The Rescue of the Princess Winsome | Page 5

Reel Out Thy Golden Thread"
[Illustration: Spin, Wheel, Reel Out Thy Golden Thread]
Spin, wheel, reel out thy golden thread, My happy heart sings glad and gay,... Hero shall 'scape the Ogre dread, And I my own true love shall wed, For love has found a way, For love has found a way.
[Curtain.

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
[Illustration: 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