Bedside Lamp English Learning Reader 1: The Three Musketeers (English-Chinese Contrast)

Author: Alexandre Dumas (France)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
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 widely 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 thin yellow horse, carrying his father's letter of introduction, to Paris to meet Monsieur Tréville, an old acquaintance of his father. Monsieur Tréville is the captain of the King's personal guard, the 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. True to the saying "factions make friends," after a scuffle, they become inseparable friends. Forging a common interest, they work together to defeat the Cardinal's men who are chasing them 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 privately 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, urging him to come to France. The Duke 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 proposing that the Queen wear the diamond sash given by the King. As the ball's date approaches, the Queen becomes frantic. Fortunately, her trusted maid Bonne Chance offers a plan, asking D'Artagnan for help. D'Artagnan falls for 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 situation to the Duke and retrieve the sash in time, saving the Queen from urgent peril and foiling the Cardinal's schemes. Enraged and humiliated, Richelieu has Bonne Chance, D'Artagnan's lover, kidnapped. 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 de Winter (Athos' former wife), a ruthless agent of Richelieu. D'Artagnan and his companions capture Milady and bring her to justice. Richelieu, humbled yet unyielding, frankly confesses his motives. Impressed by D'Artagnan's courage, quick wit, and youthful prowess, Richelieu not only spares him but also promotes him to captain of the Musketeers. Athos, Porthos, and Aramis each find their place in life—returning to the story, marrying noblewomen, or becoming monks.