所以他不得不离开他那优雅的房间，住在屋顶下的一个小阁楼里，在那里他得自己擦靴子，甚至用一根大针来补靴子。

so he was obliged to leave his elegant rooms, and live in a little garret under the roof, where he had to clean his own boots, and even mend them with a large needle

他的朋友没有一个来看他，要爬的楼梯太多了。

none of his friends came to see him, there were too many stairs to mount up

一个漆黑的夜晚，他甚至连买蜡烛的一便士都没有；

one dark evening, he had not even a penny to buy a candle;

突然，他想起在打火匣里有一小截蜡烛，那是他从老巫婆帮他进入的那棵老树里带出来的。

then all at once he remembered that there was a piece of candle stuck in the tinder - box, which he had brought from the old tree, into which the witch had helped him

他找到了打火匣，但是他刚用打火石和钢片擦出几点火星，门就突然打开了，他在树洞里见过的那只眼睛有茶杯那么大的狗站在了他面前，说道：“主人，有什么吩咐？”

he found the tinder - box, but no sooner had he struck a few sparks from the flint and steel, than the door flew open and the dog with eyes as big as teacups, whom he had seen while down in the tree, stood before him, and said, “what orders, master”

“哈罗，” 士兵说；

“hallo,” said the soldier;

“嗯，这个打火匣真不错，如果它能带给我所有我想要的东西的话。”

“well this is a pleasant tinder - box, if it brings me all i wish for”

“给我拿些钱来，” 他对狗说。

“bring me some money,” said he to the dog

它一会儿就不见了，很快就回来了，嘴里叼着一大袋铜币。

he was gone in a moment, and presently returned, carrying a large bag of coppers in his month

在这之后，士兵很快就发现了打火匣的价值。

the soldier very soon discovered after this the value of the tinder - box

如果他擦一次打火石，坐在铜币箱子上的狗就会出现；

if he struck the flint once, the dog who sat on the chest of copper money made his appearance;

如果擦两次，狗就会从银箱子那里来；

if twice, the dog came from the chest of silver;

如果擦三次，那只眼睛像塔一样的看守金子的狗就会出现。

and if three times, the dog with eyes like towers, who watched over the gold

士兵现在有了很多钱；

the soldier had now plenty of money;

他回到他那优雅的房间，又穿上他漂亮的衣服出现了，这样他的朋友们马上又认出了他，又像以前一样奉承他。

he returned to his elegant rooms, and reappeared in his fine clothes, so that his friends knew him again directly, and made as much of him as before

过了一段时间，他开始觉得很奇怪，竟然没有人能看一眼公主。

after a while he began to think it was very strange that no one could get a look at the princess

“每个人都说她非常美丽，” 他暗自想道；

“every one says she is very beautiful,” thought he to himself;

“但如果她被关在一个被许多塔楼环绕的铜城堡里，那又有什么用呢。

“but what is the use of that if she is to be shut up in a copper castle surrounded by so many towers

我有没有办法能见到她呢。

can i by any means get to see her

等等！我的打火匣在哪里？”

stop! where is my tinder - box”

然后他擦出了火，瞬间，那只眼睛有茶杯那么大的狗就站在了他面前。

then he struck a light, and in a moment the dog, with eyes as big as teacups, stood before him

“现在是午夜，” 士兵说，“然而我非常想见见公主，哪怕就一会儿。”

“it is midnight,” said the soldier, “yet i should very much like to see the princess, if only for a moment”

狗立刻消失了，士兵还没来得及四处张望，它就带着公主回来了。

the dog disappeared instantly, and before the soldier could even look round, he returned with the princess

她正趴在狗背上睡着，看起来如此可爱，以至于每个看到她的人都会知道她是一位真正的公主。

she was lying on the dog’s back asleep, and looked so lovely, that every one who saw her would know she was a real princess

尽管他是个真正的士兵，但还是忍不住吻了她。

the soldier could not help kissing her, true soldier as he was