Complete the conditional sentences (type I or II)

“The Cat and the Mouse” – Part 1

1. Once upon a time the cat bit the mouse's tail off. “Give me back my tail, ” said the mouse. And the cat said, “Well, I (give) …………… you back your tail if you fetched me some milk. But that's impossible to do for a little mouse like you.”

2. The mouse, however, went to the cow. “The cat (give / only) me back my tail if I fetch her some milk.”

3. And the cow said, “Well, I would give you milk if you (get) me some hay. But that's impossible to do for a little mouse like you.”

4. The mouse, however, went to the farmer. “The cat will only give me back my tail if the cow (give) me some milk. And the cow (only / give) me milk if I get her some hay.”

5. And the farmer said, “Well, I would give you hay if you (bring) me some meat. But that's impossible to do for a little mouse like you.”

6. The mouse, however, went to the butcher. “The cat will only give me back my tail if the cow (give) me milk. And the cow will only give me milk if she (get) some hay. And the farmer (only / give) me hay if I get him some meat.”

7. And the butcher said, “Well, I would give you meat if you (make) the baker bake me a bread. But that's impossible to do for a little mouse like you.”

8. The mouse, however, went to the baker.. " The cat (give/only) me back my tail if I fetch her some milk. And the cow (give/not) me milk if I don't bring her hay. And the farmer will only give me hay if butcher (have) some meat for him. And the butcher will not give me meat if you (bake/not) him a bread."

10. And the baker said, " Well, I (give) you some bread if you promise never to steal my corn or meal."

11. The mouse promised not to steal, and so the baker gave the mouse bread, the mouse gave the butcher bread. The butcher gave the mouse meat, the mouse gave the farmer meat. The farmer gave the mouse hay, the mouse gave the cow hay. The cow gave the mouse milk, the mouse gave the cat milk. And the cat gave the mouse her tail back.

Complete the conditional sentences (type I, II or III)

“The Cat and the Mouse” – Part 2

12. But imagine what would have happened otherwise…

13. If the mouse (promise/not) never to steal corn or meal, the baker (not/give) the mouse bread. If the baker (not/give) the mouse bread, the butcher (not/leave) her any meat for the farmer. If the butcher (not/leave) her any meat, the farmer (not/be) willing to give the mouse hay. If the farmer (not/be) willing to give the mouse hay, the mouse (not/fetch) milk from the cow. If the mouse (not/fetch) milk from the cow, she (not/get) back her tail.

(written by Bouabdellah)
READING FOR PLEASURE

Sir Walter Scott

1771-1832

Sir Walter Scott, the first great writer of historical novels, was born in Edinburgh on August 15, 1771. His father was an Edinburgh lawyer who descended from the fighting and riding clan of Buccleuch. He was the first of his clan to live in a city and practise a profession. He had a large family. Walter, the future writer, was the 9^th of his 12 children. When not yet two years old, the boy fell ill with a disease that left him lame for life. His parents thought country air would be good for him and sent him to his grandparent’s farm. When he grew older and went to school, he became very fond of reading. At the suggestion of his father, Scott became a lawyer and practiced for 14 years. During his business trips he visited places of famous battles and collected old ballads that were still passed on from generation to generation by word of mouth. Scott’s first published work was a translation of Goethe’s historical play “Gotz von Berlichingen”. This work taught Scott that history is made by the people.

In 1814 Scott published his “Waverley, or “Tis Sixty Years Since”. Because he had an established reputation as a poet, Scott decided to print his first novel anonymously. The book was a great success, and everybody wanted to know who the author was. Scott published many of his novels under the name of “The Author of Waverly”, but finally the secret leaked out. During the next 17 years (from 1815 till 1832) Scott wrote more than 25 novels and many stories and tales besides. It mast be admitted that many of his books the last period were written in a hurry and are inferior to his earlier works. He would have worked on had his health not broken down. His doctors sent him to Italy; but it was too late. Before he reaching Italy he had to turn back, and on his arrival at Abbotsford he died.

“Ivanhoe [‘aivanhou]” 1820

I

Gurth and Wamba were soon overtaken by a group of ten horsemen, two of which seemed to be important persons, and the others – their servants,

One of the important persons was a monk of high rank dressed in rich clothes. His companion was a man over forty, thin, strong and tall, with a very sunburnt face. He had a long red cloak over his shoulders, with a white cross on it. Under it he was wearing chain-mail.

In the first of the two horsemen Gurth and Wamba recognized Prior Aymer, of the nearest Abbey, a rich Norman, well-known in the neighbourhood. But they did not know his companion and were surprised that he looked half a monk, half a soldier.

" My children, " said the Prior to Gurth and Wamba, " we are look­ing for a place where we and our servants could spend the night. Can you show us the way to the house of Cedric the Saxon? "

" It will be difficult to find the road, " said Gurth, " and the family of Cedric go to bed early."

" You must tell us the way, " said the Prior. " This reverend brother is of the order of Knights Templars; he is half a monk, half a soldier. He hasbeen all his life fighting with the Saracens. It will soon be night, and we are tired and hungry."

" Well, then, " said Wamba, " you must ride along this path till you come to a cross; four paths meet at that cross; you take the path to the left, and I think you will reach the house of Cedric of Rotherwood before the storm begins."

The Prior thanked him, and the group rode quickly on. When they disappeared, Gurth said to Wamba, " If they go as you have told them, I think they will not reach Rotherwood this night."

" I think not, " said Wamba smiling, " and it will be good."

" You are right, " said Gurth. " It will be bad enough if Prior Aymer sees the Lady Rowena, and it will be worse if Cedric quarrels with this military monk."

II

As the horsemen were moving on, they talked in Norman-French, the language used by the upper classes.

" What do you call the man to whose house we are riding? " said the Templar to his companion.

" Cedric of Rotherwood, " answered the Prior, " and remember: he is very proud. He stands up for his Saxons so sternly, that he is called by everybody Cedric the Saxon."

" This Lady Rowena, his daughter, is very beautiful, I think? " said the Templar.

" Cedric is not her father, " replied the Prior, " she is his distant relation; he is her guardian, and loves her as his own child. She is really very beautiful, you will see it yourself. But be careful, brother Brian, how you look at Rowena and how you talk to her: if Cedric the Saxon does not like it, we are lost men. People say that he turned his own son out of the house because the young man fell in love with her. But here is the cross, and the night is so dark, that it is very difficult to see the paths. Which way did he tell us to turn? To the left? "

" To the right, " said Brian.

" To the left, I think, " said the Prior.

They were in a difficulty, but here they noticed a young man sleep­ing at the foot of the cross. They woke him up and asked if he could tell them the way to Rotherwood. " I am going there myself, " said the stranger. " I know the way very well, and if you give me a horse, I can be your guide."

A horse was given to the stranger, and he led the group along a path through the forest. The way was difficult, they had to cross some streams and turn in many places, but at last they came to a wide road, at the end of which they saw a large low building. The young man pointed to it and said, “This is Rotherwood, the house of Cedric the Saxon.”

In a long low hall a long wooden table stood, ready prepared for the supper of Cedric the Saxon. There was a huge fireplace at each end of the hall, and, as the chimneys were bad, there was a lot of smoke in the hall. The floor was of earth. At one end the floor was raised by a step, and this place was occupied by the members of the family and important guests. A table covered with red cloth stood on this platform. From the middle of this table a longer and lower table ran towards the other end of the hall. This long table was for domestics and less important guests. Together the two tables had the form of the letter T.

At the centre of the upper table there were two chairs, higher than the others, for the master and the mistress of the family. One of these chairs was now occupied by Cedric the Saxon. He was not very tall, with broad shoulders; his face was broad, with large blue eyes. He had long yellow hair reaching down to his shoulders. He was about sixty years old, but looked very strong. There was pride and displeasure in his eyes.

" Where is the Lady Rowena? " he asked.

" She is changing after her visit to the church, " said her maid. " She will soon be here."

At this time some noise was heard from the outside. Cedric sent a servant to find out what the matter was. In three minutes the man returned.

" The Prior Aymer and the good knight Brian de Bois-Guilbert, commander of the order of Knights Templars, ask permission to stop for the night, " he said. " They are on the way to a tournament which will be held the day after tomorrow."

" The Prior Aymer? Brian de Bois-Guilbert? " said Cedric. “Normans both. But Norman or Saxon, the hospitality, of Rotherwood must always be the same. They are welcome Go", he said to the servant, " take care of their horses, lead them to their rooms, give them water to wash, and tell the cooks to add to our supper what they can."

The servant went out.

" Brian de Bois-Guilbert? " said Cedric half to himself. " He has returned from Palestine.² They say he is a brave but very wicked man, " and, turning to the maid, he said, " tell your Lady Rowena, that she can have supper in her rooms today if she does not wish to come to the hall."

" But she will wish to come, " said the maid, " because she always wants to hear the latest news from Palestine."

" Palestine! " repeated Cedric. " Palestine! I too might ask, I too might listen with a beating heart – but no! the son who did not obey me is not my son! "

He looked at the ground for a moment. When he raised his eyes, the doors at the end of the hall opened, and the guests entered.

III

The Prior Aymer and Brian de Bois-Guilbert were welcomed and placed at the upper table near Cedric the Saxon. They were ready to begin supper, when a servant, standing at the side door at the upper end of the hall, said in a loud voice, " Place for the Lady Rowena! " and Rowena, followed by four maids, entered. Cedric stood up to meet her and led her to the high chair at his own right hand. All stood up to receive her. She walked to her chair and sat down.

Rowena was tall and very beautiful. She was wearing a rich red dress and a thin veil on her head. The Templar, who had never taken his eyes off her from the time she entered, raised his glass of wine.

" I drink, " he said, " to the fair Rowena, who is more beautiful than anyone in England."

" Sir Knight, " said Rowena, " your French compliments are not pleasant to our English ears. Instead of them I ask you to tell us the latest news from Palestine."

" I have little to say, lady, " answered Brian de Bois-Guilbert.

" Why? Didn't Richard the Lion-Hearted bring any brave knights there? "

" It is not modest of me to say so, " said the Templar, " but the Knights Templars were the best."

" Were there, then, none in the English army, " said the Lady Rowena, " whose names are worthy to be mentioned with the Knights Templars? "

" Forgive me, lady, " said de Bois-Guilbert, " the English king, in­deed, brought to Palestine some brave knights who are second only to the Knights Templars."

" Second to none, " said the stranger who had brought the Prior and Bois-Guilbert to Rotherwood and now was sitting at the low table. " I say, " repeated the young man in a strong voice, " that the English knights were second to none in Palestine. I say, besides, be­cause I saw it, that King Richard himself, and five of his knights, held a tournament against the Knights Templars, and each knight cast to the ground three antagonists. I add that Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert knows very well the truth of what I tell you."

It is impossible to describe the rage which showed on the face of de Bois-Guilbert. But Cedric did not notice it. He was looking at the young man.

" Can you tell me, stranger, " he said, " the names of these brave knights? "

The young man stood up and said, " The first was the brave Richard, King of England." Then he mentioned the names of four other knights.

" And the sixth? "

" The sixth, " said the young man, " was, a young knight, whose name I have forgotten."

" Stranger, " said Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert scornfully, " I myself will tell the name of the knight before whom I fell because of my horse. It was the knight of Ivanhoe. But I will say loudly, that if he were in England now, I would fight with him."

" If Ivanhoe returns from Palestine, " replied the young man, " your challenge will soon be answered. I will take care that he meets you."

" All right, " said Brian de Bois-Guilbert, " if the Knight of Ivanhoe does not answer my challenge when he returns to England, I will, proclaim him as a coward."

" That shall not be, " said the Lady Rowena, " my voice shall be heard if no other in this hall is raised for the absent Ivanhoe. I promise you that Ivanhoe will meet your challenge. Sir Templar."

(Two days later a tournament was held in the town of Ashby. A lot of knights were going to take part in it, and very many guests had arrived to see it. The field was surrounded by galleries for the guests. In one of the galleries there was a throne for Prince John and seats for his courtiers.)

Prince John gave a signal to the heralds to proclaim the laws of the tournament, which were as follows:

First, the five challengers (this time they were Brian de Bois-Guilbert and four other Norman knights) called to combat all those who wished.

Secondly, any knight wishing to combat chose a special antago­nist from among the challengers, approached this antagonist and touched his shield with his own spear.

Thirdly, when the combat was over, the prince was to proclaim the winner of the first day of the tournament. The winner received a war-horse as a prize; then he named the Queen of Love and Beauty, whom he chose among the ladies present. The Queen of Love and Beauty gave the prize on the next day.

Fourthly, on the second day, there was a general tournament in which all the knights were allowed to take part. They divided into two groups and fought until the signal was given by Prince John to stop the combat. Then the Queen of Love and Beauty gave the prize to the winner of the second day.

When the heralds had proclaimed the laws of the tournament and the names of the five challengers were announced, the gates were opened, and five knights slowly rode out into the field. They crossed it, approached the tents of the five challengers. Each touched the shield of one of the challengers with his spear. Then they rode back and stood ready to fight. The challengers got on their horses and, with Brian de Bois-Guilbert at the head, stood opposite the five knights.

To the sounds of trumpets they started out against each other at full gallop. As soon as they met, three of the five knights were on the ground; the fourth broke his spear; only the fifth knight fought some time with the Norman knight, until they both broke their spears.

A second and a third group of knights came out to combat the challengers, but success was always on the side of Bois-Guilbert and his group.

It seemed that nobody else wished to combat. But after some time there was a sound of trumpet, and a new knight appeared on the field. The knight was young, not very tall but slender. He was sitting on a black horse. On his shield was the word " Disinherited". He crossed the field, approached the tent of Brian de Bois-Guilbert and struck his shield with his spear. Brian de Bois-Guilbert was aston­ished because he was sure that nobody else would wish to fight.

" Have you confessed yourself, brother, " said the Templar, " that you are so ready to meet death? "

" I am more ready to meet death than you are, " answered the Dis­inherited Knight.

" Then take your place, " said Bois-Guilbert, " and look at the sun for the last time, because tomorrow you will be dead."

" Thank you for your politeness, " replied the Disinherited Knight; " and I advise you to take a fresh horse and a new spear, because, by my honour, you will need both."

After this the two knights rode apart and stood opposite each other. At the sound of the trumpets they rushed at each other with the speed of lightning and met in the centre with a great noise. Their spears broke into pieces. They returned to their places, received new spears from the attendants and stood ready for a second meeting.

They were given a few minutes to rest, and then Prince John gave a signal to the trumpets. The knights rushed at each other again. Bois-Guilbert aimed at the shield of the Disinherited Knight and struck it with such force that his spear broke into pieces. The Disinher­ited Knight struck the Templar's helmet, and Brian de Bois-Guilbert fell to the ground, horse and all.

He immediately jumped to his feet and pulled out his sword. The Disinherited Knight sprang off his horse and did the same. But at this moment the marshals of the field reminded them that the laws of the tournament did not allow such a fight.

" We shall meet again, " said the Templar looking at the Disinherited Knight with hatred, " in such a place where there will be nobody to separate us."

" I am ready, " said the Disinherited Knight.

Bois-Guilbert went to his tent. The herald announced that the Disinherited Knight was ready to combat any knight who wished. The four knights of Bois-Guilbert's group came out in turn and all were beaten by the Disinherited Knight.

The Disinherited Knight was proclaimed the winner of the first day of the tournament.

Prince John and his courtiers tried hard to guess who the Disin­herited Knight was, but could not.

" Maybe, " said one of the courtiers, " he is one of the knights who accompanied King Richard to Palestine and who are now returning home."

" Maybe he is the King Richard the Lion-Hearted himself" said somebody.

" God forbid! " ' said Prince John, turning as pale as death.

" No, " said the first courtier, " King Richard is much taller and broader in the shoulders than this knight."

At this moment the marshals of the field brought forward the Disinherited Knight and led him to the foot of Prince John's throne.

" Sir Disinherited Knight, " said Prince John, " it is now your duty to name the fair lady, whom you choose as Queen of Love and Beauty. Raise your spear."

The knight obeyed; and Prince John put a coronet on its point.

Holding the coronet on the point of his spear, the Disinherited Knight slowly rode along the gallery. He stopped under the balcony in which the Lady Rowena was sitting, and placed the coronet at her feet.

(The mystery of the Disinherited Knight was found out the next day when he was again the winner of the day and the Lady Rowena, as Queen of Love and Beauty, had to give him the prize. The mar­shals of the field took off his helmet, and everybody saw that the Disinherited Knight was Ivanhoe, the son of Cedric the Saxon.)