The Popular Story of Blue Beard

  Produced by David Widger from page images generouslyprovided by the Internet Archive

  THE POPULAR STORY

  OF

  BLUE BEARD

  Embellished with neat Engravings

  By Anonymous

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  THE POPULAR STORY OF BLUE-BEARD

  |A LONG time ago, and at a considerable distance from any town, therelived a gentleman, who was not only in possession of great riches, butof the largest estates in that part of the country. Although he had somevery elegant neat mansions on his estates, he generally resided in amagnificent castle, beautifully situated on a rising ground, surroundedwith groves of the finest evergreens, and other choice trees and shrubs.

  The inside of this fine castle was even more beautiful than theoutside; for the rooms were all hung with the richest damask, curiouslyornamented; the Chairs and sofas were covered with the finest velvet,fringed with gold; and his table-dishes and plates were either of silveror gold, finished in the most elegant style. His carriages and horsesmight have served a king, and perhaps were finer than any monarch's ofthe present day. The gentleman's appearance, however, did not altogethercorrespond to his wealth; for, to a fierce disagreeable countenance, wasadded an ugly blue beard, which made him an object of fear and disgustin the neighbourhood, where he usually went by the name of Blue Beard.

  There resided, at some considerable distance from Blue Beard's castle,an old lady and her two daughters, who were people of some rank, but byno means wealthy. The two young ladies were very pretty, and the fame oftheir beauty having reached Blue Beard, he determined to ask one of themin marriage. Having ordered a carriage, he called at their house, wherehe saw the two young ladies, and was very politely received by theirmother, with whom he begged a few moments conversation.

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  |After the two young ladies left the room, he began by describing hisimmense riches, and then told her the purpose of his visit, begging shewould use her interest in his favour. They were both so lovely, he said,that he would be happy to get either of them for his wife, and wouldtherefore leave it to their own choice to determine upon the subject,and immediately took his leave.

  When the proposals of Blue Beard were mentioned to the young ladies bytheir mother, both Miss Anne and her sister Fatima protested, thatthey would never marry an ugly man, and particularly one with such afrightful blue beard; because, although he possessed immense riches,it was reported in the country, that he had married several beautifulladies, and nobody could tell what had become of them.

  Their mother said, that the gentleman was agreeable in his conversationand manners; that the ugliness of his facs, and the blue beard, weredefects which they would soon be reconciled to from habit: that hisimmense riches would procure them every luxury their heart could desire;and he was so civil, that she was certain the scandalous reports abouthis wives must be entirely without foundation.

  The two young ladies were as civil as they possibly could be, in orderto conceal the disgust they felt at Blue Beard, and, to soften theirrefusal, replied to this effect,--That, at present, they had no desireto change their situation; but if they had, the one sister could neverthink of depriving the other of so good a match, and that they did notwish to be separated.

  |Blue Beard having called next day, the old lady told him what herdaughters had said; on which he sighed deeply, and pretended to bevery much disappointed; but as he had the mother on his side, he stillcontinued his visits to the family. Blue Beard, knowing the attractionsthat fine houses, fine furniture, and fine entertainments, have on theminds of ladies in general, invited the mother, her two daughters, andtwo or three other ladies who were then on a visit to them, to spend aday or two with him at his castle.

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  Blue Beard's invitation was accepted, and having spent a considerabletime in arranging their wardrobe, and in adorning their persons, theyall set out for the splendid mansion of Blue Beard.

  On coming near the castle, although they had heard a great deal of thetaste and expense that had been employed in decorating it, they werestruck with the beauty of the trees that overshadowed the walks throughwhich they passed, and with the fragrancy of the flowers which perfumedthe air. When they reached the castle, Blue Beard, attended by a numberof his servants in splendid dresses, received them with the most politecourtesy, and conducted them to a magnificent drawing-room.

  An elegant repast was ready in the dining-room, to which they adjourned.Here they were again astonished by the grandeur of the apartment and theelegance of the entertainment, and the rooms that were open, and weretruly astonished at the magnificence that everywhere met their view.

  The time rolled pleasantly away a-midst a succession of the mostagreeable felt so happy, that the evening passed away before they wereaware.

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  |Next day, after they had finished breakfast, the ladies proceeded toexamine the pictures and furniture of the amusements, consisting ofhunting, music, dancing, and banquets, where the richest wines, and mosttempting delicacies, in most luxurious profusion, presented themselvesin every direction.

  The party felt so agreeable amidst these scenes of festivity, that theycontinued at the castle several days, during which the cunning BlueBeard, by every obsequious service, tried to gain the favour of his fairguests. Personal attentions, even although paid us by an ugly creature,seldom fail to make a favourable impression; it was therefore no wonderthat Fatima, the youngest of the two sisters, began to think Blue Bearda very polite, pleasant, and civil gentleman; and that the beard, whichshe and her sister had been so much afraid of, was not so very blue.

  A short time after her return home, Fatima, who was delighted with theattention which had been paid her at the castle, told her motherthat she did not now feel any objections to accept of Blue Beard as ahusband. The old lady immediately communicated to him the change in herdaughter's sentiments.

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  |Blue Beard, who lost no time in paying the family a visit, was in a fewdays privately married to the young lady, and soon after the ceremony,Fatima, accompanied by her sister, returned to the castle the wife ofBlue Beard.

  On arriving there, they were received at the entrance by all hisretinue, attired in splendid dresses, and Blue Beard after saluting hisbride, led the way to an elegant entertainment, where, every thing thatcould add to to their comfort being prepared, they spent the evening inthe most agreeable manner.

  |The next day, and every succeeding day, Blue Beard always varied theamusements, and a month had passed away imperceptibly, when he told hiswife that he was obliged to leave her for a few weeks, as he had someaffairs to transact in a distant part of the country, which required hispersonal attendance.

  "But," said he, "my dear Fatima, you may enjoy yourself in my absence inany way that will add to your happiness, and you can invite your friendsto make the time pass more agreeably, for you are sole mistress in thiscastle, Here are the keys of the two large wardrobes; this is the keyof the great box that contains the best plate, which we use for company;this of my strong box, where I keep my money; and this belongs to thecasket, in which are all my jewels. Here also is a master-key to all therooms in the house; but this small key belongs to the blue closet atthe end of the long gallery on the ground floor. I give you leave," hecontinued, "to open, or do what you like with all the rest of the castleexcept this closet: now, my dear, remember you must not enter it, noreven put the key into the lock. If you do not obey me in this, expectthe most dreadful of punishments."

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  She promised him implicit obedience to his orders, and then accompaniedhim to the gate, where Blue Beard, aft
er sa luting her in a tendermanner, stepped into the coach, and drove away.

  |When Blue Beard was gone, Fatima sent a kind invitation to her friendsto come immediately to the castle, and ordered a grand entertainment tobe prepared for their reception. She also sent a messenger to her twobrothers, both officers in the army, who were quartered about fortymiles distant, requesting they would obtain leave of absence, and spenda few days with her. So eager were her friends to see the apartments andthe riches of Blue Beard's castle, of which they had heard so much, thatin less than two hours after receiving notice, the whole company wereassembled, with the exception of her brothers, who were not expectedtill the following day.

  As her guests had arrived long before the time appointed them for theentertainment. Fatima took them thro' every apartment in the castle,and displayed all the wealth she had acquired by her marriage withBlue Beard. They went from room to room, and from wardrobe to wardrobe,expressing fresh wonder and delight at every new object they came to;but their surprise was increased when they entered the