Beauty & the Beast

Telré 1991

There was a bride to wed the king
The full bride-price she was to bring
O'er the hill and o'er the stream
To the castle grand.
'Twas there she rode that winter's day
With but one guard to lead the way
The valiant guard was by bear slain
The bride alone did stand.

There stepped out from behind an oak
Into the dark like the fairy-folk
Up to the bear, which then he strok'd
The bear he seemed to tame.
The frightened bride thanked then the knight
Who saved her from her dreadful plight
Then asked if she could stay the night
But ne'er gave her name.

Hey, did you know,
Where the forest meets the streambed's flow
Where summer rules, it ne'er snows
And winter never stands
There rests a man who ruled the trees,
Who led the beasts, the birds, the bees,
A placid man who yearned for peace
And ruled the summer lands.

The man said, "Yes," then led the bride
The bear he tamed close at his side
Through forest paths which always hide
And mortals never know.
When twilight came he increased the pace
Drew closed the hood to hide his face
And brought the bride to a wond'rous place
Free of fallen snow.

There she slept through one full day
The forest man did fret and pray
That the bride would wish to stay
And made for her a gift.

And when awoke the bride that night
The forest man was out of sight
Then he gave her a dreadful fright
Handing her a shift.
(Chorus)

She asked the man to build a fire
He bowed to her and made a pyre
Gave her all she could desire
'Twas her he wished to wed.
Unto her he gave the rose,
Sung her songs and read her prose
From dusk to dawn his love still grows
But still he hid his head.

Then bade the bride remove his hood
He bowed his head but understood
That her request would mean no good
And pled he not be found.
"I must see your face," insisted she
He dropped his hood for her to see
The beast that he must surely be
To which she would be bound.
(Chorus)

Then reached she out to touch his face
Tears in her eyes, and love's embrace
That which his guise could never chase
Within her deepest heart.
The swore the bride to marry he
Before the beast-man tried to flee
Told him her name, the bride to be!
And tore the curse apart.

'Twas then and there she saw his face
In love her blood & heart did race
For now 'twas clear his princely-place
And laughter she let go.
For here she love the forest king
The one to which she was to bring
She herself and their wedding rings
Through the winter snow
(Chorus)