Текст пісні
The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood
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 her 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 tables
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 enchanted
The king ordered her a cover
But could not furnish her with a case of gold
As the others, because they had only seven 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 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 meanwhile, 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 everything 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 everybody
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 entirely 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 everybody 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 the 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?' asked the princess
'I am spinning, my pretty child,' said the
Old woman, who did not know who she was
'Ah,' 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 a 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 everything
He had done, but as she had a very great foresight, 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 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 wake 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 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 the park such a vast number of trees, great and small
Bushes and brambles twining within one another, that neither
Man nor beast could pass through, 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 all the little children he could catch, that he
Might eat them up at his leisure without anybody's being able to
Follow him, as having himself only
The power to pass through the wood
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 awakened 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
Through. 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 passed through 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 showed 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, showed plainly that they
Fell asleep at their cups. Then he 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 enchantment 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 show 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, although
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 meanwhile all the palace awaked; every one thought upon their
Particular business; and as all of them were not in love that 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-grandmother, 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, though 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 had 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 laid out three or
Four nights together, she no longer doubted that 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 even take his pleasure
But he never dared to trust her with his secret. He feared her
Though 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
Ogrish 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 Cantalabut
His neighbour. He left the government of the kingdom to the
Queen his mother, and earnestly recommended to her to take 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 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 tomorrow."
"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 we'll eat her with her sauce Robert."
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 backyard 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 courtyard
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 mightily well, but one evening this
Wicked queen said to her clerk of the kitchen, "I will eat
The young 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
Though 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 to 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 a 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!" she said, 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 she was 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 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 young 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 horseback
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 enraged
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