Robert Westenberg — Agony Reprise

[CINDERELLA'S PRINCE] High in a tower— Like yours was, but higher— A beauty asleep All 'round the tower A thicket of briar A hundred feet deep Agony! No frustration more keen When the one thing you want Is a thing that you've not even seen [RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE] I've found a casket Entirely of glass— No, it's unbreakable Inside—don't ask it— A maiden, alas Just as unwakeable [BOTH] What unmistakable agony! Is the way always barred? [RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE] She has skin white as snow— [CINDERELLA'S PRINCE] Did you learn her name? [RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE] No, there's a dwarf standing guard [BOTH] Agony! Such that princes must weep! Always in thrall most To anything almost Or something asleep [CINDERELLA'S PRINCE] If it were not for the thicket— [RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE] A thicket's no trick. Is it thick? [CINDERELLA'S PRINCE] It's the thickest [RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE] The quickest is pick it apart with a stick— [CINDERELLA'S PRINCE] Yes, but even one prick— It's my thing about blood [RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE] Well, it's sick! [CINDERELLA'S PRINCE] It's no sicker than your thing with dwarves [RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE] Dwarfs [CINDERELLA'S PRINCE] Dwarfs... [RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE] Dwarfs are very upsetting [BOTH] Not forgetting the task's unachievable Mountains unscalable— If it's conceivable But unavailable Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah— Agony! [CINDERELLA'S PRINCE] Misery! [RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE] Woe! [BOTH] Not to know what you miss [CINDERELLA'S PRINCE] While they lie there for years— [RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE] And you cry on their biers— [BOTH] What unbearable bliss! Agony, that can cut like a knife! Ah well, back to my wife...