Long ago, a rich young man lived in a beautiful castle. People did not like
him because he was selfish and unkind. One day an old woman came to
the castle and asked for some water. 'Go away!' shouted the young man. The old woman touched him
with her stick and said, 'You're a beast. Look
in the mirror.' He looked and he saw an ugly beast. It had long hair, and
yellow eyes and sharp teeth. The old woman was a fairy! 'I was unkind,' said
the Beast. 'But please touch me again with your magic wand. I don't want
to be a beast. I want to become a man again.'
'I can't make you a man again,' said the fairy. She went away, and the Beast
never saw her again. The Beast lived in his beautiful,empty castle. A rich man lived in a big
house with his three daughters. Two of his
daughters were selfish and greedy. They liked parties and nice dresses, but
they never did any work. The youngest daughter was quiet, good and
beautiful. Her name was Beauty. The girls' father was a merchant. He bought and sold things from
all roundthe world. He had many ships, but one day he said, 'All my ships have sunk.
We're poor now! I'm going to sell our big house. We will go and live in a
little house.' The family went to live in a little house. Beauty worked hard. Her sisters
sat and cried because they were poor.
One day their father said, 'I'm going to go to the port tomorrow. One of my
ships didn't sink and is coming home!' 'Bring us some new dresses!' said his
older daughters. 'What do you want, Beauty?' asked her father. 'Please bring me a rose, dear
Father,' said Beauty. 'There are no roses in our
garden.' The next day the girls' father went to the port, but his ship never came!
Now he did not have any money to buy dresses for his daughters.
He started to walk home, but soon he was lost in a forest. Then he saw a light. He followed it, and
saw a castle. The door of the castle was open. He went
inside, and saw lots of food on a table. 'Hello!' he called. There was no
answer. He sat down and ate. Then he fell asleep. The next morning, the girls' father went outside
the castle. He saw some beautiful roses, and picked one. 'Thief!' shouted a voice. 'You ate my
food, and now you’re stealing my flowers. I'm going to kill you!' It was
the Beast! The girls' father was afraid. He said, 'I picked this rose for Beauty, my youngest
daughter.' 'Bring her here!' said the Beast.
He gave Beauty's father a box and said, 'This will help your
family. Open it at home, then bring Beauty.' The girls ’ father went home. 'Did you bring our
dresses?' asked Beauty's sisters. He told them his story sadly.
'I'll go to the Beast,' said Beauty. 'I'm not afraid.' 'No,
no,' said her father.
Then he opened the box. It was full of gold. 'The Beast has helped us. He's given us the gold,' he
said. 'I'm rich again, but now I can't have my favourite daughter with
me.' Beauty's father cried. The next day, Beauty's father took Beauty to the Beast's castle. He
kissed Beauty and went away. Beauty was very brave. She walked round the castle, and found a
beautiful bedroom. She found cupboards full of beautiful dresses, and she found a
rose on the bed. She put on the most beautiful dress and put the rose in her hair. Beauty went to
the dining-room. All her favourite food was on the table. Beauty sat down. Then the Beast came in.
Beauty said, 'Thank you for my presents, sir.'
'Call me Beast! Tell me, am I very ugly? Are you afraid of me?'
'Yes, Beast, you are ugly,' said Beauty slowly, 'but you have a nice voice.
I'm not afraid of you because you're nice to me.'
Beauty lived in the castle with the Beast and they
were very happy. One day Beauty said, 'Please, can I go to see my family?'
'Put on this ring,' said the Beast. 'You'll go to sleep, and you'll wake up at
home. After seven days, put the ring on again. You'll go to sleep and you'll wake up in this
castle. Goodbye, Beauty. Come back after seven days!'
Beauty was happy with her family. 'Don't go away again!' they said. But on
the eighth night Beauty saw the Beast in a dream. He was very sick and sad. Beauty put on the ring
quickly. 'I'm coming back, Beast!' she said. Beauty
woke up in the castle. She looked in every room, but the Beast was not
there. She went to the garden and saw the Beast!
'Wake up, Beast!' Beauty said, but he did not move. 'Oh, Beast!' she said. 'I love you! Please
don't die!' Beauty kissed his ugly face. Then the Beast became a tall, handsome, young
man!'Long ago,' the young man said, 'I was selfish and unkind. A fairy touched
me with her magic wand and I became a beast. Now I am a man again
because you love me. Beauty, will you marry me?''Yes,' said Beauty