2Long, long ago, in a land far away,
Lived a fair Princess, pretty as day.
Peace ruled her kingdom, a prosperous place,
Full of fine satins, and rubies, and lace.
But peace could not last forever, you see,
For dragons and evil still prospered, free.
The Princess' life was endangered, in truth,
By Dread Dragon Morzaikus, king by claw and tooth.
But Lo! The good Prince, our fair princess' true love,
Would not stand to see danger a-threaten his dove.
Thus he set on a quest, almost as though
To rid all the kingdom of trecherous woe.
Through marshes he set, through mist and through tree,
Before him all evil was seen to flee.
Truimphant over threats to life and limb,
He soon faced that Dragon, which fate brang to him.
Dread Dragon Morzaikus, most fearsome beast!
For he breathed liquid flame, and sharp were his teeth.
His claws were as spears, his tail lashed with might!
But our Prince did prevail, for truth and for right.
As he breathed his last breath, the Dragon did glower
At the thought that the Prince should prevail from this hour.
"Die, stupid prince, tho' should you live from this day,
Cused are you, for I'll keep your loved ones away!"
As the Dragon collapsed dead at his feet,
Our Hero, our Prince, fell flat on his seat.
His eyes clouded over, face covered in sweat,
And his lips, they did move in a sweet epithet:
"My Princess, I love you, I miss you so!
For a year I have traveled, almost as though
You were by my side, cheering me on...
And now you are safe. My loved one, I'm gone!"
The Prince then collapsed by the Dragon he'd slain,
But a wandering fairy heard his words and came
Down to his side, all his wounds to heal,
But could not live the curse dragon magic had sealed.
Thus, covered in dirt, our Prince journeyed home
Only to find that none remembered he'd roamed!
None recognized him, all considered him strange
For by Dragon magic, all their mem'ries were changed.
Not even his love, the Princess dear,
Found his face recongnizably clear.
"You remind me of someone," she cried in dismay,
"But I cannot remember... O, please, go away!
So the Prince took his leave, and went to his house
Where none lived in the Summer, save cat and mouse.
His Cat greeted him fondly, for she remembered him
Her kind, beloved master, tho' the mem'ry was dim.
In her the Prince confided all of his fears,
And he wept and wept, shedding bitter tears.
So he went on, 'till sleep took his face
With the Cat on his lap, for she remembered her place.
As the Cat sat so quietly, also shedding a tear
-For she'd heard and she shared all her master's fears-
The good Fairy appeared and asked her the matter
For a cat never sheds her tears just to flatter.
"My good master," said the Cat. "He is terribly sad.
For a year he did journey to rid the land of all bad
But the dragon, the evil one called Morzaikus,
Did curse him that others may not know his likeness."
"Ah," said the Fairy, "I know this case well."
And so did the fairy know how to compell
The ever-sweet Princess to break this cruel curse
Although the Dragon might do his worst.
To Princess' chamber the Fairy did hasten,
That the terrible curse might soon be chastened.
"My princess," she said, "what is this I hear?
Why will you not wed? Is it out of fear?
"I sleep little at night," the quiet Princess replied,
"I have dreamed, awake, that I was at his side.
But I could not change reality.
I could only wait, and wait, to see
His face! i see it every night.
My Prince, my Prince, who left my side
To save my life, and, it would seem
To face that of which I dare not dream.
The Princess looked the fairy straight in the eye
"But I know he will come! He will not die."
"He will come, sweet maid, and soon for you.
Now heark to this verse, for behold, tis true.
At Midnight to-morrow, go to the pool
Of water, called the Spinster's Spool
At Midnight, moonlight will reveal
That which only a heart can feel."
With joy expanded the Princess' heart
Her face was beauty, glory without art.
She laughed to hear such a wonderful verse
With happiness never bought by a purse.
To the Princes' room then, the Fairy did fly,
And the Cat did awake in the blink of an eye,
But the Prince still did sleep, and could not be woken
After all, the curse had not yet been broken.
Like any good Curse it would prevent its breaking
And so did prevent the Prince's waking.
"I cannot stay long!" cried the Fairy, saddened,
"Cat, give him this verse and all will be gladdened:
At Midnight to-morrow, go to the pool
Of water, called the Spinster's Spool
At Midnight, moonlight will reveal
That which only a heart can feel."
The Cat did rejoice, for true love was the meaning,
Of the Fairy's verse, tho' time was fleeting.
"How can I reveal this to my master?
Should the fairy have stayed, I could have asked her."
Our Cat pondered and thought, indeed, thoughts flew,
Possibilities were many, but answers, few,
'Till at last, an answer came into her mind
Which, tho' not gentle, was good and kind.
She could not, she knew, tell him the Rhyme,
But she could lead him there at the right time.
So she stole his money, all he had in the world
And he followed her dilligently, her tail slightly curled.
The chase lasted long, 'till midnight was near
'Twas the time to which the Prince must adhere.
But they arrived at the pool, in full moonlight,
And the Cat saw the Princess was nowhere in sight.
She stopped, all astonished, and the Prince caught her there
He took back his money as she searched out golden hair.
Alas! Thought the Cat. All is in ruin
Lest the Princess appears, and that must be soon!
A heart-breaking moment, and there she appeared
The Princess, so golden, and gentle, and dear.
The Prince ceased all movement, and stared at she
Who cried, "My Prince, my Prince, is it really he?
So the Prince cried out and ran go kiss her fair brow
"O Princess, my Princess, why know you me now?"
At her stricken face, he dropped to one knee,
Saying, "No matter. I love you, will you marry me?"
"My Prince, I have waited, for years long past,
For, from your lips, such a question be asked.
I know the answer." She smiled. "Indeed, it shall be
Yes! For all of eternity."
And thus they were wed, this Princess and Prince,
And lived ever after in heavenly bliss.
But why, ask you now, could the Princess now see
Through the Dread Dragon's curse, which must still be?
The answer does lie in the nature of love,
Love is blind, they say, tho' when push comes to shove...
Sometimes it needs a little help from a fairy.
What did she do, now do you query?
That I cannot tell, for as Fairies do know,
A little knowledge can take all the fun from a show.