27-toads and diamonds-第1节

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TOADS　AND　DIAMONDS





THERE　was　once　upon　a　time　a　widow　who　had　two

daughters。　The　eldest　was　so　much　like　her　in　the　face

and　humor　that　whoever　looked　upon　the　daughter　saw

the　mother。　They　were　both　so　disagreeable　and　so　proud

that　there　was　no　living　with　them。



The　youngest；　who　was　the　very　picture　of　her　father

for　courtesy　and　sweetness　of　temper；　was　withal　one　of

the　most　beautiful　girls　ever　seen。　As　people　naturally

love　their　own　likeness；　this　mother　even　doted　on　her

eldest　daughter　and　at　the　same　time　had　a　horrible

aversion　for　the　youngestshe　made　her　eat　in　the　kitchen

and　work　continually。



Among　other　things；　this　poor　child　was　forced　twice　a

day　to　draw　water　above　a　mile　and　a…half　off　the　house；

and　bring　home　a　pitcher　full　of　it。　One　day；　as　she　was

at　this　fountain；　there　came　to　her　a　poor　woman；　who

begged　of　her　to　let　her　drink。



〃Oh！　ay；　with　all　my　heart；　Goody；〃　said　this　pretty

little　girl；　and　rinsing　immediately　the　pitcher；　she　took

up　some　water　from　the　clearest　place　of　the　fountain；

and　gave　it　to　her；　holding　up　the　pitcher　all　the　while；

that　she　might　drink　the　easier。



The　good　woman；　having　drunk；　said　to　her：



You　are　so　very　pretty；　my　dear；　so　good　and　so

mannerly；　that　I　cannot　help　giving　you　a　gift。〃　For

this　was　a　fairy；　who　had　taken　the　form　of　a　poor

country　woman；　to　see　how　far　the　civility　and　good

manners　of　this　pretty　girl　would　go。　〃I　will　give　you

for　a　gift；〃　continued　the　Fairy；　〃that；　at　every　word

you　speak；　there　shall　come　out　of　your　mouth　either　a

flower　or　a　jewel。〃



When　this　pretty　girl　came　home　her　mother　scolded

her　for　staying　so　long　at　the　fountain。



〃I　beg　your　pardon；　mamma；〃　said　the　poor　girl；　〃for

not　making　more　haste。〃



And　in　speaking　these　words　there　came　out　of　her

mouth　two　roses；　two　pearls；　and　two　diamonds



〃What　is　it　I　see　there？〃　said　the　mother；　quite

astonished。　〃I　think　I　see　pearls　and　diamonds　come　out　of

the　girl's　mouth！　How　happens　this；　child？〃



This　was　the　first　time　she　had　ever　called　her　child。



The　poor　creature　told　her　frankly　all　the　matter；　not

without　dropping　out　infinite　numbers　of　diamonds。



〃In　good　faith；〃　cried　the　mother；　〃I　must　send　my

child　thither。　Come　hither；　Fanny；　look　what　comes

out　of　thy　sister's　mouth　when　she　speaks。　Wouldst　not

thou　be　glad；　my　dear；　to　have　the　same　gift　given　thee？

Thou　hast　nothing　else　to　do　but　go　and　draw　water

out　of　the　fountain；　and　when　a　certain　poor　woman

asks　you　to　let　her　drink；　to　give　it　to　her　very　civilly。〃



〃It　would　be　a　very　fine　sight　indeed；〃　said　this　ill…

bred　minx；　〃to　see　me　go　draw　water。〃



〃You　shall　go；　hussy！〃　said　the　mother；　〃and　this

minute。〃



So　away　she　went；　but　grumbling　all　the　way；　taking

with　her　the　best　silver　tankard　in　the　house。



She　was　no　sooner　at　the　fountain　than　she　saw　coming

out　of　the　wood　a　lady　most　gloriously　dressed；　who

came　up　to　her；　and　asked　to　drink。　This　was；　you　must

know；　the　very　fairy　who　appeared　to　her　sister；　but　now

had　taken　the　air　and　dress　of　a　princess；　to　see　how　far

this　girl's　rudeness　would　go。



〃Am　I　come　hither；〃　said　the　proud；　saucy　one；　〃to

serve　you　with　water；　pray？　I　suppose　the　silver　tankard

was　brought　purely　for　your　ladyship；　was　it？　However；

you　may　drink　out　of　it；　if　you　have　a　fancy。〃



〃You　are　not　over　and　above　mannerly；〃　answered

the　Fairy；　without　putting　herself　in　a　passion。　〃Well；

then；　since　you　have　so　little　breeding；　and　are　so

disobliging；　I　give　you　for　a　gift　that　at　every　word　you

speak　there　shall　come　out　of　your　mouth　a　snake　or　a

toad。〃



So　soon　as　her　mother　saw　her　coming　she　cried　out：



〃Well；　daughter？〃



〃Well；　mother？〃　answered　the　pert　hussy；　throwing

out　of　her　mouth　two　vipers　and　two　toads。



〃Oh！　mercy；〃　cried　the　mother；　〃what　is　it　I　see？　Oh！

it　is　that　wretch　her　sister　who　has　occasioned　all　this；

but　she　shall　pay　for　it〃；　and　immediately　she　ran　to

beat　her。　The　poor　child　fled　away　from　her；　and　went

to　hide　herself　in　the　forest；　not　far　from　thence。



The　King's　son；　then　on　his　return　from　hunting；　met

her；　and　seeing　her　so　very　pretty；　asked　her　what　she

did　there　alone　and　why　she　cried。



〃Alas！　sir；　my　mamma　has　turned　me　out　of　doors。〃



The　King's　son；　who　saw　five　or　six　pearls　and　as

many　diamonds　come　out　of　her　mouth；　desired　her　to

tell　him　how　that　happened。　She　thereupon　told　him

the　whole　story；　and　so　the　King's　son　fell　in　love　with

her；　and；　considering　himself　that　such　a　gift　was　worth

more　than　any　marriage　portion；　conducted　her　to　the

palace　of　the　King　his　father；　and　there　married　her。



As　for　the　sister；　she　made　herself　so　much　hated　that

her　own　mother　turned　her　off；　and　the　miserable　wretch；

having　wandered　about　a　good　while　without　finding

anybody　to　take　her　in；　went　to　a　corner　of　the　wood；

and　there　died。＇1＇





＇1＇　Charles　Perrault。