00:34What you are about to see are stories from Bangladesh and Italy, which will remind you of the familiar story
00:40of Sleeping Beauty.
00:41Each tale involves a beautiful princess cursed to fall into a death-like sleep, from which only a kiss can
00:48awaken her.
00:53Once upon a time, there was a young prince of India who set out to have a great adventure.
01:01He was gone for many years and saw many wonderful things.
01:06He climbed the highest mountain and swam a mighty river.
01:12But when he tried to cross a burning desert, he became hopelessly lost.
01:18He wandered in the desert for days.
01:22Then, just as he was about to give up hope, he saw before him a magnificent palace.
01:30The prince hurried to the gates of the palace and was about to enter, when suddenly, a demon appeared and
01:39barred his way.
01:40In its hand, the demon held a golden staff.
01:46The prince was too tired and thirsty to be frightened by a demon.
01:51The prince so scared the demon that the demon dropped the golden staff and disappeared.
01:59When the prince touched the golden staff, his strength returned, and he no longer felt hungry or thirsty.
02:09As soon as the prince stepped through the gate, he knew that the palace was under an evil spell.
02:15All the people and all the animals were frozen into stone statues, even the Maharaja, sitting on his throne, surrounded
02:27by his royal court.
02:29Now, at the center of the palace was a tower.
02:33And high in the tower, the prince found a princess lying on a bed of golden lotuses.
02:42Even in stone, she was beautiful.
02:45So beautiful, that the prince fell in love with her.
02:49Then, he remembered the golden staff.
02:52Quickly, he touched the princess and brought her back to life.
02:57And when the prince kissed her, the whole palace awoke.
03:03The desert changed into a rich, green forest, and flowers bloomed everywhere.
03:11The Maharaja was so happy to see his daughter again,
03:14that he held a great banquet to honor the young prince of India.
03:19During the banquet, he told the prince what had happened.
03:23Many years ago, a demon touched my daughter with a golden staff and cast an evil spell upon this kingdom.
03:32But you, brave prince, by your courage and your love, have broken that spell and returned us to life.
03:42All hail the hero who saved our kingdom!
03:48Then, the Maharaja gave the prince his daughter's hand in marriage.
03:53But there was no rejoicing in the land of the prince.
03:57The whole kingdom was in ruins.
04:00He had been gone so long that his parents thought he was dead.
04:03His mother, the queen, had become sick with grief.
04:07His father, the king, nearly blind from weeping.
04:11But then, one day, the long-lost prince returned with his new bride.
04:17The king and queen rushed to embrace their son.
04:21When he saw how they had grieved for him, the prince took out the golden staff.
04:26He touched his father, and instantly the king regained his sight.
04:31Then he touched his mother, and the queen regained her health.
04:36Sickness and sadness had been banished from the prince's kingdom.
04:39And everyone lived happier and healthier ever after.
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