insect
With that word there befell a strange adventure. But one moment agone, the maid had holden in her arms the Beast’s grim, hairy head; and in her grief she knew not how it slid away from her embrace. For when she looked, there was nought but crushed leaves and grass where the dying Beast had lain. Also a dreamlike brightness seemed to mingle silverly about the dusk of evening, as though the moon had risen, or that starlight trembled upon the gloom. Then all bewildered and amazed, she deemed that some young prince, clad in rich clothes, with jewelled mantle and scarlet plume, stood anear. So, forgetting fear in her trouble, she prayed him without more ado to tell her, “Had he seen the Beast? For,” she said, “mine own dear Beast lay here but now, and like to die, and he is gone, and I know not where he is become.”
alasLEIGHTON, BROS.decAh dear Beast, she said: Alasthat my unkindness should thus slay thee.dec
LEIGHTON, BROS.
dec
Ah dear Beast, she said: Alas
that my unkindness should thus slay thee.
dec
But the strange prince held his peace, and none answer gave he to her most piteous cry; only he kneeled down beside the maid, and then full gently did he kissher golden hair, that spread all wide adown her neck, and then he kissed her red lips; and whenas, wondering and angered, she drew from him, and would have started away, he took her in his arms and said, “Oh lovely one, do you not then know me? Look at me, and see; for indeed I am that Beast, and he was me!”
But Beauty trembled, nor durst she look; for well she knew there had been some enchantment; and, sithence, it was a man and no Beast that spake, yet in his voice, and in the words he said, she seemed to hearken to the friend that she had lost erewhile. Then quick tears, but not of sorrow, filled her eyes, for an unwonted thing had happened; yet was it to her but as the fulfilment of some dear dream in old, forgotten, long-past days.
snail
And so, alone together there, amid the brown dusk of coming night, for a little space, were they silent for very joy. And then did Beauty, in all maiden trust, give him, that had been the Beast, her true word, and promised that she would be his wedded wife. Then helifted her to her feet, and led her home along those same sweet grassy paths. And as they went, he told her all the tale of the cruel spell which had bound him since these many woful years, in that unhappy shape, and hownought but a dear maiden’s love might set him free, and of how great had been his hopeless love for her.
Silently the white moths floated by. The gentle winds of summer sighed odorously, and stirred the broad hazel-leaves on either hand the close green alley, as they went; while loose-petalled roses bloomed and fell in aisles of overarching sweetness.
********
Therewith a great clearness shone around them; and as they came nigh the house, burning lights shone from the windows; and there was music, and the noise of merry voices mingling in songs and laughter. Strange sounds, long unheard in that still house! Then from the door the Beast’s mother, a sweet and noble lady, came forth to meet them; and great joy made she, as she beheld her son, coming in his own likeness, as he was or that strange magic was laid on him. And then she embraced Beauty, and with her heart she made her right welcome.
Now the lady was a queen. She was the same that came afore to Beauty in a dream to comfort her.
********
butterfly
Here then endeth the tale; sith it were over-long to tell of the revels and the dances, and of how the golden Hall was engarlanded with roses, and of the great feast held there, on the day that Beauty and the Beast werewedded together; nor need we tell, of how the merchant-master was called from his lonely tower, and came thither on his fair child’s marriage morn; whenas his sorrowful days had end for evermore; and of how his three brave sons became most noble knights, and greatly renowned for the destroying of many pagan knights and giants, and of divers fell beasts and griffins of that time.
loveLEIGHTON, BROS.decLove is the magic, that makesall things fair.dec
LEIGHTON, BROS.
dec
Love is the magic, that makes
all things fair.
dec
But Beauty’s sisters, came never near that happy house. For wit you well, the winter rasure of such-like cankers, may not approach the green summer, wherein the flower of true love flourisheth.
THE END.
Transcriber’s Notes:Variations in spelling and hyphenation are retained.Perceived typographical errors have been changed.
Transcriber’s Notes:
Variations in spelling and hyphenation are retained.
Perceived typographical errors have been changed.