Prologue / Many Moons Ago

[MINSTREL]
Many moons ago in a far-off place
Lived a handsome prince with a gloomy face
For he did not have a bride

Oh, he sighed, "Alas"
And he pined, alas
But, alas, the prince couldn't find a lass
Who would suit his mother's pride
For a princess is a delicate thing
Delicate and dainty as a dragonfly's wing
You can recognize a lady by her elegant air
But a genuine princess
Is exceedingly rare

On stormy night to the castle door
Came the lass the prince had been waiting for
"I'm a princess lost", quoth she
But the queen was cool and remained aloof
And she said, "Perhaps, but we'll need proof
I'll prepare a test and see."

"I will test her thus", the old queen said
"I'll put twenty downy mattresses upon her bed
And beneath those twenty mattresses
I'll place one tiny pea
If that pea disturbs her slumber
Then a true princess is she"

Now the bed was soft and extremely tall
But the dainty lass didn't sleep at all
And she told them so next day

Said the queen, "My dear, if you felt that pea
Then we've proof enough of your royalty
Let the wedding music play"
And the people shouted quietly—

[ALL]
Hooray

[MINSTREL]
For a princess is a delicate thing
Delicate and dainty as a dragonfly's wing
You can recognize a lady by her elegant air
But a genuine princess
Is exceedingly rare