(原版)澳大利亚语文第三册 LESSON 3
LESSON 3 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
III
1. Beauty's father at last agreed that she should go with him, and, after a sad farewell, the two set off for the beast's palace. When they reached the garden, the bear was there to meet them. He took them into the palace, where a great feast was spread, and treated them as his guests [1] .
2. When the time came for Omar to depart, the beast said, "Have no fear, honest merchant; no harm will come to your daughter, for I shall watch over her, and all will be well when you return next year."
3. The beast was as good as his word [2] . Beauty had but to express [3] a wish, and her wish was at once granted. She was treated with the greatest kindness, but, from dawn to nightfall, the bear was always with her. Although she never saw anyone else, she knew that there were many to wait upon them, for the palace was always in order;and when she and the bear sat down at table, the food was of the daintiest [4] kind, and the sound of sweet music filled the air.
THE FOOD WAS OF THE DAINTIEST KIND.
4. As the year drew to a close, the bear became very sad, and often gave deep sighs. Beauty felt sad too, for the beast had been so kind to her that she could not help liking him.
5. At last, on the day before her father was to come for her, she threw her arms round the bear's neck, and said, "Poor bear, do not be so sad. I will ask my father if I may stay with you for another year, if that will please you."
6. Hardly had she spoken before a great change took place. The bear's skin grew loose upon him; there was a sound of tearing, and forth from the torn skin stepped a handsome youth.
FROM THE TORN SKIN STEPPED A HANDSOME YOUTH.
7. "Dearest child," said he, "you have saved me from a great danger. By magic art [5] an enemy of mine changed me into a bear, and in that state I was to remain till some fair maiden took pity upon me, and of her own free will promised to live with me for a year. Had you left me, I should have died with grief."
8. The youth, who was really a prince, clapped his hands, and a number of servants ran to do his bidding. He told them to prepare a great feast for the morrow to welcome the honest merchant, and to prepare rich robes and jewels for Beauty's use.
9. When Omar, full of fear for the safety of his daughter, drew near, Beauty ran to meet him, and told him of all the wonders that had befallen her [6] . The next day the merchant went for his other daughters to share in the general joy, and they all lived happily together in the palace for many years.
* * *
For every evil under the sun
There is a cure, or there is none.
If there is one, try to find it;
If there is none, never mind it.
* * *
[1] guests: People asked to a feast.
[2] was as good as his word: Kept his promise in full.
[3] express: Utter; speak.
[2] daintiest: Choicest.
[5] by magic art: By the aid of charms.
[6] had befallen her: Had happened to her.
