美女與野獸 童話作者
可能有的朋友還不知道《美女與野獸》這不童話的作者誰，其實這是一本來自法國的童話，作者是博蒙夫人。
《美女與野獸》【作者簡介】
博蒙夫人是一位法國作家，婚後移居英格蘭。在英格蘭以家庭教師為生的她開始為倫敦的報紙撰寫一系列教育性文章，這些文章主要基於民間故事、歷史、傳說以及地方誌的故事而作。進入不惑之年以後，她開始在很多雜誌上發表故事。《美女與野獸》就是在一本兒童雜誌上發表的。在法國，博蒙夫人是第一本兒童雜誌的創始人，她編寫的故事和童話充滿了自由幻想的色彩。
《美女與野獸》中英童話
Beauty and the Beast
美女與野獸
A rich merchant who had three sons and three daughters lived in a big house in the city. His Youngest daughter was so beautiful she was called Beauty by all who knew her. She was as sweet and good as she was beautiful.
有一位富有的商人和他的三個兒子和三個女兒住在城市裡的一幢大房子裡。他最小的女兒非常美麗，認識她的人都稱她為美女。她不僅美麗，而且溫柔善良。
Sadly all of the merchant's ships were lost at sea and he and his family had to move to a small cottage in the country. His sons worked hard on the land and Beauty was happy working in the house, but his two elder daughters complained and grumbled all day long, especially about Beauty.
不幸的是商人的船在海上失蹤了，於是他和家人搬到鄉下的一間農房裡。他的兒子們辛勤地耕地，美女也在家裡愉快地忙碌著，但是她的兩個姐姐整日抱怨牢騷，尤其對美女不滿意。
One day news came that a ship had arrived which would make the merchant wealthy again.
有一天傳來了這樣的訊息：一艘船來了，這可能使商人重新富起來。
The merchant set off to the city, and just before he left he said, "Tell me, daughters, what gifts would you like me to bring back for you?"
商人打算進城，出發前他問道：“ 告訴我，女兒們，你們希望我帶給你什麼禮物?”
The two older girls asked for fine clothes and jewels, but Beauty wanted nothing . Realizing this made her sisters look greedy, she thought it best to ask for something. "Bring me a rose, father," she said, "just a beautiful red rose."
兩位姐姐索要衣服和首飾，但是美女什麼也不想要。但是想到這樣做可能會使姐姐們顯得很貪婪，她想她最好要點什麼。“給我一枝玫瑰花，父親，”她說道，“我只想要一枝玫瑰花。”
When the merchant reached the city he found disaster had struck once more and the ship's cargo was ruined.
商人來到城市裡，他發現災難又一次降臨，船上的貨物被毀了。
He took the road home wondering how to break the news to his children. He was so deep in thought that he lost his way.
他走在回家的路上，心想如何把這個訊息帶給孩子們，他苦苦思索，以致於迷路了。
Worse still, it started to snow, and he feared he would never reach home alive.
更糟糕的是，天下起雪來，他擔心他不能活著回家了。
Just as he despaired he noticed lights ahead, and riding towards them he saw a fine castle.
正當他失望洩氣的時候，他注意到前方有燈光，當他騎馬前往時，他發現了一座富麗堂皇的宮殿。
The gates stood open and flares were alight in the courtyard.
大門敞開著，院子裡的爐火燃燒著。
In the stables a stall empty with hay in the manger and clean bedding on the floor ready for his horse.
The castle itself seemed to be deserted, but a fire was burning in the dining-hall where a table was laid with food.
看起來宮殿是被廢棄的，但是餐廳裡生著爐火，桌上擺滿了食物。
The merchant ate well and still finding no one went upstairs to a bedroom which had been prepared. " It is almost as if I were expected," he thought.
商人吃過晚餐，但是他還是看不到主人 ，於是他走上樓，來到一間已經預備好的臥室。“似乎有人期待我來。”他心想。
In the morning he found clean clothes had been laid out for him and breakfast was on the table in the dining - hall.
第二天早晨,他看到預備好的乾淨衣服和餐廳飯桌上擺放著早飯。
After he had eaten he fetched his horse and as he rode away he saw a spray of red roses growing from a rose bush.
吃過早飯之後，他取回他的，正當他準備騎馬離開的時候，他看到玫瑰花叢中開放著一束玫瑰。
Remembering Beauty's request, and thinking he would be able to bring a present for at least one daughter, he plucked a rose from the bush.
他想起美女的請求，想到至少可以帶給一個女兒禮物，他從花叢中摘下一朵玫瑰花。
Suddenly a beast-like monster appeared. "Is this how you repay my hospitality?" it roared. "You eat my food, sleep in my guest-room and then insult me by stealing my flowers. You shall die for this."
忽然一隻野獸出現了，“這就是你對我熱情款待的回報嗎?”野獸咆哮道。“你吃了我的早飯，在我的客房裡睡覺，還偷走我的花。你應該為此去死。”
The merchant pleaded for his life, and begged to see his children once more before he died.
商人祈求野獸饒他一命，並且懇求在他死之前再看孩子們一眼。
At last the beast relented. "I will spare your life," it said, "if one of your daughters will come here willingly and die for you.
最後野獸說道“如果你的一個女兒肯來為你受死，我將留條活路給你。”
Otherwise you must promise to return within three months and die yourself."
“否則你必須承諾三個月內返回這裡自己死。”
The merchant agreed to return and went on his way. At home his children listened with sorrow to his tales of the lost cargo and his promise to the monster.
商人同意會回來，然後上路了，他回到家裡，孩子們很傷心地聽了他的故事，包括他失去的貨物以及他對野獸的.承諾。
His two elder daughters turned on Beauty, saying, "Your stupid request for a rose has brought all this trouble on us. It is your fault that father must die."
他的兩個大女兒轉過身來，對美女說道：“你這個愚蠢的原望給我們大家帶來了災難。如果父親必須死，那就是你的錯誤。”。
When the three months were up Beauty insisted on going to the castle with her father, pretending only to ride with him for company on the journey.
當三個月結束時，美女堅持與父親一同去城堡，假裝只是在路上陪伴著他。
The beast met them, and asked Beauty if she had come of her own accord, and she told him she had.
"Good," he said. "Now your father can go home and you will stay with me."
野獸迎接了他們，並且問美女是否自願來到這裡，當美女回答是的時候，野獸說道：“ 好的，現在你的父親可以回家了，而你要和我在一起。”
"What shall I call you?" she asked bravely.
"You may call me Beast," he replied.
“我應該如何稱呼你?”她大膽地問道。
“你可以叫我野獸”他回答。
Certainly he was very ugly and it seemed a good name for him.
當然，他很醜陋，似乎這是一個合適的好名字。
Beauty waved a sad farewell to her father.
美女對她的父親說再見。
But she was happy that at least she had saved his life.
但是她還是很高興，至少她救了父親的命。
As Beauty wandered through the castle she found many lovely rooms and beautiful courtyards with gardens.
美女在城堡裡四處閒逛，她看到很多可愛的房間，和許多帶花園的庭院。
At last she came to a room which was surely meant just for her.
最後她來到一間屋子，很明顯正是為她準備的。
It had many ofher favourite books and objects in it.
房間裡有許多書和物品，都是她喜歡的。
On the wall hung a beautiful mirror and to her surprise, as she looked into it, she saw her father arriving back at their home and her brothers and sisters greeting him.
牆上掛著一面好看的鏡子，讓她驚訝的是，當她照鏡子時，他看到父親回到家中，哥哥姐姐歡迎他歸來。
The picture only lasted a few seconds then faded.
這個畫面只保持了幾秒鐘就消失了。