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THE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Plot summary:

A merchant lived in a city with his daughters, the youngest called Belle for being lovely and pure heart.

After some years of this, he hears that one of the trade ships sent by himself had arrived in port, therefore he returns to city to discover if it contains anything of monetary value.

Before leaving, he asks for his daughters if they desire that he brings them any gift upon his return.

His two oldest daughters ask for jewelry and dresses. Belle is satisfied with the promise of a rose as none grow in their part of country.

The merchant finds that his ship's cargo has been seized to pay his debts leaving him without money by which to buy his daughters their presents.

During his return, he becomes lost in a forest.

Seeking shelter, he enters a castle.

He finds inside tables laden with food and drink which have been left for him by the castle's owner.

The merchant accepts his gifts and is about to leave when he sees a rose garden and remembers that Belle had desired a rose.

Upon picking the most lovely rose he finds, the merchant is confrontred by a horrible Beast, which tells him that for taking his most precious possession after accepting his hospitality, the merchant must stay his prisoner forever.

The merchant begs to be set free arguing that he had only picked the rose as a gift for his youngest daughters.

The Beast agrees to let him go only if the merchant will send his daughter to live in the castle in his place.

He tries when arrives home, to hide the secret from Belle but she pries it from him and goes to the Beast's castle.

The Beast receives her graciously and treats her as a guest.

He gives her clothes and food and has long conversations with her.

Each night The Beast asks Belle to marry him, only to be refused each time.

Eventually Belle becomes homesick and begs to Beast to allow her to go to see her family.

He allows it, if she will return exactly a week later.

Belle agrees to this and sets off for home with an enchanted mirror and magic ring.

The mirror allows her to see what is happening at the castle and the ring allows her to return to the castle in an instant.

Her older sister was surprised to find her well fed and dressed.

They grow jealous and hearing that she must to return to the Beast on a certain day, beg her to stay another day.

Belle's heart is moved and she agrees to stay.

Belle begins to feel guilty about breaking her promise to the Beast and uses the mirror to see him at the castle.

She is horrified to discover that the Beast is lying half dead near the rose bushes ans she inmediately uses the ring to return.

By the time Belle finds the Beast is already dead, she cries over him, saying that she loves him.

When her tears strike him, the Beast comes back to life and was transformed into a handsome prince.

The prince informs Belle that long ago a fairy turned him into a horrible beast after he refused to let her from the rain and only by finding the true love, could the spell be broken.

He and Belle are married and they lived happily ever after together.