The Emperor's New Clothes

Many years ago, there was an emperor who loved to wear pleasing new clothes. He spent all his money on clothes in order to dress nicely, he didn't care about his army at all, and he didn't like to go to the theater. He doesn't like to ride a carriage in the park unless it's to show off his new clothes. He has to change into a new set of clothes every hour of the day. When people mention the emperor, they always say, 'The emperor is in the meeting room.' But when people mention him, they always say, 'The emperor is in the dressing room.' In the big city where he lives, life is easy and exciting. Many foreigners come every day. One day, two scammers arrived. They say they are weavers. They said they could weave the most vibrant fabric that no one could imagine. The color and pattern of this fabric are not only very pleasing to the eye, but also have a strange effect on the clothes sewn with it, which is that anyone who is incompetent or foolish cannot see this clothing.

That's exactly my favorite clothes! "The emperor thought to himself. If I wear such clothes, I can tell which people in my kingdom are incompetent; I can distinguish which people are smart and which are fools. Yes, I want them to weave such cloth immediately! "He paid a lot of cash to these two swindlers and asked them to start working immediately.

They set up two looms, pretending to be working, but there was nothing on their looms. They repeatedly requested the emperor to send them some of the best raw silk and gold. They put all these things into their wallets, but pretended to be busy working on those two empty looms, always busy until late at night.

I really want to know how well they are weaving, "the emperor thought. However, he immediately realized that foolish or incompetent people cannot see this cloth. He did feel a bit uneasy in his heart. He believed that he had no need to fear himself. Nevertheless, he still felt that it would be more appropriate to send someone to take a look first. Everyone in the city has heard that this fabric has a strange power, so everyone wants to take this opportunity to test and see how stupid their neighbors are.

I want to send an honest old minister to the weavers' place to take a look, "the emperor thought. Only he can tell what this fabric looks like, because he is very intelligent and no one is as competent as him

Therefore, the kind old minister went to the workplace of those two swindlers. They are busy working on an empty loom.

What's going on here? "The old minister thought, opening his eyes as wide as a bowl mouth.

I didn't see anything! "But he didn't dare to say it.

The two swindlers asked him to get closer and also asked him if the patterns on the cloth were very bright and if the colors were very beautiful. They pointed at the two empty looms.

The poor old minister's eyes widened, but he still couldn't see anything because there was really nothing to see.

Oh my goodness! "He thought. Am I a foolish person? I have never suspected myself. I must never let anyone know about this. Am I incompetent? - No; I must never let anyone know that I cannot see the fabric

Hey, don't you have any objections at all? "Said a weaver who was weaving.

Ah, it's amazing! It's really amazing! "Said the old minister. He looked carefully with his glasses on. What beautiful patterns! What beautiful colors! Yes, I am going to report to the emperor that I am very fond of this cloth

Well, we're glad to hear what you're saying, "the two weavers said along the way. They described these rare colors and patterns, and added some nouns. The old minister listened attentively so that when he returned to the emperor, he could still recite it. In fact, he did it like this.

These two swindlers demanded a lot of money, more silk and gold, they said it was for the purpose of weaving. They packed all these things into their waist bags without even putting a single thread on the loom. However, they continue to work on empty racks.

Not long after, the emperor sent another honest official to check if the cloth could be woven quickly. His luck was not better than the first minister's: he looked and looked, but there was nothing on those two empty looms, and he couldn't see anything.

Do you think this piece of cloth is beautiful? "The two swindlers asked. They pointed to some bright patterns and made some annotations. In fact, there are no markings.

I'm not stupid! "The official thought. This is probably because I don't deserve to hold such a good official position now, right? It's really funny, but I must not let people see it! "So he praised the cloth that he had not seen at all, and told them that he really liked these bright colors and clever patterns. Yes, that's really beautiful, "he said to the emperor when he went back.

Everyone in the city will be talking about this bright fabric.

When the fabric was still being woven, the emperor really wanted to go and see it in person. He selected a group of specially designated attendants, including the two honest ministers he had already visited. So he went to the place where those two cunning swindlers lived. These two guys are weaving with all their energy, but not a single thread can be seen. Don't you think this is pretty? "Said the two honest officials. Your Majesty, please see how bright the patterns are! How bright the colors are! "They pointed to the empty loom, thinking that others would definitely see the fabric.

What's going on here? "The emperor thought to himself. I didn't see anything! This is really absurd! Am I a stupid person? Am I not worthy of being the emperor? This is the scariest thing I have ever encountered

Ah, it's really beautiful! "Said the emperor. I express my utmost freehand brushwork

So he shook his head to express his freehand mood. He pretended to be watching the loom very carefully because he didn't want to say that he didn't see anything. All the attendants who came with him also looked carefully, but they didn't see anything more. However, they also followed the emperor's words and said, 'Ah, it's really beautiful!' They initiated the emperor to use this novel and bright fabric to make clothes, and put them on to personally participate in the upcoming parade ceremony. Wow, it's so bright! So exquisite! It's really amazing! "Everyone echoed along. Everyone has indescribable happiness. The emperor bestowed upon each swindler the title of a knight and a medal that could be hung on a buttonhole; And they were also appointed as "Imperial Weavers".

The parade ceremony will be held the next morning. On the previous night, these two swindlers stayed up all night and lit 16 candles. You can see that they are working late at night to complete the emperor's new clothes. They pretended to take the fabric off the loom. They used two large scissors to cut in the air for a while, and at the same time sewed a hole with a needle without thread. Finally, they all said in unison, 'Please see! The new clothes are sewn!' The emperor personally arrived with his group of the noblest knights. These two swindlers each raised a hand as if they were holding something. They said, 'Please see, these are pants, this is a robe! This is a coat!' and so on. This garment is as gentle as a spider's web: the person wearing it feels like there's nothing on their body - that's exactly the beauty of this garment

Not bad at all, "all the knights said. But they didn't see anything because in reality there was nothing.

Now please, Your Majesty, take off your clothes, "said the two swindlers," we will put on new clothes for Your Majesty in front of this big mirror.

The emperor took off all his clothes. These two swindlers pretended to hand over the new clothes they had just sewn one by one to him. They played around his waist for a while, as if tying something around it: it was a skirt (note: a skirt is a long piece of cloth dragged in front of the uniform); It is a attire worn by European nobles during the feudal era. The emperor turned his body and twisted his waist in front of the mirror.

God, how well this dress fits! The style is so pleasing to the eye! "Everyone said. What beautiful patterns! What beautiful colors! This is truly a precious set of clothes

Everyone has already prepared the canopy outside. As soon as Your Majesty goes out, you can hold it up and go for the parade! "Said the ceremonial officer.

Yes, I'm already dressed, "the emperor said." Does this dress fit me? "So he turned his body in front of the mirror again, because he wanted everyone to see that he was carefully browsing through his bright clothes. The courtiers who were about to carry their skirts all touched the ground, as if they were really picking up their skirts. They walked with air in their hands - they dared not let anyone see that they had not seen anything.

So, the emperor became popular under that luxurious canopy. The people standing on the street and in the windows all say, 'Good boy, the emperor's new outfit is really beautiful! The hem under his shirt is so bright! The clothes fit so well!' No one wants to let anyone know that they can't see anything, because it would expose their incompetence or stupidity. All the clothes of the emperor have never received such widespread praise.

But he's not wearing any clothes! "A child finally exclaimed.

Oh my god, listen to this innocent voice! "Said Dad. So everyone spread the child's words in a low voice without authorization.

He's not wearing any clothes! A child said he's not wearing any clothes

He really didn't wear any clothes! "In the end, all the common people said.

The emperor trembled a little because he seemed to think that what the common people were saying was right. But in his own heart, he thought:

I must finish this parade. "Therefore, he put on a more proud air, and his courtiers followed him, holding a non-existent train in their hands. (1837)

This story was written in 1837 and published in a small collection along with another fairy tale "Daughter of the Sea" written in the same year. At this time, Andersen was only 32 years old, which was the third year after he began writing fairy tales (he only started writing fairy tales at the age of 30). But from this fairy tale, we can see how profound Andersen's investigation of society was. He exposed here how vain, extravagant, and most importantly, how foolish the ruling class led by the emperor is. The swindlers recognized their characteristics and proposed, 'Those who are incompetent and probably foolish cannot see these clothes.' Of course, they cannot see them because there are no clothes at all. But they feel guilty, afraid that people will discover that they are both incompetent and foolish, so they unanimously praise how bright the non-existent clothes are, how beautiful they look when worn, and hold a parade ceremony, naked and parading through the streets, for the people to come and admire. Unfortunately, this ridiculous scam was exposed in front of the common people. The 'emperor' is unable to step down and still needs to put on airs, 'we must finish this parade', and 'therefore he needs to put on a more proud air'. This kind of fraudulent but extremely foolish ruler will probably exist at any time. Therefore, this fairy tale has practical significance at any time.