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小说: 11-beauty and beast 字数: 每页4000字

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furious words; dropped the fatal rose; and; throwing

himself on his knees; cried: 〃Pardon me; noble sir。 I am

truly grateful to you for your hospitality; which was so

magnificent that I could not imagine that you would be

offended by my taking such a little thing as a rose。〃 But

the Beast's anger was not lessened by this speech。



〃You are very ready with excuses and flattery;〃 he

cried; 〃but that will not save you from the death you

deserve。〃



〃Alas!〃 thought the merchant; 〃if my daughter

could only know what danger her rose has brought me

into!〃



And in despair he began to tell the Beast all his

misfortunes; and the reason of his journey; not forgetting to

mention Beauty s request。



〃A king's ransom would hardly have procured all that

my other daughters asked。〃 he said: 〃but I thought that

I might at least take Beauty her rose。 I beg you to forgive

me; for you see I meant no harm。〃



The Beast considered for a moment; and then he said;

in a less furious tone:



〃I will forgive you on one conditionthat is; that you

will give me one of your daughters。〃



〃Ah!〃 cried the merchant; 〃if I were cruel enough to

buy my own life at the expense of one of my children's;

what excuse could I invent to bring her here?〃



〃No excuse would be necessary;〃 answered the Beast。

〃If she comes at all she must come willingly。 On no other

condition will I have her。 See if any one of them is

courageous enough; and loves you well enough to come

and save your life。 You seem to be an honest man; so I

will trust you to go home。 I give you a month to see if

either of your daughters will come back with you and stay

here; to let you go free。 If neither of them is willing; you

must come alone; after bidding them good…by for ever;

for then you will belong to me。 And do not imagine that

you can hide from me; for if you fail to keep your word

I will come and fetch you!〃 added the Beast grimly。



The merchant accepted this proposal; though he did

not really think any of his daughters could be persuaded

to come。 He promised to return at the time appointed;

and then; anxious to escape from the presence of the

Beast; he asked permission to set off at once。 But the

Beast answered that he could not go until next day。



〃Then you will find a horse ready for you;〃 he said。

〃Now go and eat your supper; and await my orders。〃



The poor merchant; more dead than alive; went back

to his room; where the most delicious supper was already

served on the little table which was drawn up before a

blazing fire。 But he was too terrified to eat; and only

tasted a few of the dishes; for fear the Beast should be

angry if he did not obey his orders。 When he had finished

he heard a great noise in the next room; which he knew

meant that the Beast was coming。 As he could do nothing

to escape his visit; the only thing that remained was to

seem as little afraid as possible; so when the Beast

appeared and asked roughly if he had supped well; the

merchant answered humbly that he had; thanks to his

host's kindness。 Then the Beast warned him to remember

their agreement; and to prepare his daughter exactly for

what she had to expect。



〃Do not get up to…morrow;〃 he added; 〃until you see

the sun and hear a golden bell ring。 Then you will find

your breakfast waiting for you here; and the horse you

are to ride will be ready in the courtyard。 He will also

bring you back again when you come with your daughter

a month hence。 Farewell。 Take a rose to Beauty; and

remember your promise!〃



The merchant was only too glad when the Beast went

away; and though he could not sleep for sadness; he lay

down until the sun rose。 Then; after a hasty breakfast;

he went to gather Beauty's rose; and mounted his horse;

which carried him off so swiftly that in an instant he had

lost sight of the palace; and he was still wrapped in

gloomy thoughts when it stopped before the door of the

cottage。



His sons and daughters; who had been very uneasy at

his long absence; rushed to meet him; eager to know the

result of his journey; which; seeing him mounted upon a

splendid horse and wrapped in a rich mantle; they

supposed to be favorable。 He hid the truth from them at

first; only saying sadly to Beauty as he gave her the rose:



〃Here is what you asked me to bring you; you little

know what it has cost。〃



But this excited their curiosity so greatly that presently

he told them his adventures from beginning to end; and

then they were all very unhappy。 The girls lamented

loudly over their lost hopes; and the sons declared that

their father should not return to this terrible castle; and

began to make plans for killing the Beast if it should

come to fetch him。 But he reminded them that he had

promised to go back。 Then the girls were very angry

with Beauty; and said it was all her fault; and that if she

had asked for something sensible this would never have

happened; and complained bitterly that they should have

to suffer for her folly。



Poor Beauty; much distressed; said to them:



〃I have; indeed; caused this misfortune; but I assure

you I did it innocently。 Who could have guessed that to

ask for a rose in the middle of summer would cause so

much misery? But as I did the mischief it is only just

that I should suffer for it。 I will therefore go back with

my father to keep his promise。〃



At first nobody would hear of this arrangement; and

her father and brothers; who loved her dearly; declared

that nothing should make them let her go; but Beauty

was firm。 As the time drew near she divided all her little

possessions between her sisters; and said good…by to

everything she loved; and when the fatal day came she

encouraged and cheered her father as they mounted

together the horse which had brought him back。 It seemed

to fly rather than gallop; but so smoothly that Beauty was

not frightened; indeed; she would have enjoyed the journey

if she had not feared what might happen to her at the

end of it。 Her father still tried to persuade her to go back;

but in vain。 While they were talking the night fell; and

then; to their great surprise; wonderful colored lights

began to shine in all directions; and splendid fireworks

blazed out before them; all the forest was illuminated by

them; and even felt pleasantly warm; though it had been

bitterly cold before。 This lasted until they reached the

avenue of orange trees; where were statues holding flaming

torches; and when they got nearer to the palace they

saw that it was illuminated from the roof to the ground;

and music sounded softly from the courtyard。 〃The

Beast must be very hungry;〃 said Beauty; trying to

laugh; 〃if he makes all this rejoicing over the arrival of

his prey。



But; in spite of her anxiety; she could not help admiring

all the wonderful things she saw。



The horse stopped at the foot of the flight of steps

leading to the terrace; and when they had dismounted her

father led her to the little room he had been in before;

where they found a splendid fire burning; and the table

daintily spread with a delicious supper。



The merchant knew that this was meant for them; and

Beauty; who was rather less frightened now that she had

passed through so many rooms and seen nothing of the

Beast; was quite willing to begin; for her long ride had

made her very hungry。 But they had hardly finished

their meal when the noise of the Beast's footsteps was

heard approaching; and Beauty clung to her father in

terror; which became all the greater when she saw how

frightened he was。 But when the Beast really appeared;

though she trembled at the sight of him; she made a great

effort to hide her terror; and saluted him respectfully。



This evidently pleased the Beast。 After looking at her

he said; in a tone that might have struck terror into the

boldest heart; though he did not seem to be angry:



〃Good…evening; old man。 Good…evening; Beauty。〃



The merchant was too terrified to reply; but Beauty

answered sweetly: 〃Good…evening; Beast。〃



〃Have you come willingly?〃 asked the Beast。 〃Will

you be content to stay here when your father goes away?〃



Beauty answered bravely that she was quite prepared

to stay。



〃I am pleased with you;〃 said the Beast。 〃As you have

come of your own accord; you may stay。 As for you; old

man;〃 he added; turning to the merchant; 〃at sunrise to…

morrow you will take your departure。 When the bell

rings get up quickly and eat your breakfast; and you will

find the same horse waiting to take you home; but remember

that you must never expect to see my palace again。〃



Then turning to Beauty; he said:



〃Take your father into the next room; and help him to

choose everything you think your brothers and sisters

would like to have。 You will find two traveling…trunks

there; fill them as full as you can。 It is only just that you

should send them somet

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