Beauty was the
daughter of a rich merchant. Alas, when the merchant lost his
the family were forced to move into a humble cottage. Then came word that the merchant's ship had come in. He asked his daughters what he should bring back to them. Beauty asked him for a
.
Unfortunately, there was no money after all. On his way home, the merchant became lost, but found shelter for the night in a mysterious
.
The next day, he picked a single rose. Immediately he was confronted by a terrible
,
who demanded in return for sparing his life the merchant's
.
Beauty fulfilled her father's promise by coming to
with the Beast. The Beast was extemely
- and gradually he and Beauty became friends. He even asked her to
him. Beauty forgot her promise to return to him after a visit home. He began to die. However, when she told the Beast that she
him, the spell broke and he turned into a handsome prince.