Hero and Princess Winsome across the
stage, and into the door leading up the tower stair. They are bound by
ropes. Prince tries to reach his sword. Princess shrieks._

_Princess_

Oh, save us, good, wise witch,
In pity, save us, pray.
The King, our royal father,
Thy goodness will repay.

[_Pulls back, wringing hand._

Oh, I cannot, _cannot_ mount the tower!
Oh, save us from the bloody Ogre's power!

[_They are dragged into the tower, door bangs and Ogre locks it with
key a yard long. Goes back to Witch, who hands him vial filled from
caldron with black mixture._

_Witch_

Pour drop by drop upon Prince Hero's tongue.
First he will bark. His hands and feet
Will turn to paws, and he will seem a dog.
Seven drops will make the change complete.
The poison has no antidote save one,
And he a prince again can never be,
Unless seven silver plums he eats,
Plucked from my golden apple-tree.

_Ogre_

Revenge is sweet,
And soon 'twill be complete!
Then to my den I'll haste for gold to delve.
I'll bring it at the black, bleak hour of twelve!

_Witch_

And I upon my broomstick now must fly
To woodland tryst. Come, Horned Owl
And Venomed Toad! Now play the spy!
Let no one through my orchard prowl.

[_Exit Witch and Ogre to dirge music._

SCENE II. _Enter King and Queen weeping. They pace up and down, wringing
hands, and showing great signs of grief. Godmother enters from opposite
side. King speaks._

_King_

Good dame, Godmother of our daughter dear,
Perhaps thou'st heard our tale of woe.
Our children twain are stolen away
By Ogre Grim, mine ancient foe.

All up and down the land we've sought
For help to break into his tower.
And now, our searching all for nought,
We've come to beg the Witch's power.

[_Godmother springs forward, finger to lip, and anxiously waves them
away from orchard._

_Godmother_

Nay! Nay! Your Majesty, go not
Within that orchard, now I pray!
The Witch and Ogre are in league.
They've wrought you fearful harm this day.
She brewed a draught to change the prince
Into a dog! Oh, woe is me!
I passed the tower and heard him bark:
Alack! That I must tell it thee!

[_Queen shrieks and falls back in the King's arms, then recovering
falls to wailing._

_Queen_

My noble son a _dog_? A _beast_?
It cannot, must not, _shall_ not be!
I'll brave the Ogre in his den,
An