The Rescue of the Princess Winsome | Page 3

ease your royal fear.
Queen
Now if thou bringst them back to us, A thousand blessings on thy head.
King
Ay, half my kingdom shall be thine. The Princess Winsome thou shalt wed.
Queen
But tell us, how dost thou think to cope With the Ogre so dread and grim? What is the charm that bids thee hope Thou canst rout and vanquish him?
Knight
My faithful heart is my only charm, But my good broadsword is keen, And love for the princess nerves my arm With the strength of ten, I ween. Come weal, come woe, no knight can fail Who goes at Love's behest. Long ere one moon shall wax and wane, I shall be back from my quest. I have only to find the South Wind's flute. In the Land of Summer it lies. It can awaken the echoes mute, With answering replies. And it can summon the fairy folk Who never have said me nay. They'll come to my aid at the flute's clear call. Love always can find a way.
King
Go, Feal the Faithful. It is well! Successful mayst thou be, And all the way that thou dost ride, Our blessings follow thee.
[Curtain.

ACT II.
SCENE. _Room in Ogre's tower. Princess Winsome kneeling with arm around Dog's neck._
Princess
Art thou my brother? Can it be That thou hast taken such shape? Oh turn those sad eyes not on me! There must be some escape. And yet our parents think us dead. No doubt they weep this very hour, For no one ever has escaped, Ere this, the Ogre's power. Oh cruel fate! We can but die! Each moment seems a week. Is there no hope? Oh, Hero dear, If thou couldst only speak! But no! Within this tower room We're captive, and despair Must settle on us. 'Tis the doom Of all dragged up yon winding stair.
[_Drops her head and weeps. Enter Godmother, who waves wand and throwing back curtain, displays a spinning-wheel._
Godmother
Rise, Princess Winsome, Dry your weeping eyes. The way of escape Within your own hand lies.
Waste no time in sorrow, Spin and sing instead. Spin for thy brother's sake, A skein of golden thread.
Question not the future, Mourn not the past, But keep thy wheel a-turning, Spinning well and fast.
All the world helps gladly Those who help themselves, And the thread thou spinnest, Shall be woven by elves.
All good things shall speed thee! Thy knight, the Faithful Feal, Is to thy rescue riding. Up! To thy spinning-wheel!
[Disappears behind curtain.
Princess
All good things shall speed me? Sir Knight, the Faithful Feal, Is to my rescue riding?
[In joyful surprise.
Turn, turn, my spinning-wheel!
(She sings.)

Spinning Wheel Song
[Illustration: Spinning Wheel Song]
1. My godmother bids me spin, that my heart may not be sad. Spin and sing for my brother's sake, and the spinning makes me glad.
2. Spin, sing with humming whir, the wheel goes round and round. For my brother's sake, the charm I'll break, Prince Hero shall be found.
Spin, sing, the golden thread, Gleams in the sun's bright ray, The humming wheel my grief can heal, For love will find a way.
[Pauses with uplifted hand.
What's that at my casement tapping? Some messenger, maybe. Pause, good wheel, in thy turning, While I look out and see.
[_Opens casement and leans out, as if welcoming a carrier dove, which may be concealed in basket outside window._
Little white dove, from my faithful knight, Dost thou bring a message to me? Little white dove with the white, white breast, What may that message be?
[Finds note, tied to wing.
Here is his letter. Ah, well-a-day! I'll open it now, and read. Little carrier dove, with fluttering heart, I'm a happy maiden, indeed. (She reads.) "O Princess fair, in the Ogre's tower, In the far-off Summer-land I seek the South Wind's silver flute, To summon a fairy band. Now send me a token by the dove That thou hast read my note. Send me the little heart of gold From the chain about thy throat. And I shall bind it upon my shield, My talisman there to stay. And then all foes to me must yield, For Love will find the way.
Here is set the hand and seal Of thy own true knight, the faithful--Feal."
[Princess takes locket from throat and winds chain around dove's neck.
Princess sings

The Dove Song
[Illustration: The Dove Song]
Now, flutter and fly, flutter and fly, Bear him my heart of gold, Bid him be brave little carrier dove! Bid him be brave and bold!
Tell him that I at my spinning wheel, Will sing while it turns and hums, And think all day of his love so leal, Until with the flute he comes.
Now fly, flutter and fly, Now flutter and fly away, away.
[Sets dove at liberty. Turning to wheel again, repeats song.
Princess repeats
My Godmother bids me spin, That my heart may not be sad; Spin and sing for my brother's sake, And the spinning makes me