6. Beauty’s brothers were very scared and they didn’t want to help their sister and father.
7. The merchant thought his sons could overcome the Beast.
8. The merchant at first forgot about the chest.
9. The merchant was determined to tell his children, that he was grown rich.
10. The Beauty begged her father to consent to her sisters’ marriage.
5
The horse took the direct road to the palace, and towards evening they reached the castle. The horse went into the stable, and the good man and his daughter came into the great hall, where they found a table splendidly served up, and two covers. The merchant didn’t want to eat, but Beauty, endeavoring to appear cheerful, sat down to table, and helped him. “Afterwards,” thought she to herself, “Beast surely has a mind[31] to fatten me before he eats me, since he provides such plentiful entertainment.[32]” When they had supped they heard a great noise, and the merchant, all in tears, bid his poor child, farewell, for he thought Beast was coming. Beauty was sadly terrified at his horrid form, but she took courage[33] as well as she could, and said to the monster that she came willingly.
The beast responded, “You are very good, and I am greatly obliged to you; honest man, go your ways tomorrow morning, but never think of coming here again.”
“Farewell Beauty, farewell Beast,” answered he, and immediately the monster withdrew. “Oh, daughter,” said the merchant, embracing Beauty, “I am almost frightened to death, believe me, you had better go back, and let me stay here.”
“No, father,” said Beauty, in a resolute tone, “you shall set out tomorrow morning, and leave me to the care and protection of providence.” They went to bed, and thought they should not close their eyes all night; but they fell fast asleep quickly, and Beauty dreamed, a fine lady came, and said to her, “I am content, Beauty, with your good will, this good action of yours in giving up your own life to save your father’s shall not go unrewarded.” Beauty waked, and told her father her dream, and though it helped to comfort him a little, yet he could not help crying bitterly,[34] when he took leave of his dear child.
As soon as he was gone, Beauty sat down in the great hall, and started crying for she firmly believed Beast would eat her up that night.
However, she thought she might as well walk about until then, and view this fine castle, which she could not help admiring;[35] it was a delightful pleasant place, and she was extremely surprised at seeing a door, over which was written, “Beauty’s Apartment.” She opened it hastily, and was quite dazzled with the magnificence that reigned throughout; but what chiefly took up her attention, was a large library, a harpsichord, and several music books. Then she reflected, “Were I but to stay here a day, there would not have been all these preparations.” This consideration inspired her with fresh courage; and opening the library she took a book, and read these words, in letters of gold:
Welcome Beauty, banish fear,
You are queen and mistress here.
Speak your wishes, speak your will,
Swift obedience meets them still.[36]
Exercises
1. Translate into Russian:
splendidly, to endevour, to appear, cheerful, afterwards, to respond, resolute, hastily, to reign, chiefly, to reflect, preparation, to inspire, mistress, will.
2. Answer the questions.
1. When did they reach the casle?
2. What did the merchant and his daughter find in the great hall?
3. Was the merchant hungry?
4. What did Beauty think about the Beast?
5. What did the merchant and his daughter hear after they had supped?
6. Why was Beauty terrified?
7. Did the merchant and his daughter sleep well at night?
8. Was the castle a delightful place?
9. What was written on one of the doors?
10. What did the Beauty see in the library?
3. True or False?
1. Beauty and her father reached the castle towards morning.
2. When they came into the great hall they found a table splendidly served up, and two covers.
3. When the Beast came, Beauty was so scared that couldn’t say a word.
4. The Beast looked very angry and it was clear that he was going to eat Beauty.
5. Beauty refused to go home because she wanted to save her father’s life.
6. Beauty and her father were so excited and frightened that couldn’t sleep at night.
7. The fine lady in Beauty’s dream wasn’t content that she wanted to save her father’s life.
8. As soon as her father was gone, Beauty sat down in the great hall, and started crying for she firmly believed Beast would eat her.
6
“Alas,” said she, with a sigh, “there is nothing I desire so much as to see my poor father, and know what he is doing.” As soon as she said this, to her great amazement, she saw her own home in a great looking glass, where her father arrived with a very dejected countenance.[37] Her sisters went to meet him, and notwithstanding their endeavors to appear sorrowful, their joy, felt for having got rid of their sister,[38] was visible in every feature. A moment after, everything disappeared.
At noon she found dinner ready, and while at table, was entertained with an excellent concert of music, though without seeing anybody. But at night, as she was going to sit down to supper, she heard the noise Beast made, and could not help being sadly terrified. “Beauty,” said the monster, “will you give me leave to see you sup?[39]”
“That is as you please,” answered Beauty trembling.
“No,” replied the Beast, “you alone are mistress here, if my presence is troublesome, I will immediately withdraw. But, tell me, do not you think me very ugly?”
“That is true,” said Beauty, “for I cannot tell a lie, but I believe you are very good-natured.”
“So I am,” said the monster, “and I know very well, that I am a poor, silly, stupid creature.”
“I don’t think you are silly and stupid creature,” replied Beauty.
“Eat then, Beauty,” said the monster, “and endeavor to amuse yourself in your palace, for everything here is yours, and I should be very uneasy, if you were not happy.”
“You are very obliging,” answered Beauty, “I am pleased with your kindness.”
“Yes, yes,” said the Beast, “my heart is good, but still I am a monster.”
“Among mankind,” said Beauty, “there are many that deserve that name more than you, and I prefer you, just as you are, to those, who, under a human form, hide a treacherous, corrupt, and ungrateful heart.”
“If I had sense enough,” replied the Beast, “I would make a fine compliment to thank you, but I am so dull, that I