Beauty and the Beast
Once on a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had
been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich. As he had, however,
six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have
everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
But one day a most unexpected misfortune befell them. Their house caught fire and 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 of their
troubles. Their father, who had till this moment prospered in all ways, suddenly lost
every ship he had on the sea, either by dint of pirates, shipwreck, or fire. Then he heard
that his clerks in distant countries, whom he trusted entirely, had proved unfaithful; and
at last from great 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 was forced to retreat with his
children, who were in despair at the idea of leading such a different life. Indeed, the
daughters at first hoped that their friends, who had been so numerous while they were
rich, would insist on their staying in their houses now they no longer possessed one. But
they soon found that they were left alone, and that their former friends even attributed
their misfortunes to their own extravagance, and showed no intention of offering them any
help. So nothing was left for them but to take their departure to the cottage, which stood
in the midst of a dark forest, and seemed to be the most dismal place on 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 and amusements 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, soon
recovering her natural gaiety, she set to work to make the best of things, to amuse her
father and brothers as well as she could, and to try to persuade her sisters to join her
in dancing and singing. But they would do nothing of the sort, and, because she was not as
doleful as themselves, they declared that this miserable life was all she was fit for. But
she was really far prettier and cleverer than they were; indeed, she was so lovely that
she was always called Bella. After two years, when they were all beginning to get used to
their new life, something happened 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 and daughters at once thought that their poverty was
at an end, and wanted to set out directly for the town; but their father, who was more
prudent, begged them to wait a little, and, though it was harvest time, and he could ill
be spared, determined to go himself first, to make inquiries. Only the youngest daughter
had any doubt but that they would soon again be as rich as they were before, or at least
rich enough to live comfortably in some town where they would find amusement and gay
companions once more. So they all loaded their father with commissions for jewels and
dresses which it would have taken a fortune to buy; only Bella, feeling sure that it was
of no use, didn't ask for anything. Her father, noticing her silence, said: "And what
shall I bring for you, Bella?"
"The only thing I wish for is to see you come home safely," she answered.
But this only vexed her sisters, who fancied she was blaming them for having asked for
such costly things. Her father, however, was pleased, but as he thought that at her age
she certainly ought to like pretty presents, he told her to choose something.
"Well, dear father," she said, "as you insist on it, I beg that you'll
bring me a rose. I haven't seen one since we came here, and I love them so much."
So the merchant set out and 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; and after six months of trouble and expense he found himself as poor
as when he started, having been able to recover only just enough to pay the cost of his
journey. To make matters worse, he was obliged to leave the town in the most terrible
weather, so that by the time he was within a few leagues of his home he was almost
exhausted with cold and fatigue. Though he knew it would take some hours to get through
the forest, he was so anxious to be at his journey's end that he resolved to go on; but
night overtook him, and the deep snow and bitter frost made it impossible for his horse to
carry him any further. Not a house was to be seen; 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 his weariness the howling of the wolves kept him
awake, and even when at last the day broke he was not much better off, for the falling
snow had covered up every path, and he didn't know which way to turn.
At length he made out some sort of track, and though at the beginning it was so rough and
slippery that he fell down more than once, it presently became easier, and led him into an
avenue of trees which ended in a splendid castle. It seemed to the merchant very strange
that no snow 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 he saw
before him a flight of agate steps, and went up them, and passed through several
splendidly furnished rooms. The pleasant warmth of the air revived him, and he felt very
hungry; but there seemed to be nobody in all this vast and splendid castle 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 smaller than the rest,
where a clear fire was burning and a couch was drawn up closely to it. Thinking that this
must be prepared for someone who was expected, he sat down to wait till he should come,
and very soon fell into a sweet sleep.
When his extreme hunger wakened him after several hours, he was still alone; but a little
table, on which was a good dinner, had been drawn up close to him, and, as he had eaten
nothing for twenty-four hours, he lost no time in beginning his meal, hoping that he might
soon have an opportunity of thanking his considerate entertainer, whoever it might be. But
no one appeared, and even after another long sleep, from which he awoke completely
refreshed, there was no sign of anybody, though a fresh meal of dainty cakes and fruit was
prepared on the little table at his elbow. Being naturally timid, the silence began to
terrify him, and he resolved to search once more through all the rooms; but it was of no
use. Not even a servant was to be seen; there was no sign of life in the castle! He began
to wonder what he should do, and to amuse himself by pretending that all the treasures he
saw were his own, and considering how he would divide them among his children. Then he
went down into the garden, and though it was winter everywhere else, here the sun shone,
and the birds sang, and the flowers bloomed, and the air was soft and sweet. The merchant,
in ecstacies with all he saw and heard, said to himself:
"All this must be meant for me. I'll go this minute and bring my children to share
all these delights."
In spite of being so cold and weary when he reached the castle, he had taken his horse to
the stable and fed it. Now he thought he would saddle it for his homeward journey, and he
turned down the path which led to the stable. This path had a hedge of roses on each side
of it, and the merchant thought he had never seen or smelt such exquisite flowers. They
reminded him of his promise to Bella, and he stopped and had just gathered one to take to
her when he was startled by a strange noise behind him. Turning round, he saw a frightful
Beast, which seemed to be very angry and said, in a terrible voice:
"Who told you that you might gather my roses? Wasn't it enough that I allowed you to
be in my castle and was kind to you? This is the way you show your gratitude, by stealing
my flowers! But your insolence shall not go unpunished." The merchant, terrified by
these furious words, dropped the fatal rose, and, throwing himself on his knees, cried:
"Pardon me, noble sir. I'm truly grateful to you for your hospitality, which was so
magnificent that I couldn't imagine that you would be offended by my taking such a little
thing as a rose." But the rich beast's anger was not lessened by this speech.
"You're very ready with excuses and flattery," he cried; "but that won't
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!"
And in despair he began to tell the rich beast all his misfortunes, and the reason of his
journey, not forgetting to mention Bella s request.
"A king's ransom would hardly have procured all that my other daughters asked."
he said: "but I thought that I might at least take Bella her rose. I beg you to
forgive me, for you see I meant no harm."
The rich beast considered for a moment, and then he said, in a less furious tone:
"I'll forgive you on one condition—that's, that you'll give me one of your
daughters."
"Ah!" cried the merchant, "if I were cruel enough to buy my own life at the
expense of one of my children's, what excuse could I invent to bring her here?"
"No excuse would be necessary," answered the rich beast. "If she comes at
all she must come willingly. On no other condition will I've her. See if any one of them
is courageous enough, and loves you well enough to come and save your life. You seem to be
an honest man, so I'll trust you to go home. I give you a month to see if either of your
daughters will come back with you and stay here, to let you go free. If neither of them is
willing, you must come alone, after bidding them good-by for ever, for then you'll belong
to me. And don't imagine that you can hide from me, for if you fail to keep your word I'll
come and fetch you!" added the rich beast grimly.
The merchant accepted this proposal, though he didn't really think any of his daughters
could be persuaded to come. He promised to return at the time appointed, and then, anxious
to escape from the presence of the rich beast, he asked permission to set off at once. But
the rich beast answered that he couldn't go till next day.
"Then you'll find a horse ready for you," he said. "Now go and eat your
supper, and await my orders."
The poor merchant, more dead than alive, went back to his room, where the most delicious
supper was already served on the little table which was drawn up before a blazing fire.
But he was too terrified to eat, and only tasted a few of the dishes, for fear the rich
beast should be angry if he didn't obey his orders. When he had finished he heard a great
noise in the next room, which he knew meant that the rich beast was coming. As he could do
nothing to escape his visit, the only thing that remained was to seem as little afraid as
possible; so when the rich beast appeared and asked roughly if he had supped well, the
merchant answered humbly that he had, thanks to his host's kindness. Then the rich beast
warned him to remember their agreement, and to prepare his daughter exactly for what she
had to expect.
"Don't get up tomorrow," he added, "till you see the sun and hear a golden
bell ring. Then you'll find your breakfast waiting for you here, and the horse you are to
ride will be ready in the courtyard. He'll also bring you back again when you come with
your daughter a month from now. Farewell. Take a rose to Bella, and remember your
promise!"
The merchant was only too glad when the rich beast went away, and though he couldn't sleep
for sadness, he lay down till the sun rose. Then, after a hasty breakfast, he went to
gather Bella's rose, and mounted his horse, which carried him off so swiftly that in an
instant he had lost sight of the castle, and he was still wrapped in gloomy thoughts when
it stopped before the door of the cottage.
His sons and daughters, who had been very uneasy at his long absence, rushed to meet him,
eager to know the result of his journey, which, seeing him mounted on a splendid horse and
wrapped in a rich mantle, they supposed to be favourable. He hid the truth from them at
first, only saying sadly to Bella as he gave her the rose:
"Here is what you asked me to bring you; you little know what it has cost."
But this excited their curiosity so greatly that presently he told them his adventures
from beginning to end, and then they were all very unhappy. The girls lamented loudly over
their lost hopes, and the sons declared that their father shouldn't return to this
terrible castle, and began to make plans for killing the rich beast if it should come to
fetch him. But he reminded them that he had promised to go back. Then the girls were very
angry with Bella, and said it was all her fault, and that if she had asked for something
sensible this would never have happened, and complained bitterly that they should have to
suffer for her folly.
Poor Bella, 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 for a rose in the middle of summer would cause so much
misery? But as I did the mischief it's only just that I should suffer for it. I'll
therefore go back with my father to keep his promise."
At first nobody would hear of this arrangement, and her father and brothers, who loved her
dearly, declared that nothing should make them let her go; but Bella was firm. As the time
drew near she divided all her little possessions between her sisters, and said good-by to
everything she loved, and when the fatal day came she encouraged and cheered her father as
they mounted together the horse which had brought him back. It seemed to fly rather than
gallop, but so smoothly that Bella was not frightened; indeed, she would have enjoyed the
journey if she had not feared what might happen to her at the end of it. Her father still
tried to persuade her to go back, but in vain. While they were talking the night fell, and
then, to their great surprise, wonderful coloured lights began to shine in all directions,
and splendid fireworks blazed out before them; all the forest was illuminated by them, and
even felt pleasantly warm, though it had been bitterly cold before. This lasted till they
reached the avenue of orange trees, where were statues holding flaming torches, and when
they got nearer to the castle they saw that it was illuminated from the roof to the
ground, and music sounded softly from the courtyard. "The rich beast must be very
hungry," said Bella, trying to laugh, "if he makes all this rejoicing over the
arrival of his prey.
But, in spite of her anxiety, she couldn't help admiring all the wonderful things she saw.
The horse stopped at the foot of the flight of steps leading to the terrace, and when they
had dismounted her father led her to the little room he had been in before, where they
found a splendid fire burning, and the table daintily spread with a delicious supper.
The merchant knew that this was meant for them, and Bella, who was rather less frightened
now that she had passed through so many rooms and seen nothing of the rich 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 rich beast's footsteps was heard approaching,
and Bella clung to her father in terror, which became all the greater when she saw how
frightened he was. But when the rich 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 evidently pleased the rich beast. After looking at her he said, in a tone that might
have struck terror into the boldest heart, though he didn't seem to be angry:
"Good-evening, old man. Good-evening, Bella."
The merchant was too terrified to reply, but Bella answered sweetly: "Good-evening,
Beast."
"Have you come willingly?" asked the rich beast. "Will you be content to
stay here when your father goes away?"
Bella answered bravely that she was quite prepared to stay.
"I'm pleased with you," said the rich beast. "As you have come of your own
accord, you may stay. As for you, old man," he added, turning to the merchant,
"at sunrise tomorrow you'll take your departure. When the bell rings get up quickly
and eat your breakfast, and you'll find the same horse waiting to take you home; but
remember that you must never expect to see my castle again."
Then turning to Bella, he said:
"Take your father into the next room, and help him to choose everything you think
your brothers and sisters would like to have. You'll find two travelling-trunks there;
fill them as full as you can. It's only just that you should send them something very
precious as a remembrance of yourself."
Then he went away, after saying, "Good-by, Bella; good-by, old man"; and though
Bella was beginning to think with great dismay of her father's departure, she was afraid
to disobey the rich beast's orders; and they went into the next room, which had shelves
and cupboards all round it. They were greatly surprised at the riches it contained. There
were splendid dresses fit for a queen, with all the ornaments that were to be worn with
them; and when Bella opened the cupboards she was quite dazzled by the gorgeous jewels
that lay in heaps on every shelf. After choosing a vast quantity, which she divided
between her sisters—for she had made a heap of the wonderful dresses for each of
them—she opened the last chest, which was full of gold.
"I think, father," she said, "that, as the gold will be more useful to you,
we had better take out the other things again, and fill the trunks with it." So they
did this; but the more they put in the more room there seemed to be, and at last they put
back all the jewels and dresses they had taken out, and Bella even added as many more of
the jewels as she could carry at once; and then the trunks were not too full, but they
were so heavy that an elephant couldn't have carried them!
"The rich beast was mocking us," cried the merchant; "he must have
pretended to give us all these things, knowing that I couldn't carry them away."
"Let's wait and see," answered Bella. "I can't believe that he meant to
deceive us. All we can do is to fasten them up and leave them ready."
So they did this and returned to the little room, where, to their astonishment, they found
breakfast ready. The merchant ate his with a good appetite, as the rich beast's generosity
made him believe that he might perhaps venture to come back soon and see Bella. But she
felt sure that her father was leaving her for ever, so she was very sad when the bell rang
sharply for the second time, and warned them that the time had come for them to part. They
went down into the courtyard, where two horses were waiting, one loaded with the two
trunks, the other for him to ride. They were pawing the ground in their impatience to
start, and the merchant was forced to bid Bella a hasty farewell; and as soon as he was
mounted he went off at such a pace that she lost sight of him in an instant. Then Bella
began to cry, and wandered sadly back to her own room. But she soon found that she was
very sleepy, and as she had nothing better to do she lay down and instantly fell asleep.
And then she dreamed that she was walking by a brook bordered with trees, and lamenting
her sad fate, when a young prince, handsomer than anyone she had ever seen, and with a
voice that went straight to her heart, came and said to her, "Ah, Bella! you're not
so unfortunate as you suppose. Here you'll be rewarded for all you have suffered
elsewhere. Your every wish shall be gratified. Only try to find me out, no matter how I
may be disguised, as I love you dearly, and in making me happy you'll find your own
happiness. Be as true-hearted as you're beautiful, and we shall have nothing left to wish
for."
"What can I do, prince, to make you happy?" said Bella.
"Only be grateful," he answered, "and don't trust too much to your eyes.
And, above all, don't desert me till you have saved me from my cruel misery."
After this she thought she found herself in a room with a stately and beautiful lady, who
said to her:
"Dear Bella, try not to regret all you have left behind you, for you're destined to a
better fate. Only don't let yourself be deceived by appearances."
Bella found her dreams so interesting that she was in no hurry to awake, but presently the
clock roused her by calling her name softly twelve times, and then she got up and found
her dressing-table set out with everything she could possibly want; and when her toilet
was finished she found dinner was waiting in the room next to hers. But dinner does not
take very long when you're all by yourself, and very soon she sat down cosily in the
corner of a sofa, and began to think about the charming prince she had seen in her dream.
"He said I could make him happy," said Bella to herself.
"It seems, then, that this horrible Beast keeps him a prisoner. How can I set him
free? I wonder why they both told me not to trust to appearances? I don't understand it.
But, after all, it was only a dream, so why should I trouble myself about it? I had better
go and find something to do to amuse myself."
So she got up and began to explore some of the many rooms of the castle.
The first she entered was lined with mirrors, and Bella saw herself reflected on every
side, and thought she had never seen such a charming room. Then a bracelet which was
hanging from a chandelier caught her eye, and on taking it down she was greatly surprised
to find that it held a portrait of her unknown admirer, just as she had seen him in her
dream. With great delight she slipped the bracelet on her arm, and went on into a gallery
of pictures, where she soon found a portrait of the same handsome prince, as large as
life, and so well painted that as she studied it he seemed to smile kindly at her. Tearing
herself away from the portrait at last, she passed through into a room which contained
every musical instrument under the sun, and here she amused herself for a long while in
trying some of them, and singing till she was tired. The next room was a library, and she
saw everything she had ever wanted to read, as well as everything she had read, and it
seemed to her that a whole lifetime wouldn't be enough to even read the names of the
books, there were so many. By this time it was growing dusk, and wax candles in diamond
and ruby candlesticks were beginning to light themselves in every room.
Bella found her supper served just at the time she preferred to have it, but she didn't
see anyone or hear a sound, and, though her father had warned her that she would be alone,
she began to find it rather dull.
But presently she heard the rich beast coming, and wondered tremblingly if he meant to eat
her up now.
However, as he didn't seem at all ferocious, and only said gruffly:
"Good-evening, Bella," she answered cheerfully and managed to conceal her
terror. Then the rich beast asked her how she had been amusing herself, and she told him
all the rooms she had seen.
Then he asked if she thought she could be happy in his castle; and Bella answered that
everything was so beautiful that she would be very hard to please if she couldn't be
happy. And after about an hour's talk Bella began to think that the rich beast was not
nearly so terrible as she had supposed at first. Then he got up to leave her, and said in
his gruff voice:
"Do you love me, Bella? Will you marry me?"
"Oh! what shall I say?" cried Bella, for she was afraid to make the rich beast
angry by refusing.
"Say 'yes' or 'no' without fear," he replied.
"Oh! no, Beast," said Bella hastily.
"Since you won't, good-night, Bella," he said.
And she answered, "Good-night, Beast," very glad to find that her refusal had
not provoked him. And after he was gone she was very soon in bed and asleep, and dreaming
of her unknown prince. She thought he came and said to her:
"Ah, Bella! why are you so unkind to me? I fear I'm fated to be unhappy for many a
long day still."
And then her dreams changed, but the charming prince figured in them all; and when morning
came her first thought was to look at the portrait, and see if it was really like him, and
she found that it certainly was.
This morning she decided to amuse herself in the garden, for the sun shone, and all the
fountains were playing; but she was astonished to find that every place was familiar to
her, and presently she came to the brook where the myrtle trees were growing where she had
first met the prince in her dream, and that made her think more than ever that he must be
kept a prisoner by the rich beast. When she was tired she went back to the castle, and
found a new room full of materials for every kind of work—ribbons to make into bows,
and silks to work into flowers. Then there was an aviary full of rare birds, which were so
tame that they flew to Bella as soon as they saw her, and perched on her shoulders and her
head.
"Pretty little creatures," she said, "how I wish that your cage was nearer
to my room, that I might often hear you sing!
So saying she opened a door, and found, to her delight, that it led into her own room,
though she had thought it was quite the other side of the castle.
There were more birds in a room farther on, parrots and cockatoos that could talk, and
they greeted Bella by name; indeed, she found them so entertaining that she took one or
two back to her room, and they talked to her while she was at supper; after which the rich
beast paid her his usual visit, and asked her the same questions as before, and then with
a gruff "good-night" he took his departure, and Bella went to bed to dream of
her mysterious prince. The days passed swiftly in different amusements, and after a while
Bella found out another strange thing in the castle, which often pleased her when she was
tired of being alone. There was one room which she had not noticed particularly; it was
empty, except that under each of the windows stood a very comfortable chair; and the first
time she had looked out of the window it had seemed to her that a black curtain prevented
her from seeing anything outside. But the second time she went into the room, happening to
be tired, she sat down in one of the chairs, when instantly the curtain was rolled aside,
and a most amusing pantomime was acted before her; there were dances, and coloured lights,
and music, and pretty dresses, and it was all so gay that Bella was in ecstacies. After
that she tried the other seven windows in turn, and there was some new and surprising
entertainment to be seen from each of them, so that Bella never could feel lonely any
more. Every evening after supper the rich beast came to see her, and always before saying
good-night asked her in his terrible voice:
"Bella, will you marry me?"
And it seemed to Bella, now she understood him better, that when she said, "No,
Beast," he went away quite sad. But her happy dreams of the handsome young prince
soon made her forget the poor Beast, and the only thing that at all disturbed her was to
be constantly told to distrust appearances, to let her heart guide her, and not her eyes,
and many other equally perplexing things, which, consider as she would, she couldn't
understand.
So everything went on for a long time, till at last, happy as she was, Bella began to long
for the sight of her father and her brothers and sisters; and one night, seeing her look
very sad, the rich beast asked her what was the matter. Bella had quite ceased to be
afraid of him. Now she knew that he was really gentle in spite of his ferocious looks and
his dreadful voice. So she answered that she was longing to see her home once more. On
hearing this the rich beast seemed sadly distressed, and cried miserably.
"Ah! Bella, have you the heart to desert an unhappy Beast like this? What more do you
want to make you happy? Is it because you hate me that you want to escape?"
"No, dear Beast," answered Bella softly, "I don't hate you, and I should be
very sorry never to see you any more, but I long to see my father again. Only let me go
for two months, and I promise to come back to you and stay for the rest of my life."
The rich beast, who had been sighing dolefully while she spoke, now replied:
"I can't refuse you anything you ask, even though it should cost me my life. Take the
four boxes you'll find in the room next to your own, and fill them with everything you
wish to take with you. But remember your promise and come back when the two months are
over, or you may have cause to repent it, for if you don't come in good time you'll find
your faithful Beast dead. You won't need any chariot to bring you back. Only say good-by
to all your brothers and sisters the night before you come away, and when you have gone to
bed turn this ring round on your finger and say firmly: 'I wish to go back to my castle
and see my Beast again.' Good-night, Bella. Fear nothing, sleep peacefully, and before
long you shall see your father once more."
As soon as Bella was alone she hastened to fill the boxes with all the rare and precious
things she saw about her, and only when she was tired of heaping things into them did they
seem to be full.
Then she went to bed, but could hardly sleep for joy. And when at last she did begin to
dream of her beloved prince she was grieved to see him stretched on a grassy bank, sad and
weary, and hardly like himself.
"What's the matter?" she cried.
He looked at her reproachfully, and said:
"How can you ask me, cruel one? Are you not leaving me to my death perhaps?"
"Ah! don't be so sorrowful," cried Bella; "I'm only going to assure my
father that I'm safe and happy. I've promised the rich beast faithfully that I'll come
back, and he would die of grief if I didn't keep my word!"
"What would that matter to you?" said the prince "Surely you wouldn't
care?"
"Indeed, I should be ungrateful if I didn't care for such a kind Beast," cried
Bella indignantly. "I would die to save him from pain. I assure you it's not his
fault that he is so ugly."
Just then a strange sound woke her—someone was speaking not very far away; and
opening her eyes she found herself in a room she had never seen before, which was
certainly not nearly so splendid as those she was used to in the rich beast's castle.
Where could she be? She got up and dressed hastily, and then saw that the boxes she had
packed the night before were all in the room.
While she was wondering by what magic the rich beast had transported them and herself to
this strange place she suddenly heard her father's voice, and rushed out and greeted him
joyfully. Her brothers and sisters were all astonished at her appearance, as they had
never expected to see her again, and there was no end to the questions they asked her. She
had also much to hear about what had happened to them while she was away, and of her
father's journey home. But when they heard that she had only come to be with them for a
short time, and then must go back to the rich beast's castle for ever, they lamented
loudly. Then Bella asked her father what he thought could be the meaning of her strange
dreams, and why the prince constantly begged her not to trust to appearances. After much
consideration, he answered: "You tell me yourself that the rich beast, frightful as
he is, loves you dearly, and deserves your love and gratitude for his gentleness and
kindness; I think the prince must mean you to understand that you ought to reward him by
doing as he wishes you to, in spite of his ugliness."
Bella couldn't help seeing that this seemed very probable; still, when she thought of her
dear prince who was so handsome, she didn't feel at all inclined to marry the rich beast.
At any rate, for two months she need not decide, but could enjoy herself with her sisters.
But though they were rich now, and lived in town again, and had plenty of acquaintances,
Bella found that nothing amused her very much; and she often thought of the castle, where
she was so happy, especially as at home she never once dreamed of her dear prince, and she
felt quite sad without him.
Then her sisters seemed to have got quite used to being without her, and even found her
rather in the way, so she wouldn't have been sorry when the two months were over but for
her father and brothers, who begged her to stay, and seemed so grieved at the thought of
her departure that she had not the courage to say good-by to them. Every day when she got
up she meant to say it at night, and when night came she put it off again, till at last
she had a dismal dream which helped her to make up her mind. She thought she was wandering
in a lonely path in the castle gardens, when she heard groans which seemed to come from
some bushes hiding the entrance of a cave, and running quickly to see what could be the
matter, she found the rich beast stretched out on his side, apparently dying. He
reproached her faintly with being the cause of his distress, and at the same moment a
stately lady appeared, and said very gravely:
"Ah! Bella, you're only just in time to save his life. See what happens when people
don't keep their promises! If you had delayed one day more, you would have found him
dead."
Bella was so terrified by this dream that the next morning she announced her intention of
going back at once, and that very night she said good-by to her father and all her
brothers and sisters, and as soon as she was in bed she turned her ring round on her
finger, and said firmly, "I wish to go back to my castle and see my Beast
again," as she had been told to do.
Then she fell asleep instantly, and only woke up to hear the clock saying "Bella,
Bella" twelve times in its musical voice, which told her at once that she was really
in the castle once more. Everything was just as before, and her birds were so glad to see
her! But Bella thought she had never known such a long day, for she was so anxious to see
the rich beast again that she felt as if suppertime would never come.
But when it did come and no Beast appeared she was really frightened; so, after listening
and waiting for a long time, she ran down into the garden to search for him. Up and down
the paths and avenues ran poor Bella, calling him in vain, for no one answered, and not a
trace of him could she find; till at last, quite tired, she stopped for a minute's rest,
and saw that she was standing opposite the shady path she had seen in her dream. She
rushed down it, and, sure enough, there was the cave, and in it lay the rich
beast—asleep, as Bella thought. Quite glad to have found him, she ran up and stroked
his head, but, to her horror, he didn't move or open his eyes.
"Oh! he is dead; and it's all my fault," said Bella, crying bitterly.
But then, looking at him again, she fancied he still breathed, and, hastily fetching some
water from the nearest fountain, she sprinkled it over his face, and, to her great
delight, he began to revive.
"Oh! Beast, how you frightened me!" she cried. "I never knew how much I
loved you till just now, when I feared I was too late to save your life."
"Can you really love such an ugly creature as I am?" said the rich beast
faintly. "Ah! Bella, you only came just in time. I was dying because I thought you
had forgotten your promise. But go back now and rest, I shall see you again by and
by."
Bella, who had half expected that he would be angry with her, was reassured by his gentle
voice, and went back to the castle, where supper was awaiting her; and afterward the rich
beast came in as usual, and talked about the time she had spent with her father, asking if
she had enjoyed herself, and if they had all been very glad to see her.
Bella answered politely, and quite enjoyed telling him all that had happened to her. And
when at last the time came for him to go, and he asked, as he had so often asked before,
"Bella, will you marry me?"
She answered softly, "Yes, dear Beast."
As she spoke a blaze of light sprang up before the windows of the castle; fireworks
crackled and guns banged, and across the avenue of orange trees, in letters all made of
fire-flies, was written: "Long live the prince and his Bride."
Turning to ask the rich beast what it could all mean, Bella found that he had disappeared,
and in his place stood her long-loved prince! At the same moment the wheels of a chariot
were heard on the terrace, and two ladies entered the room. One of them Bella recognized
as the stately lady she had seen in her dreams; the other was also so grand and queenly
that Bella hardly knew which to greet first.
But the one she already knew said to her companion:
"Well, queen, this is Bella, who has had the courage to rescue your son from the
terrible enchantment. They love one another, and only your consent to their marriage is
wanting to make them perfectly happy."
"I consent with all my heart," cried the queen. "How can I ever thank you
enough, charming girl, for having restored my dear son to his natural form?"
And then she tenderly embraced Bella and the prince, who had meanwhile been greeting the
fairy and receiving her congratulations.
"Now," said the fairy to Bella, "I suppose you would like me to send for
all your brothers and sisters to dance at your wedding?"
And so she did, and the marriage was celebrated the very next day with the utmost
splendour, and Bella and the prince lived happily ever after.
Madame de Villeneuve. (AT 425C, Frankreich)
top
