The Fairy Book | Page 2

fifty years since she had left the king's dominion on a tour of
pleasure, and had not been heard of until this day. His majesty, much
troubled, desired a cover to be placed for her, but it was of common
delf, for he had ordered from his jeweller only seven gold dishes for the
seven fairies aforesaid. The elderly fairy thought herself neglected, and
muttered angry menaces, which were overheard by one of the younger
fairies, who chanced to sit beside her. This good godmother, afraid of
harm to the pretty baby, hastened to hide herself behind the tapestry in
the hall. She did this, because she wished all the others to speak
first--so that if any ill gift were bestowed on the child, she might be
able to counteract it.
The six now offered their good wishes--which, unlike most wishes,
were sure to come true. The fortunate little princess was to grow up the
fairest woman in the world; to have a temper sweet as an angel; to be
perfectly graceful and gracious; to sing like a nightingale; to dance like
a leaf on a tree; and to possess every accomplishment under the sun.
Then the old fairy's turn came. Shaking her head spitefully, she uttered
the wish that when the baby grew up into a young lady, and learned to
spin, she might prick her finger with the spindle and die of the wound.
At this terrible prophecy all the guests shuddered; and some of the
more tender-hearted began to weep. The lately happy parents were
almost out of their wits with grief. Upon which the wise young fairy
appeared from behind the tapestry, saying cheerfully "Your majesties
may comfort yourselves; the princess shall not die. I have no power to
alter the ill-fortune just wished her by my ancient sister--her finger
must be pierced; and she shall then sink, not into the sleep of death, but
into a sleep that will last a hundred years. After that time is ended, the
son of a king will find her, awaken her, and marry her."
Immediately all the fairies vanished.

The king, in the hope of avoiding his daughter's doom, issued an edict,
forbidding all persons to spin, and even to have spinning-wheels in
their houses, on pain of instant death. But it was in vain. One day, when
she was just fifteen years of age, the king and queen left their daughter
alone in one of their castles, when, wandering about at her will, she
came to an ancient donjon tower, climbed to the top of it, and there
found a very old woman--so old and deaf that she had never heard of
the king's edict--busy with her wheel.
"What are you doing, good old woman?" said the princess.
"I'm spinning, my pretty child."
"Ah, how charming! Let me try if I can spin also."
She had no sooner taken up the spindle than, being lively and obstinate,
she handled it so awkwardly and carelessly that the point pierced her
finger. Though it was so small a wound, she fainted away at once, and
dropped silently down on the floor. The poor frightened old woman
called for help; shortly came the ladies in waiting, who tried every
means to restore their young mistress, but all their care was useless.
She lay, beautiful as an angel, the colour still lingering in her lips and
cheeks; her fair bosom softly stirred with her breath: only her eyes were
fast closed. When the king her father and the queen her mother beheld
her thus, they knew regret was idle--all had happened as the cruel fairy
meant. But they also knew that their daughter would not sleep for ever,
though after one hundred years it was not likely they would either of
them behold her awakening. Until that happy hour should arrive, they
determined to leave her in repose. They sent away all the physicians
and attendants, and themselves sorrowfully laid her upon a bed of
embroidery, in the most elegant apartment of the palace. There she
slept and looked like a sleeping angel still.
When this misfortune happened, the kindly young fairy who had saved
the princess by changing her sleep of death into this sleep of a hundred
years, was twelve thousand leagues away in the kingdom of Mataquin.
But being informed of everything, she arrived speedily, in a chariot of
fire drawn by dragons. The king was somewhat startled by the sight,

but nevertheless went to the door of his palace, and, with a mournful
countenance, presented her his hand to descend.
The fairy condoled with his majesty, and approved of all he had done.
Then, being a fairy of great common sense and foresight, she suggested
that the princess, awakening after a hundred years in this ancient castle,
might be