Красавица и чудовище. Золушка. Спящая красавица. Рапунцель. Волшебная лампа Аладдина / The Beauty and the Beast. Cinderella. The Sleeping Beauty. Rapunzel. The Story of Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp

After she had done her work, she read, played the piano, or sung while she spun.

On the contrary, her two sisters did not know how to spend their time; they got up at ten, and did nothing but wander about the whole day, lamenting the loss of their fine clothes and acquaintance. “Look at our youngest sister,” said they, one to the other, “what a poor, stupid, mean-spirited creature she is, to be contented with such an unhappy situation.”

The good merchant was of quite a different opinion; he knew very well that Beauty was better than her sisters, in her person as well as her mind, and admired her humility, industry and patience; for her sisters not only left her all the work of the house to do, but insulted her every moment.

The family had lived about a year in this retirement, when the merchant received a letter with an account that a 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 of 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.