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Beauty and the Beast. Once upon a time, in a veryfar-off country,
there lived a merchant who had been so fortunatein all his undertakings that he was enormouslyrich.
As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, hefound that his money was not too much to let
them all have everything they fancied, as theywere accustomed to do. But one day a mostunexpected
misfortune befell them. Their house caught fireand was speedily burnt to the ground,
with all the splendid furniture, the books,pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it
contained, and this was only the beginning oftheir troubles. Their father, who had until this
moment prospered in all ways, suddenly lost everyship he had upon the sea, either by dint of
pirates, shipwreck, or fire. Then he heard thathis clerks in distant countries, whom he trusted
entirely, had proved unfaithful, and at last fromgreat wealth he fell into the direst poverty.
All that he had left was a little house in a desolate place at least a hundred leagues from
the town in which he had lived, and to this he wasforced to retreat with his children,
who were in despair at the idea of leading such adifferent life. Indeed, the daughters at first
hoped that their friends, who had been so numerouswhile they were rich, would insist
on their staying in their houses now they nolonger possessed one. But they soon found that
they were left alone, and that their formerfriends even attributed their misfortunes to
their own extravagance, and showed no intention ofoffering them any help. So nothing was left
for them but to take their departure to thecottage, which stood in the midst of a dark
forest, and seemed to be the most dismal placeupon the face of the earth. As they were too poor
to have any servants, the girls had to work hard,like peasants, and the sons, for their part,
cultivated the fields to earn their living. Roughly clothed, and living in the simplest way,
the girls regretted unceasingly the luxuries andamusements of their former life,
only the youngest tried to be brave and cheerful.She had been as sad as anyone when
misfortune overtook her father, but, soonrecovering her natural gaiety, she set to work
to make the best of things, to amuse her fatherand brothers as well as she could,
and to try to persuade her sisters to join her indancing and singing. But they would do nothing
of the sort, and, because she was not as dolefulas themselves, they declared that this miserable
life was all she was fit for. But she was reallyfar prettier and cleverer than they were,
indeed, she was so lovely that she was alwayscalled Beauty. After two years, when they were all
beginning to get used to their new life, somethinghappened to disturb their tranquillity. Their
father received the news that one of his ships,which he had believed to be lost, had come safely
into port with a rich cargo. All the sons anddaughters at once thought that their poverty was
at an end, and wanted to set out directly for thetown. But their father, who was more prudent,
begged them to wait a little, and, though it washarvest time, and he could ill be spared,
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determined to go himself first, to make inquiries.Only the youngest daughter had any
doubt but that they would soon again be as rich asthey were before, or at least rich enough to
live comfortably in some town where they wouldfind amusement and gay companions once more.
So they all loaded their father with commissionsfor jewels and dresses which it would have taken
a fortune to buy, only Beauty, feeling sure thatit was of no use, did not ask for anything.
Her father, noticing her silence, said, and whatshall I bring for you, Beauty? The only thing I
wish for is to see you come home safely, sheanswered. But this only vexed her sisters,
who fancied she was blaming them for having askedfor such costly things. Her father, however,
was pleased, that as he thought that at her ageshe certainly ought to like pretty presents,
he told her to choose something. Well, dearfather, she said, as you insist upon it,
I beg that you will bring me a rose. I have notseen one since we came here,
and I love them so much. So the merchants set outand reached the town as quickly as possible,
but only to find that his former companions,believing him to be dead, had divided between
them the goods which the ship had brought, andafter six months of trouble and expense he found
himself as poor as when he started, having beenable to recover only just enough to pay the cost
of his journey. To make matters worse, he wasobliged to leave the town in the most terrible
weather, so that by the time he was within a fewleagues of his home he was almost exhausted
with cold and fatigue. Though he knew it wouldtake some hours to get through the forest,
he was so anxious to be at his journey's end thathe resolved to go on,
but night overtook him, and the deep snow andbitter frost made it impossible for his horse
to carry him any further. Not a house was to beseen, the only shelter he could get was the
hollow trunk of a great tree, and there he crouched all the night which seemed to him
the longest he had ever known. In spite of hisweariness the howling of the wolves kept himawake,
and even when at last the day broke he was notmuch better off, for the falling snow had covered
up every path, and he did not know which way toturn. At length he made out some sort of track,
and though at the beginning it was so rough andslippery that he fell down more than once,
it presently became easier, and led him into anavenue of trees which ended in a splendid castle.
It seemed to the merchant very strange that nosnow had fallen in the avenue,
which was entirely composed of orange trees,covered with flowers and fruit.
When he reached the first court of the castle hesaw before him a flight of agate steps,
and went up them, and passed through severalsplendidly furnished rooms.
The pleasant warmth of the air revived him, and hefelt very hungry,
but there seemed to be nobody in all this vast andsplendid palace whom he could ask to give him
something to eat. Deep silence reigned everywhere,and at last, tired of roaming through empty
rooms and galleries, he stopped in a room smallerthan the rest, where a clear fire was burning and
a couch was drawn up closely to it. Thinking thatthis must be prepared for someone who wasexpected,
he sat down to wait till he should come, and verysoon fell into a sweet sleep.
When his extreme hunger wakened him after severalhours, he was still alone,
but a little table, upon which was a good dinner,had been drawn up close to him,
and, as he had eaten nothing for twenty-fourhours, he lost no time in beginning his meal,
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hoping that he might soon have an opportunity ofthanking his considerate entertainer,
whoever it might be. But no one appeared, and evenafter another long sleep, from which he awoke
completely refreshed, there was no sign ofanybody, though a fresh meal of dainty cakes
and fruit was prepared upon the little table athis elbow. Being naturally timid, the silencebegan
to terrify him, and he resolved to search oncemore through all the rooms, but it was of no use.
Not even a servant was to be seen, there was nosign of life in the palace. He began to wonder
what he should do, and to amuse himself bypretending that all the treasures he saw were
his own, and considering how he would divide themamong his children. Then he went down into
the garden, and though it was winter everywhereelse, here the sun shone, and the birds sang,
and the flowers bloomed, and the air was soft andsweet. The merchant, in ecstasies with all
he saw and heard, said to himself. All this mustbe meant for me. I will go this minute and bring
my children to share all these delights. In spiteof being so cold and weary when he reached the
castle, he had taken his horse to the stable andfed it. Now he thought he would saddle it for
his homeward journey, and he turned down the pathwhich led to the stable. This path had a hedge
of roses on each side of it, and the merchantthought he had never seen or smelt such exquisite
flowers. They reminded him of his promise tobeauty, and he stopped and had just gathered
one to take to her when he was startled by astrange noise behind him. Turning round,
he saw a frightful beast, which seemed to be veryangry and said, in a terrible voice.
Who told you that you might gather my roses? Wasit not enough that I allowed you to be in
my palace and was kind to you? This is the way youshow your gratitude, by stealing my flowers.
But your insolence shall not go unpunished. Themerchant, terrified by these furious words,
dropped the fatal rose, and, throwing himself onhis knees, cried, Pardon me, noble sir. I am
truly grateful to you for your hospitality, whichwas so magnificent that I could not imagine
that you would be offended by my taking such alittle thing as a rose. But the beast's anger was
not lessened by this speech. You are very readywith excuses and flattery, he cried, but that will
not save you from the death you deserve. Alas!thought the merchant, if my daughter could only
know what danger her rose has brought me into. Andin despair he began to tell the beast all his
misfortunes, and the reason of his journey, notforgetting to mention beauty's request.
A king's ransom would hardly have procured allthat my other daughters asked. He said,
but I thought that I might at least take beautyher rose. I beg you to forgive me,
for you see I meant no harm. The beast consideredfor a moment, and then he said, in a less furious
tone. I will forgive you on one condition, thatis, that you will give me one of your daughters.
Ah, cried the merchant, if I were cruel enough tobuy my own life at the expense of one of my
children's, what excuse could I invent to bringher here? No excuse would be necessary,
answered the beast. If she comes at all she mustcome willingly. On no other condition will I have
her. See if any one of them is courageous enough,and loves you well enough to come and save your
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life. You seem to be an honest man, so I willtrust you to go home. I give you a month to see
if either of your daughters will come back withyou and stay here, to let you go free. If neither
of them is willing, you must come alone, afterbidding them goodbye for ever, for then you will
belong to me. And do not imagine that you can hidefrom me, for if you fail to keep your word I will
come and fetch you. Added the beast grimly. Themerchant accepted this proposal, though he did
not really think any of his daughters could bepersuaded to come. He promised to return at the
time appointed, and then, anxious to escape fromthe presence of the beast, he asked permission to
set off at once. But the beast answered that hecould not go until next day. Then you will find a
horse ready for you, he said. Now go and eat yoursupper, and await my orders. The poor merchant,
more dead than alive, went back to his room, wherethe most delicious supper was already served
on the little table which was drawn up before ablazing fire. But he was too terrified to eat,
and only tasted a few of the dishes, for fear thebeast should be angry if he did not obey his
orders. When he had finished he heard a greatnoise in the next room, which he knew meant that
the beast was coming. As he could do nothing toescape his visit, the only thing that remained
was to seem as little afraid as possible. So whenthe beast appeared and asked roughly if he had
supped well, the merchant answered humbly that hehad, thanks to his host's kindness. Then the
beast warned him to remember their agreement, andto prepare his daughter exactly for what
she had to expect. Do not get up tomorrow, headded, until you see the sun and hear a golden
bell ring. Then you will find your breakfastwaiting for you here, and the horse you are to
ride will be ready in the courtyard. He will alsobring you back again when you come with your
daughter a month hence. Farewell. Take a rose toBeauty, and remember your promise.
The merchant was only too glad when the beast wentaway, and though he could not sleep for sadness,
he lay down until the sun rose. Then, after a hasty breakfast, he went to gather Beauty's rose,
and mounted his horse, which carried him off soswiftly that in an instant he had lost sight of
the palace, and he was still wrapped in gloomythoughts when it stopped before the door of the
cottage. His sons and daughters, who had been veryuneasy at his long absence, rushed to meet him,
eager to know the result of his journey, which,seeing him mounted upon a splendid horse and
wrapped in a rich mantle, they supposed to befavourable. He hid the truth from them at first,
only saying sadly to Beauty as he gave her therose.
Here is what you asked me to bring you, you littleknow what it has cost.
But this excited their curiosity so greatly thatpresently he told them his adventures from
beginning to end, and then they were all veryunhappy. The girls lamented loudly over their
lost hopes, and the sons declared that theirfather should not return to this terrible castle,
and began to make plans for killing the beast ifit should come to fetch him. But he reminded
them that he had promised to go back. Then thegirls were very angry with Beauty, and said it
was all her fault, and that if she had asked forsomething sensible this would never have happened,
and complained bitterly that they should have tosuffer for her folly. Poor Beauty,
much distressed, said to them. I have, indeed,caused this misfortune, but I assure you I did it
innocently. Who could have guessed that to ask fora rose in the middle of summer would cause so
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much misery? But as I did the mischief it is onlyjust that I should suffer for it. I will
therefore go back with my father to keep hispromise. At first nobody would hear of this
arrangement, and her father and brothers, wholoved her dearly, declared that nothing should
make them let her go, but Beauty was firm. As thetime drew near she divided all her little
possessions between her sisters, and said good-byeto everything she loved, and when the
fatal day came she encouraged and cheered herfather as they mounted together the horse which
had brought him back. It seemed to fly rather thangallop, but so smoothly that Beauty was not
frightened, indeed, she would have enjoyed thejourney if she had not feared what might happen
to her at the end of it. Her father still tried topersuade her to go back, but in vain. While
they were talking the night fell, and then, totheir great surprise, wonderful coloured lights
began to shine in all directions, and splendidfireworks blazed out before them, all the forest
was illuminated by them, and even felt pleasantlywarm, though it had been bitterly cold before.
This lasted until they reached the avenue oforange trees, where were statues holding flaming
torches, and when they got nearer to the palacethey saw that it was illuminated from the roof
to the ground, and music sounded softly from thecourtyard. The beast must be very hungry,
said Beauty, trying to laugh, if he makes all thisrejoicing over the arrival of his prey.
But, in spite of her anxiety, she could not helpadmiring all the wonderful things she saw.
The horse stopped at the foot of the flight ofsteps leading to the terrace,
and when they had dismounted her father led her tothe little room he had been in before,
where they found a splendid fire burning, and thetable daintily spread with a delicious supper.
The merchant knew that this was meant for them,and Beauty, who was rather less frightened now
that she had passed through so many rooms and seennothing of the beast, was quite willing to
begin, for her long ride had made her very hungry.But they had hardly finished their meal
when the noise of the beast's footsteps was heardapproaching, and Beauty clung to her father in
terror, which became all the greater when she sawhow frightened he was. But when the beast really
appeared, though she trembled at the sight of him,she made a great effort to hide her terror,
and saluted him respectfully. This evidentlypleased the beast. After looking at her he said,
in a tone that might have struck terror into theboldest heart, though he did not seem to be angry.
Good evening, old man. Good evening, Beauty.
The merchant was too terrified to reply, butBeauty answered sweetly,
Good evening, beast. Have you come willingly?asked the beast.
Will you be content to stay here when your fathergoes away? Beauty answered bravely that
she was quite prepared to stay. I am pleased withyou, said the beast. As you have come of
your own accord, you may stay. As for you, oldman, he added, turning to the merchant,
at sunrise tomorrow you will take your departure.When the bell rings get up quickly and eat your
breakfast, and you will find the same horsewaiting to take you home, but remember that you
must never expect to see my palace again.