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Beauty and the Beast
Once upon a time ... as a merchant set off for market, he asked each of his three daughters what she would like as a present on his return. The first daughter wanted a brocade dress the second a pearl necklace and the third, whose name was Beauty, the youngest, prettiest, and sweetest of them all, said to her father, "All I'd like is a rose you've picked especially for me!"
When the merchant had finished his business, he set off for home. However, a sudden storm blew up. Cold and tired, the merchant lost all hope if reaching an inn. Suddenly he noticed a light shining in the middle of a wood. As he drew near, he saw that it was a castle. When he reached the door, he saw it was open, and though he shouted, nobody came to greet him. He went inside. In a table in the main hall, a splendid dinner lay already served. No one answered his calls, so the hungry merchant sat down to a warm meal. Curious he went upstairs, where the hall led into magnificent rooms. A fire crackled in the first room and a soft bed looked very inviting. It was now late. He lay down on the bed and fell fast asleep.
When he woke the next morning, he found a mug of steaming coffee and some fruit by his bedside. The merchant had breakfast and went downstairs to thank his host. But there was no one in sight. He wandered outside and then into the garden, Suddenly, a large rose bush caught his eye. Remembering his promise to Beauty, he bent down to pick a rose especially for her. instantly, out sprang a horrible beast wearing splendid clothes. A deep, terrifying voice growled, "Ungrateful man! I gave you shelter, you ate at my table and slept in my own bed, but now all the thanks I get is the theft of my favorite flowers! I shall put you to death!"
Trembling with fear, the merchant fell on his knees before the beast. "Forgive me! I'll do anything you say! The rose was for my daughter, Beauty. I promised to bring her back a rose!"
"I shall spare your life, but on one condition, that you bring me your daughter!" The terror-stricken merchant promised that he would. He arrived home in tears and told his daughters his dreadful adventure. Beauty put his mind at rest immediately. "Dear father, don't worry. Take me to the castle. I'll stay there in your place!" The merchant hugged his daughter. "I never did doubt your love for me. Thank you for saving my life." So Beauty was led to the castle. Surprisingly, the Beast greeted the girl pleasantly.
At first, Beauty was frightened of the Beast. Then she found that, in spite of the monster's awful head, the horror of it gradually faded as time went by. She had one of the finest rooms in the castle and sat for hours, embroidering in front of the fire. And the Beast would sit, only a short distance, silently gazing at her.
Then it started to say a few kind words, till in the end, Beauty was actually enjoying his company. The days passed and the Beauty and the Beast became good friends. Then one day, the Beast asked the girl to be his wife. Taken by surprise, Beauty did not know what to say. Marry such and ugly monster? She would rather die! But she did not want to hurt its feelings. She owed to it her own life as well as her father's. "I really can't say yes. I'd so much like to ---" The Beast interrupted her. :I quite understand! And I'm not offended by your refusal!" Life went on as usual, and nothing further was said. One day, the Beast presented Beauty with a magic mirror. When Beauty peered into it, she could see her family, far away. "You won't feel so lonely now," said the Beast. Beauty stared for hours at her distant family.
One day, the Beast found her weeping beside the magic mirror. "What's wrong?" he asked, kindly as always. "My father is very ill and close to dying! Oh, how I wish I could see him again before it's too late!"
"If you swear that you will return here in seven day's time, I'll let you go and visit your father!" "I swear! I swear I will! How kind you are! You've made a loving daughter so happy!" replied Beauty.
Beauty returned to her father and stayed beside him for hours, describing her life at the castle, and explaining that the Beast was really good and kind. The days passed and at last the merchant was able to leave his bed. He was completely well again. Beauty was happy. However, she had not noticed that seven days had gone by. Then one night she woke from a terrible nightmare. She had dreamt that the Beast was dying and calling for her.
"Come back! Come back to me!: it was pleading. Beauty remembered her promise and left home immediately. Once at the castle, she ran into the garden and there crouched the Beast, its eyes hut as though dead. Beauty threw herself at it and hugged it tightly. "Don't die! Don't die! I'll marry you ---" At these words, the Beast magically turned into a handsome young man. "How I've been longing for this moment!" he said. "An evil witch turned me into a monster and only the love of a maiden willing to accept me as I was could change me back into my real self. My dearest! I'll be so happy if you'll marry me!"
Soon the wedding took place and from that day on, the young prince would have nothing but roses in his gardens, And that's why, to this day, the castle is known as the Castle of the Rose.
The End
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