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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

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