As soon as the sun had disappeared under the water，the feathers of the swans fell off，and eleven beautiful princes，Elizas brothers，stood near her.She uttered a loud cry，for，although they were very much changed，she knew them immediately.She sprang into their arms，and called them each by name.Then，how happy the princes were at meeting their little sister again，for they recognized her，although she had grown so tall and beautiful.They laughed，and they wept，and very soon understood how wickedly(wickedly adv.坏透地，不愉快地，顽皮地)their mother had acted to them all.
太阳一落到水下面去了以后，这些天鹅的羽毛就马上脱落了，变成了十一位美貌的王子——伊莱扎的哥哥。她发出一声惊叫。虽然他们已经有了很大的改变，可是她知道这就是他们，一定是他们。所以她倒到他们的怀里，一一喊出他们的名字。当他们看到、同时认出自己的小妹妹的时候，他们感到非常快乐。她现在长得那么高大，那么美丽。他们一会儿笑，一会儿哭。他们立刻知道了彼此的遭遇，知道了后母对他们是多么不好。
“We brothers，”said the eldest，“fly about as wild swans，so long as the sun is in the sky.But as soon as it sinks behind the hills，we recover our human shape.Therefore must we always be near a resting place for our feet before sunset.For if we should be flying towards the clouds at the time we recovered our natural shape as men，we should sink deep into the sea.We do not dwell here，but in a land just as fair，that lies beyond the ocean，which we have to cross for a long distance.There is no island in our passage upon which we could pass，the night.Nothing but a little rock rising out of the sea，upon which we can scarcely stand with safety，even closely crowded together.If the sea is rough，the foam dashes over us，yet we thank God even for this rock.We have passed whole nights upon it，or we should never have reached our beloved fatherland，for our flight across the sea occupies two of the longest days in the year.We have permission to visit out home once in every year，and to remain eleven days，during which we fly across the forest to look once more at the palace where our father dwells，and where we were born，and at the church，where our mother lies buried.Here it seems as if the very trees and bushes were related to us.The wild horses leap over the plains as we have seen them in our childhood.The charcoal(charcoal n.木炭)burners sing the old songs，to which we have danced as children.This is our fatherland，to which we are drawn by loving ties，and here we have found you，our dear little sister.Two days longer we can remain here，and then must we fly away to a beautiful land which is not our home，and how can we take you with us？We have neither ship nor boat.”
最大的哥哥说：“只要太阳还悬在天上，我们弟兄们就得变成野天鹅，不停地飞行。不过当它一落到山后面去的时候，我们就恢复了人的原形。因此我们得时刻注意，在太阳落下去的时候，要找到一个立脚的处所。如果这时还向云层里飞，我们一定会变成人坠落到深海里去。我们并不住在这儿。在海的另一边有一个跟这同样美丽的国度。不过去那儿的路程是很遥远的。我们得飞过这片汪洋大海，而且在我们的旅程中，没有任何海岛可以让我们过夜；中途只有一块礁石冒出水面。它的面积只够我们几个人紧紧地在上面挤在一起休息。当海浪涌起来的时候，泡沫就向我们身上打来。不过，我们应该感谢上帝给了我们这块礁石，在它上面我们变成人来度过黑夜。要是没有它，我们永远也不能看见亲爱的祖国了，因为我们飞行过去要花费一年中最长的两天。一年之中，我们只有一次可以拜访父亲的家。不过只能在那儿停留十一天。我们可以在大森林的上空盘旋，从那里望望宫殿，望望这块我们所出生和父亲所居住的地方，望望教堂的塔楼。这教堂里埋葬着我们的母亲。在这儿，灌木林和树木就好像是我们的亲属；在这儿，野马像我们儿时常见的一样，在原野上奔跑；在这儿，烧炭人唱着古老的歌曲，我们儿时踏着它的调子跳舞；这儿是我们的祖国：有一种力量把我们吸引到这儿来；在这儿我们寻到了你，亲爱的小妹妹！我们还可以在这儿居留两天，以后就得横飞过海，到那个美丽的国度里去，然而那可不是我们的祖国。有什么办法把你带去呢？我们既没有大船，也没有小舟。”
And then she talked about it nearly the whole night，only slumbering for a few hours.Eliza was awakened by the rustling of the swanswings as they soared(soar v.高飞，高丛，滑翔，剧增n.高飞范围，高涨程度)above.Her brothers were again changed to swans，and they flew in circles wider and wider，till they were far away.But one of them，the youngest swan，remained behind，and laid his head in his sisters lap，while she stroked his wings，and they remained together the whole day.Towards evening，the rest came back，and as the sun went down they resumed their natural forms.
他们差不多谈了一整夜的话；只小睡了一两个钟头。伊莱扎醒来了，因为她头上响起一阵天鹅的拍翅声。哥哥们又变成了天鹅。他们在绕着大圈子盘旋；最后就向远方飞去。不过他们当中有一只——那最年轻的一只——掉队了。他把头藏在她的怀里。她抚摸着他的白色的翅膀。他们整天偎在一起。黄昏的时候，其他的天鹅又都飞回来了。当太阳落下来以后，他们又恢复了原形。
“Tomorrow，”said one，“we shall fly away，not to return again till a whole year has passed.But we cannot leave you here.Have you courage to go with us？My arm is strong enough to carry you through the wood，and will not all our wings be strong enough to fly with you over the sea？”
“明天我们就要从这儿飞走，大概整整一年的时间里，我们不能够回到这儿来。不过我们不能就这么地离开你呀！你有勇气跟我们一块儿去吗？我们的手臂既有足够的气力抱着你走过森林，难道我们的翅膀就没有足够的气力共同背着你越过大海吗？”
“Yes，take me with you.”said Eliza.Then they spent the whole night in weaving a net with the pliantpliant n.顺从willow and rushes.It was very large and strong.Eliza laid herself down on the net，and when the sun rose，and her brothers again became wild swans，they took up the net with their beaks，and flew up to the clouds with their dear sister，who still slept.The sunbeams fell on her face，therefore one of the swans soared over her head，so that his broad wings might shade her.
“是的，把我一同带去吧。”伊莱扎说。他们花了一整夜工夫用柔软的柳枝皮和坚韧的芦苇织成了一个又大又结实的网子。伊莱扎在网里躺着。当太阳升起来、她的哥哥又变成了野天鹅的时候，他们用嘴衔起这个网。于是他们带着还在熟睡着的亲爱的妹妹，高高地向云层里飞去。阳光正射到她的脸上，因此就有一只天鹅在她的上空飞，用他宽阔的翅膀来为她挡住光线。
They were far from the land when Eliza woke.She thought she must still be dreaming，it seemed so strange to her to feel herself being carried so high in the air over the sea.By her side lay a branch full of beautiful ripe berries，and a bundle of sweet roots.The youngest of her brothers had gathered them for her，and placed them by her side.She smiled her thanks to him.She knew it was the same who had hovered over her to shade her with his wings.
当伊莱扎醒来的时候，他们已经离开陆地很远了。她以为自己仍然在做着梦；在她看来，被托在海上高高地飞过天空，真是非常奇异。她身旁有一根结着美丽的熟浆果的枝条和一束甜味的草根。这是那个最小的哥哥为她采来并放在她身旁的。她微笑着表示感谢，因为她已经认出这就是他。他在她的头上飞，用翅膀为她遮着太阳。