85人教版高中英语第一册第七课 THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES

Many years ago there lived an emperor, who cared more for fine new clothes than for anything else. He had different clothes for every hour of the day.
One day two cheats came to see the Emperor. They called themselves weavers and said that they knew how to weave cloth of the most beautiful colors and designs in the world. They also said that the most interesting thing about the cloth was that clothes made of it would be invisible to anyone who was either stupid or unfit for his office.
“Ah, what splendid clothes!” thought the Emperor. “They are just what I shall have. when I put them on, I shall be able to find out which men in my empire are unfit for their offices. And I shall be able to tell who are wise an who are foolish. This cloth must be woven for me right away.”
The Emperor gave the cheats some gold in order that they might begin their work at once.
So the two men set up two looms and pretended to be working very hard. They asked for the most beautiful silk and the best gold thread. This they kept for themselves. And then they went on with their work at the empty looms until late into the night.
After some time had passed, the Emperor said to himself, “I wonder how the weavers are getting aloing with my cloth.” Then he remembered that those who were either fools or unfit for their office could not see the cloth. Though he believed that he ought to have noting to fear for himself, he wanted someone else to look at the colth first.
The Emperor thought a while and decided to send his old Prime Minister to see the cloth. He thought the Prime Minister a wise, honest man who was more fit for his office than anyone else.
So the old Prime Minister went into the hall where the cheats were working at the empty looms.
“God save me!” thought the old man, opening his eyes very wide. “I can’t see anything at all.” But he was careful not to say so.
The man who were pretending to weave asked him to come closer. They pointed to the empty looms and asked him if he liked the design and the colors.
The poor old Prime Minister opened his eyes wider, but he could see nothing on the looms.
“Dear me,” he said to himself, “Am I foolish or unfit for my office? I must never tell anyone that I could not see the cloth.”
“Oh! it’s most beautiful!” said the Prime Minister quickly. “The design and the colors! I will tell the Emperor how wonderful they are.”
The Emperor was pleased by what the Price minister told him about the colth. Soon after, he sent another official to find out how soon the cloth would be ready. The same thing happened. The officail could see nothing, but he sang high praise for the cloth. When he got back, he told the Emperor that the cloth was beautiful indeed.
All the people in the city were now talking about this wonderful cloth which the Emperor had ordered to be woven for so much money. And they were eager to know how wise or foolish their friends and neighbors might be.
Now at last the Emperor wished to go himself and see the cloth while it was still on the looms.
He took with him a few of his officials, including the old Prime Minister and the official who had already been there.
As soon as the weavers heard the Emperor coming, they pretened to work harder than ever, though they were not weaving a single thread through the empty looms.
“Isn’t the cloth magnificent?” said the official and the Prime Minister. “What a splendid disign! And what colors!” they said, while pointing to the empty looms. They thought that everyone else could see the wonderful work of the weavers though they could not see it themselves.
“What on earth can this mean?” said the Emperor to himself. “I don’t see anything. This is horrible! But I mustn’t let anyone know.”
“The cloth is beautiful,” he cried out loud. “Beautiful! I am very pleased with it.”
The officials could see no more than the Emperor, but they all shouted, 'Beautiful! Excellent! Mangnificent!" and other such expressions. They told the Emperor that he should have new clothes made of this splendid cloth for the coming great procession.
The Emperor noded. He cried hard to pretend to share in the pleasure of his officials and gave each of the weavers a medal.
The night before the procession, the two men had their lights burning all night long. They wanted everyone to see how hard they ware working on the Emperor’s new clothes.
At last they cried, “finished! The Emperor’s new clothes are now ready!”
Then the Emperor arrived with his officials.
“Now if you take off your clothes, Your Majesty, we will fit the new clothes on you in front of the mirror,” said the cheats.
The Emperor was then undressed, and the cheats pretended to dress him in his new clothes.The Emperor turned from side to side in front of the mirror.
“How splendid the emperor looks in his new clothes!” everyond cried. “And how well they fit! What a splendid disign! And what colors!”
“Well, I suppose I’m ready for the procession,” said the Emperor. “Dont you think they are a nice fit?” And he turned again in front of the mirror, in order to make the others think he was looking at his new clothes.
“Yes, perfectly wonderful!” cried his officials.
And so the procession began.
The Emperor walked in the middle of the procession, throught the streets of the city. And all the people standing by and those at the windows cried out, “how splendid our Emperor’s new clothes are! What a perfect fit!”
No one darde say that he could not see the Emperors new clothes.
Suddenly a little child’s voice was heard:" but he has nothing on!"
“Good heavens! Listen to that silly child!” said the father.
“did you hear what the child said?” some people nearby asked each other.
what the child had said was whispered from one to the other.
“I can’t see anything at all on the Emperor,” cried one or two of the braver ones.
The cry was taken up and soon everyone was nodding and saying:“BUT HE HAS NOTHING ON!”
The emperor heard the cries. He felt very silly, for he knew that the people were right. But he thought, “The procession has started, and it must go on!”
So the Emperor held his head higher than ever. And the two officials who were following him took great trouble to hold up higher the train of the robe that wasn’t there at all.