Le Cabinet des FГ©es

Шарль Перро

Jeanne-Marie Leprince Beaumont

Le Cabinet des FГ©es Or Recreative Readings Arranged for the Express Use of Students in French

PREFACE

Little need be said, at the present day, of the importance of a knowledge of the French Language. It is the key to immense treasures in literature and science, the medium of communication in European diplomacy, and is, confessedly, an indispensable accomplishment of the modern traveller and the man of liberal education.

We have, therefore, only to explain the object and claims of the present work. In offering it to the American student we have endeavored to meet an obvious want of a suitable book of exercises in translating from the French-to produce a work adapted peculiarly to the wants of American society-calculated to interest as well as instruct beginners of every age, and suited alike for the use of private students and promiscuous classes.

After an experience of many years in teaching, we are convinced that such works as the Adventures of Telemachus, and the History of Charles the Twelfth-despite their incontestable beauty of style and richness of material-are too difficult for beginners, even of mature age. Such works, too, consisting of a continuous narrative, present to most students the discouraging prospect of a formidable undertaking which they fear will never be completed.

On the other hand, a mere book of fables, although free from the last objection, is, in general, too narrow in its scope to fulfil the desired end.

To avoid the difficulties and secure the advantages mentioned, we have chosen the Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault and Madame de Beaumont. The department of literature thus sought as the means of instruction in language, supplies, as our own experience has amply demonstrated, agreeable and attractive material for beginners of all ages and conditions.

The works selected are acknowledged to be admirable models of grace and purity in French composition, whilst the simplicity of style encourages the student by soon making him conscious of progress. The subjects offer at once attractive novelties for the young and agreeable relaxation for the mature.

In conclusion, we have only to remark that the difficulties of the French idiom are explained by notes neither too scanty, nor yet so numerous as to embarrass; and that a few expressions, inconsistent with the decorum of American taste, have been carefully expurgated, without, as we hope, diminishing the interest of the subject or impairing the style.G. GÉRARD.

Philadelphia, Nov. 1858.

LE PETIT CHAPERON ROUGE

Il Г©tait une fois une petite fille de village, la plus jolie qu'on eГ»t su voir: sa mГЁre en Г©tait folle, [1 - Folle, very fond;] et sa mГЁre-grand plus folle encore. Cette bonne femme lui fit faire un petit chaperon rouge qui lui seyait [2 - seyait, became;] si bien, que partout on l'appelait le Petit Chaperon Rouge.

Un jour, sa mГЁre ayant fait et cuit des galettes, lui dit:

-Va voir comment se porte ta mГЁre-grand; car on m'a dit [3 - on m'a dit, I was told.] qu'elle Г©tait malade. Porte-lui une galette et ce petit pot de beurre.

Le Petit Chaperon Rouge partit aussitГґt pour aller chez sa mГЁre-grand, qui demeurait dans un autre village. En passant dans un bois, elle rencontra compГЁre [4 - compГЁre, master.] le Loup, qui eut bien envie de la manger; mais il n'osa, Г  cause de quelques bГ»cherons qui Г©taient dans la forГЄt. Il lui demanda oГ№ elle allait. La pauvre enfant, qui ne savait pas qu'il Г©tait dangereux de s'arrГЄter Г  Г©couter un Loup, lui dit:

–Je vais voir ma mère-grand, et lui porter une galette avec un pot de beurre, que ma mère lui envoie.

–Demeure-t-elle bien loin? lui dit le Loup.

-Oh! oui, lui dit le Petit Chaperon Rouge; c'est par delГ  [5 - DelГ , beyond;] le moulin que vous voyez tout lГ -bas, [6 - lГ -bas, down there.] lГ -bas, Г  la premiГЁre maison du village.

-Eh bien, dit le Loup, je veux l'aller voir aussi; je m'y en vais par ce chemin-ci et toi par ce chemin-lГ , et nous verrons Г  qui plus tГґt y sera. [7 - Г