English Original
Once upon a time, there was a poor Prince. He possessed a small kingdom, large enough to marry upon, and married he wished to be. It was audacious of him to ask the Emperor's daughter, 'Will you marry me?' but his fame was widespread. Many princesses would have agreed, but would she?
On his father's grave grew a rose-tree that bloomed only every five years, bearing a single rose of such sweet scent it made one forget all cares. He also owned a nightingale whose song contained all the world's beautiful melodies. These gifts were sent to the Princess in silver caskets.
In the great hall, the Princess was playing when she saw the caskets. 'If only it were a little pussy cat!' she exclaimed. The rose was revealed. The ladies-in-waiting admired its prettiness, and the Emperor found it charming. But the Princess touched it and nearly cried, 'Ugh! Papa, it is REAL!'
The nightingale was then presented and sang so beautifully that no one could criticize it. The ladies-in-waiting exclaimed in French, and an old courtier was reminded of the late Empress's musical snuff-box. The Emperor wept. 'I hope this, at least, is not real?' asked the Princess. Told it was, she ordered, 'Then let the bird fly away,' and refused to see the Prince.
Undeterred, the Prince disguised himself, applied to the castle for work, and was appointed Imperial Swineherd. In his wretched room near the pigsties, he crafted a little pot. When it boiled, little bells around it jingled and played the tune, 'Where is Augustus dear? Alas! he's not here.' Moreover, by holding a finger in its steam, one could smell what was cooking at any fireplace in town.
The Princess, passing by, heard the tune—the only one she could play—and was delighted. She sent a lady-in-waiting to ask its price. 'Ten kisses from the Princess,' demanded the Swineherd. After initial refusal and negotiation, the Princess, hidden behind her ladies, paid the price and obtained the pot.
She and her court reveled in knowing everyone's dinner menus. Later, the Swineherd made a rattle that played every known dance tune. The Princess, enchanted, wanted it but refused to kiss him again. He demanded one hundred kisses. After much persuasion, the Princess agreed to give ten herself, with the rest from her ladies.
As the Swineherd was taking his eighty-sixth kiss, the Emperor, investigating the commotion, discovered them and, in a rage, drove both the Princess and the Swineherd out of the empire.
Standing in the rain, the Princess wept for her misfortune. The Swineherd then revealed himself as the Prince, having washed off his disguise. 'I despise you!' he declared. 'You rejected a noble Prince and his true gifts but kissed a Swineherd for toys.' He entered his kingdom and shut the door in her face, leaving her outside to sing, 'Where's my Augustus dear? Alas! he's not here.'
中文翻译
从前，有一位贫穷的王子。他拥有一个小王国，虽小却足以让他成婚，而他正渴望结婚。他向皇帝的女儿求婚“你愿意嫁给我吗？”，这确实有些大胆，但他的名声远播。许多公主都会同意，但她会吗？
在他父亲的坟墓上长着一棵玫瑰树，每五年才开一次花，只结一朵玫瑰，其香气甜美到能让人忘却所有烦恼。他还拥有一只夜莺，它的歌声仿佛包含了世间所有美妙的旋律。这些礼物被装在银匣子里送给了公主。
在大厅里，公主正在玩耍时看到了匣子。“要是只小猫咪就好了！”她喊道。玫瑰被拿了出来。侍女们称赞它精美，皇帝觉得它迷人。但公主摸了摸，几乎哭出来：“呃！父皇，它是真的！”
接着夜莺被展示出来，它唱得如此动听，无人能挑剔。侍女们用法语赞叹，一位老臣想起了已故皇后的音乐鼻烟盒。皇帝哭了。“我希望这个至少不是真的吧？”公主问。得知它是真鸟后，她命令道：“那就让鸟儿飞走吧。”并拒绝见王子。
王子并未气馁。他伪装了自己，到城堡求职，被任命为皇家猪倌。在猪圈旁简陋的小屋里，他制作了一个小锅。当锅沸腾时，周围的小铃铛会叮当作响，奏出曲子：“亲爱的奥古斯都在哪里？唉！他不在这里。”此外，将手指置于其蒸汽中，就能闻到镇上任何一家炉灶正在烹饪什么。
公主路过时听到了这首曲子——这是她唯一会弹的曲子——她很高兴。她派一名侍女去问价格。“公主的十个吻，”猪倌要求道。经过最初的拒绝和谈判，公主躲在侍女们身后付了“代价”，得到了锅。
她和她的宫廷为能知道每个人的晚餐菜单而兴奋不已。后来，猪倌又做了一个摇铃，能演奏所有已知的舞曲。公主被迷住了，想要它但拒绝再亲吻他。他要求一百个吻。经过一番劝说，公主同意亲自给十个吻，其余的由侍女们代劳。
就在猪倌得到第八十六个吻时，皇帝察觉到骚动前来查看，发现了他们。盛怒之下，他将公主和猪倌都驱逐出了帝国。
站在雨中，公主为自己的不幸哭泣。猪倌随即洗去伪装，显露出王子的真容。“我鄙视你！”他宣布，“你拒绝了一位高贵的王子和他真挚的礼物，却为了玩具去亲吻一个猪倌。”他走进自己的王国，当着她的面关上了门，留她在外面唱着：“亲爱的奥古斯都在哪里？唉！他不在这里。”