ACT II
[Palace garden. Two chairs to the left. Trumpet-call. Music. Enter from left and back, Page, Lords, and Ladies, one carrying the baby Princess—a large doll. Procession to right; stand in semi-circle facing the chairs. Pause. Enter King and Queen, who walk in front of Lords and Ladies, and take their places in front of chairs. They bow in return to the bows and courtesies of the court. King and Queen sit down. Lady places Baby in Queen’s arms. Music ceases.]
Queen. Of all the babies ever born, this is the sweetest.
Lords and Ladies. [To one another.] The sweetest baby ever born.
First Lady. Such soft and silken hair.
Second Lady. A rosebud for a mouth.
Third Lady. Her dimpled hands are soft as satin.
Fourth Lady. Her eyes a heavenly blue.
King. [Rising.] Come, my Lords, pledge allegiance to Her Royal Highness.
Lords. Sire, with right good will.
[Music. Each Lord in turn kneels before the Baby with his sword drawn, kisses her hand, and returns to his place, walking backward. As last does so, the music changes to a waltz movement, and first three Fairies dance in. They courtesy to the King and Queen.]
King and Queen. Fairies, you are welcome.
Fairies. Your Majesties, we thank you.
Autumn. [Stepping forward.] Graciously permit us to bestow upon the baby the gifts which we have brought. [Touches Baby with wand.] With beauty I endow thee. Beauty not alone of face and form, but loveliness of soul I give thee, so thou shalt be beloved of all the world. [Steps back.]
Summer. Wisdom is my gift, O Little One; men shall not love thee merely, they shall seek thee out that they may learn the wondrous secrets hidden in thy heart. [Steps back.]
[Dreary strain of music. Winter enters unnoticed, and remains in background, close to entrance, until Spring begins to speak, when she moves a little forward and to the right.]
Spring. And I—but who comes?
[Winter moves slowly forward, but keeps to the right. Every one except Fairies shiver with cold. Baby cries out. Two Lords attempt to bar her entrance with crossed swords.]
Winter. [Contemptuously.] Do you think to prevent me with your swords? My Lords, I am a fairy.
King. [To Lord who stands close to him.] Who is this?
Lord. [Very earnestly.] ’Tis the Fairy Winter, Your Majesty. Send her quickly hence. Where’er she goes, she causes darkness, gloom. The flowers fade at her approach. Birds fly away in terror to escape her. Wild beasts seek their holes. Bid her be gone, I beg you, for her coming bodeth ill.
King. That I cannot do upon this day of days. Madam, I know you not, yet, for the Princess’s sake, I bid you welcome.
Winter. You know me not? That is passing strange. But Your Majesty shall know me. I was not bidden to the christening feast as were these, my cousins—
Queen. The slight was unintentional. I do assure you, Madam.
Winter. Yet I came, and I also brought a gift.
[Touches Baby with wand; other Fairies look on anxiously.]
Winter. Thou, Princess Erda, wilt grow up beautiful and wise according to my cousins’ wishes. But when thou art become a lovely maiden, thou shalt [slowly] one day thrust into thy hand a needle, and [very slowly and very impressively] THOU SHALT SURELY—
[Great excitement. Queen hands Baby to King, and faints in her chair. Ladies tremble. Lords draw swords, and step forward threateningly. Spring jumps forward and interrupts Winter just in time.]
Spring. STOP! ’Tis fortunate, indeed, I had not time to speak before you came, my cousin. Little Princess [touches her with wand], it must be, alas, even as my cousin said. Thou wilt, indeed, thrust a needle into thy hand, BUT THOU SHALT NOT PERISH. [Relief on every face; Queen opens eyes.] Thou shalt only sleep awhile. [Soft music.] And I do here decree that while thou sleepest, thou shalt lovelier grow. And thou shalt dream of him, the Shining Prince, until he comes to rescue thee, to waken with his kiss.
Winter. And so I am frustrated! Yet I do not greatly care. It were a pity to lose so fair a child. Perhaps the long sleep will be sufficient punishment, and teach this court ’tis never safe to slight a fairy. [Exit.]
Queen. [Quite recovered, rising.] Thank you, Fairy, for your timely aid. But oh, alas! my daughter needs must sleep—for who knows how long? [Takes Baby from King.]
King. I do hereby command that every needle be destroyed throughout my broad domain. Page [Page stands before him], send forth heralds to proclaim my will. [Page bows and goes off.] Be comforted, my Queen, how can our daughter prick her finger?
Lords and Ladies. [Happily.] That is true, how can she, when all needles are destroyed?
King. And now, good Fairies, my Lords and Ladies, let’s hasten to the feast; forget the evil prophecy, and make merry all.
[Procession off stage. King and Queen, Fairies, Lords and Ladies.]
[Curtain]
