It was ten in the morning when the merchant woke up
just as he was going to rise he saw something
he was astonished to see a good suit of clothes
in the place where he had left his dirty clothes
“certainly this palace belongs to some kind fairy”
“a fairy who has seen and pitied me”
He looked through a window
but instead of snow he saw the most delightful garden
and in the garden were the most beautiful roses
He then returned to the great hall
the hall where he had had soup the night before
and he found some chocolate on a little table
“Thank you, good Madam Fairy” he said aloud
“thank you for being so caring”
“I am extremely obliged to you for all your favours”
The good man drank his chocolate
and then went to look for his horse
but in the garden he remembered beauty’s request
and he cut off a branch of roses
immediately he heard a great noise
and he saw such a frightful Beast
that he was ready to faint
“You are very ungrateful” said the Beast to him
and it said it in a terrible voice
“I have saved your life by allowing you into my castle”
“and for this you steal my roses in return?”
“The roses which I value beyond anything”
“but you shall die for what you’ve done”
“I give you but a quarter of an hour to prepare yourself”
get yourself ready for death and say your prayers”

The merchant fell on his knees
and he lifted up both his hands
“My lord, I beseech you to forgive me”
“I had no intention of offending you”
“I gathered a rose for one of my daughters”
“she desired me to bring her a rose”
“I am not your lord, but I am a beast” replied the monster
“I don’t love compliments”
“I like people who speak as they think”
“do not imagine I can be moved by flattery”
“But you say you have got daughters”
“I will forgive you, on the condition that one of your daughters comes willingly”
“and she must suffer for you”
“Let me have your word”
“and then you can go about your business”
“Promise me this:”
“if your daughter refuse to die for you, you will return within three months”
The merchant had no intentions to sacrifice his daughters
but, since he was given time he wanted to see his daughters once more
so he promised he would return
and the Beast told him he might set out when he pleased
and the beast told him one more thing
“you shall not depart empty handed”
“go back to the room where you lay”
“you will see a great empty chest”
“fill the chest with whatever you like best”
“and I will send the chest to your home”
and at the same time Beast withdrew