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| Beauty and The Beast Prologue (Walt Disney) |
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This is the Prologue (opening narration) from Disney's film Beauty and the Beast (1,991). The narration is by David Ogden Stiers while the music is by Alan Menken.
Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a young Prince lived in a shining castle.
Although he had everything his heart desired, the Prince was spoiled, selfish, and unkind.
But then, one winter's night, an old beggar-woman came to the castle, and offered him a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold.
Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the Prince sneered at the gift and turned the old woman away. But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within. And when he dismissed her again, the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful Enchantress.
The Prince tried to apologize, but it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart. And as punishment, she transformed him into a hideous Beast, and placed a powerful spell on the castle, and all who lived there.
Ashamed of his monstrous form, the Beast concealed himself inside his castle, with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world. The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom until his 21st year. If he could learn to love another, and earn her love in return, by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time.
As the years passed, he fell into despair, and lost all hope. For who could ever learn to love a Beast?
ONCE UPON A TIME… = It is a stock initial phrase that has been used for many hundreds of years in storytelling in the English language.
BEGGAR-WOMAN = A woman who is begging. Begging is the practice whereby a person obtains money, food, shelter or other things from people they encounter by request.
BITTER /'bɪtƏ(r)/ (cold) = The cold is very hard, painful, rigorous…
HAGGARD /'hægƏrd/ = Of unhealthy appearance, pale (looking exhausted and unwell).
SNEER /snɪƏ(r)/ = Smile or laugh in a way that express contempt or scorn.
DISMISS = Send away.
MELT AWAY = disappear, fade away, dissolve.
ENCHANTRESS = A fairy . A fascinating and beautiful woman who practices magic.
FOR = Because
CONCEAL /kƏn'siːl/ = To place out of sight so as not to be seen by anybody.
BLOOM /bluːm/ = To make flourish.
DOOMED = Determined by tragic fate.
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