童话：美女与野兽（一）

　　A long time ago and far away, there lived a merchant and his three daughters. The older girls were proud, while the youngest girl was generous and kind.

　　One day, the merchant heard that all his ships had been lost in a storm. He was penniless and would have to move to a tiny cottage on the edge of the woods.

【趣味英语】春节小知 世界节日（1）Spring

　　"Everything will be alright," said the youngest daughter, Beauty,. "We can all help. We don’t need any servants as the house is so small."

　　The merchant was very grateful to Beauty. The older girls were very upset, and were no help at all.

　　In no time at all, Beauty had the little cottage spick and span.

　　One day, a messenger arrived.

　　"I have good news," he said to the merchant. "One of your ships has made harbour. You are needed to oversee matters in the unloading."

　　"Oh, good news indeed!" said the merchant. He called his daughters around him. they were delighted when they heard the news.

　　"Does this mean that we can move back home?" asked the oldest daughter.

　　"First things first," said her father. "If there is a profit, I’ll bring you all back a present. You must tell me what you would like."

　　"Oh, a beautiful dress, father," cried the first.

　　"A new hat, father," said the second.

　　"What about you, Beauty?" asked the merchant.

　　Beauty simply said," A red rose please, father." 

译文：

　　很久以前，在一座金碧辉煌的城堡里住着一位骄纵、自私的王子。一个寒冷的冬夜，城堡里来了一位乞丐老婆婆，她献给王子一枝红玫瑰，请求王子让她避避风寒。王子见她长得又丑又怪，便要赶她走。乞丐老婆婆对王子说：“内在美才是真正的美。”但王子还是不肯让她留下。这时，乞丐老婆婆忽然变了，变成一位美丽无比的女巫！为了惩罚王子，她实施魔法将王子变成了丑陋的野兽，又将他的仆人们变成了各种各样的器皿。从此，王子就把自己关在城堡里，只能通过一面魔镜看到外面的世界。

　　女巫把玫瑰花留给了他。这朵玫瑰花只能盛开到他21岁生日。如果他在玫瑰凋谢前学会爱别人，同时也能得到对方的爱，魔法就能破除；否则，他永远不能恢复人形！

　　时间一年一年地过去了……

　　在城堡附近的村子里，有位美丽、善良的少女，名叫贝儿。她平时除了照顾爸爸莫维斯——一位辛勤却不得志的发明家以外，最喜欢的就是读书。

　　同村有位强壮的年轻猎人，名叫加斯顿，他深深地被美丽的贝儿所吸引。一天下午，加斯顿在书店前遇见了贝儿。他劝说贝儿不要读那么多的书，应该好好关心他。加斯顿总是向村里人吹嘘他就要和贝儿结婚了。其实，贝儿对自大而无知的加斯顿没有一点好感。

　　贝儿回到家，发现爸爸正在激动地摆弄着他新发明的机器。明天他就要带着这台新机器参加发明展览会了。莫维斯说：“如果我赢得大奖，我们就再也不愁吃穿了！”他把机器装上马车，然后驾着马儿费立上路了。贝儿大喊：“祝您好运，爸爸！”