The Prince did not know what to believe, and presently a very aged
countryman spake to him thus:--

"May it please your royal Highness, more than fifty years since I heard
from my father that there was then in this castle the most beautiful
princess that was ever seen; that she must sleep there a hundred years,
and that she should be waked by a king's son, for whom she was
reserved."

The young Prince on hearing this was all on fire. He thought, without
weighing the matter, that he could put an end to this rare adventure;
and, pushed on by love and the desire of glory, resolved at once to look
into it.

As soon as he began to get near to the wood, all the great trees, the
bushes, and brambles gave way of themselves to let him pass through. He
walked up to the castle which he saw at the end of a large avenue; and
you can imagine he was a good deal surprised when he saw none of his
people following him, because the trees closed again as soon as he had
passed through them. However, he did not cease from continuing his way;
a young prince in search of glory is ever valiant.

He came into a spacious outer court, and what he saw was enough to
freeze him with horror. A frightful silence reigned over all; the image
of death was everywhere, and there was nothing to be seen but what
seemed to be the outstretched bodies of dead men and animals. He,
however, very well knew, by the ruby faces and pimpled noses of the
porters, that they were only asleep; and their goblets, wherein still
remained some drops of wine, showed plainly that they had fallen asleep