THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
Reading edition
Part Two
All things awaken into life when warmth and love exert their influence.
We left the princess and all her attendants asleep in the castle. Years passed. Kings and queens ruled over the land and died. The old castle was covered with ivy and hidden deep in the forest. Nobody went near it, for everybody was afraid of it. At last the tangle of the thorns grew so thick that only the towers of the castle could be seen above it.
One hundred years passed by. The son of the king at that time was one day hunting in the forest, and asked what the castle was. Those who were with him told him it was a fairy castle; some said a monster lived in it; others said that it was filled with dead bodies. One of his attendants cried:
“I heard a story from my grandfather when I was a boy, that there was a princess in that castle who was asleep. The story said that she was put to sleep by a fairy, and that the fairy said that she was to sleep for a hundred years, and was to be awakened by a young prince who would break through all barriers and awaken her by a kiss.”
When the young prince heard this story he felt that he was the one to awaken the young princess. It was a beautiful day in early spring, but the snow was still on the ground. The prince said to those around him:
“I am he of whom the fairy spoke. I shall break through all barriers and awaken the princess.”
He drew his sword and started toward the tangle of thorns. As he began to cut his way the thorns fell aside easily and a path appeared before his feet. He followed the path into the castle gate. The woods closed behind him and left him alone.
At the castle gates he saw the porter asleep. As he went on he saw horses and dogs and grooms all asleep. He entered the kitchen and saw all the cooks and maids asleep. Then he went into the hall and found all the courtiers fast asleep. The king and queen were also asleep. On the couch he saw the beautiful princess as rosy and fresh as she was a hundred years ago, but deep in slumber.
The prince walked up to the couch and kissed her. Then she woke up and smiled. The king and queen rubbed their eyes, the courtiers leaped up from their chairs; the cooks and servants began to move about; the horses neighed and the dogs barked. Outside the thorns vanished and the roses bloomed in their stead. All was life and motion where before all had been so silent.
“Have you come at last?” said the princess. And then they all left the castle, and as they looked behind, it vanished and there was nothing left but the beautiful woods.