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 anew suit of clothes .He had acoat for every hour of_the day; and as one would say of aking " 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 asuit 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 alarge 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 aremarkable 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 abeautiful 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 athread 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 abeautiful 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 anumber 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 agreat 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 acobweb, 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 abeautiful pattern ! What fine colours ! that_is amagnificent 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 atrain, 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 along 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 alittle 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 adeep 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