whole building, and not even the chimney tops THE
could be seen. And the story of the beautiful SLEEPING
sleeping Thorn-rose (for thus was the princess BEAUTY
named) was told throughout the land, so that from
time to time many kings’ sons came, and tried to
force their way through the hedge into the castle.
But it was all in vain; for the boughs kept together
as tightly as if they had clasped each other’s hands,
so that the youths stuck fast among the thorns
and could not get out, and after struggling and
fumbling: about for a long time, they one by one
ied.
After many long years had flown by, there came
another king’s son through the land; and he heard
by chance from an old man the story of the thorn-
hedge, and the kings’ sons who had been killed by
it. The old man also told him how it was said,
that there stood a castle on the other side of the
hedge,—and in the castle the beautiful princess,
Thorn-rose, slept, and with her the king and
queen and the whole household. Then the youth -
said to him: ‘The thorn-hedge shall not frighten
me. I will force my way through it, for I am
resolved to see the beautiful princess, Thorn-rose,
if it should cost me my life.’
But the day was now at hand when the hundred
years were to expire, and the spell to be dissolved.
And when the prince approached the hedge, the
thorns appeared to his sight only large beautiful
flowers, which separated before him of themselves,
and allowed him to pass through unhurt; and
when he had passed, he saw them close them-
selves again and stand up like a great wall behind
him. He entered the castle, and looked around
him with astonishment. In the courtyard were
horses with their grooms fast asleep: the pigeons,
too, sat sleeping upon the roof, and hid their little
heads under their wings. And when he came into
the house, he saw the very flies asleep upon the
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