美女与野兽

Once upon a time, there was a merchant. He had three daughters. The youngest one was called Belle. She was beautiful and clever. So her two sisters were jealous of her. Unlike her sisters, she didn't like dressing up but enjoyed reading. Her two sisters always laughed at her, but Belle never got angry.

One day, the merchant was going on a business trip. The two sisters asked their father to buy them dresses and jewelry, but Belle asked for nothing. She only wanted her father to come back safely. " Don't you want any gift?” the merchant asked Belle. “ Maybe you could pick a rose for me, " she said.

Unfortunately, the merchant was robbed and he had to go back home empty-handed. What's worse, he got lost in a forest. Hearing the howls of wolves, his horse got scared and ran away. The wind was blowing hard in the dark night, and the merchant was terrified. He felt he would be eaten up by wolves or die of hunger.

Just at that time, the merchant saw a palace. He went inside and found nobody there. But there was a lot of delicious food on the table. He was so hungry, and he began to eat and drink. After the meal, the merchant found a bedroom in the palace. He went to bed and soon fell asleep.

When the merchant woke up the next morning, he found a new suit on the chair. He was so surprised. " What a magical palace! ” he thought. The merchant looked out of the window and saw a garden with beautiful roses. He thought of Belle's request. So he went into the garden and picked one rose for her.

Suddenly, a beast appeared. " I treated you with kindness, but you stole my favourite rose! ” the beast roared. " I will eat you up! " " Please forgive me! " the merchant begged. " My daughters need me. " " Well, I'll give you three days to go home and say goodbye to them. If one of your daughters is willing to die for you, I will forgive you, " the beast said.