BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

I

BEAUTY AND HER SISTERS

 

THERE was once a rich merchant who had six children, three sons and three daughters. He loved them more than he loved all his riches, so that he was always seeking to make them happy and wise.

The daughters were very pretty; but the youngest was more than pretty—she was beautiful. As every one called her Little Beauty when she was a child, and she became more lovely every year, the name grew up with her, so that she had no other than just—Beauty.

Now Beauty was as good as she was beautiful. But her elder sisters were ill-natured and jealous of her, and could not bear to hear her called Beauty. They were very proud, too, of their father’s riches, and put on great airs. They would not visit the daughters of other merchants, but were always following persons who had titles, Lady This and Duchess That. They laughed at Beauty, who lived quietly at home with their father.

The father was so rich that many great merchants wished to marry his daughters. But the two eldest always said that they could never think of marrying anybody below a duke, or at the least an earl. As for Beauty, she thanked her lovers for thinking so well of her, but as she was still very young, she wished to live a few years longer with her father.

Now it happened that the merchant all at once lost his great wealth. Nothing was left but one small house in the country, and there the poor  man told his children they must now go, and earn their daily bread.

The two eldest daughters said they need not go, for they had plenty of lovers who would be glad enough to marry them, even though they had lost their fortune. But they were wrong, for their lovers would not look at them now, and jeered at them in their trouble, because they had been so proud before.

Yet every one felt sorry for Beauty. Several gentlemen who loved her begged her still to let them marry her, though she had not a penny. Beauty refused, and said she could not leave her father now that trouble had come upon him.

So the family went to live in the small house in the country. There the merchant and his three sons ploughed and sowed the fields, and worked hard all day. Beauty rose at four o’clock every morning, put the house in order, and got breakfast for the whole family. It was very hard at first, for no one helped her. But every day it grew easier to work, and Beauty grew stronger and rosier. When her work was done, she could read, or play on her harp, or sit at her spinning-wheel, singing as she spun.

As for her two sisters, they were idle and unhappy, and became quite helpless. They never got up till ten o’clock. They spent the day moping and fretting, because they no longer had fine clothes to wear, and could not go to fine parties. They jeered at Beauty, and said that she was nothing but a servant-girl after all, to like that kind of living. But Beauty did not mind them, and lived on cheerfully.

They had been in the country a year, when one morning the merchant had a letter. It brought the news that a ship laden with rich goods belonging to him had not been lost after all, and had just come into port. The two sisters were half wild with joy, for now they could soon leave the farm-house, and go back to the gay city.

When their father was about to go to the port to settle his business there, they begged him to bring back all manner of fine things for them.

Then the merchant asked Beauty:—

“And what shall I bring you, Beauty?” for Beauty had yet asked nothing.

“Why, since you ask me dear father, I should like you to bring me a rose, for none grow in these parts.” Now Beauty did not care so very much for a rose, but she did not like to seem to blame her sisters, or to appear better than they, by saying that she did not wish for anything.

The good man set off; but all was not as he had hoped. The ship had come in, but there was a dispute about the cargo. He went to law, and it ended in his turning back poorer than when he left his home.

II

THE BEAST AT HOME

 

HE set out to return to the farm-house. When he was within thirty miles of home, he came to a large wood through which he must pass. The snow began to fall, and covered the path. The night closed in, and it grew so dark and so cold that the poor man gave himself up for lost. He could not see the way, and he was faint with cold and hunger.

All at once, he saw a light at the end of a long avenue of trees. He turned into the avenue, and rode until he came to the end of it. There he found a great palace; the windows were all lighted, and the door stood open, but he saw no one.

The door of the stable was also open, and his horse walked in. A crib full of hay and oats was there, and the tired beast fell to eating heartily. The merchant left his horse in the stall and entered the palace. He saw nobody and heard nobody, but a fire was burning on the hearth, and a table was spread with choice food, and set for one person. He was wet to the skin, and went to the fire to dry himself, saying:—

“I hope the master of the house or his servants will not blame me for this. No doubt some one will soon come.”

He waited, but no one came. The clock struck eleven. Then, faint for want of food, he went to the table and ate some meat, yet all the time in a great fright. But when he was no longer hungry, he began to pluck up courage, and to look about him.

The clock struck twelve. He left the hall, and passed through one room after another until he came to one where there was a bed. It was made ready, and, since he was very tired, he lay down and slept soundly.

The merchant did not wake until ten o’clock the next morning. He had placed his clothes on a chair by the side of the bed. They had been nearly ruined by the storm, and were besides old and worn. Now he saw a wholly new suit in their place.

He began to think he must be in the palace of some fairy, and he was sure of it when he looked out of the window. The snow had gone, and a lovely garden lay before him, full of flowers. He dressed and went back to the hall. A table was spread for breakfast, and he at once sat down to it. Then he went to get his horse. On the way he passed some roses. He remembered Beauty, and plucked a rose to take home with him.

As soon as he had done this, he heard a frightful roar, and saw a dreadful Beast coming toward him. He was so frightened that he nearly fell down. The Beast cried out in a loud voice:—

“Ungrateful man! I saved your life by letting you come into my palace. I gave you food to eat and a bed to rest in, and now you steal my roses, which I love beyond everything. You shall pay for this with your life!” The poor man threw himself on his knees before the Beast, saying:—

“Forgive me, my lord. I did not know I was doing wrong. I only wanted to pluck a rose for one of my daughters. She asked me to bring one home to her. I pray you, do not kill me, my lord.”

“I am not a lord. I am a Beast. I hate soft words, and you will not catch me by any of your fine speeches. You say you have daughters. Well, I will forgive you, if one of them will come and die in your stead. But promise that, if they refuse, you will come back in three months.”

The merchant did not mean in the least to let one of his daughters die for him. But he wished to see his children once more before he died, so he promised to return if one of his daughters would not die for him. The Beast then told him to go back to the room where he had slept. There he would find a chest. He might fill it with anything he found in the palace, and it would be sent after him.

III

BEAUTY GOES TO THE BEAST

 

THE merchant did as he was bid. The floor of the room was covered with gold, and he filled the chest. If he must die, he would at least provide for his children. Then he took his horse and rode out of the wood, and came at last to his home. He held the rose in his hand, and as the daughters came out to meet him, he gave it to the youngest saying:—

“Take it, Beauty. You little know what it has cost your poor father;” and then he told all that had happened since he left home.

The two eldest daughters began to cry aloud, and to blame Beauty. Why did she ask for roses? Why did she not ask for dresses, as they did; then all would have gone well. Now the hard-hearted thing, they said, did not shed a tear. Beauty replied quietly that it was of little use to weep. She meant to go and die in her father’s stead.

“No, no!” cried the three brothers. “We will go and seek this Beast, and either he or we must die!”

“It is all in vain,” said the father. “You do not know the Beast. He is more mighty than you can think. No! you must stay and care for your sisters. At the end of three months I shall go back and die.” The merchant then went to his room, and there he found the chest of gold.

He was greatly amazed. He had forgotten the promise of the Beast. But he said nothing about the chest to his daughters. He was sure they would tease him to go back to town to live.

Beauty said little, but when the three months were over, she made ready to go with her father. The brothers and sisters bade them good-by, and wept over Beauty. The brothers wept real tears, but the sisters rubbed their eyes with onions, so as to make tears; they did not really care.

The horse took the right road, as if he knew the way, and when he came to the palace, he went at once to the stable. The merchant and Beauty entered the palace. They found the table spread for two persons, and they sat down to it.

After supper there was a great roar as before, and the Beast entered. Beauty trembled, and the Beast turned to her and said:—

“Did you come of your own self?”

“Yes,” said Beauty, still trembling.

“Then I thank you. But you, sir,” and he turned to the father, “get you gone to-morrow, and never let me see your face again. Good-night, Beauty.”

“Good-night, Beast,” she replied, and Beast walked off. The merchant begged and begged his daughter to leave him, and to go back to her home. But she was firm, and when the morning came, she made him leave her.

“Surely,” he thought, “Beast will not hurt Beauty.”

Beauty wept, but she was a brave girl, and soon she dried her eyes, and began to walk through the palace. She came to a door, and over it was written BEAUTY’S ROOM. She opened the door, and found herself in a fine chamber, with books, music and a harp, and many beautiful things.

“It cannot be that I have only a day to live,” she said, “for why should all this be done for me?” She opened a book and saw written in letters of gold: Your wishes and commands shall be obeyed. You are here the queen over everything.

“Alas!” she thought, “I wish most of all I could see my father and know what he is doing.” Just then her eyes fell on a large looking-glass, and in it she saw her father just reaching home. Her sisters came out to meet him. They tried to look sad, but it was plain that they were not sorry to see him come home alone.

The sight in the glass was only for a moment, then it faded, and Beauty turned away and in her mind thanked Beast for what he had done.

At noon she found dinner ready for her, and sweet music sounded as she ate. But she saw nobody. At night Beast came and asked leave to sup with her. Of course she could not say no, but she sat in a fright all through supper. He did not speak for some time. Then he said:—

“Beauty, do you think me very ugly?”

“Yes, Beast; I cannot tell a lie. But I think you are very good.” Nothing more was said, and Beauty was beginning to be rid of her fear, when all at once he asked:—

“Beauty, will you marry me?” Beauty was in a fright again, but she answered:—

“No, Beast.” He gave a great sigh which shook the house. Then he got up from the table and said:—

“Good-night, Beauty,” and went away. Beauty was glad he had gone, but she could not help pitying him.

IV

THE CHARM IS BROKEN

 

BEAUTY lived in this way three months. The Beast came to supper every night. He did not grow less ugly, but Beauty did not mind his ugliness so much, for she saw how kind he really was. But there was one trouble. Every night the Beast was sure to ask:—

“Will you marry me, Beauty?” and Beauty always answered:—

“No, Beast.”

But one night he begged her at least never to leave him. Now it chanced on that very day Beauty had looked in her glass. There she saw her father sick with grief, for he thought his child was dead. Her sisters were married. Her brothers were soldiers. So she told all this to the Beast, and wept and said she should die if she could not see her father once more.

“Do not refuse to let me go!” she begged.

“No,” said the Beast. “I will not refuse you. I would much rather your poor Beast should die of grief for your absence. So you may go.”

“Oh, thank you, dear Beast,” said Beauty, “and I will surely come back in a week.”

“When you wish to come back, Beauty, lay your ring on the table before you go to bed, and you will find yourself here when you wake. Good-night, Beauty.”

“Good-night, Beast.”

The next morning Beauty woke to find herself at the farm-house. Her father was so glad to see her once more, and to know she was alive and well, that his sickness left him at once. He sent for her sisters, who came and brought their husbands.

These husbands were not much to be praised. One was so vain that he looked at himself, and seldom looked at his wife. The other had a sharp tongue, and liked to use it on other people, and most of all on his own wife. So the sisters were no happier than they had been.

But they were still jealous of Beauty, and they laid a plan for her hurt. They thought if they could keep her at home after the week was over, the Beast would be so angry, he would soon make an end of her. So, at the end of the week, they made a great ado, and begged her to stay just a little longer. Beauty could not help being glad to have her sisters want her. She said she would stay one week more; but she was not quite easy in her mind.

On the night of the tenth day the sisters gave her a feast, in order to make her forget the Beast. But at night Beauty dreamed she saw poor Beast lying half dead on the grass in the palace garden. She woke in tears, and at once laid her ring on the table, and then went to sleep again.

When she awoke, she was once more in her room at the palace. All day she wished for supper time to come. Then she would see Beast again. But supper time came, and no Beast was at the table. Nine o’clock struck, and still Beast did not come.

Beauty flew into the garden. She went to the spot she had dreamed of, and there lay poor Beast on the grass. She felt his heart beat. He was still alive. She ran for some water and threw it on his face. The Beast opened his eyes and said in a faint voice:—

“You forgot your promise. I could not live without you, and I meant to starve to death. Now you have come, and I shall die happy.”

“No! you shall not die, dear Beast,” cried Beauty. “You shall live to be my husband, for now I feel I really love you.”

At these words the whole palace was ablaze with light. Music sounded, and there was a stir all about. There was no Beast, but in his place a very handsome prince was at Beauty’s feet.

“You have broken the charm that held me,” he said.

“But where is my poor Beast?” asked Beauty, weeping. “I want my dear Beast.”

“I was the Beast,” said the Prince. “A wicked fairy had power to make me live in that ugly form, till some good and beautiful maid should be found, so good as to love me in spite of my ugliness.”

Beauty was amazed, but she took the Prince’s hand and they went into the palace. The people of the country were full of joy. They had mourned for their Prince, and now he had suddenly come back again, and with him was a beautiful princess. So Beauty and the Beast, who was no longer a Beast, reigned happily in the kingdom.

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33 thoughts on “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST”

  1. So many things are there in this story to learn about gratfulness, real love and hard working. We should not be ungrateful at all. We should keep our commitment and try until succeed.

  2. wow so nice story is this. After reading this story I can tell that only true love can make the impossible thing to possible. Beauty was really a full of beauty ness on the other hand who make fun with another they can not get big in the life. In addition to this “beauty and the beast ” is the parfect tittle for this story. However greedyness cannot makes a man success in life.

  3. Beauty and the Beast, a tale of true love. In this fable there is a prince of a good heart. But unfortunately, he was spelled by a witch that he would remain as a beast untill some true love comes into hia life. He waits for his love for long but he was helpless as there was nobody to come to a beast. And to love him is quite impossible.

    But, he was fortunate enough that oneday God granted him a pure love for him. It was Beauty who was beautiful like her name. She also possessed a good heart. She could love her nearest persons. She was ready to sacrifice her life for her father.

    She has two ungrateful sisters also. They were moody and stubborn. Her sisters were jealous of her but she didn’t. They got the result in their life and Beauty got the charming prince. The prince loved the girl more than his life that he started to starve till death. And, surprisingly Beauty could see his love through dream. Then she rushed to him and found the beast alive.
    Finally the spell breaks by her love. They got married and lived happily.

    True love can change the whole world. It can change a beast into a great one. For pure love many people has been changed who were very rude before.
    Its a very good and interesting story.

  4. Beauty and the Beast, a tale of true love. In this fable there is a prince of a good heart. But unfortunately, he was spelled by a witch that he would remain as a beast untill some true love comes into hia life. He waits for his love for long but he was helpless as there was nobody to come to a beast. And to love him is quite impossible.

    But, he was fortunate enough that oneday God granted him a pure love for him. It was Beauty who was beautiful like her name. She also possessed a good heart. She could love her nearest persons. She was ready to sacrifice her life for her father.

    Her sisters were jealous of her but she didn’t. They got the result in their life and Beauty got the charming prince. The prince loved the girl more than his life that he started to starve till death. And, surprisingly Beauty could see his love through dream. Then she rushed to him and found the beast alive.
    Finally the spell breaks by her love. They got married and lived happily.

    True love can change the whole world. It can change a beast into a great one. For pure love many people has been changed who were very rude before.

  5. Beauty and the Beast, a tale of true love. In this fable there is a prince of a good heart. But unfortunately, he was spelled by a witch that he would remain as a beast untill some true love comes into hia life. He waits for his love for long but he was helpless as there was nobody to come to a beast. And to love him is quite impossible.

    But, he was fortunate enough that oneday God granted him a pure love for him. It was Beauty who was beautiful like her name. She also possessed a good heart. She could love her nearest persons. She was ready to sacrifice her life for her father.

    Her sisters were jealous of her but she didn’t. They got the result in their life and Beauty got the charming prince. The prince loved the girl more than his life that he started to starve till death. And, surprisingly Beauty could see his love through dream. Then she rushed to him and found the beast alive.
    Finally the spell breaks by her love. They got married and lived happily.

    True love can change the whole world. It can change a beast into a great one. For pure love many people has been changed who were very rude before

  6. Rm Rokibul Hasan Tonmoy

    Wow what a story it is. Really it feels good to have a such kind of reading material. I had searched for this kind of sites for a lomg time and yes Seach English has given to me. Really I am very grateful to this group.

    And if say about the story, here a lots of things which we can receive from this beautiful love story. Its combination of beauty, love and the most important thing which is now almost lost from the heart from the people that is the gratitude, the loyalty to others.

    Beauty is not always the symbol of happiness. Happiness relies on the beauty of the heart. Love has the special power to make someone better even he is like a beast, only love can makes a man alive even he is in the at the last moment in his entire life and I think this is the maral of that story.

  7. Fantastic story. Beauty and Beast really was true lover for the reason God made them united finally after a terrible journey. I feel pleasure for reading this story. Top to bottom I have read enthusiastically. Beauty and Beast’s locus was so interesting. Inspite of being ugly Beast the queen fair Beauty fall in love him at last. Love is divine. It is truth on this story ”we should love one who love us”. Beast loved too much that’s why Finally Beauty took him as her husband due to existence of true love Beast.

  8. Thanks Razib Ahmed vaiya to give us this wonderful opportuniry…Also thanks Munira apu,Mohan vai and Khayer vai …Really good story.

  9. Wow,very nice story. I am very glad to know the original story of beauty and the beast. In my childhood, I think I did read it. But then I couldn’t understand all the meaning though I did read it in bangalI. Now,I am very clear about the story. Really, it is a very fantastic story ever.

  10. This was really a nice fable which I never ever read. I am just trying to give a summery of the fable and that is about a beautiful girl who was not only a beautiful girl but also a honest, hard working girl having no pride as she was a daughter of a rich merchant but her other two other two sisters of the girl was so catty about her because of her beauty and they were jealous for her.
    Unfortunately, the merchant lost everything and become poor and left his country to another country.
    There his boys were worked hard and they were happy but one day, a letter came to the merchant that he is going to have all his properties again and before going there he had asked all of his daughters that what should he buy for them while coming home.
    But he was unsuccessful to back his property and he was tired enough while coming to his house and took shelter at the night time in a royal palace with very much good serving and while coming from the palace he took a rose from that garden of the palace but felt on the problem to be died for it and giving a commitment to the beast of the palace he come back shared this story to his daughters and the youngest beautiful daughter was agreed to his fathers commitment to go there and finally go there and made his father free from the beast.
    She lived there for three months and everyday she was proposed by the beast to marry him but every times she refused and finally seeing a dream about his father he came back to her farm house but here her elder sisters again made a plan to make her loser but finally for her luck she become successful to get ride of her problem and coming back she saw the the beast was about to die and she was agreed to marry him and the beast converted to a prince from the beast because he was made beast by a naughty wicked and finally they married.

    the important lesson from this story is, Honesty is always the best way and everybody should keep their commitment what he gave to others.

  11. Wow the tale is narratived strongly by the auther, Really, the story is awesome and taughtable for all.. After reading whole the tale I understand that happiness stay in the mind and love, happiness is not stay in beautiful face.. Thank you sir for giving the excellent platform for reading and grasping.. I feel so much glad to read the congenial story..

  12. I read very attentively first time beauty & beast,So nice love story. Thanks Razib vai. Beauty is. beautiful.She was not only physically beauty, but also inner beauty. In a word , outstanding this story. Who are too much trying for ur.All take my heartiest thanks.

  13. honesty is the best policy in anything.this story very nice.hard work of media everything. i think, this story main theme physical beauty beauty no fact true love.heart love is main beauty. happiness is the success

  14. honesty is the best policy in evreything.this story very nice.hard work of media everything. i think, this story main theme physical beauty beauty no fact true love.heart love is main beauty. happiness is the success

  15. honesty I s the best policy in evreything.this story very nice.hard work of media evrey success. I think this story main theme physical beauty no fact true love.heart love is main beauty.happiness is kye to success

  16. marjan kabir poly

    AWESOME story but we learn many things in this story.real beauty means mind beauty .hardworking,love,care, responsibility everything is here in this story.

  17. Another fairy tale of my favorite one. I just loved to read the story. This story remind me the proverb that, ‘all glitters are not gold’. Inner cleanliness is essential to win the world. I have enlisted few vocabularies with bengali means from this story to revise those later. I would like to put those vocabularies here for future readers who may get help to understand the words. Thank you.
    BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
    Duke সর্দার British peer ranking
    Rosier মনোহর
    Earl British peer ranking
    Jeered বিদ্রূপ করা
    Spun কর্তিত
    Moping নিস্তেজ করা
    Fretting ধৈর্যহীন
    Gay আমোদিত
    Laden বোঝাই
    Avenue রাজপথ
    Rode অশ্বচালনা করা
    Crib ডাবা
    Hearth ঘরের মেঝের যে অংশ উনান থাকে
    Fright ভয়
    Tease উত্যক্ত করা
    Tremble থরথর করা
    Morrow পরের দিন
    Sup চুমুক দিয়া পান করা
    Shook ঝাঁকান
    Pitying করুণাপ্রশাসক
    Ado কর্মব্যস্ততা
    Feast আলোচনা
    Starve ক্ষুধায় মারা
    Ablaze জ্বলন্ত অবস্থায়
    Reign রাজত্ব করা

  18. Its the story about love. Love for father, love for family and love for partner. The writer presented Beauty as a very beautiful and good hearted person who is the leading character in this story. The writer also presented that arrogance and jealousy is not good for any relationship. It’s leave a harmful effects on life .

  19. Alira Tanjira Alme

    He is not a beast. .he is the best ..
    And everything will be fine when you are honest like beauty and lover of roses. .

  20. Alira Tanjira Alme

    I read this story again today. ..
    Really when anyone try to passing a life with honest way everything will happen better with him ..its a just after passing of time fact. ..
    The beautiful lady try to pass a veritable life with keeping peace in fine she get an ecstatic life with the prince. …

  21. True love is always win.
    This story is a missile of true love from a daughter to her father, from a lover to her love ones.
    Actually out look appearance can’t justify someone honesty, purity.
    If we want to know someone better we should know about his/ inner beauty.
    If he or she is beautiful from inner that means he is honest & pure hearted.
    If you have true love for your dearest one it will prove sooner or later.

  22. Beauty means not only out look appearance it also means human inner beauty.
    Inner beauty means purity & honesty of heart.
    This story is such kind of love story.
    A daughter’s love to her father, a pure heart woman’s love to her love ones.
    When I read the story I njoyed it most.
    I was just sink in the story forgotten my around.
    Its anawesome love story.

    A pure heart true love can change a beast to great man.
    This story is proof of it.

  23. Loneliness naiym

    Outstanding..
    The heart touching story.I have fallen love with English story. I want to read a lot story. Reading is beings my hobby.Before joining here I couldn’t read bangla or English story but now I can read it. The more I read like this story the more I have fallan love with story.
    .
    Really BEAUTY has felt the real happiness. In the luxurious life there is mo happiness but those who are doing hard work to get happiness then they can feel the real happiness.
    .
    In our life many people will fell jealous when we can gain others mind. Beauty is also like this.Beauties sister always feel jealous when anyone armies her..
    We know “Feeling jealous is not good”. Those who are feeling jealous about someone then they can’t enjoy the real happiness in life

  24. Its a lovely story of a girl who is benevolent and modest. And lastly got her Prince for marriage. She was so obey to her words.its a lesson for us.

  25. Loneliness naiym

    The sorrowful story,I have read it in 2nd time, the more i have read it the more i have got pained.In 2nd time i have it in only 10 minutes,i want to read it another 3 or 4 mores time.i want to increase my reading skill.
    Thanks sir .

  26. Just interesting story..i enjoyed it so much…again i want to read this story…Beauty and Beast both lead their life happily in last time in their kingdom..

  27. It’s surely a interesting story. and the end of the story is amazing. It’s proved that the person who have always good intention they will get good thing in future. and just like beauty is become very honest from her childhood now she surely get the reward with a marvelous way

  28. what a lovely story it is i fall in love this story also it help us to in cress our vocabulary i love to read is i can understand it easily at i think it’s a boring but when i came down i can understand what is the story feel happy to ready to it

  29. Just awesome story I read it for the first time and I didn’t hear this story before.So what,I enjoy the story very much.I takes few minutes to finish it because perhaps its a long story in this website in category zero and one.I found so many new words.It will help me in future.
    Moral:From tgis story we can know one thing that honesty is the best policy. If we stay honest and jealousless then our life will happy today or tomorrow. So we should stay honest always.

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