THE STORY OF THE BEAST.

The King, my father, died before I was born. The Queen would never have

been consoled for his loss if her interest for the child she bore had

not struggled with her sorrow. My birth caused her extreme delight. The

sweet task of rearing the fruit of the affection of so dearly-beloved

a husband was destined to dissipate her affliction. The care of my

education and the fear of losing me occupied her entirely. She was

assisted in her object by a Fairy of her acquaintance, who showed the

greatest anxiety to preserve me from all kinds of accidents. The Queen

felt greatly obliged to her, but she was not pleased when the Fairy

asked her to place me entirely in her hands. The Fairy had not the best

of reputations--she was said to be capricious in her favours. People

feared more than they loved her; and even had my mother been perfectly

convinced of the goodness of her nature, she could not have resolved to

lose sight of me.

By the advice, however, of prudent persons, and for fear of suffering

from the fatal effects of the resentment of this vindictive Fairy,

she did not flatly refuse her. If voluntarily confided to her care

there was no reason to suppose she would do me any injury. Experience

had proved that she took pleasure in hurting those only by whom she

considered herself offended. The Queen admitted this, and was only

reluctant to forego the pleasure of gazing on me continually with a

mother's eyes, which enabled her to discover charms in me I owed solely

to her partiality.

She was still irresolute as to the course she should adopt, when a

powerful neighbour imagined it would be an easy matter for him to seize

upon the dominions of an infant governed by a woman. He invaded my

kingdom with a formidable army. The Queen hastily raised one to oppose

him, and, with a courage beyond that of her sex, placed herself at the

head of her troops, and marched to defend our frontiers. It was then

that, being compelled to leave me, she could not avoid confiding to

the Fairy the care of my education. I was placed in her hands after

she had sworn by all she held most sacred that she would, without the

least hesitation, bring me back to the Court as soon as the war was

over, which my mother calculated would not last more than a year at the

utmost. Notwithstanding, however, all the advantages she gained over

the enemy, she found it impossible to return to the capital so soon as

she expected. To profit by her victory, after having driven the foe out

of our dominions, she pursued him in his own.

She took entire provinces, gained battle after battle, and finally

reduced the vanquished to sue for a degrading peace, which he obtained

only on the hardest conditions. After this glorious success, the Queen

returned triumphantly, and enjoyed in anticipation the pleasure of

beholding me once more; but having learned upon her march that her

base foe, in violation of the treaty, had surprised and massacred our

garrisons, and repossessed himself of nearly all the places he had

been compelled to cede to us, she was obliged to retrace her steps.

Honour prevailed over the affection which drew her towards me, and she

resolved never to sheathe the sword till she had put it out of her

enemy's power to perpetrate more treachery. The time employed in this

second expedition was very considerable. She had flattered herself that

two or three campaigns would suffice; but she had to contend with an

adversary as cunning as he was false. He contrived to excite rebellion

in some of our own provinces, and to corrupt entire battalions, which

forced the Queen to remain in arms for fifteen years. She never thought

of sending for me. She was always flattering herself that each month

would be the last she should be absent, and that she was on the point

of seeing me again.

In the meanwhile, the Fairy, in accordance with her promise, had paid

every attention to my education. From the day she had taken me out

of my kingdom, she had never left me, nor ceased to give me proof of

the interest she felt in all that concerned my health and amusement.

I evinced by my respect for her how sensible I was of her kindness. I

showed her the same deference, the same attention that I should have

shown to my mother, and gratitude inspired me with as much affection

for her.

For some time she appeared satisfied with my behaviour; but one day,

without imparting to me the motive, she set out on a journey, from

which she did not return for some years, and when she did return,

struck with the effect of her care of me, she conceived for me an

affection differing from that of a mother. She had previously permitted

me to call her by that name, but now she forbade me. I obeyed her

without inquiring what were her reasons, or suspecting what she was

about to exact from me.

I saw clearly that she was dissatisfied; but could I imagine why she

continually complained of my ingratitude? I was the more surprised at

her reproaches as I did not feel I deserved them. They were always

followed or preceded by the tenderest caresses. I was not old enough to

comprehend her. She was compelled to explain herself. She did so one

day when I evinced some sorrow, mingled with impatience, respecting the

continued absence of the Queen. She reproached me for this, and on my

assuring her that my affection for my mother in nowise interfered with

that I owed to herself, she replied that she was not jealous, although

she had done so much for me, and had resolved to do still more; but

that, to enable her to carry out her designs in my favour with greater

freedom, it was requisite, she added, that I should marry her; that she

did not desire to be loved by me as a mother, but as an admirer; that

she had no doubt of my gratitude to her for making this proposal, or of

the great joy with which I should accept it, and that, consequently,

I had only to abandon myself to the delight with which the certainty

of becoming the husband of a powerful fairy, who could protect me from

all dangers, assure me an existence full of happiness, and cover me

with glory, must naturally awaken.

I was sadly embarrassed by this proposition. I knew enough of the

world in my own country, to be aware that amongst the wedded portion

of the community the happiest were those whose ages and characters

assimilated, and that many were much to be pitied who, marrying under

opposite circumstances, had found antipathies existing between them

which were the source of constant misery.

The Fairy being old and of a haughty disposition, I could not flatter

myself that my lot would be so agreeable as she predicted. I was far

from entertaining for her such feelings as one should for the woman

with whom we intend to pass our days; and besides, I was not inclined

to enter into any such engagement at so early an age. My only desire

was to see the Queen again, and to signalize myself at the head of her

forces. I sighed for liberty; that was the sole boon that would have

gratified me, and the only one the Fairy would not grant.

I had often implored her to allow me to share the perils to which I

knew the Queen exposed herself for the protection of my interests,

but my prayers had hitherto been fruitless. Pressed to reply to the

astounding declaration she had made to me, I, in some confusion,

recalled to her that she had often told me that I had no right to

dispose of my hand without the commands of my mother, and in her

absence. "That is exactly my opinion," she replied; "I do not wish you

to do otherwise; I am satisfied that you should refer the matter to the

Queen."

I have already informed you, beautiful Princess, that I had been unable

to obtain from the Fairy permission to seek the Queen, my mother. The

desire she now had to receive her sanction, which she never doubted

she should obtain, obliged her to grant, even without my asking, that

which she had always denied me; but it was on the condition, by no

means agreeable to me, that she should accompany me. I did what I could

to dissuade her, but found it impossible, and we set out together with

a numerous escort. We arrived upon the eve of a decisive action. The

Queen had manœuvred with such skill that the next day was certain

to decide the fate of the enemy, who would have no resource if he lost

the battle. My presence created great pleasure in the camp, and gave

additional courage to our troops, who drew a favourable augury from my

arrival. The Queen was ready to die with joy; but this first transport

of delight was succeeded by the greatest alarm. Whilst I exulted in the

hope of acquiring glory, the Queen trembled at the danger to which I

was about to expose myself. Too generous to endeavour to prevent me,

she implored me by all her affection, to take as much care of myself

as honour would permit, and entreated the Fairy not to abandon me on

that occasion. Her solicitations were unnecessary. The too susceptible

Fairy was as much alarmed as the Queen, for she possessed no spell

which could protect me from the chances of war. However, by instantly

inspiring me with the art of commanding an army, and the prudence

requisite for so important an office, she achieved much. The most

experienced captains were surprised at me. I remained master of the

field. The victory was complete. I had the happiness of saving the

Queen's life, and of preventing her from being made prisoner of war.

The enemy was pursued with such vigour that he abandoned his camp, lost

his baggage, and more than three-fourths of his army, while the loss

on our side was inconsiderable. A slight wound which I had received

was the only advantage the foe could boast of; but the Queen, fearing

that if the war continued some more serious mischief might befal me, in

opposition to the desire of the whole army, to which my presence had

imparted fresh spirit, made peace on more advantageous terms than the

vanquished had ventured to hope for.

A short time afterwards we returned to our capital, which we entered

in triumph. My occupation during the war, and the continual presence

of my ancient adorer, had prevented me from informing the Queen of

what had occurred. She was, therefore, completely taken by surprise

when the Fairy told her, in so many words, that she had determined to

marry me immediately. This declaration was made in this very Palace,

but which was at that time not so superb as it is at present. It had

been a country residence of the late King, which a thousand occupations

had prevented his embellishing. My mother, who cherished everything

that he had loved, had selected it in preference to any other as a

place of retirement after the fatigues of the war. At the avowal of the

Fairy, unable to control her first feelings, and unused to dissemble,

she exclaimed, "Have you reflected, Madam, on the absurdity of the

arrangement you propose to me!" In truth it was impossible to conceive

one more ridiculous. In addition to the almost decrepit old age of the

Fairy, she was horribly ugly. Nor was this the effect of time. If she

had been handsome in her youth, she might have preserved some portion

of her beauty by the aid of her art; but naturally hideous, her power

could only invest her with the appearance of beauty for one day in each

year, and that day ended, she returned to her former state.

The Fairy was surprised at the exclamation of the Queen. Her self-love

concealed from her all that was actually horrible in her person, and

she calculated that her power sufficiently compensated for the loss

of a few charms of her youth. "What do you mean," said she to the

Queen, "by an absurd arrangement! Consider, that it is imprudent in

you to make me remember what I have condescended to forget. You ought

only to congratulate yourself on possessing a son so amiable that his

merit induces me to prefer him to the most powerful Genii in all the

elements; and as I have deigned to descend to him, accept with respect

the honour I am good enough to confer on you, and do not give me time

to change my mind."

The Queen, as proud as the Fairy, had never conceived that there was a

rank on earth higher than the throne. She valued little the pretended

honour which the Fairy offered her. Having always commanded every one

who approached her, she by no means desired to have a daughter-in-law

to whom she must herself pay homage. Therefore, far from replying to

her, she remained motionless, and contented herself with fixing her

eyes upon me. I was as much astounded as she was, and fixing my eyes on

her in the same manner, it was easy for the Fairy to perceive that our

silence expressed sentiments very opposite to the joy with which she

would have inspired us.

"What is the meaning of this?" said she, sharply. "How comes it that

mother and son are both silent? Has this agreeable surprise deprived

you of the power of speech? or are you blind and rash enough to reject

my offer? Say, Prince," said she to me, "are you so ungrateful and so

imprudent as to despise my kindness? Do you not consent to give me

your hand this moment?"

"No, Madam, I assure you," replied I, quickly. "Although I am sincerely

grateful to you for past favours, I cannot agree to discharge my debt

to you by such means; and, with the Queen's permission, I decline to

part so soon with my liberty. Name any other mode of acknowledging your

favours, and I will not consider it impossible; but as to that you

have proposed, excuse me if you please, for----" "How! insignificant

creature!" interrupted the Fairy, furiously. "Thou darest to resist me!

And you, foolish Queen! you see, without anger, this conduct--What do

I say? without anger! It is you who authorize it! For it is your own

insolent looks that have inspired him with the audacity to refuse me!"

The Queen, already stung by the contemptuous language of the Fairy, was

no longer mistress of herself, and accidentally casting her eyes on a

looking-glass, before which we happened to be standing at the moment,

the wicked Fairy thus provoked her: "What answer can I make you," said

she, "that you ought not to make to yourself? Deign to contemplate,

without prejudice, the object this glass presents to you, and let it

reply for me." The Fairy easily comprehended the Queen's insinuation.

"It is the beauty, then, of this precious son of yours that renders

you so vain," said she to her, "and has exposed me to so degrading a

refusal! I appear to you unworthy of him. Well," she continued, raising

her voice furiously, "having taken so much pains to make him charming,

it is fit that I should complete my work, and that I should give you

both a cause, as novel as remarkable, to make you remember what you owe

to me. Go, wretch!" said she to me; "boast that thou hast refused me

thy heart and thy hand. Give them to her thou findest more worthy of

them than I am." So saying, my terrible lover struck me a blow on the

head. It was so heavy that I was dashed to the ground on my face, and

felt as though I were crushed by the fall of a mountain. Irritated by

this insult, I struggled to rise, but found it impossible. The weight

of my body had become so great that I could not lift myself; all that

I could do was to sustain myself on my hands, which had in an instant

become two horrible paws, and the sight of them apprised me of the

change I had undergone. My form was that in which you found me. I cast

my eyes for an instant on that fatal glass, and could no longer doubt

my cruel and sudden transformation.

My despair rendered me motionless. The Queen at this dreadful sight was

almost out of her mind. To put the last seal upon her barbarity, the

furious Fairy said to me, in an ironical tone, "Go make illustrious

conquests, more worthy of thee than an august Fairy. And as sense

is not required when one is so handsome, I command thee to appear

as stupid as thou art horrible, and to remain in this state until

a young and beautiful girl shall, of her own accord, come to seek

thee, although fully persuaded thou wilt devour her. She must also,"

continued the Fairy, "after discovering that her life is not in danger,

conceive for thee a sufficiently tender affection to induce her to

marry thee. Until thou canst meet with this rare maiden it is my

pleasure that thou remain an object of horror to thyself and to all who

behold thee. As for you, too happy mother of so lovely a child," said

she to the Queen, "I warn you that if you acknowledge to any one that

this monster is your son, he shall never recover his natural shape.

Neither interest, nor ambition, nor the charms of his conversation,

must assist to restore him to it. Adieu! Do not be impatient; you will

not have long to wait. Such a darling will soon find a remedy for his

misfortune." "Ah, cruel one!" exclaimed the Queen, "if my refusal has

offended you, let your vengeance light on me. Take my life, but do not,

I conjure you, destroy your own work." "You forget yourself, great

Princess," replied the Fairy, in an ironical tone, "you demean yourself

too much. I am not handsome enough for you to condescend to entreat

me; but I am firm in my resolutions. Adieu, powerful Queen; adieu,

beautiful Prince; it is not fair that I should longer annoy you with

my hateful presence. I withdraw; but I have still charity enough to

warn thee," addressing herself to me, "that thou must forget who thou

art. If thou sufferest thyself to be flattered by vain respects or by

pompous titles, thou art lost irretrievably! And thou art equally lost

if thou shouldst dare to avail thyself of the intellect I leave thee

possessed of, to shine in conversation."

With these words she disappeared, and left the Queen and me in a state

which can neither be described nor imagined. Lamentations are the

consolation of the unhappy; but our misery was too great to seek relief

in them. My mother determined to stab herself, and I to fling myself in

the adjacent canal. Without communicating our intentions to each other,

we were on the point of executing these fatal designs, when a female

of majestic mien, and whose manner inspired us with profound respect,

appeared, and bade us remember that it was cowardice to succumb to the

greatest misfortunes, and that with time and courage there was no evil

that could not be remedied. The Queen, however, was inconsolable; tears

streamed from her eyes, and not knowing how to inform her subjects that

their sovereign was transformed into a horrible monster, she abandoned

herself to the most fearful despair. The Fairy (for she was one, and

the same whom you have seen here), knowing both her misery and her

embarrassment, recalled to her the indispensable obligation she was

under to conceal from her people this dreadful adventure, and that in

lieu of yielding to despair, it would be better to seek some remedy for

the mischief.

"Is there one to be found," exclaimed the Queen, "which is powerful

enough to prevent the fulfilment of a Fairy's sentence?" "Yes, Madam,"

replied the Fairy, "there is a remedy for everything. I am a Fairy as

well as she whose fury you have just felt the effects of, and my power

is equal to hers. It is true that I cannot immediately repair the

injury she has done you, for we are not permitted to act directly in

opposition to each other. She who has caused your misfortune is older

than I am, and age has amongst us a particular title to respect. But as

she could not avoid attaching a condition upon which the spell might

be broken, I will assist you to break it. I grant that it will be a

difficult task to terminate this enchantment; but it does not appear to

me to be impossible. Let me see what I can do for you by the exertion

of all the means in my power."

Upon this she drew a book from under her robe, and after taking a

few mysterious steps, she seated herself at a table, and read for a

considerable time with such intense application that large drops of

perspiration stood on her forehead. At length she closed the book

and meditated profoundly. The expression of her countenance was so

serious that for some time we were led to believe that she considered

my misfortune irreparable; but recovering from a sort of trance, and

her features resuming their natural beauty, she informed us that she

had discovered a remedy for our disasters. "It will be slow," said she,

"but it will be sure. Keep your secret; let it not transpire, so that

any one can suspect you are concealed beneath this horrible disguise,

for in that case you will deprive me of the power of delivering you

from it. Your enemy flatters herself you will divulge it; it is for

that reason she did not take from you the power of speech."

The Queen declared that the condition was an impossible one, as two

of her women had been present at the fatal transformation, and had

rushed out of the apartment in great terror, which must have excited

the curiosity of the guards and the courtiers. She imagined that the

whole Court was by this time aware of it, and that all the kingdom,

and even all the world, would speedily receive the intelligence; but

the Fairy knew a way to prevent the disclosure of the secret. She made

several circles, now solemnly, now rapidly, uttering words of which we

could not comprehend the meaning, and finished by raising her hand in

the air in the style of one who is pronouncing an imperative order.

This gesture, added to the words she had uttered, was so powerful,

that every breathing creature in the Palace became motionless, and

was changed into a statue. They are all still in the same state. They

are the figures you behold in various directions and in the very

attitudes they had assumed at the instant the Fairy's potent spell

surprised them. The Queen, who at that moment cast her eyes upon the

great court-yard, observed this change taking place in a prodigious

number of persons. The silence which suddenly succeeded to the stir

of a multitude, awoke a feeling of compassion in her heart for the

many innocent beings who were deprived of life for my sake; but the

Fairy comforted her by saying that she would only retain her subjects

in that condition as long as their discretion was necessary. It was a

precaution she was compelled to take, but she promised she would make

up to them for it, and that the period they passed in that state would

not be added to the years allotted to their existence. "They will be so

much the younger," said the Fairy to the Queen; "so cease to deplore

them, and leave them here with your son. He will be quite safe, for

I have raised such thick fogs around this Castle, that it will be

impossible for any one to enter it but when we think fit. I will convey

you," she continued, "where your presence is necessary. Your enemies

are plotting against you. Be careful to proclaim to your people that

the Fairy who educated your son retains him near her for an important

purpose, and keeps with her also all the persons who were in attendance

on you."

It was not without shedding a flood of tears that my mother could

force herself to leave me. The Fairy renewed her assurances to her

that she would always watch over me, and protested that I had only to

wish, and to see the accomplishment of my desires. She added that my

misfortunes would shortly end, provided neither the Queen nor I raised

up an obstacle by some act of imprudence. All these promises could

not console my mother. She wished to remain with me, and to leave the

Fairy, or any one she might consider the most proper person, to govern

the kingdom; but fairies are imperious, and will be obeyed. My mother,

fearing by a refusal to increase my miseries and deprive me of the aid

of this beneficent spirit, consented to all she insisted on. She saw

a beautiful car approach; it was drawn by the same white stags that

brought her here to day. The Fairy made the Queen mount by her side.

She had scarcely time to embrace me, her affairs demanded her presence

elsewhere, and she was warned that a longer sojourn in this place would

be prejudicial to me. She was transported with extraordinary velocity

to the spot where her army was encamped. They were not surprised to see

her arrive with this equipage. Everybody believed her to be accompanied

by the old Fairy, for the one who was with her kept herself unseen,

and departed again immediately to return to this place, which, in an

instant, she embellished with everything that her imagination could

suggest and her art supply.

This good-natured Fairy permitted me also to add whatever I fancied

would please me, and after having done for me all she could, she

left me with exhortations to take courage, and promising to come

occasionally and impart to me such hopes as she might entertain of a

favourable issue to my adventure.

I seemed to be alone in the Palace. I was only so to sight. I was

served as if I were in the midst of my courtiers, and my occupations

were nearly the same as those which were afterwards yours. I read,

I went to the play, I cultivated a garden which I had made to amuse

me, and found something agreeable in everything I undertook. What I

planted arrived at perfection in the same day. It took no more time to

produce the bower of roses to which I am indebted for the happiness of

beholding you here.

My benefactress came very often to see me. Her presence and her

promises alleviated my distresses. Through her, the Queen received news

of me, and I news of the Queen. One day I saw the Fairy arrive with

joy sparkling in her eyes. "Dear Prince," said she to me, "the moment

of your happiness approaches!" She then informed me that he whom you

believed to be your father had passed a very uncomfortable night in

the forest. She related to me, in a few words, the adventure which had

caused him to undertake the journey, without revealing to me your real

parentage. She apprized me that the worthy man was compelled to seek an

asylum from the misery he had endured during four-and-twenty hours.

"I go," said she, "to give orders for his reception. It must be an

agreeable one. He has a charming daughter. I propose that she shall

release you. I have examined the conditions which my cruel companion

has attached to your disenchantment. It is fortunate that she did not

ordain that your deliverer should come hither out of love for you. On

the contrary, she insisted that the young maiden should expect no less

than death, and yet expose herself to it voluntarily. I have thought

of a scheme to oblige her to take that step. It is to make her believe

the life of her father is in danger, and that she has no other means of

saving him. I know that in order to spare her father any expense on her

account, she has asked him only to bring her a rose, whilst her sisters

have overwhelmed him with extravagant commissions. He will naturally

avail himself of the first favourable opportunity. Hide yourself in

this arbour, and seizing him the instant he attempts to gather your

roses, threaten him that death will be the punishment of his audacity,

unless he give you one of his daughters; or, rather, unless she

sacrifice herself, according to the decree of our enemy. This man has

five daughters besides the one I have destined for you; but not one of

them is sufficiently magnanimous to purchase the life of their father

at the price of their own. Beauty is alone capable of so grand an

action."

I executed exactly the Fairy's commands. You know, lovely Princess,

with what success. The merchant, to save his life, promised what I

demanded. I saw him depart without being able to persuade myself that

he would return with you. I could not flatter myself that my desire

would be fulfilled. What torment did I not suffer during the month he

had requested me to allow him. I longed for its termination only to be

certain of my disappointment. I could not imagine that a young, lovely,

and amiable girl would have the courage to seek a monster, of whom she

believed she was doomed to be the prey. Even supposing her to have

sufficient fortitude to devote herself, she would have to remain with

me without repenting the step she had taken, and that appeared to me

an invincible obstacle. Besides, how could she behold me without dying

with affright? I passed my miserable existence in these melancholy

reflections, and never was I more to be pitied. The month, however,

elapsed, and my protectress announced to me your arrival. You remember,

no doubt, the pomp with which you were received. Not daring to express

my delight in words, I endeavoured to prove it to you by the most

magnificent signs of rejoicing. The Fairy, ceaseless in her attentions

to me, prohibited me from making myself known to you. Whatever terror I

might inspire you with, or whatever kindness you might show me, I was

not permitted to seek to please you, nor to express any love for you,

nor to discover to you in any way who I was. I could have recourse,

however, to excessive good-nature, as, fortunately, the malignant Fairy

had forgotten to forbid my giving you proof of that.

These regulations seemed hard to me, but I was compelled to subscribe

to them, and I resolved to present myself before you only for a few

moments every day, and to avoid long conversations, in which my heart

might betray its tenderness. You came, charming Princess, and the first

sight of you produced upon me a diametrically opposite effect to that

which my monstrous appearance must have done upon you. To see you was

instantly to love you. Entering your apartment, tremblingly, my joy was

excessive to find that you could behold me with greater intrepidity

than I could behold myself. You delighted me infinitely when you

declared that you would remain with me. An impulse of self-love, which

I retained even under that most horrible of forms, led me to believe

that you had not found me so hideous as you anticipated.

Your father departed satisfied. But my sorrow increased as I

reflected that I was not allowed to win your favour in any way

except by indulging the caprices of your taste. Your demeanour, your

conversation, as sensible as it was unpretending, everything in you

convinced me that you acted solely on the principles dictated to you by

reason and virtue, and that consequently I had nothing to hope for from

a fortunate caprice. I was in despair at being forbidden to address you

in any other language than that which the Fairy had dictated, and which

she had expressly chosen as coarse and stupid.

In vain did I represent to her it was unnatural to expect you would

accept my proposition to marry you. Her answer was always, "Patience,

perseverance, or all is lost." To recompense you for my silly

conversation, she assured me she would surround you with all sorts of

pleasures, and give me the advantage of seeing you continually, without

alarming you, or being compelled to say rude and impertinent things to

you. She rendered me invisible, and I had the gratification of seeing

you waited on by spirits who were also invisible, or who presented

themselves to you in the shapes of various animals.

More than this, the Fairy caused you to behold my natural form in your

nightly slumbers, and in portraits by day, and made it speak to you

in your dreams as I should have spoken to you myself. You obtained

a confused idea of my secret and my hopes, which she urged you to

realize, and by the means of a starry mirror I witnessed all your

interviews, and read in it either all you imagined you uttered or all

that you actually thought. This position, however, did not suffice

to render me happy. I was only so in a dream, and my sufferings were

real. The intense affection with which you had inspired me obliged me

to complain of the restraint under which I lived; but my state was

much more wretched when I perceived that these beautiful scenes had

no longer any charms for you. I saw you shed tears, which pierced

my heart, and would have destroyed me. You asked me if I was alone

here, and I was on the verge of discarding my feigned stupidity, and

assuring you by the most passionate vows of the fact. They would have

been uttered in terms that would have surprised you, and caused you to

suspect that I was not so coarse a brute as I pretended to be. I was

on the point even of declaring myself, when the Fairy, invisible to

you, appeared before me. By a threatening gesture, which terrified me,

she found a way to close my lips. O, heavens! by what means did she

impose silence upon me? She approached you with a poniard in her hand,

and made signs to me that the first word I uttered would cost you your

life. I was so frightened that I naturally relapsed into the stupidity

she had ordered me to affect.

My sufferings were not yet at an end. You expressed a desire to visit

your father. I gave you permission without hesitation. Could I have

refused you anything? But I regarded your departure as my death-blow,

and without the assistance of the Fairy I must have sunk under it.

During your absence that generous being never quitted me. She saved

me from destroying myself, which I should have done in my despair,

not daring to hope that you would return. The time you had passed in

this Palace rendered my condition more insupportable than it had been

previously, because I felt I was the most miserable of all men, without

the hope of making it known to you.

My most agreeable occupation was to wander through the scenes which

you had frequented, but my grief was increased by no longer seeing

you there. The evenings and hours when I used to have the pleasure of

conversing with you for a moment, redoubled my afflictions, and were

still more painful to me. Those two months, the longest I had ever

known, ended at last, and you did not return. It was then my misery

reached its climax, and that the Fairy's power was too weak to prevent

my sinking under my despair. The precautions she took to prevent my

attempting my life were useless. I had a sure way which eluded her

power. It was to refrain from food. By the potency of her spells she

contrived to sustain me for some time, but having exhausted all her

secrets, I grew weaker and weaker, and finally had but a few moments to

breathe, when you arrived to snatch me from the tomb.

Your precious tears, more efficacious than all the cordials of the

disguised Genii who attended on me, delayed my soul upon the point of

flight. In learning from your lamentations that I was dear to you, I

enjoyed perfect felicity, and that felicity was at its height when you

accepted me for your husband. Still I was not permitted to divulge to

you my secret, and the Beast was compelled to leave you without daring

to disclose to you the Prince. You know the lethargy into which I fell,

and which ended only with the arrival of the Fairy and the Queen. On

awaking I found myself as you behold me, without being aware of how the

change took place.

You have witnessed what followed, but you could only imperfectly judge

of the pain which the obstinacy of my mother caused me in opposing

a marriage so suitable and so glorious for me. I had determined,

Princess, rather to be a monster again than to abandon the hope of

being the husband of so virtuous and charming a maiden. Had the secret

of your birth remained for ever a mystery to me, love and gratitude

would not less have assured me that in possessing you I was the most

fortunate of men!

* * * * *

The Prince thus ended his narration, and Beauty was about to speak,

when she was prevented by a burst of loud voices and warlike

instruments, which, however, did not appear to announce anything

alarming. The Prince and Princess looked out of the window, as did also

the Fairy and the Queen who returned from their promenade. The noise

was occasioned by the arrival of a personage who, according to all

appearances, could be no less than a king. His escort was obviously

a royal one, and there was an air of majesty in his demeanour which

accorded with the state that accompanied him. The fine form of this

sovereign, although of a certain age, testified that there had been few

who could have equalled him in appearance when in the flower of his

youth. He was followed by twelve of his body-guard, and some courtiers

in hunting-dresses, who appeared as much astonished as their master

to find themselves in a castle till now quite unknown to them. He

was received with the same honours that would have been paid to him

in his own dominions, and all by invisible beings. Shouts of joy and

flourishes of trumpets were heard, but no one was to be seen.

The Fairy, immediately on beholding him, said to the Queen, "Here is

the King your brother, and the father of Beauty. He little expects

the pleasure of seeing you both here. He will be so much the more

gratified, as you know he believes that his daughter has been long

dead. He mourns her still, as he also does his wife, of whom he retains

an affectionate remembrance." These words increased the impatience of

the Queen and the young Princess to embrace this monarch. They reached

the court-yard just as he dismounted. He saw, but could not recognize

them; not doubting, however, that they were advancing to receive him,

he was considering how and in what terms he should pay his compliments

to them, when Beauty, flinging herself at his feet, embraced his knees,

and called him "Father!"

The King raised her and pressed her tenderly in his arms, without

comprehending why she addressed him by that title. He imagined she must

be some orphan Princess, who sought his protection from some oppressor,

and who made use of the most touching expression in order to obtain

her request. He was about to assure her that he would do all that lay

in his power to assist her, when he recognized the Queen his sister,

who, embracing him in her turn, presented her son to him. She then

informed him of some of the obligations they were under to Beauty, and

especially of the frightful enchantment that had just been terminated.

The King praised the young Princess, and desired to know her name,

when the Fairy, interrupting him, asked if it was necessary to name

her parents, and if he had never known any one whom she resembled

sufficiently to enable him to guess them. "If I judged only from her

features," said he, gazing upon her earnestly, and not being able to

restrain a few tears, "the title she has given to me is legitimately

my due; but notwithstanding that evidence, and the emotion which her

presence occasions me, I dare not flatter myself that she is the

daughter whose loss I have deplored; for I had the most positive proof

that she had been devoured by wild beasts. Yet," he continued, still

examining her countenance, "she resembles perfectly the tender and

incomparable wife whom death has deprived me of. Oh, that I could but

venture to indulge in the delightful hope of beholding again in her the

fruit of a happy union, the bonds of which were too soon broken!"

"You may, my liege," replied the Fairy; "Beauty is your daughter. Her

birth is no longer a secret here. The Queen and Prince know who she is.

I caused you to direct your steps this way on purpose to inform you;

but this is not a fitting place for me to enter into the details of

this adventure. Let us enter the Palace. After you have rested yourself

there a short time I will relate to you all you desire to know. When

you have indulged in the delight which you must feel at finding a

daughter so beautiful and so virtuous I will communicate to you another

piece of intelligence, which will afford you equal gratification."

The King, accompanied by his daughter and the Prince, was ushered by

the monkey officers into the apartment destined for him by the Fairy,

who took this opportunity of restoring to the statues the liberty

of relating what they had witnessed. As their fate had excited the

compassion of the Queen, it was from her hands that the Fairy desired

they should receive the benefit of re-animation. She placed her wand

in the Queen's hand, who, by her instructions, described with it seven

circles in the air, and then pronounced these words: "Be re-animated.

Your King is restored to you." All the statues immediately began to

move, walk, and act as formerly, retaining only a confused idea of what

had happened to them.

After this ceremony the Fairy and the Queen returned to the King, whom

they found in conversation with Beauty and the Prince, caressing each

in turn, and most fondly his daughter, of whom he inquired a hundred

times how she had been preserved from the wild beasts who had carried

her off, without remembering that she had answered him from the first

that she knew nothing about it, and had been ignorant even of the

secret of her birth.

The Prince also talked without being attended to, repeating a hundred

times the obligations he was under to Princess Beauty. He desired to

acquaint the King with the promises which the Fairy had made him,

that he should marry the Princess, and to beg he would not refuse his

cheerful consent to the alliance. This conversation and these caresses

were interrupted by the entrance of the Queen and the Fairy. The King,

who had recovered his daughter, fully appreciated his happiness, but

was as yet ignorant to whom he was indebted for this precious gift.

"It is to me," said the Fairy; "and I alone can explain to you the

adventure. I shall not limit my benefits to the recital of that alone.

I have other tidings in store for you, not less agreeable. Therefore,

great King, you may note this day as one of the happiest of your

life." The company, perceiving that the Fairy was about to commence

her narration, evinced by their silence the great attention they

were anxious to pay to it. To satisfy their curiosity the Fairy thus

addressed the King:--

"Beauty, my liege, and perhaps the Prince, are the only persons present

who are not acquainted with the laws of the Fortunate Island. It is

necessary I should explain those laws to them. The inhabitants of

that island, and even the King himself, are allowed perfect liberty

to marry according to their inclinations, in order that there may be

no obstacle whatever to their happiness. It was in virtue of this

privilege that you, Sire, selected for your wife a young shepherdess

whom you met one day when you were hunting. Her beauty and her good

conduct were considered by you deserving of that honour. You raised

her to the throne, and placed her in a rank from which the lowliness

of her birth seemed to have excluded her, but of which she was worthy,

by the nobleness of her character and the purity of her mind. You know

that you had continual reasons to rejoice in the selection you had

made. Her gentleness, her obliging disposition, and her affection for

you, equalled the charms of her person. But you did not long enjoy the

happiness of beholding her. After she had made you the father of Beauty

you were under the necessity of travelling to the frontiers of your

kingdom, to suppress some revolutionary demonstrations of which you

had received intimation. During this period you lost your dear wife,

an affliction which you felt the more sensibly because, in addition to

the love with which her beauty had inspired you, you had the greatest

respect for the many rare qualities that adorned her mind. Despite

her youth and the little education she had received, you found her

naturally endowed with profound judgment, and your wisest ministers

were astonished at the excellent advice she gave you, and the policy by

which she enabled you to succeed in all your undertakings."

The King, who still brooded over his affliction, and to whose

imagination the death of that dear wife was ever present, could not

listen to this account without being sensibly affected, and the Fairy,

who observed his emotion, said, "Your feelings prove that you deserved

that happiness. I will no longer dwell on a subject that is so painful

to you, but I must reveal to you that the supposed shepherdess was a

Fairy, and my sister, who, having heard that the Fortunate Island was

a charming country, and also much praise of its laws and of the gentle

nature of your government, was particularly anxious to visit it. The

dress of a shepherdess was the only disguise she assumed, intending to

enjoy for a short time a pastoral life. You encountered her in her new

abode. Her youth and beauty touched your heart. She yielded to a desire

to discover whether the qualities of your mind equalled those she found

in your person. She trusted to her condition and power as a Fairy,

which could place her at a wish beyond the reach of your assiduities if

they became too importunate, or if you should presume to take advantage

of the humble position in which you found her. She was not alarmed at

the sentiments with which you might inspire her, and persuaded that her

virtue was sufficient to guarantee her against the snares of love, she

attributed her sensations to a simple curiosity to ascertain if there

were still upon the earth men capable of loving virtue unembellished

by exterior ornaments, which render it more brilliant and respectable

to vulgar souls than its own intrinsic merit, and frequently, by

their fatal attractions, obtain the reputation of virtue for the most

abominable vices.

"Under this illusion, far from retreating to our common asylum, as she

had at first proposed, she chose to inhabit a little cottage she had

raised for herself in the solitude in which you met her, accompanied

by a phantom, representing her mother. These two persons appeared to

live there upon the produce of a pretended flock that had no fear of

the wolves, being, in fact, genii in that form. It was in that cottage

she received your attentions, which produced all the effect you could

desire. She could not resist the offer you made her of your crown. You

now know the extent of the obligations you were under to her at a time

when you imagined she owed everything to you, and were satisfied to

remain in that error.

"What I now tell you is a positive proof that ambition had no share in

the consent she accorded to your wishes. You are aware that we look

upon the greatest kingdoms but as gifts which we can bestow on any

one at our pleasure. But she appreciated your generous behaviour, and

esteeming herself happy in uniting herself to so excellent a man, she

rashly entered into that engagement without reflecting on the danger

which she thereby incurred. For our laws expressly forbid our union

with those who have not as much power as ourselves, more especially

when we have not arrived at that age when we are privileged to exercise

our authority over others, and enjoy the right of presiding in our

turn. Previous to that time we are subordinate to our elders, and that

we may not abuse our power, we have only the liberty of disposing of

our hands in favour of some spirit or sage whose knowledge is at least

equal to our own. It is true that after that period we are free to form

what alliance we please; but it is seldom that we avail ourselves of

that right, and never without scandal to our order. Those who do are

generally old fairies, who almost always pay dearly for their folly;

for they marry young men, who despise them, and, although they are

not punished as criminals, they are sufficiently punished by the bad

conduct of their husbands, on whom they are not permitted to avenge

themselves.

"It is the only penalty imposed upon them. The disagreements which

almost invariably follow the indiscretion they have committed takes

from them the desire of revealing to those profane persons from whom

they expected respect and attention the great secrets of art. My

sister, however, was not placed in either of these positions. Endowed

with every charm that could inspire affection, she was not of the

required age; but she consulted only her love. She flattered herself

she could keep her marriage a secret. She succeeded in so doing for a

short time. We rarely make inquiries about those who are absent. Each

is occupied with her own affairs, and we fly through the world, doing

good or ill, according to our inclinations, without being obliged at

our return to account for our actions, unless we have been guilty of

some act which causes us to be talked about, or that some beneficent

fairy, moved by the unjust persecution of some unfortunate mortal, lays

a complaint against the offender. In short, there must arise some

unforeseen event to occasion us to consult the general book in which

all we do is written at the same instant without the aid of hands.

Saving these occasions, we have only to appear in the general assembly

three times in the year; and, as we travel very swiftly, the affair

does not occupy more than a couple of hours.

"My sister was obliged to give light to the throne (such is our phrase

for the performance of that duty). On such occasions, she arranged for

you a hunting party at some distance, or a journey of pleasure, and

after your departure she feigned some indisposition, to remain alone in

her cabinet, or that she had letters to write, or that she wished to

repose. Neither in the palace nor amongst us was there any suspicion

of that which it was so much her interest to conceal. This mystery,

however, was not one for me. The consequences were dangerous, and I

warned her of them; but she loved you too much to repent the step she

had taken. Desiring even to justify it in my eyes, she insisted that I

should pay you a visit.

"Without flattering you, I confess that, if the sight of you did not

compel me entirely to excuse her weakness, it at least diminished

considerably my surprise at it, and increased the zeal with which I

laboured to keep it a secret. Her dissimulation was successful for two

years; but at length she betrayed herself. We are obliged to confer

a certain number of favours on the world generally, and to return an

account of them. When my sister gave in hers, it appeared that she

had limited her excursions and her benefits to the confines of the

Fortunate Island.

"Several of our ill-natured fairies blamed this conduct, and our Queen,

in consequence, demanded of her why she had restricted her benevolence

to this small corner of the earth, when she could not be ignorant that

a young fairy was bound to travel far and wide, and manifest to the

universe at large our pleasure and our power.

"As this was no new regulation, my sister could not murmur at the

enforcement of it, nor find a pretext for objecting to obey it. She

promised, therefore, to do so; but her impatience to see you again, the

fear of her absence being discovered at the Palace, the impossibility

of acting secretly on a throne, did not permit her to absent herself

long enough and often enough to fulfil her promise; and at the next

assembly she could hardly prove that she had been out of the Fortunate

Island for a quarter of an hour.

"Our Queen, greatly displeased with her, threatened to destroy that

island, and so prevent her continuing to violate our laws. This threat

agitated her so greatly that the least sharp-sighted fairy could see

to what a point she carried her interest for that fatal island, and

the wicked fairy who turned the Prince here present into a frightful

monster, was convinced by her confusion that, on opening the great

book, she should find in it an important entry which would afford

some exercise to her propensities for mischief. 'It is there,' she

exclaimed, 'that the truth will appear, and that we shall learn what

has really been her occupation!' and with these words, she opened the

volume before the whole assembly, and read the details of all that had

taken place during the last two years in a loud and distinct voice.

"All the fairies made an extraordinary uproar on hearing of this

degrading alliance, and overwhelmed my wretched sister with the most

cruel reproaches. She was degraded from our order, and condemned to

remain a prisoner amongst us. If her punishment had consisted of the

first penalty only, she would have consoled herself; but the second

sentence, far more terrible, made her feel all the rigour of both.

The loss of her dignity little affected her; but, loving you fondly,

she begged, with tears in her eyes, that they would be satisfied with

degrading her, and not deprive her of the pleasure of living as a

simple mortal with her husband and her dear daughter.

"Her tears and supplications touched the hearts of the younger judges,

and I felt, from the murmur that arose, that if the votes had been

collected at that instant, she would certainly have escaped with a

reprimand. But one of the eldest, who, from her extreme decrepitude had

obtained amongst us the name of 'the Mother of the Seasons,' did not

give the Queen time to speak and admit that pity had touched her heart

as well as the others'.

"'There is no excuse for this crime,' cried the detestable old

creature, in her cracked voice. 'If it is permitted to go unpunished,

we shall be daily exposed to similar insults. The honour of our order

is absolutely involved in it. This miserable being, attached to earth,

does not regret the loss of a rank which elevated her a hundred

degrees higher above monarchs than they are above their subjects. She

tells us that her affections, her fears, and her wishes, all turn

upon her unworthy family. It is through them we must punish her. Let

her husband deplore her! Let her daughter, the shameful fruit of her

illegal marriage, become the bride of a monster, to expiate the folly

of a mother who could allow herself to be captivated by the frail and

contemptible beauty of a mortal!'

"This cruel speech revived the severity of many who had been previously

inclined to mercy. Those who continued to pity her being too few to

offer any opposition, the sentence was approved of in its integrity;

and our Queen herself, whose features had indicated a feeling of

compassion, resuming their severity, confirmed the majority of votes

in favour of the motion of the ill-natured old Fairy. My sister,

however, in her endeavours to obtain a revocation of this cruel decree,

to propitiate her judges, and to excuse her marriage, had drawn so

charming a portrait of you, that it inflamed the heart of the fairy

Governess of the Prince (she who had opened the great volume); but this

dawning passion only served to increase the hatred which that wicked

Fairy already bore to your unfortunate wife.

"Unable to resist her desire to see you, she concealed her passion

under the colour of a pretext that she was anxious to ascertain if

you deserved that a fairy should make such a sacrifice for you as my

sister had done. As she had obtained the sanction of the assembly to

her guardianship of the Prince, she could not have ventured to quit

him for any length of time if the ingenuity of love had not inspired

her with the idea of placing a protecting genius and two inferior and

invisible fairies to watch over him in her absence. After taking this

precaution, there was nothing to prevent her following her inclination,

which speedily carried her to the Fortunate Island. In the meanwhile,

the women and officers of the imprisoned Queen, surprised that she did

not come out of her private cabinet, became alarmed. The express orders

she had given them not to disturb her, induced them to pass the night

without knocking at the door; but impatience at last taking place of

all other considerations, they knocked loudly, and no one answering,

they forced the doors, under the impression that some accident had

happened to her. Although they had prepared themselves for the worst,

they were not the less astonished at perceiving no trace of her. They

called her, they hunted for her in vain. They could discover nothing

to appease the despair into which her disappearance had plunged them.

They imagined a thousand reasons for it, each more absurd than the

other. They could not suspect her evasion to be voluntary. She was

all-powerful in your kingdom. The sovereign jurisdiction you had

confided to her was not disputed by any one. Everybody obeyed her

cheerfully. The affection you had for each other, that which she

entertained for her daughter and for her subjects, who adored her,

prevented them from supposing she had fled. Where could she go to be

more happy? On the other hand, what man would have dared to carry off

a queen from the midst of her own guards, and the centre of her own

palace? Such a ravisher must have left some indications of the road he

had taken.

"The disaster was certain, although the causes of it were unknown.

There was another evil to dread; namely, the feelings with which

you would receive this fatal news. The innocence of those who were

responsible for the safety of the Queen's person by no means satisfied

them that they should not feel the effects of your wrath. They felt

they must either fly the kingdom, and thereby appear guilty of a crime

they had not committed, or they must find some means of hiding this

misfortune from you.

"After long deliberation, they could imagine no other than that of

persuading you the Queen was dead, and this plan they put instantly

into execution. They sent off a courier to inform you that she had been

suddenly taken ill; a second followed a few hours afterwards, bearing

the news of her death, in order to prevent your love inducing you to

return post-haste to Court. Your appearance would have deranged all the

measures they had taken for general security. They paid to the supposed

defunct all the funeral honours due to her rank, to your affection,

and the sorrow of a people who adored her, and who wept her loss as

sincerely as yourself.

"This cruel adventure was always kept a profound secret from you,

although it was known to every other inhabitant of the Fortunate

Island. The first astonishment had given publicity to the whole affair.

The affliction you felt at this loss was proportionate to your love;

you found no consolation except in the innocent caresses of your

infant daughter, whom you sent for to be with you. You determined

never again to be separated from her; she was charming, and presented

you continually with a living portrait of the Queen, her mother. The

hostile Fairy, who had been the original cause of all this trouble by

opening the great book in which she discovered my sister's marriage,

had not come to see you without paying the price of her curiosity.

Your appearance had produced the same effect upon her heart as it had

previously done on that of your wife, and instead of this experience

inducing her to excuse my sister, she ardently desired to commit the

same fault. Hovering about you invisibly, she could not resolve to

quit you. Beholding you inconsolable, she had no hope of success, and

fearing to add the shame of your refusal to the pain of disappointment,

she did not dare make herself known to you; on the other hand,

supposing she did appear, she imagined that by skilful manœuvring,

she might accustom you to see her, and perhaps in time induce you to

love her. But to effect this, she must be introduced to you; and after

much pondering to find some decorous way of presenting herself, she

hit on one. There was a neighbouring Queen who had been driven out of

her dominions by a usurper, who had murdered her husband. This unhappy

Princess was ranging the world to find an asylum and an avenger. The

Fairy carried her off, and having deposited her in a safe place, put

her to sleep, and assumed her form. You beheld, Sire, that disguised

Fairy fling herself at your feet, and implore your protection and

assistance to punish the assassin of a husband whom she professed she

regretted as deeply as you did your Queen. She protested that her love

for him alone impelled her to this course, and that she renounced, with

all her heart, a crown which she offered to him who should avenge her

dear husband.

"The unhappy pity each other. You interested yourself in her

misfortunes the more readily for that she wept the loss of a beloved

spouse, and that mingling her tears with yours, she talked to you

incessantly of the Queen. You gave her your protection, and lost no

time in re-establishing her authority in the kingdom she pretended

to, by punishing the rebels and the usurper she seemed to desire; but

she would neither return to it nor quit you. She implored you, for

her own security, to govern the kingdom in her name, as you were too

generous to accept it as a gift from her, and to permit her to reside

at your Court. You could not refuse her this new favour. She appeared

to be necessary to you for the education of your daughter, for the

cunning Fairy knew well enough that child was the sole object of your

affection. She feigned an exceeding fondness for her, and had her

continually in her arms. Anticipating the request you were about to

make to her, she earnestly begged to be permitted to take charge of her

education, saying that she would have no heir but that dear child, whom

she looked on as her own, and who was the only being she loved in the

world; because she said she reminded her of a daughter she had had by

her husband, and who perished along with him.

"The proposal appeared to you so advantageous that you did not hesitate

to entrust the Princess to her care, and to give her full authority

over her. She acquitted herself of her duties to perfection, and by her

talent and her affection obtained your implicit confidence and your

love as for a tender sister. This was not sufficient for her: all her

anxiety was but to become your wife. She neglected nothing to gain this

end; but even had you never been the husband of the most beautiful of

fairies, she was not formed to inspire you with love. The shape she had

assumed could not bear comparison with hers into whose place she would

have stolen. It was extremely ugly, and being naturally so herself, she

had only the power of appearing beautiful one day in the year.

"The knowledge of this discouraging fact convinced her that to succeed

she must have recourse to other charms than those of beauty. She

intrigued secretly to oblige the people and the nobility to petition

you to take another wife, and to point her out to you as the desirable

person; but certain ambiguous conversations she had held with you, in

order to sound your inclinations, enabled you easily to discover the

origin of the pressing solicitations with which you were importuned.

You declared positively that you would not hear of giving a step-mother

to your daughter, nor lower her position, by making her subordinate

to a queen, from that which she held as the highest person next to

yourself in the kingdom, and the acknowledged heir to your throne. You

also gave the false Queen to understand that you should feel obliged by

her returning to her own dominions immediately, and without ado, and

promised her that when she was settled there you would render her all

the services she could expect from a faithful friend and a generous

neighbour; but you did not conceal from her that if she did not take

this course willingly, she ran the risk of being compelled to do so.

"The invincible obstacle you then opposed to her love threw her into a

terrific rage, but she affected so much indifference about the matter

that she succeeded in persuading you that her attempt was caused by

ambition, and the fear that eventually you might take possession of her

dominions, preferring, notwithstanding the earnestness with which she

had appeared to offer them to you, to let you believe she was insincere

in that case, rather than you should suspect her real sentiments. Her

fury was not less violent because it was suppressed. Not doubting that

it was Beauty who, more powerful in your heart than policy, caused you

to reject the opportunity of increasing your empire in so glorious a

manner, she conceived for her a hatred as violent as that which she

felt for your wife, and resolved to get rid of her, fully believing

that if she were dead, your subjects, renewing their remonstrances,

would compel you to change your state, in order to leave a successor

to the throne. The good soul was anything but of an age to present you

with one; but that she cared little about. The Queen, whose resemblance

she had assumed, was still young enough to have many children, and her

ugliness was no obstacle to a royal and political alliance.

"Notwithstanding the official declaration you had made, it was

thought that if your daughter died you would yield to the continual

representations of your council. It was believed, also, that your

choice would fall upon this pretended Queen; and that idea surrounded

her with numberless parasites. It was her design, therefore, by the aid

of one of her flatterers, whose wife was as base as her husband, and

as wicked as she was herself, to make away with your daughter. She had

appointed this woman governess to the little Princess. These wretches

settled between them that they would smother her, and report that she

had died suddenly; but for more security they decided to commit this

murder in the neighbouring forest, so that nobody could surprise them

in the execution of this barbarous deed. They counted on no one having

the slightest knowledge of it, and that it would be impossible to blame

them for not having sought for assistance before she expired, having

the legitimate excuse that they were too far away from any. The husband

of the governess proposed to go in search of aid as soon as the child

was dead; and that no suspicion might be awakened, he was to appear

surprised at finding it too late when he returned to the spot where he

had left this tender victim of their fury, and he also rehearsed the

sorrow and consternation he was to affect.

"When my wretched sister saw herself deprived of her power and

condemned to a cruel imprisonment, she requested me to console you

and to watch over the safety of her child. It was unnecessary for her

to take that precaution. The tie which unites us, and the pity I felt

for her, would have sufficed to ensure you my protection, and her

entreaties could not increase the zeal with which I hastened to fulfil

her decrees.

"I saw you as often as I could, and as much as prudence permitted me,

without incurring the risk of arousing the suspicions of our enemy, who

would have denounced me as a Fairy in whom sisterly affection prevailed

over the honour of her order, and who protected a guilty race. I

neglected nothing to convince all the Fairies that I had abandoned my

sister to her unhappy fate, and, by so doing, trusted to be more at

liberty to serve her. As I watched every movement of your perfidious

admirer, not only with my own eyes, but those of the Genii, who were

my servants, her horrible intentions were not unknown to me. I could

not oppose her by open force; and though it would have been easy for

me to annihilate those into whose hands she had delivered the little

innocent, prudence restrained me; for, had I carried off your daughter,

the malignant Fairy would have retaken her from me, without its being

possible for me to defend her.

"It is a law amongst us that we must be a thousand years old before we

can dispute the power of the ancient fairies, or at any rate we must

have become serpents. The perils which accompany the latter condition

cause us to call it the Terrible Act. The bravest amongst us shudder at

the thought of undertaking it. We hesitate a long time before we can

resolve to expose ourselves to its consequences; and without the urgent

motive of hatred, love, or vengeance, there are few who do not prefer

waiting for time to make them Elders than to acquire their privilege

by that dangerous transformation, in which the greater number are

destroyed. I was in this position. I wanted ten years of the thousand,

and I had no resource but in artifice. I employed it successfully.

I took the form of a monstrous she-bear, and, hiding myself in the

forest selected for the execution of this detestable deed, when the

wretches arrived to fulfil the barbarous order they had received, I

flung myself upon the woman who had the child in her arms, and who

had already placed her hand on its mouth. Her fright made her drop

the precious burden, but she was not allowed to escape so easily; the

horror I felt at her unnatural conduct inspired me with the ferocity of

the brute I had assumed the form of. I strangled her, as well as the

traitor who accompanied her, and I carried off Beauty, after having

rapidly stripped off her clothes and dyed them with the blood of her

enemies. I scattered them also about the forest, taking the precaution

to tear them in several places, so that they should not suspect the

Princess had escaped; and I withdrew, delighted at having succeeded so

completely.

"The Fairy believed her object had been attained. The death of her two

accomplices was an advantage to her. She was mistress of her secret,

and the fate they had met with was but what she had herself destined

them to, in recompense of their guilty services. Another circumstance

was also favourable to her. Some shepherds who had seen this affair

from a distance ran for assistance, which arrived just in time to see

the infamous wretches expire, and prevent the possibility of suspicion

that she had any part in it.

"The same circumstances were equally favourable to my enterprise. The

wicked Fairy was as fully convinced as the people by them. The event

was so natural, that she never doubted it. She did not even condescend

to exert her skill to satisfy herself of the fact. I was delighted at

her fancied security. I should not have been the strongest had she

attempted to recover little Beauty, because, in addition to the reasons

which made her my superior, and which I have explained to you, she

possessed the advantage of having received that child from you. You

had deputed to her your authority, which you alone could re-assume,

and short of your wresting her yourself out of her hands, nothing

could interfere with the control she had a right to exercise over the

Princess till she was married.

"Preserved from this anxiety, I found myself overwhelmed by another, on

recollecting that the Mother of the Seasons had condemned my niece to

marry a monster; but she was then not three years old, and I flattered

myself I should be able, by study, to discover some expedient to

prevent this curse being fulfilled to the letter, and to evade it by

some equivocation. I had plenty of time to ponder on it, and my first

care was, therefore, only to find some spot where I could place my

precious charge in safety.

"Profound secrecy was absolutely necessary to me. I dared not place

her in a castle, nor exercise for her benefit any of the magnificent

wonders of our art. Our enemy would have noticed it. It would have

awakened an anxiety, the consequences of which would have been fatal

to us. I thought it better to assume an humble garb, and confide the

infant to the care of the first person I met with, who appeared to me

to be an honest man, and under whose roof I could promise myself she

would enjoy the comforts of life.

"Chance soon favoured my intentions. I found what suited me exactly.

It was a small house in a village, the door of which was open. I

entered this cottage, which appeared to me that of a peasant in easy

circumstances. I saw by the light of a lamp three country women asleep

beside a cradle, which I concluded contained a baby. The cradle did

not at all correspond with the general simplicity of the apartment.

Everything about it was sumptuous. I imagined that its little occupant

was ill, and that the deep sleep into which its nurses had fallen was

the consequence of long watching over it. I approached silently, with

the intention of curing the infant, and anticipated with pleasure the

surprise of these women, on awaking, to find their invalid restored to

health, without knowing what to attribute it to. I was about to take

the child out of the cradle in order to breathe health into it; but my

good intentions were vain: it expired at the instant I touched it.

"I immediately conceived the idea of taking advantage of this

melancholy event, and substituting my niece for the dead child,

which, by good fortune, was also a girl. I lost no time in making the

exchange, and bearing away the lifeless infant, buried it carefully.

I then returned to the house, at the door of which I knocked long and

loudly, to awaken the sleepers.

"I told them, feigning a provincial dialect, that I was a stranger to

those parts, who was in want of a night's lodging. They good-naturedly

offered me one, and then went to look at their nursling, whom they

found quietly asleep, with all the appearance of being in perfect

health. They were astonished and delighted, not dreaming of the

deception I had practised upon them. They informed me that the child

was the daughter of a rich merchant; that one of their party had been

her nurse, and after having weaned her had restored her to her parents,

but that the child, having fallen ill in her father's house, had been

sent back to the country, in hope that the change of air would be of

service to her. They added, with satisfied countenances, that the

experiment had succeeded, and produced a better effect than all the

remedies which had been resorted to previous to its adoption. They

determined to carry her back to her father as soon as it was daylight,

in order to afford him, as early as possible, the gratification he

would derive from her restoration, for conducing to which, also, they

expected to receive a liberal reward, as the child was his particular

favourite, although the youngest of eleven.

"At sunrise they set out, and I feigned to continue my journey,

congratulating myself on having so well provided for my niece's safety.

To insure this object more completely, and induce the supposed father

still more to attach himself to the little girl, I assumed the form

of one of those women who go about telling fortunes, and arriving at

the merchant's door just as the nurses reached it with the child, I

followed them into the house. He received them with delight, and taking

the little girl in his arms, became the dupe of his paternal affection,

and fancied that the emotions simply caused by his kindly disposition

were the mysterious workings of nature at the sight of his offspring. I

seized this opportunity of increasing the interest he believed he had

in the child.

"'Look well upon this little one, my good gentleman,' said I, in the

usual language of the class to which by my dress I appeared to belong.

'She will be a great honour to thy family, she will bring thee immense

wealth, and save thy life and that of all thy children. She will be

so beautiful--so beautiful, that she will be called Beauty by all who

behold her.' As a reward for my prediction, he gave me a piece of gold,

and I withdrew, perfectly satisfied. I had no longer any reason for

residing with the race of Adam. To profit by my leisure, I returned

to Fairyland, resolving to remain in it some time. I passed my days

there quietly in consoling my sister, in giving her news of her dear

daughter, and in assuring her that, far from forgetting her, you

cherished her memory as fondly as you had formerly herself.

"Such, great King, was our situation whilst you were suffering under

the fresh calamity which had deprived you of your child, and renewed

all the affliction you had felt at the loss of her mother. Although

you could not positively accuse the person to whom you had confided

the infant of being the wilful cause of the accident, it was still

impossible for you not to look upon her with an evil eye; for though

it did not appear that she was guilty of intentional mischief, it was

certainly through her neglecting to see that the young Princess was

properly attended and protected that the event had proved fatal.

"After the first paroxysms of your grief had subsided, she flattered

herself that no obstacle would arise to prevent your espousing her.

She caused her emissaries to renew the proposal to you; but she was

undeceived, and her mortification was excessive, when you declared that

not only were your intentions unchanged respecting a second marriage,

but that even, could anything alter your determination, it would never

be in her favour. To this declaration you added a positive order for

her to quit the kingdom immediately. Her presence continually reminded

you of your child, and renewed your affliction. Such was the reason you

adduced for this step; but your principal object was to put an end to

the intrigues she was constantly carrying on in order to gain her end.

"She was furious; but she was obliged to obey without being able

to avenge herself. I had persuaded one of our ancient fairies to

protect you. Her power was considerable, for she joined to her age the

advantage of having been four times a serpent. In proportion to the

excessive peril incurred by that process, are the honours and powers

attached to it. This Fairy, out of consideration for me, took you under

her protection, and put it out of the power of your indignant lover to

do you any mischief.

"This disappointment was fortunate for the Queen, whose form she had

assumed. She awoke her from her magic slumber, and concealing from her

the criminal use she had made of her features, placed her conduct in

the best light before her.

"She expatiated on the value of her intercession with the King, and on

the trouble she had saved her, and gave her the best advice she could

how to maintain herself for the future in her proper person. It was

then that, to console herself for your indifference, the Fairy returned

to the young Prince and resumed her care of him. She became too fond

of him, and not being able to make herself beloved, she caused him to

suffer that terrible effect of her fury.

"In the meanwhile, I had insensibly arrived at the privileged age,

and my power was increased, but my desire to serve my sister and

yourself induced me to feel that still I had not sufficient. My sincere

friendship blinding me to the perils of "the Terrible Act," I resolved

to undertake it.

"I became a serpent, and passed fortunately through the ordeal. I was

then in a position to act openly in favour of those who were persecuted

by my malicious companions. If I cannot at all times entirely dissolve

their fatal spells, I can at least counteract them by my skill and by

my counsels.

"My niece was amongst the number of those whom I could not completely

favour. Not daring to discover all the interest I took in her, it

appeared to me that the best thing I could do was to allow her still

to pass as the merchant's daughter. I visited her under various forms,

and always returned satisfied. Her virtue and beauty equalled her good

sense. At the age of fourteen she had already given proof of great

fortitude during the changes of fortune which had befallen her supposed

father.

"I was delighted to find that the most cruel reverses had not been able

to affect her tranquillity. On the contrary, by her cheerfulness, by

the charm of her conversation, she had succeeded in restoring it to

the hearts of her father and her brothers; and I rejoiced to observe

also that her sentiments were worthy of her birth. These pleasant

reflections were, however, mingled with much bitterness, when I

remembered that, with so many perfections, she was destined to be the

wife of a monster. I toiled, I studied night and day to find some means

of saving her from so great a misfortune, and was in despair at finding

none.

"This anxiety did not prevent me, however, from paying occasional

visits to you. Your wife, who was deprived of that liberty, implored

me incessantly to go and see you; and, notwithstanding the protection

of our friend, her affectionate heart was continually alarmed about

you, and persuaded her that the instant I lost sight of you would be

the last of your life, and in which you would be sacrificed to the fury

of our enemy. This fear possessed her so strongly, that she scarcely

gave me a moment's rest. No sooner did I bring her news of you than she

supplicated me so earnestly to return to you, that it was impossible to

refuse her.

"Compassionating her anxiety, and more desirous to end it than to save

myself the trouble it gave me, I employed against my cruel companion

the same weapons she had made use of against you. I proceeded to open

the great book. By good fortune, it was at the very moment she was

holding that conversation with the Queen and Prince which terminated in

his transformation. I lost not a word of it, and my rapture was extreme

at finding that, in seeking to assure her vengeance, she neutralized,

without knowing it, the mischief which the Mother of the Seasons had

done us in dooming Beauty to be the bride of a monster.

"To crown our happiness, she added conditions so advantageous, that

it almost seemed as if she made them on purpose to oblige me, for she

thereby furnished my sister's daughter with an opportunity of proving

that she was worthy of being the issue of the purest of fairy-blood.

"The slightest sign or gesture expresses amongst us as much as it

would take an ordinary mortal three days to explain. I uttered but

one contemptuous word. It was enough to inform the assembly that our

enemy had pronounced her own sentence in that which she had caused ten

years before to be passed upon your wife. At the age of the latter,

the weakness of love was more natural than at the advanced period of

existence of a fairy of the highest order. I spoke of the base and

wicked actions which had accompanied that superannuated passion. I

urged that if so many infamous acts were allowed to pass unpunished,

mortals would be justified in saying that fairies existed in the world

but to dishonour nature and afflict the human race. Presenting the book

to them, I condensed this abrupt oration in the single word "Behold!"

It was not the less powerful in its effect.

"There were present also friends of mine, both young and old, who

treated the amorous fury as she deserved. She had not succeeded in

becoming your wife, and to that disgrace was now added degradation from

her order, and imprisonment, as in the case of the Queen of the Happy

Island.

"This council was held whilst she was with you, Madam, and your son. As

soon as she appeared amongst us, the result was communicated to her.

I had the pleasure to be present, after which, closing the book, I

descended rapidly from the middle region of air in which our empire is

situated, to combat the effect of the despair to which you were ready

to abandon yourselves. I performed my journey in as short a space of

time as I had occupied with my laconical address. I arrived soon enough

to promise you my assistance. All sorts of reasons combined to invite

me. Your virtues, your misfortunes, (said the Fairy, turning to the

Prince), the advantages they offered to Beauty made me see in you the

Monster that suited me. You appeared to me worthy of each other, and I

felt convinced that when you became acquainted, your hearts would do

each other mutual justice.

"You know," she continued, addressing the Queen, "what I have since

done to attain my object, and by what means I obliged Beauty to come

to this Palace, where the sight of the Prince, and her interviews with

him, in the dreams I conjured up for her, had the effect I desired.

They kindled love in her heart without diminishing her virtue or

weakening the sense of duty and gratitude which attached her to the

Monster. In short, I have happily brought my scheme to perfection.

Yes, Prince," pursued the Fairy, "you have no longer anything to fear

from your enemy. She is stripped of her power, and will never again

be able to injure you by other spells. You have exactly fulfilled the

conditions she imposed on you. Had you not done so, you would have

been still bound by them, notwithstanding her eternal degradation.

You have made yourself beloved without the aid of your rank or your

intelligence; and you, Beauty, are equally relieved from the curse

pronounced upon you by the Mother of the Seasons. You cheerfully

accepted a monster for your husband. She has nothing more to exact. All

now tends to your happiness."

* * * * *

The Fairy ceased speaking, and the King threw himself at her feet.

"Great Fairy," he exclaimed, "how can I thank you for all the favours

you have heaped on my family? My gratitude for the benefits you have

bestowed on us far exceeds my power of expression; but, my august

sister," added he, "that title encourages me to ask more favours; for,

despite the obligations I am already under to you, I cannot avoid

confessing to you that I shall never be truly happy so long as I am

deprived of the presence of my beloved Fairy Queen. This account of

what she has done and what she has suffered for me would increase my

love and my affliction, were either of them capable of being augmented.

Ah, Madam," he added, "can you not crown all your benefactions by

enabling me to behold her?"

The question was useless. If the Fairy had had the power to have

afforded him that gratification, she was too willing to have waited for

the request: but she could not alter what the Council of the Fairies

had decreed. The young Queen being a prisoner in the middle regions

of air, there was not the shadow of a chance of his being enabled to

see her; and the Fairy was about to explain this to him kindly, and

to exhort him to await patiently some unforeseen events, of which she

might take advantage, when an enchanting melody stole upon their ears

and interrupted her. The King, his daughter, the Queen, and the Prince,

were in ecstasies, but the Fairy experienced another sort of surprise.

Such music indicated the triumph of some Fairy. She could not imagine

what Fairy had achieved a victory. Her fears suggested that it was the

old one, or the Mother of the Seasons, who in her absence had obtained,

the former her liberty, or the latter permission to persecute the

lovers afresh.

She was in this perplexity when it was agreeably ended by the presence

of her Fairy-sister, the Queen of the Happy Island, who suddenly

appeared in the centre of that charming group. She was no less lovely

than when the King, her husband, lost her. The monarch, who instantly

recognised her, making the respect he owed her yield to the love he

had cherished for her, embraced her with such transports of joy, that

the Queen herself was surprised at them.

The Fairy, her sister, could not imagine to what fortunate miracle she

was indebted for her liberty; but the royal Fairy informed her that she

owed her happiness solely to her own courage, which had impelled her

to hazard her own existence to preserve another's. "You are aware,"

said she to the Fairy, "that the daughter of our Queen was received

into the order at her birth; that her father was not a sublunary

being, but the sage Amadabak, whose alliance is an honour to the fairy

race, and whose sublime knowledge invests him with much higher powers.

Notwithstanding this, however, it was imperative for his daughter to

become a serpent at the end of her first hundred years. The fatal

period arrived, and our Queen, as tender a mother, and as anxious

respecting the fate of this dear infant as any ordinary parent could

be, could not resolve to expose her to the many chances of destruction

in that shape, the misfortunes of those who had perished being but

too notorious for her not to feel the greatest alarm. My wretched

situation depriving me of all hope of again beholding my affectionate

husband and my lovely daughter, I had conceived a perfect disgust for

a life which I was doomed to pass apart from them. Without the least

hesitation, therefore, I offered to become a crawling reptile in the

place of the young Fairy. I saw with delight a certain, prompt, and

honourable mode of delivering myself from all the miseries with which

I was overwhelmed, by death or by a glorious emancipation, which would

render me mistress of my own actions, and thereby enable me to rejoin

my husband.

"Our Queen hesitated as little to accept this offer, so gratifying to

her maternal affection, as I did to make it. She embraced me a hundred

times, and promised to restore me to liberty unconditionally, and

re-establish me in all my privileges, if I was fortunate enough to

pass unharmed through that perilous enterprise. I did do so, and the

fruit of my labours was enjoyed by the young Fairy, for whom I had been

the substitute. The success of my first trial encouraged me to make a

second for my own benefit. I underwent the transformation anew, and was

equally fortunate. This last act made me an Elder, and, consequently,

independent. I was not long in profiting by my liberty, and flying

hither to rejoin a family so dear to me."

As soon as the Fairy had finished her narrative, the embraces were

renewed by her affectionate auditors. It was a charming confusion, in

which each caressed the other almost without knowing what they were

about: beauty, particularly, enchanted at appertaining to such an

illustrious family, and no longer fearing to degrade the Prince, her

cousin, by causing him to form an alliance beneath him.

But although transported by the excess of her happiness, she did not

forget the worthy man whom she had formerly believed to be her father.

She recalled to her fairy aunt the promise she had made to her, that

he and his children should have the honour of being present at her

marriage. She was still speaking to her on this subject when they

saw from the window sixteen persons on horseback, most of whom had

hunting-horns, and appeared in considerable confusion. Their disorder

evidently arose from their horses having ran away with them. Beauty

instantly recognised them as the six sons of the worthy merchant, the

five daughters, and their five lovers.

Everybody but the Fairy was surprised at this abrupt entrance. Those

who made it were not less so, at finding themselves carried by the

speed of their unmanageable horses into a palace totally unknown to

them.

This is the way it happened. They were all out hunting, when their

horses, suddenly uniting themselves as in one squadron, galloped off

with them at such speed to the Palace that all their efforts to stop

them were perfectly useless.

Beauty, thoughtless of her present dignity, hastened to receive and

re-assure them. She embraced them all kindly. The good man himself

next appeared, but not in the same disorder. A horse had neighed and

scratched at his door. He had no doubt that it came to seek him by

order of his dear daughter. He mounted him without fear, and, perfectly

satisfied as to whither the steed would bear him, he was not at all

surprised to find himself in the court-yard of a Palace which he now

saw for the third time, and to which he felt convinced he had been

conducted to witness the marriage of Beauty and the Beast.

The moment he perceived her he ran to her with open arms, blessing

the happy moment that presented her again to his sight, and heaping

benedictions on the generous Beast who had permitted him to return;

he looked about for him in every direction, to offer him his most

humble thanks for all the favours he had heaped on his family, and

particularly on his youngest daughter. He was vexed at not seeing him,

and began to apprehend that his conjectures were erroneous. Still, the

presence of all his children seemed to support the idea he had formed,

as they would scarcely have been all assembled in that spot if some

solemn ceremony, such as that marriage, were not to be celebrated.

These reflections, which the good man made to himself, did not prevent

him from pressing Beauty fondly in his arms, and bathing her cheek with

tears of joy. After allowing due time for this first expression of his

feelings, "Enough, good man," said the Fairy. "You have sufficiently

caressed this Princess. It is time that, ceasing to regard her as a

father, you should learn that that title does not appertain to you, and

that you must now do her homage as your sovereign. She is the Princess

of the Happy Island, daughter of the King and Queen whom you see before

you. She is about to become the wife of this Prince. Here stands the

Prince's mother, sister of the King. I am a Fairy, her friend, and

the aunt of Beauty. As to the Prince," added the Fairy, observing the

expression of the good man's face, "he is better known to you than you

imagine; but he is much altered since you last saw him. In a word, he

was the Beast himself."

The father and his sons were enchanted at these wonderful tidings,

while the sisters felt a painful jealousy, but they endeavoured to

conceal it under the mask of a gratification which deceived no one. The

others, however, feigned to believe them sincere. As to the lovers, who

had been rendered inconstant by the hope of possessing Beauty, and who

had only returned to their first attachments on their despairing to

obtain her, they knew not what to think.

The merchant could not help weeping, without being able to tell

whether his tears were caused by the pleasure of seeing the happiness

of Beauty, or by the sorrow of losing so perfect a daughter. His sons

were agitated by similar feelings. Beauty, extremely affected by this

evidence of their love, entreated those on whom she now depended, as

well as the Prince, her future husband, to permit her to reward such

tender attachment. Her entreaty testified the goodness of her heart too

sincerely not to be listened to. They were laden with bounties, and by

permission of the King, the Prince, and the Queen, Beauty continued to

call them by the tender names of father, brothers, and even sisters,

though she was not ignorant that the latter were as little so in heart

as they were in blood. She desired they would all, in return, call her

by the name they were wont to do when they believed her to be a member

of their family. The old man and his children were appointed to offices

in the Court of Beauty, and enjoyed the pleasure of living continually

near her, in a station sufficiently exalted to be generally respected.

The lovers of her sisters, whose passion for Beauty might easily have

been revived, if they had not known it would be useless, thought

themselves too happy in being united to the good man's daughters, and

becoming allied to persons for whom Beauty retained so much goodwill.

All those she desired to be present at her wedding having arrived, the

celebration of it was no longer delayed. The festivities lasted many

days, and ended at length only because the fairy aunt of the young

bride pointed out to them the propriety of leaving that beautiful

retreat, and returning to their dominions, to show themselves to their

subjects.

It was quite time she should recall their kingdom to their recollection

and the indispensable duties which demanded their presence. Enraptured

with the scenes around them, entranced by the pleasure of loving and

expressing their love to each other, they had entirely forgotten their

royal state and the cares that attend it.

The newly-married pair, indeed, proposed to the Fairy that they should

abdicate, and resign their power into the hands of any one she should

select; but that wise being represented to them clearly that they were

under as great an obligation to fulfil the destiny which had confided

to them the government of a nation as that nation was to preserve for

them an unshaken loyalty.

They yielded to these just remonstrances, but the Prince and Beauty

stipulated that they should be allowed occasionally to visit that spot,

and cast aside for a while the cares inseparable from their station,

and that they should be waited on by the invisible Genii or the

animals who had attended them during the preceding years. They availed

themselves as often as possible of this liberty. Their presence seemed

to embellish the spot. All were eager to please them. The Genii awaited

their visits with impatience, and received them with joy, testifying in

a hundred ways the delight their return afforded them.

The Fairy, whose foresight neglected nothing, gave them a chariot,

drawn by twelve white stags with golden horns and hoofs, like those

she drove herself. The speed of these animals was almost greater than

that of thought; and, drawn by them, you could easily make the tour of

the world in two hours. By this means they lost no time in travelling.

They profited by every moment of leisure, and went frequently in this

elegant equipage to visit their father, the King of the Happy Island,

who had grown so young again through the return of his Fairy Queen,

that he equalled in face and form the Prince, his son-in-law. He felt

also equally happy, being neither less enamoured nor less eager to

prove to his wife his unceasing affection, while she, on her part,

responded to his love with all that tenderness which had previously

been the cause of so much misfortune to her.

She had been received by her subjects with transports of joy as great

as those of grief which her loss had occasioned them. She had always

loved them dearly, and her will being now unfettered, she proved as

much, by showering upon them for many centuries all the benefits they

could desire. Her power, assisted by the friendship of the Queen of

the Fairies, preserved the life, health, and youth of the King, her

husband, for ages. He only ceased to exist because no mortal can live

for ever.

The Queen and the Fairy, her sister, were equally attentive to Beauty,

her husband, the Queen, his mother, the old man, and all his family,

so that there never was known people who lived so long. The Queen,

mother of the Prince, caused this marvellous history to be recorded in

the archives of her kingdom and in those of the Happy Island, that it

might be handed down to posterity. They also disseminated copies of it

throughout the Universe, so that the world at large might never cease

to talk of the wonderful adventures of Beauty and the Beast.