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玫瑰公主
添加时间:2014-12-14 17:09:17 浏览次数: 作者:未知
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  • In times past there lived a king and queen, who said to each other every day of their lives, "Would that we had a child!" and yet they had none. But it happened once that when the queen was bathing, there came a frog out of the water, and he squatted1 on the ground, and said to her: "Thy wish shall be fulfilled; before a year has gone by, thou shalt bring a daughter into the world."

    And as the frog foretold2, so it happened; and the queen bore a daughter so beautiful that the king could not contain himself for joy, and he ordained3 a great feast. Not only did he bid to it his relations, friends, and acquaintances, but also the wise women, that they might be kind and favourable4 to the child. There were thirteen of them in his kingdom, but as he had only provided twelve golden plates for them to eat from, one of them had to be left out.

    However, the feast was celebrated5 with all splendour; and as it drew to an end, the wise women stood forward to present to the child their wonderful gifts: one bestowed6 virtue7, one beauty, a third riches, and so on, whatever there is in the world to wish for. And when eleven of them had said their say, in came the uninvited thirteenth, burning to revenge herself, and without greeting or respect, she cried with a loud voice: "In the fifteenth year of her age the princess shall prick8 herself with a spindle and shall fall down dead." And without speaking one more word she turned away and left the hall. Every one was terrified at her saying, when the twelfth came forward, for she had not yet bestowed her gift, and though she could not do away with the evil prophecy, yet she could soften9 it, so she said: "The princess shall not die, but fall into a deep sleep for a hundred years."

    Now the king, being desirous of saving his child even from this misfortune, gave commandment that all the spindles in his kingdom should be burnt up. The maiden10 grew up, adorned11 with all the gifts of the wise women; and she was so lovely, modest, sweet, and kind and clever, that no one who saw her could help loving her. It happened one day, she being already fifteen years old, that the king and queen rode abroad, and the maiden was left behind alone in the castle. She wandered about into all the nooks and corners, and into all the chambers12 and parlours, as the fancy took her, till at last she came to an old tower. She climbed the narrow winding13 stair which led to a little door, with a rusty14 key sticking out of the lock; she turned the key, and the door opened, and there in the little room sat an old woman with a spindle, diligently15 spinning her flax.

    "Good day, mother," said the princess, "what are you doing?" - "I am spinning," answered the old woman, nodding her head. "What thing is that that twists round so briskly?" asked the maiden, and taking the spindle into her hand she began to spin; but no sooner had she touched it than the evil prophecy was fulfilled, and she pricked16 her finger with it. In that very moment she fell back upon the bed that stood there, and lay in a deep sleep.

    And this sleep fell upon the whole castle; the king and queen, who had returned and were in the great hall, fell fast asleep, and with them the whole court. The horses in their stalls, the dogs in the yard, the pigeons on the roof, the flies on the wall, the very fire that flickered17 on the hearth18, became still, and slept like the rest; and the meat on the spit ceased roasting, and the cook, who was going to pull the scullion's hair for some mistake he had made, let him go, and went to sleep. And the wind ceased, and not a leaf fell from the trees about the castle. Then round about that place there grew a hedge of thorns thicker every year, until at last the whole castle was hidden from view, and nothing of it could be seen but the vane on the roof.

    And a rumour19 went abroad in all that country of the beautiful sleeping Rosamond, for so was the princess called; and from time to time many kings' sons came and tried to force their way through the hedge; but it was impossible for them to do so, for the thorns held fast together like strong hands, and the young men were caught by them, and not being able to get free, there died a lamentable20 death.

    Many a long year afterwards there came a king's son into that country, and heard an old man tell how there should be a castle standing21 behind the hedge of thorns, and that there a beautiful enchanted22 princess named Rosamond had slept for a hundred years, and with her the king and queen, and the whole court. The old man had been told by his grandfather that many king's sons had sought to pass the thorn-hedge, but had been caught and pierced by the thorns, and had died a miserable23 death. Then said the young man: "Nevertheless, I do not fear to try; I shall win through and see the lovely Rosamond." The good old man tried to dissuade24 him, but he would not listen to his words. For now the hundred years were at an end, and the day had come when Rosamond should be awakened25. When the prince drew near the hedge of thorns, it was changed into a hedge of beautiful large flowers, which parted and bent26 aside to let him pass, and then closed behind him in a thick hedge. When he reached the castle-yard, he saw the horses and brindled27 hunting-dogs lying asleep, and on the roof the pigeons were sitting with their heads under their wings. And when he came indoors, the flies on the wall were asleep, the cook in the kitchen had his hand uplifted to strike the scullion, and the kitchen-maid had the black fowl28 on her lap ready to pluck.

    Then he mounted higher, and saw in the hall the whole court lying asleep, and above them, on their thrones, slept the king and the queen. And still he went farther, and all was so quiet that he could hear his own breathing; and at last he came to the tower, and went up the winding stair, and opened the door of the little room where Rosamond lay. And when he saw her looking so lovely in her sleep, he could not turn away his eyes; and presently he stooped and kissed her.

    And she awaked, and opened her eyes, and looked very kindly29 on him. And she rose, and they went forth30 together, and the king and the queen and whole court waked up, and gazed on each other with great eyes of wonderment. And the horses in the yard got up and shook themselves, the hounds sprang up and wagged their tails, the pigeons on the roof drew their heads from under their wings, looked round, and flew into the field, the flies on the wall crept on a little farther, the kitchen fire leapt up and blazed, and cooked the meat, the joint31 on the spit began to roast, the cook gave the scullion such a box on the ear that he roared out, and the maid went on plucking the fowl.

    Then the wedding of the Prince and Rosamond was held with all splendour, and they lived very happily together until their lives' end.

    以前,有个国王和王后一直没有孩子,他们为此非常伤心苦恼。有一天,王后正在河边散步,一条小鱼把头浮出水面对她说:"你的愿望就会实现了,不久你就会生下一个女儿的。"过了一段时间,那条小鱼所预言的情况真的实现了,王后真的生下了一个非常漂亮的女儿。国王高兴得时时刻刻爱不释手,决定举行一个大型宴会。他不仅邀请了他的亲戚、朋友和外宾,而且邀来了几乎所有的女巫师,让她们为他的女儿送来善良美好的祝愿。他的王国里一共有十三个女巫师,而他只有十二个金盘子来招待她们进餐,所以他只邀请了十二个女巫师,留下一个没有邀请。

    盛大的宴会结束后,各位来宾都给这个小公主送上了最好的礼物。女巫师们一个送给她美德,另一个送给她美貌,还有一个送给她富有,她们把世人所希望的,世上所有的优点和期盼都送给了她。当第十一个女巫师刚刚为她祝福之后,第十三个女巫师,也就是那个没有被邀请的女巫师走了进来,她对没有被邀请感到非常愤怒,她要对此进行报复,要献上她恶毒的咒语。所以她进来后就大声叫道:"国王的女儿在十五岁时会被一个纺锤弄伤,最后死去。"所有在场的人都大惊失色。可是第十二个女巫师还没有献上她的礼物,便走上前来说:"这个凶险的咒语的确会应验,但公主能够化险为夷。她不会死去,而只是昏睡过去,而且一睡就是一百年。"

    国王为了不使他的女儿遭到那种不幸,命令将王国里的所有纺锤都收上来,又把它们全部销毁。随着时间的流逝,女巫师们的所有祝福都在公主身上应验了:她聪明美丽,性格温柔,举止优雅,真是人见人爱。但恰恰在她十五岁的那一天,国王和王后都不在家,公主单独一个人被留在王宫里。她在宫里到处穿来穿去,大小房间都看完了,最后,她来到了一个古老的宫楼。宫楼里面有一座很狭窄的楼梯,楼梯尽头有一扇门,门上插着一把金钥匙。当她转动金钥匙时,门一下子就弹开了,一个老太婆坐在里面在忙着纺纱。公主见了说道:"喂!老妈妈,您好!您这是在干什么呀?""纺纱。"老太婆回答说,接着又点了点头。"这小东西转起来真有意思!"说着,公主上前也想拿起纺锤纺纱,但她刚一碰到它,立即就倒在地上失去了知觉,以前的咒语真的应验了。

    然而,她并没有死,只是倒在那里沉沉地睡去了。国王和王后正在这时回来了,他们刚走进大厅也跟着睡着了;马厩里的马,院子里的狗,屋顶上的鸽子,墙上的苍蝇,也都跟着睡着了;甚至连火炉里的火也停止燃烧入睡了;烧烤的肉不炸响了;厨师此刻正抓住一个做错了事的童工的头发,要给他一耳光,让他滚出去,他们两个也定在那儿睡过去了。所有的一切都不动了,全都沉沉地睡去。

    不久,王宫的四周长出了一道蒺藜组成的大篱笆,年复一年,它们越长越高,越长越茂密,最后竟将整座宫殿遮得严严实实,甚至连屋顶和烟囱也看不见了。

    于是,关于这个王国流传开了这样一个传说,一个漂亮的正在睡觉的玫瑰公主的传说,人们所说的玫瑰公主其实就是国王的女儿。从那以后,有不少王子来探险,他们披荆斩棘想穿过树篱到王宫里去,但都没有成功,不是被蒺藜缠住就是被树丛跘倒在里面,就像是有无数只手牢牢地抓住他们难以脱身一样,他们最终都痛苦地死去。

    许多许多年过去了,一天,又有一位王子踏上了这块土地。一位老大爷向他讲起了蒺藜树丛的故事,说树篱之内有一座漂亮的王宫,王宫里有一位仙女般的公主,她的名字叫玫瑰公主,她和整座王宫及里面的人都在沉睡。他还说,他曾听他的爷爷谈起有许许多多的王子来过这儿,他们都想穿过树篱,但都被缠在里面死去了。听了这些,这位王子说:"所有这些都吓不倒我,我要看玫瑰公主去!"老人劝他不要去试,可他却坚持要去。

    这天,时间正好过去了一百年,所以当王子来到树篱丛时,他看到的全是盛开着美丽花朵的灌木,他很轻松地就穿过了树篱。随着他在前面走,身后树篱又密密地合拢了。最后,他到达了王宫,看见大院内狗躺在那儿沉睡,马厩里的马在沉睡,屋顶上的鸽子将头埋在翅膀下沉睡。他走进王宫内,看见墙上的苍蝇在沉睡,厨房里的厨师向上举着手,似乎是要打那童工一耳光,一个女仆手里抓着一只黑母鸡准备拔毛。

    他继续向里寻去,一切都静得出奇,连自己的呼吸都清晰可闻。终于,他来到古老的宫楼,推开了玫瑰公主在的那个小房间的门。玫瑰公主睡得正香,她是那么美丽动人,他瞪大眼睛,连眨也舍不得眨一下,看着看着,禁不住俯下身去吻了她一下。就这一吻,玫瑰小姐一下子苏醒过来,她张开双眼,微笑着充满深情地注视着他,王子抱着她一起走出了宫楼。

    此刻,国王和王后也醒过来了,王宫里所有的人都醒过来了。他们怀着极大的好奇心互相凝视着,似乎还不明白到底发生了什么事情。马站了起来,摇摆着身体;狗儿欢跳不止,汪汪吠叫;鸽子由翅膀下抬起了头,昂首四顾,振翅飞向田野;墙上的苍蝇嗡嗡地飞了开去;厨房里的火又窜起了火苗开始烧饭,烧烤的肉又吱吱作响;厨师怒吼着扇了童工一个耳光;女仆继续给鸡拔毛,一切都恢复了往日的模样。不久,王子和玫瑰公主举行了盛大的结婚典礼,他们幸福欢乐地生活在一起,一直白头到老。

     11级    英语故事 


    点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

    1 squatted [skwɔtid] 45deb990f8c5186c854d710c535327b0   第8级
    v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 );非法擅自占用(土地或房屋);为获得其所有权;而占用某片公共用地。
    参考例句:
    • He squatted down beside the footprints and examined them closely. 他蹲在脚印旁仔细地观察。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • He squatted in the grass discussing with someone. 他蹲在草地上与一个人谈话。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    2 foretold [fɔ:'təʊld] 99663a6d5a4a4828ce8c220c8fe5dccc   第8级
    v.预言,预示( foretell的过去式和过去分词 )
    参考例句:
    • She foretold that the man would die soon. 她预言那人快要死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • Must lose one joy, by his life's star foretold. 这样注定:他,为了信守一个盟誓/就非得拿牺牲一个喜悦作代价。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学
    3 ordained [ɔ:ˈdeɪnd] 629f6c8a1f6bf34be2caf3a3959a61f1   第10级
    v.任命(某人)为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 );授予(某人)圣职;(上帝、法律等)命令;判定
    参考例句:
    • He was ordained in 1984. 他在一九八四年被任命为牧师。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • He was ordained priest. 他被任命为牧师。 来自辞典例句
    4 favourable [ˈfeɪvərəbl] favourable   第8级
    adj.赞成的,称赞的,有利的,良好的,顺利的
    参考例句:
    • The company will lend you money on very favourable terms. 这家公司将以非常优惠的条件借钱给你。
    • We found that most people are favourable to the idea. 我们发现大多数人同意这个意见。
    5 celebrated [ˈselɪbreɪtɪd] iwLzpz   第8级
    adj.有名的,声誉卓著的
    参考例句:
    • He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England. 不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
    • The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience. 观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。
    6 bestowed [biˈstəud] 12e1d67c73811aa19bdfe3ae4a8c2c28   第9级
    赠给,授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 )
    参考例句:
    • It was a title bestowed upon him by the king. 那是国王赐给他的头衔。
    • He considered himself unworthy of the honour they had bestowed on him. 他认为自己不配得到大家赋予他的荣誉。
    7 virtue [ˈvɜ:tʃu:] BpqyH   第7级
    n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力
    参考例句:
    • He was considered to be a paragon of virtue. 他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
    • You need to decorate your mind with virtue. 你应该用德行美化心灵。
    8 prick [prɪk] QQyxb   第7级
    vt.刺伤,刺痛,刺孔;vi. 刺;竖起;n.刺伤,刺痛
    参考例句:
    • He felt a sharp prick when he stepped on an upturned nail. 当他踩在一个尖朝上的钉子上时,他感到剧烈的疼痛。
    • He burst the balloon with a prick of the pin. 他用针一戳,气球就爆了。
    9 soften [ˈsɒfn] 6w0wk   第7级
    vt.(使)变柔软;(使)变柔和;vi.减轻;变柔和;变柔软
    参考例句:
    • Plastics will soften when exposed to heat. 塑料适当加热就可以软化。
    • This special cream will help to soften up our skin. 这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。
    10 maiden [ˈmeɪdn] yRpz7   第7级
    n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的
    参考例句:
    • The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden. 王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。
    • The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow. 这架飞机明天首航。
    11 adorned [əˈdɔ:nd] 1e50de930eb057fcf0ac85ca485114c8   第8级
    [计]被修饰的
    参考例句:
    • The walls were adorned with paintings. 墙上装饰了绘画。
    • And his coat was adorned with a flamboyant bunch of flowers. 他的外套上面装饰着一束艳丽刺目的鲜花。
    12 chambers [ˈtʃeimbəz] c053984cd45eab1984d2c4776373c4fe   第7级
    n.房间( chamber的名词复数 );(议会的)议院;卧室;会议厅
    参考例句:
    • The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间:Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网
    13 winding [ˈwaɪndɪŋ] Ue7z09   第8级
    n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈
    参考例句:
    • A winding lane led down towards the river. 一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
    • The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation. 迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。
    14 rusty [ˈrʌsti] hYlxq   第9级
    adj.生锈的;锈色的;荒废了的
    参考例句:
    • The lock on the door is rusty and won't open. 门上的锁锈住了。
    • I haven't practiced my French for months and it's getting rusty. 几个月不用,我的法语又荒疏了。
    15 diligently ['dilidʒəntli] gueze5   第7级
    ad.industriously;carefully
    参考例句:
    • He applied himself diligently to learning French. 他孜孜不倦地学法语。
    • He had studied diligently at college. 他在大学里勤奋学习。
    16 pricked [prikt] 1d0503c50da14dcb6603a2df2c2d4557   第7级
    刺,扎,戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 ); 刺伤; 刺痛; 使剧痛
    参考例句:
    • The cook pricked a few holes in the pastry. 厨师在馅饼上戳了几个洞。
    • He was pricked by his conscience. 他受到良心的谴责。
    17 flickered [ˈflikəd] 93ec527d68268e88777d6ca26683cc82   第9级
    (通常指灯光)闪烁,摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 )
    参考例句:
    • The lights flickered and went out. 灯光闪了闪就熄了。
    • These lights flickered continuously like traffic lights which have gone mad. 这些灯象发狂的交通灯一样不停地闪动着。
    18 hearth [hɑ:θ] n5by9   第9级
    n.壁炉炉床,壁炉地面
    参考例句:
    • She came and sat in a chair before the hearth. 她走过来,在炉子前面的椅子上坐下。
    • She comes to the hearth, and switches on the electric light there. 她走到壁炉那里,打开电灯。
    19 rumour [ˈru:mə(r)] 1SYzZ   第7级
    n.谣言,谣传,传闻
    参考例句:
    • I should like to know who put that rumour about. 我想知道是谁散布了那谣言。
    • There has been a rumour mill on him for years. 几年来,一直有谣言产生,对他进行中伤。
    20 lamentable [ˈlæməntəbl] A9yzi   第11级
    adj.令人惋惜的,悔恨的
    参考例句:
    • This lamentable state of affairs lasted until 1947. 这一令人遗憾的事态一直持续至1947年。
    • His practice of inebriation was lamentable. 他的酗酒常闹得别人束手无策。
    21 standing [ˈstændɪŋ] 2hCzgo   第8级
    n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
    参考例句:
    • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing. 地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
    • They're standing out against any change in the law. 他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
    22 enchanted [ɪn'tʃɑ:ntɪd] enchanted   第9级
    adj. 被施魔法的,陶醉的,入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词
    参考例句:
    • She was enchanted by the flowers you sent her. 她非常喜欢你送给她的花。
    • He was enchanted by the idea. 他为这个主意而欣喜若狂。
    23 miserable [ˈmɪzrəbl] g18yk   第7级
    adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的
    参考例句:
    • It was miserable of you to make fun of him. 你取笑他,这是可耻的。
    • Her past life was miserable. 她过去的生活很苦。
    24 dissuade [dɪˈsweɪd] ksPxy   第9级
    vt.劝阻,阻止
    参考例句:
    • You'd better dissuade him from doing that. 你最好劝阻他别那样干。
    • I tried to dissuade her from investing her money in stocks and shares. 我曾设法劝她不要投资于股票交易。
    25 awakened [əˈweɪkənd] de71059d0b3cd8a1de21151c9166f9f0   第8级
    v.(使)醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到
    参考例句:
    • She awakened to the sound of birds singing. 她醒来听到鸟的叫声。
    • The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation. 公众完全意识到了这一状况的可怕程度。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    26 bent [bent] QQ8yD   第7级
    n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的;v.(使)弯曲,屈身(bend的过去式和过去分词)
    参考例句:
    • He was fully bent upon the project. 他一心扑在这项计划上。
    • We bent over backward to help them. 我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
    27 brindled ['brɪndld] RsQzq   第12级
    adj.有斑纹的
    参考例句:
    • I saw his brindled cow feeding on fish remnants. 我看见他的用鱼杂碎喂养的斑纹奶牛。
    • He had one brindled eye that sometimes made him look like a clown. 他一只眼睛上有块花斑,这使得他有时看上去活象个小丑。
    28 fowl [faʊl] fljy6   第8级
    n.家禽,鸡,禽肉
    参考例句:
    • Fowl is not part of a traditional brunch. 禽肉不是传统的早午餐的一部分。
    • Since my heart attack, I've eaten more fish and fowl and less red meat. 自从我患了心脏病后,我就多吃鱼肉和禽肉,少吃红色肉类。
    29 kindly [ˈkaɪndli] tpUzhQ   第8级
    adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地
    参考例句:
    • Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable. 她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
    • A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman. 一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
    30 forth [fɔ:θ] Hzdz2   第7级
    adv.向前;向外,往外
    参考例句:
    • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth. 风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
    • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession. 他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
    31 joint [dʒɔɪnt] m3lx4   第7级
    adj.联合的,共同的;n.关节,接合处;vt.连接,贴合;vi. 贴合;生节
    参考例句:
    • I had a bad fall, which put my shoulder out of joint. 我重重地摔了一跤,肩膀脫臼了。
    • We wrote a letter in joint names. 我们联名写了封信。

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