The good man ate the chocolate and then went to look for his horse, but passing through an arbour of roses, he remembered Beauty’s request to him and gathered a branch with several flowers; immediately he heard a great noise and saw such a frightful Beast coming towards him that he was ready to faint away.

“You are very ungrateful,” said the Beast to him in a terrible voice; “I have saved your life by receiving you into my castle, and, in return, you steal my roses, which I value beyond any thing in the universe. You shall die for it; I give you just a quarter of an hour to prepare yourself and say your prayers[16].”

The merchant fell on his knees and lifted up both his hands. “My lord,” said he, “I beseech you to forgive me; indeed I had no intention to offend in gathering a rose for one of my daughters, who desired me to bring her one.”

“My name is not My Lord,” replied the monster, “but Beast; I don’t love compliments. I like people to speak as they think, and so do not imagine I am to be moved by any of your flattering speeches[17]. But you say you have got daughters. I will forgive you on condition that one of them comes willingly and suffers for you. Go and swear that if your daughter refuses to die instead of you, you will return within three months.”

The merchant had no mind[18] to sacrifice his daughters to the ugly monster, but he thought in obtaining this respite he should have the satisfaction of seeing them once more, so he promised upon oath[19], he would return, and the Beast told him he might set out when he pleased. “But,” added he, “you shall not depart emptyhanded; go back to the room where you lay, and you will see a great empty chest; fill it with whatever you like best, and I will send it to your home,” and at the same time Beast withdrew.

“Well,” said the good man to himself, “if I must die, I shall have the comfort, at least, of leaving something to my poor children.” He returned to the bedchamber, and finding a great quantity of gold, he filled the great chest the Beast had mentioned, locked it, and afterwards took his horse out of the stable, leaving the palace with as much grief as he had entered it with joy. The horse took one of the roads of the forest, and in a few hours the good man was at home.

His children came round him but didn’t receive their embraces with pleasure. Instead, he looked at them and, holding up the branch he had in his hands, burst into tears[20]. “Here, Beauty,” said he, “take these roses, but little do you think how dear they are like to cost your unhappy father,” and then told them about his unhappy adventure. Immediately, the two eldest daughters started to cry and said all manner of ill-natured things[21] to Beauty, who did not cry at all.

“Do but see the pride of that little wretch,” said they, “she would not ask for fine clothes as we did, but she wanted to distinguish herself[22], so now she will be the death of our poor father, and yet she does not so much as shed a tear[23].”

“Why should I?” answered Beauty, “It would be very needless, for my father shall not suffer upon my account[24], since the monster will accept one of his daughters, and I am very happy in thinking that my death will save my father’s life and be a proof of my tender love for him.”

“No, sister,” said her three brothers, “that shall not be; we will go and find the monster and either kill him or perish in the attempt[25].”

“Do not imagine any such thing, my sons,” said the merchant, “The Beast’s power is so great that I have no hopes of your overcoming him. I am charmed with Beauty’s kind and generous offer, but I cannot yield to it. I am old and have not long to live.”

“Indeed, father,” said Beauty, “you shall not go to the palace without me; you cannot hinder me from following you.” It was to no purpose all they could say. Beauty still insisted on setting out for the fine palace, and her sisters were delighted at it, for her virtue and amiable qualities made them envious and jealous.

The merchant was so afflicted at the thoughts of losing his daughter that he had quite forgot the chest full of gold, but at night when he retired to rest[26], no sooner had he shut his chamber door, then, to his great astonishment[27], he found it by his bedside; he was determined, however, not to tell his children that he was grown rich because they would have wanted to return to town, and he was resolved not to leave the country; but the Beauty informed him that two gentlemen came in his absence[28] and courted her sisters. She begged her father to consent to their marriage and give them fortunes, for she was so good that she loved them and forgave heartily their behaviour. These wicked creatures rubbed their eyes with an onion to force some tears

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