English Original
There was once a King's son who went out into the world, full of thought and sadness. He looked at the beautifully pure and blue sky, sighed, and said, "How well must all be with one up there in heaven!"
He saw a poor gray-haired man approaching and asked him, "How can I get to heaven?" The man answered, "By poverty and humility. Put on my ragged clothes, wander the world for seven years, and learn what misery is. Take no money; if you are hungry, ask compassionate hearts for a bit of bread. In this way, you will reach heaven."
The King's son took off his magnificent coat, wore the beggar's garment, and went out into the wide world, suffering great misery. He ate little, spoke little, and prayed to the Lord to take him into heaven.
When the seven years ended, he returned to his father's palace, but no one recognized him. He asked the servants to tell his parents and brothers of his return, but they laughed and left him standing. At last, one servant told the King's children, but they did not believe it.
He then wrote a letter to his mother, describing his misery but not revealing his identity. Out of pity, the Queen assigned him a place under the stairs and had two servants bring him food daily. One servant was ill-natured, kept the good food for himself or gave it to the dogs, and brought the weak beggar only water. The other servant was honest and brought him what was sent. It was little, but he could live on it for a while, remaining patient yet growing continually weaker.
As his illness worsened, he desired to receive the last sacrament. When the host was elevated during the mass, all the bells in the town and neighborhood began to ring. After mass, the priest went to the poor man under the stairs and found him dead. In one hand he held a rose, in the other a lily, and beside him was a paper with his history written on it.
When he was buried, a rose grew on one side of his grave and a lily on the other.
中文翻译
从前，有一位王子满腹心事、悲伤地走向外面的世界。他望着纯净美丽的蓝天，叹息道：“天堂之上的一切该是多么美好啊！”
他看见一位贫穷的白发老人走来，便上前问道：“我怎样才能到达天堂？”老人回答：“通过贫穷与谦卑。穿上我的破衣烂衫，在世间流浪七年，去体会什么是苦难。不要带钱；如果饿了，就向仁慈之心讨一点面包。这样，你就能到达天堂。”
王子脱下华贵的外套，换上乞丐的衣衫，踏入广阔的世界，承受了巨大的苦难。他吃得很少，说话很少，只是向主祈祷，祈求进入天堂。
七年过后，他回到父亲的宫殿，但无人认得他。他让仆人去告知父母和兄弟他回来了，但仆人们嘲笑他，留他独自站着。最后，一个仆人告诉了国王的孩子们，但他们并不相信。
于是，他给母亲写了一封信，描述了自己的苦难，但没有表明身份。出于怜悯，王后安排他住在楼梯下的地方，并让两个仆人每天给他送食物。一个仆人心地不善，把好食物留给自己或喂狗，只给虚弱憔悴的乞丐送水。另一个仆人很诚实，把送来的食物都带给他。食物很少，但他能靠此维持一段时间，他一直很耐心，但身体却日益衰弱。
随着病情加重，他渴望接受最后的圣礼。当圣体在弥撒中被举起时，镇上和附近所有的钟都开始鸣响。弥撒结束后，牧师来到楼梯下的穷人那里，发现他已经死了。他一手握着玫瑰，一手握着百合，身旁有一张纸，上面写着他的经历。
他被埋葬后，坟墓的一边长出了一朵玫瑰，另一边长出了一朵百合。