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A large hedge of thorns soon grew round the palace, and every

year it became higher and thicker; till at last the old palace

was surrounded and hidden, so that not even the roof or the

chimneys could be seen. But there went a report through all the

land of the beautiful sleeping Briar Rose (for so the king's

daughter was called): so that, from time to time, several kings'

sons came, and tried to break through the thicket into the

palace. This, however, none of them could ever do; for the thorns

and bushes laid hold of them, as it were with hands; and there

they stuck fast, and died wretchedly.