Tell him that I at my spinning wheel, Will sing while it turns and hums, And think all day of his love so leal, Until with the flute he comes.
Now fly, flutter and fly, Now flutter and fly away, away.
[_Sets dove at liberty. Turning to wheel again, repeats song._
My Godmother bids me spin, That my heart may not be sad; Spin and sing for my brother's sake, And the spinning makes me glad.
Sing! Spin! With hum and whir The wheel goes round and round. For my brother's sake the charm I'll break! Prince Hero shall be found.
Spin! Sing! The golden thread Gleams in the sunlight's ray! The humming wheel my grief can heal, For Love will find a way.
[_First messenger appears at window, dressed as a Morning-glory._
Fair Princess, This morning, when the early dawn Was flushing all the sky, Beside the trellis where I bloomed, A knight rode slowly by.
He stopped and plucked me from my stem, And said, "Sweet Morning-glory, Be thou my messenger to-day, And carry back my story.
"Go bid the Princess in the tower Forget all thought of sorrow. Her true knight will return to her With joy, on some glad morrow."
Spin! spin! The golden thread Holds no thought of sorrow. My true knight he shall come to me With joy on some glad morrow.
[_Second flower messenger, dressed as Pansy, appears at window._
Gracious Princess, I come from Feal the Faithful. He plucked me from my bower, And said, speed to the Princess And say, "Like this sweet flower The thoughts within my bosom Bloom ever, love, of thee. Oh, read the pansy's message, And give a thought to me."
Spin, spin, O golden thread! And turn, O humming wheel. This pansy is his thought of me, My true knight, brave and leal.
Thy true knight battled for thee to-day, On a fierce and bloody field, But he won at last in the hot affray, By the heart of gold on his shield.
He saw me blushing beside a wall, My petals pink in the sun With pleasure, because such a valiant knight The hard-fought battle had won.
And he kissed me once on my soft pink cheek, And once in my heart of gold, And bade me hasten to thee and speak. Pray take the message I hold.
[_Princess goes to the window, takes a pink rose from the messenger. As she walks back, kisses it and fastens it on her dress. Then turns to wheel again._