画眉嘴国王
导读
这是一个关于'骄傲'的老故事，属于民间故事里的'驯服烈女'类型（ATU 900），和莎士比亚的《驯悍记》是同一个大家族。公主因为看不起所有求婚者、专挑人家长相的毛病来嘲笑，被父亲一怒之下嫁给了乞丐，从此吃尽苦头，学会了谦卑。故事结尾那句'我真希望你和我也在场'，是欧洲讲故事人常用的收尾套话。这个故事值得和孩子多聊几句，因为它有两面：一方面，公主嘲笑别人的外貌、瞧不起人，确实不对；但另一方面，用'故意羞辱'来'教训'一个人，在今天看来也未必公平——画眉嘴国王从头到尾都在骗她、看她出丑。所以读的时候，不妨和孩子一起想想：公主错在哪里？画眉嘴国王的做法又有没有过分的地方？想让一个骄傲的人改变，除了让他难堪，还有没有更好的办法？
《画眉嘴国王》词汇精讲
本故事精选 12 个重点词汇，附中英释义与原文例句，帮助孩子扩展英语词汇量。
Proud and looking down on other people; arrogant.
傲慢的；高傲的；目中无人的。
A King had a daughter who was beautiful beyond all measure, but so proud and haughty withal that no suitor was good enough for her.
从前有一位国王，他的女儿美貌无双，但生性骄傲自大，觉得所有的求婚者都配不上她。
Made fun of someone in a cruel, mocking way.
嘲笑；奚落；讥讽。
She sent away one after the other, and ridiculed them as well.
她把他们一个接一个地打发走，还极尽嘲笑之能事。
Not straight; bent or twisted.
弯曲的；歪的。
A good king who stood quite high up in the row, and whose chin had grown a little crooked.
一位站在队伍前列的好国王，因为他的下巴长得有点歪。
Looked down on someone with strong dislike; scorned.
鄙视；看不起；蔑视。
When he saw that his daughter did nothing but mock the people, and despised all the suitors who were gathered there, was very angry.
老国王看到女儿除了嘲弄别人、蔑视所有在场的求婚者之外什么也不做，非常生气。
A serious, solemn promise.
誓言；誓约。
I have taken an oath to give you to the very first beggar-man, and I will keep it.
我发过誓，要把你嫁给第一个上门的乞丐，我必须信守诺言。
Shook suddenly from fear, cold, or disgust.
（因恐惧、寒冷或厌恶）战栗；发抖。
The King's daughter shuddered, but the King said, I have taken an oath.
公主吓得浑身发抖，但国王说，我发过誓。
A poor person who lives by asking others for money or food.
乞丐；讨饭的人。
He swore that she should have for her husband the very first beggar that came to his doors.
发誓要把她嫁给第一个来到宫门前的乞丐。
A small, dirty, poorly-built house.
破旧的小屋；简陋的棚屋。
Oh goodness! what a small house; to whom does this miserable, mean hovel belong?
天哪！这房子真小；这间简陋寒酸的破屋子是谁的？
Plates, cups, and dishes made of baked clay.
陶器；瓦器；碗碟。
So they lived on what she had earned as long as it lasted, then the husband bought a lot of new crockery.
于是他们靠她赚来的钱过了一阵子，然后丈夫又买了一大批新陶器。
Cruel laughter and mockery aimed at someone.
嘲弄；讥笑；奚落。
And when the people saw it, there arose general laughter and derision.
人们看到这一幕，爆发出一阵哄堂大笑和嘲讽。
A strong feeling that someone or something is worthless; contempt.
轻蔑；鄙视；不屑。
For she saw that it was King Thrushbeard, her suitor whom she had driven away with scorn.
因为她认出这就是被她轻蔑地赶走的求婚者画眉嘴国王。
Rude and disrespectful behaviour.
傲慢无礼；无礼的言行。
This was all done to humble your proud spirit, and to punish you for the insolence with which you mocked me.
做这一切都是为了挫你的傲气，惩罚你当初嘲笑我的无礼。
延伸阅读与亲子共读
故事寓意
不要以貌取人、恃美傲物；真正的高贵在于谦逊与善待他人。
教育价值
引导孩子反思骄傲与嘲笑他人的后果，学会谦逊、体谅和感恩；也可借此讨论'羞辱式教育'是否恰当。
家长共读提示
这个故事有两面，正好和孩子一起'辩一辩'：公主错在哪，画眉嘴国王的做法又有没有过分？帮孩子既看到自己的问题，也敢于质疑不公平的'教训方式'。
和孩子聊一聊
- 公主给每个求婚者都起了难听的外号，专挑长相取笑。用外貌嘲笑别人，会给人带来什么感受？
- 画眉嘴国王一直乔装打扮、看公主出丑，说是为了'教她谦卑'。你觉得这种方法公平吗？有没有更好的办法？
- 公主吃了很多苦之后才学会体谅和感恩。一个人一定要吃苦，才能懂得谦卑吗？
- 如果你的朋友很骄傲、老爱嘲笑别人，你会怎么帮他/她意识到这一点？
