《世界上最美麗的玫瑰》，1852 年

the Loveliest Rose in the world, 1852

從前有一位偉大的女王，她的花園裡一年四季都盛開著來自世界各地的最絢麗的花朵。

there lived once a great queen, in whose garden were found at all seasons the most splendid flowers, and from every land in the world.

她尤其喜愛玫瑰，因此她擁有這種花最美麗的各類品種，從帶有蘋果香味葉子的野生籬笆玫瑰，到絢麗的普羅旺斯玫瑰，應有盡有。

She specially loved roses, and therefore she possessed the most beautiful varieties of this flower, from the wild hedge-rose, with its apple-scented leaves, to the splendid provence rose.

它們生長在牆壁的遮蔽處附近，纏繞在柱子和窗框上，沿著走廊蔓延，爬上大廳的天花板。

they grew near the shelter of the walls, wound themselves round columns and window-frames, crept along passages and over the ceilings of the halls.

它們有著各種各樣的芬芳和顏色。

they were of every fragrance and color.

但這些大廳裡卻充斥著憂慮和悲傷；女王臥病在床，醫生們斷言她將不久於人世。

but care and sorrow dwelt within these halls; the queen lay upon a sick bed, and the doctors declared that she must die.

“還有一樣東西能救她，” 其中一位最有智慧的醫生說。

“there is still one thing that could save her,” said one of the wisest among them.

“給她帶來世界上最美麗的玫瑰；一朵能展現出最純潔、最熾熱愛情的玫瑰，如果能在她閉眼之前把它送到她面前，她就不會死。”

“bring her the loveliest rose in the world; one which exhibits the purest and brightest love, and if it is used to her before her eyes close, she will not die.”

於是，各地的人紛紛帶著自家花園裡盛開的玫瑰趕來，但都不是合適的那種。

then from all parts came those who brought roses that bloomed in every garden, but they were not the right sort.

這朵花必須來自愛的花園