Once upon a time there was a rich merchant family living in a town. The husband and wife loved each other, and had three beautiful daughters. The first two daughters grew up somewhat spoiled, but when the last child was growing up their mother took ill and so the youngest daughter became a nursemaid to her. Her presence was such a blessing that the mother called her "Beauty". This youngest child grew up quiet and polite.
In time however the mother died, and the father was so devastated at the loss that his business failed and the family became poor. All that they had left to them was a hunting cottage far off in the north woods. The family made their way there and tried to learn to live in poverty. The two oldest daughters were quite shrewish at this turn of events, and lamented the loss of fine suitors and gowns, and the growing coarseness of the hands and looks. They turned down all proposals of marriage that came their way. The youngest daughter worked hard and tried to remain pleasant, but likewise refused to leave her family, for they were all that she knew.
After a few years the father received a letter from the city saying that his business partner had died, leaving him everything. The father set off for the city to see what could be done, and asked his daughters what they wished for him to bring them. The two oldest asked for fancy dresses and perfumes, but Beauty could name nothing. When her father pressed her for an answer, she asked if he might find her a single rose, and with that request he departed.
It was a long time before he returned, and the winter storms had started before his daughters, who had by this time grown concerned, heard his cart returning one night. They rushed out to find their father all but collapsed, and as threadbare as he had departed. They brought him inside, where he told his tale.
He had traveled to the city but found he had been left as much debt as funds, and was unable to acquire any of the goods he had hoped for. Sadly he turned for home again as the air grew colder. He feared he would not make it home before the snow when he saw what appeared to be a path leading through the woods. Now these woods were dark and unfamiliar, and the villagers had warned the family to avoid them, but he feared the winter weather and turned his cart to the path.
In a short time he became lost, and feared he would die, but instead found himself at the gate of a splendid castle. He entered, and inside the storm winds were silent, but the courtyard was empty. He found a lit corridor leading to a large hall with a feast laid out. He called out to find his host, but as none appeared and his hunger was great, he ate. After eating he found his way to a splendid bed chamber and had a wonderful sleep, and then rose in the morning and prepared to depart.
As he passed through the grounds again he spied a garden rich with flowers. Hoping to at least procure a gift for his youngest daughter, he plucked a single red rose. A great roaring ensued, and a beast unlike anything he had seen rose before him, demanding to know why he had stolen from the garden after the hospitality he had been offered. The Beast said the merchant would pay for his crime with his life.
The merchant trembled in fear and begged for mercy, saying he had three daughters at home who would surely starve without him, and the rose had been meant as a gift. The Beast relented and said that the merchant might live if he sent this daughter to the castle in his stead to keep the Beast company. The merchant, terrified, agreed and then fled the castle.
His daughters were horrified, but Beauty agreed to the conditions. A few days later the merchant and his youngest daughter took the cart to the castle and left Beauty at the gate.
She entered the castle, and like her father found it to be pleasant but silent inside. Also as with her father, she found a feast laid out in the main hall, but she was too frightened to eat. She sat at a chair and a moment later the Beast appeared.
He was terrifying in appearance, but polite. He greeted her as a guest, and informed her that all of the castle, from garden to library, was at her disposal, so long as she did not try to leave and allowed him to join her for meals. She thanked him and hurried off, but before she could flee the chamber he said "Beauty, will you marry me?". She asked if she had to, and he said she should only answer with a free heart. She refused him, and continued out of the chamber.
The same events occurred every day. She would spend her mornings reading or gardening or sewing, and sometimes the Beast would sit with her like a great hound at her feet, or quietly nearby watching her, and sometimes she was alone. Every night at dinner however, they ate and talked, and he asked her to marry him before she went to bed, and every night she said no.
One day Beauty begged to know what had become of her family. The Beast brought out a mirror and bade her to look into it. Doing so she saw her father lying in bed with her sisters around him, and he was clearly dying. Beauty begged the Beast to allow her to return to her father before he died. He gave her permission so long as she agreed to return within seven days time. Agreeing, she departed for her home.
Her family was surprised to see her again, but was glad of her help. In a few days her father was feeling better, but her sisters has schemed together to hold her back from returning to the castle. They were jealous of her tales of food and luxuries, and hoped that if she did not return one of them might take her place. When seven days was up, they begged and cajoled her into staying.
On the eighth night she dreamt that she walked the halls of the castle again but that it had grown dark and cold. Waking, she remembered the Beast and rushed back to the castle in a gathering storm. She found the castle as she had dreamt it, and the Beast nowhere to be found.
Finally she found him in the garden, collapsed and still. She cried over his body, pleading for him to get up as she loved him and did not want him to die.
The beast stirred, and let out one large breath that sent the rose petals spinning around him. When they settled, he was gone but a handsome young man stood in his place. Beauty asked him who he was, and a familiar voice answered, saying that he had been the Beast, once a prince, who had been cursed to live as an animal until a maiden should love him despite his appearance. He asked if she would still marry him in his human form, and she agreed for she truly loved him, and they lived happily ever after.