There was once a
merchant who had been very rich at one time, but who, having had heavy losses,
was compelled to retire to a little cottage in the country; where he lived with
his three daughters. The two elder ones were very much discontented at their
poverty, and were always grumbling and making complaints. But the youngest one,
who was called Beauty, and who was as amiable as she was handsome, tried all
she could to comfort her father and make his home happy. Once, when he was
going on a journey to try and mend his affairs, he called them around him, and
asked them what he should bring them when he returned. The two elder ones
wanted each a number of nice presents; but Beauty, kissing him sweetly, said
she would be content with a rose. So when the merchant was on his way back, he
came to an elegant garden, of which the gate stood open; and thinking of
Beauty’s rose, he went in, and plucking a beautiful one, prepared to proceed on
his journey.
As he turned to
go, he saw a hideous Beast coming towards him, armed with a sword! This
terrible creature reproached him for stealing his flowers and threatened to
kill him on the spot! The merchant begged for his life, and said, that he had
only taken “a single one to please his daughter Beauty.” On this, the beast
said gruffly, “Well, I will let you off, if you will bring one of your
daughters here in your place. But she must come here willingly, and meanwhile
you may stay and rest in my palace until to-morrow.” But, as you may well
believe, the poor father did not feel much like eating or sleeping; although
everything was done for his comfort, and, in the morning, the Beast sent him
home upon a beautiful horse. But though the birds sang around him, and the sun
shone brightly, and all nature was smiling on his path, the heart of the poor
merchant was heavy, when he thought of his beloved daughters. When he came near
his home, his children came forth to meet him; but, seeing the sadness of his
face, and his eyes filled with tears, they asked him the cause of his trouble.
Giving the rose to Beauty, he told her all. The two elder sisters laid all the
blame upon Beauty; who cried bitterly, and said that as she was the cause of
her father’s misfortune, she alone must suffer for it, and was quite willing to
go. So Beauty got ready for the journey at once. The father (who meant to
return to the Beast himself, after embracing his children) tried to dissuade
her, but in vain; and so the two set out together for the Beast’s palace, much
to the secret joy of the envious sisters.
When they arrived
at the palace, the doors opened of themselves, sweet music was heard, and they
found an elegant supper prepared. As soon as they had refreshed themselves, the
Beast entered, and said in a mild tone, “Beauty, did you come here willingly to
take the place of your father?” “Yes, sir,” she answered in a sweet but
trembling voice. “So much the better for you,” replied the Beast. “Your father
can stay here to-night, but he must go home in the morning.” The Beast then
retired, giving Beauty so kind a look as he went out, that she felt quite
encouraged. The next morning, when her father left her, she cheered his heart
by telling him that she thought she could soften the Beast’s heart, and induce
him to spare her life. After he was gone, she entered an elegant room, on the
door of which was written, in letters of gold, “Beauty’s room.” Lying on the
table was a portrait of herself, set in gold and diamonds, and on the wall,
these words: “Beauty is Queen here; all things will obey her.” Her meals were
served to the sound of music; and at supper-time, the Beast after knocking
timidly, would walk in and talk so amiably, that she soon lost all fear of him;
and once when he failed to come, felt quite disappointed! At last, one night,
he said to her, “Am I so very ugly?” “Yes, indeed, you are,” said Beauty, “but
you are so kind and generous, that I do not mind your looks.” “Will you marry
me, then, dear Beauty?” said the poor Beast, with a look of such eager entreaty
in his eyes, that Beauty’s heart melted within her, and she was upon the point
of saying “Yes!”
But happening to
look towards him, at that moment her courage failed her, and, turning away her
head, she replied softly, “Oh! Do not ask me.” The Beast then bade her
good-night, with a sad voice, and went away sighing as if his heart would
break. The palace was full of rooms, containing the most beautiful objects. In
one room she saw a numerous troupe of monkeys, of all sizes and colors. They
came to meet her, making her very low bows, and treating her with the greatest
respect. Beauty was much pleased with them, and asked them to show her about
the palace. Instantly, two tall and graceful apes, in rich dresses, placed
themselves, with great gravity, one on each side of her, while two sprightly
little monkeys held up her train as pages. And from this time forth they waited
upon her wherever she went, with all the attention and respect, that officers
of a royal palace are accustomed to pay to the greatest Queens and Princesses.
In fact, Beauty was the Queen of this splendid palace. She had only to wish for
anything to have it; and she would have been quite contented if she could have
had some company; for, except at supper-time, she was always alone! Then the
Beast would come in and behave so agreeably, that she liked him more and more.
And when he would say to her “dear Beauty will you marry me?” in his soft and
tender way, she could hardly find it in her heart to refuse him. Now, although
Beauty had everything that heart could wish, she could not forget her father
and sisters. At last, one evening she begged so hard to go home for a visit,
that the Beast consented to her wish, on her promising not to stay more than
two months. He then gave her a ring, telling her to place it on her
dressing-table, when she wished either to go or return; and showed her a
wardrobe filled with the most elegant clothes, as well as a quantity of
splendid presents for her father and sisters.
The poor Beast was
more sad than ever, after he had given his consent to her absence. It seemed to
him as if he could not look at her enough, nor muster courage to leave her. She
tried to cheer him, saying, “Be of good heart, Beauty will soon return,” but
nothing seemed to comfort him, and he went sadly away. Beauty felt very badly when
she saw how much the poor Beast suffered. She tried, however, to dismiss him
from her thoughts, and to think only of the joy of seeing her dear father and
sisters on the morrow. Before retiring to rest, she took good care to place the
ring upon the table, and great was her joy, on awaking the next morning, to
find herself in her father’s house, with the clothes and gifts from the palace
at her bed-side! At first she hardly knew where she was, for everything looked
strange to her; but soon she heard the voice of her father, and, rushing out of
the room, threw her loving arms around his neck. Beauty then related all the
kindness and delicacy of the Beast toward her, and in return discovered that he
had been as liberal to her father and sisters. He had given them the large and
handsome house in which they now lived, with an income sufficient to keep them
in comfort. For a long time Beauty was happy with her father and sisters; but
she soon discovered that her sisters were jealous of her, and envied her fine
dresses and jewels the Beast had given her. She often thought tenderly of the
poor Beast, alone in his palace; and as the two months were now over, she
resolved to return to him as she had promised. But her father could not bear to
lose her again, and coaxed her to stay with him a few days longer; which she at
last consented to do, with many misgivings, when she thought of her broken
promise to the lonely beast. At last, on the night before she intended to
return, she dreamed that she saw the unhappy beast lying dead on the ground in
the palace garden! She awoke, all trembling with terror and remorse, and,
leaving a note on the table for her dear father; placed the ring within her
bosom, and wished herself back again in the palace. As soon as daylight appeared,
she called her attendants, and searched the palace from top to bottom. But the
Beast was nowhere to be found! She then ran to the garden, and there, in the
very spot that she had seen in her dream, lay the poor Beast, gasping and
senseless upon the ground; and seeming to be in the agonies of death! At this
pitiful sight, Beauty clasped her hands, fell upon her knees, and reproached
herself bitterly for having caused his death. “Alas! Poor Beast!” she said, “I
am the cause of this. How can I ever forgive myself for my unkindness to you,
who were so good and generous to me, and mine, and never even reproached me for
my cruelty?”
She then ran to a
fountain for cold water, which she sprinkled over him, her tears meanwhile
falling fast upon his hideous face. In a few moments the Beast opened his eyes,
and said, “Now, that I see you once more, I shall die contented.” “No, no,!”
she cried, “you shall not die; you shall live, and Beauty will be your faithful
wife!” The moment she uttered these words, a dazzling light shone around—the
palace was brilliantly lighted up, and the air was filled with delicious music.
In place of the terrible and dying Beast, she saw a young and handsome Prince,
who knelt at her feet, and told her that he had been condemned to wear the form
of a frightful Beast, until a beautiful girl should love him in spite of his
ugliness! At the same moment, the Apes, and the Monkeys, who had been in
attendance upon her, were transformed into elegantly dressed ladies and
gentlemen, who arranged themselves at a respectful distance, and performed
their duties, as Gentlemen, and Maids of Honor. The grateful Prince now claimed
Beauty for his wife; and she who had loved him, even under the form of the
Beast, was now tenfold more in love with him, as he appeared in his rightful
form. So the very next day, Beauty and the Prince were married with great
splendor, and lived happily together for ever after.
