldn't see anything, for that would prove himeither unfit for his position, or a fool. No costume the Emperorhad worn before was ever such a complete success.

"But he hasn't got anything on," a little childsaid.

"Did you ever hear such innocent prattle?" said its father.And one person whispered to another what the child had said, "Hehasn't anything on. A child says he hasn't anythingon."

"But he hasn't got anything on!" the whole town criedout at last.

The Emperor shivered, for he suspected they were right. Buthe thought, "This procession has got to go on." So he walked moreproudly than ever, as his noblemen held high the train thatwasn't there at all.^[1]