ONCE upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich. —
从前，在一个非常遥远的国家里，住着一个商人，他在所有的事情上都非常幸运，所以他非常富有。 —

As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
由于他有六个儿子和六个女儿，他发现他的钱不够让他们都得到他们喜欢的一切，因为他们都习惯了这样做。

But one day a most unexpected misfortune befell them. —
但是有一天，他们发生了一场意想不到的不幸。 —

Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; —
他们的房子起火了，很快就被烧毁了，里面的所有豪华家具、书画、金银和宝贵的物品都付之一炬； —

and this was only the beginning of their troubles. —
而这只是他们遭遇的困难的开始。 —

Their father, who had until this moment prospered in all ways, suddenly lost every ship he had upon the sea, either by dint of pirates, shipwreck, or fire. —
他们的父亲，此前在各个方面都很成功，突然之间失去了他在海上的所有船只，或者是因为海盗、船只失事或火灾。 —

Then he heard that his clerks in distant countries, whom he trusted entirely, had proved unfaithful; —
然后他听说他完全信任的远在异国的办事员已经背信弃义； —

and at last from great wealth he fell into the direst poverty.
最后，从巨大的财富中堕入了最可怕的贫困之中。

All that he had left was a little house in a desolate place at least a hundred leagues from the town in which he had lived, and to this he was forced to retreat with his children, who were in despair at the idea of leading such a different life. —
他所剩下的只有一座位于荒凉之地的小屋，离他曾居住的城镇至少有一百里。他被迫和自己的孩子们一起退居到那里，孩子们对于过上如此不同的生活感到绝望。 —

Indeed, the daughters at first hoped that their friends, who had been so numerous while they were rich, would insist on their staying in their houses now they no longer possessed one. —
事实上，女儿们起初希望她们的朋友们能够坚持让她们留在他们的房子里，既然她们不再拥有自己的房子。 —

But they soon found that they were left alone, and that their former friends even attributed their misfortunes to their own extravagance, and showed no intention of offering them any help. —
但是她们很快发现她们被孤立了，而且她们以前的朋友们甚至归咎于她们的奢侈浪费，并没有提供任何帮助的意图。 —

So nothing was left for them but to take their departure to the cottage, which stood in the midst of a dark forest, and seemed to be the most dismal place upon the face of the earth. —
所以她们别无选择，只能离开这座位于黑暗森林中的小屋，这个地方似乎是世界上最凄凉的地方。 —

As they were too poor to have any servants, the girls had to work hard, like peasants, and the sons, for their part, cultivated the fields to earn their living. —
因为她们太穷了，无法雇佣任何仆人，所以姑娘们不得不像农民一样辛勤劳作，而儿子们则种田谋生。 —

Roughly clothed, and living in the simplest way, the girls regretted unceasingly the luxuries and amusements of their former life; —
穿着朴素，过着简单生活的女孩们不断后悔着过去生活的奢华和娱乐； —

only the youngest tried to be brave and cheerful. —
只有最小的女孩试图勇敢和开朗一些。 —

She had been as sad as anyone when misfortune overtook her father, but, soon recovering her natural gaiety, she set to work to make the best of things, to amuse her father and brothers as well as she could, and to try to persuade her sisters to join her in dancing and singing. —
父亲遭遇不幸时，她和其他人一样伤心，但很快恢复了天性的快乐，她开始努力让一切变得更好，尽力取悦父亲和兄弟们，还试图说服姐姐们加入她的舞蹈和歌唱。 —

But they would do nothing of the sort, and, because she was not as doleful as themselves, they declared that this miserable life was all she was fit for. —
但她们一点都不愿意，因为她不像她们那样忧伤，她们说这种可怜的生活正适合她。 —

But she was really far prettier and cleverer than they were; indeed, she was so lovely that she was always called Beauty. —
但她真的比她们更漂亮、更聪明；事实上，她是如此可爱，所以大家都叫她美丽。 —

After two years, when they were all beginning to get used to their new life, something happened to disturb their tranquillity. —
两年后，当她们都开始适应新生活时，发生了一件打破了宁静的事情。 —

Their father received the news that one of his ships, which he had believed to be lost, had come safely into port with a rich cargo. —
他们的父亲听到了一个他本以为已经失去的船只安全抵达港口，并带来了丰厚的货物的消息。 —

All the sons and daughters at once thought that their poverty was at an end, and wanted to set out directly for the town; —
所有的儿女们立刻认为他们的贫困将会结束，想要立即前往城镇； —

but their father, who was more prudent, begged them to wait a little, and, though it was harvest time, and he could ill be spared, determined to go himself first, to make inquiries. —
但他们聪明的父亲请求他们稍等片刻，并决定亲自去第一时间打听情况，虽然当时正值收获季节，他本无法抽身。 —

Only the youngest daughter had any doubt but that they would soon again be as rich as they were before, or at least rich enough to live comfortably in some town where they would find amusement and gay companions once more. —
只有最小的女儿对于他们很快会恢复到以前的富裕，或者至少富裕到能够在某个城镇舒适地生活，并再次找到娱乐和快乐的伙伴这件事有所怀疑。 —

So they all loaded their father with commissions for jewels and dresses which it would have taken a fortune to buy; —
于是他们全部给父亲带去了购买需要巨资的珠宝和服装的委托。 —

only Beauty, feeling sure that it was of no use, did not ask for anything. —
唯独美人儿，因为她确信这样做没有用，所以并没有什么要求。 —

Her father, noticing her silence, said: —
父亲注意到了她的沉默，问道： —

“And what shall I bring for you, Beauty?”
“那么美人儿，你需要我为你带些什么呢？”

“The only thing I wish for is to see you come home safely,” she answered.
“我唯一希望的就是看到你平安回家，”她回答道。

But this only vexed her sisters, who fancied she was blaming them for having asked for such costly things. —
但这只会让她的姐妹们生气，她们认为她在责备她们提出了这么昂贵的要求。 —

Her father, however, was pleased, but as he thought that at her age she certainly ought to like pretty presents, he told her to choose something.
然而，她的父亲很高兴，但他认为她这个年龄应该喜欢漂亮的礼物，所以他告诉她选择一样东西。

“Well, dear father,” she said, “as you insist upon it, I beg that you will bring me a rose. —
“好吧，亲爱的爸爸，”她说，“既然你坚持，我请求你带给我一朵玫瑰。 —

I have not seen one since we came here, and I love them so much.”
自从我们来到这里以来，我就没见过一朵，我非常喜欢它们。”

So the merchant set out and reached the town as quickly as possible, but only to find that his former companions, believing him to be dead, had divided between them the goods which the ship had brought; —
于是商人出发了，尽快到达城市，但却发现他以前的同伴们认为他已经死了，他们已经分走了船上带来的货物。 —

and after six months of trouble and expense he found himself as poor as when he started, having been able to recover only just enough to pay the cost of his journey. —
在经历了六个月的麻烦和开支后，他发现自己和出发前一样穷，只能够收回足够支付旅行费用的钱。 —

To make matters worse, he was obliged to leave the town in the most terrible weather, so that by the time he was within a few leagues of his home he was almost exhausted with cold and fatigue. —
更糟糕的是，他不得不在极恶劣的天气中离开了小镇，以至于当他离家只有几里路的时候，他几乎被寒冷和疲劳耗尽了。 —

Though he knew it would take some hours to get through the forest, he was so anxious to be at his journey’s end that he resolved to go on; —
尽管他知道穿过森林需要几个小时，但他非常渴望赶到旅程的终点，所以他决定继续前进。 —

but night overtook him, and the deep snow and bitter frost made it impossible for his horse to carry him any further. —
但是夜幕降临，厚厚的积雪和刺骨的寒冷使他的马无法再继续前进了。 —

Not a house was to be seen; —
四周看不见一栋房子。 —

the only shelter he could get was the hollow trunk of a great tree, and there he crouched all the night which seemed to him the longest he had ever known. —
他唯一能找到的避雨之处就是一棵大树的空洞树干，在那里他蜷缩一夜，这夜对他来说似乎是他经历过的最漫长的一夜。 —

In spite of his weariness the howling of the wolves kept him awake, and even when at last the day broke he was not much better off, for the falling snow had covered up every path, and he did not know which way to turn.
尽管他疲倦不堪，但狼的嚎叫使他无法入睡，即使天亮了，他的处境也没有好转，因为下着的雪盖住了所有的路径，他不知道该往哪个方向走。

At length he made out some sort of track, and though at the beginning it was so rough and slippery that he fell down more than once, it presently became easier, and led him into an avenue of trees which ended in a splendid castle. —
终于，他发现了一条踪迹，尽管一开始非常崎岖而且滑溜，他摔了不止一次，但很快变得容易走起来，然后引领他走进了一片树林，最终到达了一座辉煌的城堡。 —

It seemed to the merchant very strange that no snow had fallen in the avenue, which was entirely composed of orange trees, covered with flowers and fruit. —
商人觉得非常奇怪的是，这条林荫道上没有下雪，而林荫道全是桔树，盛开着花朵和结满果实。 —

When he reached the first court of the castle he saw before him a flight of agate steps, and went up them, and passed through several splendidly furnished rooms. —
他走到了城堡的第一个庭院，看见一段瑕疵玛瑙台阶，走上台阶，穿过几个豪华装饰的房间。 —

The pleasant warmth of the air revived him, and he felt very hungry; —
温暖的空气让他恢复了精神，他感到非常饥饿； —

but there seemed to be nobody in all this vast and splendid palace whom he could ask to give him something to eat. —
但是在这座广阔而华丽的城堡里似乎没有一个人可以向他要些吃的。 —

Deep silence reigned everywhere, and at last, tired of roaming through empty rooms and galleries, he stopped in a room smaller than the rest, where a clear fire was burning and a couch was drawn up closely to it. —
到处都是寂静，最后，他累了，不想再在空荡的房间和走廊里闲逛，他停在了一个比其他房间小一些的房间里，那里有明亮的炉火和一张靠近炉火的床。 —

Thinking that this must be prepared for someone who was expected, he sat down to wait till he should come, and very soon fell into a sweet sleep.
他以为这一定是为了一个预期中的人准备的，于是他坐下等待那个人来，很快就入睡了。

When his extreme hunger wakened him after several hours, he was still alone; —
几个小时后，他因极度的饥饿而醒来，但他仍然独自一人。 —

but a little table, upon which was a good dinner, had been drawn up close to him, and, as he had eaten nothing for twenty-four hours, he lost no time in beginning his meal, hoping that he might soon have an opportunity of thanking his considerate entertainer, whoever it might be. —
但是，一张小桌子上放着丰盛的晚餐并被拉近了他的身边，由于他已经24小时没有吃东西了，他立即开始吃饭，希望很快能有机会去感谢他那位周到的招待者，无论他是谁。 —

But no one appeared, and even after another long sleep, from which he awoke completely refreshed, there was no sign of anybody, though a fresh meal of dainty cakes and fruit was prepared upon the little table at his elbow. —
但是没有人出现，即使在另一个长时间的睡眠后，他完全精神焕发地醒来，也没有任何人的迹象，尽管他的身边的小桌子上准备了一份新鲜的蛋糕和水果。 —

Being naturally timid, the silence began to terrify him, and he resolved to search once more through all the rooms; —
由于他天生胆小，寂静开始让他感到恐惧，他决定再次搜索所有的房间； —

but it was of no use. Not even a servant was to be seen; —
但是没有结果。连一个仆人也看不见； —

there was no sign of life in the palace! —
在宫殿里看不到生命的迹象！ —

He began to wonder what he should do, and to amuse himself by pretending that all the treasures he saw were his own, and considering how he would divide them among his children. —
他开始思考该做什么，并逗自己开心地假装他看到的一切宝藏都是他自己的，考虑如何将它们分给他的孩子们。 —

Then he went down into the garden, and though it was winter everywhere else, here the sun shone, and the birds sang, and the flowers bloomed, and the air was soft and sweet. —
然后他走进花园，虽然其他地方都是冬天，但这里阳光明媚，鸟儿歌唱，鲜花怒放，空气温和甜美。 —

The merchant, in ecstacies with all he saw and heard, said to himself:
他对看到和听到的一切感到欣喜若狂，心里想着：

“All this must be meant for me. —
“所有这一切一定是为我准备的。 —

I will go this minute and bring my children to share all these delights.”
我现在就去把我的孩子们带来，与他们分享所有的快乐。”

In spite of being so cold and weary when he reached the castle, he had taken his horse to the stable and fed it. —
尽管达到城堡时感到寒冷和疲惫，他却先把马带到马厩并喂它。 —

Now he thought he would saddle it for his homeward journey, and he turned down the path which led to the stable. —
现在他想给马上鞍，准备回家的旅程，他转向通往马厩的小路。 —

This path had a hedge of roses on each side of it, and the merchant thought he had never seen or smelt such exquisite flowers. —
这条路两边都有玫瑰的篱笆，商人觉得自己从未见过、也闻过如此美丽的花。 —

They reminded him of his promise to Beauty, and he stopped and had just gathered one to take to her when he was startled by a strange noise behind him. —
这让他想起他对美人的承诺，他停下来，刚刚摘了一朵准备带给她，突然被背后传来一阵奇怪的声音吓了一跳。 —

Turning round, he saw a frightful Beast, which seemed to be very angry and said, in a terrible voice:
他转过身，看见一只可怕的野兽，看起来非常生气，用可怕的声音说道：

“Who told you that you might gather my roses? —
“是谁告诉你可以采摘我的玫瑰的？ —

Was it not enough that I allowed you to be in my palace and was kind to you? —
只能在我的宫殿里待着、对你友好还不够吗？ —

This is the way you show your gratitude, by stealing my flowers! —
你这就是对我的恩情的回报，偷我的花！ —

But your insolence shall not go unpunished. —
但你的傲慢行为不会被放过。 —

” The merchant, terrified by these furious words, dropped the fatal rose, and, throwing himself on his knees, cried: —
“商人被这些愤怒的话吓坏了，他放下那朵致命的玫瑰，跪倒在地，哭求道： —

“Pardon me, noble sir. —
“请您原谅我，尊贵的先生。 —

I am truly grateful to you for your hospitality, which was so magnificent that I could not imagine that you would be offended by my taking such a little thing as a rose. —
对于您的盛情款待，我深感感激，您的殷勤之情如此宏大，我无法想象采摘一朵玫瑰会触怒您。 —

” But the Beast’s anger was not lessened by this speech.
但是野兽的愤怒并没有因为这番话而减轻。

“You are very ready with excuses and flattery,” he cried; “but that will not save you from the death you deserve.”
“你总是善于找借口和奉承，”他大声喊道，“但这并不能挽救你免于你应得的死亡。”

“Alas!” thought the merchant, “if my daughter could only know what danger her rose has brought me into!”
“唉！”商人心想，“如果我女儿能知道她的玫瑰给我带来了多大的危险！”

And in despair he began to tell the Beast all his misfortunes, and the reason of his journey, not forgetting to mention Beauty s request.
绝望中，他开始向野兽倾诉自己的不幸遭遇和旅行的原因，并毫不遗漏地提到了美女的请求。

“A king’s ransom would hardly have procured all that my other daughters asked. —
“一个国王的赎金都不足以满足我其他女儿的要求，”他说，“但我至少想把玫瑰带给美女。” —

” he said: “but I thought that I might at least take Beauty her rose. —
“请你原谅我，因为你看，我并没有恶意。”他说。 —

I beg you to forgive me, for you see I meant no harm.”
野兽沉思了一会儿，然后用较为平和的口吻说道：

The Beast considered for a moment, and then he said, in a less furious tone:
“我有一个条件可以原谅你，那就是你要给我其中一个女儿。”

“I will forgive you on one condition — that is, that you will give me one of your daughters.”
“啊！”商人大叫，“如果我残忍到以我一个孩子的牺牲为代价来换取自己的生命，我要编造什么借口才能把她带来呢？”

“Ah!” cried the merchant, “if I were cruel enough to buy my own life at the expense of one of my children’s, what excuse could I invent to bring her here?”
“你若是愿意，可以带一名女儿过来。”野兽答道，“但是必须要是她自愿，自己前来。”

“No excuse would be necessary,” answered the Beast. “If she comes at all she must come willingly. —
“兽答道：”不需要任何借口。如果她来，她必须是自愿的。 —

On no other condition will I have her. —
我不接受其他条件。 —

See if any one of them is courageous enough, and loves you well enough to come and save your life. —
看看他们中是否有人足够勇敢，并且足够爱你，愿意来救你的命。 —

You seem to be an honest man, so I will trust you to go home. —
你似乎是个诚实的人，所以我会相信你回家的。 —

I give you a month to see if either of your daughters will come back with you and stay here, to let you go free. —
我给你一个月的时间，看看你的女儿中是否有人愿意回来和你一起呆在这里，让你自由。 —

If neither of them is willing, you must come alone, after bidding them good-by for ever, for then you will belong to me. —
如果她们两个都不愿意，你就必须独自回来，永远与她们告别，因为那时你会属于我了。 —

And do not imagine that you can hide from me, for if you fail to keep your word I will come and fetch you! —
不要以为你能躲过我，如果你不能信守诺言，我会来抓你的！ —

” added the Beast grimly.
“兽阴沉地补充道。

The merchant accepted this proposal, though he did not really think any of his daughters could be persuaded to come. —
商人接受了这个提议，尽管他并不真的认为他的任何一个女儿会被劝服过来。 —

He promised to return at the time appointed, and then, anxious to escape from the presence of the Beast, he asked permission to set off at once. —
他答应按约定的时间返回，然后急于逃离兽的见面，他请求能立即出发的许可。 —

But the Beast answered that he could not go until next day.
但野兽回答说他只能等到第二天才能走。

“Then you will find a horse ready for you,” he said. —
“那么你会发现一匹已经准备好的马，”他说。 —

“Now go and eat your supper, and await my orders.”
“现在去吃晚餐，等待我的命令。”

The poor merchant, more dead than alive, went back to his room, where the most delicious supper was already served on the little table which was drawn up before a blazing fire. —
可怜的商人惊魂未定地回到自己的房间，那里已经摆上了一桌美味的晚餐，桌前的火炉正冒着熊熊的火焰。 —

But he was too terrified to eat, and only tasted a few of the dishes, for fear the Beast should be angry if he did not obey his orders. —
但他太害怕了，只尝了几道菜，唯恐野兽会因为他不遵守命令而发怒。 —

When he had finished he heard a great noise in the next room, which he knew meant that the Beast was coming. —
当他吃完后，他听到隔壁房间传来一阵嘈杂声，他知道这意味着野兽要来了。 —

As he could do nothing to escape his visit, the only thing that remained was to seem as little afraid as possible; —
既然他无法逃离这次拜访，唯一的办法就是尽可能表现得少畏惧。 —

so when the Beast appeared and asked roughly if he had supped well, the merchant answered humbly that he had, thanks to his host’s kindness. —
因此，当野兽出现并粗鲁地问他是否吃得好时，商人谦恭地回答说，多亏了主人的好意，他吃得很好。 —

Then the Beast warned him to remember their agreement, and to prepare his daughter exactly for what she had to expect.
然后野兽警告他要记住他们的协议，要准备好他的女儿，告诉她她将要面对的事情。

“Do not get up to-morrow,” he added, “until you see the sun and hear a golden bell ring. —
“明天一早不要起床，”他又说，“除非看到太阳升起并听到一枚金钟响。 —

Then you will find your breakfast waiting for you here, and the horse you are to ride will be ready in the courtyard. —
然后你会在这里找到早餐，你要骑的马会准备在庭院里。 —

He will also bring you back again when you come with your daughter a month hence. —
他也会在一个月后你带着女儿回来时把你接回来。 —

Farewell. Take a rose to Beauty, and remember your promise!”
再见。带一朵玫瑰给美女，并记住你的承诺！

The merchant was only too glad when the Beast went away, and though he could not sleep for sadness, he lay down until the sun rose. —
商人对野兽离开感到无比高兴，虽然因为伤心无法入睡，但他躺下等待太阳升起。 —

Then, after a hasty breakfast, he went to gather Beauty’s rose, and mounted his horse, which carried him off so swiftly that in an instant he had lost sight of the palace, and he was still wrapped in gloomy thoughts when it stopped before the door of the cottage.
在吃了匆忙的早餐后，他去采摘美女的玫瑰，然后骑上马，马迅速带着他离开，转眼间他就看不见宫殿了，当马在小屋门前停下时，他心里仍然充满了忧愁。

His sons and daughters, who had been very uneasy at his long absence, rushed to meet him, eager to know the result of his journey, which, seeing him mounted upon a splendid horse and wrapped in a rich mantle, they supposed to be favorable. —
他的儿子和女儿对他长时间的离别感到非常不安，急切地冲上前去迎接他，想知道他旅程的结果。看到他骑着一匹华丽的马,裹着一件豪华的披风，他们以为是件好事。 —

He hid the truth from them at first, only saying sadly to Beauty as he gave her the rose:
起初，他对他们隐瞒了真相，只是悲伤地对美人儿说着，递给她一朵玫瑰：“这是你要我带给你的；你可不知道它花费了我多少。”

“Here is what you asked me to bring you; —
但这激起了他们极大的好奇心，于是他很快就把他从头到尾的经历告诉了他们，于是他们都非常不开心。 —

you little know what it has cost.”
姑娘们悲痛地哀叫着自己失去的希望，而儿子们则宣称绝不让父亲再回到这座可怕的城堡，并开始筹划杀死野兽以防它来接他。

But this excited their curiosity so greatly that presently he told them his adventures from beginning to end, and then they were all very unhappy. —
但他提醒他们他曾答应要回去。 —

The girls lamented loudly over their lost hopes, and the sons declared that their father should not return to this terrible castle, and began to make plans for killing the Beast if it should come to fetch him. —
称他答应过要回去。 —

But he reminded them that he had promised to go back. —
他告诉他们，父亲答应要回去了。 —

Then the girls were very angry with Beauty, and said it was all her fault, and that if she had asked for something sensible this would never have happened, and complained bitterly that they should have to suffer for her folly.
然后女孩们对美丽非常生气，说这全是她的错，如果她请求的是合理的东西，这一切就不会发生，并且痛苦地抱怨他们不该为她的愚蠢而受罪。

Poor Beauty, much distressed, said to them:
可怜的美丽非常痛苦地对他们说：

“I have, indeed, caused this misfortune, but I assure you I did it innocently. —
“我确实造成了这个不幸，但我向你们保证我是无辜的。 —

Who could have guessed that to ask for a rose in the middle of summer would cause so much misery? —
谁能想到在夏天要求一朵玫瑰花会带来如此多的苦难呢？ —

But as I did the mischief it is only just that I should suffer for it. —
但既然是我做了错事，我觉得只有我承受后果是公平的。 —

I will therefore go back with my father to keep his promise.”
因此，我将和父亲一起返回，履行他的诺言。”

At first nobody would hear of this arrangement, and her father and brothers, who loved her dearly, declared that nothing should make them let her go; —
起初没有人同意这个安排，她深受父亲和兄弟们的爱戴，他们宣称绝对不会让她离开； —

but Beauty was firm. As the time drew near she divided all her little possessions between her sisters, and said good-by to everything she loved, and when the fatal day came she encouraged and cheered her father as they mounted together the horse which had brought him back. —
但是美丽坚定着。随着时间的临近，她把自己的小财物都分给了妹妹们，与所爱之物告别，当那可怕的日子到来时，她鼓励并激励着父亲，他们一起骑上背着他们回来的马。 —

It seemed to fly rather than gallop, but so smoothly that Beauty was not frightened; —
它似乎飞行而不是驰骋，但如此平稳，以至于美丽并不害怕。 —

indeed, she would have enjoyed the journey if she had not feared what might happen to her at the end of it. —
事实上，如果她不担心到达目的地后会发生什么，她会很享受这次旅行的。 —

Her father still tried to persuade her to go back, but in vain. —
父亲仍然努力说服她回去，但无济于事。 —

While they were talking the night fell, and then, to their great surprise, wonderful colored lights began to shine in all directions, and splendid fireworks blazed out before them; —
他们谈话的时候，夜幕降临，然后他们惊讶地发现，各个方向都开始闪烁着美丽的彩灯，绚丽的烟火在他们面前燃放起来； —

all the forest was illuminated by them, and even felt pleasantly warm, though it had been bitterly cold before. —
所有的森林都被它们照亮了，甚至感觉到了一丝宜人的温暖，尽管之前非常寒冷。 —

This lasted until they reached the avenue of orange trees, where were statues holding flaming torches, and when they got nearer to the palace they saw that it was illuminated from the roof to the ground, and music sounded softly from the courtyard. —
这一切持续到他们到达了一条盛开着橙树的大道，大道上有雕像手持火把。当他们靠近宫殿时，他们看到从屋顶到地面都亮起了灯光，而庭院里轻轻地传来音乐声。 —

“The Beast must be very hungry,” said Beauty, trying to laugh, “if he makes all this rejoicing over the arrival of his prey.
“野兽一定非常饥饿，”美女试图笑着说道，”才会因他的猎物的到来而如此欢腾。

But, in spite of her anxiety, she could not help admiring all the wonderful things she saw.
尽管她很担心，但她不禁对所见到的一切美丽的事物感到赞叹。

The horse stopped at the foot of the flight of steps leading to the terrace, and when they had dismounted her father led her to the little room he had been in before, where they found a splendid fire burning, and the table daintily spread with a delicious supper.
马停在通向露台的台阶下，当他们下马后，她父亲领她来到之前他所待过的小房间，房间里火炉熊熊燃烧着，桌子上摆满了美味的晚餐。

The merchant knew that this was meant for them, and Beauty, who was rather less frightened now that she had passed through so many rooms and seen nothing of the Beast, was quite willing to begin, for her long ride had made her very hungry. —
商人知道这是为他们准备的，而美女则因为穿过了这么多房间却没有见到野兽而变得不那么害怕了，她非常愿意开始进餐，因为她骑了很久的马，已经饿得不行了。 —

But they had hardly finished their meal when the noise of the Beast’s footsteps was heard approaching, and Beauty clung to her father in terror, which became all the greater when she saw how frightened he was. —
但是他们刚刚吃完饭，兽步声就响起来了，贝蒂害怕地抱住父亲，当她看到他有多么害怕时，恐惧变得更大。 —

But when the Beast really appeared, though she trembled at the sight of him, she made a great effort to hide her terror, and saluted him respectfully.
但是当兽真的出现时，虽然她对他的样子感到颤抖，但她极力隐藏自己的恐惧，并向他恭敬地致以问候。

This evidently pleased the Beast. After looking at her he said, in a tone that might have struck terror into the boldest heart, though he did not seem to be angry:
这显然让兽很高兴。在看了她一眼之后，他用一个可能会让最勇敢的心也胆战心惊的口气说道，尽管看起来他并不生气。

“Good-evening, old man. Good-evening, Beauty.”
“晚上好，老人。晚上好，贝蒂。”

The merchant was too terrified to reply, but Beauty answered sweetly: —
商人太害怕了，无法回答，但贝蒂甜甜地回答道： —

“Good-evening, Beast.”
“晚上好，兽。”

“Have you come willingly? —
“你是自愿来的吗？ —

” asked the Beast. “Will you be content to stay here when your father goes away?”
“兽”问。“当你的父亲走开时，你会满意留在这里吗？”

Beauty answered bravely that she was quite prepared to stay.
贝蒂勇敢地回答说，她已经完全准备好留下来了。

“I am pleased with you,” said the Beast. “As you have come of your own accord, you may stay. —
“我对你感到满意，”兽说。“由于你是自愿来的，你可以留下来。” —

As for you, old man,” he added, turning to the merchant, “at sunrise tomorrow you will take your departure. —
“至于你，老人”，他转向商人说，“明天日出时，你就可以离开了。” —

When the bell rings get up quickly and eat your breakfast, and you will find the same horse waiting to take you home; —
当钟响起时，请快点起床吃早餐，你会发现同一匹马在等着送你回家； —

but remember that you must never expect to see my palace again.”
但请记住，你不能再指望看到我的宫殿了。”

Then turning to Beauty, he said:
然后他转向美女说：

“Take your father into the next room, and help him to choose everything you think your brothers and sisters would like to have. —
“带你父亲去隔壁房间，帮他挑选一切你认为你的兄弟姐妹们会喜欢的东西。 —

You will find two traveling-trunks there; —
那里有两个旅行箱； —

fill them as full as you can. —
尽量把它们装满。 —

It is only just that you should send them something very precious as a remembrance of yourself.”
你应该送给他们一些非常珍贵的东西，作为你的纪念。”

Then he went away, after saying, “Good-by, Beauty; —
然后他告别说：“再见了，美女； —

good-by, old man”; and though Beauty was beginning to think with great dismay of her father’s departure, she was afraid to disobey the Beast’s orders; —
再见了，老人”；尽管美女开始非常担心父亲的离开，但她害怕违背野兽的命令； —

and they went into the next room, which had shelves and cupboards all round it. —
他们走进了隔壁的房间，四周有架子和橱柜。 —

They were greatly surprised at the riches it contained. —
他们对其中所含的财富感到非常惊讶。 —

There were splendid dresses fit for a queen, with all the ornaments that were to be worn with them; —
有华丽的礼服适合皇后穿，配上所有应该佩戴的装饰品； —

and when Beauty opened the cupboards she was quite dazzled by the gorgeous jewels that lay in heaps upon every shelf. —
当美女打开橱柜时，她被堆积在每个架子上的华丽珠宝所迷住。 —

After choosing a vast quantity, which she divided between her sisters — for she had made a heap of the wonderful dresses for each of them — she opened the last chest, which was full of gold.
在选择了大量的物品后，她将它们分给了姐妹们-因为每个姐妹都要穿上这些奇妙的礼服-然后她打开了最后一个装满金子的箱子。

“I think, father,” she said, “that, as the gold will be more useful to you, we had better take out the other things again, and fill the trunks with it. —
“我想，爸爸，金子对你来说会更有用，我们最好再把其他东西取出来，把箱子装满它。” —

” So they did this; but the more they put in the more room there seemed to be, and at last they put back all the jewels and dresses they had taken out, and Beauty even added as many more of the jewels as she could carry at once; —
于是他们这样做了；但他们放进去的越多，似乎还有更多的空间，最后他们把之前取出的所有珠宝和礼服放回去，美女甚至再拿了一些珠宝放进去； —

and then the trunks were not too full, but they were so heavy that an elephant could not have carried them!
那时箱子不再太满了，但它们太重了，连大象也无法搬动！

“The Beast was mocking us,” cried the merchant; —
“野兽在嘲笑我们，”商人哭喊道； —

“he must have pretended to give us all these things, knowing that I could not carry them away.”
“他肯定是假装给了我们这一切，知道我不能把它们都带走。”

“Let us wait and see,” answered Beauty. —
“让我们等着瞧，”贝儿回答道。 —

“I cannot believe that he meant to deceive us. —
“我不能相信他有意欺骗我们。 —

All we can do is to fasten them up and leave them ready.”
我们能做的就是把它们都封起来，准备好离开。”

So they did this and returned to the little room, where, to their astonishment, they found breakfast ready. —
他们这样做了，然后回到小屋，令他们惊讶的是，他们发现早餐已经准备好了。 —

The merchant ate his with a good appetite, as the Beast’s generosity made him believe that he might perhaps venture to come back soon and see Beauty. —
野兽的慷慨使商人相信他也许可以冒险很快回来看贝儿，所以他带着好胃口吃了早餐。 —

But she felt sure that her father was leaving her for ever, so she was very sad when the bell rang sharply for the second time, and warned them that the time had come for them to part. —
但贝儿确信她父亲永远地离开了她，所以当第二次铃声急促地响起，警告他们分别的时候，她非常难过。 —

They went down into the courtyard, where two horses were waiting, one loaded with the two trunks, the other for him to ride. —
他们走下楼来到庭院，有两匹马等着，一匹装载着两个箱子，另一匹供他骑乘。 —

They were pawing the ground in their impatience to start, and the merchant was forced to bid Beauty a hasty farewell; —
他们不耐烦地在地上刨着脚，商人匆匆告别了美丽; —

and as soon as he was mounted he went off at such a pace that she lost sight of him in an instant. —
当他骑上马后，马立刻以迅雷不及掩耳之势奔驰而去，美丽一瞬间就看不见他了。 —

Then Beauty began to cry, and wandered sadly back to her own room. —
于是美丽开始哭泣，悲伤地回到自己的房间。 —

But she soon found that she was very sleepy, and as she had nothing better to do she lay down and instantly fell asleep. —
但她很快发现自己好困，因为无事可做，她躺下后立刻入睡。 —

And then she dreamed that she was walking by a brook bordered with trees, and lamenting her sad fate, when a young prince, handsomer than anyone she had ever seen, and with a voice that went straight to her heart, came and said to her, “Ah, Beauty! —
然后她梦见自己在一条有树木环绕的小溪旁边行走，哀叹着自己的悲惨命运，这时一个比她见过的任何人都英俊的年轻王子，用一种直抵她心灵的声音对她说：“啊，美丽！ —

you are not so unfortunate as you suppose. —
你并不像你想象的那样不幸。 —

Here you will be rewarded for all you have suffered elsewhere. —
在这里，你将因为所遭受的一切而得到回报。 —

Your every wish shall be gratified. —
你的每一个愿望都将得到满足。 —

Only try to find me out, no matter how I may be disguised, as I love you dearly, and in making me happy you will find your own happiness. —
只要努力找到我，不论我如何隐藏身份，因为我非常爱你，在让我幸福的同时，你将找到自己的幸福之所在。 —

Be as true-hearted as you are beautiful, and we shall have nothing left to wish for.”
要像你一样真诚美丽，我们将没有什么可求的了。

“What can I do, Prince, to make you happy?” said Beauty.
“王子，我能做些什么来让你开心？”美人问道。

“Only be grateful,” he answered, “and do not trust too much to your eyes. —
“只要感激就好，”他回答道，“不要过分相信你的眼睛。 —

And, above all, do not desert me until you have saved me from my cruel misery.”
最重要的是，在你没有从我残酷的苦难中拯救我之前不要离开我。”

After this she thought she found herself in a room with a stately and beautiful lady, who said to her:
之后，她觉得自己身处一个豪华而美丽的房间中，那里有一位庄严美丽的女士对她说：

“Dear Beauty, try not to regret all you have left behind you, for you are destined to a better fate. —
“亲爱的美人，不要为你所离开的一切感到后悔，因为你注定有一个更好的命运。 —

Only do not let yourself be deceived by appearances.”
只是不要被外表所迷惑。”

Beauty found her dreams so interesting that she was in no hurry to awake, but presently the clock roused her by calling her name softly twelve times, and then she got up and found her dressing-table set out with everything she could possibly want; —
美人觉得她的梦如此有趣，以至于不急着醒来，但是过了一会钟，时钟以柔软的声音叫她的名字叫了十二次，她起床后发现她的梳妆台上放着她可能需要的所有东西； —

and when her toilet was finished she found dinner was waiting in the room next to hers. —
当她打扮完毕后，她发现饭菜已经准备好在她隔壁的房间里。 —

But dinner does not take very long when you are all by yourself, and very soon she sat down cosily in the corner of a sofa, and began to think about the charming Prince she had seen in her dream.
但是当你独自一人的时候，晚餐不会花很长时间，很快她舒舒服服地坐在沙发的角落，开始思考自己在梦中见到的迷人的王子。

“He said I could make him happy,” said Beauty to herself.
“他说我可以让他快乐”，贝儿自言自语道。

“It seems, then, that this horrible Beast keeps him a prisoner. —
“那么，这可怕的野兽把他关在这里。 —

How can I set him free? I wonder why they both told me not to trust to appearances? —
我该怎么把他解救出来呢？我想知道他们为什么都告诉我不要相信外表？ —

I don’t understand it. —
我不明白这是为什么。 —

But, after all, it was only a dream, so why should I trouble myself about it? —
但毕竟只是一个梦，我为什么要为此困扰自己呢？ —

I had better go and find something to do to amuse myself.”
我最好去找点事情来娱乐自己。

So she got up and began to explore some of the many rooms of the palace.
于是，她起身开始探索宫殿的一些房间。

The first she entered was lined with mirrors, and Beauty saw herself reflected on every side, and thought she had never seen such a charming room. —
她进入的第一个房间镶满了镜子，贝儿在四面八方都看到了自己的倒影，她觉得从来没有见过这样迷人的房间。 —

Then a bracelet which was hanging from a chandelier caught her eye, and on taking it down she was greatly surprised to find that it held a portrait of her unknown admirer, just as she had seen him in her dream. —
接着，她的注意力被一个挂在吊灯上的手镯吸引住了，当她取下来时，她大为惊讶地发现手镯上有一张未知仰慕者的肖像，正如她在梦中所见。 —

With great delight she slipped the bracelet on her arm, and went on into a gallery of pictures, where she soon found a portrait of the same handsome Prince, as large as life, and so well painted that as she studied it he seemed to smile kindly at her. —
她高兴地将手镯戴在手臂上，然后进入了一间画廊，她很快就在那里找到了一幅如同真人般栩栩如生、精心描绘的同一个英俊王子的肖像，当她仔细观察时，他似乎友善地对她微笑。 —

Tearing herself away from the portrait at last, she passed through into a room which contained every musical instrument under the sun, and here she amused herself for a long while in trying some of them, and singing until she was tired. —
最后她不舍地离开了肖像，并穿过一间装满各种乐器的房间，在那里她用心玩弄着其中的一些乐器，并唱歌直至疲惫。 —

The next room was a library, and she saw everything she had ever wanted to read, as well as everything she had read, and it seemed to her that a whole lifetime would not be enough to even read the names of the books, there were so many. —
下一个房间是一个图书馆，她看到了她曾经想读的一切，以及她读过的一切，她觉得就连一辈子的时间都不足以读完这里书籍的名字，因为实在太多了。 —

By this time it was growing dusk, and wax candles in diamond and ruby candlesticks were beginning to light themselves in every room.
在这个时候，天色渐晚，房间里的钻石和红宝石蜡烛台上的蜡烛开始自己点燃。

Beauty found her supper served just at the time she preferred to have it, but she did not see anyone or hear a sound, and, though her father had warned her that she would be alone, she began to find it rather dull.
趁着她喜欢吃饭的时间，美丽的晚餐已经端上来了，但是她没看见任何人也没听到任何声音，尽管她父亲曾经警告过她会独处，她开始觉得有点无聊了。

But presently she heard the Beast coming, and wondered tremblingly if he meant to eat her up now.
但是不久她听到野兽的脚步声，颤抖着想知道他是不是要吃掉她了。

However, as he did not seem at all ferocious, and only said gruffly:
然而，因为他看起来一点也不凶恶，只是粗声粗气地说道：

“Good-evening, Beauty,” she answered cheerfully and managed to conceal her terror. —
“晚上好，美丽”，她愉快地回答并设法掩饰住恐惧。 —

Then the Beast asked her how she had been amusing herself, and she told him all the rooms she had seen.
野兽问她一直以来是如何消遣自己的，她告诉了他所有她看到的房间。

Then he asked if she thought she could be happy in his palace; —
然后他问她是否认为她可以在他的宫殿里快乐； —

and Beauty answered that everything was so beautiful that she would be very hard to please if she could not be happy. —
美丽回答道，一切都太美丽了，如果她不快乐的话那她将非常难以取悦。 —

And after about an hour’s talk Beauty began to think that the Beast was not nearly so terrible as she had supposed at first. —
大约一个小时的谈话后，美人开始觉得野兽并没有她一开始想象的那样可怕。 —

Then he got up to leave her, and said in his gruff voice:
然后野兽起身离开她，用他沙哑的声音说道：

“Do you love me, Beauty? Will you marry me?”
“你爱我吗，美人？你愿意嫁给我吗？”

“Oh! what shall I say?” cried Beauty, for she was afraid to make the Beast angry by refusing.
“哦！我应该怎么说呢？”美人惊叫道，因为她害怕拒绝会激怒野兽。

“Say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ without fear,” he replied.
“不论是‘是’还是‘否’，请毫不畏惧地说出来。”他回答道。

“Oh! no, Beast,” said Beauty hastily.
“哦！不，野兽，”美人匆忙地说道。

“Since you will not, good-night, Beauty,” he said.
“既然你不愿意，那么晚安，美人。”他说。

And she answered, “Good-night, Beast,” very glad to find that her refusal had not provoked him. —
她回答道：“晚安，野兽。”很高兴发现自己的拒绝没有惹怒他。 —

And after he was gone she was very soon in bed and asleep, and dreaming of her unknown Prince. —
他离开后，她很快上床睡觉，梦见了她那未知的王子。 —

She thought he came and said to her:
她想象中的王子来到她跟前说：

“Ah, Beauty! why are you so unkind to me? —
“啊，美人！你为什么对我这样冷漠？ —

I fear I am fated to be unhappy for many a long day still.”
我怕我注定还要过很多不幸的日子。”

And then her dreams changed, but the charming Prince figured in them all; —
然后她的梦境改变了，但是那位迷人的王子在所有的梦中都出现了。 —

and when morning came her first thought was to look at the portrait, and see if it was really like him, and she found that it certainly was.
当早晨来临时，她首先想看看这幅肖像画，看它是否真的像他，她发现它确实如此。

This morning she decided to amuse herself in the garden, for the sun shone, and all the fountains were playing; —
今天早上，她决定去花园里娱乐，因为阳光明媚，所有的喷泉都在喷水； —

but she was astonished to find that every place was familiar to her, and presently she came to the brook where the myrtle trees were growing where she had first met the Prince in her dream, and that made her think more than ever that he must be kept a prisoner by the Beast. When she was tired she went back to the palace, and found a new room full of materials for every kind of work — ribbons to make into bows, and silks to work into flowers. —
但是她惊讶地发现每一个地方对她来说都是熟悉的，不久她来到了那个梦中第一次遇见王子的河流旁，那里长满了没药树，这让她更加相信他一定被野兽囚禁住了。当她累了，她回到了宫殿，发现了一个新的房间，里面堆满了各种工作材料——丝带可以做成蝴蝶结，丝绸可以制作成花朵。 —

Then there was an aviary full of rare birds, which were so tame that they flew to Beauty as soon as they saw her, and perched upon her shoulders and her head.
然后是一个里面充满了珍稀鸟类的鸟舍，它们是如此温顺，一看到美人就飞到她身上，停在她的肩膀和头上。

“Pretty little creatures,” she said, “how I wish that your cage was nearer to my room, that I might often hear you sing!
“可爱的小动物们，”她说，“我真希望你们的笼子离我的房间更近，这样我就可以经常听到你们的歌声了！

So saying she opened a door, and found, to her delight, that it led into her own room, though she had thought it was quite the other side of the palace.
她打开了一扇门，高兴地发现它通向自己的房间，尽管她原以为它在宫殿的完全另一边。

There were more birds in a room farther on, parrots and cockatoos that could talk, and they greeted Beauty by name; —
在更远的一间房间里，有更多的鸟，鹦鹉和凤头鹦鹉会说话，并用她的名字问候她； —

indeed, she found them so entertaining that she took one or two back to her room, and they talked to her while she was at supper; —
事实上，她觉得它们非常有趣，她带了一两只回自己的房间，她们在她吃晚饭时和她交谈； —

after which the Beast paid her his usual visit, and asked her the same questions as before, and then with a gruff “good-night” he took his departure, and Beauty went to bed to dream of her mysterious Prince. —
之后，野兽如往常一样来拜访她，并问以前的同样问题，然后带着粗声的“晚安”离去，美人儿则上床睡觉，梦见自己的神秘王子。 —

The days passed swiftly in different amusements, and after a while Beauty found out another strange thing in the palace, which often pleased her when she was tired of being alone. —
日子在各种娱乐中飞快地过去了，过了一段时间，当她厌倦孤独的时候，美人儿发现了宫殿里另一奇怪的事情。 —

There was one room which she had not noticed particularly; —
有一个房间她没有特别注意到； —

it was empty, except that under each of the windows stood a very comfortable chair; —
除了每个窗户下都有一把非常舒适的椅子，它是空荡荡的； —

and the first time she had looked out of the window it had seemed to her that a black curtain prevented her from seeing anything outside. —
第一次她朝窗外看的时候，她觉得一道黑暗的帷幕挡住了她的视线。 —

But the second time she went into the room, happening to be tired, she sat down in one of the chairs, when instantly the curtain was rolled aside, and a most amusing pantomime was acted before her; —
但第二次她进入房间时，正好感到有些疲倦，她坐在其中一把椅子上，突然帷幕拉开，一个非常有趣的哑剧在她面前上演； —

there were dances, and colored lights, and music, and pretty dresses, and it was all so gay that Beauty was in ecstacies. —
那里有舞蹈、彩灯、音乐和漂亮的服装，一切都如此快乐，令美人陶醉其中。 —

After that she tried the other seven windows in turn, and there was some new and surprising entertainment to be seen from each of them, so that Beauty never could feel lonely any more. —
之后，她尝试了其他七扇窗户，每个窗户都可以看到新奇而令人惊讶的表演，所以美人再也不感到孤独了。 —

Every evening after supper the Beast came to see her, and always before saying good-night asked her in his terrible voice:
每天晚饭后，野兽都会来看她，并在说晚安之前用他可怕的声音问她：

“Beauty, will you marry me?”
“美人，你愿意嫁给我吗？”

And it seemed to Beauty, now she understood him better, that when she said, “No, Beast,” he went away quite sad. —
美人渐渐明白了野兽的意思，当她说，“不，野兽”，他看起来相当伤心地离开。 —

But her happy dreams of the handsome young Prince soon made her forget the poor Beast, and the only thing that at all disturbed her was to be constantly told to distrust appearances, to let her heart guide her, and not her eyes, and many other equally perplexing things, which, consider as she would, she could not understand.
但是她美好的梦想，关于英俊的年轻王子，让她忘记了可怜的野兽，唯一让她感到不安的是不断被告知不要相信表象，让心引领她，而不是眼睛，以及许多其他同样令人困惑的事情，不管怎么考虑，她都无法理解。

So everything went on for a long time, until at last, happy as she was, Beauty began to long for the sight of her father and her brothers and sisters; —
所以一切都持续了很长时间，直到有一天，虽然她非常幸福，但美丽开始渴望看到她的父亲和兄弟姐妹。 —

and one night, seeing her look very sad, the Beast asked her what was the matter. —
一天晚上，看到她看起来非常伤心，野兽问她怎么了。 —

Beauty had quite ceased to be afraid of him. —
美丽已经不再害怕他了。 —

Now she knew that he was really gentle in spite of his ferocious looks and his dreadful voice. —
现在她知道他其实是温柔的，尽管他凶猛的外表和可怕的声音。 —

So she answered that she was longing to see her home once more. —
于是她回答说她渴望再次看到自己的家。 —

Upon hearing this the Beast seemed sadly distressed, and cried miserably.
听到这个，野兽似乎非常痛苦，难过地哭了起来。

“Ah! Beauty, have you the heart to desert an unhappy Beast like this? —
“啊！亲爱的，你心甘情愿离开像我这样不幸的野兽吗？ —

What more do you want to make you happy? —
你还想要什么让你快乐？ —

Is it because you hate me that you want to escape?”
是因为你讨厌我才想要逃跑吗？”

“No, dear Beast,” answered Beauty softly, “I do not hate you, and I should be very sorry never to see you any more, but I long to see my father again. —
“不，亲爱的野兽，” 美丽轻声回答道，”我不讨厌你，如果再也见不到你，我会很伤心，但我渴望再次见到我的父亲。 —

Only let me go for two months, and I promise to come back to you and stay for the rest of my life.”
只要让我去两个月，我保证会回来陪着你，直到生命的尽头。”

The Beast, who had been sighing dolefully while she spoke, now replied:
野兽在她说话时一直在叹息，现在回答道：

“I cannot refuse you anything you ask, even though it should cost me my life. —
“你无论求我什么都得到，即使这可能会让我丧命。 —

Take the four boxes you will find in the room next to your own, and fill them with everything you wish to take with you. —
请拿走你自己房间旁边的四个盒子，并将你想要带走的一切装进去。 —

But remember your promise and come back when the two months are over, or you may have cause to repent it, for if you do not come in good time you will find your faithful Beast dead. —
但请记住你的承诺，在两个月结束时回来，否则你可能会后悔，因为如果你不按时回来，你会发现你忠实的野兽已经死去。 —

You will not need any chariot to bring you back. —
你不需要任何马车来接你回来。” —

Only say good-by to all your brothers and sisters the night before you come away, and when you have gone to bed turn this ring round upon your finger and say firmly: —
只有在你离开之前的晚上，对你的兄弟姐妹们说声再见，当你上床后，把戒指转到手指上，坚定地说道： —

‘I wish to go back to my palace and see my Beast again. —
“我想回到我的宫殿，再次见到我的野兽。” —

’ Good-night, Beauty. Fear nothing, sleep peacefully, and before long you shall see your father once more.”
晚安，贝儿。不要害怕，安心入睡吧，不久之后你就能再次见到你的父亲了。

As soon as Beauty was alone she hastened to fill the boxes with all the rare and precious things she saw about her, and only when she was tired of heaping things into them did they seem to be full.
贝儿独自一人时，她迫不及待地把箱子里的珍奇宝贝装满，只有当她累得不想再装时，箱子才显得满了。

Then she went to bed, but could hardly sleep for joy. —
然后她上床睡觉，但喜悦让她几乎无法入眠。 —

And when at last she did begin to dream of her beloved Prince she was grieved to see him stretched upon a grassy bank, sad and weary, and hardly like himself.
当她终于开始梦见心爱的王子时，她看到他躺在绿草丛上，忧伤而疲惫，几乎认不出他来。

“What is the matter?” she cried.
“怎么了？”她大叫道。

He looked at her reproachfully, and said:
他责备地看着她，说道：

“How can you ask me, cruel one? —
“你怎么能问我这个，残忍的人？ —

Are you not leaving me to my death perhaps?”
难道你不是把我丢给了死亡吗？”

“Ah! don’t be so sorrowful,” cried Beauty; —
“啊！别这么悲伤”，贝儿喊道； —

“I am only going to assure my father that I am safe and happy. —
“我只会向父亲保证我平安快乐。 —

I have promised the Beast faithfully that I will come back, and he would die of grief if I did not keep my word!”
“我已经郑重承诺兽王，我会回来，如果我不遵守诺言，他会因悲伤而死！”

“What would that matter to you? —
“那对你又有什么关系呢？ —

” said the Prince “Surely you would not care?”
“王子说道：“你肯定不会关心吧？”

“Indeed, I should be ungrateful if I did not care for such a kind Beast,” cried Beauty indignantly. —
“如果我不关心这样一个好心的兽王，我会感到忘恩负义！”美人愤怒地喊道。 —

“I would die to save him from pain. —
“我愿意为了拯救他免受痛苦而死。 —

I assure you it is not his fault that he is so ugly.”
“我向你保证，他长得如此丑不是他的错。”

Just then a strange sound woke her — someone was speaking not very far away; —
就在这时，一阵奇怪的声音吵醒了她——有人在不远处说话； —

and opening her eyes she found herself in a room she had never seen before, which was certainly not nearly so splendid as those she was used to in the Beast’s palace. —
她睁开眼睛，发现自己身处一个她从未见过的房间，这个房间绝对不像她在野兽宫殿里所习惯的那般豪华。 —

Where could she be? She got up and dressed hastily, and then saw that the boxes she had packed the night before were all in the room. —
她在想奇迹般的是野兽是如何将她和箱子们一起带到这个陌生的地方的时候，突然听到了她父亲的声音，她急忙冲出去欢呼雀跃地迎接他。 —

While she was wondering by what magic the Beast had transported them and herself to this strange place she suddenly heard her father’s voice, and rushed out and greeted him joyfully. —
她的兄弟姐妹们对她的出现感到惊讶，因为他们从未想过会再见到她，他们对她提出了无尽的问题。 —

Her brothers and sisters were all astonished at her appearance, as they had never expected to see her again, and there was no end to the questions they asked her. —
她也很想听听她离开的时候他们经历了什么，听听父亲回家的经历。 —

She had also much to hear about what had happened to them while she was away, and of her father’s journey home. —
显然，她离开后发生了很多事情，她需要听听他们的讲述。 —

But when they heard that she had only come to be with them for a short time, and then must go back to the Beast’s palace for ever, they lamented loudly. —
但是当他们听说她只是来和他们在一起短暂时间，然后必须永远回到野兽的宫殿时，他们大声哀悼。 —

Then Beauty asked her father what he thought could be the meaning of her strange dreams, and why the Prince constantly begged her not to trust to appearances. —
然后贝儿询问父亲，他认为她奇怪的梦境是什么意思，以及为什么王子不断恳求她不要相信外表。 —

After much consideration, he answered: —
经过深思熟虑，他回答说： —

“You tell me yourself that the Beast, frightful as he is, loves you dearly, and deserves your love and gratitude for his gentleness and kindness; —
“你自己告诉我，虽然野兽可怕，但他非常爱你，他的温柔和善良应该得到你的爱和感激之情； —

I think the Prince must mean you to understand that you ought to reward him by doing as he wishes you to, in spite of his ugliness.”
我认为王子一定是希望你明白，不管他多丑陋，你应该按照他的意愿来奖励他。”

Beauty could not help seeing that this seemed very probable; —
贝儿不禁注意到这似乎非常可能； —

still, when she thought of her dear Prince who was so handsome, she did not feel at all inclined to marry the Beast. At any rate, for two months she need not decide, but could enjoy herself with her sisters. —
不过，当她想到自己那位英俊的王子时，她对嫁给野兽一点也不感兴趣。无论如何，至少两个月内她无需决定，可以和姐妹们一起享受。 —

But though they were rich now, and lived in town again, and had plenty of acquaintances, Beauty found that nothing amused her very much; —
但是尽管他们现在很有钱，住在城里，结交了很多朋友，可是美丽发现没有什么事情能够让她很开心； —

and she often thought of the palace, where she was so happy, especially as at home she never once dreamed of her dear Prince, and she felt quite sad without him.
她常常想起那个让她幸福的宫殿，特别是在家里从来没有梦到过她亲爱的王子，她感觉没有他相当悲伤。

Then her sisters seemed to have got quite used to being without her, and even found her rather in the way, so she would not have been sorry when the two months were over but for her father and brothers, who begged her to stay, and seemed so grieved at the thought of her departure that she had not the courage to say good-by to them. —
然后她的姐妹们似乎已经习惯了没有她在身边，甚至觉得她有点碍事，所以虽然她并不希望这两个月过去，但因为她父亲和兄弟们的请求，她不忍心向他们告别。 —

Every day when she got up she meant to say it at night, and when night came she put it off again, until at last she had a dismal dream which helped her to make up her mind. —
每天她起床时打算在晚上告别，但到了晚上又推迟了，最后她做了一个可怕的梦，这让她下定决心。 —

She thought she was wandering in a lonely path in the palace gardens, when she heard groans which seemed to come from some bushes hiding the entrance of a cave, and running quickly to see what could be the matter, she found the Beast stretched out upon his side, apparently dying. —
她以为自己在宫殿花园里的一条偏僻路上徘徊，忽然听到一阵呻吟声，好像是从一些灌木丛中传来的，她急忙跑过去看看发生了什么事情，结果发现野兽躺在一边，似乎快要死了。 —

He reproached her faintly with being the cause of his distress, and at the same moment a stately lady appeared, and said very gravely:
他微弱地责备她是导致自己痛苦的原因，并在同一刻，一个威严的女士出现了，并严肃地说道：

“Ah! Beauty, you are only just in time to save his life. —
“啊！美人，你来得正好，可以救他一命了。” —

See what happens when people do not keep their promises! —
看看当人们不遵守诺言时会发生什么！ —

If you had delayed one day more, you would have found him dead.”
如果你再晚一天，你会发现他已经死了。”

Beauty was so terrified by this dream that the next morning she announced her intention of going back at once, and that very night she said good-by to her father and all her brothers and sisters, and as soon as she was in bed she turned her ring round upon her finger, and said firmly, “I wish to go back to my palace and see my Beast again,” as she had been told to do.
美人被这个梦吓坏了，第二天早上她宣布立即回去，当天晚上她向父亲和所有的兄弟姐妹告别，一到床上就转动手指上的戒指，坚定地说道：“我希望回到我的宫殿，再次见到我的野兽”，就像她被告知的那样。

Then she fell asleep instantly, and only woke up to hear the clock saying “Beauty, Beauty” twelve times in its musical voice, which told her at once that she was really in the palace once more. —
她立即睡着了，只醒来听到钟声以音乐的声音说了十二次“美丽”，这一切立刻告诉她她真的又回到了宫殿里。 —

Everything was just as before, and her birds were so glad to see her! —
一切都和以前一样，她的小鸟们见到她都很高兴！ —

But Beauty thought she had never known such a long day, for she was so anxious to see the Beast again that she felt as if suppertime would never come.
但是美丽觉得这一天从来没有这么长过，因为她非常渴望再次见到兽王，感觉晚饭永远不会来临。

But when it did come and no Beast appeared she was really frightened; —
但是当晚饭来临时，兽王没有出现，她真的害怕了。 —

so, after listening and waiting for a long time, she ran down into the garden to search for him. —
所以，在倾听和等待了很长时间后，她跑到花园里去寻找他。 —

Up and down the paths and avenues ran poor Beauty, calling him in vain, for no one answered, and not a trace of him could she find; —
可怜的美丽在小路和林荫道上奔跑，徒劳地呼喊着他，因为没有人回答，找不到他的任何踪迹。 —

until at last, quite tired, she stopped for a minute’s rest, and saw that she was standing opposite the shady path she had seen in her dream. —
直到最后，都已经很累了，她停下来休息一分钟，看到自己站在她在梦中看到的那条阴暗小路的对面。 —

She rushed down it, and, sure enough, there was the cave, and in it lay the Beast — asleep, as Beauty thought. —
她冲下去，果然找到了那个洞穴，里面躺着兽王-美丽认为他在睡觉。 —

Quite glad to have found him, she ran up and stroked his head, but, to her horror, he did not move or open his eyes.
很高兴找到他，她跑上前去抚摸他的头，但是令她恐惧的是，他没有动也没有睁开眼睛。

“Oh! he is dead; and it is all my fault,” said Beauty, crying bitterly.
“哦！他死了；都是我的错，”美女悲伤地哭着说。

But then, looking at him again, she fancied he still breathed, and, hastily fetching some water from the nearest fountain, she sprinkled it over his face, and, to her great delight, he began to revive.
但是，再次看着他，她觉得他还在呼吸，急忙从最近的喷泉取来一些水，洒在他脸上，令她非常高兴的是，他开始苏醒过来。

“Oh! Beast, how you frightened me!” she cried. —
“哦！野兽，你吓到我了！”她叫道。 —

“I never knew how much I loved you until just now, when I feared I was too late to save your life.”
“直到现在，我才知道我有多爱你，当我担心来不及救你的时候。”

“Can you really love such an ugly creature as I am? —
“你真的能爱上像我这样丑陋的生物吗？”野兽虚弱地说道。 —

” said the Beast faintly. “Ah! —
“啊！我从未知道自己有多爱你，直到现在。” —

Beauty, you only came just in time. —
亲爱的，你恰好来得及。 —

I was dying because I thought you had forgotten your promise. —
我都快绝望了，我以为你忘了你的承诺。 —

But go back now and rest, I shall see you again by and by.”
但是现在回去休息吧，我不久之后会再见到你的。”

Beauty, who had half expected that he would be angry with her, was reassured by his gentle voice, and went back to the palace, where supper was awaiting her; —
贝儿原本以为他会对自己生气，但是他温柔的声音让她放心下来，然后回到了宫殿，那里已经准备好了晚餐； —

and afterward the Beast came in as usual, and talked about the time she had spent with her father, asking if she had enjoyed herself, and if they had all been very glad to see her.
之后野兽像往常一样进来，谈论她和她父亲的相聚时光，问她是否玩得开心，他们是否都非常高兴见到她。

Beauty answered politely, and quite enjoyed telling him all that had happened to her. —
贝儿礼貌地回答，并且很享受地向他讲述发生在她身上的一切。 —

And when at last the time came for him to go, and he asked, as he had so often asked before, “Beauty, will you marry me?”
最后当他要走的时候，像以前那样问道：“贝儿，你愿意嫁给我吗？”

She answered softly, “Yes, dear Beast.”
她轻声回答：“是的，亲爱的野兽。”

As she spoke a blaze of light sprang up before the windows of the palace; —
她说话的同时，宫殿的窗户前升起一道光芒； —

fireworks crackled and guns banged, and across the avenue of orange trees, in letters all made of fire-flies, was written: —
烟花在空中绽放，炮声隆隆响起，在橘子树林的大道上，用萤火虫组成的字迹写着：“祝贺新婚”。 —

“Long live the Prince and his Bride.”
“王子和他的新娘万岁。”

Turning to ask the Beast what it could all mean, Beauty found that he had disappeared, and in his place stood her long-loved Prince! —
转身询问野兽这一切是什么意思，美人发现他已经消失了，代替他的是她长时间所爱的王子! —

At the same moment the wheels of a chariot were heard upon the terrace, and two ladies entered the room. —
同时，马车的轮子声响起在悬崖上，两个女士走进了房间。 —

One of them Beauty recognized as the stately lady she had seen in her dreams; —
其中一个美人认出来了，是她在梦中见过的那位庄重的女士; —

the other was also so grand and queenly that Beauty hardly knew which to greet first.
另一个女士也是如此高贵如皇后，让美人几乎不知道该先招呼谁。

But the one she already knew said to her companion:
但是她已经认识的那个人对她的同伴说:

“Well, Queen, this is Beauty, who has had the courage to rescue your son from the terrible enchantment. —
“嗯，女王，这是美人，她有勇气从可怕的魔法中拯救你的儿子。 —

They love one another, and only your consent to their marriage is wanting to make them perfectly happy.”
他们相爱着，只有你同意他们结婚，他们才能完完全全地幸福。”

“I consent with all my heart,” cried the Queen. “How can I ever thank you enough, charming girl, for having restored my dear son to his natural form?”
“我全心全意地同意，”女王喊道。“我怎么能足够地感谢你，美丽的女孩，你已经把我亲爱的儿子恢复到他的原形?”

And then she tenderly embraced Beauty and the Prince, who had meanwhile been greeting the Fairy and receiving her congratulations.
然后她温柔地拥抱了美女和王子，与此同时，他们也在和仙女打招呼，接受她的祝贺。

“Now,” said the Fairy to Beauty, “I suppose you would like me to send for all your brothers and sisters to dance at your wedding?”
“现在，”仙女对美女说道：”我想你会希望我把你的兄弟姐妹都请来，在你的婚礼上跳舞吧？”

And so she did, and the marriage was celebrated the very next day with the utmost splendor, and Beauty and the Prince lived happily ever after.
于是，她这样做了，婚礼在第二天以最辉煌的方式庆祝，美女和王子幸福地生活在一起，直到永远。