Page:Sleeping beauty in the wood (2).pdf/9

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IN THE WOOD.
9

people could follow him, because the trees closed again, as soon as he passed through them.

However, he did not cease from valiantly continuing his way.

He came into a spacious outward court, where every thing he saw might have frozen up the most hardy person with horror. There reigned all over a most frightful silence; the image of death every where shewed itself and there was nothing to be seen but stretched out bodies of men and animals, all seeming to be dead. He, however, very well knew by the ruby faces and pimpled noses of the Beef-eaters, that they were only asleep, and their goblets, wherein still remained some few drops of wine, plainly shewed, that they all fell asleep in their cups.

He then, crossing a court paved with marble, went up stairs, and came into the guard-chamber, where the guards were standing in their ranks, with muskets upon their shoulders, and snoring as loud as they could. After that he went through several rooms full of gentlemen and ladies, all asleep, some standing, and others sitting. At last, he came into a chamber all gilt with gold, here he saw upon a bed, the curtains of which were all open, the finest sight that ever he beheld, a Princess, who appeared to be about 15 or 16 years of age, and whose bright, and in a manner resplendent beauty, had somewhat