THE SLEEPING BEAUTY. 17

 

life, by condemning her to sleep one
hundred years, was in the kingdom of
Matakin, twelve thousand leagues off,
when this accident befell the princess ,
but she was instantly informed of it by
a little dwarf, who had boots of seven
leagues, that is, boots with which he
could tread over seven leagues of ground
at one stride. The fairy left the kingdom
immediately, and arrived at the palace
about an hour after, in a fairy chariot
drawn by dragons.

The king handed her out of the chariot
and she approved of everything he
had done; but as she had a very great

B