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 went on slapping the kitchen boy, and the servants began to serve the supper.  Then the chief lady in waiting, who was ready to die of hunger, told the princess aloud that supper was ready.

The prince gave the princess his hand, and they all went into the great hall for supper.  That very evening the prince and princess were married.  The next day the prince took his bride to his father’s palace, and there they lived happily ever afterward.

—­GRIMM.

THE UGLY DUCKLING

I

It was summer.  The country was lovely just then.  The cornfields were waving yellow, the wheat was golden, the oats were still green, and the hay was stacked in the meadows.  Beyond the fields great forests and ponds of water might be seen.