The fairy tale in its original form was probably suggested by the changing seasons. In Winter the earth, the fairy princess, begins her long sleep. In the Springtime comes the sun, the fairy prince, and at the touch of his kiss the earth awakes to new life and beauty. From the poem as here given, _The Prologue_, _L’Envoi_ and _The Epilogue_ are omitted. In _The Prologue_ the poet tells his companion, Lady Flora, that the sight of her beauty as she lay asleep had called to his mind an image of The Sleeping Beauty, and that in his “day dream” he had recalled the old legend. And so as she works at her embroidery he bids her listen to the story. _L’Envoi_ and _The Epilogue_, written also in a light and fanciful vein, contain the poet’s comments on the story. 1. =blade and sheaf.= Spring and Autumn, seed time and harvest. 3. =Here.= In the Sleeping Palace, in contrast with the outside world. 9. =range.= Rows. 10. =terrace-lawn.= The sloping lawn built up in the form of terraces. 11-2. The fountain is not flowing, but the water has withdrawn, or drawn back, to the garden lake from which it used to flow. 13. =droops.= The predicate also for the _fires_, _peacock_ and _parrot_. 15. =laurel bower.= His retreat among the laurel bushes (evergreens). 16. =wires.= Cage. 18. =these, those.= Both the eggs and the birds. 22-3. The real things in and around the Sleeping Palace seem more like a picture than even the portraits on the walls. 34. =Oriel.= An ornamental projecting window. 40. Judging from his appearance and his surroundings. 43. =woodbine.= Any climbing plant such as clematis or honeysuckle, which binds, or twines around, the wood. 50. For these sleeping people. 51-2. When they wake to think once more, they will learn new things and will see things in a truer light and will be moved to act accordingly. THE SLEEPING BEAUTY. 61. =tranced.= See _Enoch Arden_, line 793, and note. 71-2. Her beauty never changes, and the silent chamber seems to be filled with love, and the day seems to be brighter because of her beauty. 76. =charmed.= Under a spell. THE ARRIVAL. 81-4. It seems as if when precious things have remained long hidden, they come forth of their own accord to greet those who seek them; for when Fate has decreed that some hidden work shall be revealed, Love follows up the decree and makes the discovery. =in sequel.= Following. 86. =on the rocks.= Against the dull rocks. 90. =to pass.= To penetrate the hedge. 91. =close.= Enclosure, applied here to the hedge. 92. =blanching.= Whitening. 101-4. During all his past life a magic voice seemed to whisper to him that he would be fortunate. 106-7. =The Magic Music.= The sound of his heartbeats is spoken of as music which helped to tell him, as if by magic, that he was near the sleeping princess. THE REVIVAL. 129. =these.= These noises. 137. =Pardy.= Fr. _par-dieu_, a form of oath.