A hedge of thorns at once began to grow around the palace.
The hedge became thicker and higher as the days went by, until at last it was so tall that not even the palace towers could be seen.
The story of the princess, the beautiful Thorn Rose, was told far and wide.
At last a hundred years had passed. Prince Courageous was traveling through the land. He heard from an old man the story of the thorn hedge, and of the princess who lay in the palace behind the hedge, fast asleep.
The old man told the prince that the time had come when the long enchantment was at an end.
"But who knows how great the danger may be?" added the old man. "No one has entered the palace for a hundred years!"
"I will brave the danger, whatever it may be!" exclaimed Prince Courageous. "I will find the sleeping princess or lose my life!"
So Prince Courageous mounted his horse and rode through the woods until he came to the tall thorn hedge. He made his way through the underbrush.
The briers were thick and the thorns sharp, but Prince Courageous was strong and brave.
He knocked at the gate, but there was no answer. The prince opened the gate and entered the courtyard.