Page:Sleeping beauty in the wood (2).pdf/6

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THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

thousand leagues off, when this accident befel 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 in about an hour after, in a fiery chariot drawn by dragons.

The King handed her out of the chariot, and she approved every thing he had done; but as she had a very great foresight, she thought that when the Princess would awake, she might not know what to do with herself, being all alone in this old palace, therefore, she touched with her wand every thing in the palace (except the King and Queen) governesses, maids of honour, ladies of the bedchamber, gentlemen, officers, stewards, cooks, under-cooks, and scullions, guards, with their beef-eaters, pages and footmen. She likewise touched all the horses that were in the stables, as well pads as others, the great dog in the outer court, and the pretty little Mopsey too, the Princess' little spaniel bitch, which lay by her on the bed.

Immediately on her touching them, they all fell asleep. that they might not awake before their Mistress, and that they might be ready to wait upon her when she wanted them. The very spits at the fire, as full as they could of partridges and peasants; and