Hi, All!

From "Beauty and the Beast"

-----Beginning of the citation-----
....
Beast was disappeared, and she saw, at her feet, one of the loveliest
princes that eye ever beheld; who returned her thanks for having put an
end to the charm, under which he had so long resembled a Beast. Though
this prince was worthy of all her attention, she could not forbear
asking where Beast was.

"You see him at your feet, said the prince. A wicked fairy had condemned
me to remain under that shape until a beautiful virgin should consent to
marry me. The fairy likewise enjoined me to conceal my understanding.
There was only you in the world generous enough to be won by the
goodness of my temper, and in offering you my crown I can't discharge
the obligations I have to you."
----- The end of the citation -----

What does it mean - "The fairy likewise enjoined me to conceal my understanding"?


Bye, All!
Alexander Koryagin

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* Origin: nntp://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/6.0)

Alexander Koryagin:

From "Beauty and the Beast"

-----Beginning of the citation-----
... Beast was disappeared, and she saw, at her feet,
one of the loveliest princes that eye ever beheld; who
returned her thanks for having put an end to the charm,
under which he had so long resembled a Beast. Though
this prince was worthy of all her attention, she could
not forbear asking where Beast was.

"You see him at your feet, said the prince. A wicked
fairy had condemned me to remain under that shape until
a beautiful virgin should consent to marry me. The fairy
likewise enjoined me to conceal my understanding. There
was only you in the world generous enough to be won by
the goodness of my temper, and in offering you my crown
I can't discharge the obligations I have to you."
----- The end of the citation -----

What does it mean - "The fairy likewise enjoined me to
conceal my understanding"?

Congratulations on reading some good English with
participial adjectives (`disappeared') and Fowlerian
`shall'. So you know the meanings of every word in that
sentence yet cannot join them into a meaningful message? I
think that sentence means the prince was forbidden to reveal
his story and identity while under the spell.

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* Origin: nntp://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/6.0)

Hi, Anton Shepelev! -> Alexander Koryagin
I read your message from 20.07.2021 13:10

What does it mean - "The fairy likewise enjoined me to conceal my
understanding"?

Congratulations on reading some good English with participial
adjectives (`disappeared') and Fowlerian `shall'. So you know the
meanings of every word in that sentence yet cannot join them into a meaningful message? I think that sentence means the prince was
forbidden to reveal his story and identity while under the spell.

It seems the problem was in the word "understanding". It has a very rare meaning "agreement". Although, IMHO, it is very difficult to say that
there was an agreement between the prince and fairy. ;-)

Bye, Anton!
Alexander Koryagin
english_tutor 2021

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* Origin: nntp://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/6.0)

Ardith Hinton to Alexander Koryagin:

What does it mean - "The fairy likewise enjoined me to
conceal my understanding"?

The fairy strongly suggested, instructed, or demanded
that the Beast not let others know he was a handsome
prince until after he'd found a suitable bride who
regarded his good nature as much more important than his
looks. WRT the word "understanding", I think the author
is referring to his comprehension or interpretation of
how the spell works & of how it may be broken. The
terms don't appear to be negotiable. But in this case
they do enable him to be sure who honestly loves him for
the right reasons.... :-)

But must be awarded with the wrong ones in the end! An
excellent explanation, Ardith. It is the prince's
understanding of his predicament.

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* Origin: nntp://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/6.0)

Hi, Ardith Hinton! -> Alexander Koryagin
I read your message from 20.07.2021 23:52

What does it mean - "The fairy likewise enjoined me to conceal my
understanding"?

The fairy strongly suggested, instructed, or demanded that the
Beast not let others know he was a handsome prince until after he'd
found a suitable bride who regarded his good nature as much more
important than his looks. WRT the word "understanding", I think the
author is referring to his comprehension or interpretation of how
the spell works & of how it may be broken. The terms don't appear
to be negotiable. But in this case they do enable him to be sure
who honestly loves him for the right reasons....

Although it would be interesting to find the meaning in some dictionary.

Longman's closest meaning is "agreement", but it seems closer will be
"spell".

-----Beginning of the citation-----
understanding
2[countable usually singular] AGREE an unofficial or informal agreement
come to/reach an understanding (=stop arguing and agree)
My father was furious at first, but eventually we came to an understanding.
We had an understanding that Jean-Claude should never be mentioned.
----- The end of the citation -----

But, as I said, it is very strange to use "agreement" in the situation
when the wicked fairy condemned the prince.

Bye, Ardith!
Alexander Koryagin
english_tutor 2021

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* Origin: nntp://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/6.0)

Alexander Koryagin:

But, as I said, it is very strange to use "agreement" in
the situation when the wicked fairy condemned the
prince.

You are the one who keeps bringing it up, but I say you are
wrong. The meaning of understanding in that sentence is "the
cognitive condition of someone who understands." The prince
must conceal understanding of his predicament.

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* Origin: nntp://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/6.0)

Hi, Ardith Hinton! -> Anton Shepelev
I read your message from 23.07.2021 23:36

terms don't appear to be negotiable. But in this case they do
enable him to be sure who honestly loves him for the right
reasons....

But must be awarded with the wrong ones in the end!

Yes, that thought crossed my mind too. On the surface of it
goodness is rewarded... but if we examine the situation in more
depth we notice that the prince no longer looks like the man his
future bride has fallen in love with.

We should also note that the Belle has loved not the beast appearance.

Bye, Ardith!
Alexander Koryagin
english_tutor 2021

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* Origin: nntp://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/6.0)