06-the sleeping beauty-第1节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD
THERE were formerly a king and a queen; who were so
sorry that they had no children; so sorry that it cannot
be expressed。 They went to all the waters in the world;
vows; pilgrimages; all ways were tried; and all to no
purpose。
At last; however; the Queen had a daughter。 There was
a very fine christening; and the Princess had for her god…
mothers all the fairies they could find in the whole kingdom
(they found seven); that every one of them might
give her a gift; as was the custom of fairies in those days。
By this means the Princess had all the perfections imaginable。
After the ceremonies of the christening were over; all
the company returned to the King's palace; where was
prepared a great feast for the fairies。 There was placed
before every one of them a magnificent cover with a case
of massive gold; wherein were a spoon; knife; and fork; all
of pure gold set with diamonds and rubies。 But as they
were all sitting down at table they saw come into the hall
a very old fairy; whom they had not invited; because it
was above fifty years since she had been out of a certain
tower; and she was believed to be either dead or enchanted。
The King ordered her a cover; but could not furnish her
with a case of gold as the others; because they had only
seven made for the seven fairies。 The old Fairy fancied
she was slighted; and muttered some threats between her
teeth。 One of the young fairies who sat by her overheard
how she grumbled; and; judging that she might give the
little Princess some unlucky gift; went; as soon as they
rose from table; and hid herself behind the hangings; that
she might speak last; and repair; as much as she could; the
evil which the old Fairy might intend。
In the meanwhile all the fairies began to give their gifts
to the Princess。 The youngest gave her for gift that she
should be the most beautiful person in the world; the
next; that she should have the wit of an angel; the third;
that she should have a wonderful grace in everything she
did; the fourth; that she should dance perfectly well; the
fifth; that she should sing like a nightingale; and the
sixth; that she should play all kinds of music to the
utmost perfection。
The old Fairy's turn coming next; with a head shaking
more with spite than age; she said that the Princess
should have her hand pierced with a spindle and die of
the wound。 This terrible gift made the whole company
tremble; and everybody fell a…crying。
At this very instant the young Fairy came out from
behind the hangings; and spake these words aloud:
〃Assure yourselves; O King and Queen; that your
daughter shall not die of this disaster。 It is true; I have
no power to undo entirely what my elder has done。 The
Princess shall indeed pierce her hand with a spindle; but;
instead of dying; she shall only fall into a profound sleep;
which shall last a hundred years; at the expiration of
which a king's son shall come and awake her。〃
The King; to avoid the misfortune foretold by the old
Fairy; caused immediately proclamation to be made;
whereby everybody was forbidden; on pain of death; to
spin with a distaff and spindle; or to have so much as any
spindle in their houses。 About fifteen or sixteen years
after; the King and Queen being gone to one of their houses
of pleasure; the young Princess happened one day to
divert herself in running up and down the palace; when
going up from one apartment to another; she came into
a little room on the top of the tower; where a good old
woman; alone; was spinning with her spindle。 This good
woman had never heard of the King's proclamation
against spindles。
〃What are you doing there; goody?〃 said the Princess。
〃I am spinning; my pretty child;〃 said the old woman;
who did not know who she was。
〃Ha!〃 said the Princess; 〃this is very pretty; how do
you do it? Give it to me; that I may see if I can do so。〃
She had no sooner taken it into her hand than; whether
being very hasty at it; somewhat unhandy; or that the
decree of the Fairy had so ordained it; it ran into her
hand; and she fell down in a swoon。
The good old woman; not knowing very well what to do
in this affair; cried out for help。 People came in from
every quarter in great numbers; they threw water upon
the Princess's face; unlaced her; struck her on the palms
of her hands; and rubbed her temples with Hungary…
water; but nothing would bring her to herself。
And now the King; who came up at the noise; bethought
himself of the prediction of the fairies; and; judging very
well that this must necessarily come to pass; since the
fairies had said it; caused the Princess to be carried into
the finest apartment in his palace; and to be laid upon a
bed all embroidered with gold and silver。
One would have taken her for a little angel; she was so
very beautiful; for her swooning away had not diminished
one bit of her complexion; her cheeks were carnation; and
her lips were coral; indeed; her eyes were shut; but she
was heard to breathe softly; which satisfied those about
her that she was not dead。 The King commanded that
they should not disturb her; but let her sleep quietly till
her hour of awaking was come。
The good Fairy who had saved her life by condemning
her to sleep a hundred years was in the kingdom of
Matakin; twelve thousand leagues off; when this accident
befell the Princess; but she was instantly informed of it
by a little dwarf; who had boots of seven leagues; that is;
boots with which he could tread over seven leagues of
ground in one stride。 The Fairy came away immediately;
and she arrived; about an hour after; in a fiery chariot
drawn by dragons。
The King handed her out of the chariot; and she
approved everything he had done; but as she had very great
foresight; she thought when the Princess should awake
she might not know what to do with herself; being all
alone in this old palace; and this was what she did: she
touched with her wand everything in the palace (except
the King and Queen)governesses; maids of honor; ladies
of the bedchamber; gentlemen; officers; stewards; cooks;
undercooks; scullions; guards; with their beefeaters;
pages; footmen; she likewise touched all the horses which
were in the stables; pads as well as others; the great dogs
in the outward court and pretty little Mopsey too; the
Princess's little spaniel; which lay by her on the bed。
Immediately upon her touching them they all fell
asleep; that they might not awake before their mistress
and that they might be ready to wait upon her when she
wanted them。 The very spits at the fire; as full as they
could hold of partridges and pheasants; did fall asleep
also。 All this was done in a moment。 Fairies are not long
in doing their business。
And now the King and the Queen; having kissed their
dear child without waking her; went out of the palace and
put forth a proclamation that nobody should dare to
come near it。
This; however; was not necessary; for in a quarter of an
hour's time there grew up all round about the park such
a vast number of trees; great and small; bushes and
brambles; twining one within another; that neither man
nor beast could pass through; so that nothing could be
seen but the very top of the towers of the palace; and
that; too; not unless it was a good way off。 Nobody;
doubted but the Fairy gave herein a very extraordinary
sample of her art; that the Princess; while she continued
sleeping; might have nothing to fear from any curious
people。
When a hundred years were gone and passed the son of
the King then reigning; and who was of another family
from that of the sleeping Princess; being gone a…hunting
on that side of the country; asked:
What those towers were which he saw in the middle of
a great thick wood?
Everyone answered according as they had heard。 Some
said:
That it was a ruinous old castle; haunted by spirits。
Others; That all the sorcerers and witches of the
country kept there their sabbath or night's meeting。
The common opinion was: That an ogre lived there; and
that he carried thither all the little children he could
catch; that he might eat them up at his leisure; without
anybody being able to follow him; as having himself only
the power to pass through the wood。
The Prince was at a stand; not knowing what to
believe; when a very good countryman spake to him thus:
〃May it please your royal highness; it is now about
fifty years since I heard from my father; who heard my
grandfather say; that there was then in this castle a
princess; the most beautiful was ever seen; that she must
sleep there a hundred years; and should be waked by a
king's son; for whom she was reserved。〃
The young Prince was all on fire at these words;
believing; without weighing the matter; that he could put