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_ ACT III
SCENE. In front of Witch's Orchard. Knight comes riding by, blows flute
softly under the tower window. Princess leans out and waves her hand.
Knight dismounts, and little page takes horse, leading it off stage.
Knight.
Lean out of thy window, O Princess fair,
Rescuers now are at hand.
Thou shalt be led down the winding stair
By the Queen of the Fairy band.
Listen, as low on the South Wind's flute
I call the elves to our tryst.
Down rainbow bubbles they softly float,
Light-winged as stars in a mist.
[He blows a flute, and from every direction the Fairies come floating
in, their gauzy wings spangled, and each one carrying a toy balloon,
attached to a string. They trip back and forth, their balloons bobbing
up and down like rainbow bubbles, singing.]
Fairy Chorus.
We come, we come at thy call,
On rainbow bubbles we float.
We fairies, one and all,
Have answer'd the wind flute's note.
1. The south wind's silver flute,
From the far-off summer land,
It bade us hasten here,
To lend a helping hand.
It bade us hasten, hasten here,
To lend a helping hand.
2. To the aid of the gallant knight,
To the help of the princess fair,
To the rescue of the prince,
We come to the Ogre's lair.
To the rescue of the prince,
We come to the Ogre's lair.
3. And now, at thy behest,
We pause in our bright array,
To end thy weary quest,
For love has found a way,
To end thy weary, weary quest,
For love has found a way.
[Queen Titania coming forward, waves her star-tipped-wand,
and looks up toward Princess at the window.]
Titania.
Princess Winsome,
When thy good Godmother
Bade thee spin Love's thread,
It was with this promise,
These the words she said:
All the world helps gladly
Those who help themselves.
The thread thou spinnest bravely,
Shall be woven by elves.
And now, O Princess Winsome,
How much hast thou spun,
As thy wheel, a-whirling,
Turned from sun to sun?
Princess.
This, O Queen Titania.
[Holding up mammoth ball.]
To the humming wheel's refrain,
I sang, and spun the measure
Of one great golden skein.
And winding, winding, winding,
At last I wound it all,
Until the thread all golden
Made a mammoth wonder-ball.
Titania.
Here below thy casement
Thy true knight waiting stands.
Drop the ball thou holdest
Into his faithful hands.
[Princess drops the ball, Knight catches it, and as Titania waves her wand, he starts along the line of Fairies. They each take hold as the Witch and Ogre come darting in, she brandishing her broomstick, he his bludgeon. They come through gate of the Orchard in the background. As the ball unwinds, the Fairies march around them, tangling them in the yards and yards of narrow yellow ribbon, singing as they go.
Fairy Chorus.
We come, we come at thy call,
On rainbow bubbles we float.
We fairies, one and all,
Have answered the Wind-flute's note.
To the aid of the gallant Knight,
To the help of the Princess fair,
To the rescue of the Prince,
We come to the Ogre's lair.
We come, we come at thy call,
The Witch and Ogre to quell,
And now they both must bow
To the might of the fairies' spell.
Love's Golden Thread can bind
The strongest Ogre's arm,
And the spell of the blackest Witch
Must yield to its mighty charm.
[Ogre and Witch stand bound and helpless, tangled in golden cord.
They glower around with frightful grimaces. King and Queen enter
unnoticed from side. Knight draws his sword, and brandishing it before
Ogre, cries out fiercely.]
Knight.
The Key! The key that opens yonder tower!
Now give it me, or by my troth
Your head shall from your shoulders fly!
To stab you through I'm nothing loath!
[Ogre gives Knight the key. He rushes to the door, unlocks it, and
Princess and dog burst out. Queen rushes forward and embraces her, then
the King, and Knight kneels and kisses her hand. Princess turns to
Titania.]
Princess.
Oh, happy day that sets me free
From yon dread Ogre's prison!
Oh, happy world, since 'tis for me
Such rescuers have 'risen.
But see, your Majesty! the plight
Of Hero--he the Prince, my brother!
Wilt thou his wrong not set aright?
Another favour grant! One other!
[Titania waves wand toward Knight who springs at Witch
with drawn sword.]
Knight.
The spell! The spell that breaks the power
That holds Prince Hero in its thrall!
Now give it me, or in this hour
Thy head shall from its shoulders fall!
Witch.
Pluck with your thumbs
Seven silver plums
[Speaking in high, cracked voice.]
From my golden apple-tree!
These the dog must eat.
The change will be complete,
And a prince once more the dog will be!
[Princess darts back into orchard, followed by dog, who crouches behind hedge, and is seen no more. She picks plums, and, stooping, gives them to him, under cover of the hedge. The real Prince Hero leaps up from the place where he has been lying, waiting, and hand in hand they run back to the centre of the stage, where the Prince receives the embraces of King and Queen. Prince then turns to Knight.]
Prince Hero.
Hail, Feal the Faithful!
My gratitude I cannot tell,
That thou at last hast freed me
From the Witch's fearful spell.
But wheresoe'er thou goest,
Thou faithful knight and true,
The favours of my kingdom
Shall all be showered on you.
[Turns to Titania.]
Hail, starry-winged Titania!
And ye fairies, rainbow-hued!
I have not words sufficient
To tell my gratitude,
But if the loyal service
Of a mortal ye should need,
Prince Hero lives to serve you,
No matter what the deed!
[Characters now group themselves in tableau. Queen and Prince on one side. Godmother and Titania on the other. King in centre, with Princess on one hand, Knight on other. He places her hand in the Knight's, who kneels to receive it. Ogre and Witch, still making horrible faces, are slightly in background, bound. Fairies form an outer semi-circle.]
King.
And now, brave Knight, requited stand!
Here is the Princess Winsome's hand.
To-morrow thou shalt wedded be,
And half my kingdom is for thee!
Fairy Chorus.
Love's golden cord has bound
The strongest Ogre's arm,
And the spell of the blackest Witch
Has yielded to its charm.
The Princess Winsome plights
Her troth to the Knight to-day,
So fairies, one and all,
We need no longer stay.
The golden thread is spun,
The Knight has won his bride,
And now our task is done,
We may no longer bide.
On rainbow bubbles bright,
We fairies float away.
The wrong is now set right
And Love has found the way!
[Curtain.]
[THE END]
Annie F. Johnston's play: Rescue of the Princess Winsome: A Fairy Play for Old and Young
_
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