tude, and her insensibility of his
many kind and agreeable qualifications. Having said much on this, she
rose, put her ring on the table, and lay down again. Scarcely was she in
bed before she fell asleep; and when she wakened next morning, she was
overjoyed to find herself in the Beast's palace. She put on one of her
richest suits to please him, and waited for evening with the utmost
impatience; at last the wished for hour came, the clock struck nine, yet
no Beast appeared. After having sought for him everywhere, she
recollected her dream, and flew to the canal in the garden. There she
found poor Beast stretched out quite senseless, and, as she imagined,
dead. She threw herself upon him without any dread, and finding his
heart beat still, she fetched some water from the canal, and poured it
on his head.

Beast opened his eyes, and said to Beauty, "You forgot your promise, and
I was so afflicted at having lost you that I resolved to starve myself.
But since I have the happiness of seeing you once more, I die
satisfied."

"No, dear Beast," said Beauty, "you must not die; live to be my husband.
From this moment I give you my hand, and swear to be none but yours."

Beauty scarcely had pronounced these words, when the palace sparkled
with lights and fireworks, instruments of music--everything seemed to
portend some great event; but nothing could fix her attention. She
turned to her dear Beast, for whom she trembled with fear; but how great
was her surprise! Beast had disappeared, and she saw at her feet one of
the loveliest Princes that ever eye beheld, who returned her thanks for
having put an end to the charm under which he had so long resembled a
beast. Though this Prince was worthy of all her attention, she could not
forbear asking where Beast was. "You see him at your feet," said the
Prince; "a wicked fairy had condemned me to remain under that shape till
a beautiful virgin should consent to marry me. In offering you my crown,
I can't discharge the obligations I have to you."

Beauty, agreeably surprised, gave the charming Prince her hand to rise;
they went together into the castle, and Beauty was overjoyed to find, in
the great hall, her father and his whole family, whom the beautiful
lady, that appeared to her in her dream, had conveyed thither.

"Beauty," said this lady, "come and receive the reward of your judicious
choice; you are going to be a great Queen. I hope the throne will not
lessen your virtue, nor m