| Prince: | |
| If that is so, you'd bettertrot, For if you stay you'll get ithot! I swear that I will thrash thelot For I'm the Prince, RedPepper! | |
| Brownies (cowering, afraid): | |
| Now if we stay, we plainlysee That very soon there'll ructionsbe! Observe his hair, howfi-er-y! Oh, yes! He's ahigh-stepper! And, though he cannot make ussneeze, His sword will tickle and willtease; I think the pie we'd betterseize, And run from this RedPepper! | |
| (Music. Brownies seize pie.) | |
| Prince: | |
| Now, put that pie down straightaway, Or very rude things I shallsay, And run you through and through Imay If I become excited! | |
| Brownies (consulting together bytable): | |
| I really think he means it,too! Now what on earth are we todo? We do not care to be runthrough! (Howling pitifully)We don'tlike being fighted. | |
| Prince: | |
| If that is so, I think you'llsee You'd better kneel at once tome, And humbly beg forclemency! For so is vice requited! | |
| Brownies (repeating chorus, kneeling roundPrince): | |
| Oh, yes, dear sir, we plainlysee That we had better kneel tothee, And humbly beg forclemency! For so is vice requited! | |
| Prince (brandishing sword): | |
| Now, one, two, three, and offyou fly, Or ev'ry one of you shalldie! | |
(Brownies scream, and are about to run off as enter Princess R. with pepper-pot.)
Prince: Princess! What brings you here?
Princess: They took the pepper-pot away from you! I found it underneath my ladies' pillow, because they sneezed so much it wakened me. But, oh, I see you have not needed it!
Brownies: Oh, no, no, no! Pray, do not pepper us! (Brownies turn and kneel to Princess imploringly.)
Prince: And you came to save me?
Princess: Is it not my duty to protect my scullions?
Prince: Princess, I am no scullion (throws off ragged cloak.) This was a disguise to help me gain admittance to your castle! It was the only way in which I could find a means to woo you. But my name's Prince Fairasday—or, if you like, or as my servants say—Red Pepper. Am I forgiven?
Princess: Oh, yes, indeed you are! (He embraces her.) In the strictest confidence I don't mind telling you I'm longing to be married and get away from all these girls!
Prince: Then we'll be married in the morning!