English Original
Once upon a time, a great King married a lovely Princess. They were very happy, but soon the King had to leave for a distant war. Before departing, he warned his Queen never to leave the castle, avoid strangers, beware of evil counsellors, and guard against strange women. The Queen promised to obey.
Alone and sad, the Queen spent her days in her rooms. One day, a kind-looking old woman approached her window and coaxed her to come into the garden to enjoy its beauty. Remembering her promise, the Queen resisted at first, but eventually gave in, not knowing the old woman was a wicked witch.
In the garden, the witch led the Queen to a clear pond and suggested she bathe. Hesitant at first, the Queen decided to enter the cool water. The moment she stepped in, the witch pushed her into the deep pond, shouting, "Swim henceforth, White Duck!" The witch then took the Queen's form and place in the palace.
When the King returned, he was joyfully greeted by the imposter, unaware of the deception.
Meanwhile, the transformed Queen, now a white duck, swam in the pond. She laid three eggs, which hatched into two ducklings and a drake. She raised them lovingly, warning them of the witch in the castle. One day, the young ducks strayed too close to the castle. The witch, recognizing them, pretended kindness, lured them inside, and plotted to kill them.
That night, as the ducklings slept, the little drake stayed awake. When the witch came to the door asking if they were asleep, the drake answered with a rhyme revealing their fear. The witch, thinking they were still awake, left but returned later. Hearing the same answer, she entered and killed the sleeping ducklings.
The next morning, the White Duck, finding her children missing, flew to the palace. There, she discovered their lifeless bodies on the marble floor. Overwhelmed with grief, she cried out a lament.
The King heard the duck's sorrowful cries and asked the witch about it. She dismissed it as mere quacking and ordered servants to chase the duck away, but it always returned to its children, crying out the truth of the witch's deeds.
Hearing the duck's words, the King grew suspicious. He ordered the duck caught, and when it finally flew into his hands, he stroked its wings. Instantly, the White Duck transformed back into his true Queen. She told him of a healing spring water in her nest. The water was brought and sprinkled on the little ducks, restoring them to life as three lovely children.
The family was reunited with joy. The wicked witch was captured and met a fitting end, and they all lived happily ever after.
中文翻译
从前，一位伟大的国王娶了一位可爱的公主。他们非常幸福，但不久国王必须远赴战场。临行前，他警告王后切勿离开城堡、避免接触陌生人、提防恶毒的谋士、尤其要警惕陌生的女人。王后承诺遵守。
独自一人的王后郁郁寡欢。一天，一个面容慈祥的老妇人来到窗前，哄劝她到花园里散心。王后起初记着承诺拒绝了，但最终被说服，她不知道这老妇人是个邪恶的女巫。
在花园里，女巫将王后引至一个清澈的池塘边，建议她沐浴。王后犹豫片刻后，决定踏入清凉的水中。就在她入水的一刹那，女巫将她推入深水，喊道：“从此以后，你就做一只白鸭游水吧！”女巫随即变成王后的模样，取代了她的位置。
国王归来时，被假冒者欢天喜地地迎接，并未察觉异常。
与此同时，被变成白鸭的王后在池塘里游着。她生下三枚蛋，孵出两只小鸭和一只公鸭。她悉心抚养它们，并警告它们城堡里住着女巫。一天，小鸭们游荡到城堡附近。女巫认出它们后，假意示好，将它们诱进城堡，并计划杀害它们。
夜里，小鸭们睡着了，小公鸭却醒着。女巫来到门外问它们是否睡着，小公鸭用一首押韵诗回答，透露了它们的恐惧。女巫以为它们还醒着便离开了，但稍后又折返。听到同样的回答后，她进门杀死了熟睡的小鸭。
第二天早上，白鸭找不到孩子，便飞到宫殿。在那里，她发现孩子们冰冷的尸体躺在冰冷的大理石地板上。她悲痛欲绝，发出哀鸣。
国王听到了白鸭悲伤的叫声，询问女巫。女巫称那不过是鸭叫，并命令仆人赶走白鸭，但白鸭总是飞回孩子身边，哭诉着女巫的罪行。
听到白鸭的话，国王起了疑心。他下令抓住白鸭。当白鸭最终飞入他手中时，他抚摸它的翅膀，白鸭瞬间变回了他真正的王后。王后告诉他，她的巢里有一瓶来自治愈之泉的水。取来神水洒在小鸭身上后，它们复活成了三个可爱的孩子。
一家人欢喜团聚。邪恶的女巫被国王下令抓获，得到了应有的下场。从此，他们幸福地生活在一起。