And winding, winding, winding,
  At last I wound it all,
  Until the thread all golden
  Made a mammoth wonder-ball.

Titania

  Here below thy casement
  Thy true knight waiting stands. 
  Drop the ball thou holdest
  Into his faithful hands.

[Princess drops the ball, Knight catches it, and as Titania waves her wand, he starts along the line of Fairies.  They each take hold as the Witch and Ogre come darting in, she brandishing her broomstick, he his bludgeon.  They come through gate of the Orchard in the background.  As the ball unwinds, the Fairies march around them, tangling them in the yards and yards of narrow yellow ribbon, singing as they go.

Fairy Chorus

  We come, we come at thy call,
  On rainbow bubbles we float. 
  We fairies, one and all,
  Have answered the Wind-flute’s note. 
  To the aid of the gallant Knight,
  To the help of the Princess fair,
  To the rescue of the Prince,
  We come to the Ogre’s lair.

  We come, we come at thy call,
  The Witch and Ogre to quell,
  And now they both must bow
  To the might of the fairies’ spell. 
  Love’s Golden Thread can bind
  The strongest Ogre’s arm,
  And the spell of the blackest Witch
  Must yield to its mighty charm.

[Ogre and Witch stand bound and helpless, tangled in golden cord.  They glower around with frightful grimaces.  King and Queen enter unnoticed from side.  Knight draws his sword, and brandishing it before Ogre, cries out fiercely.

Knight

  The Key!  The key that opens yonder tower! 
  Now give it me, or by my troth
  Your head shall from your shoulders fly! 
  To stab you through I’m nothing loath!

[Ogre gives Knight the key.  He rushes to the door, unlocks it, and Princess and dog burst out.  Queen rushes forward and embraces her, then the King, and Knight kneels and kisses her hand.  Princess turns to Titania.

Princess

  Oh, happy day that sets me free
  From yon dread Ogre’s prison! 
  Oh, happy world, since ’tis for me
  Such rescuers have ’risen. 
  But see, your Majesty! the plight
  Of Hero—­he the Prince, my brother! 
  Wilt thou his wrong not set aright? 
  Another favour grant!  One other!

[Titania waves wand toward Knight who springs at Witch with drawn sword.

Knight

  The spell!  The spell that breaks the power
  That holds Prince Hero in its thrall! 
  Now give it me, or in this hour
  Thy head shall from its shoulders fall!

Witch

  Pluck with your thumbs
  Seven silver plums

[Speaking in high, cracked voice.

  From my golden apple-tree! 
  These the dog must eat. 
  The change will be complete,
  And a prince once more the dog will be!