xt7t7659d74x https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7t7659d74x/data/mets.xml Johnston, Annie F. (Annie Fellows), 1863-1931. 1908 books b92-239-31299737 English L.C. Page, : Boston : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Rescue of the Princess Winsome : a fairy tale for old and young / by Annie Fellows Johnston. text Rescue of the Princess Winsome : a fairy tale for old and young / by Annie Fellows Johnston. 1908 2002 true xt7t7659d74x section xt7t7659d74x
The RESCUE
of the
PRINCESS
YINISO ME
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I
The
IRES
CUE
OF THE
PR IN CESS
WINS 0 ME
Af FAIRY PLAY
FOR
AND YOUNG
BY
ANNIE FELLOWVS
JOHNSTON
A uthor of " The Li/tte Colonel Series," " Big-
Brother," "Joel: A Boy of Galilee,"
" Ia the Desert of Iffai/tig," etc.
MUSIC BY
ALBION
FELLOWS
BOSTON
L. C. 'PA.1GE
COM'PAN7Y
1908
OLD
BACON
Copyrigzht, 1902
BY L. C. PAGE COMPANY
(INCORPORATED)
Copyr ight, 1908
BY L. C. PAGE COMPANY
(INCORPORATED)
All rights reserved
First Impression, August, i9o8
COLONIAL PRESS
Electrotyfed and Printed by C. H. Simonds Co.
Boston, U. S. A.
If,
r
d
I
9
I
PUBLISHERS' NOTE
THE Princess Winsome, the part taken by
:the " Little Colonel " in the play called " The
Rescue of Princess Winsome " in " The Little
Colonel's Hero," has shared the popularity of:
:the creator of the role.
Appealing to children because of its associa-
tion with their favorite heroine, and to their
:parents because of its high moral tone and the
beauty of its lines, the play has found great
favor among children's clubs for their private
theatricals, in many cases rivalling the success
of the " Little Colonel " and her friends in
obtaining funds for charitable purposes.
In response to repeated requests, the pub-
lishers are glad to present the play in separate
form, making it more easily accessible to
young amateur actors and actresses.
X B
a0
Om
I
F
10
RESCUE OF THE
PRINCESS
CHARACTERS
WINSOME "
ORIGINAL CAST
King.
Queen
Prince Hiero.
PRINCESS XWINSOM
Knight .
Ogre
Witch
Godmother
Frog-eye
Fearsom
Titania .
Bewitched Prince
Rob Moore.
Allison Walton.
Keith MacIntyre.
E Lloyd Sherman.
Malcolm MacIntyre.
Joe Clark.
Kitty Walton.
Elizabeth Loyd Lewis.
e Ranald Walton.
Elise Walton.
HERO, THE RED CROSS DOG
Chorus of Fairies.
Flower Messengers
Morning-glory.
Pansy.
Rose.
Forget-me-not.
Poppy.
, Daisy.
2
" THE
OF THE
PRINCESS
WINSOME "
ACT I.
SCENE I. In the
Witch's
Orchard.
Frog-eye Fearsome drags the captive
Prince and Princess to the Ogre's towsver.
At Ogre's command
Witch brews spell
to change Prince Hero into a dog.
SCENE II. In front of Witch's
Orchard.
their loss.
promises
King
and Queen bews ail
The Godmother of Princess
aid.
The Knight starts in
quest of the South Wind's silver flute
with which to summon the Fairies to his
help.
ACT II.
SCENE I. In t.
CESS WINSOME
he Tower Room.
and HERO. God-
mother brings spinning-wheel on which
3
PRIN-
11 THE
RESCUE
PRINCESS WINSOME
Princess is to spin Love's golden thread
that shall rescue her brother. Dove
comes with letter from Knight. Flower
messengers in turn report his progress.
Counting the Daisy's petals the Princess
learns that her true Knight has found
the flute.
ACT III.
SCENE I. In Witch's Orchard.
Knight returns from quest. Blows the
flute and summons Titania and her
train. They bind the Ogre and Witch
in the golden thread the Princess spun.
Knight demands the spell that binds the
Prince and plucks the seven golden
plums from the silver apple-tree. Prince
becomes a prince again, and King gives
the Knight the hand of the Princess and
half of his Kingdom. Chorus of Fairies.
4
" THE RESCUE OF THE
PRINCESS WINSOME"
ACT I.
SCENE I. Witch bends over fire in middle of orchard,
brewing a charm in her caldron. Ogre stalks
in, grinning frightfully, swinging his bludgeon
in triumph.
Ogre
Ha, old witch, it is done at last !
I have broken the King's stronghold!
I have stolen away his children twain
From the clutch of their guardsmen bold.
I have dragged them here to my castle
tower.
Prince Hero is strong and fair.
5
"T THE RESCUE OF THE
But he and his sister shall rue my power,
When once up yon winding stair.
Witch
Now why didst thou plot such a wicked
thing
The children no harm have done.
Ogre
But I have a grudge 'gainst their father,
the King,
A grudge that is old as the sun.
And hark ye, old hag, I must have thy
aid
6
PRINCESS WINSOME"
Before the new moon be risen.
Now brew me a charm in thy caldron
black,
That shall keep them fast in their prison !
TWitch
I'll brew thee no charm, thou
Ogre
dread !
Knowest thou not full well
The Princess thou hast stolen away
Is guarded by Fairy spell
Her godmother over her cradle bent.
0 0 Princess Winsome," she said,
7
"T THE RESCUE OF THE
" I give thee this gift: thou shalt deftly
spin,
As thou wishest, Love's golden thread."
So I dare not brew thee a spell 'gainst
her.
Mly caldron would grow acold
And never again would bubble up,
If touched by her thread of gold.
Ogre
Then give
me a charm to bind the
pnnce.
Thou canst do that much at least.
8
PRINCESS WINSOME"
I'll give thee more gold than hands can
hold,
If thou'lt change him into some beast.
Witch
I have need of gold-so on the fire
I'll pile my fagots higher and higher,
And in the bubbling water stir
This hank of hair, this patch of fur
This feather and this flapping fin,
This claw, this bone, this dried snake
skin!
Bubble and boil
And snake skin coil,
9
" THE RESCUE OF THE
This charm shall all plans
But the Ogre's foil.
[As Wlitch stirs and sings, the Ogre, stalking
to the side, calls.
Ogre
Ho, Frog-eye Fearsome, let the sport be-
gin!
Hence to the tower!
Drag the captives
in !
[Frog-eye Fearsome drags Prince Hero and
Princess Winsome across the stage, and into
the door leading up the tower stair. They
are bound by ropes. Prince tries to reach his
sword. Princess shrieks.
I0
PRINCESS WINSOME"
Princess
Oh, save us, good, wise witch,
In pity, save us, pray.
The King, our royal father,
Thy goodness will repay.
[Pulls back, wringing hand.
Oh, I cannot, cannot mount the tower!
Oh, save us from the bloody Ogre's
power v
[They are dragged into the tower, door bangs
and Ogre locks it with key a yard long. Goes
back to Witch, who bands him vial filled
from caldron with black mixture.
II
",THE RESCUE OF THE
Witch
Pour drop by drop upon Prince Hero's
tongue.
First he will bark.
His hands and
feet
Will turn to paws, and he will seem a
dog.
Seven drops will make the change com-
plete.
The poison has no antidote save one,
And he a prince again can never be,
Unless seven silver plums he eats,
Plucked from my golden apple-tree.
12
WINSSOME "
Ogre
Revenge is sweet,
And soon 'twill be complete!
Then to my den I'll haste for gold to
delve.
I'll bring it at the black, bleak hour of
twelve!
Witch
And I upon my broomstick now must fly
To woodland tryst. Come, Horned Owl1
And Venomed Toad !
Now play the spy!
Let no one through my orchard prowl.
[Exit Witcb and Ogre to dirge music.
'3
PRINCESS
RESCUE
SCENE II.
Enter King and Queen weeping.
pace up and down, wringing hands, and show-
ing great signs of g ief.
Godmother enters
from opposite side. King speaks.
King
Good dame, Godmother of our daughter
dear,
Perhaps thou'st heard our tale of woe.
Our children twain are stolen away
By Ogre Grim, mine ancient foe.
All up and down the land we've sought
For help to break into his tower.
And now, our searching all for nought,
\Ve've come to beg the Witch's power.
I4
They
tt Ip LY
-1 -"E
0 F THE
C WINSOME)"
[Godmother springs forward, finger to lip, and
anxiously waves them away from orchard.
Godmother
Nay! Nay! fYour Majesty, go not
Within that orchard, now I pray!
The Witch and Ogre are in league.
They've wrought you fearful harm this
day.
She brewed
a draught to change
prince
Into a dog !
Oh, woe is me!
I passed the tower and heard him bark:
Alack! That I must tell it thee !
I5
the
PRINCESS
" THE RESCUE OF THE
[Queen shrieks and falls back in the King's
arms, then recovering falls to wailing.
Queen
My noble son a dog. A beast
It cannot, must not, shall not be !
I'll brave the Ogre in his den,
And plead upon my bended knee!
Godmother
Thou couldst not touch his heart of stone.
He'd keep thee captive in his lair.
The Princess Winsome can alone
Remove the cause of thy despair.
And I unto the tower will climb,
PWINSSOME "
And ere is gone the sunset's red,
Shall bid her spin a counter charm
A skein of Love's own Golden Thread.
Take heart, 0 mother Queen!
Be brave!
Take heart, 0 gracious King, I pray!
Well can she spin Love's Golden Thread,
And Love can always find a way !
[Exit Godmother.
Queen
She's gone, good dame.
But what if she
Has made mistake, and thread of gold
Is not enough to draw our son
From out the Ogre's cruel hold
I 7
PRINCES
" THE RESCUE OF THE
Canst think of nought, your Majesty
Of nothing else Must we stand here
And po-werless lift no hand to speed
The rescue of our children dear
[King clasps band to his bead in thought, then
starts forward.
King
I have it now ! This hour I'll send
Swift heralds through my wide domains,
To say the knight who rescues them
Shall wed the Princess for his pains.
Queen
Quick! Let us fly! I hear the sound of
feet,
PRINCESS WINSOME "
As if some horseman were approaching
nigher.
'Twould not be seemly should he meet
Our royal selves so near the XVitch's fire.
[They start to run, but are met by Knight on
horseback in centre of stage.
He dismounts
and drops to one knee.
King
Tis Feal the Faithful! Rise, Sir Knight,
And tell us what thou doest here !
Knight
O Sire, I know your children's plight.
I go to ease your royal fear.
I9
RESCUE
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
20
c 49 THE
OF THE
PRINCESS WINSOME"
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.
2 I
",,THE RESCUE OF THE
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.
22
WINSOME "
ACT II.
SCENE. Room in Ogre's tower. Princess lThn-
some kneeling with arm around Dog's neck.
Princess
A rt 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.
23
PRINCESS
OF THE
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
MNust settle on us.
'Tis the doom
Of all dragged up yon winding stair.
[Drops her bead and weeps. Enter Godmother,
who waves wand and throwing back curtain,
displays a spinning-wheel.
Godmlother
Rise, Princess Winsome,
Dry your weeping eyes.
24
,,,THE
RESCUE
PRINCESS WINSOME"
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,
25
"TTHE RESCUE OF THE
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.)
26
PRINCESS WINSOME"
S-nning
Wheel Song
71-I -__1
- l __
27
"THE
RESCUE
OF THE
Spinning Wheel Song (Continued)
bids me spin,that my heart may not be
A d _ __ _ __ _ --_
sad. Spin and sing for my
24 Lo
F
28
I
WINSOME" )
Spinning Wheel Song (Continued)
p ! - 4 -_--
brother's sake,and the spinning makes me glad.
Ji
_ Spin, s _ h h i.
izz -. L j z _ _ frI
2.Sisn wi-th umn wrthed whe goerun
29
PRINCESS
OF THE
Spinning Wheel Song (Continued)
Andante.
and rounad.For my broth- er's sake, the
I t -
___ __ iziiz_
slower.
charm I'll breakPrince Hero shall be found.
.IT
30
RESCUE
gc I-P TIT
-1 -"E
M' -ml- -
--- _,if:
PRINCESS WINSOME"'
Spinning
TWheel Song
(Conutinu ed)
dolee
Spin,sing, the golden thread,Gleams in the sun's bright
g __ RLZZZ _
pi
4=-i_
3'
" THE RESCUE OF THE
Spinning Wheel Song (Continued)
ray, The hum-ming wheel my
We
grief can heal, For love will find a way.
n4 i
d -- - -v- t [ -06.-
-t o
32
(.0 -
PRINCESS WINSOME"'
[Pauses with uplifted band.
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
33
"THE RESCUE OF THE
[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.) " 0 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
34
PRINCESS WINSOME"'
From the chain about thy throat.
And I shall bind it upon my shield,
Mly 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 ncckc.
Princess sings
35
RESCUE
The Dove Song
A, ndante
Bearhimmyheartofg Bid a be
Bear him my heart of gold, Bid him be
36
'c 6 THE
OF THE
PRINCESS WINSOME"
The Dove Song
(Continued)
Irv F.,t- tl, ca-rrdv I Bi h im be brv I n
4zI. L . .
nip Andantino
Tell him that I
at Ray
l -- -,--
.
--!- -- L -j - - ---q - -- 0 --- _ -
do- __ - - jo--do--4 --
-St- do --0-
-- I
4.
37
tj I i
I i
-- e7.11
-1 -0-9
--: -e-
RESCUE
The Dove Song
(Continued)
38
IC 6 THE
0 F THE
PC WINSOME "
The Dove Song (ContiIted)
39
PRINCESS
" THE
RESCUE
OF THE
The Dove Song (Continued)
[Sets dove at liberty. Turning to wheel again,
repeats song.
Princess repeats
My Godmother bids me spin,
That my heart may not be sad;
40
--l.........
ff N i
T-
09
I
PRINCESS WINSOME)"
Spin and sing for my brother's sake,
And the spinning makes me glad.
Sing! Spin! With hum and whir
The wheel goes round and round.
For my brother's sake the charm I'll
break!
Prince Hero shall be found.
Spin! Singu!
The golden thread
Gleams in the sunlight's ray!
The humming wheel my grief can heal,
For Love will find a way.
[First messenger appears at window, dressed as
a Morning-glory.
4I
"1THE RESCUE OF THE
Morning-glory
Fair Princess,
This morning, when the early dawn
WVas flushing all the sky,
Beside the trellis where I bloomed,
A knight rode slowly by.
He stopped and plucked me from my
stem,
And said, " Sweet Miorning-glory,
Be thou my messenger to-day,
And carry back my story.
42
PRINCESS WINSOME"
" Go bid the Princess in the tower
Forget all thought of sorrow.
Her true knight will return to her
With joy, on some glad morrow."
[Disappears.
Princess sings
Spin! spin !
The golden thread
Holds no thought of sorrow.
My true knight he shall come to
me
With joy on some glad morrow.
[Second flower messenoer, dressed as Pansy,
appears at window.
43
" THE RESCUE OF THE
Pansy
Gracious Princess,
I come from Feal the Faithful.
He plucked me from my bower,
And said, speed to the Princess
And say, " Like this sweet flower
The thoughts within my bosom
Bloom ever, love, of thee.
Oh, read the pansy's message,
And give a thought to me."
[Pansy disappears.
44
PRINCESS WINSOME"
Princess sings
Spin, spin, 0 golden thread!
And turn, 0 humming wheel.
This pansy is his thought of me,
My true knight, brave and leal.
[Third flower messenger, a pink Rose.
Rose
true knight
battled for thee
to-day,
On a fierce and bloody field,
But he won at last in the hot affray,
By the heart of gdld on his shield.
45
Thy
" THE RESCUE OF THE
He saw me blushing beside a wall,
Mfy petals pink in the sun
With pleasure, because such a valiant
knight
The hard-fought battle had won.
And he kissed me once on my soft pink
cheek,
And once in my heart of gold,
And bade me hasten to thee and speak.
Pray take the message I hold.
[Princess goes to the window, takes a pink rose
from the messenger. As she walks back,
kisses it and fastens it on her dress. Then
turns to wheel again.
46
PRINCESS WINSOME "
Princess sings
Spin, spin, 0 golden thread,
And turn, 0 happy wheel.
The pink rose brought in its heart of gold
A kiss, his love to seal.
[Fourth messenger, a Forget-me-not.
Forget-me-not
Fair Princess,
Down by the brook, when the sun was
low,
A brave knight paused to slake
His thirst in the water's silver flow,
As he journeyed far for thy sake.
47
"tTHE RESCUE OF THE
He saw me bending above the stream,
And he said, " Oh, happy spot!
Ye show me the Princess Winsome's eyes
In each blue forget-me-not."
He bade me bring you my name to hide
In your heart of hearts for ever,
And say as long as its blooms are blue,
No power true hearts can sever.
Princess sings
Spin, spin, 0 golden thread.
O wheel, my happy lot
It is to hide within my heart
That name, forget-me-not.
[Fifth messenger, a Poppy.
48
PRINCESS WINSOME "
Poppy
Dear Princess Winsome,
Within the shade of a forest glade
He laid him down to sleep,
And I, the Poppy, kept faithful guard
That it might be sweet and deep.
But oft in his dreams he stirred and
spoke,
And thy name was on his tongue,
And I learned his secret ere he woke,
When the fair new day was young.
And this is what he, whispering, said,
As he journeyed on in his way:
49
"THE RESCUE OF
" Bear her my dreams in your chalice
red,
For I dream of her night and day."
Princess sings
Spin, spin, 0 golden thread.
He dreams of me night and day!
The poppy's chalice is sweet and red.
Oh, Love will find a way!
[Sixth messenger, a Daisy.
Daisy
0 Princess fair,
Far on the edge of the Summer-land
I stood with my face to the sun,
50
TIHE
WINSOME)"
And the brave knight
counted
strong hand
iMy petals, one by one.
And he said,
" 0 Daisy,
white and
gold,
The princess must count them too.
By thy petals shall she be told
If my long, far quest is through.
" Whether or not her knight has found
The South Wind's flute that he sought."
So over the hills from the Summer-land,
Your true knight's token
I've brought.
5 I
with
PRINCESS
" ATHE RESCUE OF THE
[Gives Princess a large artificial daisy. Sbe .
counts petals, slowly dropping them one by I
one.
Princess
Far on the edge of the Summer-land,
o Daisy, white and gold,
M\y true love held you in his hand.
What was the word he told
He's found it. Found it not.
Found it. Found it not.
That magic flute of the South Wind,
sweet,
Will he blow it, over the lea
52
PRINCESS WINSOME"
Will the fairy folk its call repeat,
And hasten to rescue me
He's found it, found it not.
Found it, found it not.
Found it, found it not.
He's found it !
(Turning to the dog.
Come, Hero! Hear me, brother mine;
Thy gladness must indeed be mute,
But oh, the joy! We're saved! We're
saved !
My knight has found the silver flute!
(Sings.)
53
" THE
RESCUE
OF THE
"Spin, WUheel, Reel Out Thy Golden
Thread"
Vivace.
Spin,wheelreel out thy gold-en thread, My
9Xp m_ p- -1lo -
hap - py heart sings glad and gay,
.L _l
y 1 T
54
I
I
PRINCESS WINSOME"
" Spin, Wheel, Reel Out Thy
Thread " (Continued)
Golden
He - ro shall 'scape the 0 - gre dread, And
if
14V4
55
f U
I
.1 I
",THE RESCUE OF THE
Spin, 1heel, Reel Out
Thy Golden
Thread " (Continued)
love has found a way, For love has found away.
_p09chA
t_ 1, ei z6J[4
5Xj:rZII
_ e.
[Curtain
56
PRINCESS WINSOME"
ACT III.
SCENE. In front of Witcb'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, 0 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 trvst.
57
" THE RESCUE OF THE
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.
58
PRINCESS
WINIASOME "
Fairy Chorus
ADUETT.
1. We come, we come at thy call, On
PIANO. x
rain - bow bubbles we float. We
fair one an a l _ _,-4v
fair - ies, one and all, ...Have
-=---t_ -By ------ _
59
"T HE RESCUE OF THE
Fairy Chorus (Continued)
iswer'd the wind flute's note. 1. The south wind's silver
2. To the aid of the gallant
3. And now, atthy be-
flute, From the far - off sum - mer
knight, To the help of the prin - cess
hest, We pause in our bright ar -
_ _
6o
PRINCESS WINSOME"
Fairy Chorus (Continuied)
land, It bade us has-ten here, To
fair, To the res - cue of the prince, 'We
ray, To end thy weary quest, For
-9-_ _ x-_-
It bade us hlas - ten,
To the res- cue
To end thy wea - ry,
6i
._0. ____
I
I i
___;0t -
--4-
-a-
" TYHE
RESCUE OF
Fairy Chorus (Continued)
has - ten here, To lend a helping hand.
of the prinice, We come to the Ogre's lair.
wea - ry quest, For love has found a way.
+t L-9 _-
[Queen Titania coming forward, waves
star-tipped wand, and looks up toi
Princess at the window.
Titania
Princess Winsome,
When thy good Godmother
62
THE
her
ward
PINSOME)"
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 bv elves.
And now, 0 Princess Winsome,
How much hast thou spun,
As thy wheel, a-whirling,
Turned from sun to sun
63
PRINCESS
",THE RESCUE OF THE
Princess
This, 0 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.
64
PRINCESS WINSOME"
Drop the ball thou holdest
Into his faithful hands.
[Princess drops the ball, Knight catches it, and
as Titania waves her wand,i he starts along
the line of Fairies. They each take hold
as the XWitch and Ogre come darting in, she
brandishing her broomstick, he his bludg-
eon. 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 Chorits
We come, we come at thy call,
On rainbow bubbles we float.
We fairies, one and all,
65
"THE RESCUE OF THE
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.
66
PRINCESS WINSOME")
[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 !
67
"THE RESCUE OF THE
[Ogre gives Knight the key. He rushes to the
door, unlocks it, and Princess and dog burst
out. Queen rushes forward and embraces
ber, then the King, and Knight kneels and
kisses her band. 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!
68
PRINCESS WINSOME)
[Titania waves wand toward Knight who
springs at fitch 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!
W'itch
Pluck with your thumbs
Seven silver plums
[Speaking in high, cracked voice.
From my golden apple-tree!
69
" THE RESCUE OF THE
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 be 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
flail, Feal the Faithful!
My gratitude I cannot tell,
70
PRINCESS WINSOME"
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,
7 I
"cTHE RESCUE OF THE
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 band in the Knight's, who
kneels to receive it. Ogre and Jfitch, still
making borrible faces, are slightly sn back-
ground, 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 !
72
PRINCESS WINSOME"
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 Knigrht has won his bride,
And now our task is done,
We may no longer bide.
73
"t THE RESCUE OF THE
On rainbow bubbles bright,
We fairies float away.
The wrong is now set right
And Love has found the way !
Curtain.
74
b92-239-31299737
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Rescue of the Princess Winsome : a fairy t</pre>