ACT III. SCENE 1.

(_Outside the thorn hedge that separates the palace of the Sleeping Beauty from the world. A horn is heard off stage. Presently the Prince enters with horn and spear. He stands in front of the hedge and blows again, then calls._)

PRINCE.

Haloo--haloo.

ANSWER (_faintly_).

Haloo.

PRINCE.

Come on this way, I’ve found a little clearing--come along.

(_Crackling outside and Gentleman in Waiting appears._)

GENTLEMAN.

Zounds, but I’m all scratched up--these beastly thorns Are just like lion’s claws. Where are we now?

PRINCE (_shrugging his shoulders_).

Oh don’t ask me--I’m perfectly at sea--

GENTLEMAN.

It seems to me we’re more like in the woods.

PRINCE (_laughing_).

Ha--ha--you’re right--come on old boy, cheer up.

GENTLEMAN (_grumpily_).

Humph--what’s the use, we’re lost--we’ve got to starve. We’ve followed this old claw thorn hedge all day, The forest is as thick as banks of spears, Solid--it is--our falcon’s blown away-- We didn’t get the stag we chased--gadzooks My arm’s like ribbons on a maying pole.

PRINCE.

Oh well, cheer up, at least we’re still alive.

GENTLEMAN.

That’s just the trouble. If I weren’t alive I wouldn’t know how beastly starved I am.

PRINCE (_sitting down comfortably with his back to the hedge_).

I guess we’ll last a little longer.

GENTLEMAN.

Humph!

PRINCE (_feeling in his pouch_).

Look here, look here, I’ve got a bit of bread, I brought it out to feed the falcon with. Here take it if you’re hungry. (_He tosses it to Gentleman._)

GENTLEMAN (_glumly_).

No, sire, no--

PRINCE (_breaking it and taking much the smaller piece_).

We’ll share it then. (_He feels again in his pouch._) Why, here’s a piece of cheese!

GENTLEMAN (_starting to put it in his mouth_).

Good--good.

PRINCE.

Oh, no, it’s just a candle’s end.

GENTLEMAN.

Ugh! I was just about to eat it--bah!

PRINCE.

Here save it--we may have to eat it yet.

GENTLEMAN.

The bread is awfully dry--I wish I had A good meat pastry now--

PRINCE.

With brown old ale! (_Singing lustily._) Oh give me the good meat pies of old; Oh give me the foaming ale, And the flaming logs when the day grows cold And at dusk the minstrel’s tale-- Oh give me a sword with a straight blue blade, And the tourney’s clash and din-- And a merrie heart and unafraid, And a princess fair to win! Oh give--

[Music: THE PRINCE’S SONG.

F. FANCHER--

Maestoso--]

GENTLEMAN (_nervously_).

My lord, pray do you think it wise-- To sing--well, quite so loudly?

PRINCE.

Well, why not? Think I’ll disturb the birds--or do you think I’ll make them jealous? (_Stands up, takes off his hat and bows._) Birds, I humbly crave thy pardons.

GENTLEMAN (_rising_).

No, my Lord--I only thought That since we don’t know what is hidden there-- Your voice perhaps--

PRINCE.

Yes, I’ll admit my voice May startle even dragons into rage.

GENTLEMAN (_in fear_).

Oh, no, don’t say you think there’s dragons there.

(_Pointing behind hedge._)

PRINCE.

I shouldn’t be surprised--big scaly ones.

GENTLEMAN (_putting an eye fearsomely to hedge_).

I don’t see any; oh let’s go away. I wouldn’t want to meet a dragon--sire.

PRINCE.

You’re safe enough I think--the hedge seems high And sharp enough to keep all dragons out. (_then seeing that the Gentleman is truly terrified._) Why I was only fooling you, old boy. The only dragons live in minstrels’ tales-- There’s not one left alive these days. But still There’s _something_ queer about these woods.

GENTLEMAN.

I know. Too queer for me!

PRINCE.

Why all day long I’ve thought Of those old minstrels’ tales I used to love When I was just a little lad, and sat Before the great log fire, listening, So thrilled and frightened that I hardly breathed.

GENTLEMAN.

I always went to sleep when minstrels came (_sitting down_).

PRINCE.

And there was one tale that they used to tell About this very forest, so they say, That there was once a castle here, and all The people in it were asleep: the King And Queen, and even all the mice and rats Were sleeping. And there was a Princess, too, So beautiful she made your heart stand still. I used to dream about her on those nights, And wake and look across our battlements, And vow I’d marry her when I grew up. But those were minstrels’ tales--(_He sighs_) Come on, wake up--(_He shakes Gentleman’s shoulder._) I swear I’ll find a way inside the hedge.

GENTLEMAN.

Oh don’t--oh don’t, I’m sure it isn’t safe.

PRINCE (_nobly_).

Seek safety when we’re old, but while we’re young We’ll seek adventure with courageous hearts!

GENTLEMAN (_sighing_).

All right my lord, you’re right--As usual. But still I think that we were fools to come And hunt here in these woods when everyone Said it was dangerous.

PRINCE.

Old women’s talk! (_He searches up and down hedge._) I wonder what’s behind it. Oh look here! I see an opening I think--yes--yes--(_He crawls half through hedge, his feet sticking back._) It’s tiny--I can make it bigger though.

GENTLEMAN.

You’re fooling me again.

PRINCE.

I’m not I swear--(_He works at making hole bigger._)

GENTLEMAN.

Well, I believe you--for you never lie.

PRINCE.

Haloo--I’m through. Well, by my halidome!

GENTLEMAN.

What do you see?

PRINCE.

Well by my halidome!

GENTLEMAN (_terrified_).

What is it? Are you hurt my lord? Come out (_he tries to pull the Prince back by his legs_).

PRINCE.

Good heavens, no--let go you idiot You’ll pull my legs off--hi--let go I say.

(_Gentleman lets go--the Prince disappears and speaks from outside._)

GENTLEMAN.

A dragon’s got you! Oh, my lord--my lord.

PRINCE.

No, no, there’s not a sign of one--but oh Come through, come quick, oh, oh, how wonderful: A palace, gray and old, and everything All grown around it, thick rank vines and trees-- And crumbling turrets, and a drawbridge, too, All tumbling in, and there’s a green old moat. Come, let’s explore the castle, hurry through.

(_The Gentleman in Waiting fearsomely scrambles through._)

Curtain.