Three Musketeers - Bedtime English Learning Reader I (Pure English Version)

Author: Mao Ronggui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: The story is set against the historical backdrop of 17th-century France during the reign of King Louis XIII. It narrates the adventures of the protagonist, D'Artagnan, and the Three Musketeers as they undertake a royal mission to seek peace with neighboring England. It is a well-known and beloved tale of chivalrous heroes. D'Artagnan is a typical young, ambitious nobleman from 17th-century France. Born into a declining aristocratic family in Gascony, he rides a lean yellow horse to Paris, carrying his father's letter of introduction, to meet Monsieur Tréville, an old acquaintance of his father. Monsieur Tréville is the captain of the King's Guard Musketeers. D'Artagnan runs to the musketeers' barracks to find him but inadvertently offends the three musketeers—Athos, Porthos, and Aramis—through his lack of manners. As the saying goes, "Foes become friends after a fight," and after a scuffle, they become inseparable friends. For their shared interests, they join forces to defeat the guards of the Cardinal and thus become close companions. To protect the interests of the King and Queen, D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers face numerous hardships. At the time, King Louis XIII, Queen Anne, and Cardinal Richelieu shared power, vying for control and rife with conflicts. The King secretly praises D'Artagnan for several times defeating the Cardinal's men, while the Cardinal harbors resentment. Richelieu feigns sending a letter to Queen Anne's former lover, the Duke of Buckingham in England, asking him to come to France. The Duke of Buckingham still holds feelings for the Queen. The Queen presents him with a diamond sash as a token of remembrance. The Cardinal seizes this opportunity to sow discord, suggesting the King organize a court ball and propose that the Queen wear the diamond sash given to her by the King. As the ball date approaches, the Queen becomes frantic. Fortunately, her trusted maid Bonne Chance offers a plan, asking D'Artagnan for help. D'Artagnan falls in love with Bonne Chance at first sight and readily agrees. To unravel Richelieu's plot, D'Artagnan and the other three musketeers travel to England to demand the diamond sash from the Duke of Buckingham. After numerous twists and turns, only D'Artagnan arrives on time to explain the matter to the Duke and retrieve the sash, saving the Queen from urgent peril and foiling the Cardinal's schemes. Enraged and humiliated, Richelieu orders his men to kidnap Bonne Chance, D'Artagnan's lover. D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers then engage in a fierce battle to rescue Bonne Chance from Richelieu's men. Later, Bonne Chance is brutally murdered by Milady (Athos's former wife), a ruthless subordinate of Richelieu. D'Artagnan and his companions capture Milady and bring her to justice. Upon learning that his trusted subordinate Milady has been killed—and that D'Artagnan was the mastermind—Richelieu orders his loyalist Rochefort to capture him. D'Artagnan remains composed and frankly explains the situation. Impressed by his courage, intelligence, and youthful prowess, Richelieu not only spares him but also promotes him to captain of the musketeers. Athos, Porthos, and Aramis eventually return to their hometowns, marry noblewomen, or become monks, each finding their own place in life.