Читать онлайн Красавица и Чудовище / Beauty and the Beast бесплатно

1

There was once a very rich merchant, who had six children: three sons and three daughters. His daughters were extremely beautiful, especially the youngest. When she was little, everybody admired her and called her “the Little Beauty”; so that, as she grew up, she still went by the name of Beauty[1], which made her sisters very jealous.

The youngest, as she was the most beautiful, was also better than her sisters. The two eldest had a great deal of pride, because they were rich. They went out every day to parties, balls, plays, concerts, and so forth, and they laughed at their youngest sister, because she spent the greatest part of her time in reading good books.

As it was known that their fortunes were great[2], several eminent merchants proposed to them, but the two eldest said they would never marry unless they could meet with a duke, or an earl at least. Beauty very civilly thanked those that courted her and told them she was too young yet to marry, and chose to stay with her father a few years longer.

Then, all at once[3], the merchant lost his whole fortune, excepting a small country house at a great distance from town, and told his children with tears in his eyes they had to go there and work for their living. The two eldest answered that they would not leave the town for they had several lovers, who they were sure would be glad to have them, though they had no fortune[4]; but the good ladies were mistaken, for their lovers slighted and forsook them in their poverty. As they were not beloved because of their pride, everybody said, “They do not deserve to be pitied.” “But”, added they, “we are extremely concerned for Beauty; she was such a charming, sweet-tempered creature, spoke so kindly to poor people, and was of such an affable, obliging behaviour.” Nay, several gentlemen were ready to marry her, though they knew she had not a penny, but she told them she could not think of leaving her poor father in his misfortunes and was determined to go along with him into the country to comfort and attend him. Poor Beauty at first was sadly grieved at the loss of her fortune[5]. “But,” said she to herself, “I must try to make myself happy without a fortune.”

2

When they came to their country house, the merchant and his three sons applied themselves to husbandry and tillage[6], and Beauty rose at four in the morning and made haste to clean the house and cook dinner for the family. In the beginning she found it very difficult, for she had not been used to work as a servant, but in less than two months she grew stronger and healthier than ever. After she had done her work, she read, played the piano, or sung while she 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 the 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 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 he 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.”

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 woke, 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,” said he aloud, “for being so careful, as to provide me a breakfast; I am extremely obliged to you for all your favours[15].”

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; immediately he heard a great noise and saw such a frightful Beast coming towards him that he was ready to faint away.

“You are very ungrateful,” said the Beast to him in a terrible voice; “I have saved your life by receiving you into my castle, and, in return, you steal my roses, which I value beyond any thing in the universe. You shall die for it; I give you just a quarter of an hour to prepare yourself and say your prayers[16].”

The merchant fell on his knees and lifted up both his hands. “My lord,” said he, “I beseech you to forgive me; indeed I had no intention to offend in gathering a rose for one of my daughters, who desired me to bring her one.”

“My name is not My Lord,” replied the monster, “but Beast; I don’t love compliments. I like people to speak as they think, and so do not imagine I am to be moved by any of your flattering speeches[17]. But you say you have got daughters. I will forgive you on condition that one of them comes willingly and suffers for you. Go and swear that if your daughter refuses to die instead of you, you will return within three months.”

4

The merchant had no mind[18] to sacrifice his daughters to the ugly monster, but he thought in obtaining this respite he should have the satisfaction of seeing them once more, so he promised upon oath[19], he would return, and the Beast told him he might set out when he pleased. “But,” added he, “you shall not depart emptyhanded; go back to the room where you lay, and you will see a great empty chest; fill it with whatever you like best, and I will send it to your home,” and at the same time Beast withdrew.

“Well,” said the good man to himself, “if I must die, I shall have the comfort, at least, of leaving something to my poor children.” He returned to the bedchamber, and finding a great quantity of gold, he filled the great chest the Beast had mentioned, locked it, and afterwards took his horse out of the stable, leaving the palace with as much grief as he had entered it with joy. The horse took one of the roads of the forest, and in a few hours the good man was at home.

His children came round him but didn’t receive their embraces with pleasure. Instead, he looked at them and, holding up the branch he had in his hands, burst into tears[20]. “Here, Beauty,” said he, “take these roses, but little do you think how dear they are like to cost your unhappy father,” and then told them about his unhappy adventure. Immediately, the two eldest daughters started to cry and said all manner of ill-natured things[21] to Beauty, who did not cry at all.

“Do but see the pride of that little wretch,” said they, “she would not ask for fine clothes as we did, but she wanted to distinguish herself[22], so now she will be the death of our poor father, and yet she does not so much as shed a tear[23].”

“Why should I?” answered Beauty, “It would be very needless, for my father shall not suffer upon my account[24], since the monster will accept one of his daughters, and I am very happy in thinking that my death will save my father’s life and be a proof of my tender love for him.”

“No, sister,” said her three brothers, “that shall not be; we will go and find the monster and either kill him or perish in the attempt[25].”

“Do not imagine any such thing, my sons,” said the merchant, “The Beast’s power is so great that I have no hopes of your overcoming him. I am charmed with Beauty’s kind and generous offer, but I cannot yield to it. I am old and have not long to live.”

“Indeed, father,” said Beauty, “you shall not go to the palace without me; you cannot hinder me from following you.” It was to no purpose all they could say. Beauty still insisted on setting out for the fine palace, and her sisters were delighted at it, for her virtue and amiable qualities made them envious and jealous.

The merchant was so afflicted at the thoughts of losing his daughter that he had quite forgot the chest full of gold, but at night when he retired to rest[26], no sooner had he shut his chamber door, then, to his great astonishment[27], he found it by his bedside; he was determined, however, not to tell his children that he was grown rich because they would have wanted to return to town, and he was resolved not to leave the country; but the Beauty informed him that two gentlemen came in his absence[28] and courted her sisters. She begged her father to consent to their marriage and give them fortunes, for she was so good that she loved them and forgave heartily their behaviour. These wicked creatures rubbed their eyes with an onion to force some tears