美女与野兽 童话作者
可能有的朋友还不知道《美女与野兽》这不童话的作者谁，其实这是一本来自法国的童话，作者是博蒙夫人。
《美女与野兽》【作者简介】
博蒙夫人是一位法国作家，婚后移居英格兰。在英格兰以家庭教师为生的她开始为伦敦的报纸撰写一系列教育性文章，这些文章主要基于民间故事、历史、传说以及地方志的故事而作。进入不惑之年以后，她开始在很多杂志上发表故事。《美女与野兽》就是在一本儿童杂志上发表的。在法国，博蒙夫人是第一本儿童杂志的创始人，她编写的故事和童话充满了自由幻想的色彩。
《美女与野兽》中英童话
Beauty and the Beast
美女与野兽
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个儿子和三个女儿住在城市里的一幢大房子里。他最小的女儿非常美丽，认识她的人都称她为美女。她不仅美丽，而且温柔善良。
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踪了，于是他和家人搬到乡下的一间农房里。他的儿子们辛勤地耕地，美女也在家里愉快地忙碌着，但是她的两个姐姐整日抱怨牢骚，尤其对美女不满意。
One day news came that a ship had arrived which would make the merchant wealthy again.
有一天传来了这样的消息：一艘船来了，这可能使商人重新富起来。
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?"
商人打算进城，出发前他问道：“ 告诉我，女儿们，你们希望我带给你什么礼物?”
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."
两位姐姐索要衣服和首饰，但是美女什么也不想要。但是想到这样做可能会使姐姐们显得很贪婪，她想她最好要点什么。“给我一枝玫瑰花，父亲，”她说道，“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.
商人来到城市里，他发现灾难又一次降临，船上的货物被毁了。
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，心想如何把这个消息带给孩子们，他苦苦思索，以致于迷路了。
Worse still, it started to snow, and he feared he would never reach home alive.
更糟糕的是，天下起雪来，他担心他不能活着回家了。
Just as he despaired he noticed lights ahead, and riding towards them he saw a fine castle.
正当他失望泄气的时候，他注意到前方有灯光，当他骑马前往时，他发现了一座富丽堂皇的宫殿。
The gates stood open and flares were alight in the courtyard.
大门敞开着，院子里的炉火燃烧着。
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.
看起来宫殿是被废弃的，但是餐厅里生着炉火，桌上摆满了食物。
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.
商人吃过晚餐，但是他还是看不到主人 ，于是他走上楼，来到一间已经预备好的卧室。“似乎有人期待我来。”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,他看到预备好的干净衣服和餐厅饭桌上摆放着早饭。
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.
吃过早饭之后，他取回他的，正当他准备骑马离开的时候，他看到玫瑰花丛中开放着一束玫瑰。
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.
他想起美女的请求，想到至少可以带给一个女儿礼物，他从花丛中摘下一朵玫瑰花。
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."
忽然一只野兽出现了，“这就是你对我热情款待的回报吗?”野兽咆哮道。“你吃了我的早饭，在我的客房里睡觉，还偷走我的花。你应该为此去死。”
The merchant pleaded for his life, and begged to see his children once more before he died.
商人祈求野兽饶他一命，并且恳求在他死之前再看孩子们一眼。
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.
最后野兽说道“如果你的一个女儿肯来为你受死，我将留条活路给你。”
Otherwise you must promise to return within three months and die yourself."
“否则你必须承诺三个月内返回这里自己死。”
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.
商人同意会回来，然后上路了，他回到家里，孩子们很伤心地听了他的故事，包括他失去的货物以及他对野兽的.承诺。
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."
他的两个大女儿转过身来，对美女说道：“你这个愚蠢的原望给我们大家带来了灾难。如果父亲必须死，那就是你的错误。”。
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.
当三个月结束时，美女坚持与父亲一同去城堡，假装只是在路上陪伴着他。
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."
野兽迎接了他们，并且问美女是否自愿来到这里，当美女回答是的时候，野兽说道：“ 好的，现在你的父亲可以回家了，而你要和我在一起。”
"What shall I call you?" she asked bravely.
"You may call me Beast," he replied.
“我应该如何称呼你?”她大胆地问道。
“你可以叫我野兽”他回答。
Certainly he was very ugly and it seemed a good name for him.
当然，他很丑陋，似乎这是一个合适的好名字。
Beauty waved a sad farewell to her father.
美女对她的父亲说再见。
But she was happy that at least she had saved his life.
但是她还是很高兴，至少她救了父亲的命。
As Beauty wandered through the castle she found many lovely rooms and beautiful courtyards with gardens.
美女在城堡里四处闲逛，她看到很多可爱的房间，和许多带花园的庭院。
At last she came to a room which was surely meant just for her.
最后她来到一间屋子，很明显正是为她准备的。
It had many ofher favourite books and objects in it.
房间里有许多书和物品，都是她喜欢的。
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.
墙上挂着一面好看的镜子，让她惊讶的是，当她照镜子时，他看到父亲回到家中，哥哥姐姐欢迎他归来。
The picture only lasted a few seconds then faded.
这个画面只保持了几秒钟就消失了。