Many moons ago
In a far off place
Lived a handsome prince
With a gloomy face
For he did not have a bride.
Oh, he sighed alas, and he cried, alas,
For alas, the prince couldnt find a lass
Who would suit his mothers pride
For a princess is a delicate thing
Delicate and dainty as a dragonflys wing
You can recognize a lady by her elegant air
But a genuine princess
Is exceedingly rareOn a stormy night
To the castle door
Came the lass the prince
Had been waiting for
Im a princess lost, quoth she.
But the queen was cool, and remained aloof
Well, perhaps, she said,
But well need some proof.
Ill devise a test and see.
I will test her thus, the old queen said,
Ill put twenty downy mattresses upon her bed,
And beneath those twenty mattresses
Ill place one tiny pea.
If that pea disturbs her slumber,
Then a true princess is she.Now the bed was soft
And extremely tall,
But the dainty lass
Didnt sleep at all,
And she told them so next day.
Said the queen, My dear,
If you felt that pea,
Then weve ample proof
Of your royalty.
Let the wedding music play.
(And the people shouted quietly, Hurray!For a princess is a delicate thing,
Delicate and dainty as a dragonflys wing
You can recognize a lady
By her elegant air
But a genuine princess
Is exceedingly rare.