Читать книгу Красавица и чудовище. Золушка. Спящая красавица. Рапунцель. Волшебная лампа Аладдина / The Beauty and the Beast. Cinderella. The Sleeping Beauty. Rapunzel. The Story of Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp - Группа авторов - Страница 9

The merchant had no mind[19] 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,[20] he would return, and the Beast told him he might set out when he pleased, “but,” added he, “you shall not depart empty-handed; 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 instead of receiving their embraces with pleasure, he looked on them, and holding up the branch he had in his hands, he burst into tears.[21] “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[22] 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,[23] so now she will be the death of our poor father, and yet she does not so much as shed a tear.[24]”

“Why should I,” answered Beauty, “it would be very needless, for my father shall not suffer upon my account,[25] 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.[26]”

“Do not imagine any such thing, my sons,” said the merchant, “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,[27] no sooner had he shut his chamber door, than, to his great astonishment,[28] 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,[29] 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[30] when they parted with their sister, but her brothers were really concerned.