nt to
sleep just where they were when the wand touched them. Some of the
gentlemen were bowing to the ladies, the ladies were embroidering, the
grooms stood currying their horses, and the cook was slapping the
kitchen boy.

The king and queen departed from the castle, giving orders that no one
was to go near it. This command, however, was not needed. In a little
while there sprang around the castle a wood so thick that neither man
nor beast could pass through.

III

A great many changes take place in a hundred years. The king had no
other child, and when he died, his throne passed to another royal
family. Even the story of the sleeping princess was almost forgotten.

One day the son of the king who was then reigning was out hunting, and
he saw towers rising above a thick wood. He asked what they were, but no
one could answer him.

At last an old peasant was found who said, "Your highness, fifty years
ago my father told me that there is a castle in the woods where a
princess sleeps--the most beautiful princess that ever lived. It was
said that she must sleep there a hundred years, when she would be
awakened by a king's son."

At this the young prince determined to find out the truth for himself.
He leaped from his horse and began to force his way through the wood. To
his astonishment, the stiff branches gave way, then closed again,
allowing none of his companions to follow.

A beautiful palace rose before him. In the courtyard the prince saw
horses and men who looked as if they were dead. But he was not afraid
and boldly entered the palace. There were guards motionless as stone,
gentlemen and ladies, pages and footmen, some standing, some sitting,
but all like statues.

[Illustration: The prince finds the princess]

At last the prince came to a chamber of gold, where he saw upon a bed
the fairest sight one ever beheld--a princess of about seventeen years
who looked as if she had just fallen asleep. Trembling, the prince knelt
beside her, and awakened her with a kiss. And now the enchantment was
broken.

The princess looked at him with wondering eyes and said: "Is it you, my
prince? I have waited for you long."

So happy were the two that they talked hour after hour. In the meantime
all in the palace awaked and each began to do what he was doing when he
fell asleep. The gentlemen went on bowing to the ladies, the ladies went
on with their embroidery. The grooms went on currying their horses, the
cook w