• to conceal my understanding

    From Alexander Koryagin@2:221/6 to All on Mon Jul 19 21:41:04 2021

    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

    ---
    * Origin: nntp://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/6.0)
  • From Anton Shepelev@2:221/6 to Alexander Koryagin on Tue Jul 20 13:10:00 2021
    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.

    ---
    * Origin: nntp://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/6.0)
  • From Alexander Koryagin@2:221/6 to Anton Shepelev on Tue Jul 20 20:28:50 2021

    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

    ---
    * Origin: nntp://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/6.0)
  • From Ardith Hinton@1:153/716 to Alexander Koryagin on Tue Jul 20 23:52:49 2021
    Hi, Alexander! Recently you wrote in a message to All:

    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.... :-)




    --- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
    * Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)
  • From Anton Shepelev@2:221/6 to Ardith Hinton on Wed Jul 21 13:31:30 2021
    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.

    ---
    * Origin: nntp://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/6.0)
  • From Alexander Koryagin@2:221/6 to Ardith Hinton on Wed Jul 21 16:41:28 2021

    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

    ---
    * Origin: nntp://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/6.0)
  • From Anton Shepelev@2:221/6 to Alexander Koryagin on Thu Jul 22 11:10:50 2021
    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.

    ---
    * Origin: nntp://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/6.0)
  • From Ardith Hinton@1:153/716 to Anton Shepelev on Fri Jul 23 23:36:18 2021
    Hi, Anton! Recently you wrote in a message to Ardith Hinton:

    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!


    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.

    The writer seems to assume both parties would be happy with this turn of events. However, there are other possibilities... e.g. Belle may have liked the way he looked once she'd grown used to it &/or felt relieved that there was little chance of having other women beat a path to his door. He may not try so hard to be "Mr. Nice Guy" when he looks a lot more presentable, either.... :-Q



    An excellent explanation, Ardith.


    Thank you. I liked yours as well.... :-)



    It is the prince's understanding of his predicament.


    Agreed... that is my interpretation here. :-)




    --- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
    * Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)
  • From Alexander Koryagin@2:221/6 to Ardith Hinton on Sat Jul 24 19:50:20 2021

    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

    ---
    * Origin: nntp://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/6.0)
  • From Ardith Hinton@1:153/716 to Alexander Koryagin on Wed Jul 28 17:12:32 2021
    Hi, Alexander! Recently you wrote in a message to Ardith Hinton:

    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.
    |beast's


    Maybe not at this stage in their relationship. But we have a saying in English, "handsome is as handsome does", which I think applies here.

    WRT his physical appearance, she seems to have been attracted to the Handsome Prince right away... whereas she hadn't fallen in love with the Beast at first sight. She realized, once she knew him better, that there were other things which mattered more to her. I reckon it may have come as quite a shock when he apparently disappeared & another man claimed to be her beloved.

    You might enjoy the SHREK series of movies, in which Prince Charming is selfish & conceited... Shrek is attracted to a certain person only after he begins to see what they have in common... and the king's wife admits she liked His Majesty better as a frog. I liked him better as a frog too... [wry grin].




    --- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
    * Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)