HERE was once a fine gentleman who possessed1 among other things a boot-jack and a hair-brush; but he had also the finest shirt-collar in the world, and of this collar we are about to hear a story. The collar had become so old that he began to think about getting married; and one day he happened to find himself in the same washing-tub as a garter. Upon my word, said the shirt-collar, I have never seen anything so slim and delicate, so neat and soft before. May I venture to ask your name?
I shall not tell you, replied the garter.
Where do you reside when you are at home? asked the shirt-collar. But the garter was naturally shy, and did not know how to answer such a question.
I presume you are a girdle, said the shirt-collar, a sort of under girdle. I see that you are useful, as well as ornamental2, my little lady.
You must not speak to me, said the garter; I do not think I have given you any encouragement to do so.
Oh, when any one is as beautiful as you are, said the shirt-collar, is not that encouragement enough?
Get away; dont come so near me, said the garter, you appear to me quite like a man.
I am a fine gentleman certainly, said the shirt-collar, I possess a boot-jack and a hair-brush. This was not true, for these things belonged to his master; but he was a boaster.
Dont come so near me, said the garter; I am not accustomed to it.
Affectation! said the shirt-collar.
Then they were taken out of the wash-tub, starched3, and hung over a chair in the sunshine, and then laid on the ironing-board. And now came the glowing iron. Mistress widow, said the shirt-collar, little mistress widow, I feel quite warm. I am changing, I am losing all my creases4. You are burning a hole in me. Ugh! I propose to you.
You old rag, said the flat-iron, driving proudly over the collar, for she fancied herself a steam-engine, which rolls over the railway and draws carriages. You old rag! said she.
The edges of the shirt-collar were a little frayed5, so the scissors were brought to cut them smooth. Oh! exclaimed the shirt-collar, what a first-rate dancer you would make; you can stretch out your leg so well. I never saw anything so charming; I am sure no human being could do the same.
I should think not, replied the scissors.
You ought to be a countess, said the shirt collar; but all I possess consists of a fine gentleman, a boot-jack, and a comb. I wish I had an estate for your sake.
What! is he going to propose to me? said the scissors, and she became so angry that she cut too sharply into the shirt collar, and it was obliged to be thrown by as useless.
I shall be obliged to propose to the hair-brush, thought the shirt collar; so he remarked one day, It is wonderful what beautiful hair you have, my little lady. Have you never thought of being engaged?
You might know I should think of it, answered the hair brush; I am engaged to the boot-jack.
Engaged! cried the shirt collar, now there is no one left to propose to; and then he pretended to despise all love-making.
A long time passed, and the shirt collar was taken in a bag to the paper-mill. Here was a large company of rags, the fine ones lying by themselves, separated from the coarser, as it ought to be. They had all many things to relate, especially the shirt collar, who was a terrible boaster. I have had an immense number of love affairs, said the shirt collar, no one left me any peace. It is true I was a very fine gentleman; quite stuck up. I had a boot-jack and a brush that I never used. You should have seen me then, when I was turned down. I shall never forget my first love; she was a girdle, so charming, and fine, and soft, and she threw herself into a washing tub for my sake. There was a widow too, who was warmly in love with me, but I left her alone, and she became quite black. The next was a first-rate dancer; she gave me the wound from which I still suffer, she was so passionate6. Even my own hair-brush was in love with me, and lost all her hair through neglected love. Yes, I have had great experience of this kind, but my greatest grief was for the garterthe girdle I meant to saythat jumped into the wash-tub. I have a great deal on my conscience, and it is really time I should be turned into white paper.
And the shirt collar came to this at last. All the rags were made into white paper, and the shirt collar became the very identical piece of paper which we now see, and on which this story is printed. It happened as a punishment to him, for having boasted so shockingly of things which were not true. And this is a warning to us, to be careful how we act, for we may some day find ourselves in the rag-bag, to be turned into white paper, on which our whole history may be written, even its most secret actions. And it would not be pleasant to have to run about the world in the form of a piece of paper, telling everything we have done, like the boasting shirt collar.
以前有一位好看的绅士；他所有些动产只不过一个脱靴器和一把梳子。但他有一个世界上最好的衬衣领子。
大家目前所要听到的就是关于这个领子的故事。
衬衣领子的年龄已经非常大，足够考虑结婚的问题。事又凑巧，他和袜带在一块儿混在水里洗。
我的天！衬衣领子说，我从来没看到过这么苗条和细嫩、这么迷人和温顺的人儿。请问你尊姓大名？
这个我可不可以对你说！袜带说。
你府上在什么地方？衬衣领子问。
不过袜带是很害臊的。要回答如此一个问题，她感觉很不简单。
我想你是一根腰带吧？衬衣领子说一种内衣的腰带！亲爱的小姐，我可以看出，你既有用，又可以做装装饰品！
你不应该跟我讲话！袜带说。我想，我没给你任何理由如此做！
咳，一个长得像你如此漂亮的人儿，衬衣领子说，就是足够的原因了。
请勿走得离我太近！袜带说，你非常像一个男性！
我还是一个好看的绅士呢！衬衣领子说。我有一个脱靴器和一把梳子！
这完全不是真话，由于这两件东西是是他的主人的。他不过是在吹牛罢了。
请勿走得离我太近！袜带说，我不习惯于这种行为。
这真的是在装腔作势！衬衣领子说。这个时候他们就从水里被取出来，上了浆，挂在一张椅子上晒，最后就被拿到一个熨斗板上。目前一个滚热的熨斗来了。
太太！衬衣领子说，亲爱的寡妇太太，我目前颇感到有的热了。我目前变成了另外一个人；我的皱纹全没了。你烫穿了我的身体，噢，我要向你求婚！
你这个老破烂！熨斗说，同时非常骄傲地在衬衣领子上走过去，由于她想象自己是一架火车头，拖着一长串列车，在铁轨上驰过去你这个老破烂！
衬衣领子的边缘上有的破损。因此有一把剪纸的剪刀就来把这类破损的地方剪平。
哎哟！衬衣领子说，你肯定是一个芭蕾舞舞蹈家！你的腿子伸得那样直啊！我从来没看见过如此漂亮的姿态！世界上没其他人能模仿你！
这一点我了解！剪刀说。
你配得上做一个伯爵夫人！衬衣领子说。我全部的财产是一位漂亮绅士，一个脱靴器和一把梳子。我只不过期望再有一个伯爵的头衔！
难道他还想求婚不成？剪刀说。她生气起来，结结实实地把他剪了一下，弄得他一直复元不了。
我还是向梳子求婚的好！衬衣领子说。亲爱的女孩！你看你把牙齿（注：即梳子齿。）保护得多么好，这真了不起。你从来没想过订婚的问题吗？
当然想到过，你已经了解，梳子说，我已经跟脱靴器订婚了！
订婚了！衬衣领子说。
目前他再也没求婚的机会了。因此他瞧不起爱情这种东西。
很长时间一段时间过去了。衬衣领子来到一个造纸厂的箱子里。周围是一堆烂布朋友：细致的跟细致的人在一块，粗鲁的跟粗鲁的人在一块，真是物以类聚。他们要讲的事情可真多，但衬衣领子要讲的事情最多，由于他是一个可怕的牛皮大王。
我过去有过一大堆情人！衬衣领子说。我连半点钟的安静都没！我又是一个漂亮绅士，一个上了浆的人。我既有脱靴器，又有梳子，但我从来不需要！你们应该看看我那时的样子，看看我那时不理人的神情！我永远也不可以忘记我的初恋那是一根腰带。她是那样细嫩，那样温顺，那样迷人！她为了我，自己投到一个水盆里去！后来又有一个寡妇，她变得火热起来，不过我没理她，直到她变得满脸青黑为止！接着来了芭蕾舞舞蹈家。她给了我一个创伤，到今天还没好她的脾气真坏！我的那把梳子倒是钟情于我，她由于失恋把牙齿都弄得掉落了。是的，像这种的事儿，我真是一个过来人！不过那根袜带子使我感到最难过我的意思是说那根腰带，她为我跳进水盆里去，我的良心上感到很不安。我情愿变成一张白纸！
事实也是这样，所有些烂布都变成了白纸，而衬衣领子却成了大家所看到的这张纸这个故事就是在这张纸上被印出来的。事情要这么办，完全是由于他喜欢把从来没过的事情瞎吹一通的原故。这一点大家需要记了解，免得大家干出同样的事情，由于大家不了解，有一天大家也会来到一个烂布箱里，被制成白纸，在这纸上，大家全部的历史，甚至最秘密的事情也会被印出来，结果大家就不能不像这衬衣领子一样，到处讲这个故事。（１８４８年）
这篇故事发表于１８４８年哥本哈根出版的《新的童话》里。它是依据现实生活写成的，安徒生说，一位朋友和他谈起一位破落的绅士。此人所有些财产只剩下一个擦鞋器和一把梳子，但他的架子却还放不下来，一直吹嘘自己过去的光荣。事实上，在一个阶级社会里，没了财产就没了特权，何况衬衣领子本身已经破烂了。最后它只有来到一个造纸厂的箱子里。周围是一堆破烂的朋友：细致的跟细致的人在一块，粗鲁的跟粗鲁的人在一块，真是物以类聚。它已经成了造纸的材料了，最后变成纸，这个故事就是在这张纸上被印出来的。这是一块含蓄的讽刺小品。
