BeautyandtheBeastbyCharlesPerraultisoneoftheBIGfairytalesanditslongbeenafavouriteon

Storynory.Wevererecordeditwithmusic,soundeffects,andaneditedtext.
Theacousticguitarandsitarmusicaddtoitsexoticatmosphere.
BeautyandtheBeastisoneofthosestoriesthatistoldandretoldindifferentguises.Thepowerful
mythoftendernessconcealedwithinuglinesscanbefoundinJaneEyre,andKingKong.
ReadbyNatasha.Duration28minutes.
ProofreadbyClaireDeakin.

Alongtimeago,inafarawayland,amerchantwasreturninghomeafteralongjourney.Asnightfell,
heenteredadeepforest.Hisheadwasfullofthoughtsofhissixdaughters.Hehadlefthomein
summer,andnowhewasreturningindeepwinter.Themostbittersleetandsnowcamedown,andhis
horsestumbledonapatchofice.Heheardwolveshowling,andsoonherealisedthathewaslost.
Atlast,hesawsomesortoftrack.Atthebeginningitwasroughandslippery,butsoonitledhiminto
anavenueoforangetreescoveredwithflowersandfruitbutheretherewasnosnow.
Hesawaflightofstonesteps.Hewentupthemintoagreatcastle.Insidehepassedthroughseveral
splendidrooms.Everywhereinthecastletherewasadeepsilence.Atlast,hestoppedinasmallroom
whereafirewasburning.Helaydownonacouchandverysoonfellintoasweetsleep.
Hewokeupfeelinghungry.Hewasstillalone,butagooddinnerhadbeenlaidonalittletable.He
begantoeat,hopingthathemightsoonhaveanchancetothankhiskindhost,whoeveritmightbe
butnooneappeared.
Thenhewentdownintothegarden,andthoughitwaswintereverywhereelse,herethesunshone,and
thebirdssang,andtheflowersbloomed,andtheairwassoftandsweet.Thepathhadahedgeofroses
oneachsideofit,andthemerchantthoughthehadneverseenorsmelledsuchbeautifulflowers.Then
herememberedapromisehehadmadetohisyoungestdaughter,whowassolovelythateveryone
knewherasBeauty.Beforesettingoutonhisjourney,hehadaskedhisdaughterswhatpresentsthey
wouldlikehimtobringbackforthem.Thefiveeldestwishedforjewelsandfineclothes,butBeauty
askedonlyforasinglerose.Now,ashestoppedtopickarosetotakehometoBeauty,hewasstartled
byastrangenoisebehindhim.Turningaround,hesawafrightfuluglyBeast,whichseemedtobevery
angryandsadandsaidinaterriblevoice,Whosaidthatyoucouldpickmyroses?Wasitnotenough
thatIletyousayinmypalaceandwaskindtoyou?Thisisthewayyouthankme,bystealingmy
flowers!Youshallnotgounpunished!
Themerchantwasterrifiedbythesefuriouswords.Hedroppedthefatalrose,andthrowinghimselfon
hisknees,cried,Pardonme,noblesir.Iamtrulygratefultoyouforyourkindness.Icouldnot
imaginethatyouwouldmindsomuchifItooksuchalittlethingasarose.
TheBeastwasstillfurious,however,andcried,Excusesandflatterywillnotsaveyoufromthedeath
youdeserve!
Alas!Thoughtthemerchant.Mydaughtersrosehasputmeinthisterribledanger.
HebegantotelltheBeastofhisjourney,notforgettingtomentionhowBeautyhadaskedhimfora
rose.
Ibegyoutoforgiveme,forImeantnoharm,hepleaded.
TheBeastthoughtforamoment,andthenhesaid,inalessterriblevoice,Iwillforgiveyouonone
conditionthatisifyouwillgivemeoneofyourdaughters.
Ah!Criedthemerchant.WhatexcusecouldIinventtobringherhere?
Noexcuse!AnsweredtheBeast.Shemustcomewillingly.Gohome.Igiveyouamonthtoseeif
oneofyourdaughterswillsaveyou.Ifnoneofthemiswillingtocometome,youmustcomeback
alone.Donotthinkthatyoucanhidefromme,forifyoudonotkeepyourwordIwillcomeandfetch
you!

Thepoormerchant,moredeadthanalive,wenttothestablewherehishorsewasreadyforhisjourney.
Itcarriedhimoffsoswiftlythatinaninstanthehadlostsightofthepalace,andhewasstillwrappedin
gloomythoughtswhenitstoppedbeforethedoorofhishouse.
Hisdaughtersrushedtomeethim.AtfirsthetoldthemnothingoftheBeast,butashegaveBeautyher
therosehesaidsadly,Hereiswhatyouaskedmetobringyou;youlittleknowwhatithascost.
Laterthateveninghetoldhisfamilyofhisadventuresfrombeginningtoend,andthenhisdaughters
weptloudly.ThegirlswereveryangrywithBeauty,andsaidtoherthatitwasallherfault,and
complainedbitterlythattheyshouldhavetosufferforherfoolishwish.
PoorBeautysaidtothem,Whocouldhaveguessedthataskingforaroseinthemiddleofsummer
wouldcausesomuchmisery?ButasImadethismistake,itisonlyrightthatIshouldbetheoneto
sufferforit.IwillgobacktotheBeastwithfather.
Whenthefataldaycameshesaidgoodbyetohersistersandeverythingsheloved.Shemountedahorse
togetherwithherfather,anditseemedtoflyratherthangallop.Theysoonreachedtheavenueof
orangetrees,wherestatueswereholdingflamingtorches,andwhentheygotnearertothepalace,
musicsoundedsoftlyfromthecourtyard.
Herfatherledhertothelittleroomwherehehadstayed,andtheretheyfoundasplendidfireburning,
andadelicioussuppersetoutonthetable.
AftertheyhadfinishedtheirmealtheyheardtheBeastsfootstepsapproaching,andBeautyclungto
herfather.WhentheuglyBeastappearedshetriedhardtohideherterror,andshenoddedtohim
politely.
ThisclearlypleasedtheBeast.Afterlookingatherhesaid,inavoicethatmighthavestruckfearinto
theboldestofhearts,Goodevening,oldman.Goodevening,Beauty.
Themerchantwastooterrifiedtoreply,butBeautyansweredsweetly,Goodevening,Beast.
Haveyoucomewillingly?AskedtheBeast.
Beautyansweredbravelythatshehadcomewillinglytosaveherfather.
Iampleasedwithyou,saidtheBeast.Asforyou,oldman,headded,turningtothemerchant,at
sunrisetomorrowyouwillgo.
ThenturningtoBeauty,hesaid,Takeyourfatherintothenextroomandhelphimtochoosepresents
foryoursisters.Takeeverythingtheywouldwishfor.
Thenheleftthemsaying,GoodbyeBeauty.Goodbyeoldman.
Inthenextroomtheyfoundsplendiddressesfitforaqueen.WhenBeautyopenedthecupboardsshe
wasquitedazzledbythegorgeousjewelsthatlayinheapsuponeveryshelf.Afterchoosingavast
quantity,sheopenedthelastchest,whichwasfullofgold.
Ithink,father,shesaid,thatgoldwillbemoreusefultoyou.Wehadbettertakeouttheotherthings
again,andfillthetrunkswithgold.Sotheydidthis;andatlastthetrunksweresoheavythatan
elephantcouldnothavecarriedthem!
TheBeastwasmakingfunofus,criedthemerchant.Hepretendedtogiveusthesethings,knowing
thatIcouldnotcarrythemaway.
Letuswaitandsee,answeredBeauty.
Atsunrise,theywentdownintothecourtyard,wheretwohorseswerewaiting;oneloadedwiththetwo
trunks,theotherforthemerchanttoride.Assoonasheclimbedintothesaddle,hewentoffatsucha
pacethatBeautylostsightofhiminaninstant.Thenshebegantocryandshewentbacktoherroom
andfellintoadeepsleep.

Shedreamedthatshewaswalkingbyastreamwhenayoungprincecameuptoherandsaid,inavoice
thatwentstraighttoherheart,Ah,Beauty!Youarenotsounluckyasyousuppose.Onlytrytofind
me,nomatterhowImaybedisguised,asIloveyoudearly.Makemehappyandyoushallbehappy.
Beastrueheartedasyouarebeautiful,andweshallhavenothinglefttowishfor.
WhatcanIdo,prince,tomakeyouhappy?SaidBeauty.
Donottrustyoureyes,heanswered,andsetmefreefrommymisery.
WhenBeautyawoke,shebegantothinkaboutthecharmingprinceshehadseeninherdream.
HesaidIcouldmakehimhappy.SaidBeautytoherself.ItseemsthatthishorribleBeastkeepshim
aprisoner.HowcanIsethimfree?Idontunderstandit.Afterall,itwasonlyadream,sowhyshouldI
worryaboutit?
Shegotuptoexplorethecastle,butshedidnotseeanyoneorhearanysound,andshebegantofindit
ratherdull.
Onlythatevening,aftersupper,sheheardtheBeastcoming,andshetrembledwithfearatwhatit
mightdo.Butheonlysaid,Goodevening,Beauty.
Sheansweredcheerfullyandmanagedtohideherterror.Hespokepolitelytoherforaboutanhour,
andaskedherallaboutherlifewithherfamily.
Thenhesaidinagruffvoice,Doyouloveme,Beauty?Willyoumarryme?
Oh!WhatshallIsay?CriedBeauty,forshewasafraidtomaketheBeastangrybyrefusing.
Sayyesornowithoutfear,hereplied.
Oh!No,Beast,saidBeauty,hastily.
Sinceyouwillnot,goodnightBeauty,hesaid.
Andsheanswered,Goodnight,Beast,verygladtofindthathehadnotattackedher.Afterhewas
gone,shewasverysooninbedasleep,anddreamingofherunknownprince.Hecametoherandsaid
toher,Ah,Beauty!Whyareyousounkindtome?IfearIwillbeunhappyformanyalongdaystill.
Thenextmorning,shedecidedtoamuseherselfinthegarden,forthesunshone,andallthefountains
wereplaying.Whenshewastiredshewentbacktothepalace,andfoundanewroomfullofrarebirds,
sotamethattheyflewtoBeautyassoonastheysawher,andpercheduponhershouldersandherhead.
Someofthemwereparrotsandcockatoosthatcouldtalk,andtheygreetedBeautybyname.
Prettylittlecreatures,shesaid.OhhowIwishthatyourcagewasnearertomyroom,thatIcould
oftenhearyousing!Whensheleft,sheopenedadoorandfoundthatitledstraightintoherownroom.
Aftersupper,theBeastpaidherhisusualvisit,andbeforeheleftheaskedherasbefore,Beauty,will
youmarryme?Andwhensherefused,hegaveheragruff,Goodnightandlefther.Thedayspassed,
andeveryeveningtheBeastaskedherthesamequestionandshegavehimthesameanswer.
Beautyfeltthatwhenshesaid,No,Beast,hewentawayquitesad.Butherhappydreamsofthe
handsomeyoungprincesoonmadeherforgetthepoorBeast.Herprincealwaystoldtoletherheart
guideher,andnothereyes,andmanyotherequallybafflingthingswhichshecouldnotunderstand.
Atlast,happyasshewas,Beautybegantolongforherfamily.Onenight,seeingherlookverysad,the
Beastaskedherwhatwasthematter.Beautywasnolongerafraidofhim.Nowsheknewthathewas
reallygentleinspiteofhisferociouslooksandhisdreadfulvoice.Sheansweredthatshewaslonging
toseeherhomeoncemore.
Whenheheardthis,theBeastcriedmiserably,Ah!Beauty,haveyouthehearttoleaveanunhappy
Beastlikeme?Isitbecauseyouhatemethatyouwanttoescape?

No,dearBeast,answeredBeautysoftly.Idonothateyou,andIshouldbeverysorrynevertosee
youanymore,butIlongtoseemyfatheragain.Onlyletmegofortwomonths,andIpromisetocome
backtoyouandstayfortherestofmylife.
TheBeastrepliedwithasigh,Icannotrefuseyouanythingyouask,eventhoughitshouldcostmemy
life.Youmaygo.Butrememberyourpromiseandcomebackwhenthetwomonthsareover,oryou
maybesorry,forifyoudonotcomeingoodtimeyouwillfindyourfaithfulBeastdead.
Thenshewenttobed,butcouldhardlysleepforjoy.Whenatlastshedidbegintodreamofher
belovedprinceshesawhimstretcheduponagrassybank,sadandweary,andhardlylikehimself.
Whatisthematter?Shecried.
Helookedatherreproachfully,andsaid,Howcanyouaskme,cruelone?
Ah!Dontbesosad,criedBeauty.IamonlygoingtoletmyfatherknowthatIamsafeandhappy.
IhavepromisedmyBeastthatIshallcomeback.Iwouldnotcausehimpainbybreakingmyword.He
toldmehewoulddieifdidnotkeepmypromisetohim.
WhatdoyoucareforanuglyBeast?Askedtheprince.
Oh,saidBeauty,Itisnothisfaultthatheissougly.Heisaverykindbeast.
Justthen,sheheardsomeonespeakingnotveryfaraway.Shegotupandthenshesuddenlyheardher
fathersvoice.Sherushedoutandgreetedhim.Shewashome.Hersisterswerequiteastonishedtosee
her,andtherewasnoendtotheirquestionsaboutherlifewiththeBeast.
ThenBeautyaskedherfatherwhathethoughtcouldbethemeaningofherstrangedreams.Aftermuch
thought,heanswered,YoutellmeyourselfthatTheBeast,frightfulasheis,lovesyoudearlyandis
kindandgentletoyou.IthinktheprincemeansthatyoushoulddoastheBeastwishesinspiteofhis
ugliness.
ButBeautysthoughtswerefullofherhandsomedreamprince,andshecouldnotimaginemarrying
theBeast.
Whenthetwomonthswereover,Beautyssistersbeggedhernottoreturntotheuglybeast,buttostay
withherfamily.Atfirstshecouldnotrefusethem,andshestayedonforafewdaysmore.Thenone
nightshehadadifferentdreamfromusual.Shesawnotherprince,buttheBeast.Hewaslyingina
caveandhelookedillandinpain.ThenBeautyrememberhiswordsthathemightdieifshedidnot
staytruetoherword.
Thenextday,Beautysaidgoodbyetoherfatherandallhersisters,andassoonasshewasinbedshe
turnedherringarounduponherfinger,andsaidfirmly,IwishtogobacktoseemyBeastagain.
Shefellasleepinstantly,andonlywokeuptoheartheclocksaying,Beauty,Beauty,twelvetimesin
itsmusicalvoice,whichtoldheratoncethatshewasinthepalaceoncemore.Everythingwasjustas
before,andherbirdsweresogladtoseeher!Beautythoughtshehadneverknownsuchalongday,for
shewassoanxioustoseetheBeastagain,thatshefeltasifsuppertimewouldnevercome.
WhenitdidcomeandnoBeastappearedshewasreallyfrightened.Sherandownintothegardento
searchforhim.UpanddownthepathsandavenuesranpoorBeauty,callinghiminvain,fornoone
answered.
Atlast,quitetired,shestoppedforaminutesrest,andsawthatshewasstandingoppositeacave,and
initlaytheBeast,asleep.Quitegladtohavefoundhim,sheranupandstrokedhishead,buttoher
horror,hedidnotmoveoropenhiseyes.
Oh!Heisdead,anditisallmyfault,saidBeauty,cryingbitterly.
Butthen,lookingathimagain,shefanciedhestillbreathed.Shefetchedsomewaterfromthenearest
fountainandsprinkleditoverhisface.Slowly,hebegantoopenhiseyes.

AhBeauty,hesaidfaintly,nowyouseewhathappenswhenyoudonotkeepyourword.
Oh!Beast,shecried.IneverknewhowmuchIlovedyouuntilnow,whenIfearedIwastoolateto
saveyourlife.
CanyoureallylovesuchanuglycreatureasIam?askedtheBeast.Youonlycamejustintime.I
wasdyingbecauseIthoughtyouhadforgottenyourpromise.Gobacknowandrest,Ishallseeyouby
andby.
Beautywentbacktothepalace,wheresupperwasawaitingher;andafterwardtheBeastcameinas
usual,andaskedaboutthetimeshehadspentwithherfamily,andiftheyhadallbeenverygladtosee
her.
Whenatlastthetimecameforhimtogo,andheasked,ashehadsooftenaskedbefore,Beauty,will
youmarryme?Sheansweredsoftly,Yes,dearBeast.
Asshespokeablazeoflightsprangupbeforethewindowsofthepalace;fireworkscrackledandguns
banged,andacrosstheavenueoforangetrees,inlettersallmadeoffireflies,waswritten,Longlive
theprinceandhisbride.
BeautymeanttoasktheBeastwhatitallmeant,buthehadgone.Inhisplacestoodherlongloved
prince!Atthesamemoment,twoladiesenteredtheroom.Bothweresplendidlydressed,butone
especiallyso.Hercompanionsaid,Well,Queen,thisisBeauty,whohashadthecouragetorescue
yoursonfromtheterriblemagicspellthatturnedhimintoaBeast.Theyloveoneanother,andyour
consenttotheirmarriageisalltheyneedtomakethemperfectlyhappy.
Iagreewithallmyheart,criedthequeen.ThenshetenderlyembracedBeautyandtheprince.
Now,saidthefairytoBeauty,Isupposeyouwouldlikemetosendforyourfatherandsisters?
Shedidso.Themarriagewascelebratedtheverynextday,andBeautyandtheprincelivedhappily
everafter.
AndthatwasthestoryofBeautyandtheBeast.