In our time water has wonderful powers. But I shall not leave this place, for it now begins to be amusing here.

它的水现在有一种奇异的力量。不过我现在还不打算离开这里，因为这地方开始使我很感兴趣。

I am extremely fond of that stranger: would that his beard should not grow, for in that case he will leave us!"

这个陌生人非常逗我的喜爱。我只希望他的胡须不要长起来，因为如果他长好了的话，那么他就要走了。”

In the evening, the princess and the shadow danced together in the large ball-room.

这天晚上公主和影子在一个宽广的大厅里跳舞。

She was light, but he was still lighter;she had never had such a partner in the dance.

她的体态轻盈，但是他的身体更轻。她从来没有遇见过这样一个跳舞的人。

She told him from what land she came, and he knew that land; he had been there,but then she was not at home;

她告诉他，她是从哪一个国家来的，而他恰恰知道这个国家——他到那儿去过，但是那时她已经离开了。

he had peeped in at the window, above and below—he had seen both the one and the other,

他曾经从窗口向她宫殿的内部看过——上上下下地看过。他看到了这，也看到了那。

and so he could answer the princess, and make insinuations, so that she was quite astonished; he must be the wisest man in the whole world!

因此他可以回答公主的问题，同时暗示一些事情——这使得她非常惊奇。他一定是世界上最聪明的人了！

She felt such respect for what he knew!

因此她对于他的知识的渊博起了无限的敬意。

So that when they again danced together, she fell in love with him;

当她再次和他跳舞的时候，她不禁爱上了他。

and that the shadow could remark, for she almost pierced him through with her eyes.

影子特别注意到了这一点，因为她的眼睛一直在盯着他。

So they danced once more together; and she was about to declare herself, but she was discreet;

她跟他又跳了一次舞。她几乎把心中的话说出来了，不过她是一个很懂得分寸的人：

she thought of her country and kingdom, and of the many persons she would have to reign over.

她想到了她的国家。她的王国和她将要统治的那些人民。

"He is a wise man," she said to herself—"It is well; and he dances delightfully—that is also good;

“他是一个聪明人，”她对自己说。“这是很好的；而且他跳舞也很出色——这也是很好的。

but has he solid knowledge?

但是我不知道他的学问是不是根底很深？

That is just as important! He must be examined."

这也是一个重要的问题：必须把他考察一下才是。”

So she began, by degrees, to question him about the most difficult things she could think of, and which she herself could not have answered;

于是她马上问了他一个非常困难、连她自己也回答不出来的问题。

so that the shadow made a strange face.

影子做了一个鬼脸。