Prologue / Many Moons Ago

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—

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