Part 3
Brother, watch what next I do, you must do it with me too. You to me your arm must proffer, I shall not refuse your offer! Come!
BOTH.
What I enjoy is dance and jollity, love to have my fling; in fact, I like frivolity, and all that kind of thing.
GRETEL.
Tralala, tralala, tralala! Come and have a twirl, my dearest Hänsel, come and have a turn with me, I pray; come here to me, come here to me, I'm sure you can't say nay!
HÄNSEL (_gruffly_).
Go away from me, go away from me, I'm much too proud for you: with little girls I do not dance, and so, my dear, adieu!
GRETEL.
Go, stupid Hans, conceited Hans, you'll see I'll make you dance! Tralala, tralala, tralala! Come and have a twirl, my dearest Hänsel, come and have a turn with me, I pray!
HÄNSEL.
O Gretel dear, O sister dear, your stocking has a hole!
GRETEL.
O Hänsel dear, O brother dear, d'you take me for a fool? With naughty boys I do not dance, and so, my dear, adieu!
HÄNSEL.
Now don't be cross, you silly goose, you'll see I make you dance!
{Gretel. { { Tralala, tralala, tralala! {Come and have a twirl, my dearest Hänsel, {come and have a turn with me, I pray. {Sing lustily hurrah! hurrah! {while I dance with you; {and if the stockings are in holes, {why, mother'll knit some new! { {HÄNSEL. { { Tralala, tralala, tralala! {Sing lustily hurrah! hurrah! {while I dance with you; {and if the shoes are all in holes, {why mother'll buy some new! { Tralala, tralala, tralala!
(_They dance round each other as before. They then seize each other's hands and go round in a circle, quicker and quicker, until at length they lose their balance and tumble over one another on the floor._)
Scene II.
(_At this moment the door opens, the mother appears, whereupon the children jump up quickly._)
MOTHER.
Hallo!
HÄNSEL AND GRETEL.
Heavens! Here's mother!
MOTHER.
What is all this disturbance?
GRETEL.
'Twas Hänsel, he wanted--
HÄNSEL.
'Twas Gretel, she said I--
MOTHER.
Silence, idle and ill-behaved children!
(_The mother comes in, unstraps the basket, and puts it down._)
Call you it working, yodelling and singing? As though 'twere fair time, hopping and springing! And while your parents from early morning till late at night are slaving and toiling! Take that!
(_Gives Hänsel a box on the ear._)
Now come, let's see what you've done. Why, Gretel, your stocking not ready yet? And you, you lazybones, have you nothing to show? Pray how many besoms have you finished? I'll fetch my stick, you useless children, and make your idle fingers tingle!
(_In her indignation at the children she gives the milk-jug a push, so that it falls off the table with a smash._)
Gracious! there goes the jug all to pieces! What now can I cook for supper?
(_She looks at her dress, down which the milk is streaming. Hänsel covertly titters._)
How, saucy, how dare you laugh?
(_Goes with a stick after Hänsel, who runs out at the open door._)
Wait, wait till the father comes home!
(_With sudden energy she snatches a basket from the wall, and pokes it into Gretel's hands._)
Off, off, to the wood! There seek for strawberries! Quick, away! And if you don't bring the basket brimful, I'll whip you so that you'll both run away!
(_The children run off into the wood. She sits down exhausted by the table._)
Alas! there my poor jug lies all in pieces! Yes, blind excitement only brings ruin. O Heaven, send help to me! Nought have I to give them--
(_Sobbing._)
No bread, not a crumb, for my starving children! No crust in the cupboard, no milk in the pot--
(_Resting her head on her hands._)
Weary am I, weary of living! Father, send help to me!
(_Lays her head down on her arm and drops to sleep._)
Scene III.
(_A voice is heard in the distance._)
Tralala, tralala! little mother, here am I! Tralala, tralala! bringing luck and jollity!
(_Rather nearer._)
O, for you and me, poor mother, every day is like the other; with a big hole in the purse, and in the stomach an even worse. Tralala, tralala! Hunger is the poor man's curse! Tralala, tralala! Hunger is the poor man's curse!
(_The father appears at the window, and during the following he comes into the room in a very happy mood, with a basket on his back._)
'Tisn't much that we require, just a little food and fire! But alas! it's true enough, life on some of us is rough! Hunger is a customer tough! (_or_) Yes, the rich enjoys his dinner, while the poor grows daily thinner! Strives to eat, as well he may, somewhat less than yesterday!
(_Complainingly._)
Tralala, tralala! hunger is the devil to pay! Tralala, tralala! hunger is the devil to pay!
(_He puts down his basket._)
Yes, hunger's all very well to feel, if you can get a good square meal; but when there's nought, what can you do, supposing the purse be empty too? Tralalala, tralalala! O for a drop of mountain dew! Tralalala, tralalala! Mother, look what I have brought!
(Reels over to his sleeping wife and gives her a smacking kiss.)
MOTHER (_rubbing her eyes_).
Oho!-- Who's sing-sing-singing all around the house, and tra-la-la-ing me out of my sleep?
FATHER (_inarticulately_).
How now!-- The hungry beast within my breast called so for food I could not rest! Tralala, tralala! Hunger is an urgent beast! Tralala, tralala! pinches, gnaws, and gives no rest!
MOTHER.
So, so! And this wild beast, you gave him a feast. He's had his fill, to say the least!
FATHER.
Well, yes! H'm! it was a lovely day, don't you think so, dear wife?
(_Wants to kiss her._)
MOTHER
(_pushing him angrily away, excitedly_).
Have done! You have no troubles to bear, 'tis I must keep the house!
FATHER.
Well, well,--then let us see, my dear, what we have got to eat to-day.
MOTHER.
Most simple is the bill of fare, our supper's gone, I know not where! Larder bare, cellar bare, nothing, and plenty of it to spare!
FATHER.
Tralalala, tralalala! Cheer up, mother, for here am I, bringing luck and jollity!
(_He takes his basket and begins to display he contents._)
Look, mother, doesn't all this food please you?
MOTHER.
Man, man, what see I? Ham and butter, flour and sausage-- eggs, a dozen.... (Husband, and they cost a fortune!) Turnips, onions, and--for me! Nearly half a pound of tea!
BOTH.
Tralala, tralala, hip hurrah! Won't we have a festive time! Tralala, hip hurrah! Won't we have a happy time! Now listen how it all came about!
FATHER
(_turns the basket topsy-turvy, and a lot of potatoes roll out. He seizes her by the arm and dances round the room. Sits down. Meanwhile the mother packs away the things, lights a fire, breaks eggs into a saucepan, etc._).
Yonder to the town I went, there was to be a great event, weddings, fairs, and preparation for all kinds of jubilation! Now's my chance to do some selling, and for that you may be thankful! He who wants a feast to keep, he must scrub and brush and sweep. So I brought my best goods out, tramped with them from house to house: "Buy besoms! good besoms! Buy my brushes! sweep your carpets, sweep your cobwebs!" And so I drove a roaring trade, and sold my brushes at the highest prices! Now make haste with cup and platter, bring the glasses, bring the kettle-- here's a health to the besom-maker!
MOTHER.
Here's a health to the besom-maker!
FATHER.
But stay, why, where are the children? Hänsel, Gretel, what's gone with Hans?
MOTHER.
Gone with Hans? O, who's to know? But at least I do know this, that the jug is smashed to bits.
FATHER.
What! the jug is smashed to bits?
MOTHER.
And the cream all run away.
FATHER
(_striking his fist on the table in a rage_).
Hang it all! So those little scapegraces have been again in mischief!
MOTHER (_hastily_).
Been in mischief? I should think so! Nought have they done but their mad pranking; as I came home I could hear them hopping and cutting the wildest capers, till I was so cross that I gave a push-- and the jug of milk was spilt!
FATHER.
And the jug of milk was spilt! Ha ha ha ha!
(_Both laughing._)
Such anger, mother, don't take it ill, seems stupid to me, I must say! But where, where think you the children can be?
MOTHER (_snappishly and curtly_).
For aught I know, at the Ilsenstein!
FATHER (_horror-struck_).
The Ilsenstein! Come, come, have a care!
(_Fetches a broom from the wall._)
MOTHER.
The besom, just put it away again!
FATHER
(_lets the broom fall and wrings his hands_).
My children astray in the gloomy wood, all alone without moon or stars!
MOTHER.
O Heaven!
FATHER.
Dost thou not know the awful magic place, the place where the evil one dwells?
MOTHER (_surprised_).
The evil one! What mean'st thou?
FATHER (_with mysterious emphasis_).
The gobbling ogress!
(_The mother draws back, the father takes up the broom again._)
MOTHER.
The gobbling ogress! But--tell me, what help is the besom!
FATHER.
The besom, the besom, why what is it for? They ride on it, they ride on it, the witches! An old witch within that wood doth dwell and she's in league with the powers of hell. At midnight hour, when nobody knows, away to the witches' dance she goes. Up the chimney they fly, on a broomstick they hie-- over hill and dale, o'er ravine and vale, through the midnight air they gallop full tear-- on a broomstick, on a broomstick, hop hop, hop hop, the witches!
MOTHER.
O horror! But the gobbling witch?
FATHER.
And by day, they say, she stalks around, with a crinching, crunching, munching sound, and children plump and tender to eat she lures with magic gingerbread sweet. On evil bent, with fell intent, she lures the children, poor little things, in the oven red-hot she pops all the lot; she shuts the lid down until they're done brown, in the oven, in the oven, (_Expressively._) the gingerbread children!
MOTHER.
And the gingerbread children?
FATHER.
Are served up for dinner!
MOTHER.
For the ogress?
FATHER.
For the ogress!
MOTHER.
O horror! Heav'n help us! the children! O what shall we do?
(_Runs out of the house._)
FATHER.
Hi, mother, mother, wait for me!
(_Takes the whisky bottle from the table and follows her._)
We'll both go together the witch to seek!
(_The curtain falls quickly._)
ACT II.
IN THE FOREST.
Scene I.
(_The curtain rises. The middle of the forest. In the background is the Ilsenstein, thickly surrounded by fir-trees. On the right is a large fir-tree, under which Gretel is sitting on a mossy tree-trunk and making a garland of wild roses. By her side lies a nosegay of flowers. Amongst the bushes on the left is Hänsel, looking for strawberries. Sunset._)
GRETEL (_humming quietly to herself_).
There stands a little man in the wood alone, he wears a little mantle of velvet brown. Say, who can the mankin be, standing there beneath the tree, with the little mantle of velvet brown? His hair is all of gold, and his cheeks are red, he wears a little black cap upon his head. Say, who can the mankin be, standing there so silently, with the little black cap upon his head?
(_She holds up the garland of roses, and looks it all round._)
With the little black cap upon his head!
HÄNSEL
(_comes out, swinging his basket joyfully_).
Hurrah! my strawberry basket is nearly brimful! O won't the mother be pleased with Hänsel!
GRETEL (_standing up_).
My garland is ready also! Look! I never made one so nice before!
(_Tries to put the wreath on Hänsel's head._)
HÄNSEL (_drawing back roughly_).
You won't catch a boy wearing that! It is only fit for a girl!
(_Puts the wreath on her._)
Ha, Gretel! "Fine feathers!" O the deuce! You shall be the queen of the wood!
GRETEL.
If I am to be queen of the wood, then I must have the nosegay too!
HÄNSEL (_gives her the nosegay_).
Queen of the wood, with sceptre and crown, I give you the strawberries, but don't eat them all!
(_He gives the basket full of strawberries into her other hand, at the same time kneeling before her in homage. At this moment the cuckoo is heard._)
Cuckoo, cuckoo, how d'you do?
GRETEL.
Cuckoo, cuckoo, where are you?
(_Takes a strawberry from the basket and pokes it into Hänsel's mouth; he sucks it up as though he were drinking an egg._)
HÄNSEL (_jumping up_).
Oho, I can do that just like you!
(_Takes some strawberries and lets them fall into Gretel's mouth._)
Let us do like the cuckoo too, who takes what doesn't belong to him!
(_It begins to grow dark._)
HÄNSEL (_helping himself again_).
Cuckoo, how are you?
GRETEL.
Cuckoo, where are you?
HÄNSEL.
In your neighbour's nest you go.
GRETEL (_helping herself_).
Cuckoo, cuckoo!
HÄNSEL.
Cuckoo, why do you do so?
(_Pours a handful of strawberries into his mouth._)
GRETEL.
And you are very greedy too! Tell me, cuckoo, why are you?
HÄNSEL.
Cuckoo, cuckoo!
(_They get rude and begin to quarrel for the strawberries. Hänsel gains the victory, and puts the whole basket to his mouth until it is empty._)
GRETEL
(_horrified, clasping her hands together_).
Hänsel, what have you done? O Heaven! all the strawberries eaten. You glutton! Listen, you'll have a punishment from the mother--this passes a joke!
HÄNSEL (_quietly_).
Now come, don't make such a fuss; you, Gretel, you did the same thing yourself!
GRETEL.
Come, we'll hurry and seek for fresh ones!
HÄNSEL.
What, here in the dark, under hedges and bushes? Why, naught can we see of fruit or leaves! It's getting dark already here!
GRETEL.
O Hänsel! O Hänsel! O what shall we do? What bad disobedient children we've been! We ought to have thought and gone home sooner!
(_Cuckoo behind the scenes, rather nearer than before._)
HÄNSEL.
Hark, what a noise in the bushes! Know you what the forest says? "Children, children," it says, "Are you not afraid?"
(_Hänsel spies all around uneasily, at last he turns in despair to Gretel._)
Gretel, I cannot find the way!
GRETEL (_dismayed_).
O God! what say you? Not know the way?
HÄNSEL
(_pretending to be very brave_).
Why, how ridiculous you are! I am a boy, and know not fear!
GRETEL.
O Hänsel, some dreadful thing may come!
HÄNSEL.
O Gretel, come, don't be afraid!
GRETEL.
What's glimmering there in the darkness?
HÄNSEL.
That's only the birches in silver dress.
GRETEL.
But there, what's grinning so there at me?
HÄNSEL (_stammering_).
Th--that's only the stump of a willow-tree.
GRETEL (_hastily_).
But what a dreadful form it takes, and what a horrid face it makes!
HÄNSEL (_very loud_).
Come, I'll make faces, you fellow! D'you hear?
GRETEL (_terrified_).
There, see! a lantern, it's coming this way!
HÄNSEL.
Will-o'-the-wisp is hopping about-- Gretel, come, don't lose heart like this! Wait, I'll give a good loud call!
(_Goes back some steps to the back of the stage and calls through his hands._)
Who's there?
ECHO.
You there! There!
(_The children cower together._)
GRETEL.
Is some one there?
ECHO.
Where? Here!
GRETEL (_softly_).
Did you hear? a voice said, "Here!" Hänsel, surely some one's near.
(_Crying._)
I'm frightened, I'm frightened, I wish I were home! I see the wood all filled with goblin forms!
HÄNSEL.
Gretelkin, stick to me close and tight, I'll shelter you, I'll shelter you!
(_A thick mist rises and completely hides the background._)
GRETEL.
I see some shadowy women coming! See, how they nod and beckon, beckon! They're coming, they're coming, they'll take us away!
(_Crying out, rushes horror-struck under the tree and falls on her knees, hiding herself behind Hänsel._)
Father! mother! Ah!
HÄNSEL.
See there, the mankin, sister dear! I wonder who the mankin is?
(_At this moment the mist lifts on the left; a little grey man is seen with a little sack on his back._)
Scene II.
SANDMAN (_the Sleep Fairy_).
(_The little man approaches the children with friendly gestures, and the children gradually calm down. He is strewing sand in the children's eyes._)
I shut the children's peepers, sh! and guard the little sleepers, sh! for dearly do I love them, sh! and gladly watch above them, sh! And with my little bag of sand, By every child's bedside I stand; then little tired eyelids close, and little limbs have sweet repose. And if they're good and quickly go to sleep, then from the starry sphere above the angels come with peace and love, and send the children happy dreams, while watch they keep! Then slumber, children, slumber, for happy dreams are sent you through the hours you sleep.
(_Disappears. Darkness._)
HÄNSEL (_half asleep_).
Sandman was there!
GRETEL (_ditto_).
Let us first say our evening prayer.
(_They cower down and fold their hands._)
BOTH.
When at night I go to sleep, fourteen angels watch do keep: two my head are guarding, two my feet are guiding, two are on my right hand, two are on my left hand, two who warmly cover, two who o'er me hover, two to whom 'tis given to guide my steps to Heaven.
(_They sink down on to the moss, and go to sleep with their arms twined round each other. Complete darkness._)
Scene III.
(_Here a bright light suddenly breaks through the mist which forthwith rolls itself together into the form of a staircase, vanishing in perspective, in the middle of the stage. Fourteen angels, in light floating garments, pass down the staircase, two and two, at intervals, while it is getting gradually lighter. The angels place themselves, according to the order mentioned in the evening hymn, around the sleeping children; the first couple at their heads, the second at their feet, the third on the right, the fourth on the left, the fifth and sixth couples distribute themselves amongst the other couples, so that the circle of the angels is completed. Lastly the seventh couple comes into the circle and takes its place as "guardian angels" on each side of the children. The remaining angels now join hands and dance a stately step around the group. The whole stage is filled with an intense light. Whilst the angels arrange themselves in a picturesque tableau, the curtain slowly falls._)
ACT III.
THE WITCH'S HOUSE.
Scene I.
(_The curtain rises. Scene the same as the end of Act II. The background is still hidden in mist, which gradually rises during the following. The angels have vanished. Morning is breaking. The Dawn Fairy steps forward and shakes dewdrops from a bluebell over the sleeping children._)
DEWMAN (_Dawn Fairy_).
I'm up with early dawning, and know who loves the morning, who'll rise fresh as a daisy, who'll sink in slumber lazy! Ding! dong! ding! dong! And with the golden light of day I chase the fading night away, fresh dew around me shaking, and hill and dale awaking. Then up, with all your powers enjoy the morning hours, the scent of trees and flowers-- then up, ye sleepers, awaken! The rosy dawn is smiling, then up, ye sleepers, awake, awake!
(_Hurries off singing. The children begin to stir. Gretel rubs her eyes, looks around her, and raises herself a little, whilst Hänsel turns over on the other side to go to sleep again._)
GRETEL.
Where am I? Waking? Or do I dream? How come I in the wood to lie? High in the branches I hear a gentle twittering, birds are beginning to sing so sweetly; from early dawn they are all awake, and warble their morning hymn of praise. Dear little singers, little singers, good morning! (_Turns to Hänsel._) See there, the sleepy lazybones? Wait now, I'll wake him! Tirelireli, it's getting late! Tirelireli, it's getting late! The lark his flight is winging, on high his matin singing, Tirelireli! tirelireli!
HÄNSEL
(_suddenly jumps up with a start_).
Kikeriki! it's early yet! Kikeriki! it's early yet! Yes, the day is dawning; awake, for it is morning! Kikeriki! kikeriki! I feel so well, I know not why! I never slept so well, no, not I!
GRETEL.
But listen, Hans; here 'neath the tree a wondrous dream was sent to me!
HÄNSEL (_meditatively_).
Really! I, too, had a dream!
GRETEL.
I fancied I heard a murmuring and rushing, as though the angels in Heav'n were singing; rosy clouds above me were floating-- hovering and floating in the distance away, Sudden--all around a light was streaming, rays of glory from Heaven beaming, and a golden ladder saw I descending, angels adown it gliding, such lovely angels with shining golden wings.
HÄNSEL (_interrupting her quickly_).
Fourteen angels there must have been!
GRETEL (_astonished_).
And did you also behold all this?
HÄNSEL.
Truly, 'twas wondrous fair! And upward I saw them float.
(_He turns towards the background; at this moment the last remains of the mist clear away. In place of the fir-trees is seen the "Witch's house at the Ilsenstein," shining in the rays of the rising sun. A little distance off, to the left, is an oven; opposite this, on the right, a large cage, both joined to the Witch's house by a fence of gingerbread figures._)
Scene II.
GRETEL
(_holds Hänsel back in astonishment_).
Stand still, be still!
HÄNSEL (_surprised_).
O Heaven, what wondrous place is this, as ne'er in all my life have I seen!
GRETEL
(_gradually regains her self-possession_).
What odor delicious! O say, do I dream?
BOTH.
A cottage all made of chocolate cream. The roof is all covered with Turkish delight the windows with lustre of sugar are white; and on all the gables the raisins invite, and think! all around is a gingerbread hedge! O magic castle, how nice you'd be to eat! Where hides the princess who has so great a treat? Ah, could she but visit our little cottage bare, she'd ask us to dinner, her dainties to share!
HÄNSEL (_after a while_).
No sound do I hear; no, nothing is stirring! Come, let's go inside it!
GRETEL
(_pulling him back horrified_).
Are you senseless? Hänsel, however can you make so bold? Who knows who may live there, in that lovely house?
HÄNSEL.
O look, do look how the house seems to smile! (_Enthusiastically._) Ah, the angels did our footsteps beguile!
GRETEL (_reflectively_).
The angels? Yes, it must be so!
HÄNSEL.
Yes, Gretel, the angels are beck'ning us in! Come, let's nibble a bit of the cottage.
BOTH.
Come, let's nibble it, like two mice persevering!
(_They hop along, hand in hand, towards the back of the stage; then stand still, and then steal along cautiously on tiptoe to the house. After some hesitation Hänsel breaks off a bit of cake from the right-hand corner._)
Scene III.
A VOICE FROM THE HOUSE.
Nibble, nibble, mousekin, who's nibbling at my housekin? who's nibbling at my housekin?
(_Hänsel starts, and in his fright lets the piece of cake fall._)
HÄNSEL.
O, did you hear?
GRETEL (_somewhat timidly_).
The wind--
HÄNSEL.
The wind!
BOTH.
The heavenly wind!
GRETEL
(_picks up the piece of cake and tastes it_).
H'm!
HÄNSEL (_looking longingly at Gretel_).
D'you like it?
GRETEL (_lets Hänsel bite it_).
Just taste and try it!
HÄNSEL
(_lays his hand on his breast in rapture_).
Hi!
GRETEL (_ditto_).
Hi!
BOTH.
Hi, hi! O cake most delicious, some more I must take! It's really like Heaven to eat such plum-cake!
HÄNSEL.
O how good, how sweet, how tasty!
GRETEL.
How tasty, how sweet! It's p'r'aps the house of a sweety-maker!
HÄNSEL.
Hi, sweety-maker! Have a care! A little mouse your sweeties would share!
(_He breaks a big piece of cake off the wall._)