Beauty and the Beast

Once upon a time, a man became lost in a snowstorm. He had wandered about for a long time, and had little hope left when, through the snow, he spied a castle. When he reached it, he couldn't all the candles lit, and the table set for a meal, but no-one was there.

He ate a meal himself anyway, and then he fell asleep. When he awoke the storm had passed and the man was just preparing to journey on, when he noticed a flowering rose tree. He decided to pick a rose and take it home to his daughter Beauty.

Suddenly, the owner of the castle appeared, so fearsome a sight that the man thought he was a beast. "Have you not been give enough already?" Beast asked the traveler furiously. "Why are you taking my flowers as well? As a punishment, now you will die."

The traveler begged Beast to relent, and at last it was agreed that his life would be spared, if he would send his daughter to the castle. So Beauty had to go the castle, and, as had happened with her father, there was no-one to meet her.

The Beast only showed himself to her after some days had passed. Little by little, the two of them got into the habit of eating together, despite the fact that the sight of him was always a shock to Beauty. But everyday, she was more and more impressed by his kindness and his gentleness.

As for the Beast, he had fallen in love with the young girl, but he knew that the feeling would never be the same for her, because of the way he looked. The pain of this heartache gradually made him grow weaker and weaker, until it seemed that he was on the point of dying. Beauty found him on his deathbed, and, so moved by the sight of him, she burst into tears.

One of the girl's tears fell on the Beast's face, and that was enough to work the miracle. Suddenly, the monster changed into a handsome young man. He sprang from the bed, they embraced each other, and from that day on the two lovers lived happily together in perfect harmony.

Tale As Old As Time