La Bella Y La Bestia

Beauty and the Beast

A merchant lived in a city with his three daughters, of whom the youngest is named Belle for being lovely and pure of heart.

After some years of this, he hears that one of the trade ships sent by himself had arrived in port, therefore he returns to the city to discover whether it contains anything of monetary value.

Before leaving, he asks his daughters whether they desire that he bring them any gift upon his return.

His two oldest daughters ask for jewelry and dresses, Belle is satisfied with the promise of a rose, as none have grown in their part of the country in years.

The merchant finds that his ship's cargo has been seized to pay his debts, leaving him without money by which to buy his daughters their presents.

During his return, he becomes lost in a forest. Seeking shelter, he enters a castle. He finds inside tables laden with food and drink, which have apparently been left for him by the castle's owner.

The merchant accepts this gift and is about to leave when he sees a rose garden and recalls that Belle had desired a rose, Upon picking the most lovely rose he finds, the merchant is confronted by a hideous 'Beast', which tells him that for taking his (the Beast's) most precious possession after accepting his hospitality, the merchant must stay his prisoner forever.

The merchant begs to be set free, arguing that he had only picked the rose as a gift for his youngest daughter.

The Beast agrees to let him go only if the merchant will send his daughter to live in the castle in his place. He tries, upon arriving home, to hide the secret from Belle; but she pries it from him and willingly goes to the Beast's castle.

The Beast receives her graciously and treats her as his guest, he gives her lavish clothing and food and carries on lengthy conversations with her.

Each night, the Beast asks Belle to marry him, only to be refused each time.

Eventually, Belle becomes homesick and begs the Beast to allow her to go to see her family, He allows it, if she will return exactly a week later, Belle agrees to this and sets off for home with an enchanted mirror and magic ring.

The mirror allows her to see what is going on back at the castle, and the ring allows her to return to the castle in an instant.

Her older sisters was surprised to find her well fed and dressed in finery.

They grow jealous and, hearing that she must return to the Beast on a certain day, beg her to stay another day, Belle's heart is moved and she agrees to stay.

Belle begins to feel guilty about breaking her promise to the Beast and uses the mirror to see him back at the castle.

She is horrified to discover that the Beast is lying half-dead of heartbreak near the rose bushes her father had stolen from and she immediately uses the ring to return.

By the time Belle finds the Beast he is

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