THE SLEEPING PRINCESS.

 

And there for a century the Princess \
Lay in a trance so deep

That neither the roar of winds nor fa “i

Could rouse her from her sleep. \

 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
   

i

Old wood, rode a new king’s son,
Who, catching a glimpse of a royal turret
Above the forest dun

Felt in his heart a strange wis for exploring
The thorny and briery place,

And, lo, a path through the deepest thicket
Opened before his face!

On, on he went, till he spied a terrace,
And further a sleeping guard,

And rows of soldiers upon their carbines
Leaning, and snoring hard.

Up the broad steps! The doors swung backward !
The wide hails heard no tread !

But a lofty chamber, opening, showed him
A gold and purple bed.

   

  
   
      
  
 
 
 
  
 
  

 
 

: Th !
And there in her beauty, warm and glowing, | The lady sk mee g fe d

The enchanted Princess lay!
While only a word from his lips was needed
- To drive her sleep away.

“ How long I have walied for youl?” 2

——S

 /ap Thenat once neabit great ae palace
fy Was wakewed and all astir; SSS
4 Yet the Prince, in joy at the Sleeping Beaute] 7
Could only look at her. Se /
= | aN t
; She was the bride who for years an hundred os
Had waited for him to come,
And now that the hour was here to claim A ‘
Should eyes or tongue be dumb? (
The Princess blushed at his royal wooing, /
= Bowed “yes” with her lovely head,
And the chaplain, yawning, but very lively,
Came in and they were wed!

But about the dress of the happy Princess,
_ | havemy woman’s fears —
It must have grown somewhat old-fashioned
In the course of so many years !