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 a 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 "Hooray!" 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!