新编大学英语3课文原文

Book3

Unit1Personality

TheMiseryofShyness

Shynessisthecauseofmuchunhappinessforagreatmanypeople.Allkindsofpeopledescribethemselvesasshy:short,tall,dull,intelligent,young,old,slim,overweight.Shypeopleareanxiousandself-conscious;thatis,theyareexcessivelyconcernedwiththeirownappearanceandactions.Worrisomethoughtsareconstantlyswirlingintheirminds:WhatkindofimpressionamImaking?Dotheylikeme?DoIsoundstupid?I'mugly.I'mwearingunattractiveclothes.

Itisobviousthatsuchuncomfortablefeelingsmustaffectpeopleadversely.Aperson'sself-conceptisreflectedinthewayheorshebehaves,andthewayapersonbehavesaffectsotherpeople'sreactions.Ingeneral,thewaypeoplethinkaboutthemselveshasaprofoundeffectonallareasoftheirlives.Forinstance,peoplewhohaveapositivesenseofself-worthorhighself-esteemusuallyactwithconfidence.Becausetheyhaveself-assurance,theydonotneedconstantpraiseandencouragementfromotherstofeelgoodaboutthemselves.Self-confidentpeopleparticipateinlifeenthusiasticallyandspontaneously.Theyarenotaffectedbywhatothersthinkthey"should"do.Peoplewithhighself-esteemarenothurtbycriticism;theydonotregardcriticismasapersonalattack.Instead,theyviewacriticismasasuggestionforimprovement.

Incontrast,shypeople,havinglowself-esteem,arelikelytobepassiveandeasilyinfluencedbyothers.Theyneedreassurancethattheyaredoing"therightthing".Shypeopleareverysensitivetocriticism;theyfeelitconfirmstheirinferiority.Theyalsofinditdifficulttobepleasedbycomplimentsbecausetheybelievetheyareunworthyofpraise.Ashypersonmayrespondtoacomplimentwithastatementlikethisone:"You'rejustsayingthattomakemefeelgood.Iknowit'snottrue."Itisclearthat,whileself-awarenessisahealthyquality,overdoingitisdetrimental,orharmful.

Canshynessbecompletelyeliminated,oratleastreduced?Fortunately,peoplecanovercomeshynesswithdeterminedandpatienteffortinbuildingself-confidence.Sinceshynessgoeshandinhandwithlackofself-esteem,itisimportantforpeopletoaccepttheirweaknessesaswellastheirstrengths.Forexample,mostpeoplewouldliketobe"A"studentsineverysubject.Itisnotfairforthemtolabelthemselvesasinferiorbecausetheyhavedifficultyinsomeareas.People'sexpectationsofthemselvesmustberealistic.Dwellingontheimpossibleleadstoasenseofinadequacy,andevenfeelingsofenvy,orjealousy.Weareself-destructivewhenweenvyastudentwhogetsbettergrades.

Ifyouareshy,herearesomespecifichelpfulstepstowardbuildingself-confidenceandovercomingshyness:

1.Recognizeyourpersonalstrengthsandweaknesses.Everyonehasboth.Asself-acceptancegrows,shynessnaturallydiminishes.

2.Setreasonablegoals.Forexample,youmaybetimidaboutbeingwithagroupofstrangersataparty.Don'tfeelthatyoumustconversewitheveryone.Concentrateontalkingtoonlyoneortwopeople.Youwillfeelmorecomfortable.

3.Guiltandshamearedestructivefeelings.Don'twastetimeandenergyonthem.Supposeyouhavehurtsomeone'sfeelings.Feelingashamedaccomplishesnothing.Instead,acceptthefactthatyouhavemadeamistake,andmakeupyourmindtobemoresensitiveinthefuture.

4.Therearenumerousapproachestoallissues.Fewopinionsarecompletelyrightorwrong.Don'tbeafraidtospeakupandgiveyourpointofview.

5.Donotmakenegativecommentsaboutyourself.Thisisaformofself-rejection.Avoiddescribingyourselfasstupid,ugly,afailure.Accentthepositive.

6.Acceptcriticismthoughtfully.Donotinterpretitasapersonalattack.If,forexample,afriendcomplainsaboutyourcooking,acceptitasacommentonyourcooking,notyourself.Beassuredthatyouarestillgoodfriends,butperhapsyourcookingcouldimprove.

7.Rememberthateveryoneexperiencessomefailuresanddisappointments.Profitfromthemaslearningexperiences.Veryoftenadisappointmentbecomesaturningpointforawonderfulexperiencetocomealong.Forinstance,youmayberejectedbythecollegeofyourchoice.However,atthecollegeyouactuallyattend,youmayfindaqualityofeducationbeyondwhatyouhadexpected.

8.Donotassociatewithpeoplewhomakeyoufeelinadequate.Trytochangetheirattitudeoryours,orremoveyourselffromthatrelationship.Peoplewhohurtyoudonothaveyourbestinterestsatheart.

9.Setasidetimetorelax,enjoyhobbies,andre-evaluateyourgoalsregularly.Timespentthiswayhelpsyoulearnmoreaboutyourself.

10.Practicebeinginsocialsituations.Don'tisolateyourselffrompeople.Trymakingoneacquaintanceatatime;eventuallyyouwillcirculateinlargegroupswithskillandself-assurance.

Eachoneofusisaunique,valuableindividual.Weareinterestinginourownpersonalways.Thebetterweunderstandourselves,theeasieritbecomestoliveuptoourfullpotential.Let'snotallowshynesstoblockourchancesforarichandfulfillinglife.

TwoWaysofLookingatLife

Yourattitudestronglyreflectsyouroutlookonlife.Takeacloserlookatthatconnection.Areyouapessimist—oranoptimist?Canyouseehowyourwayoflookingactuallydoescoloryourattitude?Andremember:changeyouroutlookandyouchangeyourattitude.

Thefatherislookingdownintothecribathissleepingnewborndaughter,justhomefromthehospital.Hisheartisoverflowingwithaweandgratitudeforthebeautyofher,theperfection.

Thebabyopenshereyesandstaresstraightup.

Thefathercallshername,expectingthatshewillturnherheadandlookathim.Hereyesdon'tmove.4Hepicksupafurrylittletoyattachedtotherailofthecribandshakesit,ringingthebellitcontains.Thebaby'seyesdon'tmove.

Hishearthasbeguntobeatrapidly.Hefindshiswifeintheirbedroomandtellsherwhatjusthappened."Shedoesn'tseemtorespondtonoiseatall,"hesays."It'sasifshecan'thear."

"I'msureshe'sallright,"thewifesays,pullingherdressinggownaroundher.Togethertheygointothebaby'sroom.

Shecallsthebaby'sname,jinglesthebell,clapsherhands.Thenshepicksupthebaby,whoimmediatelybecomeslivelyandmakeshappysounds.

"MyGod,"thefathersays."She'sdeaf."

"No,she'snot,"themothersays."Imean,it'stoosoontosayathinglikethat.Look,she'sbrand-new.Hereyesdon'tevenfocusyet."

"Buttherewasn'ttheslightestmovement,evenwhenyouclappedashardasyoucould."

Themothertakesabookfromtheshelf."Let'sreadwhat'sinthebabybook,"shesays.Shelooksup"hearing"andreadsoutloud:"'Don'tbealarmedifyournewbornfailstobestartledbyloudnoisesorfailstoturntowardsound.Reactionstosoundoftentakesometimetodevelop.Yourpediatriciancantestyourchild'shearingneurologically.

"There,"themothersays."Doesn'tthatmakeyoufeelbetter?"

"Notmuch,"thefathersays."Itdoesn'tevenmentiontheotherpossibility,thatthebabyisdeaf.AndallIknowisthatmybabydoesn'thearathing.I'vegottheworstfeelingaboutthis.Maybeit'sbecausemygrandfatherwasdeaf.Ifthatbeautifulbabyisdeafandit'smyfault,I'llneverforgivemyself."

"Hey,waitaminute,"saysthewife."You'reworryingtoomuch.We'llcallthepediatricianfirstthingMonday.Inthemeantime,cheerup.Here,holdthebabywhileIfixherblanket.It'sallpulledout."

Thefathertakesthebabybutgivesherbacktohiswifeassoonashecan.Allweekendhefindshimselfunabletopreparefornextweek'swork.Hefollowshiswifearoundthehouse,thinkingaboutthebaby'shearingandaboutthewaydeafnesswouldruinherlife.Heimaginesonlytheworst:nohearing,nodevelopmentoflanguage,hisbeautifulchildcutofffromsociety,lockedinasoundlessworld.BySundaynighthehassunkintodespair.

Themotherleavesamessagewiththepediatrician'sansweringserviceaskingforanearlyappointmentMonday.Shespendstheweekenddoingherexercises,reading,andtryingtocalmherhusband.

Thepediatrician'stestsarereassuring,butthefather'sspiritsremainlow.Notuntilaweeklater,whenthebabyshowsherfirststartletotheloudsoundofapassingtruck,doeshebegintorecoverandenjoyhisnewdaughteragain.

Thisfatherandmotherhavetwodifferentwaysoflookingattheworld.Wheneversomethingbadhappenstohim—acallfromthebankmanager,adisagreementwithhiswife,evenafrownfromhisemployer—heimaginestheworst:bankruptcy,jail,divorce,anddismissal.Heispronetodepression;heoftenfeelsextremelytired;hishealthsuffers.She,ontheotherhand,seesbadeventsintheirleastthreateninglight.Toher,theyaretemporarychallengestobeovercome.Afterareversal,shebouncesbackquickly,andfindsallherenergyagain.Herhealthisexcellent.

Theoptimistsandthepessimists:Ihavebeenstudyingthemforthepasttwenty-fiveyears.Thedefiningcharacteristicofpessimistsisthattheytendtobelievebadeventswilllastalongtime,willundermineeverythingtheydo,andaretheirownfault.Theoptimists,whoareconfrontedwiththesamehardknocksofthisworld,thinkaboutmisfortuneintheoppositeway.Theytendtobelievedefeatisjustatemporarysetback,thatitscausesareconfinedtothisonecase.Theoptimistsbelievedefeatisnottheirfault:circumstances,badluck,orotherpeoplebroughtitabout.Suchpeoplearenotbotheredbydefeat.Confrontedbyabadsituation,theyperceiveitasachallengeandtryharder.

Thesetwohabitsofthinkingaboutcauseshaveconsequences.Literallyhundredsofstudiesshowthatpessimistsgiveupmoreeasilyandgetdepressedmoreoften.Theseexperimentsalsoshowthatoptimistsdomuchbetterinschoolandatwork.Theyregularlyexceedthepredictionsofaptitudetests.Whenoptimistsrunforoffice,theyaremoreapttobeelectedthanpessimistsare.Theirhealthisunusuallygood.Evidencesuggeststheymayevenlivelonger.

Twenty-fiveyearsofstudyhasconvincedmethatifwehabituallybelieve,asdoesthepessimist,thatmisfortuneisourfault,isenduring,andwillundermineeverythingwedo,moreofitwillhappentousthanifwebelieveotherwise.Iamalsoconvincedthatifweareinthegripofthisview,wewillgetdepressedeasily,wewillaccomplishlessthanourpotential,andwewillevengetphysicallysickmoreoften.Pessimisticpropheciesareself-fulfilling.

YouAreWhatYouThink

Doyouseetheglassashalf-fullratherthanhalf-empty?Doyoukeepyoureyeuponthedoughnut,notuponthehole?Suddenlytheseclichésarescientificquestions,asresearchersscrutinizethepowerofpositivethinking.

Afast-growingbodyofresearch—104studiessofar,involvingsome15,000people—isprovingthatoptimismcanhelpyoutobehappier,healthierandmoresuccessful.Pessimismleads,bycontrast,tohopelessness,sicknessandfailure,andislinkedtodepression,lonelinessandpainfulshyness."Ifwecouldteachpeopletothinkmorepositively,"sayspsychologistCraigA.AndersonofRiceUniversityinHouston,"itwouldbelikeinoculatingthemagainstthesementalills."

"Yourabilitiescount,"explainspsychologistMichaelF.ScheierofCarnegie-MellonUniversityinPittsburgh,"butthebeliefthatyoucansucceedaffectswhetherornotyouwill."Inpart,that'sbecauseoptimistsandpessimistsdealwiththesamechallengesanddisappointmentsinverydifferentways.

Take,forexample,yourjob.Inamajorstudy,psychologistMartinE.P.SeligmanoftheUniversityofPennsylvaniaandcolleaguePeterSchulmansurveyedsalesrepresentativesattheMetropolitanLifeInsuranceCo.Theyfoundthatthepositivethinkersamonglong-timerepresentativessold37percentmoreinsurancethandidthenegativethinkers.Ofnewlyhiredrepresentatives,optimistssold20percentmore.

Impressed,thecompanyhired100peoplewhohadfailedthestandardindustrytestbuthadscoredhighonoptimism.Thesepeople,whomightneverhavebeenhired,sold10percentmoreinsurancethandidtheaveragerepresentative.

Howdidtheydoit?Thesecrettoanoptimist'ssuccess,accordingtoSeligman,isinhis"explanatorystyle".Whenthingsgowrongthepessimisttendstoblamehimself."I'mnogoodatthis,"hesays."Ialwaysfail."Theoptimistlooksforotherexplanations.Heblamestheweather,thephoneconnection,eventheotherperson.Thatcustomerwasinabadmood,hethinks.Whenthingsgoright,theoptimisttakescreditwhilethepessimistthinkssuccessisduetoluck.

Negativeorpositive,itwasaself-fulfillingprophecy."Ifpeoplefeelhopeless,"saysAnderson,"theydon'tbothertoacquiretheskillstheyneedtosucceed."

Asenseofcontrol,accordingtoAnderson,istherealtestforsuccess.Theoptimistfeelsincontrolofhisownlife.Ifthingsaregoingbadly,heactsquickly,lookingforsolutions,forminganewplanofaction,andreachingoutforadvice.Thepessimistfeelslikeatoyoffateandmovesslowly.Hedoesn'tseekadvice,sinceheassumesnothingcanbedone.

Optimistsmaythinktheyarebetterthanthefactswouldjustify—andsometimesthat'swhatkeepsthemfromgettingsick.Inalong-termstudy,researchersexaminedthehealthhistoriesofagroupofHarvardgraduates,allofwhomwereinthetophalfoftheirclassandinfinephysicalcondition.Yetsomewerepositivethinkers,andsomenegative.Twentyyearslater,thereweremoremiddle-agediseasesamongthepessimiststhantheoptimists.

Manystudiessuggestthatthepessimist'sfeelingofhelplessnessunderminesthebody'snaturaldefenses,theimmunesystem.DrChristopherPetersonoftheUniversityofMichiganhasfoundthatthepessimistdoesn'ttakegoodcareofhimself.Feelingpassiveandunabletododgelife'sblows,heexpectsillhealthandothermisfortunes,nomatterwhathedoes.Heeatsunhealthyfood,avoidsexercise,ignoresthedoctor,hasanotherdrink.

Mostpeopleareamixofoptimismandpessimism,butareinclinedinonedirectionortheother.Itisapatternofthinkinglearnedfromearlychildhood,saysSeligman.Itgrowsoutofthousandsofcautionsorencouragements,negativestatementsorpositiveones.Toomany"don'ts"andwarningsofdangercanmakeachildfeelincompetent,fearful—andpessimistic.

Astheygrow,childrenexperiencesmalltriumphs,suchaslearningtotieshoelaces.Parentscanhelpturnthesesuccessesintoasenseofcontrol,andthatbreedsoptimism.

Pessimismisahardhabittobreak—butitcanbedone.Inaseriesofstudies,DrCarolDweckoftheUniversityofIllinoishasbeenworkingwithchildrenintheearlygradesofschool.Asshehelpsstudentstochangetheexplanationsfortheirfailures—from"Imustbedumb"to"Ididn'tstudyhardenough"—theiracademicperformanceimproves.

So,ifyou'reapessimist,there'sreasonforoptimism.Youcanchange.Here'show,saysSteveHollon,apsychologistatVanderbiltUniversity:

1.Paycarefulattentiontoyourthoughtswhenbadthingshappen.Writedownthefirstthingthatcomestomind,withoutanychangesorcorrections.

2.Nowtryanexperiment.Dosomethingthat'scontrarytoanynegativereactions.Let'ssaysomethinghasgonewrongatwork.Doyouthink,Ihatemyjob,butIcouldnevergetabetterone?Actasifthatweren'tso.Sendoutrésumés.Gotointerviews.Lookintotrainingandcheckjobinformation.

3.Keeptrackofwhathappens.Wereyourfirstthoughtsrightorwrong?"Ifyourthoughtsareholdingyouback,changethem,"saysHollon."It'strialanderror,noguarantees,butgiveyourselfachance."

Positivethinkingleadstopositiveaction—andreaction.Whatyouexpectfromtheworld,theevidencesuggests,iswhatyou'relikelytoget.

Unit2MythsandLegends

WhytheTortoise'sShellIsNotSmooth

Thedistantsoundoflowvoices,brokennowandagainbysinging,reachedOkonkwofromhiswives'hutsaseachwomanandherchildrentoldfolkstories.Ekwefiandherdaughter,Ezinma,satonamatonthefloor.ItwasEkwefi'sturntotellastory.Suddenlythemurmuringstoppedandalleyesturnedtotheirfavoriteandmostskillfulstoryteller.

"Onceuponatime,"shebegan,"allthebirdswereinvitedtoafeastinthesky.Theywereveryhappyandbegantopreparethemselvesforthegreatday.Theypaintedtheirbodiesdeepredanddrewbeautifulpatternsonthemwithdye.

"Tortoisesawallthesepreparationsandsoondiscoveredwhatitallmeant.Nothingthathappenedintheworldoftheanimalseverescapedhisnotice;hewasfullofcunning.Assoonasheheardofthegreatfeastintheskyhisthroatbegantoitchattheverythought.TherewasafamineinthosedaysandTortoisehadnoteatenagoodmealfortwomoons.Hisbodyrattledlikeadrystickinhisemptyshell.Slowlybutsurelyhebegantoplanhowhewouldgotothesky."

"Buthehadnowings,"saidEzinma.

"Bepatient,"repliedhermother."Thatisthestory.Tortoisehadnowings,buthewenttothebirdsandaskedtobeallowedtogowiththem.

"'Weknowyoutoowell,'saidthebirdswhentheyhadheardhim.'Youarefullofcunningandyouareungrateful.Ifweallowyoutocomewithusyouwillsoonbeginyourmischief.Weknowyouofold.'

"'Youdonotknowme,'saidTortoise.'Iamachangedman.Iamnotthemischievousmanyouonceknew.Onthecontrary,Iamthoughtfulandwell-meaning.Ihavelearnedthatamanwhomakestroubleforothersisalsomakingtroubleforhimself.Restassured,IpromiseIwillnotcauseyouanytrouble.'

"Tortoisehadasweettongue,andwithinashorttimeallthebirdsagreedthathewasachangedman,andtheyallgavehimafeather,withwhichhemadetwosplendidlycolorfulwings.

"AtlastthegreatdaycameandTortoisewasthefirsttoarriveatthemeetingplace.Whenallthebirdshadgatheredtogether,theyallsetofftogether.Tortoisewasveryhappyasheflewamongthebirds,andhewassoonchosenasthemantospeakforthepartybecausehewasagreatorator.

"'Thereisoneimportantthingwhichwemustnotforget,'hesaidastheyflewontheirway.'Whenpeopleareinvitedtoagreatfeastlikethis,theytakenewnamesfortheoccasion.Ourhostsintheskywillexpectustohonorthisage-oldcustom.

"NoneofthebirdshadheardofthiscustombuttheyknewthatTortoise,inspiteofhisfailingsinotherareas,wasawidelytraveledmanwhoknewthecustomsofdifferentpeoples.Andsotheyeachtookanewname.Whentheyhadalltakenanewname,Tortoisealsotookone.HewastobecalledAllofyou.

"Atlastthepartyarrivedintheskyandtheirhostswereveryhappytoseethem.Tortoisestoodupinhismany-coloredplumageandthankedthemfortheirinvitation.Hisspeechwassoeloquentthatallthebirdsweregladtheyhadbroughthim,andnoddedtheirheadsinapprovalofallhesaid.Theirhoststookhimasthekingofthebirds,especiallyashelookedsomewhatdifferentfromtheothers.

"Afteraselectionofnutshadbeenpresentedandeaten,the,peopleoftheskysetbeforetheirgueststhemostdelectabledishesTortoisehadeverseenordreamedof.Thesoupwasbroughtouthotfromthefireandintheverypotinwhichithadbeencooked.Itwasfull,ofmeatandfish.Tortoisebegantosniffaloud.Therewaspoundedyamandalsoyamsoupcookedwithpalmoilandfreshfish.Therewerealsopotsofpalmwine.Wheneverythinghadbeensetbeforetheguests,oneofthepeopleoftheskycameforwardandtastedalittlefromeachpot.Hetheninvitedthebirdstoeat.ButTortoisejumpedtohisfeetandasked:'Forwhomhaveyoupreparedthisfeast?'

"'Forallofyou,'repliedtheman.

"Tortoiseturnedtothebirdsandsaid:'YourememberthatmynameisAllofyou.Thecustomhereistoservethespokesmanfirstandtheotherslater.TheywillserveyouwhenIhaveeaten.'

"Hebegantoeatandthebirdsgrumbledangrilyamongthemselves.Thepeopleoftheskythoughtitmustbetheircustomtoleaveallthefoodfortheirking.AndsoTortoiseatethebestpartofthefoodandthendranktwopotsofpalmwine,sothathewasfulloffoodanddrinkandhisbodygrewfatenoughtofillouthisshell.

"Thebirdsgatheredroundtoeatwhatwasleftandtopeckattheboneshehadthrownonthefloor.Someofthemweretooangrytoeat.Theychosetoflyhomeonanemptystomach.ButbeforetheylefteachtookbackthefeatherhehadlenttoTortoise.Andtherehestoodinhishardshellfulloffoodandwinebutwithoutanywingstoflyhome.Heaskedthebirdstotakeamessageforhiswife,buttheyallrefused.IntheendParrot,whohadfeltmoreangrythantheothers,suddenlychangedhismindandagreedtotakethemessage.

"'Tellmywife,'saidTortoise,'tobringoutallthesoftthingsinmyhouseandcoverthegroundwiththemsothatIcanjumpdownfromtheskywithouthurtingmyself.

"Parrotpromisedfaithfullytodeliverthemessage,andthenflewawaysmilingtohimself.HoweverwhenhereachedTortoise'shousehetoldhiswifetobringoutallthehardandsharpthingsinthehouse.AndsoTortoise'swifedutifullybroughtoutherhusband'shoes,knives,spears,guns,andevenhiscannon.Tortoiselookeddownfromtheskyandsawhiswifebringingthingsout,butitwastoofartoseewhattheywere.Whenallseemedreadyhelethimselfgo.Hefellandfellandfelluntilhebegantofearthathewouldneverstopfalling.Andthenlikethesoundofhiscannonhecrashedtotheground."

"Didhedie?"askedEzinma.

"No,"repliedEkwefi."Hisshellbrokeintohundredsofpieces.Buttherewasagreatmedicinemanintheneighborhood.Tortoise'swifesentforhimandhegatheredallthebitsofshellandstuckthemtogether.ThatiswhytheTortoise'sshellisnotsmooth."

BeautyandtheBeast

Therewasonceaveryrichmerchantwhohadsixchildren,threesonsandthreedaughters.Hegavehisdaughterseverythingtheywanted,buttheywereveryconceitedandspoiled,exceptfortheyoungest,whomtheycalledBeauty.Shewasasbeautifulasshewassweet,andhertwosisterswereconsumedwithjealousy.

Oneterribledaythemerchantlearnedthathehadlostallofhismoney,andthefamilywasforcedtomovefromtheirluxuriousmansionintowntoasmallhouseinthecountry.Thesonsimmediatelyhelpedtheirfatherwiththeoutsidechores.PoorBeauty,shehadneverlivedwithoutservants.Nowshehadtogetupbeforesunrisetolightthefireandmakethefoodandcleanthehouse.Butshesoongrewaccustomedtoitandsaid,"Cryingwon'timprovethesituation.Imusttrytomakemyselfhappy."Hersisters,ontheotherhand,stayedinbedtillnoonandwereannoyedthatBeautywasnotasmiserableastheywere.

Ayearlater,thefatherreceivedaletterthatoneofhislostshipshadbeenfoundandhadarrivedfilledwithmerchandiseforhim.Everyonewasdelightedbecausetheywouldonceagainrich.Asthemerchantleft,thetwoolderdaughtersbeggedtheirfathertobringthemhomeallsortsofpreciousjewelsandelegantgowns."AndwhatdoesmyBeautywant?"thefatherasked."Oh,Ineednothing,butifyoucouldbringmearose,Iwouldbemostappreciative,"shesaid.Ofcourse,Beautydidnotneedtherose,butshethoughtshehadbetteraskforsomethingsoasnottoappeartobecriticizinghersisters'greed.

Themerchantreachedtheharbor,butalas,thevesselhadsunk,consequentlyhewasstillaspoorasbefore.Onthewayhomehegotlostinaforest,anditbegantosnow."Ishalldieofthecoldorbeeatenbywolvesandneverseemydearchildrenagain,"hereflectedsadly.Suddenly,hesawahugemansionwithallthelightson.Heknockedatthedoor,butnooneanswered.Heenteredonlytofindalargefireburninginthefireplaceandatablesetwithdeliciousfood.Hewaitedalongtimefortheownertoappear,butnoonecame.Hewasstarving,sohefinallyateabitofthefood.Hethenfoundabedroomwherehefellfastasleep.Thenextmorninghewasastonishedtofindabrandnewsuitofclotheslaidoutforhimandafreshbreakfastawaitinghim."Thismustbethecastleofsomefairies,"hethought,andsohesaidaloud"thankyou"andleft.Hewassurprisedtoseethatthesnowhaddisappearedandthattherewasalovelygardenfilledwithrosebushes."IshalltakejustoneroseformyBeauty,"hesaid,butashecuttheroseheheardaloudandterriblevoice.Hesawanuglymonsterwhosaid,"Ungratefulman!Ihavesavedyourlifeandinreturnyoustealmyroses.Youmustdie!"ButthemerchantbeggedtheBeastnottokillhimforthesakeofhischildren.TheBeastseemedinterestedwhenhelearnedofBeautyandherrequestfortherose."Thenyoumustaskhertocomehereinplaceofyou.Youwillhavethreemonths.Returnhome,andifshewillnotcomethenyoumustreturn.Howeveryouwillnotdepartempty-handed.Returntoyourroomandyouwillfindachestofgold,"theBeastsaid."Well,ifImustdie,atleastIshallnotleavemychildrendestitute,"thoughtthefather,andhetookthechestofgoldandreturnedhome.

"Here,Beauty,"hesaid,"takethisrose.Littledoyouknowhowthatrosewillcostyourunhappyfatherhislife."AndherelatedhisadventurewiththeBeast.

BeautyimmediatelyinsistedonreturningtothehomeoftheBeasttosaveherfather'slifeandwouldhearnoarguments.Onthedayofherdeparturehersistersrubbedtheireyeswithonions,pretendingtobesadthatshewasleavingandwouldprobablydie.

WhenthemerchantandBeautyarrivedatthepalace,itwaslitexactlyasbefore.Thefirewasroaringandthetablewasmagnificentlyset."Oh,theBeastintendstofattenmebeforehekillsme,"thoughtBeauty.Despiteherfearssheactedcheerfulandbraveforherfather.Suddenlytheyheardahorriblenoise,andtheBeastappeared."Haveyoucomeherewillingly?"theBeastasked."Yes,"trembledBeauty."Good,thensayfarewelltoyourfather."Thegrief-strickenmerchantwasthusforcedtoleavehisdaughterandreturnhome.

BeautywassurethattheBeastwouldeatherthatnight.Shewassurprisedtofind"Beauty'sApartment"engravedonagoldplateoverthedoorofherbedroom.Theroomwasfullofmagnificentfurnitureandtheshelveswerelinedwithallthebooksthatsheloved.Therewasapianoforhertoplay.Insideoneofthebookswaswritten,

WelcomeBeauty,banishfear,

Youarequeenandmistress