B and B Story
B and B Story
Once upon a time . . . as a merchant set off for market, he asked his three daughters what they would like as a
present on his return. The first daughter wanted a dress, the second a pearl necklace, but the third, whose name was
Beauty, the youngest, prettiest and sweetest of them all, said to her father:
"All I'd like is a rose you've picked specially for me!"
When returning from the market, cold and weary, the merchant suddenly noticed a bright light shining in the middle
of a wood. As he went near, he saw that it was a castle, bathed in light.
“I hope I'll find shelter there for the night,”
When he reached the door, he saw it was open, but though he shouted, nobody came to greet him. He went inside,
still calling out to attract attention. On a table in the main hall, a splendid dinner lay already served. No one came,
and so the starving merchant sat down to eat before going to bed. When he woke next morning, an unknown hand
had placed a mug of steaming coffee and some fruit by his bedside.
The merchant had breakfast and after tidying himself up, went downstairs to thank his generous host. But, as on the
evening before, there was nobody in sight. Shaking his head in wonder at the strangeness of it all, he went towards
the garden where he had left his horse, tied to a tree. Suddenly, a large rose bush caught his eye.
Remembering his promise to Beauty, he bent down to pick a rose. Instantly, out of the rose garden, sprang a
horrible beast, wearing splendid clothes. Two bloodshot eyes, gleaming angrily, glared at him and a deep, terrifying
voice said:
“How dare you take something you have no rights to? Do not say a word and go away immediately or I shall put
you to death this instant!”
Trembling with fear, the merchant fell on his knees before the Beast.
"Forgive me! Forgive me! Don't kill me! I'll do anything you say! The rose wasn't for me, it was for my daughter
Beauty. I promised to bring her back a rose from my journey!".
“I shall spare your life, but on one condition, that you bring me your daughter!”
The terror-stricken merchant, faced with certain death if he did not obey, promised that he would do so. When he
reached home in tears, his three daughters ran to greet him. After he had told them of his dreadful adventure, Beauty
put his mind at rest immediately.
“Dear father, I'd do anything for you! Don't worry, you'll be able to keep your promise and save your life!
Take me to the castle. I'll stay there in your place!”
The merchant hugged his daughter.
"I never did doubt your love for me. For the moment I can only thank you for saving my life." So Beauty
was led to the castle. In the beginning, Beauty was frightened by his looks Then she found that,
in spite of the monster's awful head, her horror of it was gradually fading as time went by.
One day, the Beast found her weeping beside the bed.
"What's wrong?" he asked, kindly as always.
"My father is gravely ill and close to dying! Oh, how I wish I could see him again, before it's too late!" But the
Beast only shook its head..
"If you swear that you will return here in seven days time, I'll let you go and visit your father!" Beauty threw herself
at the Beast's feet in delight.“I swear! I swear I will! How kind you are! You've made a loving daughter so happy!”
In reality, the merchant had fallen ill from a broken heart at knowing his daughter was being kept prisoner. When
he embraced her again, he was soon on the road to recovery. Beauty stayed beside him for hours on end, describing
her life at the Castle, and explaining that the Beast was really good and kind. The days went by, and at last the
merchant was able to leave his bed. He was completely well again. Beauty was happy at last. However, she had
failed to notice that seven days had gone by.
Then one night she woke from a terrible nightmare. She had dreamt that the Beast was dying and calling for her,
twisting in agony.
“Come back! Come back to me!" it was pleading. The solemn promise she had made drove her to leave home
immediately.
She rushed up the stairs, calling, but there was no reply. Her heart in her mouth, Beauty ran into the garden and
there crouched the Beast, its eyes shut, as though dead. Beauty threw herself at it and hugged it tightly.
“Please, don’t leave me, I need you, I … I … I love you! At these words, a miracle took place. The Beast's ugly face
turned magically into the face of a handsome young man.
"How I've been longing for this moment!" he said. "I was suffering in silence, and couldn't tell my frightful secret.
An evil witch turned me into a monster and only the love of a maiden willing to accept me as I was, could transform
me back into my real self. My dearest! I'll be so happy if you'll marry me . . ."
The wedding took place shortly after and, from that day on, the young Prince would have nothing but roses in his
gardens. And that's why, to this day, the castle is known as the Castle of the Rose.
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Homework
Summarise the story. Try not to use the exact words from the text.
Once upon a time …