(原版)澳大利亞語文第三冊 LESSON 1

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LESSON 1 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

I

1. Once upon a time, there lived in India [1] a rich merchant named Omar, who had three daughters. It was the merchant's custom to visit a distant city once a year to buy goods for his store; and, before leaving the city, he always bought a present for each of his daughters, as a token [2] of his love for them.

2. During one year no rain had fallen for many months, and food was very scarce. Few people could afford to buy goods from Omar, so that he had but little money to spend on new stock [3] . When the day came for him to set out upon his journey, he, as usual, asked each of his daughters to tell him what present he should bring her from the city.

3. The eldest girl said that she would like a silk robe; the second asked for a pretty ring; but Beauty, the youngest, thinking that her father would have little money to spare for presents, said, "Dear father, bring me a bunch of roses. I do so long to see some flowers again."

4. The merchant set out on his journey with two horses. When he reached the city, he bought all that he wanted for his store, and then went to buy the presents for his daughters. He first bought a robe of the finest silk, and then a ring of chased [4] gold; but, when he sought to buy a bunch of roses for Beauty, he could not get one, for that country, too, had suffered from the drought.

5. The merchant was very sorry to disappoint his youngest child; but, as there were no roses to be had, he started back without them.

6. Omar took a different road on his return, and chose one which led through a range of wooded hills. Passing through a shady valley, he came in sight of a palace, around which was a lovely garden. In this garden, watered by a spring from the hills, grew many rose-trees, each of which was loaded with great bunches of fragrant [5] blossoms.

7. The merchant tied his horses in the shade of a large tree, and, taking with him a purse of gold, went up to the palace to see if the owner would sell a bunch of roses. All the doors of the palace were wide open; but, though Omar knocked loudly again and again, no one came to see what he wanted.

8. He then went into the palace to seek for the owner, but no one could he find. He knew that the palace must belong to a rich man, for everything within it was of the very best. He again entered the garden and looked around for the owner, but without success.

9. "Well," said the merchant to himself, "the wealthy prince who lives here will surely spare me a few flowers for my little girl; and, as I cannot find him, I will pluck a bunch for myself."

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[1] India: A large country in Asia.

[2] token: Sign.

[3] stock: The goods he dealt in.

[4] chased: Engraved.

[5] fragrant: Sweet-scented.