THE Butterfly wished for a bride；naturally，he wanted a very pretty one from among the flowers；so he looked at them，and found that every flower sat quietly and demurely¹ on her stalk，just as a maiden² ought to sitbefore she is engaged；but there were a great many of them，and the choice threatened to become wearisome．The Butterfly did not care to take much trouble，and sohe flew off to the daisy．The French call this floweret "Marguerite"，and they know that Marguerite can prophesy，when lovers pluck off its leaves，and ask of every leaf they pluck some question concerning their lovers．"Heartily？Painfully？Loves me much？ A little？Not atall？"and so on．Every one asks in his own language．The Butterfly also came to inquire；but he did not pluck offher leaves：he kissed each of them，for he considered that most is to be done with kindness．

"Darling Marguerite daisy！"he said to her，"Youare the wisest woman among the flowers．Pray，pray tell me，shall I get this one or that？ Which will be my bride？When I know that，I will directly fly to her and proposefor her．"

But Marguerite did not answer him．She was angry that he had called her a"woman”，when she was yet agirl；and there is a great difference．He asked for thesecond and for the third time，and when she remained dumb，and answered him not a word，he would wait no longer，but flew away to begin his wooing at once．

It was in the beginning of spring；the crocus and thesnowdrop were blooming around．

"They are very pretty，"thought the Butterfly．"Charming little lasses，but a little too much of the school girl about them．"Like all young lads，he lookedout for the elder girls．

Then he flew off to the anemones．These were a littletoo bitter for his taste；the violet somewhat too sentimental；the tulips too showy；the eastern lilies too plebeian；thelime blossoms were too small，and，moreover，they had toomany relations；the apple blossoms-they looked like ros-es，but they bloomed today，to fall off tomorrow，to fallbeneath the first wind that blew；and he thought that amarriage with them would last too short a time．The PeaseBlossom pleased him best of all：she was white and red，and graceful³ and delicate，and belonged to the domesticmaidens who look well，and at the same time are useful inthe kitchen．He was just about to make his offer， whenclose by the maiden he saw a pod at whose end hung a

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1 demurely
adv.装成端庄地，认真地
参考例句：
"On the forehead, like a good brother,'she answered demurely. "吻前额，像个好哥哥那样，"她故作正经地回答说。 来自飘（部分） Punctuation is the way one bats one's eyes, lowers one's voice or blushes demurely. 标点就像人眨眨眼睛，低声细语，或伍犯作态。 来自名作英译部分

2 maiden
n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的
参考例句：
The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。 The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。

3 graceful
adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的
参考例句：
His movements on the parallel bars were very graceful.他的双杠动作可帅了! The ballet dancer is so graceful.芭蕾舞演员的姿态是如此的优美。

4 withered
adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式
参考例句：
The grass had withered in the warm sun. 这些草在温暖的阳光下枯死了。 The leaves of this tree have become dry and withered. 这棵树下的叶子干枯了。

5 forth
adv.向前；向外，往外
参考例句：
The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。 He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

6 fragrant
adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的
参考例句：
The Fragrant Hills are exceptionally beautiful in late autumn.深秋的香山格外美丽。 The air was fragrant with lavender.空气中弥漫薰衣草香。

7 fragrance
n.芬芳，香味，香气
参考例句：
The apple blossoms filled the air with their fragrance.苹果花使空气充满香味。 The fragrance of lavender filled the room.房间里充满了薰衣草的香味。