Chapter VIII: 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]