The Little Colonel's Hero Part 16

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 f.a.gots 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, This charm shall all plans But the Ogre's foil.

[_As Witch stirs and sings, the Ogre, stalking to the side, calls._

_Ogre._ Ho, Frog-eye Fearsome, let the sport begin!

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._

_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 b.l.o.o.d.y Ogre's power!

[_They are dragged into the tower, door bangs and Ogre locks it with key a yard long. Goes back to Witch, who hands him vial filled from caldron with black mixture._

_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 complete.

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.

_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 Owl And Venomed Toad! Now play the spy!

Let no one through my orchard prowl.

[_Exit Witch and Ogre to dirge music._

SCENE II. _Enter King and Queen weeping. They pace up and down, wringing hands, and showing great signs of grief. G.o.dmother enters from opposite side. King speaks._

_King._ Good dame, G.o.dmother 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, We've come to beg the Witch's power.

[_G.o.dmother springs forward, finger to lip, and anxiously waves them away from orchard._

_G.o.dmother._ Nay! Nay! Your 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 the prince Into a dog! Oh, woe is me!

I pa.s.sed the tower and heard him bark: Alack! That I must tell it thee!

[_Queen shrieks and falls back in the King's arms, then recovering falls to wailing._

_Queen._ My n.o.ble 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!

_G.o.dmother._ 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, 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, O mother Queen! Be brave!

Take heart, O gracious King, I pray!

Well can she spin Love's Golden Thread, And Love can _always_ find a way! [_Exit G.o.dmother._

_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?

Canst think of nought, your Majesty?

Of nothing else? Must we stand here And powerless lift no hand to speed The rescue of our children dear?

[_King clasps hand to his head 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, As if some horseman were approaching nigher.

'Twould not be seemly should he meet Our royal selves so near the Witch'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.

_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._