DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

Peter, Broom-maker.

Gertrude, his wife.

Hansel, their son.

Gretel, their daughter.

The Witch who eats children.

Sandman, the Sleep Fairy.

Dewman, the Dawn Fairy.

Children.

The Fourteen Angels.



ACT III SCENE III Part I.

A VOICE FROM THE HOUSE.

Nibble, nibble, mousekin,

who's nibbling at my housekin?

who's nibbling at my housekin?



(Hansel starts, and in his fright lets the piece of cake fall.)

HANSEL.

O, did you hear?



GRETEL (somewhat timidly).

The wind—



HANSEL.

The wind!



BOTH.

The heavenly wind!



GRETEL (picks up the piece of cake and tastes it).

H'm!



HANSEL (looking longingly at Gretel).

D'you like it?



GRETEL (lets Hansel bite it).

Just taste and try it!



HANSEL (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!



HANSEL.

O how good, how sweet, how tasty!



GRETEL.

How tasty, how sweet!

It's p'r'aps the house of a sweety-maker!



HANSEL.

Hi, sweety-maker! Have a care!

A little mouse your sweeties would share!

(He breaks a big piece of cake off the wall.)



A VOICE FROM THE HOUSE.

Nibble, nibble, mousekin,

who's nibbling at my housekin?



HANSEL AND GRETEL.

The wind, the wind,

the heavenly wind!



(The upper part of the house-door opens gently, and the Witch's head is seen at it. The children at first do not see her, and go on feasting merrily.)



GRETEL.

Wait, you gobbling mousekin,

here comes the cat from the housekin!



HANSEL (taking another bite).

Eat what you please,

and leave me in peace!



GRETEL (snatches the piece from his hand).

Don't be unkind,

Sir wind, Sir wind!



HANSEL (takes it back from her).

Heavenly wind,

I take what I find!



BOTH (laughing).

Ha, ha, ha!



THE WITCH (who had meanwhile opened the whole door, and had been warily stealing up to the children, throws a rope around the neck of Hansel, who, without any misgivings, turns his back to her).

Hi, hi! hi, hi!



HANSEL (horror-struck).

Let go! Who are you?

Let me go!



THE WITCH (drawing the children towards her).

Angels both!

(And goosey-ganders!)

(Caresses the children.)

You've come to visit me, that is sweet!

You charming children, so nice to eat!



HANSEL (makes despairing efforts to free himself).

Who are you, ugly one?

Let me go!



THE WITCH.

Now, darling, don't you give yourself airs!

Dear heart, what makes you say such things?

I am Rosina Dainty-mouth,

and dearly love my fellow-men.

I'm artless as a newborn child!

That's why the children to me are so dear,

so dear, so dear, ah, so che-arming to eat!

(Caresses Hansel.)



HANSEL (turning roughly away).

Go, get you gone from my sight!

I hate, I loathe you quite!



THE WITCH.

Hi hi! hi hi!

These dainty morsels I'm really gloating on,

and you, my little maiden, I'm doting on!

Come, little mousey,

come into my housey!

Come with me, my precious,

I'll give you sweetmeats delicious!

Of chocolate, tarts, and marzipan

you shall both eat all you can,

and wedding-cake and strawberry ices,

blancmange, and everything else that nice is,

and raisins and almonds,

and peaches and citrons are waiting—

you'll both find it quite captivating,

yes, quite captivating!



HANSEL.

I won't come with you, hideous fright!

You are quite too friendly!



THE WITCH.

See, see, see how sly!

Dear children, you really may trust me in this,

and living with me will be perfect bliss!

Come, little mousey,

come into my housey!

Come with me, my precious,

I'll give you sweetmeats delicious!



GRETEL.

But say, what will you with my brother do?



THE WITCH.

Well, well!

I'll feed and fatten him up well,

with every sort of dainty delicious,

to make him tender and tasty.

And if he's brave and patient too,

and docile and obedient like a lamb,

then, Hansel, I'll whisper it you,

I have a great treat in store for you!



HANSEL.

Then speak out loud and whisper not.

What is the great treat in store for me?



THE WITCH.

Yes, my dear children, hearing and sight

in this great pleasure will disappear quite!



HANSEL.

Eh? both my hearing and seeing are good!

You'd better take care you do me no harm!

(Resolutely.)

Gretel, trust not her flattering words,

come, sister, come, let's run away!



(He has in the meantime got out of the rope, and runs with Gretel to the foreground. Here they are stopped by the Witch, who imperiously raises against them both a stick which hangs at her girdle, with repeated gestures of spellbinding.)



THE WITCH.

Hold!

(The stage becomes gradually darker.)

Hocus pocus, witches' charm!

Move not, as you fear my arm!

Back or forward do not try,

fixed you are by the evil eye!

Head on shoulders fixed awry!

Hocus, pocus, now comes jocus,

children, watch the magic head,

eyes are staring, dull as lead!

Now, you atom, off to bed!

(Fresh gestures. Then she leads Hansel, who is gazing fixedly at the illuminated head, into the stable, and shuts the lattice door upon him.)

Hocus pocus, bonus jocus,

malus locus, hocus pocus,

bonus jocus, malus locus!

(The stage gradually becomes lighter, whilst the light of the magic head diminishes. The Witch, contentedly to Gretel, who still stands there motionless.)

Now Gretel, be obedient and wise,

while Hansel's growing fat and nice.

We'll feed him up, you'll see my reason,

and with sweet almonds and raisins season.

I'll go indoors, the things to prepare,

and you remain here where you are!

(She grins as she holds up her finger warningly, and goes into the house.)

GRETEL (stiff and motionless).

O, what a horrid witch she is!



HANSEL (whispering hastily).

Gretel, sh! don't speak so loud!

Be very sharp, watch well and see

whatever she may do to me!

Pretend to do all she commands—

O, there she's coming back, sh! hush!

(The Witch comes out, satisfies herself that Gretel is still standing motionless, and then spreads before Hansel almonds and raisins from a basket.)