太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > 11-beauty and beast >

第1节

11-beauty and beast-第1节

小说: 11-beauty and beast 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!








BEAUTY AND THE BEAST





ONCE upon a time; in a very far…off country; there

lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his

undertakings that he was enormously rich。 As he had;

however; six sons and six daughters; he found that his

money was not too much to let them all have everything

they fancied; as they were accustomed to do。



But one day a most unexpected misfortune befell them。

Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the

ground; with all the splendid furniture; the books; pic…

tures; gold; silver; and precious goods it contained; and

this was only the beginning of their troubles。 Their

father; who had until this moment prospered in all ways;

suddenly lost every ship he had upon the sea; either by

dint of pirates; shipwreck; or fire。 Then he heard that his

clerks in distant countries; whom he trusted entirely; had

proved unfaithful; and at last from great wealth he fell

into the direst poverty。



All that he had left was a little house in a desolate place

at least a hundred leagues from the town in which he had

lived; and to this he was forced to retreat with his

children; who were in despair at the idea of leading such a

different life。 Indeed; the daughters at first hoped that

their friends; who had been so numerous while they were

rich; would insist on their staying in their houses now they

no longer possessed one。 But they soon found that they

were left alone; and that their former friends even attributed

their misfortunes to their own extravagance; and

showed no intention of offering them any help。 So nothing

was left for them but to take their departure to the

cottage; which stood in the midst of a dark forest; and

seemed to be the most dismal place upon the face of the

earth。 As they were too poor to have any servants; the

girls had to work hard; like peasants; and the sons; for

their part; cultivated the fields to earn their living。

Roughly clothed; and living in the simplest way; the girls

regretted unceasingly the luxuries and amusements of

their former life; only the youngest tried to be brave and

cheerful。 She had been as sad as anyone when misfortune

overtook her father; but; soon recovering her natural

gaiety; she set to work to make the best of things; to

amuse her father and brothers as well as she could; and

to try to persuade her sisters to join her in dancing and

singing。 But they would do nothing of the sort; and;

because she was not as doleful as themselves; they declared

that this miserable life was all she was fit for。 But she

was really far prettier and cleverer than they were; indeed;

she was so lovely that she was always called Beauty。

After two years; when they were all beginning to get used

to their new life; something happened to disturb their

tranquillity。 Their father received the news that one of

his ships; which he had believed to be lost; had come

safely into port with a rich cargo。 All the sons and daughters

at once thought that their poverty was at an end; and

wanted to set out directly for the town; but their father;

who was more prudent; begged them to wait a little; and;

though it was harvest time; and he could ill be spared;

determined to go himself first; to make inquiries。 Only the

youngest daughter had any doubt but that they would

soon again be as rich as they were before; or at least rich

enough to live comfortably in some town where they

would find amusement and gay companions once more。

So they all loaded their father with commissions for

jewels and dresses which it would have taken a fortune

to buy; only Beauty; feeling sure that it was of no use; did

not ask for anything。 Her father; noticing her silence;

said: 〃And what shall I bring for you; Beauty?〃



〃The only thing I wish for is to see you come home

safely;〃 she answered。



But this only vexed her sisters; who fancied she was

blaming them for having asked for such costly things。

Her father; however; was pleased; but as he thought that

at her age she certainly ought to like pretty presents; he

told her to choose something。



〃Well; dear father;〃 she said; 〃as you insist upon it; I

beg that you will bring me a rose。 I have not seen one

since we came here; and I love them so much。〃



So the merchant set out and reached the town as

quickly as possible; but only to find that his former

companions; believing him to be dead; had divided between

them the goods which the ship had brought; and after six

months of trouble and expense he found himself as poor

as when he started; having been able to recover only just

enough to pay the cost of his journey。 To make matters

worse; he was obliged to leave the town in the most

terrible weather; so that by the time he was within a few

leagues of his home he was almost exhausted with cold

and fatigue。 Though he knew it would take some hours

to get through the forest; he was so anxious to be at his

journey's end that he resolved to go on; but night overtook

him; and the deep snow and bitter frost made it

impossible for his horse to carry him any further。 Not a

house was to be seen; the only shelter he could get was

the hollow trunk of a great tree; and there he crouched all

the night which seemed to him the longest he had ever

known。 In spite of his weariness the howling of the

wolves kept him awake; and even when at last the day

broke he was not much better off; for the falling snow had

covered up every path; and he did not know which way

to turn。



At length he made out some sort of track; and though

at the beginning it was so rough and slippery that he fell

down more than once; it presently became easier; and led

him into an avenue of trees which ended in a splendid

castle。 It seemed to the merchant very strange that no

snow had fallen in the avenue; which was entirely

composed of orange trees; covered with flowers and fruit。

When he reached the first court of the castle he saw before

him a flight of agate steps; and went up them; and passed

through several splendidly furnished rooms。 The pleasant

warmth of the air revived him; and he felt very hungry;

but there seemed to be nobody in all this vast and splendid

palace whom he could ask to give him something to

eat。 Deep silence reigned everywhere; and at last; tired

of roaming through empty rooms and galleries; he stopped

in a room smaller than the rest; where a clear fire was

burning and a couch was drawn up closely to it。 Thinking

that this must be prepared for someone who was

expected; he sat down to wait till he should come; and

very soon fell into a sweet sleep。



When his extreme hunger wakened him after several

hours; he was still alone; but a little table; upon which

was a good dinner; had been drawn up close to him; and;

as he had eaten nothing for twenty…four hours; he lost no

time in beginning his meal; hoping that he might soon

have an opportunity of thanking his considerate entertainer;

whoever it might be。 But no one appeared; and

even after another long sleep; from which he awoke

completely refreshed; there was no sign of anybody; though

a fresh meal of dainty cakes and fruit was prepared upon

the little table at his elbow。 Being naturally timid; the

silence began to terrify him; and he resolved to search

once more through all the rooms; but it was of no use。

Not even a servant was to be seen; there was no sign of

life in the palace! He began to wonder what he should do;

and to amuse himself by pretending that all the treasures

he saw were his own; and considering how he would

divide them among his children。 Then he went down into

the garden; and though it was winter everywhere else;

here the sun shone; and the birds sang; and the flowers

bloomed; and the air was soft and sweet。 The merchant;

in ecstacies with all he saw and heard; said to himself:



〃All this must be meant for me。 I will go this minute

and bring my children to share all these delights。〃



In spite of being so cold and weary when he reached the

castle; he had taken his horse to the stable and fed it。

Now he thought he would saddle it for his homeward

journey; and he turned down the path which led to the

stable。 This path had a hedge of roses on each side of it;

and the merchant thought he had never seen or smelt

such exquisite flowers。 They reminded him of his promise

to Beauty; and he stopped and had just gathered one to

take to her when he was startled by a strange noise behind

him。 Turning round; he saw a frightful Beast; which

seemed to be very angry and said; in a terrible voice:



〃Who told you that you might gather my roses? Was

it not enough that I allowed you to be in my palace and

was kind to you? This is the way you show your gratitude;

by stealing my flowers! But your insolence shall

not go unpunished。〃 The merchant; terrified by these

furious words; dropped the fatal rose; and; throwing

himself on his knees; cried: 〃Pardon me; n

返回目录 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的