Pagina 63 di 626

Now that very day the hundred years were ended; and as the prince

came to the thicket he saw nothing but beautiful flowering

shrubs, through which he went with ease, and they shut in after

him as thick as ever. Then he came at last to the palace, and

there in the court lay the dogs asleep; and the horses were

standing in the stables; and on the roof sat the pigeons fast

asleep, with their heads under their wings. And when he came into

the palace, the flies were sleeping on the walls; the spit was

standing still; the butler had the jug of ale at his lips, going

to drink a draught; the maid sat with a fowl in her lap ready to

be plucked; and the cook in the kitchen was still holding up her

hand, as if she was going to beat the boy.