Beauty and the Beast

Once upon a time, in a far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his ventures that he had grown enormously rich. He had six sons and six daughters, and gave them everything their hearts desired.

But one day misfortune came upon them. Their grand house burned to the ground with all its treasures, and soon after, the merchant lost every ship he owned, and the men he had trusted abroad cheated him besides. From great wealth he fell into the deepest poverty, until all that remained to the family was a small house in the countryside, far from any town, standing at the edge of a dark forest.

There the family had to live simply, working with their own hands. The sons tended the fields, and the daughters kept house like ordinary folk. Most of the sisters grumbled endlessly about their lost comforts, but the youngest, who was so lovely that everyone simply called her Beauty, tried to stay cheerful, and did what she could to comfort her father and brothers. Because she did not complain, her sisters said she was suited to nothing better than this humble life — though in truth she was kinder and cleverer than any of them.

After two years, word came that one of the merchant's ships, thought lost, had come safely to port. The older children were overjoyed, certain their fortunes were about to be restored, and they begged their father to bring them back fine gifts — jewels, gowns, all manner of costly things. Only Beauty asked for nothing, until her father pressed her to choose something.

"Then, dear father," she said, "bring me a rose. I have not seen one since we came here, and I love them so."

But when the merchant reached the town, he found his old partners had long since divided the ship's goods among themselves, believing him dead. After months of trouble he recovered only enough to pay for his journey home, and he found himself as poor as before.

The weather turned bitter as he traveled back through the forest, and soon he was lost in the snow and cold. Wolves howled through the long night, and he sheltered as best he could in a hollow tree. When morning came he found a strange path, which led him at last to a great and splendid castle, standing all alone in the whitened woods, though along its avenue the orange trees bloomed as if it were summer.

He wandered through the empty halls, calling out, but no one answered. A fire burned in one small room, and a table was laid with food, though no one came to serve him. Weary and hungry, he ate, and slept, and each time he woke, a fresh meal awaited him, though he never saw a single soul in all that vast palace.

The next day, wandering through the gardens where flowers bloomed under a gentle sun, he came upon a hedge of roses, and remembered his promise to Beauty. He plucked one to take to her — and at once a terrible roar sounded behind him, and he turned to see a monstrous Beast towering over him.

"Is this how you repay my hospitality?" the Beast thundered. "You steal my roses! For this, you shall die."

The merchant fell to his knees, begging forgiveness, and in his fear told the whole story — his ruined fortune, his daughters, and Beauty's small request for just one rose.

The Beast considered, then said, "I will spare your life on one condition: that you give me one of your daughters, to come here and take your place. She must come freely, of her own will, or not at all. I give you a month to ask them. If none is willing, you must return alone, for then you belong to me."

Having no other hope, the merchant agreed, and the Beast sent him home the next day on a swift horse, along with a rose for Beauty.

When he returned, weeping, he told his children everything. His sons wanted to go and fight the Beast; his daughters blamed Beauty for asking for the rose in the first place. But Beauty said quietly, "It was my wish that caused this. It is only right that I should be the one to go," and no arguing could change her mind.

When the month was up, Beauty and her father rode together to the castle, greeted along the way by strange, beautiful lights and soft music. Inside, the same small room awaited them, warm and richly supplied with supper. When the Beast's heavy footsteps at last approached, Beauty trembled, but she made herself greet him with courtesy.

"Good evening, Beast," she said.

"Have you come willingly?" the Beast asked. "Will you stay when your father leaves?"

"Yes," said Beauty steadily.

"Then I am pleased with you," said the Beast. He told the merchant he must leave at sunrise, and never return to the palace again — but bid Beauty fill two great trunks with anything she wished to send her family. However much they packed with jewels and fine cloth, the trunks always found room for more.

The next morning, Beauty's father departed, and Beauty, left alone, wept a little, then fell asleep — and dreamed of a handsome young prince who begged her to look past appearances, to trust her heart rather than her eyes, and to help free him from a cruel enchantment. She woke wondering what the dream could mean, but found the day full of wonders: a portrait of the very prince from her dream, rooms full of birds and books and music, and windows that opened onto marvelous, ever-changing entertainments.

Each evening, the Beast came to visit her, always courteous despite his fearsome looks, always asking the same question before he left:

"Beauty, will you marry me?"

And each time she answered, "No, Beast," though gently, for she found she did not fear him as she once had — indeed, she began to feel real fondness for him, and was troubled to see how sad her refusal made him.

Months passed happily enough, but at last Beauty began to long for her family, and told the Beast so.

"Ah, Beauty," he said mournfully, "must you leave me too?" But he could refuse her nothing, and agreed to let her go for two months, on the condition that she return, warning her gently: "If you do not come back in time, you will find your poor Beast dead of grief." He gave her a ring, telling her that to return she need only turn it on her finger and wish herself back.

That night she dreamed again of her prince, lying pale and sorrowful on the grass, reproaching her for leaving. "I would die to save the Beast from pain," she told him. "It is not his fault he is not handsome." And she woke to find herself home again, her family astonished and overjoyed to see her.

Two months among her family passed pleasantly, yet Beauty found she missed the palace, and thought often of the Beast — though never once did she dream of her prince while at home. Her brothers begged her to stay longer, and each day she meant to say goodbye, and each day put it off — until one night she dreamed of the Beast lying as though dying in a garden cave, and a stately lady warning her she had very nearly come too late.

Frightened, Beauty said her farewells that same night, turned the ring on her finger, and wished herself back to the palace. She woke there at once — but that evening, the Beast did not come to see her as he always had. Alarmed, she searched the gardens calling his name, until she found the very cave from her dream, and there lay the Beast, still and silent, as if he had died of sorrow waiting for her.

"Oh, I am too late!" she cried, weeping, and ran to fetch water from a fountain to revive him. To her great relief, he stirred.

"Can you truly love such an ugly creature as I am?" he asked faintly.

"I never knew how much I loved you until I feared I had lost you," Beauty answered. "Yes, dear Beast — I will marry you."

At those words, a blaze of light lit up the palace windows; fireworks crackled overhead, and fireflies spelled out in the sky: *Long live the Prince and his Bride.* Beauty turned to ask the Beast what it all meant — and found in his place her own beloved prince from her dreams, restored to his true form at last, the enchantment broken by her faithful love.

Soon after, a grand carriage arrived bearing a queenly lady, who turned out to be a fairy, and beside her the prince's own mother, the Queen, who embraced Beauty with joyful tears and gladly gave her blessing to the marriage. Beauty's brothers and sisters were sent for to share in the celebration, and the very next day, the wedding was held with great splendor and rejoicing.

And Beauty and her Prince lived happily together for the rest of their days.