THE SLEEPING BEAUTY. 15

spindles, or else it was the wicked fairy
who had taken this disguise.

“What are you doing there, Goody ?”
said the princess. ‘I am spinning, my
pretty child,” said the old woman.
“Ha!” said the princess, “that is very
amusing : how do you do it? give it to
me that I may see if I can do so too.”
The old woman gave it her. She had
no sooner taken it into her hand than,
whether being very hasty at. it, and
somewhat awkward, or that the decree
of the spiteful fairy had caused it, is not to
be certainly known; but, however, sure
itis that the spindle immediately ran into
her hand, and she directly fell down upon
the ground in a swoon. Thereupon the
old woman cried out for help, and people
came in from every quarter in great
numbers: some threw water upon the
princess’s face, unlaced her, struck her
on the palm of her hands, and rubbed
her temples with Hungary water; but
all they could do did not bring her to
herself.

The good fairy who had saved her