There once lived an old queen whose husband had been dead for many years, and she had a beautiful daughter. When the princess grew up she was promised in marriage to a prince who lived far away. When the time came for her to be married, and she had to depart for the distant kingdom, the old queen packed up for her many costly vessels and utensils of silver and gold, and trinkets also of gold and silver, and cups and jewels, in short, everything that belonged to a royal dowry, for she loved her child with all her heart。

　　很久以前，有一个老王后，她的国王丈夫已经死了许多年，她有一个美丽漂亮的女儿。女儿长大以后，与很远的国家的一个王子订了婚。到了快结婚的日子，老王后把一切都打点好了，让她启程去王子所在的国家。她为女儿收拾了很多值钱的东西，有宝石、金子、银子、装饰品和漂亮的衣物，总之，王宫里的东西应有尽有。

　　She likewise assigned to her a chambermaid, who was to ride with her, and deliver her into the hands of the bridegroom. Each received a horse for the journey. The princess's horse was called Falada, and could speak. When the hour of departure had come, the old mother went into her bedroom, took a small knife and cut her fingers with it until they bled. Then she held out a small white cloth and let three drops of blood fall into it. She gave them to her daughter, saying, "Take good care of these. They will be of service to you on your way."

　　老王后非常爱她这个孩子，给她安排了一个侍女陪同她一道前往，千叮咛，万嘱托，要侍女把她的女儿送到新郎手中。并为她们配备了两匹马作为旅行的脚力。公主骑的一匹马叫法拉达，这匹马能够和人说话。到了要出发的时候，老王后到自己的卧室里拿出一把小刀，把自己的头发割了一小绺下来，拿给她的女儿说：“好好的保管着，我亲爱的孩子，它可作为你的护身符保佑你一路平安的。”

　　Thus they sorrowfully took leave of one another. The princess put the cloth into her bosom, mounted her horse, and set forth for her bridegroom. After they had ridden for a while she felt a burning thirst, and said to her chambermaid, "Dismount, and take my cup which you have brought with you for me, and get me some water from the brook, for I would like a drink."

　　她们伤心地互相道别后，公主把她母亲的头发揣进了怀里，骑上马，踏上了前往新郎王国的旅程。一天，她们骑着马沿着一条小溪边赶路，公主觉得渴了起来，对她的侍女说：“请下去到那条小溪边，用我的金盃给我舀点水来，我想喝水了。”

　　"If you are thirsty," said the chambermaid, "get off your horse yourself, and lie down near the water and drink. I won't be your servant."

　　侍女说道：“我不想下去，要是你渴了，你自己下去趴在水边喝就是了，我不再是你的侍女了。”

　　So in her great thirst the princess dismounted, bent down over the water in the brook and drank; and she was not allowed to drink out of the golden cup. Then she said, "Oh, Lord," and the three drops of blood answered, "If your mother knew this, her heart would break in two."

　　公主渴得难受，只得下马来到小溪边跪着喝水，因为她不敢拿出自己的金盃来用。她哭泣着说：“老天呀！我这是变成甚么了？”她怀里的头发回答她说：“哎呀呀！哎呀呀！要是你母亲知道了，她的心会痛苦、会悲哀、会歎惜。”

　　But the king's daughter was humble. She said nothing and mounted her horse again. They rode some miles further. The day was warm, the sun beat down, and she again grew thirsty. When they came to a stream of water, she again called to her chambermaid, "Dismount, and give me some water in my golden cup," for she had long ago forgotten the girl's evil words。

　　公主一贯都非常谦卑，逆来顺受，所以她没有斥责侍女的粗暴行为，而是不声不响地又骑上马赶路了。她们向前走了不少路之后，天气变得热起来了，太阳火辣辣地热得灼人，公主感到又渴得不行了。好不容易来到一条河边，她忘了侍女对她的粗暴无礼，说道：“请下去用我的金盃为我舀点水来喝。”

　　But the chambermaid said still more haughtily, "If you want a drink, get it yourself. I won't be your servant."Then in her great thirst the king's daughter dismounted, bent over the flowing water, wept, and said, "Oh, Lord," and the drops of blood again replied, "If your mother knew this, her heart would break in two."

　　但侍女对她说话的口气比上次更加傲慢无礼：“你想喝就去喝吧，我可不是你的侍女。” 乾渴使公主不得不自己下马来到河边，俯下身去。她面对河水哭叫着说：“我怎么会是这个样子呢？”怀里的头发又回答她说：“哎呀呀！哎呀呀！要是你母亲知道了，她的心会痛苦、会悲哀、会歎惜。”

　　As she was thus drinking, leaning over the stream, the cloth with the three drops of blood fell from her bosom and floated away with the water, without her taking notice of it, so great were her concerns. However, the chambermaid what happened, and she rejoiced to think that she now had power over the bride, for by losing the drops of blood, the princess had become weak and powerless。

　　当她探头到河里喝水时，那绺头发从她怀里掉了出来，由於心情紧张害怕，她一点也没有察觉，头发随着河水漂走了。但她那位侍女却看见了，她非常兴奋，因为她知道那是公主的护身符，丢失了护身符，这位可怜的新娘就可以在自己的掌握之中了。

　　When she wanted to mount her horse again, the one that was called Falada, the chambermaid said, "I belong on Falada. You belong on my nag," and the princess had to accept it.Then with many harsh words the chambermaid ordered the princess to take off her own royal clothing and put on the chambermaid's shabby clothes。

　　所以当公主喝完水准备再跨上法拉达时，侍女说：“我来骑法拉达，你可以换我的马骑。”公主不得不和她换马骑。过了不久，她又要公主脱下她的公主服装，换上侍女的装束。

　　And in the end the princess had to swear under the open heaven that she would not say one word of this to anyone at the royal court. If she had not taken this oath, she would have been killed on the spot. Falada saw everything, and remembered it well.　The chambermaid now climbed onto Falada, and the true bride onto the bad horse, and thus they traveled onwards, until finally they arrived at the royal palace. There was great rejoicing over their arrival, and the prince ran ahead to meet them, then lifted the chambermaid from her horse, thinking she was his bride.She was led upstairs, while the real princess was left standing below。