the emperor's new clothes

by Hans Christian Andersen

translation by H .P .Paull (1872)

many, many years_ago lived an emperor, who thought so_much of new clothes that he spent all his money in_order_to_obtain them; his only ambition was to_be always well dressed . he_did_not care for_his soldiers, and_the theatre did_not amuse him; the_only_thing, in_fact, he thought anything of was to drive out and show a new suit of clothes . he had a coat for every hour of_the day; and as one would say of a king " he_is in_his cabinet," so one could_say of him, " the emperor is in_his dressing- room ."

the great city where he resided was very gay; every day many strangers from all parts of_the globe arrived . one day two swindlers came to_this city; they made people believe that_they were weavers, and declared they_could manufacture the finest cloth to_be imagined . their colours and patterns, they said, were_not only exceptionally beautiful, but the clothes made of_their material possessed the wonderful quality of being invisible to any man who was unfit for_his office or unpardonably stupid .

" that_must be wonderful cloth," thought the emperor ." if I were to_be dressed in a suit made of_this cloth i_should_be able to_find out which men in my empire were unfit for their places, and I_could distinguish the clever from_the stupid . I_must_have this cloth woven for_me without delay ." and he_gave a large sum of money to_the swindlers, in advance, that_they should set to work without any loss of_time . they set up two looms, and pretended to_be very hard at work, but they_did nothing whatever on_the looms . they asked for_the finest silk and_the most precious gold- cloth; all they got they_did away with, and worked at_the empty looms till late at night .

" i_should very_much like to_know how they_are getting on with_the cloth," thought the emperor . but he_felt rather uneasy when he remembered that he who was not fit for_his office could_not_see it . personally, he_was of opinion that he had nothing to fear, yet he thought it advisable to send somebody else first to_see how matters stood . everybody in_the town knew what a remarkable quality the stuff possessed, and all were anxious to_see how bad or stupid their neighbours were .

" I_shall send my honest old minister to_the weavers," thought the emperor ." he_can judge best how the stuff looks, for he_is intelligent, and nobody understands his office better than he ."

the good old minister went into_the room where the swindlers sat before_the empty looms ." heaven preserve us ! " he thought, and opened his eyes wide, "I cannot_see anything at all," but he_did_not_say so . both swindlers requested him to_come near, and asked him if he_did_not admire the exquisite pattern and_the beautiful colours, pointing to_the empty looms . the poor old minister tried his very best, but he could_see nothing, for there_was nothing to_be seen ."Oh dear," he thought, " can I be so stupid ? i_should never have thought so, and nobody must know it ! is_it possible that I_am not fit for_my office ? no, no, I cannot_say that i_was unable to_see the cloth ."

" now, have_you got nothing to_say ? " said one_of_the swindlers, while he pretended to_be busily weaving .

"Oh, it_is very pretty, exceedingly beautiful," replied the old minister looking through his glasses ." what a beautiful pattern, what brilliant colours ! I_shall tell the emperor that I like the cloth very_much ."

" we_are pleased to hear that," said the two weavers, and described to him the colours and explained the curious pattern . the old minister listened attentively, that he might relate to_the emperor what they said; and so he_did .

now the swindlers asked for more money, silk and gold- cloth, which they required for weaving . they kept everything for themselves, and not a thread came near the loom, but they continued, as hitherto, to work at_the empty looms .

soon afterwards the emperor sent another honest courtier to_the weavers to_see how they were getting on, and if_the cloth was nearly finished . like the old minister, he looked and looked but could_see nothing, as_there_was nothing to_be seen .

" is_it not a beautiful piece of cloth ? " asked the two swindlers, showing and explaining the magnificent pattern, which, however, did_not exist .

" I_am not stupid," said the man ." it_is therefore my good appointment for_which I_am not fit . it_is very strange, but I_must not let any_one know it;" and he praised the cloth, which he_did_not_see, and expressed his joy at_the beautiful colours and_the fine pattern ." it_is very excellent," he_said to_the emperor .

everybody in_the whole town talked about_the precious cloth . at last the emperor wished to_see it himself, while it_was still on_the loom . with a number of courtiers, including the two who had already been there, he went to_the two clever swindlers, who now worked as hard as they_could, but without using any thread .

" is_it not magnificent ? " said the two old statesmen who had_been there before ." your majesty must admire the colours and_the pattern ." and then they pointed to_the empty looms, for they imagined the others could_see the cloth .

" what_is this ? " thought the emperor, " I_do_not_see anything at all . that_is terrible ! Am I stupid ? Am I unfit to_be emperor ? that_would indeed be the most dreadful thing that could happen to_me ."

" really," he_said, turning to_the weavers, " your cloth has our most gracious approval;" and nodding contentedly he looked at_the empty loom, for he_did_not like to_say that he_saw nothing . all his attendants, who were with_him, looked and looked, and although they_could_not see anything more than_the others, they said, like the emperor, " it_is very beautiful ." and all advised him to wear the new magnificent clothes at a great procession which_was soon to_take place ." it_is magnificent, beautiful, excellent," one heard them say; everybody seemed to_be delighted, and_the emperor appointed the two swindlers " imperial court weavers ."

the whole night previous to_the day on_which the procession was to_take place, the swindlers pretended to work, and burned more than sixteen candles . people should_see that_they were busy to finish the emperor's new suit . they pretended to take_the cloth from_the loom, and worked about in_the air with big scissors, and sewed with needles without thread, and said at last: " the emperor's new suit is ready now ."

the emperor and all his barons then came to_the hall; the swindlers held their arms up as if_they held something in their hands and said: " these are the trousers ! " " this_is_the coat ! " and " here_is_the cloak ! " and so on ." they_are all as light as a cobweb, and one must feel as_if one had nothing at all upon_the body; but that_is just the beauty of_them ."

" indeed ! " said all the courtiers; but they_could_not see anything, for there_was nothing to_be seen .

"Does it please your majesty now to graciously undress," said the swindlers, " that we_may assist your majesty in putting on_the new suit before_the large looking- glass ? "

the emperor undressed, and_the swindlers pretended to_put the new suit upon him, one piece after another; and_the emperor looked at himself in_the glass from every side .

" how well they look ! how well they fit ! " said all ." what a beautiful pattern ! what fine colours ! that_is a magnificent suit of clothes ! "

the master of_the ceremonies announced that_the bearers of_the canopy, which_was to_be carried in_the procession, were ready .

" I_am ready," said the emperor ." does_not my suit fit me marvellously ? " then he turned once more to_the looking- glass, that people should think he admired his garments .

the chamberlains, who were to carry the train, stretched their hands to_the ground as if_they lifted up a train, and pretended to hold something in their hands; they_did_not like people to_know that they_could_not see anything .

the emperor marched in_the procession under the beautiful canopy, and all who saw him in_the street and out_of_the windows exclaimed: " indeed, the emperor's new suit is incomparable ! what a long train he has ! how well it fits him ! " nobody wished to let others know he_saw nothing, for then he would_have_been unfit for_his office or too stupid . never emperor's clothes were more admired .

" but he has nothing on at all," said a little child at last ." good heavens ! listen to_the voice of an innocent child," said the father, and one whispered to_the other what the child had said ." but he has nothing on at all," cried at last the whole people . that made a deep impression upon_the emperor, for_it seemed to him that_they were right; but he thought to himself, " now I_must bear up_to_the end ." and_the chamberlains walked with still greater dignity, as if_they carried the train which did_not exist .

the end