The poppies grew until they reached the top of the castle, and every one who went near to look for the king fell under the spell of their strange power until the people around gave it up and the strange man became king; he built a new castle and the old one was forgotten.
All went well with the new king until a young man called at his castle and asked him about the old king, and the servants told him how the strange flowers had grown around the castle and no one could go near, and that every one thought that the old king was dead.
The new king, when he heard that the stranger was asking for the old king, had him driven from the castle.
"Tell your master," said the stranger to the servants, "that he will hear from me again."
The stranger went into the woods, where there lived an old witch, and at midnight they came out and went to the castle among the strange flowers.
The witch held her hands high over her head and waved them up and down, saying all the time:
"Poppy, poppy, sleepy flower,
Now I have you in my power.
I would have you shorter grow
Until the sleeping one you show."
Down came the tall flowers and bushes until the young man cried out, "Here he is," and then the flowers ceased to grow small. The witch knelt beside the sleeping king and whispered in his ear:
"Awake, good king, 'tis break of day,
And drive the false king far away."
The king opened his eyes and looked at the witch and the young man beside her. "What has happened?" he asked.