The Prince Who Learned Everything Out of Books/Act 1, Scene 3
Old Woman. Come in, my fine young man. I wish I could offer you better lodging; but I am poor. I have lived here miserably these fifty years.
Prince. Can enchantment last so long?
Old Woman. What enchantment are you talking about? Do you think it is enchantment to live like this?
Prince. Bah! Do you think that you can laugh at me? Then know that my fate and yours have brought me here to disenchant you. What is it necessary to do? Slay giants and dragons? Or to give you a kiss? There!… Take one.
Old Woman. Thanks. You are very kind.
Prince. Ah! It was not that? Then what is it necessary to do?
Old Woman. Poor young man! He is out of his head.
Prince. Do you suffer under the spell of some fairy more powerful than yourself? Of some witch, some mage, or spirit of evil?
Old Woman. No, I suffer under nothing more than my age and my poverty. Do you want something to eat? I can give you figs and nuts.
Prince. What nice fat ones!
Old Woman. Help yourself. This is all the food I have.
Prince. But, really, can't you tell me how you may be disenchanted? You must not laugh at me; I am the Blue Prince.
Old Woman. Poor young man! It is too bad. You are cold, no? I am going to light the fire… Bring me that bundle of fagots.
Prince. Ah, you wish to bind me to your service? Must I submit to this proof?
Old Woman. It isn't a proof, any more than I am. If you will be so kind… I haven't the strength.
Prince. Command me at your pleasure. I know that at last I must win your favor, and then you will reveal yourself in your true likeness, resplendent with beauty, and this humble cabin will transform itself into a marvellous palace, and you will lead me by the hand to the Princess of my Dreams!
Old Woman. Yes, yes! I will. Of course! Of course! [Aside] I had better humor him.
A knock at the door.
Prince. Who is knocking?
Old Woman. Who is there?
First Wood-Chopper. [Outside] Open, good woman.
Old Woman. They are wood-choppers—poor people who range over these mountains to gain a living. Come in!
Two Wood-Choppers enter.
First Wood-Chopper. Good afternoon.
Second Wood-Chopper. Your good health!
Prince. Come in, good people.
First Wood-Chopper. Who is he?
Old Woman. A traveller who has lost his way. I think he is out of his head.
First Wood-Chopper. He looks like a fine gentleman. Has he money?
Old Woman. Eh? How do I know?
Second Wood-Chopper. Then you ought to know. If he has…
Old Woman. What are you thinking about? Some villainy?
First Wood-Chopper. You can help us with the trick, as you always do.
Old Woman. Don't you deceive yourself. This poor boy goes out of my house safe and sound.
Second Wood-Chopper. Leave off your gabble and fetch us something to drink.
Prince. What a life for these poor men! It must be hard, to judge by the appearance.
First Wood-Chopper. Why not? Running over the mountain all day to gather a miserable bundle of wood.
Second Wood-Chopper. There never ought to be winter time for the poor.
First Wood-Chopper. But I prefer the winter. What do you say to summer?
Second Wood-Chopper. All the year is evil for those whose lives are poor.
Prince. Poor fellows! My lady fairy, you ought to take pity on them, and divide your riches with them.
Old Woman. You see now that is what I do. This is all my riches—this old, musty wine. Don't you want to try it?
Prince. Here! Give it to me… It is not bad.
First Wood-Chopper. Ah! This gives life.
Second Wood-Chopper. This cheers the heart.
Prince. Here, my good people. It's for you… For you!
First Wood-Chopper. Gold!
Second Wood-Chopper. Gold? Pigs and chestnuts!
Prince. [To the Old Woman] And for you, too.… Why are you laughing at me?
Old Woman. No, no, I am not laughing. I am much obliged. When did I ever see so much money all at once?
First Wood-Chopper. Did you see? His pockets were full of gold.
Second Wood-Chopper. He must have more about him—hid.
First Wood-Chopper. We will come back when he is asleep.
Second Wood-Chopper. Ho! We will.
First Wood-Chopper. We'd better sharpen the axe.
Second Wood-Chopper. No, he's a babe. Our hands will do, or a good rope round his neck.
Old Woman. Those rogues are up to something.
First Wood-Chopper. Good! Now we have drunk and are rested. We must get on to town before morning.
Second Wood-Chopper. Health and a pleasant journey.
Prince. Health, my good people.
First Wood-Chopper. We'll be back. Get him to sleep quick, and leave a light burning.
Old Woman. Wretches! No! You shan't come back to-night.
Second Wood-Chopper. Look out then, to-morrow! Well, it's all settled.
First Wood-Chopper. Sleep tight.
The two Wood-Choppers go out.
Prince. Poor men! Their life is hard. They must have families, too, and children.
Old Woman. He has a kind heart. No, no, I can't allow it. [Aloud] My noble boy, leave this house—at once! Do not delay an instant.
Prince. What is the matter?
Old Woman. Don't ask me, believe me. Ah! If you only knew…
Prince. What? Nothing can frighten me. I know that you must submit me to terrible proofs. I must encounter danger with a light heart. I know that happiness awaits me at last!
Old Woman. Death, unhappy boy! It is death! Run! Run quickly! I will show you a path by which you may leave these woods unseen, undiscovered by anybody.
Prince. Bah, let the giants and fierce dragons come! Come monsters and hobgoblins! Raise up your walls of fire!
Old Woman. My son, don't talk nonsense! None of these things can be, nor have we need to fear them. But these men, these soulless wretches—they have sworn to rob you. They have seen that you have gold. They will kill you, as they have killed the others… Look! They are lighting the bonfire into which they mean to throw your body to burn it up, so that it will not be known. Then they will cast the ashes into the abyss, like those of other boys. I have helped them, oh, so often! I am a sinner… I was afraid—I was so poor! But I will not do it to-day. No! You are so young, so generous. You make me pity you, I want to save you. But don't delay. Fly! Fly, for your mother's sake! For you are too young yet to have another love on earth than mother!
Prince. No, I will not fly. I shall wait here for these men, be they men or monsters, and meet them without fear. Nothing can frighten me.
Old Woman. No, for my sake! Have pity upon me! See! if they return and I protect you, they will kill me, too. And they will kill me if they don't find you here! They will say that I have deceived them. But what difference does it make? I pity you.
Prince. No, I will not go. I know you only want to test my courage. No sacrifice can be too great to win the Princess's hand!
Old Woman. Ah, what madness! Poor boy! See! I am not a fairy, I am a poor old woman who has taken pity on you and wants to save you… Hark! They are coming. We will fly together, if you will. But I can't, I am too old. They would overtake us. They would seize us
Prince. With you, yes—I will go with you! If what you say is true, I cannot leave you with these villains. But I know that you are deceiving me. Come! When you can no longer walk, I will carry you in my arms. I am strong, I never am afraid.
Old Woman. Yes, yes! We will save ourselves together.
Prince. But are you speaking the truth? Are you not really what you seem? Are you only a poor woman, and no fairy?
Old Woman. No, no! Come on! Come quickly! Believe what you like—only believe! Yes, I am a fairy, a good fairy, who is saving you… What more do you ask if I save you?
Prince. I know well that you must save me! I know well that I shall meet you at last. Princess mine!
They go out together.