To talk to them just now. But, happily,
I can play several instruments at once,
And I will drown the shrieks of those that fall
With trumpet music, such as soldiers love!
How stand we with respect to gunpowder?
My Lady Psyche -- you who superintend
Our lab'ratory -- are you well prepared
To blow these bearded rascals into shreds?

Psyche: Why, madam--

Princess: Well?

Psyche: Let us try gentler means.
We can dispense with fulminating grains
While we have eyes with which to flash our rage!
We can dispense with villainous saltpetre
While we have tongues with which to blow them up!
We can dispense, in short, with all the arts
That brutalize the practical polemist!

Princess: (Contemptuously) I never knew a more dispensing
chemist!
Away, away -- I'll meet these men alone
Since all my women have deserted me!

(Exeunt all but Princess, singing
refrain of
"Please you, do not hurt us",
pianissimo.)

Princess: So fail my cherished plans -- so fails my faith--
And with it hope, and all that comes of hope!

Song - Princess
"I Built upon a Rock"

Princess: I built upon a rock,
But ere Destruction's hand
Dealt equal lot
To Court and cot,
My rock had turn'd to sand!
I leant upon an oak,
But in the hour of need,
Alack-a-day,
My trusted stay
Was but a bruis-ed reed!
A bruis-ed reed!
Ah faithless rock,
My simple faith to mock!
Ah trait'rous oak,
Thy worthlessness to cloak,
Thy worthlessness to cloak!

I drew a sword of steel