小学英语格林童话系列（二）theTwelveBrothers十二兄弟（一）阅读素材.docx 4页

theTwelveBrothersJacobandWilhelmGrimm　　Onceuponatimetherewereakingandaqueen.Theylivedhappilytogetherandhadtwelvechildren,allboys.Onedaythekingsaidtohiswife,"Ifourthirteenthchild,whichyouaresoongoingtobringintotheworld,isagirl,thenthetwelveothersshalldie,sothatherwealthmaybeGREat,andsothatshealonemayinheritthekingdom."　　Indeed,hehadtwelvecoffinsmade.theywerefilledwithwoodshavingsandeachwasfittedwithacoffinpillow.Hehadthemputinalockedroom,andgavethekeytothequeen,orderinghertotellnooneaboutthem.　　themothersatandmournedtheentireday,untiltheyoungestson——whowasalwayswithher,andwhowasnamedBenjaminaftertheBible——saidtoher,"Dearmother,whyareyousosad?"　　"Dearestchild,"sheanswered,"Icannottellyou."　　However,hewouldnotleaveherinpeace,untilsheunlockedtheroomandshowedhimthecoffins,alreadyfilledwithwoodshavings.　　thenshesaid,"MydearestBenjamin,yourfatherhadthesecoffinsmadeforyouandyourelevenbrothers.IfIbringagirlintotheworld,youarealltobekilledandburiedinthem."　　Asshespokeandcried,hersoncomfortedher,saying,"Don"tcry,dearmother.Wewilltakecareofourselvesandrunaway." 　　thenshesaid,"Gooutintothewoodswithyourelevenbrothers.Oneofyoushouldclimbthehighesttreethatyoucanfind.Keepwatchthereandlooktowardthecastletower.IfIgivebirthtoalittleson,Iwillraiseawhiteflag.IfIgivebirthtoalittledaughter,Iwillraisearedflag,andthenyoushouldescapeasfastasyoucan,andmayGodprotectyou.Iwillgetupeverynightandprayforyou,inthewinterthatyoumaywarmyourselvesnearafire,andinthesummerthatyoumaynotsufferfromtheheat."　　Aftershehadblessedherchildren,theywentoutintothewoods.Oneaftertheotherofthemkeptwatch,sittingatopthehighestoaktreeandlookingtowardthetower.Afterelevendayshadpassed,anditwasBenjamin"sturn,hesawthataflaghadbeenraised.Itwasnotthewhiteone,butinsteadtheredblood-flag,decreeingthattheyallweretodie.　　Whentheboysheardthistheybecameangryandcriedout,"Arewetosufferdeathforthesakeofagirl!Weswearthatwewilltakerevenge.Whereverwefindagirl,herredbloodshallflow."　　thentheywentdeeperintothewoods,andinitsmiddle,whereitwasdarkest,theyfoundalittlebewitchedhousethatwasempty.　　theysaid,"Wewilllivehere.You,Benjamin,youaretheyoungestandweakest.Youshallstayathomeandkeephouse.Weotherswillgoandgetthingstoeat."　　Thustheywentintothewoodsandshotrabbits,wilddeer,birds,anddoves,andwhatevertheycouldeat.ThesetheybroughttoBenjamin,andhehadtopreparethemtosatisfytheirhunger.Theylivedtogetherinthislittlehousefortenyears,butthetimepassedquicklyforthem. 　　thelittledaughterthattheirmother,thequeen,hadgivenbirthtowasnowgrownup.Shehadagoodheart,abeautifulface,andagoldenstaronherforehead.　　Onceonalargewashdayshesawtwelvemen"sshirtsinthelaundryandaskedhermother,"Whosearethesetwelveshirts?Theyaremuchtoosmallforfather."　　thequeenansweredwithaheavyheart,"Dearchild,theybelongtoyourtwelvebrothers."　　thegirlsaid,"Wherearemytwelvebrothers?Ihaveneverevenheardofthem."　　Sheanswered,"OnlyGodknowswheretheyare.Theyarewanderingaboutintheworld."　　thenshetookthegirl,unlockedtheroomforher,andshowedherthetwelvecoffinswiththewoodshavingsandthecoffinpillows.　　"thesecoffins,"shesaid,"wereintendedforyourbrothers,buttheysecretlyranawaybeforeyouwereborn,"andshetoldherhoweverythinghadhappened.　　thenthegirlsaid,"Dearmother,don"tcry.Iwillgoandlookformybrothers."　　thenshetookthetwelveshirtsandwentforthintotheGREatwoods.Shewalkedtheentireday,intheeveningcomingtothebewitchedlittlehouse.　　Shewentinsideandfoundayounglad,whoasked,"Wheredoyoucomefrom,andwhereareyougoing?"　　Hewasastoundedthatshewassobeautiful,thatshewaswearingroyalclothing,andthatshehadastaronherforehead. 　　"Iamaprincessandamlookingformytwelvebrothers.Iwillwalkonaslongastheskyisblue,untilIfindthem."Shealsoshowedhimthetwelveshirtsthatbelongedtothem.　　Benjaminsawthatitwashissister,andsaid,"IamBenjamin,youryoungestbrother."　　Shebegantocryforjoy,andBenjamindidsoaswell.theykissedandembracedoneanotherwithGREatlove.　　thenhesaid,"Dearsister,ImustwarnyouthatwehaveaGREedthateverygirlwhomwemeetmustdie."　　Shesaid,"Iwillgladlydie,ifIcanthusredeemmytwelvebrothers."　　"No,"heanswered,"youshallnotdie.Situnderthistubuntilourelevenbrotherscome,andIwillmakeitrightwiththem."　　Shedidthis,andwhennightfelltheycamehomefromthehunt.Astheysatatthetableeating,theyasked,"Whatisnew?"　　Benjaminsaid,"Don"tyouknowanything?"