spun.
On the contrary, her two sisters did not know how to spend their time; they got up at ten, and did nothing but wander about the whole day, lamenting the loss of their fine clothes and acquaintance. “Look at our youngest sister,” said they, one to the other, “what a poor, stupid, mean-spirited creature she is, to be contented with such an unhappy situation.”
The good merchant was of quite a different opinion; he knew very well that Beauty was better than her sisters, in her person as well as her mind, and admired her humility, industry and patience; for her sisters not only left her all the work of the house to do, but insulted her every moment.
The family had lived about a year in this retirement, when the merchant received a letter with an account that a vessel, on board of which he had some goods, safely arrived. This news made the two eldest daughters happy and they immediately flattered themselves with the hopes of returning to town,[7] for they were quite weary of a country life; and when they saw their father ready to set out, they begged of him to buy them new dresses, ribbons, and other trifles; but Beauty asked for nothing for she thought, that all the money her father was going to receive, would not be sufficient to purchase everything her sisters wanted.
“What will you have, Beauty?” said her father.
“Since you have the goodness to think of me,[8]” answered she, “be so kind to bring me a rose, for as none grows hereabouts, they are a kind of rarity.”
The merchant went on his journey, but when he came there, they went to law with him about the merchandise[9], and after a great deal of trouble and pains to no purpose,[10] he came back as poor as before.
He was not far from his own house, thinking on the pleasure he should have in seeing his children again, when going through a large forest he lost himself.[11] It rained and snowed terribly; and the wind was so high, that it threw him twice off his horse,[12] and he heard wolves’ howling all round him. Suddenly he saw a light at some distance. It came from a palace illuminated from top to bottom. The merchant thanked God for this happy discovery, and hastened to the place, but was greatly surprised at not meeting with anyone in the outer courts. His horse followed him, and seeing a large stable open, went in, and finding both hay and oats, the poor beast, who was almost famished, started to eat greedily. The merchant tied him up to the manger, and walked towards the house, where he saw no one. Entering into a large hall, he found a good fire, and a table plentifully set out with but one cover laid.[13] As he was wet quite through with the rain and snow, he drew near the fire[14] to dry himself. “I hope,” said he, “the master of the house, or his servants will excuse the liberty I take; I suppose it will not be long before some of them appear.”
Exercises
1. Translate into Russian:
husbandry, tillage, to lament, contented, industry, patience, to insult, vessel, weary, trifles, to purchase, rarity, journey, merchandise, howling, top, bottom, discovery, stable, hay, greedily, to dry oneself, liberty.
2. Answer the questions.
1. What did Beauty do in the morning?
2. How did Beauty’s sisters spend their time?
3. What did they say about Beauty?
4. What did the merchant think about Beauty?
5. What letter did the merchant receive one day?
6. What did Beauty’s sisters beg the merchant to buy?
7. Why did Beauty ask her father to bring her a rose?
8. What happened to the merchant on his way back home?
9. What did the merchant find entering a large hall?
10. What did the merchant think about the master and his servants?
3. True or False?
1. Beauty rose at four in the morning, and made haste to clean the house and cook dinner for the family.
2. After she had done her work, she played the guitar or met with her friends.
3. Beauty’s sisters usually helped her to cook dinner.
4. The merchant knew very well that Beauty was better than her sisters.
5. One day the merchant received a letter with an account that a vessel, on board of which he had some goods, safely arrived.
6. Beauty asked the merchant to bring her some jewelry.
7. Going through a large forest the merchant found a beautiful castle and entered it.
8. Entering a large hall the merchant saw the master of the house.
4. Insert the right prepositions (for, from, with, to).
1. When they came ________ their country house, the merchant and his three sons applied themselves to husbandry and tillage.
2. Beauty rose at four in the morning, and made haste to clean the house and cook dinner ________ the family.
3. The merchant received a letter ________ an account that a vessel, on board of which he had some goods, safely arrived.
4. It came ________ a palace illuminated from top to bottom.
3
He waited a considerable time, until it struck eleven, and still nobody came. At last he was so hungry that he could stay no longer, but took a chicken, and ate it in two mouthfuls. After this he drank a few glasses of wine, and growing more courageous he went out of the hall, and crossed through several grand apartments with magnificent furniture, until he came into a chamber, which had an exceeding good bed in it, and as he was very much fatigued, and it was past midnight, he decided it was best to shut the door, and go to bed.
It was ten the next morning before the merchant waked, and as he was going to rise he was astonished to see a good suit of clothes in the room of his own; certainly, said he, this palace belongs to some kind fairy, who has seen and pitied my distress. He looked through a window, but instead of snow saw the most delightful arbours and beautiful flowers. He then returned to the great hall, where he had taken supper the night before, and found some chocolate on a little table. “Thank you, good Madam Fairy,[15]” said he aloud, “for being so careful, as to provide me a breakfast; I am extremely obliged to you for all your favours.[16]”
The good man ate the chocolate, and then went to look for his horse, but passing through an arbour of roses he remembered Beauty’s request to him, and gathered a branch with several flowers;
flattered themselves with the hopes of returning to town – стали тешить себя надеждой о возвращении в город
Since you have the goodness to think of me – Раз уж ты так великодушен, что думаешь обо мне
they went to law with him about the merchandise – начались судебные разбирательства о его товарах
and after a great deal of trouble and pains to no purpose – после большого количества бессмысленных хлопот и беспокойств
he lost himself – он сбился с пути
that it threw him twice off his horse – что он дважды падал с лошади
plentifully set out with but one cover laid – с большим количеством блюд, но всего лишь на одну персону
he drew near the fire – он устроился у огня
Thank you, good Madam Fairy – благодарю вас, Госпожа Фея
obliged to you for all your favours – признателен вам за вашу благосклонность
