Various Authors - Beauty and the Beast and Other Classic Fairy Tales

BEAUTY

AND THE

BEAST

AND OTHER

CLASSIC FAIRYTALES

Compilation and cover illustration 2016 by Sterling PublishingCo., Inc.

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This 2016 edition created for Barnes & Noble by SterlingPublishing Co., Inc.

ISBN 978-1-4351-6128-3

Barnes & Noble, Inc.

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Cover illustration by Lauren Long

Cover design by Patrice Kaplan

Contents

Introduction

Beauty and the Beast

(From TheBlue Fairy Book )

Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived amerchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he wasenormously rich. As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found thathis money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, asthey were accustomed to do.

But one day a most unexpected misfortune befell them. Their housecaught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendidfurniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained;and this was only the beginning of their troubles. Their father, who had untilthis moment prospered in all ways, suddenly lost every ship he had upon thesea, either by dint of pirates, shipwreck, or fire. Then he heard that hisclerks in distant countries, whom he trusted entirely, had proved unfaithful;and at last from great wealth he fell into the direst poverty.

All that he had left was a little house in a desolate place atleast a hundred leagues from the town in which he had lived, and to this he wasforced to retreat with his children, who were in despair at the idea of leadingsuch a different life. Indeed, the daughters at first hoped that their friends,who had been so numerous while they were rich, would insist on their staying intheir houses now they no longer possessed one. But they soon found that theywere left alone, and that their former friends even attributed their misfortunesto their own extravagance, and showed no intention of offering them any help.So nothing was left for them but to take their departure to the cottage, whichstood in the midst of a dark forest, and seemed to be the most dismal placeupon the face of the earth. As they were too poor to have any servants, thegirls had to work hard, like peasants, and the sons, for their part, cultivatedthe fields to earn their living. Roughly clothed, and living in the simplestway, the girls regretted unceasingly the luxuries and amusements of theirformer life; only the youngest tried to be brave and cheerful. She had been assad as anyone when misfortune overtook her father, but, soon recovering hernatural gaiety, she set to work to make the best of things, to amuse her fatherand brothers as well as she could, and to try to persuade her sisters to joinher in dancing and singing. But they would do nothing of the sort, and, becauseshe was not as doleful as themselves, they declared that this miserable life wasall she was fit for. But she was really far prettier and cleverer than theywere; indeed, she was so lovely that she was always called Beauty. After twoyears, when they were all beginning to get used to their new life, somethinghappened to disturb their tranquility. Their father received the news that oneof his ships, which he had believed to be lost, had come safely into port witha rich cargo. All the sons and daughters at once thought that their poverty wasat an end, and wanted to set out directly for the town; but their father, whowas more prudent, begged them to wait a little, and, though it was harvesttime, and he could ill be spared, determined to go himself first, to makeinquiries. Only the youngest daughter had any doubt but that they would soonagain be as rich as they were before, or at least rich enough to livecomfortably in some town where they would find amusement and gay companionsonce more. So they all loaded their father with commissions for jewels anddresses which it would have taken a fortune to buy; only Beauty, feeling surethat it was of no use, did not ask for anything. Her father, noticing hersilence, said: And what shall I bring for you, Beauty?

The only thing I wish for is to see you come home safely, sheanswered.

But this only vexed her sisters, who fancied she was blaming themfor having asked for such costly things. Her father, however, was pleased, butas he thought that at her age she certainly ought to like pretty presents, hetold her to choose something.

Well, dear father, she said, as you insist upon it, I beg thatyou will bring me a rose. I have not seen one since we came here, and I lovethem so much.

So the merchant set out and reached the town as quickly aspossible, but only to find that his former companions, believing him to bedead, had divided between them the goods which the ship had brought; and aftersix months of trouble and expense he found himself as poor as when he started,having been able to recover only just enough to pay the cost of his journey. Tomake matters worse, he was obliged to leave the town in the most terribleweather, so that by the time he was within a few leagues of his home he wasalmost exhausted with cold and fatigue. Though he knew it would take some hoursto get through the forest, he was so anxious to be at his journeys end that heresolved to go on; but night overtook him, and the deep snow and bitter frostmade it impossible for his horse to carry him any further. Not a house was tobe seen; the only shelter he could get was the hollow trunk of a great tree,and there he crouched all the night which seemed to him the longest he had everknown. In spite of his weariness the howling of the wolves kept him awake, andeven when at last the day broke he was not much better off, for the fallingsnow had covered up every path, and he did not know which way to turn.

At length he made out some sort of track, and though at thebeginning it was so rough and slippery that he fell down more than once, itpresently became easier, and led him into an avenue of trees which ended in asplendid castle. It seemed to the merchant very strange that no snow had fallenin the avenue, which was entirely composed of orange trees, covered withflowers and fruit. When he reached the first court of the castle he saw beforehim a flight of agate steps, and went up them, and passed through severalsplendidly furnished rooms. The pleasant warmth of the air revived him, and hefelt very hungry; but there seemed to be nobody in all this vast and splendidpalace whom he could ask to give him something to eat. Deep silence reignedeverywhere, and at last, tired of roaming through empty rooms and galleries, hestopped in a room smaller than the rest, where a clear fire was burning and acouch was drawn up close to it. Thinking that this must be prepared for someonewho was expected, he sat down to wait till he should come, and very soon fellinto a sweet sleep.

When his extreme hunger wakened him after several hours, he wasstill alone; but a little table, upon which was a good dinner, had been drawnup close to him, and, as he had eaten nothing for twenty-four hours, he lost notime in beginning his meal, hoping that he might soon have an opportunity ofthanking his considerate entertainer, whoever it might be. But no one appeared,and even after another long sleep, from which he awoke completely refreshed,there was no sign of anybody, though a fresh meal of dainty cakes and fruit wasprepared upon the little table at his elbow. Being naturally timid, the silencebegan to terrify him, and he resolved to search once more through all therooms; but it was of no use. Not even a servant was to be seen; there was nosign of life in the palace! He began to wonder what he should do, and to amusehimself by pretending that all the treasures he saw were his own, andconsidering how he would divide them among his children. Then he went down intothe garden, and though it was winter everywhere else, here the sun shone, andthe birds sang, and the flowers bloomed, and the air was soft and sweet. Themerchant, in ecstasies with all he saw and heard, said to himself: