Greyfoot丹麦传说.docVIP

Greyfoot (丹麦传说) There was once a princess of England who was very beautiful. But she had one great fault -- namely, that she thought far too much of herself and too little of everyone else. Of course she had many suitors(求婚者), but she refused them all, scorning(不屑接受) each one for every trying to woo(求爱) her. At that time there was a young prince in Denmark. The fame of her beauty had reached him, and he sent word, asking for her hand in marriage. The princess answered that she would rather earn her bread by spinning(纺织) all her life than marry such a poor prince as the prince of Denmark. However, the young prince was determined to win her. He sent fresh messengers(送信者) with letters, and sent with them a gift for her of six beautiful horses, white as milk, with pink muzzles(口套), golden shoes, and scarlet(深红的) rungs(横档). Such fine horses had never before been seen in England. The king was much impressed, and said to her that a prince who could send such a fine gift must at least be considered her equal. But the princess ordered the grooms(马夫) to cut off the manes(鬃毛) and tails of the six horses, to soil them with dirt, and return to Denmark with the message that rather than be married to him she would sit in the street and sell pottery(陶器). When he learned of this reply the king of Denmark became very angry and decided that he would put to sea with all his ships and go to war with England at once to revenge (报复)the insult(侮辱). His son begged him, however, to hold off on any such action. Instead, the prince built a ship, a ship so beautiful and costly that its like had never been seen before. The prince gave the sailors a letter to deliver to the king of England, asking his daughter to accept him in marriage, and to receive the wonderful ship as an engagement gift. The ship commanded considerable attention in England, no one having seen such a magnificent ship before. The king was more impressed than ever, and begged his daughter to accept