oof or the chimneys could be seen.
But there went a report, through all the land, of the beautiful
sleeping Briar Rose (for so was the king's daughter called) so that
from time to time several kings' sons came, and tried to break through
the thicket into the palace. This they could never do; for the thorns
and bushes laid hold of them as it were with hands, and there they
stuck fast and died miserably.

[Illustration: "ALL WAS SO QUIET THAT HE COULD HEAR EVERY BREATH HE
DREW."]

After many years came yet another king's son into that land, and
an old man told him the story of the thicket of thorns, and how a
beautiful palace stood behind it, in which was a wondrous princess,
called Briar Rose, asleep with all her court. He told, too, how he had
heard from his grandfather that many, many princes had come, and had
tried to break through the thicket, but had stuck fast and died.

Then the young prince said, "All this shall not frighten me; I will
go and see Briar Rose." The old man tried to dissuade him, but he
persisted in going.

Now that very day were the hundred years completed; and as the prince
came to the thicket he saw nothing but beautiful flowering shrubs,
through which he passed with ease, and they closed after him, as firm
as ever. Then he came at last to the palace, and there in the court
lay the dogs asleep, and the horses in the stables, and on the roof
sat the pigeons fast asleep with their heads under their wings; and
when he came into the palace, the flies slept on the walls, and the
cook in the kitchen was still holding up her hand as if she would beat
the boy, and the maid with her pail in her hand was going a-milking.

Then he went on still further, and all was so quiet that he could hear
every breath he drew; till at last he came to the old tower and opened
the door of the little room in which Briar Rose was, and there she lay
fast asleep, and looked so beautiful that he could not turn his eyes
away, and he stooped down and gave her a kiss. But the moment he
kissed her she opened her eyes and awoke, and smiled upon him. For the
spell was broken.

Then they went out together, and presently the king and queen also
awoke, and all the court, and they gazed on each other with great
wonder. And the horses got up and shook themselves, and the dogs
jumped about and barked; the pigeons took their heads from under their
wings, and looked around and flew into the fields; the flies on the
walls buzzed; the