| Prince: | |
| Now every one has gone torest, To guard the pie I'll do mybest; But all are sleeping, No one's peeping; To take a little nap myself werebest. And if by chance the Browniescome, The pepper-pot will drive themhome. For if I should besleeping, I'm sure to hear themcreeping, And then I can wake up before theycome. Little sleeping Princess now I'lldream of thee! So sweet you be, And soon you'll see That I love you, darling,tenderly. Little sleeping Princess, dream ofme! |
(Prince sleeps in armchair. Soft music outside. Enter Brownies, mysteriously, to the air: "Whist! whist! whist!")
| Brownies (pianissimo): | |
| Whist! whist! whist! Here comes the Brownieman! To catch the rascalsleeping Is now our little plan. We'll tie the nasty scullionfast And pinch him till he'ssore. The Christmas pie is ours atlast; The waiting time iso'er. | |
| Frip (softly): | |
| As we are so full offun, Ere the feasting isbegun, For a pleasant littlegame We will make him blind andlame. | |
| Snip: | |
| Pull his hair and poke hiseyes— Anything we can devise. | |
| Tip: | |
| Kick him till he's black andblue. | |
| Pip: | |
| Run with pins his fingersthrough. | |
| Frip: | |
| And, because he's dared toscoff, We will pull his toe-nailsoff!!! |
(They surround Prince. He wakes.)
Prince: Why, what's this? (Rising) The Brownies! Where's the pepper-pot! (To dresser) Gone! (Brownies cackle.)
| Frip: | |
| Now you cannot sprinkleus. It's no use to make afuss! |
(Brownies dance about impishly.)
| Tip: | |
| Yes! In vain you squeal andcry. We shall eat the Christmaspie! | |
| Snip: | |
| Proud you may be, asMazeppa! But we only fear REDPEPPER! |
DUET (Prince and Brownies).
(Air: "There Lived a King."—The Gondoliers.)