Well, and so the years went on, and on, and on, until a hundred years
had passed, and the palace and the story of it were all but forgotten.
And it happened that a King's son from a neighboring country came
hunting that way with his men, and horses, and dogs. And in the
excitement of the chase he rode on and on until he became separated
from his servants and attendants, and found himself in a part of the
country where he had never been before. In vain he tried to retrace
his steps; he only seemed to wander farther away in the wrong
direction.
Presently he came to a woodcutter's cottage, and dismounted to ask his
way. An old, old man lived in this hut, and after he had directed the
Prince as to the best way back, the young man pointed to a thick wood
ahead, and asked what lay beyond it. Then the old man told him that
there was a legend that beyond the wood was an enchanted palace where
a beautiful Princess had lain sleeping for a hundred years, and whom a
Prince was to awaken with a kiss.
Directly the Prince Florimond heard this, nothing would serve but he
must go there and see for himself if the tale were true. So he rode
and he rode until he came to the edge of the wood, and there he got
off his horse and began to push his way through the thorny thicket.
Pages:
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211