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Сценарий спектакля на английском языке СПЯЩАЯ КРАСАВИЦА
СПЕКТАКЛЬ В 3 ДЕЙСТВИЯХ
Составитель: Денель М.Ю. Москва 2012
Действие 1
Once upon a time there was a king and a queen who had long hoped for a child of their own. When, at last, a baby princess was born, they thought that a good fairy must have been looking after them.
I shall invite all the fairies in the kingdom to come to our baby’s christening!
That would be nice!
Holy angels guard thy bed,
Gently falling on thy head.
You shall have a lovely face and you shall be gentle and loving!
You shall be smart and you shall have a lovely voice!
I suppose you thought I was too old to do magic now! Well, I’ll show you! When the Princess is fifteen years old, she shall prick her finger on a spindle and fall down dead.
Oh, how can I have forgotten her?
And what shall we do now?
I may be able to help. I can’t undo the evil spell, but I can soften it a little. The Princess will prick her finger on a spindle, but she will not die. She will just fall asleep for a hundred years.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
I order to destroy all the spindles in my kingdom.
Действие 2
Year by year, the Princess grew more lovely.
On the morning of her fifteenth birthday the Princess wandered through thepalace.
She climbed toa high tower where she had never been before.
There in a small room she saw an old woman at a spinning wheel.
What are you doing?
I am spinning, my child.
How interesting! I have never seen that before. May I have a look at it?
Oh! Help me! Help! Oh, dear!
What’s the matter?
What’s happened?
What’s wrong? Look here!
This young pretty child seems to be dead. How horrible!
This is our Princess!
Send for the King and Queen!
Let’s go quickly!
Oh, no! That’s impossible!
No, she isn’t. The Princess fell into a deep, deep sleep.
And she will sleep for one hundred years. And in one hundred years a young prince will wake her up.
Good night! Sleep well!
Good night! Sleep well!
Good night! Sleep well!
Действие 3
Good morning, dear Prince!
What is happening here? Why are they all asleep?
You see, dear Prince, one hundred years ago this Sleeping Beauty pricked her finger on a spindle and fell into a deep sleep.
I shall not rest until I have seen her and woken her!
So, we’ll go no more a-roving
So late into the night,
And love itself have rest.
And the day returnstoo soon,
Yet we’ll go no more a-roving
By the light of the moon.
I would give my whole kingdom if you would wake and be my bride. Awaken, dear Princess!
I have been sleeping so long!
You have been sleeping for one hundred years. Have you been sleeping well?
Oh! Yes! And I have seen you already, dear Prince! I saw you in my dreams.
Will you marry me?
Congratulations, dear Sleeping Beauty!
Congratulations, dear Prince!
Long live the King!
Long live the Queen!
Long live the Prince!
Long live the Princess!
Long live the King!
Long live the Queen!
Long live the Prince!
Long live the Princess!
Long live the King!
Long live the Queen!
Long live the Prince!
Long live the Princess!
Действие 1
Рассказчик 1 и Рассказчик 2 открывают занавес и повествуют зрителям старинную сказку о Спящей Красавице.
В спальне новорождённой Принцессы находятся: Принцесса в колыбельке, по обеим сторонам от неё находятся Король и Королева, придворные дамы и стражники.
Действующее лицо
выражения
Перевод текста
Рассказчик 1
Once upon a time there was a king and a queen who had long hoped for a child of their own.
Once upon a time- ["wʌnsəpənə"taım] - однажды
a king- [ə "kıŋ ] - король
a queen-[ə "kwi:n] - королева
[ tə "həʊp "fɔ: ] -надеятьсяна
[ əv "ðɛəˎrəʊn ] –
их собственный
Жили-были Король с Королевой, которые долго мечтали о своём собственном ребёнке.
Рассказчик 2
When, at last, a baby princess was born, they thought that a good fairy must have been looking after them.
at last – [ət "la:st ] - наконец
a baby princess –
[ə "beıbı "prınˎses] – МладенецПринцесса
[ ə "gʊd "fɛərı ] - добраяфея
to look after them (smb.)-
Следить, наблюдать, присматривать, зд. помогать им (кому-либо)
Когда, наконец, Принцесса родилась, они подумали, что им помогает Добрая Фея.
Действие 2
Придворные дамы, Король и Королева поют колыбельную песню около колыбели.
Действующее
выражения
Перевод текста
I shall inviteall the fairies in the kingdom to come to our baby’s christening!
[ tuın"vaıt ] -приглашать
[ ə "kıŋdəm ] -королевство
(in the) kingdom-вкоролевстве christening –
[ "krısnıŋ ] –крестины, крещение
Я приглашаю на крестины нашей малышки всех фей королевства!
Королева
That would be nice!
Как чудесно!
Королева
Придворные дамы
Звучит колыбельная песня.
“ACradleHymn.”
Hush! my dear, lie still and slumber;
Holy angels guard thy bed,
Heavenly blessings without number
Gently falling on thy head.
Sleep my baby; thy food and raiment,
House and home, thy friends provide,
All without thy care or payment:
All thy wants are well supplied.
[ə "krædl ˎhımn‖ ]
[ ̀hʌ∫ | maıֽˎdıə |"laı ˏstilənd ˎslʌmbə|
"həυlı "eınʤəlz "ga:dðaı ˎbed|
"hevnlı "blesıŋzwıð"aʊt ˎnʌmbə|
"ʤentlı "fɔ:lıŋɔnðaı ˎhed‖
`sli:p | maı ˎbeıbı |ðaı ˏfu:dəndˎreıməƞt|
"haʊs◡ənd "həʊmðaı "frendzprəˎvaıd|
"ɔ:lwıð"aʊtðaı "kɛər◡ənd ˎpeımənt|
"ɔ:lðaı "wɔnts a: "welsəˎplaıd ‖]
Колыбельная песня.
Спи, малышка, засыпай.
И не думай ни о чём.
Спи спокойно, засыпай,
Будет хлеб и будет кров.
Ангелочки нежно в ушко
Шепчут, деточка, усни;
Моя ляля, моя душка,
Баю-баю, крепко спи.
Hush! [ "hʌʃ ] - Тише!
Lie still ! ["laı "stıl]-Лежиспокойно!
to slumber –поэт.спать
holy ["həʊlı ] - святой
angel [ " eınʤəl ] -ангел
to guard [ tə "ga:d ] - охранять
thy [ "ðaı ] - уст.твой
heavenly [ "hevnlı ] - небесный
blessing [ "blesıŋ ] - благословение without number [ wıð"aʊt "nʌmbə ] - бесчисленный
gently [ "ʤentlı ] - нежно
to fall, fell, fallen [ tə "fɔ:l,"fel,"fɔ:lən ] - падать
on thy head [ ɔnðaı "hed ] –
на твою голову
raiment [ "reımənt ] – уст.одежда
house and home ["haʊsənd "həʊm ] –
дом и кров
toprovide[ təprə"vaıd ] - обеспечивать
care [ "kɛə ] - забота
payment [ "peımənt ] - оплата
All thy wants [ "ɔ:lðaı "wɔnts ] –
уст. Всё, что ты пожелаешь.
To be well supplied [ tə bi: "welsə"plaıd ] – Бытьхорошообеспеченным.
Действие 3
Две добрые Феи по очереди подходят к колыбельке и одаривают Принцессу, дотрагиваясь до неё волшебной палочкой.
Действующее
Слова и выражения
You shall have a lovely face and
you shall be gentle and loving!
[ə "lʌvlı ˎfeıs] - прелестноелицо
gentle [ "ʤentl] –
благородный
loving [ "lʌvıŋ] –
У тебя будет прелестное лицо, и ты будешь благородной и милой!
You shall be smart and you shall have a lovely voice!
smart [ "sma:t] - умный
Ты будешь умна, и у тебя будет очаровательный голос!
Действие 4
Неожиданно в спальню Принцессы входит старая Злая Фея. Все расступаются в ужасе. Злая Фея произносит проклятье и дотрагивается своей волшебной палочкой до Младенца- Принцессы.
Действующее
Слова и выражения
I suppose you thought I was too old to do magic now! Well, I’ll show you!
[ təsə"pəʊz ] -полагать
[ tə "du: "mæʤık ] – творить чудеса
Я полагаю, что вы думали, что я слишком стара, чтобы творить чудеса? Ну что ж, я вам покажу!
When the Princess is fifteen years old, she shall prick her finger on a spindle and fall down dead.
to prick -["prık]smb’s (her) finger ["fiŋgə] on a spindle ["spındl]- уколотьчей-либо (её) палецоверетеноto fall (fell, fallen) down dead-
[ tə "fɔ:l "daʊnˎded ] - умереть,
упасть замертво
Когда Принцессе исполнится 15 лет, она уколет свой палец о веретено и умрёт!
Злая Фея быстро уходит из спальни Принцессы.
Действие 5
Все охают и ахают. Королева горько плачет, прижимая к себе Младенца- Принцессу. Король в горе.
Третья Фея пытается успокоить Короля и Королеву и смягчает проклятье Злой Феи.
Действующее лицо
выражения
Перевод текста
Oh, how can I have forgotten her?
to forget forgot forgotten - забывать
О! Как же я мог забыть о ней!
Королева
And what shall we do now?
Что же нам теперь делать?
I may be able to help.
to be able to do -
[ təbi: "eıbltə "du: ] – быть способным, смочь сделать что-либо
Может быть, я смогу помочь?
I can’t undo the evil spell, but I can soften it a little.
toundo- [ təʌn"du: ] – переделать,
зд. отменить
an evil spell –
[ ən "i:vl "spel] - проклятье
to soften - - смягчить
Я не могу отменить проклятье, но я смогу его смягчить.
The Princess will prick her finger on a spindle, but she will not die.
to die - [ tə "daı ] - умирать
Принцесса всё же уколет свой пальчик о веретено, но не умрёт.
Все присутствующие вздыхают с облегчением.
She will just fall asleep for a hundred years.
just ["ʤʌst]-просто
to fall asleep for
[ tə "fɔ:lə"sli:pfɔ:rə "hʌndrəd "јıəz]- уснутьнастолет
Она просто уснёт на сто лет.
Королева
Придворные дамы
Thank you very much.
["Ɵæŋkju:] –Спасибо.
Thank you very much. ["Ɵæŋkju: "verı "mʌʧ] – Спасибобольшое.
Спасибо! Спасибо большое!
I order to destroy all the spindles in my kingdom.
to order [ tə "ɔ:də] -приказать
to destroy [ tədıs"trɔı] - уничтожить
Я приказываю уничтожить все веретёна в королевстве!
Конец сцены 1.
Рассказчик 1 и Рассказчик 2 закрывают занавес.
Сцена 2 Действие 1
Рассказчик 1 и рассказчик 2 открывают занавес.
Действующее
Слова и выражения
Рассказчик 1
Year by year, the Princess grew more lovely.
Year by year [ "jıəbaı "jıə ] годзагодом
to grow, grew grown
Расти
Год за годом Принцесса становилась всё прекраснее.
Рассказчик 2
On the morning of her fifteenth birthday the Princess wandered through thepalace.
On the morning of her fifteenth birthday
[ɔnðə "mɔ:nıŋəvhɜ: "fıf"ti:nƟ "bɜ:Ɵdeı ] – вденьеёпятнадцатилетия
to wander through the
palace – бродитьподворцу
Утром в день своего пятнадцатилетия Принцесса бродила по дворцу.
Рассказчик 1
She climbed toa high tower where she had never been before.
to climb to – забиратьсяна
[ə "haı "taʊə] – высокая башня
Она забралась на высокую башню, где она раньше никогда не была.
Рассказчик 2
There in a small room she saw an old woman at a spinning wheel.
at a spinning wheel [ət ə "spınıŋ "wi:l] – запрялкой
В маленькой комнатке она увидела старушку за прялкой.
Сцена 2 Действие 2
Рассказчик 1 и Рассказчик 2 уходят со сцены.
На сцене сидит старушка за прялкой и прядёт.
Входит Принцесса.
Действующее
Слова и выражения
Перевод текста
Принцесса
Доброеутро!
Старушка
Доброе утро!
Принцесса
What are you doing?
А что Вы делаете?
Старушка
I am spinning, my child.
to spin - прясть
Я пряду, дитя моё.
Принцесса
How interesting! I have never seen that before.
How interesting!
["haʊ "ıntrəstıŋ] – Какинтересно!
Как интересно! Я никогда этого не видела!
Принцесса
May I have a look at it?
May I have a look at it?
["meı aı "hæv ə ˎlʊkətıt] – Можно мне посмотреть?
А можно мне посмотреть?
Старушка
Of course! You may even try to spin, my child. Look!
Of course! [əv "kɔ:s] – Конечно!
to try to - попробовать
Look! ["lʊk] – Смотри!
Конечно! Ты даже можешь попробовать. Смотри!
Сцена 2Действие 3
Принцесса берёт в руки веретено и укалывает пальчик, охает и падает на пол. Старушка в ужасе зовёт на помощь, сидя на полу около Принцессы.
Действующее лицо
Слова и выражения
Старушка
Oh! Help me! Help!
Oh! Help me! Help!
["əʊ∣"help mi:|"help] – О! Помогите! Помогите!
Oh, dear! ["əʊˎ dıə] – О! Боже!
О! Помогите! Помогите!
Сцена 2 Действие 4
На крик о помощи вбегают стражники.
Старушка сидит около лежащей на полу Принцессы.
Действующее лицо
выражения
Стражник 1
What’s the matter?
What’s the matter? ["wɔtsðə ˎmætə] –
В чём дело?
В чём дело?
Стражник 2
What’s happened?
What’s happened? ["wɔts ˎhæpnd] – Чтослучилось?
Что случилось?
Стражник 3
["wɔts ˎrɔŋ] –
Что происходит?
Что происходит?
Старушка
Look here! This young pretty child seems to be dead. How horrible!
Look here! ["lʊkˎhıə] – Смотрите!
young ["jʌŋ] - молодой
pretty ["prıtı] – прелестный, милый
she seems to be dead [ʃi: "si:mztə bi: ˎded] –
кажется, она умерла
["haʊ ˎhɔrıbl] –
Как ужасно!
Смотрите, кажется, эта прелестная юная девушка, умерла. Как ужасно!
Стражник 1
This is our Princess!
Это же наша Принцесса!
Стражник 2
Send for the King and Queen!
– послатьза
Пошлите за Королём и Королевой!
Стражник 3
Let’s go quickly!
Побежали скорее!
Стражники убегают.
Действие 5
На полу лежит Принцесса. Около неё сидит и плачет старушка. В ужасе и в слезах вбегают Король и Королева и Придворные дамы. За ними входит Злая Фея.
Действующее
выражения
Король Королева
Oh, no! That’s impossible!
impossible[ım"pɔsıbl] - невозможный
О, нет! Это невозможно!
You see? The Princess is dead!
You see? ["ju:ˏsi:] – Поняли?
dead ["ded] - мёртвый
Поняли? Принцесса мертва!
Злая Фея, укутавшись в плащ, уходит.
Сцена 2Действие 6
Входят Фея 1, Фея 2, Фея 3.
Действующее
выражения
Перевод текста
No, she isn’t. The Princess fell into a deep, deep sleep. And she will sleep for one hundred years.
to fall into a deep sleep [ tə "fɔ:lıntə ə "di:p ˎsli:p ] – глубокозаснуть
to sleep for one hundred years [ tə "sli:pfɔ: "wʌn "hʌndrəd ˎjıəz ] –проспатьстолет
Нет! Принцесса глубоко-глубоко заснула. И проспит она целых сто лет.
And in one hundred years a young prince will wake her up.
[ ə "jʌŋ ˎprıns] – юныйпринц
to wake her (smb)up
– пробудитьеё
И через сто лет её пробудит юный Принц.
Спокойной ночи! Приятных снов!
Спокойной ночи! Приятных снов!
Конец сцены 2.
Феи дотрагиваются до всех волшебными палочками и все, зевая, засыпают. Феи уходят.
Входят Рассказчик 1 и Рассказчик 2 и закрывают занавес.
Действие 1
Рассказчик 1 и Рассказчик 2 открывают занавес.
На сцене за вуалью все замерли. Принцесса спит в своей постели, Король с Королевой спят на тронах, Придворные дамы спят на стульях, Стражники спят стоя.
Действующие
Слова и выражения
Перевод текста
Рассказчик 1
Almost a hundred years had passed since the Princess had pricked her finger.
to pass - проходить
Почти сто лет прошло с тех пор, как Принцесса уколола свой пальчик.
Рассказчик 2
The story of the beautiful sleeping Princess spread through the kingdom and far beyond.
to spread through
распростанитьсяпо
– далеко за
История о прекрасной спящей Принцессе распространилась далеко за пределы королевства.
Рассказчик 1
She became known as the Sleeping Beauty.
to become (became, become) known – статьизвестным
Она стала известна как Спящая Красавица.
Рассказчик 2
Many princes tried to come to the palace to rescue the Princess, but failed.
totry/ tried - пытаться/пытался
Спасать
to fail – бытьнеудачным
Много принцев пыталось подойти к дворцу, чтобы спасти Принцессу, но безрезультатно.
Рассказчик 1 и Рассказчик 2 уходят со сцены.
Действие 2
На сцену, читая стих, выходит Принц. Оглядывается по сторонам. На встречу ему выходят Фея 3, Фея1 и Фея 2.
Действующие
выражения
Перевод текста
Принц выходит и читает стих.
Good morning, dear Prince!
Доброе утро, дорогой Принц!
Доброе утро!
Доброеутро!
What is happening here? Why are they all asleep?
to be asleep - cпать
Что происходит?
Почему они все спят?
You see, dear Prince, one hundred years ago this Sleeping Beauty pricked her finger on a spindle and fell into a deep sleep.
Видишь ли, дорогой Принц, сто лет тому назад Спящая Красавица уколола пальчик о веретено и глубоко заснула.
I shall not rest until I have seen her and woken her!
torest - отдыхать
until[ʌn"tıl] – до тех пор пока
towake, woke, woken - пробуждать
У меня отдыха не будет, пока я не разбужу её.
Принц склоняется к Принцессе.
СтихотворениеПринца(Lord Byron)
So, we’ll go no more a-roving
So late into the night,
Though the heart be stillas loving,
And the moonbe still as bright.
For the sword outwears its sheath,
And the soul wearsout the breast,
And the heart must pause to breath,
And love itself have rest.
Though the night was madeforloving,
And the day returnstoo soon,
Yet we’ll go no more a-roving
By the light of the moon.
səʊwi:l "gəʊnəʊ "mɔ: ə rˎəʊvıŋ|
səʊ "leıt "ıntəðə ˎnaıt∥
ðəʊðə "ha:t bi: "stıləz ˎlʌvıŋ∥
əndðə "mu:n bi: "stıləz ˎbraıt∥
fɔ: ðə "sɔ:d aʊt"wɛəz ıts ˎʃi:θ∥
əndðə "səʊl wɛəz "aʊtðə ˎbrest∥
əndðə "ha:t mʌst "pɔ:ztə ˎbri:ð∥
ənd "lʌvıt"selfhæv ˎrest∥
ðəʊðə "naıtwəz "meıdfɔ: ˎlʌvıŋ∥
əndðə "deırı"tɜ:nztu: ˎsu:n∥
jet wi:l "gəʊnəʊ "mɔ: əˎrəʊvıŋ∣
baıðə "laıt ∣əvðə ˎmu:n∣∣∣
a-roving [ə "rəʊvıŋ] –от to rove – скитаться, бродить
though ["ðəʊ] - хотя
a heart [ə "ha:t] - сердце
still ["stıl] – всёещё
loving ["lʌvıŋ] - любящий
the moon [ðə "mu:n] - луна
bright ["braıt] - яркий
а sword [ə "sɔ:d] - меч
to outwear - изнашивать
sheath (s) ["ʃi:θ,("ʃi:ðz)] - ножны
а soul [ə "səʊl] - душа
to wear out – перен.выходить
breast ["brest] - грудь
to pause – затаить, сделатьпаузу
to breath - дышать
love ["lʌv] - любовь
to have rest - отдыхать
a night [ə "naıt] - ночь
to be made for loving
созданный для любви
a day [ə "deı] - день
to return - возвращаться
too soon ["tu: "su:n] – слишкомскоро
yet ["jet] – всёещё, уже
by the light ["baıðə "laıt] –присвете
Действие 3
Феи 1, 2, 3 стоят у изголовья Принцессы.Принц стоит на одном колене около постели Принцессы. Принцесса просыпается. Усаживается на постели. Потом при помощи Принца поднимается и встаёт на пол.
Действующее
Слова и выражения
I would give my whole kingdom if you would wake and be my bride.
whole ["həʊl] – целый, весь
a bride [ə "braıd] - невеста
Я бы отдал всё моё королевство, чтобы ты пробудилась и стала моей невестой.
Awaken, dear Princess!
to awaken [əʹweıkn]
пробуждать
Пробудись, дорогая Принцесса!
Принцесса
I have been sleeping so long!
Как же долго я спала!
You have been sleeping for one hundred years.
Ты проспала целых сто лет.
Have you been sleeping well?
Хорошо ли ты спала?
Принцесса
Oh! Yes! And I have seen you already, dear Prince! I saw you in my dreams.
to see (saw, seen) - видеть
already [ɔ:l"redı] - уже
[ınmaı "dri:mz] –
в моих снах
О, да! И я уже видела тебя, дорогой Принц!
Я видела тебя в моих снах.
Will you marry me?
to marry me (smb.) – выйтизамужзаменя
Ты выйдешь за меня замуж?
Принцесса
Да выйду!
Принц подаёт руку Принцессе, и они подходят к Королю и Королеве.
Действие 4
Просыпаются Король и Королева, Придворные дамы, Стражники. Удивлённо потягиваются и встают, а затем начинают поздравлять всех. Все очень радостны.
Действующее
выражения
Король (хором)
["bi: ˎhæpı] –
Будьте счастливы!
Будьте счастливы!
Королева (хором)
Будьте счастливы!
Фея 1 (хором)
Congratulations, dear Sleeping Beauty!
Congratulations!
Поздравляем!
Фея 2 (хором)
Congratulations, dear Sleeping Beauty!
Поздравляем, дорогая Спящая Красавица!
Фея 3 (хором)
Congratulations, dear Sleeping Beauty!
Поздравляем, дорогой Принц!
Придворная дама 1 (хором)
Congratulations, dear Prince!
Поздравляем, дорогой Принц!
Придворная дама 2 (хором)
Congratulations, dear Prince!
Поздравляем, дорогой Принц!
Стражник 1
Long live the King!
Long live the Queen!
Long live the Prince!
Long live the Princess!
Long live the King!
["lɔŋ "lıvðə ˎkıŋ] – Даздравствуеткороль!
Да здравствует Король!
Да здравствует Королева!
Да здравствует Принц!
Да здравствует Принцесса!
Стражник 2 (хором)
Long live the King!
Long live the Queen!
Long live the Prince!
Long live the Princess!
Да здравствует Король!
Да здравствует Королева!
Да здравствует Принц!
Да здравствует Принцесса!
Стражник 3 (хором)
Long live the King!
Long live the Queen!
Long live the Prince!
Long live the Princess!
Да здравствует Король!
Да здравствует Королева!
Да здравствует Принц!
Да здравствует Принцесса!
Все очень радостны.Рассказчик 1 и Рассказчик 2 закрывают занавес.
There were formerly a King and a Queen, who were so sorry that they had no children, so sorry that it cannot be expressed. They went to all the waters in the world; vows, pilgrimages, all ways were tried and all to no purpose. At last, however, the Queen proved with child, and was brought to bed of a daughter. There was a very fine christening; and the Princess had for her godmothers all the Fairies they could find in the whole kingdom (they found seven), that every one of them might give her a gift, as was the custom of Fairies in those days, and that by this means the Princess might have all the perfections imaginable. After the ceremonies of the christening were over, all the company returned to the King"s palace, where was prepared a great feast for the Fairies. There was placed before every one of them a magnificent cover with a case of massive gold, wherein were a spoon, knife and fork, all of pure gold set with diamonds and rubies. But as they were all sitting down at table, they saw come into the hall a very old Fairy whom they had not invited, because it was above fifty years since she had been out of a certain tower, and she was believed to be either dead or inchanted. The King ordered her a cover, but could not furnish her with a case of gold as the others, because they had seven only made for the seven Fairies. The old Fairy fancied she was slighted, and muttered some threat between her teeth. One of the young Fairies, who sat by her, overheard how she grumbled; and judging that she might give the little Princess some unlucky gift, went, as soon as they rose from the table, and hid herself behind the hangings, that she might speak last, and repair, as much as possible she could, the evil which the old Fairy might intend. In the mean while all the Fairies began to give their gifts to the Princess. The youngest gave her for gift, that she should be the most beautiful person in the world; the next, that she should have the wit of an angel; the third, that she should have a wonderful grace in every thing she did; the fourth, that she should dance perfectly well; the fifth, that she should sing like a nightingale; and the sixth, that she should play upon all kinds of music to the utmost perfection. The old Fairy"s turn coming next, with a head shaking more with spite than age, she said, that the Princess should have her hand pierced with a spindle, and die of the wound. This terrible gift made the whole company tremble, and every body fell a-crying. At this very instant the young Fairy came out from behind the hangings, and spake these words aloud: "Be reassured, O King and Queen; your daughter shall not die of this disaster: it is true, I have no power to undo intirely what my elder has done. The Princess shall indeed pierce her hand with a spindle; but instead of dying, she shall only fall into a profound sleep, which shall last a hundred years; at the expiration of which a king"s son shall come and awake her." The King, to avoid the misfortune foretold by the old Fairy, caused immediately proclamations to be made, whereby every-body was forbidden, on pain of death, to spin with a distaff and spindle or to have so much as any spindle in their houses. About fifteen or sixteen years after, the King and Queen being gone to one of their houses of pleasure, the young Princess happened one day to divert herself running up and down the palace; when going up from one apartment to another, she came into a little room on the top of a tower, where a good old woman, alone, was spinning with her spindle. This good woman had never heard of the King"s proclamation against spindles. "What are you doing there, Goody?" said the Princess. "I am spinning, my pretty child," said the old woman, who did not know who she was. "Ha!" said the Princess, "this is very pretty; how do you do it? Give it to me, that I may see if I can do so." She had no sooner taken the spindle into her hand, than, whether being very hasty at it, somewhat unhandy, or that the decree of the Fairy had so ordained it, it ran into her hand, and she fell down in a swoon. The good old woman not knowing very well what to do in this affair, cried out for help. People came in from every quarter in great numbers; they threw water upon the Princess"s face, unlaced her, struck her on the palms of her hands, and rubbed her temples with Hungary-water; but nothing would bring her to herself. And now the King, who came up at the noise, bethought himself of the prediction of the Fairies, and judging very well that this must necessarily come to pass, since the Fairies had said it, caused the Princess to be carried into the finest apartment in his palace, and to be laid upon a bed all embroidered with gold and silver. One would have taken her for an angel, she was so very beautiful; for her swooning away had not diminished one bit of her complexion; her cheeks were carnation, and her lips like coral; indeed her eyes were shut, but she was heard to breathe softly, which satisfied those about her that she was not dead. The King commanded that they should not disturb her, but let her sleep quietly till her hour of awakening was come. The good Fairy, who had saved her life by condemning her to sleep a hundred years, was in the kingdom of Matakin, twelve thousand leagues off, when this accident befell 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 came away immediately, and she arrived, 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 fore sight, she thought, when the Princess should awake, she might not know what to do with herself, being all alone in this old palace; and this was what she did: She touched with her wand every thing in the palace (except the King and the Queen), governesses, maids of honour, ladies of the bedchamber, gentlemen, officers, stewards, cooks, under-cooks, scullions, guards, with their beef-eaters, pages, footmen; she likewise touched all the horses which were in the stables, as well as their grooms, the great dogs in the outward court, and pretty little Mopsey too, the Princess"s little spaniel-bitch, which lay by her on the bed. Immediately upon 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 hold of partridges and pheasants, did fall asleep, and the fire likewise. All this was done in a moment. Fairies are not long in doing their business. And now the King and the Queen, having kissed their dear child without waking her, went out of the palace, and put forth a proclamation, that nobody should dare to come near it. This, however, was not necessary; for, in a quarter of an hour"s time, there grew up, all round about the park, such a vast number of trees, great and small, bushes and brambles, twining one within another, that neither man nor beast could pass thro"; so that nothing could be seen but the very top of the towers of the palace; and that too, not unless it was a good way off. Nobody doubted but the Fairy gave herein a sample of her art, that the Princess, while she continued sleeping, might have nothing to fear from any curious people. When a hundred years were gone and past, the son of the King then reigning, and who was of another family from that of the sleeping Princess, being gone a-hunting on that side of the country, asked, what were those towers which he saw in the middle of a great thick wood? Every one answered according as they had heard; some said that it was a ruinous old castle, haunted by spirits; others, that all the sorcerers and witches of the country kept there their sabbath, or nights meeting. The common opinion was that an Ogre lived there, and that he carried thither all the little children he could catch, that he might eat them up at his leisure, without any-body"s being able to follow him, as having himself, only, the power to pass thro" the wood. Ogre is a giant, with long teeth and claws, with a raw head and bloody-bones, who runs away with naughty little boys and girls, and eats them up. The Prince was at a stand, not knowing what to believe, when a very aged countryman spake to him thus: "May it please your Royal Highness, it is now above fifty years since I heard my father, who had heard my grandfather, say that there then was in this castle, a Princess, the most beautiful was ever seen; that she must sleep there a hundred years, and should be awaked by a king"s son; for whom she was reserved." The young Prince was all on fire at these words, believing, without a moment"s doubt, that he could put an end to this rare adventure; and pushed on by love and honour resolved that moment to look into it. Scarce had he advanced towards the wood, when all the great trees, the bushes and brambles, gave way of themselves to let him pass thro"; he walked up to the castle which he saw at the end of a large avenue which he went into; and what a little surprised him was, that he saw none of his people could follow him, because the trees closed again, as soon as he had pass"d thro" them. However, he did not cease from continuing his way; a young and amorous Prince is always valiant. He came into a spacious outward court, where everything he saw might have frozen up the most fearless person with horror. There reigned over all a most frightful silence; the image of death everywhere 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 drops of wine, shewed plainly, that they fell asleep in their cups. He then crossed a court paved with marble, went up the stairs, and came into the guard-chamber, where the guards were standing in their ranks, with their 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, others sitting. At last he came into a chamber all gilded with gold, where he saw, upon a bed, the curtains of which were all open, the finest sight was ever beheld: a Princess, who appeared to be about fifteen or sixteen years of age, and whose bright, and in a manner resplendent beauty, had somewhat in it divine. He approached with trembling and admiration, and fell down before her upon his knees. And now, as the inchantment was at an end, the Princess awaked, and looking on him with eyes more tender than the first view might seem to admit of: "Is it you, my Prince," said she to him, "you have tarried long." The Prince, charmed with these words, and much more with the manner in which they were spoken, knew not how to shew his joy and gratitude; he assured her, that he loved her better than he did himself; his discourse was not well connected, but it pleased her all the more; little eloquence, a great deal of love. He was more at a loss than she, and we need not wonder at it; she had time to think on what to say to him; for it is very probable (though history mentions nothing of it) that the good Fairy, during so long a sleep, had entertained her with pleasant dreams. In short, when they talked four hours together, they said not half what they had to say. In the mean while, all the palace awaked; every one thought upon their particular business; and as all of them were not in love, they were ready to die for hunger; the chief lady of honour, being as sharp set as other folks, grew very impatient, and told the Princess aloud, That supper was served up. The Prince helped the Princess to rise, she was entirely dressed, and very magnificently, but his Royal Highness took care not to tell her that she was dressed like his great grand-mother, and had a point-band peeping over a high collar; she looked not a bit the less beautiful and charming for all that. They went into the great hall of looking-glasses, where they supped, and were served by the Princess"s officers; the violins and hautboys played old tunes, but very excellent, tho" it was now above a hundred years since they had been played; and after supper, without losing any time, the lord almoner married them in the chapel of the castle, and the chief lady of honour drew the curtains. They had but very little sleep; the Princess had no occasion, and the Prince left her next morning to return into the city, where his father must needs have been anxious on his account. The Prince told him that he lost his way in the forest, as he was hunting, and that he had lain at the cottage of a collier, who gave him cheese and brown bread. The King his father, who was of an easy disposition, believed him; but his mother could not be persuaded this was true; and seeing that he went almost every day a-hunting, and that he always had some excuse ready when he had laid out three or four nights together, she no longer doubted he had some little amour, for he lived with the Princess above two whole years, and had by her two children, the eldest of which, who was a daughter, was named Aurora, and the youngest, who was a son, they called Day, because he was even handsomer and more beautiful than his sister. The Queen said more than once to her son, in order to bring him to speak freely to her, that a young man must e"en take his pleasure; but he never dared to trust her with his secret; he feared her, tho" he loved her; for she was of the race of the Ogres, and the King would never have married her, had it not been for her vast riches; it was even whispered about the court, that she had Ogreish inclinations, and that, whenever she saw little children passing by, she had all the difficulty in the world to refrain from falling upon them. And so the Prince would never tell her one word. But when the King was dead, which happened about two years afterwards; and he saw himself lord and master, he openly declared his marriage; and he went in great ceremony to fetch his Queen from the castle. They made a magnificent entry into the capital city, she riding between her two children. Some time after, the King went to make war with the Emperor Cantalabutte, his neighbour. He left the government of the kingdom to the Queen his mother, and earnestly recommended to her care his wife and children. He was like to be at war all the summer, and as soon as he departed, the Queen-mother sent her daughter-in-law and her children to a country-house among the woods, that she might with the more ease gratify her horrible longing. Some few days afterwards she went thither herself, and said to her clerk of the kitchen: "I have a mind to eat little Aurora for my dinner to morrow." "Ah! Madam," cried the clerk of the kitchen. "I will have it so," replied the Queen (and this she spake in the tone of an Ogress, who had a strong desire to eat fresh meat), "and will eat her with a Sauce Robert." This is a French sauce, made with onions shredded and boiled tender in butter, to which is added vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper, and a little wine. The poor man knowing very well that he must not play tricks with Ogresses, took his great knife and went up into little Aurora"s chamber. She was then four years old, and came up to him jumping and laughing, to take him about the neck, and ask him for some sugar-candy. Upon which he began to weep, the great knife fell out of his hand, and he went into the back-yard, and killed a little lamb, and dressed it with such good sauce, that his mistress assured him she had never eaten anything so good in her life. He had at the same time taken up little Aurora, and carried her to his wife, to conceal her in the lodging he had at the end of the court yard. About eight days afterwards, the wicked Queen said to the clerk of the kitchen: "I will sup upon little Day." He answered not a word, being resolved to cheat her, as he had done before. He went to find out little Day, and saw him with a little foil in his hand, with which he was fencing with a great monkey; the child being then only three years of age. He took him up in his arms, and carried him to his wife, that she might conceal him in her chamber along with his sister, and in the room of little Day cooked up a young kid very tender, which the Ogress found to be wonderfully good. This was hitherto all mighty well: but one evening this wicked Queen said to her clerk of the kitchen: "I will eat the Queen with the same sauce I had with her children." It was now that the poor clerk of the kitchen despaired of being able to deceive her. The young Queen was turned of twenty, not reckoning the hundred years she had been asleep: her skin was somewhat tough, tho" very fair and white; and how to find in the yard a beast so firm, was what puzzled him. He took then a resolution, that he might save his own life, to cut the Queen"s throat; and going up into her chamber, with intent to do it at once, he put himself into as great a fury as he could possibly, and came into the young Queen"s room with his dagger in his hand. He would not, however, surprise her, but told her, with a great deal of respect, the orders he had received from the Queen-mother. "Do it, do it," said she stretching out her neck, "execute your orders, and then I shall go and see my children, my poor children, whom I so much and so tenderly loved," for she thought them dead ever since they had been taken away without her knowledge. "No, no, Madam," cried the poor clerk of the kitchen, all in tears, "you shall not die, and yet you shall see your children again; but it must be in my lodgings, where I have concealed them, and I shall deceive the Queen once more, by giving her in your stead a young hind." Upon this he forthwith conducted her to his chamber; where leaving her to embrace her children, and cry along with them, he went and dressed a hind, which the Queen had for her supper, and devoured it with the same appetite, as if it had been the young Queen. Exceedingly was she delighted with her cruelty, and she had invented a story to tell the King, at his return, how ravenous wolves had eaten up the Queen his wife, and her two children. One evening, as she was, according to her custom, rambling round about the courts and yards of the palace, to see if she could smell any fresh meat, she heard, in a ground-room little Day crying, for his mamma was going to whip him, because he had been naughty; and she heard, at the same time, little Aurora begging pardon for her brother. The Ogress presently knew the voice of the Queen and her children, and being quite mad that she had been thus deceived, she commanded next morning, by break of day (with a most horrible voice, which made every body tremble) that they should bring into the middle of the great court a large tub, which she caused to be filled with toads, vipers, snakes, and all sorts of serpents, in order to have thrown into it the Queen and her children, the clerk of the kitchen, his wife and maid; all whom she had given orders should be brought thither with their hands tied behind them. They were brought out accordingly, and the executioners were just going to throw them into the tub, when the King (who was not so soon expected) entered the court on horse-back (for he came post) and asked, with the utmost astonishment, what was the meaning of that horrible spectacle? No one dared to tell him; when the Ogress, all inraged to see what had happened, threw herself head-foremost into the tub, and was instantly devoured by the ugly creatures she had ordered to be thrown into it for others. The King could not but be very sorry, for she was his mother; but he soon comforted himself with his beautiful wife, and his pretty children. The Moral To get as prize a husband rich and gay. Of humour sweet, with many years to stay, Is natural enough, "tis true; To wait for him a hundred years, And all that while asleep, appears A thing entirely new. Now at this time of day, Not one of all the sex we see Doth sleep with such profound tranquillity: But yet this Fable seems to let us know That very often Hymen"s blisses sweet, Altho" some tedious obstacles they meet, Are not less happy for approaching slow. "Tis nature"s way that ladies fair Should yearn conjugal joys to share; And so I"ve not the heart to preach A moral that"s beyond their reach.Русско-английский перевод СПЯЩАЯ КРАСАВИЦА
Еще значения слова и перевод СПЯЩАЯ КРАСАВИЦА с английского на русский язык в англо-русских словарях.
Что такое и перевод СПЯЩАЯ КРАСАВИЦА с русского на английский язык в русско-английских словарях.
More meanings of this word and English-Russian, Russian-English translations for СПЯЩАЯ КРАСАВИЦА in dictionaries.
- КРАСАВИЦА — Belle
- КРАСАВИЦА — Beauty
Русско-Американский Английский словарь - КРАСАВИЦА — beauty, beautiful woman*
- КРАСАВИЦА — beauty, beautiful woman
Русско-Английский словарь общей тематики - КРАСАВИЦА
Русско-Английский словарь - КРАСАВИЦА — ж. beauty, beautiful woman*
Russian-English Smirnitsky abbreviations dictionary - КРАСАВИЦА — жен. beauty, beautiful woman - писаная красавица
Русско-Английский краткий словарь по общей лексике - КРАСАВИЦА — Good looks
- КРАСАВИЦА — Glamour
Британский Русско-Английский словарь - КРАСАВИЦА — Glamor
Британский Русско-Английский словарь - КРАСАВИЦА — Beauty
Британский Русско-Английский словарь - КРАСАВИЦА — жен. beauty, beautiful woman писаная красавица beauty, beautiful woman
Большой Русско-Английский словарь - СПЯЩАЯ ДЕВУШКА — A Girl Asleep
Русско-Американский Английский словарь - БАЛЕТ
Русский словарь Colier - BEAUTY OF BATH — Батская красавица, "Красавица из Бата" (летний сорт яблок; плоды среднего размера, бледно-жёлтые с красноватым румянцем)
Англо-Русский словарь Britain - VENUS
- VENUS — I сущ.; миф. 1) Венера 2) перен. красавица II сущ.; астр. Венера; утренняя или вечерняя звезда (мифология) Венера красавица - …
Большой Англо-Русский словарь - SLEEPING BEAUTY
Большой Англо-Русский словарь - SLEEPING BEAUTY — (фольклор) Спящая Красавица
Большой Англо-Русский словарь - RESTING — отдыхающий; спящий (ботаника) находящийся в покое, спящий - * bud спящая почка; спящий глазок - * shoot спящий побег
Большой Англо-Русский словарь - QUITE — нареч. 1) а) вполне, совершенно quite sure ≈совершенно уверенный I am quite well. ≈ Я себя вполне хорошо чувствую. б) …
Большой Англо-Русский словарь - PERI — перс.; сущ. 1) миф. пери (первоначально - злой дух в персидской мифологии, впоследствии - добрая фея, добрый ангел) 2) красавица …
Большой Англо-Русский словарь - JUNO — сущ.; римск.; миф. Юнона; перен. величественная красавица (мифология) Юнона величественная красавица (астрономия) Юнона (третий астероид) > bird of *, *"s …
Большой Англо-Русский словарь - JUNO — сущ.; римск.; миф. Юнона; перен. величественная красавица (мифология) Юнона величественная красавица (астрономия) Юнона (третий астероид) > bird of *, *"s …
Большой Англо-Русский словарь - FAIR
Большой Англо-Русский словарь - ENCHANT — очаровать, обворожить; привести в восторг - " he was *ed by her beauty он был пленен ее красотой - she …
Большой Англо-Русский словарь - BELLE — сущ. красавица the belle of the ball ≈ царица бала Syn: beauty, beautiful woman красавица; - southern * (американизм) …
Большой Англо-Русский словарь - BEAUTY — сущ. 1) красота dazzling, raving, striking, wholesome beauty ≈ ослепительная красота bathing beauty ≈ русалка to enhance beauty ≈ совершенствовать …
Большой Англо-Русский словарь - THE SLEEPING BEAUTY — Спящая красавица
- THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOODS — Спящая красавица
Американский Англо-Русский словарь - THE SLEEPING BEAUTY BALLET — Спящая красавица
Американский Англо-Русский словарь - SLEEPING BEAUTY — Спящая красавица
Американский Англо-Русский словарь - A GIRL ASLEEP — Спящая девушка
Американский Англо-Русский словарь - СПЯЩИЙ — притворяться спящим — feign sleep спящая красавица — sleeping beauty
Англо-Русско-Английский словарь общей лексики - Сборник из лучших словарей - SLEEPING BEAUTY — фольк. Спящая Красавица
Англо-Русско-Английский словарь общей лексики - Сборник из лучших словарей - RESTING
Англо-Русско-Английский словарь общей лексики - Сборник из лучших словарей - ENCHANT — enchant.ogg ınʹtʃɑ:nt v 1. очаровать, обворожить; привести в восторг he was enchanted by her beauty - он был пленён её …
Англо-Русско-Английский словарь общей лексики - Сборник из лучших словарей - SLEEPING BEAUTY — фольк. Спящая Красавица
- RESTING — a 1. отдыхающий; спящий 2. бот. находящийся в покое, спящий ~ bud - спящая почка; спящий глазок ~ shoot - …
Новый большой Англо-Русский словарь - Апресян, Медникова - ENCHANT — v 1. очаровать, обворожить; привести в восторг he was ~ed by her beauty - он был пленён её красотой she …
Новый большой Англо-Русский словарь - Апресян, Медникова - SLEEPING BEAUTY — фольк. Спящая Красавица
- RESTING — a 1. отдыхающий; спящий 2. бот. находящийся в покое, спящий resting bud - спящая почка; спящий глазок resting shoot - …
Большой новый Англо-Русский словарь - ENCHANT — v 1. очаровать, обворожить; привести в восторг he was enchanted by her beauty - он был пленён её красотой she …
Большой новый Англо-Русский словарь - WARMING-PAN — сущ. 1) грелка (металлическая с углями, для согревания постели) 2) разг. временный заместитель 3) сл. женщина, спящая с …
Англо-Русский словарь по общей лексике - WARMING-PAN — сущ. 1) грелка (металлическая с углями, для согревания постели) 2) разг. временный заместитель 3) сл. женщина, спящая с кем-л. в одной постели 4) сл. …
Англо-Русский словарь общей лексики - RESTING BUD
- INACTIVE BUD — - latent bud спящая почка, покоящаяся почка
Новый Англо-Русский словарь по биологии - DORMANT BUD — спящая почка, покоящаяся почка
Новый Англо-Русский словарь по биологии - ASLEEP BUD — спящая почка, покоящаяся почка
Новый Англо-Русский словарь по биологии - RESTING BUD — спящая почка, покоящаяся почка
Новый Англо-Русский биологический словарь
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Once upon a time there was a King and a Queen who had all the luxury as that money could buy. But their most treasure possession of all was their beautiful baby daughter. In fact they were so proud of her that they invited all the fairies in the kingdom to her christening. It wasn’t every day that the fairies had a chance to get to such a grand occasion, so they made a most of it and made up the beautiful party dresses especially for it.
The christening was such a happy and colourful occasion. The little Princess slept quietly in her cradle and didn’t make a sound.
“I’ve never seen such a beautiful little baby,” said the queen of the fairies.
When the Queen and the King heard this, it made their hearts swell with pride.
“Thank you all so much for coming here,” said the King and then he led them all to the great banqueting hall for a fabulous feast in honour of his little Princess.
The fairies have just picked up their nice forks and they were about to start eating when they heard a terrible high pitched wailing sound coming from the end of the hall: “Stop!”
They looked towards the grand staircase and saw an ugly old fairy storming down the stairs. She had a long pointed nose and was wearing an enormous black satin cloak.
“Stop!” The old fairy looked straight at the Queen and said: “How can you have a party without inviting me? I am the oldest and the wisest fairy in the land!”
The poor Queen was rather frightened of her but didn’t know what to say.
“Leave it to me,” the King whispered.
“Oh, look! I am terribly sorry with offended you but you are welcome to join in this celebrations,” he said in his kindest sweetest voice.
“All right, I’ll stay if you insist, “ said the ugly fairy. But she still was not happy. “I’ll get my own back on my pair for forgetting to invite me!” she muttered to herself.
The wicked old fairy certainly took advantage of the King’s hospitality. She powered up her plate that they could hardly see her face behind a tall mount of food on it.
The banquet lasted a long time because all the guests had to wait for the old fairy to finish eating. At last, when she did her final mouthful, everybody left the table and came up to stare gifts for the Princess.
Great beauty, a kind heart and a wonderful singing voice - were just a few of the gifts given to the lovely Princess. When it came the old fairy’s turn, she lent over the cradle and said: “You will prick your hand with a spindle and die of the wound.”
All the other fairies gasped at these terrible words. Then Christine, who was the youngest fairy, stepped forward:
“I can’t change the awful spell but I can alter it. You will indeed prick your finger but you will not die. Instead, you will fall into a deep sleep that will last for a hundred years until a handsome prince awakens you.
That night when all the guests had left, the King ordered that all the spinning wheels with the spindles in his Kingdom should be burnt. So his servants went on collecting all the spindle wheels in the land and burnt on a big bomb firing in the palace garden. All his subjects were sad to see spindle wheels going up in smoke but they didn’t complain. They knew this had to be done for the sake of the little Princess.
“I feel so much happier now when all the spindles left our kingdom,” said the King to his wife.
“You are very wise to be so careful,” said the Queen. “But what about our poor subjects? Many of them rely on their spinning means to only living.”
“Don’t worry! I’ve given a bag of gold to everybody who had burnt his spinning wheel,” said the King.
And these kind words made the Queen very happy.
Many happy years passed. And the Princess grew up to be all the King and the Queen had hoped for: beautiful, clever and very kind. But one day the King and the Queen went on a royal tour and left the Princess to look after the palace. She felt very lonely without her mother and father. So she wandered around the palace looking for somebody to talk to. The only person she could find was an old woman who lived at the top of the palace.
The old woman was very glad to see her as she was feeling very lonely too.
“Do come into, here!” said the old woman. “I’ve just baked a cake. Please, take a slice and let me make you a cup of tea to go with it.”
“That will be lonely!” said the Princess.
And when the old woman within the kitchen making the tea, the Princess noticed a spinning wheel in the corner of the room.
“What a strange machine?” asked the Princess.
“It’s a spinning wheel,” said the old woman in reply. “I’ll just put this thread down and now show you how it works.
The old woman hadn’t heard about the King’s ban all these years ago and she didn’t think of making any harm in showing the Princess how to spin. So the old woman sat down at the wheel and started spinning. The Princess watched her with eager eyes.
“I’d love to do it myself,” she said.
But no sooner had she started spinning when she pricked her hand on a needle and fainted.
“Help! Help! The Princess has fainted!” cried the old woman.
Servants came running from all corners of the palace. One servant threw a bucket of water over her while another held a jag of smelling salt under her nose. But nobody could make the Princess wake up.
“Fetch the royal doctor!” shouted the head servant.
And one of the young servants ran to tell him about the sleeping Princess. When the doctor arrived, he tried all sorts of things to wake her up. He even put an ear trumpet to her ear and shouted into it. But she still wouldn’t wake up.
Later that day the Queen and the King came back from their royal tour. They were very shocked when they found their beautiful daughter in the old woman’s room in such a deep sleep that she couldn’t wake up.
“You are a stupid old woman,” cried the King. “Didn’t you know that all spinning wheels were banned in my kingdom many years ago? You deserved to go to prison for this.”
The poor old woman couldn’t understand what she had done wrong.
“I’ve lived alone and haven’t seen your servants for many years, Your Majesty. And no one told me about a wicked spell,” was her reply.
“Don’t be too hard to the old woman,” said the Queen. “She is not to be blamed for our poor daughter’s fate.”
“Yes, you are right,” said the King. “It’s not her fault! Come and let’s take our daughter down and make her as comfortable as we can.”
The good fairy Christine who had been at the christening soon found out about the Princess and she rushed over to the King and Queen’s palace in a golden chariot. She was a very clever fairy because she realized that if the Princess woke up in a hundred years time and found herself alone she would be very frightened. So the fairy waved a magic wand and put all the servants in the palace, and the King and the Queen, to sleep as well.
In just a few minutes a large number of thorny bushes and trees within intertwining branches grew up around the palace and it became impossible for anyone to get through.
A hundred years have passed while the ingested castle slept.
Then one day a handsome young Prince rode by. He noticed the towers of the palace sticking out above the bushes and being a curious lad, he got off his horse and stabbed a better look.
The young Prince saw a man riding by on a horse and shouted out to him:
“Do you know who lives in these towers over there?”
“You’ll find witches and ghosts living there,” replied the man and he rode off.
The Prince didn’t take his answer very seriously, so he decided to ask a farmer who was walking by the same question. The farmer told him:
“Many years ago a beautiful young princess lived here with the King and Queen, and as it is said that she was put under the spell that would make her sleep for a hundred years. I was told that she would only wake up when the most handsome prince in the land would kiss her. When he heard this, the Prince was so fascinated by this story that he rushed straight over through to the tangle woods and tried to cut his way through with his sward as he thought. But there was no need for him to do this because every time he moved forward, the trees made a pass to let him pass through. When he entered the palace courtyard, he was amazed by what he saw. All the servants were asleep, some had even fallen asleep standing up.
The Prince called out: “Hello? Anybody there?”
But there was no reply. All the palace was absolutely quiet except for the occasional sound of snoring.
He walked past all the servants thinking he might wake them up, but none of them did. He even tickled the couple of them but there was no response.
Next he came up to the palace guard: they were all lying up in front of the grand staircase with muskets on their shoulders, but even they were fast asleep. Even though the Prince was a little nervous if just walking past, so he went very close to the ear of the sergeant in charge and shouted as loud as he could: “Wake up!” But the sergeant just snored a little louder. So the Prince carried on up the marble staircase. He kept on walking until he came to the grandest room in the palace. In the middle of this room was a magnificent four-poster bed with all the curtains drone back.
Lying on the bed was the most beautiful girl that the Prince had ever seen. She was dressed in a magnificent gown, but like everyone else in the palace she was fast asleep.
The Prince realized that this must be the Princess and she had been sleeping for a hundred years.
“Hello,” he whispered. “I am the Prince who has come to break your spell.”
And he kneeled the bed and kissed the Princess very gently. This was the very
moment at which the wicked fairy spell was broken, and the Princess awoke. As she saw the Prince nearly at her bedside, she looked straight into his deep blue eyes and said:
“I’ve waited for a long time for you, my Prince.”
The Prince was charmed by these words and he quickly told the Princess that he had loved her as soon as he first saw her. At the very same moment as the Princess had been woken up, everyone else in the palace had also been woken up from a deep sleep: the King and the Queen, all the servants, the palace guard and courtiers started busily about their business. They were all delighted because they saw their beautiful young Princess had woken from her hundred years’ sleep. And it was clear that she was very happy with the handsome Prince. But those of them who were not in love were very hungry indeed.
So a huge celebration banquet was prepared, and they all sat down in the grand hall to a hearty meal including the happy young Prince and Princess.
While they were eating this grand meal, all the thorny bushes and trees with intertwining branches that had surrounded the palace for a hundred years disappeared.
The Prince took the beautiful Princess home to his palace and introduced her to his parents, the king and the queen. They were very happy that the two were deeply in love. And the very next day the handsome Prince and the beautiful Princess were married at a grand ceremony. After the wedding ceremony everybody waved good-bye to the Prince and Princess as they set off to the far away land for their honeymoon.
Grammar Practice
Review the grammar material on the following items:
1.Present and Past Simple
2.Present and Past Perfect
3.Passive Voice
4.Gerund
Vocabulary Practice
Pre-Reading Exercises
Study the vocabulary and clear up difficulties using a dictionary if necessary:
to be proud of
to make a sound
to make a dress
a fabulous feast in honour of somebody
to look at somebody
to be frightened of something or somebody
to get one’s back on somebody for something
to pick one’s hand with a spindle
to change a spell
to rely on somebody
to hope for something
to look after somebody
to faint
to deserve
to be hard to somebody
to be blamed for one’s fate
to wave a magic wand
trees with intertwining branches
to stick out
to tickle
to snore
to be charmed by
a hearty meal
a subject
a fairy
a spinning wheel
Reading Practice
Speaking Practice
After-Reading Exercises
Vocabulary Practice
Find the English equivalents of the Russian ones looking through the text
наполнить сердце гордостью
сказочный пир в честь кого-нибудь
наполнить тарелку
снять заклятие
быть уверенным
надеяться на что-то / кого-то
делать что-то ради спасения кого-то
быть очарованным
храпеть
быть суровым
заслуживать чего-либо
деревья с переплетенными ветвями
уколоть руку веретеном
прялка
быть напуганным
щедрое угощение
ждать кого-нибудь
медовый месяц
изменить заклятие
потерять сознание
Translate the following English phrases into Russian
to invite to Christening
to make one’s heart swell with pride
to make most of something
to change a spell
to break a spell
to do something for the sake of somebody
to rely on something
to take advantage of something
to wave a magic wand
to be fascinated by something
to be charmed by
to stick out
to prick one’s hand with a spindle
to be hard to somebody
to be blamed for something
a honeymoon
intertwining branches
a hearty meal
Reading Comprehension
Answer the following questions
1.The King and Queen were proud of their beautiful baby daughter, weren’t they?
2.Whom did the King and Queen invite to their daughter’s christening?
3.The christening was a happy and colourful occasion, wasn’t it?
4.Did the King lead the fairies to the great banqueting hall for a fabulous feast in honour of his little Princess?
5.What did they all hear when they were about to start eating?
6.The King and Queen forgot to invite the wicked old fairy, didn’t they?
7.What was the wicked old fairy’s gift for the Princess?
8.How did the youngest Fairy alter the horrible spell?
9.The King ordered to burn all the spinning wheels in the kingdom.
10.What did the Princess notice in the corner of the old woman’s room one day?
11.What happened to the Princess when she started spinning?
12.Who made everybody in the palace sleep for a hundred years?
13.Who awoke the Princess from her long sleeping?
14.Where did the Prince and Princess go after the wedding ceremony?
Choose the proper alternative to complete the following sentences according to the text:
1.The King and Queen were very happy and proud of their beloved __________.
a)treasures
b)baby daughter
c)kingdom
2.The fairies had a chance to get to such a grand ______, so they made most of it.
a)occasion
b)palace
c)feast
3.The Queen was frightened of __________.
a)the King
b)the wicked old fairy
c)Christine
4.As soon as the Princess started ____________ she fainted.
a)spinning
b)reading a magic book
c)writing a letter to Christine
5.The ____________ waved a magic wand and put everybody in the palace to sleep.
a)Princess
b)Christine
c)wicked old fairy
6. The ingested castle had slept until ___________ broke the spell.
a)a good fairy
b)a farmer
c)a young and handsome Prince
Agree or disagree with the following statements according to the text. Correct the wrong ones:
1.The King and Queen loved their beautiful daughter most of all their treasures.
2.The Christening was a very happy and colourful occasion.
3.All the fairies of the kingdom were invited to the fabulous feast.
4.Nobody could alter the horrible spell.
5.When a girl the Princess could see a lot of spinning wheels around her.
6.The Princess could spin very well.
7.Three hundred years has passed when the Princess fell into a long sleep.
8.After the wedding ceremony the Princess slept again.
Language Focus
Translate the following sentences into English
1.Гости были напуганы приходом старой злобной ведьмы.
2.Родители делали все возможное ради спасения своей дочери.
3.Добрая фея взмахнула волшебной палочкой и заклятие было снято.
4.Не будьте слишком суровы к своим детям.
5.Как только девушка дотронулась до прялки, она уколола палец и потеряла сознание.
6.Все были приглашены на сказочный пир в честь свадебного торжества.
7.Вокруг дворца росли высокие деревья с переплетенными ветвями.
8.Гости были очарованы красотой девушки.
9.Его сердце было переполнено гордостью за свою красавицу жену.
10.После свадебной церемонии они отправились в путешествие.
Listening Comprehension
Listen to a passage from the tape and do the following:
1.Describe a scene.
2.Act out a play in characters.
Discuss or debate the following:
1.A danger foreseen is half avoided.
2.What must be, must be.
3.No flying from fate.
4.You can’t please everyone.
5.Love makes the world go round.
6.Of two evils choose the less one.
Ж
или на свете король с королевой. У них не было детей, и это их так огорчало, что и сказать нельзя. Уж каких только обетов они не давали, ездили и на богомолье, и на целебные воды - все было напрасно.
И вот наконец, когда король с королевой потеряли всякую надежду, у них вдруг родилась дочка.
Можете себе представить, что за праздник устроили в честь ее рождения! В гости к маленькой принцессе позвали всех фей, каких удалось найти в стране. Дело в том, что у фей в те времена был прекрасный обычай: наделять своих крестниц различными чудесными дарами. А так как фей оказалось семь, то принцесса должна была получить от них в приданое не меньше семи достоинств или добродетелей.
Феи и другие приглашенные съехались в королевский дворец, где для почетных гостей был накрыт праздничный стол.
Перед феями поставили великолепные обеденные приборы и по ящичку из литого золота. В каждом ящичке лежали ложка, вилка и ножик - тоже из чистого золота самой тонкой работы, усыпанные алмазами и рубинами. И вот, когда гости уселись за стол, дверь вдруг отворилась, и вошла старая фея - восьмая по счету, - которую забыли позвать на крестины.
А забыли ее позвать потому, что больше пятидесяти лет она не выходила из своей башни и все думали, что она давно умерла.
Король приказал, чтобы ей тоже подали прибор. Слуги исполнили это в одно мгновение, но золотого ящичка с ложкой, вилкой и ножиком на ее долю не хватило. Этих ящичков было приготовлено только семь - по одному для каждой из семи фей.
Старая фея, разумеется, очень обиделась. Она подумала, что король с королевой невежливые люди и встречают ее без должного уважения. Отодвинув от себя тарелку и кубок, она пробормотала сквозь зубы какую-то угрозу.
К счастью, юная фея, которая сидела рядом с ней, услышала ее бормотание, и, опасаясь, как бы старуха не вздумала наделить маленькую принцессу каким-нибудь очень неприятным подарком, она, чуть только гости встали из-за стола, пробралась в детскую и спряталась там за пологом кроватки. Она знала, что в споре обычно побеждает тот, за кем остается последнее слово, и хотела, чтоб ее пожелание было последним.
Когда кончился обед, наступила самая торжественная минута праздника: феи пошли в детскую и одна за другой стали преподносить крестнице свои дары.
Младшая из фей пожелала, чтобы принцесса была прекраснee всех на свете. Другая фея наградила ее нежным и добрым сердцем. Третья сказала, что каждое ее движение будет вызывать восторг. Четвертая обещала, что принцесса будет превосходно танцевать, пятая - что она будет петь, как соловей, а шестая - что она будет играть на всех музыкальных инструментах с одинаковым искусством.
Наконец очередь дошла до старой феи. Старуха наклонилась над кроваткой и, тряся головой больше от досады, чем от старости, сказала, что принцесса уколет себе руку веретеном и от этого умрет.
Все так и вздрогнули, узнав, какой страшный подарок припасла для маленькой принцессы злая колдунья. Никто не мог удержаться от слез.
И вот тут-то юная фея появилась из-за полога и громко сказала:
Утешьтесь, король и королева! Ваша дочь останется жива. Правда, я не так сильна, чтобы сказанное сделать несказанным. Принцесса должна будет, как это ни грустно, уколоть себе руку веретеном, но от этого она не умрет, а только заснет глубоким сном и будет спать ровно сто лет - до тех пор, пока ее не разбудит прекрасный принц.
Это обещание немного успокоило короля с королевой.
Однако король решил все же попытаться уберечь принцессу от несчастья, которое предсказала ей старая злая фея. Для этого особым указом он запретил всем своим подданным под страхом смертной казни прясть пряжу и хранить у себя в доме веретена и прялки.
Прошло пятнадцать или шестнадцать лет. Как-то раз король с королевой и дочерью отправились в один из своих загородных дворцов.
Принцессе захотелось осмотреть древний замок, и, бегая из комнаты в комнату, она наконец добралась до самого верха дворцовой башни.
Там в тесной каморке под крышей сидела за прялкой какая-то старушка и преспокойно пряла пряжу. Как это ни странно, она ни от кого ни слова не слыхала о королевском запрете.
Что это вы делаете, тетушка? - спросила принцесса, которая в жизни не видывала прялки.
Пряду пряжу, дитя мое, - ответила старушка, вовсе и не догадываясь о том, что говорит с принцессой.
Ах, это очень красиво! - сказала принцесса. - Дайте я попробую, выйдет ли у меня так же хорошо, как у вас.
Принцесса быстро схватила веретено и не успела прикоснуться к нему, как предсказание феи исполнилось: она уколола палец и упала замертво.
Перепуганная старушка принялась звать на помощь. Люди сбежались со всех сторон.
Чего только они не делали: брызгали принцессе в лицо водой, хлопали ладонями по ее ладоням, терли виски душистым уксусом королевы венгерской-ничего не помогало.
Побежали за королем. Он поднялся в башню, поглядел на принцессу и сразу понял, что печальное событие, которого они с королевой так опасались, свершилось.
С грустью приказал он перенести принцессу в самую красивую залу дворца и уложить там на постель, украшенную серебряным и золотым шитьем.
Трудно описать словами, как хороша была спящая принцесса. Она нисколько не побледнела. Щеки у нее были розовые, а губы красные, точно кораллы. И хоть глаза у нее были плотно закрыты, слышно было, что она тихонько дышит.
Стало быть, это и в самом деле был сон, а не смерть.
Король приказал не тревожить принцессу до тех пор, пока не наступит час ее пробуждения.
А добрая фея, которая спасла свою крестницу от смерти, пожелав ей столетнего сна, была в то время очень далеко от королевского замка.
Но она сразу же узнала об этом несчастье от маленького карлика-скорохода, у которого были семимильные сапоги (это такие чудесные сапоги, что стоит их надеть - и вы за один шаг будете проходить по семи миль),
Фея сейчас же пустилась в путь. Не прошло и часу, как ее огненная колесница, запряженная драконами, уже появилась возле королевского дворца. Король подал ей руку и помог сойти с колесницы.
Фея, как могла, постаралась утешить короля и королеву. А затем, так как это была очень предусмотрительная фея, она сразу же подумала, как грустно будет принцессе, когда через сто лет бедняжка проснется в этом старом замке и не увидит возле себя ни одного знакомого лица.
Чтобы этого не случилось, фея сделала вот что.
Своей волшебной палочкой она прикоснулась ко всем, кто был во дворце (кроме короля и королевы). А там были придворные, фрейлины, гувернантки, горничные, дворецкие, повара, поварята, скороходы, солдаты дворцовой стражи, привратники, пажи и лакеи.
Дотронулась она своей палочкой и до лошадей на королевской конюшне, и до конюхов, которые расчесывали лошадям хвосты. Дотронулась до больших дворцовых псов и до маленькой кудрявой собачки, по прозвищу Пуфф, которая лежала у ног спящей принцессы.
И сейчас же все, кого коснулась волшебная палочка феи, заснули. Заснули ровно на сто лет, чтобы проснуться вместе со своей хозяйкой и служить ей, как служили прежде. Заснули даже куропатки и фазаны, которые поджаривались на огне. Заснул вертел, на котором они вертелись. Заснул огонь, который их поджаривал.
И все это случилось в одно-единое мгновение. Феи знают свое дело: взмах палочки - и готово!
После этого король с королевой поцеловали свою спящую дочку, простились с ней и тихо вышли из залы.
Возвратившись к себе в столицу, они издали указ о том, чтобы никто не смел приближаться к заколдованному замку.
Но этого можно было бы и не делать, потому что в какие-нибудь четверть часа вокруг замка выросло столько деревьев, больших и маленьких, столько колючего кустарника - терновника и шиповника, - и все это так тесно переплелось ветвями, что ни человек, ни зверь не мог бы пробраться сквозь такую чащу.
И только издали, да еще с горы, можно было увидеть верхушки башен старого замка.
Все это фея сделала для того, чтобы ничье любопытство не потревожило покоя милой принцессы.
Прошло сто лет. Много королей и королев сменилось за эти годы.
И вот в один прекрасный день сын короля, который царствовал в то время, отправился на охоту.
Вдалеке, над густым дремучим лесом, он увидел башни какого-то замка.
Чей это замок? - спросил он. - Кто там живет?
Каждый отвечал ему то, что сам слышал от других. Одни говорили, что это старые развалины, в которых живут привидения, другие уверяли, что все ведьмы в округе справляют в заброшенном замке свой шабаш. Но большинство сходилось на том, что старый замок принадлежит людоеду. Этот людоед будто бы ловит заблудившихся детей и уносит к себе в башню, чтобы съесть без помехи, так как никто не может проникнуть вслед за ним в его логовище - ведь только он один на свете знает дорогу сквозь заколдованный лес.
Принц не знал, кому и верить, но тут к нему подошел старый крестьянин и сказал, кланяясь:
Добрый принц, полвека тому назад, когда я был так же молод, как вы, я слыхал от моего отца, что в этом замке спит непробудным сном самая прекрасная принцесса на свете и что спать она будет еще полвека, до тех пор, пока ее суженый, сын какого-то короля, не придет и не разбудит ее.
Можете себе представить, что почувствовал принц, когда он услышал эти слова!
Сердце у него в груди так и загорелось. Он сразу решил, что ему-то и выпало на долю счастье - пробудить от сна прекрасную принцессу!
Недолго думая принц дернул поводья и поскакал в ту сторону, где виднелись башни старого замка, куда влекли его любовь и слава.
И вот перед ним заколдованный лес. Принц соскочил с коня, и сейчас же высокие, толстые деревья, колючий кустарник, заросли шиповника - все расступилось, чтобы дать ему дорогу. Словно по длинной прямой аллее, пошел он к замку, который виднелся вдали.
Принц шел один. Никому из его свиты не удалось последовать за ним - деревья, пропустив принца, сразу же сомкнулись за его спиной, а кусты опять переплелись ветвями.
Такое чудо могло испугать кого угодно, но принц был молод и влюблен, а этого довольно для того, чтобы быть храбрым.
Еще сотня шагов - и он очутился на просторном дворе перед замком. Принц посмотрел направо, налево, и кровь похолодела у него в жилах. Вокруг него лежали, сидели, стояли, прислонившись к стене, какие-то люди в старинной одежде. Все они были неподвижны, как мертвые.
Но, вглядевшись в красные, лоснящиеся лица привратников, он понял, что они вовсе не умерли, а просто спят. В руках у них были кубки, а в кубках еще не высохло вино, и это ясно показывало, что внезапный сон застиг их в ту минуту, когда они собирались осушить чаши до дна.
Принц миновал большой двор, вымощенный мраморными плитами, поднялся по лестнице, вошел в залу дворцовой стражи. Латники спали стоя, выстроившись в ряд, с карабинами на плечах, и храпели вовсю.
Он прошел множество покоев, полных разодетыми придворными дамами и нарядными кавалерами. Все они тоже крепко спали, кто стоя, кто сидя.
И вот наконец он вошел в комнату с золочеными стенами и золоченым потолком. Вошел и остановился.
На постели, полог которой был откинут, покоилась прекрасная юная принцесса лет пятнадцати-шестнадцати (если не считать того столетия, которое она проспала).
Принц невольно закрыл глаза: красота ее так сияла, что даже золото вокруг нее казалось тусклым и бледным. Дрожа от восторга, он приблизился и опустился перед ней на колени.
В это самое мгновение час, назначенный доброй феей, пробил.
Принцесса проснулась, открыла глаза и взглянула на своего избавителя.
Ах, это вы, принц? - сказала она.- Наконец-то! Долго же вы заставили себя ждать!..
Не успела она договорить эти слова, как все кругом пробудилось.
Заржали в конюшне лошади, заворковали голуби под крышей. Огонь в печи загудел что было мочи, и фазаны, которых поварята не успели дожарить сто лет тому назад, зарумянились в одну минуту.
Слуги под присмотром дворецкого уже накрывали на стол в зеркальной столовой. А придворные дамы в ожидании завтрака поправляли растрепавшиеся за сто лет локоны и улыбались своим заспанным кавалерам.
В зале дворцовой стражи латники снова занялись своим обычным делом - затопали ботфортами и загремели оружием.
А привратники, сидевшие у входа во дворец, наконец осушили кубки и опять наполнили их добрым винцом, которое за сто лет стало, конечно, старше и лучше.
Весь замок - от флага на башне до винного погреба - ожил и зашумел.
А принц и принцесса ничего не слышали. Они глядели друг на друга и не могли наглядеться. Принцесса позабыла, что ничего не ела уже целый век, да и принц не вспоминал о том, что у него с утра не было во рту маковой росинки. Они разговаривали целых четыре часа и не успели сказать даже половины того, что хотели.
Но все остальные не были влюблены и поэтому умирали от голода.
Наконец старшая фрейлина, которой хотелось есть так же сильно, как и всем другим, не вытерпела и доложила принцессе, что завтрак подан.
Принц подал руку своей невесте и повел ее в столовую.
Принцесса была великолепно одета и с удовольствием поглядывала на себя в зеркала, а влюбленный принц, разумеется, ни слова не сказал ей о том, что фасон ее платья вышел из моды, по крайней мере, сто лет назад и что такие рукава и воротники не носят со времен его прапрабабушки.
Впрочем, и в старомодном платье она была лучше всех на свете.
Жених, с невестой уселись за стол. Самые знатные кавалеры подавали им различные кушанья старинной кухни. А скрипки и гобои играли для них прелестные, давно забытые песни прошлого века.
Придворный поэт тут же сочинил новую, хотя немного старомодную песенку о прекрасной принцессе, которая сто лет проспала в заколдованном лесу. Песня очень понравилась тем, кто ее слышал, и с тех пор ее стали петь все от мала до велика, от поварят до королей.
А кто не умел петь песни, тот рассказывал сказку. Сказка эта переходила из уст в уста и дошла наконец до нас с вами.
Sleeping Beauty
I
n times past there lived a king and queen, who said to each other every day of their lives, “Would that we had a child!” and yet they had none. But it happened once that when the queen was bathing, there came a frog out of the water, and he squatted on the ground, and said to her, “Thy wish shall be fulfilled; before a year has gone by, thou shalt bring a daughter into the world.”And as the frog foretold, so it happened; and the queen bore a daughter so beautiful that the king could not contain himself for joy, and he ordained a great feast. Not only did he bid to it his relations, friends, and acquaintances, but also the wise women, that they might be kind and favourable to the child. There were thirteen of them in his kingdom, but as he had only provided twelve golden plates for them to eat from, one of them had to be left out.
However, the feast was celebrated with all splendour; and as it drew to an end, the wise women stood forward to present to the child their wonderful gifts: one bestowed virtue, one beauty, a third riches, and so on, whatever there is in the world to wish for. And when eleven of them had said their say, in came the uninvited thirteenth, burning to revenge herself, and without greeting or respect, she cried with a loud voice, “In the fifteenth year of her age the princess shall prick herself with a spindle and shall fall down dead.” And without speaking one more word she turned away and left the hall. Every one was terrified at her saying, when the twelfth came forward, for she had not yet bestowed her gift, and though she could not do away with the evil prophecy, yet she could soften it, so she said, “The princess shall not die, but fall into a deep sleep for a hundred years.”
Now the king, being desirous of saving his child even from this misfortune, gave commandment that all the spindles in his kingdom should be burnt up. The maiden grew up, adorned with all the gifts of the wise women; and she was so lovely, modest, sweet, and kind and clever, that no one who saw her could help loving her. It happened one day, she being already fifteen years old, that the king and queen rode abroad, and the maiden was left behind alone in the castle. She wandered about into all the nooks and corners, and into all the chambers and parlours, as the fancy took her, till at last she came to an old tower. She climbed the narrow winding stair which led to a little door, with a rusty key sticking out of the lock; she turned the key, and the door opened, and there in the little room sat an old woman with a spindle, diligently spinning her flax.
“Good day, mother,” said the princess, “what are you doing?” “I am spinning,” answered the old woman, nodding her head. “What thing is that that twists round so briskly ?”asked the maiden, and taking the spindle into her hand she began to spin; but no sooner had she touched it than the evil prophecy was fulfilled, and she pricked her finger with it. In that very moment she fell back upon the bed that stood there, and lay in a deep sleep.
And this sleep fell upon the whole castle; the king and queen, who had returned and were in the great hall, fell fast asleep, and with them the whole court. The horses in their stalls, the dogs in the yard, the pigeons on the roof, the flies on the wall, the very fire that flickered on the hearth, became still, and slept like the rest; and the meat on the spit ceased roasting, and the cook, who was going to pull the scullion"s hair for some mistake he had made, let him go, and went to sleep. And the wind ceased, and not a leaf fell from the trees about the castle. Then round about that place there grew a hedge of thorns thicker every year, until at last the whole castle was hidden from view, and nothing of it could be seen but the vane on the roof.
And a rumour went abroad in all that country of the beautiful sleeping Rosamond, for so was the princess called; and from time to time many kings" sons came and tried to force their way through the hedge; but it was impossible for them to do so, for the thorns held fast together like strong hands, and the young men were caught by them, and not being able to get free, there died a lamentable death.
Many a long year afterwards there came a king"s son into that country, and heard an old man tell how there should be a castle standing behind the hedge of thorns, and that there a beautiful enchanted princess named Rosamond had slept for a hundred years, and with her the king and queen, and the whole court. The old man had been told by his grandfather that many king"s sons had sought to pass the thorn-hedge, but had been caught and pierced by the thorns, and had died a miserable death. Then said the young man, “Nevertheless, I do not fear to try; I shall win through and see the lovely Rosamond.” The good old man tried to dissuade him, but he would not listen to his words. For now the hundred years were at an end, and the day had come when Rosamond should be awakened. When the prince drew near the hedge of thorns, it was changed into a hedge of beautiful large flowers, which parted and bent aside to let him pass, and then closed behind him in a thick hedge. When he reached the castle-yard, he saw the horses and brindled hunting-dogs lying asleep, and on the roof the pigeons were sitting with their heads under their wings. And when he came indoors, the flies on the wall were asleep, the cook in the kitchen had his hand uplifted to strike the scullion, and the kitchen-maid had the black fowl on her lap ready to pluck.
Then he mounted higher, and saw in the hall the whole court lying asleep, and above them, on their thrones, slept the king and the queen. And still he went farther, and all was so quiet that he could hear his own breathing; and at last he came to the tower, and went up the winding stair, and opened the door of the little room where Rosamond lay. And when he saw her looking so lovely in her sleep, he could not turn away his eyes; and presently he stooped and kissed her.
And she awaked, and opened her eyes, and looked very kindly on him. And she rose, and they went forth together, and the king and the queen and whole court waked up, and gazed on each other with great eyes of wonderment. And the horses in the yard got up and shook themselves, the hounds sprang up and wagged their tails, the pigeons on the roof drew their heads from under their wings, looked round, and flew into the field, the flies on the wall crept on a little farther, the kitchen fire leapt up and blazed, and cooked the meat, the joint on the spit began to roast, the cook gave the scullion such a box on the ear that he roared out, and the maid went on plucking the fowl.
Then the wedding of the Prince and Rosamond was held with all splendour, and they lived very happily together until their lives" end.
