十    二    个    跳    舞    的    公    主   

 有    个    国    王   ， 他    有    十    二    个    女    儿   ， 个    个    长    得    如    花    似    玉   。 她    们    都    在    同    一    个    房    间    睡    觉   ， 十    二    张    床    并    排    放    着   ， 晚    上    上    床    睡    觉    后   ， 房    门    就    被    关    起    来    锁    上    了   。 有    一    个    时    期   ， 每    天    早    上    起    来    后   ， 国    王    发    现    她    们    的    鞋    子    都    磨    破    了   ， 就    像    她    们    跳    了    一    整    夜    舞    似    的   。 到    底    发    生    了    什    么    事   ， 她    们    到    哪    儿    去    过    了   ， 没    有    人    知    道   。

 于    是   ， 国    王    通    告    全    国   ： 如    果    有    人    能    解    开    这    个    秘    密   ， 找    出    这    些    公    主    整    夜    在    哪    儿    跳    舞   ， 他    就    可    以    娶    一    个    他    最    喜    欢    的    公    主    作    妻    子   ， 还    可    以    继    承    王    位   。 但    要    是    这    人    在    三    天    以    后    没    查    清    结    果   ， 他    就    得    被    处    死   。

 不    久    从    邻    国    来    了    一    位    王    子   ， 受    到    了    热    情    的    接    待   。 晚    上    他    被    带    到    了    一    个    房    间    里   ， 这    房    间    正    在    公    主    们    卧    室    的    隔    壁   。 为    了    能    听    到    看    到    可    能    发    生    的    一    切   ， 他    坐    下    后    将    房    门    敞    开   ， 一    刻    也    不    停    地    注    视    着   。 可    不    久    这    位    王    子    就    睡    着    了   ， 第    二    天    早    上    醒    来    后   ， 可    以    看    出   ， 公    主    们    还    是    跳    了    一    整    夜    的    舞   ， 因    为    她    们    的    鞋    底    上    都    有    磨    破    的    洞    眼   。 接    着    两    个    晚    上    都    发    生    了    相    同    的    情    况   ， 王    子    没    能    解    开    这    个    谜   。 国    王    下    令    将    他    的    头    砍    了    下    来   。 继    他    之    后   ， 又    有    几    个    人    来    试    过   ， 但    他    们    的    命    运    和    这    位    王    子    一    样   ， 都    没    有    找    出    结    果    而    丢    了    性    命   。

 恰    好    有    一    个    老    兵    经    过    这    个    国    王    的    领    地   ， 他    在    作    战    中    受    了    伤   ， 不    能    再    参    加    战    斗    了   。 一    天   ， 他    在    穿    越    树    林    时   ， 遇    到    了    一    个    老    婆    婆   ， 老    婆    婆    问    他    要    到    哪    里    去   ， 这    位    老    兵    回    答    说   ：" 我    也    不    知    道    我    去    哪    儿   ， 该    干    什    么    去   。" 接    着    又    自    我    嘲    弄    地    说   ：" 也    许    我    该    去    探    听    那    些    公    主    是    在    哪    儿    跳    舞    才    对   ， 这    样    的    话   ， 将    来    还    可    以    当    国    王    呢   。" 老    太    婆    一    听   ， 说    道   ：" 对   ， 对   ！ 这    不    是    什    么    难    事   ， 只    要    留    心    不    喝    公    主    给    你    的    酒    之    类    的    东    西   ， 并    且    在    她    们    要    离    去    时   ， 你    假    装    睡    熟    了    就    成   。"

 临    别   ， 她    送    给    他    一    件    披    风   ， 说    道   ：" 只    要    你    把    这    件    披    风    披    在    身    上   ， 她    们    就    看    不    见    你    的    踪    影    了   。 然    后   ， 你    就    可    以    跟    着    公    主    到    她    们    去    的    任    何    地    方   。" 老    兵    听    了    这    些    忠    告    后   ， 决    定    去    试    一    试    自    己    的    运    气   。

 他    来    到    国    王    面    前   ， 说    他    愿    意    接    受    这    项    冒    险    的    任    务   。 和    其    他    应    试    的    人    一    样   ， 他    也    受    到    了    热    情    的    款    待   ， 国    王    还    下    令    把    漂    亮    的    王    室    礼    服    给    他    穿    上   。 到    了    晚    上   ， 他    被    带    到    了    外    室   。 进    房    后   ， 他    刚    准    备    躺    下   ， 国    王    的    大    公    主    就    给    他    端    来    了    一    杯    葡    萄    酒   ， 但    这    位    士    兵    悄    悄    地    把    酒    全    倒    掉    了   ， 一    滴    也    没    有    喝    下   。 然    后    躺    在    床    上   ， 不    久    就    大    声    地    打    起    鼾    来   ， 好    像    睡    得    很    沉    似    的   。 十    二    个    公    主    听    到    他    的    鼾    声   ， 都    开    心    地    大    笑    起    来   ， 大    公    主    说   ：" 这    家    伙    本    来    还    可    以    干    一    些    更    聪    明    一    点    的    事   ， 不    必    到    这    儿    来    送    死    的   。" 说    完   ， 她    们    都    起    床    打    开    各    自    的    抽    屉    和    箱    子   ， 拿    出    了    漂    亮    的    衣    服   ， 对    着    镜    子    打    扮    起    来   。 这    时   ， 最    小    的    公    主    说    道   ：" 我    感    到    有    些    不    对    劲   ， 你    们    这    么    兴    奋   ， 可    我    觉    得    非    常    不    安   ， 我    想    一    定    有    不    幸    的    事    情    将    降    临    到    我    们    头    上   。"" 你    犯    什    么    傻    呀   ！" 大    公    主    说   ，" 你    老    是    担    心    这   ， 担    心    那   ， 难    道    你    忘    了    那    么    多    王    子    想    窥    探    我    们   ， 结    果    都    徒    劳    送    命    了    吗   ？ 瞧    这    老    兵   ， 即    使    我    不    给    他    安    眠    药    吃   ， 他    也    会    呼    呼    大    睡    的   。"

 公    主    们    打    扮    完    毕    后   ， 再    去    看    了    看    士    兵   ， 只    见    他    鼾    声    依    旧   ， 睡    在    床    上    一    动    也    不    动   。 这    一    来   ， 她    们    便    自    以    为    无    人    知    晓   ， 相    当    安    全    了   。 大    公    主    走    到    自    己    的    床    前    拍    了    拍    手   ， 床    马    上    沉    到    地    板    里    面   ， 一    扇    地    板    门    突    然    打    开    了   。 士    兵    看    见    大    公    主    领    头   ， 她    们    一    个    接    一    个    地    钻    进    了    地    板    门   。 他    想    到    再    不    能    耽    误    时    间    了   ， 马    上    跳    起    来   ， 披    上    老    太    婆    送    给    他    的    那    件    披    风   ， 紧    随    她    们    而    去   。 在    下    楼    梯    时   ， 一    不    小    心   ， 他    踩    到    了    小    公    主    的    礼    服   。 她    对    她    的    姐    妹    们    大    声    说    道   ：" 怎    么    搞    的   ， 谁    抓    住    了    我    的    礼    服    了   ？" 大    公    主    说    道   ：" 你    别    疑    神    疑    鬼    了   ， 肯    定    是    被    墙    上    的    钉    子    挂    着    了   。" 她    们    下    去    后   ， 走    进    了    一    片    令    人    赏    心    悦    目    的    小    树    林   ， 树    叶    全    是    银    子    做    的   ， 闪    烁    着    美    丽    的    光    芒   。 士    兵    想    找    一    个    来    过    这    地    方    的    证    物   ， 所    以    他    折    了    一    段    树    枝   ， 树    枝   " 咔    嚓   ！"" 哗    啦   ！" 地    发    出    了    声    响   ， 小    公    主    又    说    道   ：" 我    觉    得    有    些    反    常   ， 你    们    听    到    这    声    音    了    吗   ？ 这    声    音    以    前    可    没    有    听    到    过   。" 大    公    主    说   ：" 这    声    音    一    定    是    我    们    的    王    子    发    出    的   ， 只    有    他    们    才    会    对    我    们    的    到    来    欢    呼    雀    跃   。"

 说    着   ， 她    们    又    走    进    了    另    一    片    小    树    林   ， 这    片    树    林    的    叶    子    都    是    金    子    做    的   。 再    往    前   ， 到    了    第    三    片    小    树    林   ， 所    有    的    叶    子    都    是    用    光    采    夺    目    的    钻    石    做    的   。 士    兵    每    到    一    片    树    林   ， 都    要    折    下    一    根    树    枝    留    作    证    物   ， 每    次    也    都    发    出    了   " 咔    嚓   ！"" 哗    啦   ！" 的    声    响   ， 这    响    动    总    是    使    小    公    主    担    惊    受    怕   ， 而    大    公    主    又    总    是    说    这    是    王    子    们    在    欢    呼   。

 她    们    不    停    地    往    前    走   ， 最    后    来    到    了    一    个    大    湖    边   ， 湖    上    有    十    二    条    小    船   ， 每    条    船    上    都    有    一    个    英    俊    的    王    子   ， 他    们    似    乎    一    直    在    这    儿    等    公    主    的    到    来   。 到    了    岸    边   ， 每    个    公    主    都    各    自    上    了    一    条    船   ， 士    兵    则    跟    着    小    公    主    上    了    同    一    条    船   。

 当    他    们    在    湖    上    划    动    小    船    时   ， 与    小    公    主    和    士    兵    在    一    条    船    上    的    那    个    王    子    说   ：" 怎    么    会    是    这    样    啊   ！ 好    像    这    船    今    天    特    别    重    似    的   ， 我    尽    力    划    动   ， 船    却    没    有    平    时    前    进    那    么    快   ， 我    都    累    坏    了   。" 小    公    主    说   ：" 这    只    是    天    气    有    点    暖    和   ， 我    也    觉    得    非    常    热   。"

 湖    泊    的    对    岸   ， 矗    立    着    一    座    美    丽    的    宫    殿   ， 宫    殿    里    灯    火    辉    煌   ， 从    里    面    还    传    来    了    愉    快    的    音    乐   ， 有    管    声    和    号    声   ， 还    有    喇    叭    声   。 他    们    上    岸    后   ， 一    起    走    进    宫    殿   ， 十    二    个    王    子    都    开    始    与    公    主    们    跳    起    舞    来   。 他    们    一    直    看    不    见    那    位    士    兵   ， 士    兵    跟    着    他    们    一    起    跳    舞   ， 他    们    也    不    知    道   。 每    当    有    公    主    端    起    葡    萄    酒    时   ， 士    兵    总    是    暗    暗    上    前    将    酒    喝    完   。 待    公    主    把    酒    杯    端    到    嘴    边    时   ， 杯    子    已    空    了   。 见    到    这    样    情    况   ， 那    小    公    主    更    感    到    害    怕    了   ， 大    公    主    却    老    是    要    她    不    要    做    声   。

 舞    一    直    跳    到    了    凌    晨    三    点    钟   ， 所    有    的    鞋    子    都    已    磨    穿    了   ， 到    这    时   ， 她    们    才    念    念    不    舍    地    离    开   。 王    子    们    又    用    船    把    她    们    送    过    湖    来   ， 这    次   ， 士    兵    上    的    是    大    公    主    的    那    条    船   。 到    了    湖    岸   ， 公    主    和    王    子    互    相    道    别   ， 她    们    答    应    第    二    天    晚    上    再    来   。

 当    她    们    回    到    楼    梯    口    时   ， 士    兵    立    即    跑    到    她    们    的    前    面   ， 自    己    先    到    床    上    去    躺    下    了   。 当    这    十    二    姊    妹    拖    着    疲    惫    不    堪    的    身    子    慢    慢    上    来    后   ， 立    即    就    听    到    了    睡    在    床    上    的    士    兵    所    发    出    的    鼾    声   。 她    们    说    道   ：" 现    在    可    以    安    心    了   。" 说    完   ， 各    自    宽    衣    解    带   ， 脱    掉    鞋    子   ， 扔    在    床    下   ， 都    躺    下    睡    觉    了   。

 早    晨    起    来   ， 士    兵    对    晚    上    的    所    见    所    闻    只    字    不    提   ， 他    还    想    多    看    几    次    这    样    的    奇    遇   ， 所    以    接    连    第    二    个    夜    晚    和    第    三    个    夜    晚    他    又    去    了   。 每    次    所    发    生    的    一    切    都    和    前    一    次    一    样   ， 公    主    们    每    次    跳    舞    都    要    跳    到    她    们    的    鞋    子    穿    眼    才    回    到    卧    室   。 不    过   ， 在    第    三    个    晚    上   ， 士    兵    又    拿    走    了    一    只    金    杯    作    为    他    到    过    那    里    的    证    物   。

 第    四    天   ， 他    解    开    这    秘    密    的    期    限    到    了   ， 他    带    着    那    三    根    树    枝    和    那    只    金    杯   ， 来    到    国    王    面    前   。 此    时   ， 十    二    个    公    主    都    站    在    门    后    张    着    耳    朵   ， 想    听    听    他    究    竟    说    些    什    么   。 国    王    问    道   ：" 我    的    十    二    个    女    儿    晚    上    是    在    哪    儿    跳    舞   ？" 士    兵    回    答    道   ：" 她    们    是    在    地    下    的    一    座    宫    殿    里    与    十    二    个    王    子    跳    舞   。" 接    着   ， 他    告    诉    了    国    王    自    己    所    看    见    和    发    生    的    一    切   ， 拿    出    了    他    带    来    的    三    根    树    枝    和    金    杯    给    国    王    看   。 国    王    把    公    主    都    叫    来   ， 问    她    们    士    兵    说    的    这    些    是    不    是    都    是    真    的   。 她    们    见    一    切    都    已    经    被    发    现   ， 再    否    认    所    发    生    的    事    也    没    有    用    了   ， 只    好    全    部    承    认    了   。

 秘    密    解    开    了   ， 国    王    问    士    兵    他    想    选    择    哪    一    个    公    主    作    他    的    妻    子   ， 他    回    答    说   ：" 我    年    纪    不    小    了   ， 你    就    把    大    公    主    许    配    给    我    吧   ！" 于    是   ， 他    们    当    天    就    举    行    了    婚    礼   ， 士    兵    还    被    选    定    为    王    位    的    继    承    人   。

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