Красавица и чудовище / Beauty and the Beast

The family had lived about a year in this retirement when the merchant received a letter with an account that the vessel on board of which he had some goods safely arrived. This news made the two eldest daughters happy and they immediately flattered themselves with the hopes of returning to town[7 - flattered themselves with the hopes of returning to town – стали тешить себя надеждой о возвращении в город], for they were quite weary of a country life, and when they saw their father ready to set out, they begged him to buy them new dresses, ribbons, and other trifles; but Beauty asked for nothing for she thought that all the money her father was going to receive would not be sufficient to purchase everything her sisters wanted.

“What will you have, Beauty?” said her father.

“Since you have the goodness to think of me[8 - Since you have the goodness to think of me – Раз уж ты так великодушен, что думаешь обо мне],” answered she, “be so kind to bring me a rose, for as none grows hereabouts, they are a kind of rarity.

”

The merchant went on his journey, but when he came there, they went to law with him about the merchandise[9 - they went to law with him about the merchandise – начались судебные разбирательства о его товарах], and after a great deal of trouble and pains to no purpose[10 - and after a great deal of trouble and pains to no purpose – после большого количества бессмысленных хлопот и беспокойств], he came back as poor as before.

He was not far from his own house, thinking on the pleasure he should have in seeing his children again, when going through a large forest he lost himself[11 - he lost himself – он сбился с пути]. It rained and snowed terribly, and the wind was so high that it threw him twice off his horse[12 - that it threw him twice off his horse – что он дважды падал с лошади], and he heard wolves’ howling all round him. Suddenly he saw a light at some distance. It came from a palace illuminated from top to bottom.

The merchant thanked God for this happy discovery and hastened to the place, but he was greatly surprised at not meeting with anyone in the outer courts. His horse followed him and, seeing a large stable open, went in and, finding both hay and oats. The poor beast, who was almost famished, started to eat greedily. The merchant tied him up to the manger and walked towards the house, where he saw no one.