Here is set the hand and seal Of thy own true knight, the faithful--Feal." [_Princess takes locket from throat and winds chain around dove's neck._ _Princess sings_ _The Dove Song_ [Illustration: The Dove Song] Now, flutter and fly, flutter and fly, Bear him my heart of gold, Bid him be brave little carrier dove! Bid him be brave and bold! Tell him that I at my spinning wheel, Will sing while it turns and hums, And think all day of his love so leal, Until with the flute he comes. Now fly, flutter and fly, Now flutter and fly away, away. [_Sets dove at liberty. Turning to wheel again, repeats song._ _Princess repeats_ My Godmother bids me spin, That my heart may not be sad; Spin and sing for my brother's sake, And the spinning makes me glad. Sing! Spin! With hum and whir The wheel goes round and round. For my brother's sake the charm I'll break! Prince Hero shall be found. Spin! Sing! The golden thread Gleams in the sunlight's ray! The humming wheel my grief can heal, For Love will find a way. [_First messenger appears at window, dressed as a Morning-glory._ _Morning-glory_ Fair Princess, This morning, when the early dawn Was flushing all the sky, Beside the trellis where I bloomed, A knight rode slowly by. He stopped and plucked me from my stem, And said, "Sweet Morning-glory, Be thou my messenger to-day, And carry back my story. "Go bid the Princess in the tower Forget all thought of sorrow. Her true knight will return to her With joy, on some glad morrow." [_Disappears._ _Princess sings_ Spin! spin! The golden thread Holds no thought of sorrow. My true knight he shall come to me With joy on some glad morrow. [_Second flower messenger, dressed as Pansy, appears at window._ _Pansy_ Gracious Princess, I come from Feal the Faithful. He plucked me from my bower, And said, speed to the Princess And say, "Like this sweet flower The thoughts within my bosom Bloom ever, love, of thee. Oh, read the pansy's message, And give a thought to me." [_Pansy disappears._ _Princess sings_ Spin, spin, O golden thread! And turn, O humming wheel. This pansy is his thought of me, My true knight, brave and leal. [_Third flower messenger, a pink Rose._ _Rose_ Thy true knight battled for thee to-day, On a fierce and bloody field, But he won at last in the hot affray, By the heart of gold on his shield. He saw me blushing beside a wall, My petals pink in the sun With pleasure, because such a valiant knight The hard-fought battle had won. And he kissed me once on my soft pink cheek, And once in my heart of gold, And bade me hasten to thee and speak. Pray take the message I hold. [_Princess goes to the window, takes a pink rose from the messenger. As she walks back, kisses it and fastens it on her dress. Then turns to wheel again._ _Princess sings_