..

HANSEL AND GRETEL

A FAIIZY OPERi\. IN THREE ACTS

BY

ａ ｄ ｉ ｾ ｌ ｈ Ｑ ｾ ｉ ｄ WETTE

'!be music b\2 JEngelbert Ｑ ｢ ｵ ｴ ｮ ｰ ･ ｲ ｾ ｩ ｮ ｣ ｨ

Entered according to .\ct uf I ｾ Ｚ ｮ Ｚ ［ ｲ ｣ Ｍ ［ ｳ Ｌ in the year 1905, by F. ｒ ｃ ｌ ｌ ｾ ｌ ｜ ｘ Ｌ at the office of the

ｌ ｾ ｢ ｴ Ｌ ｬ ｬ [an o:- t 'on2:rcss at \\'ashington.

ARGUMENT.

IEinsel and Gretel is an opera in three acts, the mn:;ic by Engelbert Humper-dinck and the libretto by Adelheid \V cttc. It is the Ccrman version of the old

nur:;ery kg-end-I \abes in the vVood. The first scene discloses a wretched homestead. The two children, I bnsel

and Crctcl, arc at work- the hoy making brooms and the girl knitting stockings. They both complain of feeling very htmgr_\·, and there isn't a thing in the house. Yes, tlwre's a jn.< ()f milk that ,,·ill make nice blanc-mange when mother cnmcs home. l:Lmscl tastes it and Cretcl raps his fingers. He says he won't work any more and proposes they dance instead. Cretel is delighted. I lc is very awkward at first hut she tcaclws him the steps and they arc g-etting· along so famously that the\· whirl around the room ancl fall exhanstecl on the floor. At this moment the mother enters and she ｩ ｾ so angry at seeing them du no work that she boxes their ears for it. ln her excitement she gives the milk pitcher a push. It falls off the table, breaks in pieces, and spills all the milk. At this she is beside herself and seizes a basket and tells the children to go to the wood and pick strawberries. They must not come home till the basket: is full. They run off while she, weary of life, sits sobbing herself to sleep.

The father is heard in the distance with a joyous song and enters in a joyful mood. I Ie wakes up his unhappy wife to tell that he has sold all his brooms at the fair for splendid prices and he shows his basket full of provisions. Doth are thus in fine humor when he asks where the children are. She says she sent them away in disgrace to the Ilsenstein. The Ilsenstein! he exclaims, where the witches ride on broomsticks and devour little children. Exclaiming " Oh horror! " she runs out Gf the house, he after her, to find ｈ ｾ ｩ ｮ ｳ ｣ ｬ and Gretel.

The second act shows a forest. Gretel is making a garland of wild roses while Hansel is looking for strawberries. In the background is the Ilsensein. It is sun-set. ｈ ｾ ｩ ｮ ｳ ･ ｬ crowns Gretel queen of the wood ancl she allows him to taste a straw-berry. He gives her one in return and little by little they devour them all. Then they are frightened. They want to pick more but it is getting too dark. They want to leave but cannot find the way. Gret :1 fears being in the dark but Hansel is very brave. She sees faces in trees and stumps and he calls out to reassure her. Echo ansvvers and he grows frightened tc o. They huddle together as a thick mist arises which hides the background. Gretel, terror-stricken, falls on her knees and hides behind ｈ ｾ ｩ ｮ ｳ ･ ｬ Ｎ At this moment a little man appears, as the mist rises, and quiets them. It is the Sandman and he sings them to slumber. Half awake they say their evening prayer and sink down on the moss in each other's arms. A dazzling light then appears, the mist rolls itself into a staircase and angels pass down and group themselves about the two sleeping children.

In the third act the scene is the same, the mist still hiding the background. The Dawn Fairy shakes dewdrops on the children. They wake. but Hansel very lazily. They both have had dreams of angels coming to see them with shining wings. The mist now clears away and in the hackground is seen the ｷ ｩ ｴ ｣ ｨ ･ ｾ Ｇ

2

3

honse 1rith a fence of gingerbread figures. There are also seen an oven and a ｣ ｡ Ｎ ｾ ｌ ﾷ !l;tll:--cl \\·:tnh Ｑ Ａ ｾ go i11sidc and Ｈ ｾ ｲ ｣ ｴ ､ draws him back. But lLinscl says

the angel:; lh.·g·nilccl tlwir f<)(lhlL'JlS and \\·hy shouldn"t they nibble a bit at the cot-

tage: Th •. ·.\ ti]>h'L' tr1 the knee and l11Tak off a hit of the cake cautiously. The \\itch n >i,·v [:-, 'lll \\ ithin tl'lb thc111 tu g·o on nibbling. They like the gingerbread.

lt Ｎ ｳ ｵ ｩ ｴ ｾ tll\ 111 t:tlw•u:e!y :l!ld app:m:nti;. suir:; her tcH> as she watches them from her \\' i ]11 l (I\\'.

l ;lll :-:-11,. C< ｾ ｴ ｭ ﾷ ｳ '1Ut ',f tiE· huu:--c :tc_ the_\· arc joyously laughing and throws a

n']H' :th 111t J Linscl's ned-:: :tnd c:1n·sscs thcni. 1 Linscl tries to get away and calls

hvr ll:tl!lc:--. \\·hik she g('l'S <Ill ｾ ｾ ｡ ｹ ｩ ｮ ｧ hem· she lon·s thL'lll both-they arc such

daint\ ｬ ｬ ｬ ｩ ｾ ｲ ［ ［ ｣ ｊ Ｚ ･ Ｎ !Ltns,) tric:; tu n111 :l\\:ty and takes (;rctcl with him. But the

'.\itch cash :t :-:-pel! 1 111 them and they stand stock-still. Then she leads lLinscl to the ｾ ｟ Ｚ ｡ Ｚ Ｚ ｟ Ｚ ｬ Ｇ ;lnrl ,1Juts !Jilll ill ;md g·in·s him alnl<JJHb and raisins to fatten him up. She ]tl•l.,CJL' ( ;:-l'l\·1 ,,·ith the mag·iL' stick and says hmv nice and plump she'll he when

ｾ ｨ ･ Ｇ ｳ nJastcd llrtl\\.11. ｾ ｨ ･ opens the n\·cn and puts more fagots under it and says

tlw fin· \\ill s• ,, 111 lw ripe to push Cretd in. T n her jny she rides wildly round on a lml(im:-:-tid: \\·hile ( ;rctcl \\·atclw:-:- from the house.

The witch c:dJ;; ｃ ｾ ｲ ｣ ｴ ｣ ｬ nut and opens the o\·en door. ｈ ｾ ｩ ｮ ｳ ･ ｬ tells Gretel to

hnvan: an< 1 tlw \\itch tells her tc1 peep in the oven. Gretel pretends she does not

understand. She sccretlv disenchants lhnsel so that when the witch bends over

and pl'Cps intn the oven the_v give her a push and in she goes. Then they dance

wildh· about. I Iiinsel thrO\Ys sweetmeats out of the window. The oven cracks

open and falls into hits. \\·bile groups of children suddenly surround Hansel and

( ｾ ｲ ･ ｴ ｣ ｬ Ｎ Then they disenchant the gingerbread children who are very grateful.

As they are all dragging the gingerbread witch about, the Father and l\Iother come in and are overjoyed at finding their children again.

DRA:\L\TTS PERSONJE.

PETEH, Broom-maker.

CEHTJn ·nE, his wife.

ｾ ﾷ ｾ ｾ ｾ ｾ ｌ Ｌ jt their children. ( J I,J•, l J,_L,

TIIE \\'ncii who eats children.

ｓ ａ ｾ ｄ ｾ ｌ ｜ Ｒ Ｇ ｜ Ｌ the Sleep Fairy.

ｄ ｅ ｷ ｾ ｌ Ｇ ｉ Ｎ Ｚ ｜ Ｇ Ｌ the Da\vn Fairy.

CHILDHEN.

THE FournEEN ANGELS.

HANSEL UND GRETEL.

ERSTES BILD.

DAIIEil\I.

Erste Scene.

(Diirftige Stube. Im Hintergrunde reclzts cillc niedrigc Thiir, in dcr 11Iittc ein ldcincs Fenster mit Aussiclzt in den Wahl. Lin!.:s cin H crd mit cincm Rauclzfang dariibcr. Gcgen iibcr an dcr rcclztcn lVand hiingcn Bcscn in 'Z.!cr-schicdcncn FonncJz. 1-Iiinscl, an dcr Thiirc mit Bcscnbindcn, Gretel, am If crdc JJ/ it Strzwz pfstric !.:en bcsclziif tigt, sit::en auf Sclzelllcln eiJUmdcr gcgcJZ-iibcr.)

GRETEL.

Suse, liebe Suse, was raschclt im Stroh? Die ｇ ｾ ｩ ｮ ｳ ･ gchn harfuss unci haben kein' SchulL Der Schuster hat's Leder, kcin'n Lcistcn clazu. Drum kann er den ｇ ｾ ｩ ｮ ｳ ｬ ｣ ｩ ｮauch machcn kein' Schuh.

TL\NSEL.

Eia popeia, das ist cine Not! Wer schenkt mir einen Dreier zu Zucker unci Rrot? Verkauf ich mein Bettlein unci leg mich auf's Stroh, sticht mich keine Feder unci beisst mich kein Floh !

( Wirft den Be sen in cine Eckc wzd spring,t auf.)

Ach, kam doch die l\1 utter nun endlich nach Hans!

GRETEL.

Auch ich halt's kaum noch vor Hunger a us.

ｽ ｌ Ｚ ｜ ｾ ｳ ｅ ｌ Ｎ

GRETEL.

Still, Hansel, denk daran, was Vater sagt, wenn Mutter manchmal so verz2.gt: ,vV enn die Not auf's hochste steigt, Gott cler Herr die Hanel euch reicht !"

H;\NSEL.

J awohl, das klingt ganz schon unci glatt, aber ]eider wircl man davon nicht satt. Ach, Gretel, wie lang' ist's cloch schon

her, class vvir nichts Gutes geschmauset mehr! Eierflaclen uncl Buttenvecken-kaum weiss ich noch, wie die thun

schmecken. (Dcm TVcincn nahe.)

Ach, Gretel, ich wollt' ...

GRETEL (ilz 111 den J1fund ::ulzaltcJid).

Still, nicht verclricsslich sein: Gcdulde dich fcin, sieh freundlich drcin! Dies lange Gcsicht,-lm, wclchcr Graus! Siehst ja wic der leibhaftige Griesgram

aus! Gricsgram, hinans! Fort aus clem Haus! Ich will dich lehren, Herz zu beschweren, Sorgen zu mehren, Freudcn zu wehren:

Griesgram. Griesgram. grculichcr \Vicht, g-riesiges, gramiges Galgengesicht, packe dich, trolle clich, schabiger Wicht!

1-L\ ｾ ｓ ｅ ｌ ＮGriesgram, hinans! Halt's nicht nwhr a us! Immer mich plagen, H ungertucl: nagen, muss ja verzagen, ma.g-'s nicht ertrag-er.!

Griesgram, Griesg-ram. g-reulicher \Vicht, griesiges, gramig-es Galgeng-esicht. packe dich, trolle dich, schabiger \Vicht!

GRETEL.

So recht! Und willst du nun nicht mehr Seit Wochen nichts als trocken Drot: klag-en, ist das ein Elencl! Potz schwere Not! 1 so will ich dir auch ein Geheimnis sagen.

4

HANSEL AND GRETEL.

ACT I.

AT HOl\IE.

Scene I.

(Small. poorl:,' fu rnislzcd room. I 11 tlzc background a door. a small 'Windo'Z(.! ncar it with a 'Z'iC'ZL' into the forest. 0 1l

the left a fireplace. 'ZUitlz chimney abocz·c it. On the czcalls. IIWil)' brooms of 'Z'a-rious ｳ ｩ ｾ ｣ ｳ Ｎ Iliinscl sits ncar tlzc door, making brooms. and Gretel opposite him by the fireplace, knitting a stoc/::-ing.)

GRETEL.

Snsy, little Snsy, pray what is the n::ws? The geese are running barefoot, because

the\·'ve no shoes! The cobbler has leather, ancl plenty to

spare, why can't he make the poor goose a new

pair?

J-L\xsEL

Then they '11 have to go b:uefoot! Eia-popeia, pray what's to be clone? \Vho'll give me milk and sugar, for bread

I have none? I'll go back to Led and I'll lie there all

dav· where tl{ere's nought to eat, then there's

nothing to pay !

GRETEL.

Then we'll have to go hungry!

H"\NSEL.

If mother woulcl only come home again! Yes, T am so hungry. I don't know \Yhat to do! For weaks I've eaten nought but bread-It's very hard, it is indeed!

GRETEL.

Hush, ｈ ｡ ｮ ｾ ･ ｬ Ｌ don't forget what father said,

when mother, too. wished she were dead: " \Vhen past hearing is onr grief, Then 'tis Heaven will send relief! "

5

HANSEL.

Yes. yes, that sounds all very fine, but yon know off maxims we cannot

ｾ ｬ ｩ ｮ ･ ! () Crct. it would be such a treat if \\'e had something nice to eat! Eggs and butter and suet paste, 1 've almost forgotten how they taste.

( "V early crying.) () Cretel, I wish-

GRETEL.

JT ush, don't give way to grumps; haYe patience awhile, no doleful clumps! This woful face. \vhe\v! what a sig-ht! Looks like a horrid olcl crosspatch fright!

Crosspatch. away! Lea\·e me. I pray! Just let me reach you, quickly I '11 teach you how to make trouble, soon mount to double! Crosspatch, crosspatch, \':hat is the use, gro\Yling and grumbling, full of abuse? ()ff with ym1- out with you, shame on :·ou, goose!

IL\NSEL.

Crosspatch. awav! Hard lines. T say.

l

r \\"hen 1 ｾ Ｌ Ｚ ［ ｾ ｾ ｾ ｾ Ｚ Ｌ Ｚ ｾ ｲ ｹ ＬsurelY I can sa\· so, ｣ ｡ ｮ ｮ ｾ Ｉ ｴ allaY ｳ ｯ ｾcan't chase. away so!

I

l GHETEL.

If T am hungry, 1 '11 nenT sav so, \Yill not gin: way so, chase it aw·ay so!

GRETEL.

That's right. ::\ow, if you leave off com-plaining,

I'll tell you a most delightful secret!

I-L\KSEL. GRETEL.

Ein Gehcimnis? \Vird \Yohl was 1\cchtcs sein!

ｇ ｷ ｾ ｔ ｅ ｌ Ｎ

J a, hiir nur, Briidcrchcn! Darfst dich sclwn frcun,

Cud: her in den Topf, i\Iilch ist (brin, die sclwnktc uns bculc die N achharin. J'd ut tcr kocht nns, kommt sic nach H a us, gew1ss cincn leckcrcn Heishrci darans.

IL\NSEL (mit Jucll.c:cn).

Hcisbrci, I\eishrei, hcrrlichcr ｂ ｲ ･ ｩ ｾGieht's 1\eishrci, da ist I Lin sci dahei! \Vie dick ist der 1\ahm auf dcr :\l ilch!

Lass schmerkcn!

(Nasclzt mit don Finger.)

Herrjcminc, den m(icht' ich ganz ver-schlcckcn!

\!Vie, J bnscl, naschen? Sch;imst clu dich nicht?

Fort mit den :ringcrn, du naschhafter vVicht!

( Gicbt ilun c111s auf die Finger.)

Unci ictzt an die "\rhcit zuri.ick, gc-sc.hwind,

dass wir hcizcitcn fcrtig sind! Kommt :\ Iutter nach II a us, und wir tha-

tcn nicht rccht, Dann, wcisst du. gl'ht cs den l<'aulpelzcn

schlccht.

I-L\NSEL.

Arhcitcn? Brr! \Vo den kst du hin? Danach steht mir ietzt nicht clcr Sinn. I nJmc!· mich plagci1, das Lilll mir nicht

Clll,

jetzl lass uns tanzcn und friihlich scin!

GRETEL (cnrc:iid·t).

Tanzcn? Das \\·;ir' auch mir cine Lust! Dazu ein T .icdchcn a us frolwr f\rust. wic's uns die ::\T ulnnc .!:.;-ckhri zu singcn: Tandicdclzcn snl1 jctzt lustig crklingen!

( Klatsclzt in die !J:iudc.)

Briiderchcn. knmm, tanz' mit mir, !wide Hiinclchcn reich' ich Dir;

cinmal hin, cinmal her, rund herum, cs ist nicht schwer I

I-L'.NSEL.

Tanzen soli ich arnwr \Vicht, Schwestcrlein, und kann es nicht. Darum zeig' mir, wic cs Brauch, dass ich tanzcn Ierne auch!

l\ I it den Fiisschcn tapp tapp tapp, mit den lliindchcn klapp klapp klapp,

cinmal hin, cin1nal her, rund hcrum, cs ist nicht schwcr.

Jl ;\ X::lEL.

l\Iit den Fiisschen tapp tapp tapp, mit den 1 hndclwn klapp klapp klapp

9

einmal hin. cinmal her, nmd hcrum, cs ist nicht sclm·er.

GHETEL.

Ei, das hast Du g-ut gemacht, ei. das hiitt' ich nicht gcdacht! Scht mir doch den 1 bnscl an. wie dcr tanzcn lcrncn kann!

}\I it dem Kiipfclwn nick nick nick, mit dcm Fing-crchcn tick tick tick,

cinmal hin. cinmal her, nmd hcrmn, cs ist nicht schwcr!

1-L\I\SEL.

l\lit dem Kiipfchcn nick nick nick, mit dcm ｆ ｩ ｮ ｾ ｾ ﾷ ｣ ｲ ｣ ｨ ｣ ｮ tick tick tick,

cinmal hin, cinmal her, rnnd henm1, cs ist nicht sclm·er!

CRETEL.

llilnscl, komm und gich mal acht, wic 's die ｃ ｾ ｲ ｣ ｴ ｣ ｬ \\Titer macht! T .ass uns ;\ rm in Arm vcrschriinken, unsrc Schrit tclwn paarwcis Ienken!

Ich Iiebe Tanz und Friihlichkcit und bin nicht ｾ Ｍ ･ ｲ ｮ allcin: ich bin kein l•'rcund yon Traurigkcit, und friihlich will ich scin.

Tralala, trala1a, tralala 1a la. Drch dich hcrum, mcin lichcr Hans!

(Bcidc ltllztall.:;cn sirh i!.-C.I!,Cllscitig.)

GRETEL.

Komm her zn mir, komm her zu mir, zum Hingclrcigentanz!

1-L\:.:-sEL.

Gch weg von mir, geh wcg von mir, ich hin dcr stolzc T Ltns! l\1 it klcinen l\Tiidchcn tanz ich nicht, die sind mir yiel zu dumm!

GRETEL.

Geh. dummcr Hans, geh, stolzer Hans, ich krieg dich doch herum!

Tralala. tralala, tralala la Ia, dreh dich hcn1m. mcin licber Hans!

IL\\'SEL A\'D CHETEL. 7

IL\xsn .. 0 delightful! it must bl: something nice!

GRETEL.

\Veil, listen, brother kin -- \\·on 't ,·on be glad! ·

Look here in the jug, here is fresh milk, 'twas ,!.?,"iH·n to-day by our neig·hhour. ancl mother, when she comes hack home, will certainly make us a rice-blancmange.

ｉ ｌ ｜ ｸ ｾ ｅ ｌ

(joyfuTl_l' dances round the roo111·).

"Rice-hbnrJnang-c! ｜ ｖ ｨ ｣ Ｑ ｾ blancmange is anywl1cre near, then JLinscl. 1Tiinsc1. TLlnscl, is there! II ow thick is the cream on the milk; 1 e t 's t1 5t c it ｾ () c; em in i ｾ

\vouldn't I like to drink it! (Tasting it.)

CJ{ETEL.

\Vhat, Hiinscl, tasting? Aren't von ;1shamed?

Out v;ith nn1r fingers quick, greedy hoy!

( Ci·z·cs !1illl a rap on tlzc fingers.) Get ))ad;: to your work ag:ain, he qnick, that \H: ma,· both have done in time! If rnotlwr .comes and we haven't done

ｲ ｩ ｾ ｾ ﾷ ｨ ｴ Ｌ

then badly it ,,·ill fare \vith us to-night!

J-L\NSEL. \York ag·ain? \.'o, not for me! Th;tt';; 1wt m\· idea at a11: it doesn't snit me! lt's such a bore! Danci-ng is jollier far, I'm sure!

CRETFL ( dl'lig/zt,·d). Dancing:. dancing! 0 yes, that's llcttcr

far; and ｾ ｩ ｮ ｧ a scmg to keep t1c; in time! One that our grandmother usc(l to smg-

n ｾ ｾ : sing then, an<l dance in time to the sing·-

ing! (Claf's her hands.·)

Drothcr, come and <lance \Yith me, both tn\· hands T offer thee;

ric;ht foot first, ldt font then.

rotHHl about and back again!

IL\xsEL (tries to do it. but ml'!,;7.1.mrdly). I wendel clane:e, hut don't knmv he)\\·, \dwn to jump, and when L) bow: show me what J ought to do, so that I may dance like you.

GRETEL.

\Vith your foot you tap, tap, tap; with your hands you clap, clap, clap;

right foot first, left foot then,

round about and hack again!

I L\s::-11:L. \\'ith your hands you clap, clap, clap; \\·ith your foot ynu tap, tap, tap;

right foot iirst, left foot then,

nnmcl about and hark ag·ain!

Ｈ ｾ ｊ ｻ ｅ ｔ ｅ ｌ Ｎ

That \vas very good indeed, ( ), I'm sure You'll SO()ll sncc,·cd! Try again, ｾ ｵ ｻ ､ T can sec l Llnscl soon will dance like me!

( Chtf's her hands.) \ \rith your head yon nick, nick. nick; with your fingers you click, click, click;

rig·ht foot first, left foot then,

round about and back again.

Tl:\'\SEL.

\Yith your head Hll1 nick, nick. nick: \Yith your fing-crs nlu click, click. click:

right foot fi'rst, ldt font then,

round about an(l back again!

CRETEL.

I ｾ ｲ ｯ ｴ ｨ ･ ｲ Ｌ \Yatch \\·hat next T cln, y<1ll must dn it \rith me ton. You to me ynur ann must proffer, I shall not rdusc 1nur ｯ ｦ ｦ ･ ｲ ｾCumc! ·

noT II.

\Yhat I enim· is dance and jollity, love to ｨ ｡ ｾ ﾷ ･ ﾷ ｭ Ｌ ﾷ fling: in fact, I like frinJ1it \·, ;md all that kind of ti1ing.

( 1RETEL.

Trabla, tralab, tralala! Come and l1avc a twirl, my dearest

I Iiinsvl. Cilllll' and 1Jaye a turn with me, I pray; crllll'-' here to me, ｃ ｬ ｾ ｭ ｣ here to me, I'm ｾ ｾ ｵ ｲ ｣ you can't say nay!

IT \:\:-;EL ( ,!.!,1'11{(1y). Co a\Yay from me. g·r) a\\·ay from me, l 'm much too prnn1l f1 JJ- ,-ou: with little Ｎ ｾ ﾷ ｩ ｲ ｬ ｳ T do not clanCl'. ancl su, my dear, adieu !

ｃ ｲ ｾ ｅ ｔ ｅ ｌ Ｎ

Co. stupid l1ans. conceited Hans. ,.(Ju'll sec T'llmake YOU cbncc! ｾ ｲ ｲ ｡ ｬ ｡ ｬ ｡ Ｎ tralala. tralala! Conw and have a twirL mv dearest

Hiinscl, · come and have a turn with me, I pray!

s ｈ ｘ ｾ ｓ ｅ ｌ UND GRETEL.

HANSEL.

Ach, Schwesterlein, ach, Gretelein, Du hast im Strumpf ein Loch!

GRETEL.

Ach Driiderlein, ach Hanselein, Du willst mich ｨ ｾ ｩ ｮ ｳ ･ ｬ ｮ noch! lV1it bosen Buben tanz ich 11;cht, das ist mir viel zu dumm!

I-V .. NSEL.

Nicht bose sein, lieb Schwesterlein, ich krieg Dich cloch herum !

Tralala, tralala, trabla, la la, Dreh dich cloch hernm, mein Gretelein!

r HANSEL.

Tanz lustig, heissa, lustig tanz! Lass dich's nicht gereu'n;

uhcl ist cler Strumpf auch nicht 1 mchr ｧ ｡ ｭ ｾ ＬI die 11utter strickt dir 'n neu'n! f Dreh clich doch herum ! l Sei nicht so clumm! ｾ Tralala, tralala tl. s. w.

GRETEL.

Tanz lustig, heissa, lustig tanz! Lass dich's nicht gereu'n;

unci ist cler Schuh' auch nicht mehr ganz,

der Schuster flickt clir 'n neu'n! Dreh dich cloch herum !

l Sei nicht so clumm! Tralala, tralala 11. s. w.

(Jfit 'Z'crschlungcnen I!iinden umtan:;en sic sich immcr ausgclasscncrJ bis sic beide iibereinandcr ::.:n Boden pur::.:eln. In dicscm Augcnblick gelzt die Thiir auf.)

Zweite Scene.

1\,fuTTER

(mit einer Kiepe auf dem Riiclun). Rolla!

Hi\ KSEL U.ND GHETEL

( crsclzrecllt auf springcnd). Himmel, die 11 utter!

( V erlcgenlzeit.)

1\I l'TTER.

\Vas ist das fiir cine Geschichte?

Der Hansel ...

Er wollte ..•

GRETEL.

HANSEL.

Die Gretel ...

GRETEL.

HANSEL.

Ich so lite ..•

!vi UTTER (in Zorn ausbrechend). vVartet, ihr ungezogenen Wichte!

(Set:;t ihrP Kiepe nieder.) N ennt ihr clc.v Arbeit? J ohlen und

singen? Wie auf cL1· Kirmes tanzen unci

springen? I ndes die Eltern vom friihen Morgen bis spat in die N acht sich miihen unci

sorgen? Dass clich! Ｈ ｾ ｩ ･ ｢ ｴ Hiinseln einen Puff.)

La sst seh · .l, was habt ihr beschickt? - vVie. Gretel, den Strumpf nicht fertig

gestrickt? - Und clu?-Du, Schlingel! In all den

Stun den nicht mal clie wcnigen Desen gebunden? Ihr unniitzigen Rangen! Den Stock will

ich holen, den Faulpelz \vcrd' ich euch heiden ver-

sohlen! (!11 ilzrem Eifcr hinter den Kindern her

stosst sic dCJz Jl.filclztopf 'Z'Om Tisck} dass er klirrcnd :;u Boden fallt.)

Jesses! Nun auch den Topf noch zer-brochen!

(TV cinend.) \Vas soil ich nun zum Abend kochen? Ｈ ｂ ｣ ｳ ｩ ｣ ｬ ｺ ｾ ihrcn mit il!ilch begossenert

Rock; H iinsel !?iclzcrt 'Z/crstolzlen.) vVas, Dengel, du lachst mich noch a us? (1v!it dem Stoc!? hinter Hans her, der zur

offcnen Tlz iir lzinausrennt.) \Vart, kommt nur der Vater nach

Haus-( Rcisst cinen ldeincn K orb von der Wand

lllld driingt ilzn Gretel in die Hand.) 1\Tarsch, fort- in den W;:tlcl! Dort sucht mir Erdbeercn!-Nun, wird

es bald? ( Trcibt auch Gretel :;ur Stu be hinaus und , drolzt mit dcm Stoc/::e den sich furclu-

sam 11111schaucndcn Kindenz.) Unci bringt ihr den Korb nicht voll bis

zum Rand, so han ich cuch, class ihr fliegt an die

\Vand! ( ｓ ｣ ｴ Ｎ ｾ Ｚ ｴ sich crschdpft an den Tisch.)

Da liegt nun dcr gute Top£ in Scherben! Ja, blinder Eifer bringt immer Ver-

derhcn.-Herrgott, wirf Geld herab! Nichts hab'

ich zn lcben, kein Kriimchen den vViirmern zu essen

zu gehen: kein Tr6pfchen im Topfe, kein Kriistchen

im Schrank,

H.:\NSEL AND GRETEL. 9

HANSEL.

0 Gretel dear, 0 sister dear, your stocking has a hole !

GRETEL.

0 ｈ ｾ ｩ ｮ ｳ ･ ｬ dear, 0 brother clear, d 'yon take me for a fool? vVith naughty boys I do not dance, and so, my dear, adieu!

H;\NSEL.

?\row don't be cross, you silly goose, you '11 see I make you dance !

Tralala. tralala, tralala!

r ｇ ｭ ｾ ｔ ｅ ｌ Ｎ

dear-

I Come and have a twirL my

est I-Linsel,

J

come and have a turn with me. I pray.

Siner lustilv hurrah! hurrah! whi'le I dai1ce with ,·ou; and if the stocking; are in holes, why, mother'll knit some new!

HANSEL.

Tralala. tralala, tralala! 1 Sing lustily hurrah! hurrah!

\vhile I dance with vou;

l and if the shoes are-all in holes, whv mother'll buy some new!

· Tralala, ｴ ｲ ｡ ｬ ｾ ｬ ｡ Ｌ tralala! ( Tlzry dance 1'01l11d each other as before.

Tlzev then seize each other's hands and g-o 'round in a circle, quiclwr and ｾ ｊ ｬ ｬ ｚ ｣ ｫ ･ ｲ Ｌ until at length the_v lose their balance and tumble m·er one another on the floor.)

Scene II.

(At this moment the door opens, the mother appears, 'Whereupon tlze chil-dren jump up quic/(/y.)

lVToTIIEH. Ballo!

ｉ Ｍ Ｍ ｌ ｜ ｾ ｓ ｅ ｌ AKD GRETEL.

Heavens! Here's mother!

1\foTIIER.

vVhat is all this disturbance?

GRETEL.

'Twas Hansel, he wanted -

HANSEL.

'Twas Gretel, she said I-

l\ToniER. Silence, idle and ill-behaved children!

(The mother comes in, unstraps the basket, and puts it dow11.)

Call you it working, yodelling and sing-ing?

As through 'twere fair time, hopping and springing!

And _while your parents from early morn-mg

till late at night are slaving and toiling! Take that!

(Gives fliinsel a box on tlze ear.)

Now come, let's see what you've done. \Vhy, Gretel, your stocking not ready

vl't? And-vou, vou lazvbones, have vou noth-

ii1g t; show?. -Prav how manv besoms have vou -fin-

.ishccl? · -I'll fetch mv stick, vou useless children, and make y'our idle. fingers tingle!

(In her indip:nation at the children she gi'ZJCS the nz il!(-j11g a push, so that it falls off the table 'with a smash.)

Gracious! there's goes the jug all to pieces!

\Vhat now can I cook for supper?

(She looks at her dress, dmc'Jl zc•lzich the mill? is streallling. I-fiinsel coz;ertly titters.)

How, saucy, how dare you laugh?

(Goes with a stid' after I-Iiinsel, 'lc•ho ru11s out at the open door.)

Vvait. wait till the father comes home!

( TVith sudden energy she snatches a bas/(ef franz the zcall, and pokes it into Gretel's hands.)

Off. off. to the \\·ood! There seck for strawberries! Quick,

awav! And if }:On don't bring the basket hrim-

f ul. I'll whip you so that you'll both run

away!

(The children run off into the ·wood. She sits down exhausted b)' the table.)

Alas! there my poor jug lies a11 in pieces! Yes. blind excitement only brings ruin. 0 Heaven, send help to me! Nought have I to give them-

(Sobbing.) No bread, not a ｣ ｲ ｵ ｭ ｢ ｾ for my starving

children!

IO

scl1on lange nichts als \Vasser zum Trank. Ｈ ｓ ｴ ｩ ｩ ｴ Ｎ ｾ Ｇ ｴ den f{op/ llltf da lland.)

:J'viiidc bin ich ---- mtidl' Zll11l Stcrhcn ---Herrgott, \\·irf c;cld ｨ ｣ ｲ ｾ ｬ ｬ ＾ Ｍ Ｍ

( L t' ,!!, t d c 11 f{ o l'i a 11 / d ( · 11 • 1 n 11 1111 d s c lz hi f t Clll.)

Dritte Scene.

(J!(/Jz hc'irt cin(' ,)'tinlllzc -.:·on drausscn:)

Ach, wir armcn, armcn Lcutc! Alle Tagc S() \\ ic· hl'lltc': Jn clc111 J \cutcl ci11 gT(lSSCS f "och unci im Ｎ ｜ ｌ ｉ Ｎ ｾ ﾷ ｣ ｮ cin gTiiss'rl'S noch-

1\alblala, ralblala, Hunger ist dcr hcstc l(och!

(Am Fenster t.cird dcr Kof'f des Vaters sichfl)(lr, da ·z,·c'ihrt'nd d!'s Fo(!.!,cJZd£'11 in angclzcitcrft'lll /:ustandc lllit cincm 1\obcr auf dcnz Riickcn in die Stubc tritt.)

Ja, ihr Rcichcn kiinnt cuch lahcn! \Vir, die nichts ztt cSSl'll hahcn, nagcn, ach, die gaJJZc \\'och', sichcn Ta,c,· an cincm Knoch'!

Rallalala, rallalala, lf unger ist dcr bestc J(och! Ach, wir sind ja gcrn zu fricden, dcnn das (;]lick ist so \Trschicdcn, aLer, ahc-r \\·ahr ist's dnch: Armut ist cin scl1\n·rcs fnch!

1\:dl:tbh, rallabla: I r ung-c;- ist dcT lll'Stc i(cwh!

( 1 ｾ r s c t ::.: t sci 11 c n Ｏ ｜ ｾ o 11 c r n i (, d c r un d t r itt an di(' Ralllpc.)

J a ja, dcr T lungcr kncht ｾ ｣ ｨ ｯ ｮ gut, ｾ ＼ ｬ ｦ ｣ ｲ ｮ cr k(lilllllandicn'n tlmt. :\ llcin was nn t zt 1 kr K1 )1llmandi1r, fdllt euch im T()pf die 7uhchiir?

Rallabla, ralblala, '' iimmcl ist mein Lciblik(ir!

1\allalala, rallala la, :\ r utter, schau, was ich bcschcer!

( Gicht i!zr cincn dcrbcn Sclznzat:::.)

l\1 UTTER ( sic!z die .1 ugcn rcibcnd).

Tlohn!-vVer spck-spcktakelt mir da i111 Haus unci rallalakclt aus dcm Schlaf mich heraus?

｜ ｾ Ｎ ｜ ｔ ｅ ｒ (lallcnd).

Das toile Tier, im ).[agcn hicr, das hclltc s1 1, das glaubc mir!

1\.allalala, rallalala, IT unger ist cin tollcs Tier.

l<allalab, rallalala. beisst und kratzt, cbs glaube mir!

l\fcTTEl{.

ｳ ｾ l. so! Das tollc Tier, es ist ,,.< )hl schicr

stark angczl·cht-das glauhe mir!

Y.\TER

:'\1111 ia, 's \\·ar hcnt cin hcitr,·,- Ta['·! Fandst du nicht auch, lich' \ \' cib ?. ·

1\T CTTER ( iirgaficlz).

Ach gch! Du ,,·cisst, nicht lcidcn ma5 ich \\-irtshaus-Zcitvcrtrcih!

\'.\TER (::..If SCl//C/11 [\'obcr sic/z '(('C!!d,·J!d).

Anch g·ut! So schcn \rir, ,,·cnn's bcliebt, \\·as cs fii;- bent zn sclimausen 12,·icht.

l\1 L'TTER.

Ff6chst einfach ist 1bs Speisregister der .\bcndsclnnaus -- zum lh·nklT ist cr!

Teller leer, l'l'lkr ker,

! und 1111 Ucutel ist gar nichts mchr.

\'.\TEll..

f\allalab, rallalala. lustig. ;'\I utter, bin auch noch da!

｝ ｻ ｾ ｴ ｬ ｬ ｡ ｬ ｡ b, ra lla1ala, bring·c Chick und Clm-ia!

( N i Ill! 11 t d c n ｛ ｜ ｾ o b cr 1111 d 1.: ra 111 t a 1t s.)

Schau, ). ]utter! \Vie ｧ ､ ｾ ｩ ｬ ｬ ｴ Dir dies F'utter?

.:\ f ｬ ｾ ｔ ｔ ｅ ｒ Ｎ

:\Tann, was seh' ich? Speck 1.111cl Dutter! :\fehl und \Viirstc! ... vicrzclm Eier-- :\ T ann! Sic sind i etztundc:· tcner! -f\ohncn, ｺ ｜ ｜ ｾ ｩ ｣ ｨ ｣ ｬ ｮ un;l -- herrjch! c-;a r ci n viertel Pfund Ka ffct· !

TL\:'\SEL :\:'\D CRETEL. II

:'\n cru:;t in the cupboard, no milk in the pot-

(Restinp: lzer lzcad on her lzands.) \\'cary am f. \vcary of living! Father, send help tu me! (Lays ha head doccm 011 her arm and

drops to sleep.)

Scene III.

( ｾ ﾷ Ｑ 'L'oicc is heard in the distance.) Tralala, tralala! littk mother, here am I! Tralala, tralala! bringing· luck and j(>l-

lih·! (Rather nearer.)

0, for you ancl me. poor mother, enT\' cla,- is like the other; \\·itl; a hlg hole in the purse, ancl in the st• >mach an even worse.

Tralala. tralala! Hunger is the poor man's cnrsc!

Tralala. tralala! Hunger is thl· poor man's curse! ( Tlzc fatltcr arrears at the ccindo'cl'. an1l

during the fo!lo'Lc'ing lzc comes into t!tc room in· a 'L'CI'_\' happy mood, 'L('lfll a bas!,·et on his bac!.:.)

'Tisn 't much that \\T require, just a little foocl and fire! .Hut alas! it\.; true enough, life en some of ns is rnngb! H tmrrcr is a customer tnup-h! (or) Y cs, the rich enjoys his ､ ｩ ｴ ｾ ｾ ｷ ｲ Ｌ . . \\·hik the poor grc)\\·s daily thinner! StriVl'S tn cat, as well he ma,·. somn\·hat kss than ｹ ･ ｳ ｴ ｣ ｲ ｣ ｬ ［ ｾ \.!

(Colli tfai'nin,:_:,!y. )-Tralala, trala1a!

hunger is the <lcYil to pay! Tralala. tralala ｾ

lnmg-cr is the cln·il to ｰ ｡ ｾ ﾷ Ａ( lf<' ru/.1' do·z,•n /zis husl'ct.l

Yes. hm1g·1·r's all yvn· \\Tll tn feel. if y()\1 ｣ ｡ ｾ Ｑ g·ct a g-no;l square nwal; hut \.·hen there's noug·llt. \\·hat ern ynn

cln. suppo.sing the purse he empty tl)(\?

Tralabla. tralalala ｾ0 for a clrnp of mcnmtain clew!

ｔ ｲ ｡ ｬ ｾ ｬ ｡ ｬ ｡ Ｌ tra1alala! 1\Tot!wr. look \\·hat I b;J.\T ｢ ｲ ｯ ｵ ｧ ｨ ｴ ｾ

(Reels o·z·cr to his ｳ ｬ ｬ Ｇ ｣ ｲ ｩ ｮ Ｎ ｾ ﾷ <l'ifc ｡ ｮ ｾ :c::,h.·cs !1cr a sJnad·in,!.!,· li·iss.)

1\IoTIIER (rubbing lzcr eyes).

Oho!-\\'ho's sing-sing-singing all arnnncl the housr, and tra-la-la-ing me out of my sleep?

F.\T1 1 ER ( inarticulatcl:y). Hnw now!--The hungry hcast ,._·ithin m\· breast calkd so .fen· foocl I could not rest! Trabla, tralala! I lung-cr is an urgent beast! Tralala. tralala! pinches. gna\rs, and gives no rest!

:\ T ClT II ER.

ｾ ｯ Ｎ sn! "\ nd this \\·ild beast, ｾ Ｈ ｮ Ｑ g:an· him a feast. I Te's had his fill, tu sa\' the least!

F \TilER.

'.V elL \TS! I I'm! it was a lovelv day, d()n't ｾ Ｍ ｯ ｵ think so. dear wife? .

· ( Tfants to kiss Iter.)

i\fclTIIER

(pushing him angril_\' Ａ ｬ Ｇ ｾ ｭ ｹ Ｎ excitedly). !Jan' done! Yon have no ｴ ｲ ｮ ｵ ｨ ｫ ｾ to

bear, "tis I must keep the house!

F \TilER.

\\\·11. well.- then let us sec. m,· clear, \rhat \\T ban' g-ot to cat to-day.·

:\foTil EK

:Jnst simple is the hill of Lrrc. nur supper's g·onc. I ktW\\- ll(lt where! 1.anlcr hare, cellar hare. twthing, and ー ｬ ｾ ﾷ ｮ ｴ ｾ of it to spare!

F.\TII ER.

Tralalah. tralalala! Cheer up, mother. t()r here am T, l>ring·ing· lurk and ｪ ｯ ｬ ｬ ｩ ｴ ｾ ﾷ ｾ

1/ /(' tal·t's his hask(·t (rnd ｢ ･ Ｚ ｾ ins f(J dis-pi(/_\' the COI/fCII!S.)

T ｾ ｾ Ｉ Ｈ >k. mot her. dcw:;n 't ;o.ll this fn(Hl please nm?

-:\lrrriTFR. :\I a11, man. \\·hat sec 1 ? 11 a111 and lllltter, f], ｾ ｵ Ｚ and sausage-c,,,.,,.s a d()zcn ( ｣ ｩ Ｇ ｲ ｵ ｾ ｬ ｾ ｡ ｮ c 1.. :m·d· t hc1· cost a f( Jrt nne!) Turnips, nnirJlh, an·d-fnr me! :\early half a pound uf tl'a!

P.nTH. ｬ ｾ ｲ ｡ ｬ ｡ ｬ ｡ Ｎ tralala. l1ip hurrah!· \ \'on't \\T ha \·e a festive time! Tralala, hip hurrah! \ \' on't \H' have a happy time!

Kow listen how it all came ahout!

12 ｈ ａ ｾ ｓ ｅ ｌ L"ND GRETEL.

VATER

(l?elzrt den Kober ｾ ﾷ ｯ ｬ ｬ ･ ｮ ､ ｳ um. Ein Haufcn Kartoffcln rollt :::ur Erdc. Beide fasseJZ sich am Arm und tan:::cn in dcr Stube 11mhcr).

Rallalala, hopsassa! Heute woll'n wir lustig scin! Ja, hor nur, l\Iiitterchen, ｷ ｩ ･ Ｇ ｾ geschah!

(Die ｾ ｬ ｦ ｵ ｴ ｴ ｣ ｲ J.:ramt die Sachcn in den Schran/;; cin. maclzt Feuer im Herd an, sclzliigt Eicr in cine Sclziisscl 11. s. >Lcr.)

Driihen hinterm Herrenwald ｰ ｲ ｾ ｩ ｣ ｨ ｴ Ｇ ｧ ･ Fcste gieht 's da bald, Kinnes, Hochzcit, J ｮ ｢ ｩ ｬ ｾ ｩ ｮ ｭ ＬBollerknall unci gross Teclenm. 11cin ｇ ｣ ｳ ｣ ｨ ｾ ｩ ｦ ｴ kommt nun zur Bliite; dessen froh sei Dcin Gcmiite! Sieh! \ver fcines f<'cst will fciern, der muss kehrcn, schrubbcn unci schen-

ern. Bot clrnm meinc \Varcn ans, zog damit von H a us zn Hans:

.. Kauft Beseu! Gute Feger! Feinc Tiiirsten! ｓ ｰ ｩ ｮ ｮ ･ ｪ ｾ ｩ ｧ ｣ ｲ !"

Sieh, da verkauft' ich masscmvcise meinc \Varen zum hochsten Freise!-Schnell nun her mit Topf und Pfanne, her mit Kessel, Schiissel, Kanne !

BE IDE.

Vi vat hoch die Besenbinder!

VATER.

Doch halt-wo bleiben die Kinder? Hansel! Gretel!-\Vo steckt der Hans? \Vo er steckt? Ta, wiisste man's! X ur clas weiss ich ldar wie Tag, class der Topf in Scherb en lag!

VATER (:::onzig).

\Vas? der neue Topf entzwei?

-:\TeTTER.

Cnd am Boden quoll cler Brei!

VATER

(mit der Faust auf den Tisch schlagend).

Donnerkeil! So haben die Rangen Unfug wiecler angefangen?

l\:fUTTER.

l:Jnfug viel unci Arheit keine ｨ ｡ Ｎ ｾ ｴ ･ ｮ sic getrieben alleine. Horte schon draussen sie juchzen und

johlen,

hopsen unci springen wie wilde Fohlen, wusste nicht, \vie mir stand der Kopf, U nd vor Zorn

\TATER.

- zerbrach cler Top£. Hahahaha!

(Be ide laclzen a us >L•ollcm H alse.)

Na, Zornmiitterchen, nimm mir's nicht krumm,

solche Zorntopfe fincl' ich recht dumm! Doch sag, wo mogen die Kinderchen

sein?

l\fuTTER (sclznippisch).

l\[einethalben am Ilsenstein!

VATER (crschrocken).

Am Ilsenstein?-Ei, j uckt Dich das Fell?

(Ninznzt einen Bescn von der vVand.)

nlUTTER.

Den Besen lass nur an seiner Stell.

VATER

(liisst den Bescn fallen zmd ringt die Hi.inde).

Vvenn sie sich verirrtcn im \Valde clort, in der N acht, ohne Stern und J\1ond ! Kennst Du nicht den schauerlich cliisterr

Ort? \Veisst nicht, class die Bose dort wohnt:

:MUTTER ( betroffen).

Die Bose? Vven meinst Du?

VATER

(mit gelzeinznis>L;ollem N achdruck).

Die Knuspcrhexc!-

J'vf UTTER (fiihrt zusamnten).

Die Knusperhexe!-

Ｈ ｚ ｵ ｲ ｩ ｩ ｣ ｬ ｾ Ｚ ＾ ｌ ｣ Ｇ ･ ｩ ｣ ｨ ･ ｮ ､ Ｌ da der Vater den Be-sen 'LL'icdcr aufnimmt.)

J\Iein! Sag cloch, was soli denn der Be-sen?

HANSEL A.:-rD GRETEL. IJ

FATHER

(turns the basket topsy-turvyJ and a lot of potatoes roll out. He seizes her by the ann and dances round the room. Sits down. J.Vf emzwhile the mother packs mvay the thingsJ lights a. fircJ breaks eggs into a saucejJanJ 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 von mav be thankful! He who wants a ｦ ･ ｡ ｾ ｴ 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 cobvvebs! " 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!

]\I OTHER.

Here's a health to the besom-maker!

FATHER.

But stay, why, where arc the children? Hansel, Gretel, what's gone with Hans?

l\10THER.

Gone with Hans? 0, who's to know? But at least I do know this, that the jug is smashed to bits.

FATHER.

vVhat! the jug is smashed to bits?

1\fOTHER.

And the cream all run away.

FATHER

(striking his fist on tlzc table ill a rage).

Hang it all ! So those little scapegraces have been again in mischief!

l\1oTI-IER (hastily).

Been in mischief? I should think so! Nought have they done but their mad

pranking; , •s 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 chit·

dren can be?

J\ioTIIER (snappishly and curt!:.•).

For aught I know, at the Ilsenstein!

FATHER (horror-struck).

The Ilsenstein! Come, come, have a care!

(Fetches a broom from the zcmll.)

:MoTHER.

The besom, just put it away again!

FATHER

(lets the broom fall and 'Zl.'ruzgs ltt.s hands).

l\f y children astray in the gloomy vvoocl, all alone without moon or stars!

:\I OTHER.

0 Heaven!

F"\TIIER.

Dost thou not know the awful magic place,

the place where the evil one dwells?

1vioTIIER (surprised).

The evil one! \Vhat mean'st thou?

FATHER ('Zvith 1Jl)'Sterious emphasis).

The gobbling ogress !

(The 1notlzer dra·zcs back) the fatlzer tahcs up tlze broom aga£11.)

1\fOTHER.

The gobbling ogress! But -tell me, what help is the besom!

IC\:\SEL ｬ ｾ ｟ ｜ Ｇ ｄ I ;RETEL.

VATER.

Der Dcsen ! Der Desen! Was macht man clamit? \Vas macht man

damit? Es rcitcn clrauf, cs rciten clrauf

die Ilcxcn! Einc IT ex' stcinalt, 11a11st tic£ im \Va1d,

vom Teufel sclbcr hat sic Gcwalt! l 'm :\ tittcrnacht, \\·ann nicmand wacht,

dann rcitct sic aus zur Hcxenjagd, Zum Scl]()rnstcin hinaus entschhipft sic dcm IT a us;

auf dcm ncscn. o Graus; in Saus unci Dram:! Dber ncrg und J(Juft. Vher Thai ttnd Gruft clurch N ehcldnft im Sturm clurch die Luft:

J a so rei ten, ja sc ｾ ･ ｩ ｴ ･ ｮ Ｌjuchheissa, die He .;11!

.7 ,UTTER.

Entsetzlich!

VATER.

Ja, bei "1 fR, o Crans: znm B ｾ ･ ｩ Ｑ ｳ ｣ ｨ ｭ ｡ ｵ ｳ

ins Knispr ·Knaspcr-Knusperhaus die r ,1clerlcin. Arr tindcrlcin,

mit Za· ,erkuchcn lockt sie herein. r .:h iibelgcsinnt ' ｾ ｲ ･ ｩ ｦ ｴ sie gcschwincl

｣ ｡ ｾ nne Kuchen knnspernde Kind. In den Ofen, hitzhell. schiebt's :-lie Hexe blitzschnell; dann kommen zur Stell, gebraunt etas Fell,

aus •Iem Ofcn, aus dem Ofen die Lebkuchenl.:indcr!

l\fUTTER.

Unci die Lebkuchenkinder?

VATER.

Die werden gefressen!

l'vfUTTER.

Von der Hexe?

VATER.

Von der Hexe.

MuTTER (hiindcringend). 0 Graus!

Hilf, Himmel! die Kinder! Ich halt's nicht mehr aus !

(Rennt aus dent Hause.)

V,\TER

(nimmt die 1\iinzmdf!asclze vom Tisch). He, 1\ltc, so wart· doch! l\imm mich

mit! ｜ ｜ ｾ ｩ ｲ wollen ja ｨ ｴ ｾ ｩ ､ ｣ zum Hexcnritt! ( Fiilt ihr 1zaclz. J>cr Vor!zang fiillt

sclzncll.)

ZWEITES EILD.

Il\f \VALDE.

Erste Scene.

( !m Ilintcrgmndc dcr ｬ ｬ ｳ ｣ ｮ ｳ ｴ ｣ ｩ ｾ ｴ Ｌ <'OP

dich tc m Ta 1111 c ngclzol.:: umgebcn. Rcclzts en1c /1/(iclztigt' Tannc; darwztcr sit:::t Gretel auf ciner nzoosbcdecli:tcu lVur:::cl und <cindct cincn Krall.':: ·uou Ilap;clntt!cn: nc[Jcn ilzr licp:t cin Rlu-lllC!lstrauss. Linft's, abseits im Gcbiisch Hansel, nach nrdbcercn suchend Abendrot.

GRETEL.

Ein l\lannlein stcht im \Valde ganz still unci stumm;

cs hat von Iauter Purpur cin l\Tantlcin um.

Sagt, wer mag das l\1annlein sein, das da stcht im vValcl allcin mit dem purpurrotcn lVTantelein? Das l\:Linnlcin steht im vValde

auf cincm Hcin und hat auf seinem Kopfe

sclnvarz Kapplein klein. Sagt, wer mag das lVEinnlein sein. das da steht im \Vald al!ein mit dem kleinen schwarzen Kappelein?

HANSEL

( kmnmt hervor mzd ｳ ｣ ｨ ｷ ･ ｮ ｬ ｾ ｴ jubehd sein Korbe hen).

Juchhe! l\f ein Erbelkorbchen ist voll bis oben; wie wird die J\1 utter den Hansel lob en t

GRETEL.

Tvfein Kranzel ist auch schon fertig, sieh t So schon wie heute ward's noch nie! UVill den Kran::: Hansel auf den Kopf

setzcn.)

HANSEL (bar sch ab·wehrend). Buben tragen doch so was nicht, 's passt nur fiir ein l\1adchengesicht.

( S ct:::t ilzr den Kranz auf.) Hei, Gretel, fcins -:\fadel!

Ei, der Daus. siehst ja wie die \Valdkonigin aus!

ｬ ｬ ｜ ｜ Ｂ ｾ ｅ ｌ .\\"D Ｈ ｾ ｒ ｅ ｔ ｅ ｌ Ｎ rs

FxriiEI<. The besom, the besom, why \vhat is it for? TheY ride on it, theY ride on it, the

· \Yitchcs l · An olcl \vitch within that \\·uocl doth d\YCll and she's in league with the pu\\'lTS of

hell. At midnight hour, \Yhcn no hod Y klHl\\ s, awav to the witches' dance ｳ ｨ ｾ ｾ g(1es.

·l'p the chimney they fly, on a ｨ ｮ ｬ ｯ ｾ ｬ ｊ ｓ ｴ ｩ ｣ ｫ thn· hie-(!\'Cr hill and dale. . o'er ravine and \·ale. through the midnight air they ｾ Ｚ Ｍ ［ ｡ ｬ ｬ ｵ ｰ full tear-on a ｨ ｮ ｾ ｯ ｭ ｳ ｴ ｩ ｣ ｫ Ｎ un a hroomst ick. hop hop, hup h( lj), the witches!

:\J UTI! ER.

0 horror! But the gobbling witch?

J<.\TIIER.

And 1w clav, theY sa\·, she stalks around. L\'ith a Cri.nching, CfUnChing, munching

sound, -and children plump and tender to cat she lures with magic gingerbread swl'et.

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 clown until thev're clone brown, in the ov'en, in the oven,

( Expressil.·c!)'·) the gingerbread children !

1\TOTTIER.

And the gingerbread children?

F.\TIIER.

Are served up for dinner!

::\[OTHER.

For the ogress? F.\THER.

For the ogress! 1\-foTJTER.

0 horror! Heav'n help us! the ｣ ｨ ｩ ｬ ､ ｲ ｲ ｾ ｮ Ａ0 what shall we clo?

(Runs out of the house.)

FATHER.

Hi, mother, mother, wait for me! (Takes the 7.c•hisl('\' bottle from the table

and fo!lmus her.) \Ve'll both go together the witch to seek!

(The curtain falls quicldy.)

ACT II.

I:\ THE FOREST.

Scene I.

(The curtain rises. The middle of the forest. In the l)ackJ:::rowul is the lisen-stein. tlzid'h' suo·oiiiidcu !1 \' (ir-trc,·s. On tlzc rip,lit is a large fir-ircc. unda 'ZL'hiclz Crete! i:; sit/in/:.:: on a mussy trcc-trun ;., and Ilia ln. II,!.!, a gar/and of ,,·i!d roses. n_,, ho· side lit'S a nosegay of fhrz,·crs. "lnwngst the bushes on the lett is lliinsel. looking for stra7.cbcrries. Sunset.)

ｃ Ｑ ｾ ｅ ｔ ｅ ｌ ( lzunnning quietly to lzcrself).

There stJnds a little man in the wood alone,

he \Years a little mantle of velvet brown. Sa\·, who can the mankin be, ｳ ｴ ｾ ｻ ｮ ､ ｩ ｮ ｧ there beneath the tree, \\·ith the little mantle of velvet brown? II is hair is all of gold, ancl his cheeks an_

red, he wears a little black cup upon his head Sa\·, who can the mankin be, sta.ncling there so silently, with the little black cap upon his head?

(Size holds up the garland of roses, anJ looks it all rou11d.)

\ Vith the little black cap upon his head!

H)i.KSEL

(comes out, s7.uinging his basket joy. fully).

Hurrah! my strawberry basket is nearl} brimful!

0 won't tl1e mother be pleased with I-Einsel!

GRETEL (standing up).

::\ r y garland is ready also! Look ! I never made one so nice before\

(Tries to put tlze 1.c•reath on Ａ ｉ ｩ ｩ Ｂ Ｇ ｾ Ｂ Ａ Ｇ ｾ ｜

head.)

HANSEL ( drawi11g 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!" 0 the deuce! You shall be the queen of the wood!

HANSEL UND GRETEL.

GRETEL.

Seh ich wie die \Valdkonigin aus, so reich' mir auch den Blumenstrauss!

HANSEL.

Waldkonigin mit Scepter und Kron', da nimm auch die Erbeln, doch nasch ·

nicht davon! (Rcicht ihr mit dcr cinen fland den Bln-

menstrauss, mit der andern das Korb-clzcn vall Erdbccren wzd huc!?t, gleich-sam huldigend, 'L'Or ilzr nicder. In die-scm Augenblick erf(jnt der Ruf cines Kuckucks.)

I-U .. KSEL.

Kuckuck! Eicrschluck!

GRETEL ( schalldwft). Kuckuck! Erbclschluck! (Holt cine Bccrc aus dem Korbchen wzd

halt sie Jliinsellzin, der sic schliirft, als ob er ein Ei austriinl;:c.)

HXNSEL ( springt auf). Hoho! Das kann ich auch! Gieb nur

acht! (Nim711t cinige Bccrcn und liisst sic Gre-

tel in dell J11und roll en.) \Vir machen's, wic der Kuckuck schluckt, wenn er in fremcle Nester guckt. (Der Kuclwcli: ruft abcmzals. Es be-

ginnt :::u diinznzcnz.)

ｈ ａ Ｎ ｾ ｳ ｅ ｌ (grcift 'Zeicder zu). Kuckuck! Eierschluck!

GRETEL ( cbcnso). Kuckuck i Erbelschluck!

HANSEL.

ｓ ･ ｴ ｺ ･ ｳ ｾ Deine Kinder aus! Kuckuck!

Trinkst die frcmden Eier a us! Gluckglbck!

(Lasst sich cine gan:::c Hand'L'oll Erdbee-rcn in den i11und roll en.)

GRETEL.

Sammelst Erbeln schon zuhauf! Kuckuck!

Schluckst sie, Schlauer, selber auf! Schluckschluck!

(Sic wcrden 1'mmcr iibcnniitiger tmd rau-fen sich schlicsslich 11111 die Bccrcn. Hansel triigt den Sieg dm•on wzd sct.'::t den Korb vollcnds an den Jl.1und, bis er giin:::lich leer gewordcn. Indessen hat die Dunl;:clhcit immer 1nehr ::ugc-nommen.)

GRETEL (li iinsel den K orb entreisscnd). Hansel, was hast Du gethan! 0 Himmel l Aile Erbeln gegessen, Du Lummel! \Vart' nur, das giebt eir.. Strafgericht, denn die Mutter, die spasst heute nicht!

lL\NSEL (ruhig). Ei was, stell Dich cloch nicht so an, Du, Gretel, hast es ja selber gethan!

GRETEL.

Komm nur, wollen rasch neue suchen!

HANSEL.

Im Dunkeln wohl gar, unter Hecken und Buchen?

l\lan sieht ja nicht Blatt, nicht Deere mehr!

Es wird schon dnnkcl rings umher!

GRETEL.

Ach, ｈ ｾ ｩ ｮ ｳ ｣ ｬ Ｌ IEinsel! \Vas fangen wn an?

\Vas habcn wir thl">richten Kinder ge, than?

\i\lir clurften hier gar nicht so lange sau-. men! ·

IL\.NSEL.

IT orch, wie rauscht es in den Daumen! ｾ\Veisst Du, was der \Vald j etzt spricht? ,,Kindlein !" sagt er, ,furchtet ihr euch

nicht ?" (Spiiht unruhig umhcr.)

Gretel! Ich weiss den \Veg nicht mehr!

GRETEL ( bcstiir:::t). 0 Gott! \Vas sagst Du? den Weg nicht

mchr?

I-L\xsEL ( sich 1lllltig stcllclld). \Vas hist Du doch fur ein furchtsam

\Vicht! Ich bin ein Dub', ich furchte mich n;cht!

GRETEL.

Ach, ｈ ｾ ｩ ｮ ｳ ･ ｬ Ａ Gewiss geschieht uns ein Leicl!

HANSEL.

Ach, Gretel, gch, sei cloch gescheit!

GRETEL.

\Vas schimmert denn clort in der Dunkf·l-heit?

HANSEL.

Das sind die Dirken im weissen Kleid.

GRETEL.

Und dort, was grinset daher vom Sumpf?

HANSEL ( stottcrnd). D - d - clas ist ein glimmender W eiden-

stumpf!

ｈ ｾ ｾ ｎ ｓ ｅ ｌ ａ ｾ ｄ GRETEL.

GRETEL.

If I am to be queen of the wood, then I must have the nosegay too!

IL\NSEL (gi'[•es her the nosegay). Queen of the wood, with sceptre and

crown, I give you the strawberries, but don't eat them all! (He gh·es the bas/(et full of ｳ ｴ ｲ ｡ ｷ ｢ ･ ｲ ｾ ｩ ･ ｳ

into her other hand, at the same tune /meeting before her i:z homage. At this moment the cuclwo zs heard.)

Cuckoo, cuckoo, how d'you do?

GRETEL.

Cuckoo, cuckoo, where are you? (Tak:es a strmc•bcrry from the basl(et and

pol;:es it into HiiJzs,,l's mouth·: he. sucl:s it up as though he were drmlmzg an egg.) . .

HAN SET. (J lll/1 plllg 1t p). Oho, I can do that just like yon! (Tal;:es some strmC'!Jcrrics and lets them

fall into Gretel's mouth.) Let us do like the cuckoo too, who takes what doesn't bc1,l11£Y to him!

(It begins to grmc dart;:.)

11)\NSEL (helping himself again). Cuckoo, how are you?

GRETEL.

Cuckoo, where arc you?

H)\NSEL.

In your neighbour's nest you go.

GRETEL ( lzcl ping herself). Cuckoo, cuckoo!

HANSEL. Cuckoo, why do you do so? (Pours a !u]ndfu-l of strmvbcrries into lzis

1/lOllflz.)

GRETEL.

And you are very greedy too ! Tell me, cuckoo, why are you?

HANSEL.

Cuckoo, cuckoo! (They get rude and begin to quarrel f?r

the strawberries. }Iii nscl ganzs the ·uzc-tory, and puts the 'i.l'lzolr bas/;:ct to his mouth until it is empt_\•.) ·

GRETEL

(horrified, clasping her hands together). ｈ ｾ ｩ Ｎ ｮ ｳ ･ ｬ Ｌ what have von clone? 0 Heaven! all the -strawberries eaten. You glutton! Listen, you'll have a pun-

ishment from the mother-this passes a joke !

H.t\NSEL (quietly). Now come, don't make suc.h a fuss ; you, Gretel, you did the same thing your-

self! GRETEL.

Come, we'll hurry and seek for fresh ones!

H.;.;.NSEL.

\Vhat, here in the dark, under hedges and bushes?

\Vhy, naught can we see of fruit or leaves!

It's getting dark already here!

GRETEL.

0 Hansel! 0 fLinscl! 0 what shall we do?

\Vhat bad disobedient children we've been!

\Ve ought to have thought and gone home sooner!

( Cuclwo be!zind the scenes, rather 11earer tlzan before.)

I-Iii.KSEL. Hark, what a noise in the bushes! Know YOU vvhat the forest says? " Child-ren, children," it says,-" Are you not afraid? " (Hiinscl spies all around uneasily, at last

he tums in despair to Gretel.) Gretel, I cannot find the way!

GRETEL ( disma:yed). () C:nd! what sav vou? l\ ot know the ｜ ｾ ｡ Ｉ Ｇ ＿

HANSEL (pretending to be 'ZJery brave).

vVhv, how ridiculous vou are! I at{1a boy, and know.n•c' fear!

ｇ ｬ ｕ ｾ ｔ ｅ ｌ Ｎ

0 IIiinscl, some dreadful thing may come!

I-L\NSEL.

0 Gretel, come, don't be afraid!

GRETEL.

\Ybat's glimmering there in the darkness-;.

fL\xsEL. That's only the birches in silver dress.

GRETEL.

But there, what's grinning so there at me?

H;\NsEL (stammering). Th- that's only the stump of a willow-

tree.

(;Rl'TFL.

\\T;1c: fi!r rin \\·tmdcrlilh Grsicllt l\Io.ci1t cr scx·hcn --- sichst Dn's nicht?

TL\0::-;u (s,·hr !aut). !ch mach' dir 'nc :'\ase, h()rst cln's)

\Vicht? Gru:TEL (!ingst!idi).

Da, s1ch'. d:1s Lichtclwn- cs kommt im-mcr niih'r!

lT"\xsEL.

Irrlichtclwn hiipkt \\"(1111 hin nnd her! Grctd. nu 11111SS( hvlwrzter sein ----wart. ich will cin1n:ll tiichtig· schrcin!

( R u/t d urclz d ic lz old en Iliinde.) \Ver da?

Ecno. Er cla! (Die Kinder sc/zmicgcn sich erschreckt

aneinander.)

GRETEL (::aglzaft). Ist jemand da?

Ecno ( lcise). Ja!

(Die Kinder sc/zaudern ::usam1nen.)

GRETEL.

Hast Du's gehort? 's rid leise: Ja! Hansel, sicher ist jemand nah'!

('weinend:) Ich furcht' mich, ich fiircht' mich!- 0

war' ich zu Haus! \:Vie sieht cler \Valcl so gespenstig aus!

HL\NSEL.

Gretelchen, clrucke Dich fest an mich! Ich halte Dich, ich schtitze Dich! (Et"n diclzter N ebcl stcigt auf wzd ver-

hZ:illt den Hintcrgrund giindich.)

GRETEL.

Da kommen weisse N ebelfrauen, sieh', wie sie winken und drohend

schauen. Sie schweben heran! Sie fassen uns an!

( sclzrcicnd:) Vater! lVIutter!

( Eilt entset::t unter die Tanne und 'Z'er-birgt sich. auf die Kniee stiir:::end, hin-ter Hansel. In dicscm A up:cnb!icke scr-1'cisst links der N ehel; rill ldeincs graues Afiinnchen, mit ci11em Siic!zclzen auf dem Ritckcn, -zoird sichtbar.)

J-L\NSEL Sieh' dort das 1\Linnchen, Schwesterlcin! \Vas mag das flir ein Miinnchen sein?

Zv<'cite Scene.

( niilzcrt si,-lt n·i: /ri':rudiirht'll (--;c!Ji.irdt'/1 dot !\.indent, die' ｹ Ｚ ｾ Ｎ ﾷ ｦ ｾ ol!!llii/;/ich ht'l'll-

ｬ ｩ ｩ Ｎ ｾ ｬ Ｇ ｬ ｬ Ｎ 1!/ld '(•

F('lgi'ndcu S i n .. ·n ,,•ii!trt'l!il des

i.:' dit· . i u.:Jn).

ｾ 'lcr klcinc S:mdmann hin j,·h --- s--t ｾ

1111<1 ｾ Ｇ Ｎ ｡ ｲ nicht:' Ｎ ｜ ｲ ｾ ｾ ｣ Ｚ ［ :.;inn ich- s-t! Euch h:lcincn lich ich ｩ ｮ ｮ ｩ Ｚ Ｚ ｾ Ｍ Ｍ s-t! 11:11 cnch g·t·.sinnt !-:;;r minni.c· -- s-t! . \us ＼ ｬ ｩ ｣ Ｚ ｾ ｣ Ｑ Ｑ Ｑ S;1rk Z\\Ti 1-.:.\inwkin cuch :\ l i1dcn in die _\ ug·c1cin; 1lie fallen d:mn \'1)11 :;.cihcr zn. damit ihr :-:.chlaft in sanftcr T\uh. l "nd scid ihr kin ｾ ｾ Ｍ ｣ Ｚ Ｎ ［ ｣ ﾷ ｨ ｢ ｦ ｣ ｮ cin,

dann \\·;1clwn Zill f d ic Sterne, i :nd nicdcr sll'iQ·en ｆ ｮ ｾ ﾷ Ｚ ｣ ｬ ｣ ｩ ｮ

a us llnlwr T ｬ ｩ ｭ ｮ ｷ ｾ ｳ ｦ ｣ ｮ ｷ1111d hringcn ho1dc Traume. Drum ｴ ｲ ｾ ｩ ｴ ｭ Ｑ ｣ Ｌ 1-.:.indchcn, ｴ ｲ ｾ ｩ ｵ ｭ ･ Ａ

( V crsc/zcz(•ind ct. T T (!1/i,f!:e D It nl;;cllzcit.)

1-Vi.?\SEL ( sclz!aftrwzken). Sandmann war cla !

GRETEL (eben so). Lass uns den Abcnclscgcn beten ! (Sie kauern nicdcr und fallen die

Hiindc.)

BEIDE.

Abends, will ich schlafen gehn, vierzchn Engel um mich stehn,

zwci zu meinen ｈ ｾ ｩ ｵ ｰ ｴ ･ ｮ Ｌzwci zn n:einen Ftisscn, zwci zn mcincr Ecchten, zwci zn mcincr Linken, zweic. die mich cleckcn, zwcic. die mich wecken, zweie, die mich wcisen zu Himmclsparadeisen.

(St'e sinl,·e1z aufs A!oos suriick und sclz!unznzcrn Arm in Ann ｾ ﾷ ･ ｲ ｳ ｣ ｨ ｬ ｵ ｮ ｧ ･ ｮalsbald ein.)

Dritte Scene.

(Pldtdic!z dringt von obenher ein !1eller S clzein durch dell Nebel, der sich -zc•ol-/,'cn/(irmi.c: .::11 >17/l/IIICJZbal!t und die Ge-stalt cincr i11 r1ic ;1!itte dcr Biilwe lzin-abj'iilzrcnd'n Trcflte annimmt. Vicr-:::clm nnc:,-£'1. r1ic ldcinstcn z•oran die grfisstcn < :::u 1r''- t, sclzrciten paar-z:•eise, czciilzrend dw Licht an I-! c!lir:li'cit :::1t-

ninzll1f, in 7-,·isc!zcnriilwzeJz die TVol-!.'£'1lfrcprc lzi•u b 1111d ste!len sich, der R ei!Ienfol_:;c a\·s A bendsegens entspre-

l !.\ :\ ｾ ｉ ｾ L .\ :\ [) ( ; l ｾ E l T L.

CH.ETI·:L 1 ha:;til_r). nut ｗ ｨ ｾ ｴ ;( drc;td fu] f(IJ"ll] it takeS, and \Yhat a horrid L1c,· it 1nakcs!

ll.\ .'\ Ｚ Ｇ ｉ ﾷ ｾ ｌ ( ·;'LT\' loud).

｣ ﾷ ｾ 1:nv, r '11 mal-(' ｌ ｾ ｲ ｣ ｳ Ｎ y( 11' fdlow! D'yuu l1car?

( ［ ｬ ｾ ｊ Ｚ ｔ ｉ ﾷ Ｚ ｌ 1 tcrri/icd). There, Sl'('! a lankrn. it's c1 lll'in;.?,· tl:i:-. \\·ay!

! L\ Ｚ Ｍ ［ Ｚ Ｍ Ｍ ［ ｾ Ｍ Ｚ Ａ Ｎ Ｎ

\ \' ill-n '-tlW-\\·isp is hopping· ｾ ｢ ｯ ｵ ｴGretel, rome. d1m't l(•:"l' heart like this! \Yait, I'll gin: a g-o()d ]ilWl call! (Goes bad· sontc stcts to tlz£· bad· of the

sta,c:c and culls tlzrou,e.)z his hands.) \Vho 's there?

You there! There!

Ecrro.

( Tlzc children co<uer together.)

GlU:TEL.

Is some one there?

\Vhere? Here!

Ecno.

GRETEL (softly). Did ｶ ｯ ｴ ｾ hear? a voice said, " Here! " ｈ ｾ ｩ ｮ ｾ ･ ｬ Ｌ surely some one's near.

· ( Cr_1•ing.) I'm frightened, I'm frightened, I wish I were home ! I see the wood all filled with goblin

forms! HANSEL.

Gretelkin, stick to me close and tight, I'll shelter you, I'll shelter you! (A thick mist rises and competely hides

tlze 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-struc!? under

the tree alld fa1!s on her k11ees, hiding lzersc!f belzi11d Hiinsel.)

Father! mother! Ah!

HANSEL

See there, the mankin. sister dear! I wonder who the lllankin is? (At this moment the mz'st lifts on the left;

a little gre_1• mall is seen 7.x.n'th a l£ttle sac!? 011 h£s ｢ ｡ ｣ ｬ ｾ Ｎ Ｉ

Scene II.

ｾ \:\D\1.\:\ ( !lzt' S!t'c'f Fr:iry). ; ( Tlzc' lift!,· 1:tilll at•trua(/il'S ｴ Ｏ ｾ ［ ﾷ c!t.!:!rc!l

ﾷ ｾ Ｎ ﾷ ｩ ｴ Ａ Ｚ _'.' _c:,<'slurcs. and !It<' t"lu!drt'!1 n:duzi/!1· ci!!j// doze'!!. !It' is .l·irl'Zl'in<

suJu! in ;1/;( chi/,lrt·u's t'_\'t'S. l

:-;]mt tlh· chi1·1n·!J·:-; JlC"Jll'l'S, ｾ ｾ Ｑ Ｑ Ａ

:111d g·u:trd tlh· little· ｾ ｫ ｱ ｷ ｲ ｳ Ｌ ';h! k.r ( k:t rh· dt 1 ! li l\T thc11'. :;h! ::nrl ｾ Ｚ ｢ ｲ ｬ ｩ ｹ \\:ltch :il·(•n· thc111 .. "h! Ｎ ｜ ｾ Ｑ ､ \'.ith 111\" little Ｑ Ｍ Ｚ ｴ ｾ Ｇ d s:md, ];\ cn-r\· ch;ld\ b·:L,i;·k l :-;tand;

t1{t'll litt.k tired l'Yclid:-. clt>..:c. :1nd littk·1imhs ｨ ｾ ｬ ｜ Ｇ ｬ Ｇ S\\Tl't ｲ ｣ ｰ ｲ Ｑ ｾ ｣ Ｎ.\nd if they're ｩ ｾ ﾷ ｣ Ｌ ｉ ｈ ｝ and quickly go to

sleep. then from the starry sphere ahnYc the angTls come \\·ith peace and Jon:·, and send the children happy dreams, \Yhilc \\'atrh the\· keep! Then slumlwr. ·children, slumllC·r. for happy dreams arc sent y()n through the hours you sleep.

(Disappears. narlnzess.)

H,\NSEL ( lzalf asleep). Sandman was there!

GRETEL (ditto). Let us first say our evening prayer. (They cmcer down and fold their hands.)

DoTH. \Vhen at night I go to sleep, fourteen angels watch do keep: t\YO my head are guarding, two my feet are guiding, two arc on my right hand, two are on mv left hand, t\YO who wari11lv cover, two w·ho o'er ｭ ｾ hover, two to whom 'tis given to guide my steps to Heaven.

( Tlzcy sin!? do<c1l on to the moss, and go to sleep with their arms f<c£ncd round each other. C omp!ete dar/mess.)

Scene III.

(Here a bright light sudde11{:v breaks through the mist H•lzich fortlz<l'itlz rolls itself togct1 -T into the form of a stair-case, <'am··' .l.·tg in perspccti7..'e, ill the middle ol .'lir> stage. Fourtccn angels, in liglif ll''r-!il'g .canncnts, pass doa•n the sfalrc.."· • h•o and f'"Z('O, at inter<mls, ,,,/,.ilc it is "('ffillg gradual!_\' lighter. Thr angt! ·· "I rrc tlzcnzscl'Z•es, according to the ordo- lllcntioncd in tlzc C'Z'e11ing ft)'lllll, aro:.nd the sleeping children;

20 I-L\XSEL UND GRETEL.

chcnd, zt1n die sclzlafenden Ki11der auf, das crstc Paar zu Hiiupten, das zweite :::u Fiissen, das dritte rechts, das ·vicrtc linl.:s; dmuz <'crtcilcn sich das .fiinfte und scchste Paar zzcisclzcn die iibrigcn Paarc so dass dcr Kreis dcr En [ref ·vol!stifndig .r:csrlzlosscn H'ird. Zul;t:::t tritt das sicb(•JlfC roar in den Kreis 1/Jid 11inzmt als ,Sclzz:t:::cngcl'' .-:11 bcide11 Scitrn dcr Kinder ｐ ｬ ｡ ｴ Ｎ ｾ Ｚ Ｎ <.(•iihrcnd die iibriuen sich die 1--liindc rcirlzcn und , . ., eincn f cicrlic!zcn R cip:nz um die Gruppe auffiihren. Indcnz sic siclz :::zt eincm malcrischcn Sclzluss!Ji/dc ord1zcn, sclzliesst sich Iangsam dcr Vorlzang.)

DRITTES BILD.

DAS KNVSPEIUL\CSCHEN.

Erste Scene.

(Scene ·wie <'orhin. Dcr l-fintcrgnuzd noch 'Z'Oll N chef <'crlz ii!!t, dcr sich 'ZC'iilz-rc11d des l'olp,-cndcn Iangsam 'L'cr::.:ielzt. Die engel sind 'Z'Crsch'Z('lllldcn.) .

(Friihcr ilf orpJ'll. Taznniinncl:cn trztt auf wzd sclziit!clt aus ciner Glocl.:cn-blume Tautrop/en aul die sclzlalendcJz Kinder; die.se bcginnen sich Zit regen.)

ｔ Ｌ ｜ ｌ ｔ ｾ ｉ ;\ N NCITEN.

Der kleine Tatt-::\Tann beiss' ich -]ding! l'viit 1\J utter Sonne rcis' ich - ldang·! Von Ost his \V cstcn weiss ich- kling-! vVer faul ist unci wer fleissig-klang-! Ich komm mit lichtcm Sonnenschein unci strahl in cure ]\ugclein. und \veck mit ktihlem Taue, was schbft auf Flur und Aue. Dann springct att f, wcr flcissig :zur fri.ihcn 1\T orgcnshmclc, denn sie hat (-;olcl im ;\Iunde. Drum, Schliifer, au f. crwachet, der lichte Tag schon lachct!

(A b.)

ｇ ｬ ｾ ｅ ｔ ｅ ｌ

((if/net die Auge11, riclztct sich Jzalb ｾ Ｎ ｵ ｦund blickt 'Z'crwrtJZdcrt wn szclz, ·wah-rend Hiinsel sich auf die andere Seitc legt, 1tm <l'citer zu sclzlafcn).

W o bin ich? vVach ich? Ist es em Traum?

Bier lieg' ich unterm Tannenbaum. Hoch it{ den Zweigen lispclt es lcise, Voglein singen so siisse \Veise. W ohl friih schon. waren sie au fgewach t

und haben ihr J\;Iorgenlied dargebracht. Guten lVIorgen, liebe Voglein, guten

Morgen! (Sic crblickt Hansel.)

Sieh da, clcr faule Sicbenschhifer! \Vart nur, Dich week' ich! (Sic biicl.:t sich :::u ihm nicder wzd singt

i!zlll ins Ohr.) Tirelireli,

's ist nicht mehr fri.ih! Die Lerche hat's gcsungen tmd hoch sich aufgcschwungen.

(Auf springcnd.) Tirelircli!

FL\NSEL

( der <ciihrend des Liedes cncmcht ist, rcibt siclz die A up:en, giilmt) dcl111t siclz u11d stinunt, ,£;,-lcichlalls au/springend, muntcr in Grctcls TV cise ein).

Kikeriki! 's ist noch fri.ih!

Ta, bah's wohl vcrnommen, (Ier Morgen ist gckommcn,

Kikeriki! lVIir ist so wohl, ich weiss nicht wie; so gut wie heute schlicf ich nie.

GRETEL.

Doch h(ire nur! llicr unter dem Damn, cla batt' ich cmen wunderschonen Traum.

IL\NSEL.

Richtig! Auch mir tramnte so was!

GRETEL.

l\1ir ｴ ｲ ｾ ｩ ｵ ｭ ｴ Ｇ ich hcirt' ein Rauschen und Klingen,

wie Chore dcr Engel ein himmlischcs Sing·cn;

Iichtc Wolkchcn im rosigen Schein wallten unci \vogten ins Dunkel herein, Siebe, hell ward's mit einem 1\Iale, lichtdurchflossen vom Himmelsstrahle: cine goldcne Leiter sah ich sich neigen, Englein zn mir hernicdersteigen, Engel mit goldenen Fliigelem-

Hj\NSEL

( dcr ilzrcr E1'.:;iilzlung 111it Z cichen lcblzaf. fer Zustimnnmg gcf olgt £st).

Vierzehn miissen's gewesen sein!

GRETEL ( crstaunt). Hast Du dcnn alles clas anch gesehn?

H;\NSEL.

f'rcilich! 's war halt wnnderschon-1 'nd clort hinaus sah ich sie gehn!

H;\::\SEL AND GRETEL. 21

the first couple at their heads, the second at their feet, the third on the right, tlze fourth 011 tlzc left, the fifth and sixth cou['lcs distribute themseh·es amongst the other cou['lcs, so that the circle of the anJ;},"cls is completed. Last-ly tlze Sei'Clltlz couple COIIICS into the circle and ta/.:'eS its place as u guardian angels'' on each side of the children. The remaining angels Jl07U join hands and dance a stately step around the group. The 'ZC'ho!e stap:e is filled £(•ith an intense lip)zt. TVhi!st the angels arrange thenzsdves in a picturesque tableau, the curtain slozoly falls.)

ACT III.

THE vVITCH'S HOUSE.

Scene I.

(The curtain rises. Scene the same as the end of Act II. The background is still hidden in mist, 7.(•/ziclz gradua!l_v rises during the fol!O'i.l'lllg. The anp,cls hm•e 7.'anislzed. ill onzing is brca/(ing. The Dmc•n !'air_\' steps for·zc•ard and slza l'es d e£,•dro f's fro 111 a blllebell m•er the sleeping children.)

DEW:I\L\N ( Da7.('n Fairy).

I'm np with early dawning, ancl know who loves the morning, \Yho'Jl rise fresh as a daisv. who'll sink in slumber Iaz\·! Ding! dong·! cling! cl()ng·! Ancl with the g:oldcn ｬ ｩ ｾ Ｚ ｨ ｴ of clay I clusc the fading ｮ ｩ ｾ Ｍ ｨ ｴ a\\·a:·. · fre::;h clew around 111\.' :;baking. and hill and dale a\Yaking. Then up, with all your powers enjoy the morning hours. the scent of trees and flowers-then up, ye sleepers, awaken! The rosy cla\\'11 is smiling, then up, yc sleepers, awake, awake!

( H 11rries off sin,c,-ing. Tlzc children l7t',C:in to stir. Gretel rubs her e_1.,•es, loo/(s around her. and raises herself a little, ﾷ ｾ Ｌ ﾷ Ａ ｺ ｩ Ａ ｳ ｴ 1---liinsel turns m•cr on tlze other side to go to sleep again.)

ｇ ｭ ｾ ｔ ｅ ｌ Ｎ

Vi/here am I? \Vaking? 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 sir.gers, little singers, good morning!

(Turns to 1---liinscl.) See there, the sleepy lazybones? \Vait now. 1'11 wake him! Tirelircli. it's getting late! Tirclireli. it's g·ctting late! The lark his flight is winging, on high his matin singing, Tirelircli! tirelircli!

T-L\NSEL (suddenly julllps up with a start).

Kikeriki! it's earlY \·et! Kikcriki! it's carl\· \ret! Y cs. the clay is cla \\:ning; a\vakc. for it is morning! f(ikcriki! kikeriki! T feel so \veil, T know not why! T never slept so \vell. no, not 'r!

GHETEL.

But listen, Hans: here 'neath the tree a wondrous dream was sent to me!

HXxsEL ( 111 editati7.·cl_\').

Really! I, too, had a dream!

GHETEL.

I fancied I heard a murmuring and rushing,

as though the angels in Heav'n were singing·:

rosy clouds ahoYe me were floating-hc)\·cring and floating in the distance

a \\·a\',

ｓ ｵ ､ Ｈ ｾ ｣ ｮ _:___all ar\Juncl a light was strcam-mg·.

rays of g·lnry from Heaven beaming·. and a gnlclen bddcr saw T ､ ｣ ｳ ｣ ｣ ｮ ､ ｩ ｮ ｾ ［ Ｎano·cls acl0\\'11 it (Ylidino-su;;h Ｑ ｾ ｮ Ｚ ｬ ｹ ｡ ｮ ｧ Ｍ ｾ ｾ ｳ ｷ ｩ Ｌ ｴ ｬ ｾ shining golden

\nng·s.

TL\xsEL (interrupting lzer qTticldy).

Fourteen angels there must have been!

GHETEL (astonished).

And did you also behold all this?

JT\xsEL.

TrulY. ·t\\·as wondrous fair! And. upward I saw them float.

22

(Er- 1.crendct sich nac/z d,·nz Ifinta,::,rundc. Jn dicscnz _,lii,!.!,CIIblic/,; :::arcisst dcr ｾ ｣ ｴ Ｎ Ｇ Ｚ Ｚ ｴ ｣ ;.Vcbrlsclzlcicr. .d n Stc!!t• des Tanncngc/l(.i/:::cs rrsc!zcint ｧ ｬ ｩ ｴ Ｎ ｾ Ｚ ｣ ｲ ｮ ､ im Strahl dcr auf.!!.;chcnd(·n Sonne das ,Knuspcrlziiusclzcn" alii Ilscnstcin. Links dm•on in cinigcr Ii nt(cnzung bc-findct siclz ｾ ﾷ ｩ ｮ Baclwfcn. dicscm rcclzts ,<.:,cgeniibcr ein /!,TOsser Kiifip:. bcidc mit dem KnusjJCJ'/ziinsc!tcn durch eincn · Za1111 1./0n EuclzcnmiiiiJzenz 'i.'Crlmn-den.)

Zweite Scene.

GRETEL (halt !Iiinscl bctroffen :::uriic/;:). Bleib stehn ! Bleib stehn!

IVi.NSEL

( ci11c T/f7 eile spraclz!os 'i}Or Stazt71cll). Himmel, welch VI/ under i,st hier ge-

schehn! N ein, so was bab ich mein Tag nicht ge-

selm!

GRETEL

(ge7e.•imzt allmalzliclz die Fassung wieder). W!e dnftet's von clortcn,

0 schau nur die Pracht! Von Kuchen und Torten

Ein H;iuslcin gemacht! Mit Fladen, mit Torten

ist's hoch iiherdacht! Die Fenster wahrhaftig-

wie Zucker so blank, Rosinen gar saftig

den Giebel entlang! Unci- traun! Rings zu schaun

gar ein Lebkuchen-Zaun t

DEJDE.

0 herrliches Schlosschen. so schmuck clu unci fein,

welch Vvaldes-Prinzesschen mag drinnen wohl sem?

Ach mochte Zll Hause die Waldprinzess sein!

Bei Ieckcrem Schmause mit K nchen unci vVein

sie Iiide zur I<Iause tms beide wohl ein !

H.\NSEL ( naclz einer Pause). Alles bleiht still. Nichts regt sich da

rlrinnen. Komm lass uns hineingehn!

GRETEL

( erschrocl?en ihn zuriickhaltend). Bist du bei Sinnen?

J ungc, \vic magst clu so ､ ｲ ･ ｩ ｾ ｴ nur sein? \Ver weiss. \HT da clrin wohl im ｈ ｩ ｩ ｵ ｳ ｾ

chen fcin?

Ili\KSEL.

() sich nur, \\·ic <las IEiuschen uns lacht! ( n cgeistcrt.)

Die Englein haben's uns hergebracht!

ｇ ｉ ｾ ｅ ｔ ｅ ｌ (sin nend). Die Englein?-Ei, so wird es wohl sein!

I-L\NSEL.

l a, Crctel, sie laden frcundlich uns ein! komm, wir knuspern ein wenig vom

Hauschcn!

DEIDE.

Ja, knuspcrn vvir, wie zwei N agemans-chen!

(Sic lziipfen Hand hz Hand nach dem H intcrgru nde, blcibe1i Ｇ ｬ ｴ ｾ ｩ ･ ､ ･ ｲ ｵ ｭ stehen und sclz!ciclzen dann I.'Orsiclztig auf den Fuss.spit:::en bis an das Hiiuschcn lzeran. Naclz cinigcm Zogern bricht Hansel an der reclzteJz Kante ein ｓ ｴ ｩ ｩ ｣ ｫ ｾchen Kuclzen lzeraus.)

Dritte Scene.

STIMME Aus DEM HA.uscHEN.

Knusper, knusper ｋ ｮ ｾ ｩ ｵ ｳ ｣ ｨ ･ ｮ Ｌwer knuspert mir am ｈ ｾ ｩ ｵ ｳ ｣ ｨ ･ ｮ ＿

HANSEL

( li.isst erschroclten das Stii..c!? zu BodeH fallen).

GRETEL Ｈ Ｎ ｾ ｡ ｧ ｨ ｡ ｦ ｴ Ｉ Ｎ

Der Wind!

HANSEL (ebenso). Der vVind!

DEIDE.

Das himmlische Kind.

GRETEL

( lzebt das Stiicl? 1.cicder auf und versuclzt

Hm! cs).

HX.NSEL (Gretel begclzrlich anschauend ). \Vie schmeckt das ?

GRETEL (ilm be is sen lass end). Da hast du auch was!

!L\NSEL

(lcgt cntziic/(f die I-f and auf die Brust). Hei!

Hei! GRETEL ( ebenso).

1 fie turns ｴ ｯ ｾ Ｇ Ｇ ｡ ｲ ､ ｳ tiLe background; at t!1is /1/(IJllCIIf tlzc lust rclllains of the Jllist clear a'LCO\'. In place of tlz<' fir-frees is seen tlz;, ·· I f'itclz's l!iJit.SL' at the flsenstcin/' .shiuinr:· in tlzc rays of thL' risi11g sun. ,'} li!!iL' distc_wcc ｾ ｦ ｬ Ｎ to tlzc left, is an ｲ ｆ ｾ ﾷ ｣ ｮ Ｚ oppostte. ｴ ｾ ｵ ﾷ ｳ Ｌ on the rip)zt, a large W_i!,"C, both JOZIIL'd ｾ ｯ tltc [l 7 itclz 's house by a fc11cc of gzngcr-brcad figures.)

Scene II.

GRETEL

(holds !Jiinsel bac/;: ill astonishnzellt). Stand still, be still!

IL\NSEL (surprised). 0 HeaYen. what \vondrous place is this, as ne'er in all my life have I seen!

GRETEL

(gradual!_\' regains lzcr sclf-posscssioll). \Vhat odor delicious! 0 say, do I dream?

DoT II. A cottage all made of chocolate cream. The roof is all covered with Turkish delight the windows with lustre of sugar arc \Yhite: and on all the gaL1c:-; the raisins invite, and think! all around is a gingerbread hedge! 0 magic castle, how nice you'd be to eat! vVhcrc hi;les the princess vvho has so great a treat? Ah. coulcl she but visit our little cottage bare, she'd ask us to clinner, her cla1nties to share!

HANSEL (after a 'while). No sound do I hear; no, nothing is stir-

ring! Come, let's go inside it!

GRETEL

(pul!i11g !zilll ｢ ｡ ｣ ｬ ｾ horrified). Are vou senseless? Hansel, however can you make so bold? \Vho knows \vho ma,: live there, in that lovely house?-

HXNSEL.

0 look, do look how the house seems to smile!

( E 11th usiastically.)

Ah, the angels did our footsteps beguile!

ｇ ｒ ｅ ｔ Ａ Ｌ ｾ ｌ ( rcfl,·cti·;:•,·/_1').

The angels? Yes, it must be so!

ｈ Ｎ ｜ Ｚ ｜ Ｂ ｾ ｓ ｅ ｌ Ｎ

Yes, Gretel, the angels arc hcck'ning us i 11 !

Come, let's nibble a hit of the cottage.

BoTH.

Come. let's nihble it, like two mice persevering!

(They lzop alonp;. lzand in hand. to·<.('ards tlzc lwei.: of tlzc stage: tlzL'Il stand still, and then sfL·al along cautiously on ti('-toe to tlzc lzousc. . lftcr son1c lit'sita-tion Hiinscl hrcalt's ofl a bit of ca!u from the riglzt-ha nd corner.)

Scene III.

A VorcE FRo:.r THE HousE.

Nibble, nibble, mousckin, who's nibbling at my housekin? who's nibbling at my housckin?

(Hiinsel starts, and in !zis fright lets the piece of cake fall.)

IL\1\SEL.

0, did you hear?

GRETEL ( somezc.Jhat timidly).

The wind-

H;\xsEL.

The wind!

Doni.

The heavenly wind!

GRETEL

( picl.:s up the piece of calu• and tastL'S it). H'm!

I-L\NSEL ( !oo!ting longingly at Gretel). D'nm like it?

ｇ ｭ ｾ ｔ ｅ ｌ (lets Hiinscl bite it). Just taste ancl try it!

H"\NSEL

(lays his hand on his breast in rapture). Bi!

GRETEL (ditto).

Hi!

24 ｉ Ｍ ｌ ｾ ｎ ｓ ｅ ｌ UXD GRETEL.

DE IDE.

0 kostlicher Kuchen, \Vie schmeckst du nach mehr! l\Iir ist ja, als wenn ich im Himmel schon war!

H)\.NSEL.

Rei, wie das schmeckt! 's ist gar zu lecker!

GRETEL.

Vielleicht gar wohnt hier em Zucker-· backer!

}D\.NSEL (ruft). He, ｚ ｵ ｣ ｫ ｣ ｲ ｢ ｾ ｩ ｣ ｫ ｣ ｲ Ｌ nimm clich in acht, Ein Loch wircl clir jetzt vom Ｑ ｜ Ｍ ｉ ｾ ｩ ｵ ｳ ｬ ｣ ｩ ｮ gc-

macht! (Briclzt ein grosses Stiic/.: aus dcr ｾ ｖ ｡ ｮ ､

heraus.)

SnMME Aus nEl\f TL\uscnEN. Knusper, knuspcr Kn;iuschen, wer knuspert mir am FLiuschen?

IL\:-JSEL UND GRETEL.

Der \Vincl. dcr \Vinci, cbs himmlische Kind !

Dritte Scene.

(Dcr obcrc Tei! der ffaustlziire offnct sich Ieise, mzd der Kopf der Knuspcr-lzcxe ·wird siclztbar. Die Kinder be-mcr!.'cn sic niclzt wzd schmauscn Iustig 'i.i.'eitcr.)

GRETEL.

\Vart, du nzischig-es 1\buschen, gleich kommt die Katz' aus dem Hans-

chen!

11.!\NSEL.

Knuspre nur zu uncl lass mich in Rub!

GRETEL

( cntrcisst ilz m cin Stiich Kuchcn). Nicht so geschwincl, Herr \Vinci, Herr \Vincl!

FL\NSEL (ninnnt cs ilzr wicdcr ab). Himmlisches Kind, ich nehm, was ich find!

(Sic lac/zen be ide lzel! auf. TViihrend des let.'::! en Gcspriiches ist die Th fire des JJ(iusclzens aufgegan:::en. nnd die Hcxe tritt. ·von dc11 Kindern nicht brmer!d, darazts lzervor, bcl11ttsam mtf dicsc Dlt-

schlciclzend. Rasch 'i.c•irft' sic dem alznungslosen Hansel cincn StricT;: znn

den Hals, eben in dent Augenblick, als die Kinder lac/zen.)

IlEXE (k:ichcrnd).

Hihi, hihi, hihihi! .

(Die K indcr blic!?en sich erschroc!?en 1/lll.)

HXNSEL ( entsetzt).

Lass los ! - \V cr bist e.lu?

l1EXE (Gretel ii bcrs G csiclzt strcichelnd).

Engelchen! l ｾ ｮ ｣ ｬ dtt, mcin Zuckcrhengclchen! Ihr kommt mich hesuchcn?-Das ist

nett! I .icbc Kinder!- So rund unci fett!

HAKSEL.

\Ver bist du, Garstigc?-Lass mich los!

HEXE.

Na, Herzchen, zier dich nicht erst gross! \Visst dcnn, class euch vor mir nicht

g-raul: Ich bin Rosina Lech:rnzaul, hochst menschcnfrcnndlich stets gesinnt, unschuldig wie cin klcincs Kind. Drum hab ich die klcincn Kinder so lieb, So lieb- ach zum Anfessen lieb!

(Sic strciclzclt die Kinder wieder.)

HXNSEL ( barsrlz abwclzrcnd). Geh!-blcih mir doch aus clem Gesicht! TI iirst clu? Ich mag d ich nicht!

T-TEXE.

Hihihi! \Vas seid ihr fiir leckcre ｔ ･ ｵ ｦ ｣ ｬ ｳ ｢ ｲ ｾ ｴ ｣ ｨ ･ ｮ Ｌhcso11dcrs du, mein hcrzig l\Lidcl1en!

( Locli:cnd.) Kommt, kleinc J\Linskin, kommt in mein H ;iuslcin ! Sollt cs gut l)ei mir haben, \Vill d rinncn k6stlich euch Iaben. Schokobdc. Torten, JVT arzipan, K11c!Jcn. gefi1llt mit sLisscr Sahn', Johannishrot und Jungfernlcder nnd Heishrei-auf dem Ofen steht er-Hosincn, l\Tancleln ttnd Fcigen, 's ist alles im Hiinschen eur ｾ ｩ ｧ ･ ｮ Ａ

H."\N"SEL.

T ch geh nicht mit dir, garstige Frau!-Du bist gar zu frcnndlich.

HEXE.

Schau. schau, wie schlau, Ihr Kinder, ich mcin's doch so gut mit

ench,

ｉ ｌ ｾ ｎ ｓ ｅ ｌ A:\D GRETEL. 25

BoTH. TnE \\'ITCH

Hi, hi ! 0 cake most delicious, some more I must take! It's really like Heaven to eat such plum-cake!

Hj\xsEL.

0 how good, how sweet, how tasty!

GRETEL.

How tastv. how sweet! It's p'r'ap; the house of a sweety-makcr!

ｈ ｾ ｜ ｎ ｓ ｅ ｌ Ｎ

Hi, sweetv-makcr! Have a care! A little mouse your S\veeties would share! (He breal.:s a bip; piece of cal;:c off the

a•all.)

A VorcE FR(J:\I THE HousE.

Xibhle, nibble, monsckin, who's nibbling at my housekin?

H;\NSEL ,\ND GRETEL.

The \vind, the wind, the heavenly wind! (The upper part of tlze house-door opens

gent!:,•, and tlzc TVitclz's head is seen at it. The children at first do not see Jzer) and go on feasting ll/crrily.)

GRETEL.

\Yait, yon gobbling mousekin, here comes the cat from the housekin!

Hk:\SEL ( tal.:ing aJZotlzcr bite). Eat what you please, and leave me in peace!

GRETEL

(snatclzcs tlzc piece from lzis hand).

Don't he unkind, Sir wincl, Sir wincl!

I-L\NSEL ( tal.:cs it bacl.: from lzcr). Heavenly wind, I take w-hat I find!

DOT II (laughing). Ha. ha, ha!

TnE \Vncn (1l'lw had 7ncawz,,hilc opened the 'l{.•hole

doar, and had been 'Lcarily stealing 11j) to the children, tlzro<c's a rope round the necl.: of Hiinscl, <c'ho, <citlzout awv mis-pJ'Z'ings, turns his bad: to lzcr). -

.Hi, hi! hi, hi!

ｈ Ｎ ｩ ｜ Ｎ ｾ ｳ ｅ ｌ (horror-struck). Let go ! \Vho are you ? Let me go!

( drwwi11g tlze children towards her). Angels both ! ( :\nd gooscy-ganclers!)

(Caresses tlze children.) You've come to yisit me, that is sweet! You charming children, so nice to eat!

ｽ ｌ ｜ ｾ ｓ ｅ ｌ

( lllakes despairing efforts to free him-self).

\Vho arc you, ugly one? I .ct me go!

TnE \VrTCH. ｾ ｯ ｷ Ｌ darling, don't you give yourself

airs! Dear heart, what makes you say such

things? I am H.osina Dainty-month, and dearlY love nw fellow-men. I'm artles-s as a nc.w born child! That's vvhv the children to me are so

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

(Caresses Hii11scl.)

HANSEL (turning rouglzl:y a'll'ay).

Go, get you gone from my sight! I hate, I loathe you quite!

THE \VrTCII. Hi hi! hi hi! These dainty morsels I'm really gloating

on, and you, my little maiden, I'm doting on! Come, little mouse\·, come into mv houscY! Come with ri1e, my J)recions, I '11 give you sweetmeats delicious! Of chocolate, tarts, and marzipan yon shall hoth cat all yon can, ｾ ｭ ､ wedding-cake anc{ strawberry ices, ｢ ｬ ｡ ｮ ｾ ｭ ｡ ｮ ｧ ･ Ｎ and e\-crything else that nice

lS,

and raisins and almonds, and peaches and citrons arc waiting-you'll both find it quite captivating, yes, quite captivating!

ｈ ｾ ｜ ｾ ｓ ｅ ｌ Ｎ

I won't come with you, hideous fright! You are quite too friendly!

THE \VITCH.

Sec, sec. see how slY! Dear children, you ｾ ･ ｡ ｬ ｬ ｹ may trust me in

this,

2\) HXNSEL Ul\D CT\ETEL.

scid ja bci mir wie im Himmelreich! Kommt, klcine ｾ ｬ ｡ ｵ ｳ ｬ ｣ ｩ ｮ Ａkommt in mcin JJ ｾ ｩ ｵ ｳ ｬ ｣ ｩ ｮ ! Sollt es gut Lei mir hahcn, will drim1cn k(istlich cuch laben!

(Sic 'Z.oil! Ili.inscl fort:::iclzcn.)

GRETEL.

\Vas willst du mcincm nruclcr thun?

HEXE.

Gutes, mein Kind, schr Cutes! I nun. mit allcrhancl -v-ortrefflichen Sachen will ich ihn zart und wohlschmeckcncl

mach en unci ist er clann rccht zahm uml hrav, gedulclig tmd fiig-sam wie ein Schaf, dann-bore, H;inscl, ich sag- dir's ms

Ohr: -dir steht eine grosse l'reucie bevor!

IL\NSEL.

So sag's doch laut unci nicht ins Ohr! Welche Freude steht mir hevor?

HEXE.

Ach, liebe Piippchen, Horen unci Sehn wird euch bei diesem V ergniigen ver-

gehn!

HANSEL.

Ei, meine Augen tmcl Ohren sind gut, haben wohl acht, was Schaclen mir thut. Gretel, trau nicht clem gleissenden Vl/ort

(Leise.)

Schwesterchen, komm, wir laufen fort!

(Er hat sich allmalzlich von der Sclzlinge befrcit 111zd 'lvill lllit Gretel fortlaufen; sir wcrdcn abrr ·uon dcr II exc ｾ ｵ ｲ ｩ ｩ ｣ ｬ ｾgrhalten. die gcbietcrisch ilzren Stab gegcn die bcidc1z crhcbt.)

Halt!

( i1f acht mit dcm H cxenbanncs. siclz.)

HEXE.

Stabc die Gebiirde des Die Biilznc ·verfinstert

Hocus pocus, Hexenschuss! Riihr clich, unci dich deisst der Flnss! Nicht mehr vorwarts. nicht :>:uriick, bann ciich mit dem hoscn Blick; Kopf steh starr clir im Genick! (Neue Gcbiirde; die ｓ ｰ ｩ ｴ Ｎ ｾ ･ des Stabes

fiingt an ｾ ｵ leuclzten.)

Hocus pocus, nun kommt J ocus! Kinder, schaut clen Zauberknopf! 1\uglcin, stehet still im Kopf!-:\ un zum Stall hinein, clu Tropf! 1 l ocns pocus, bonus jocus, .\lalus locus, hocus pocus!

(Lcitet den starr auf den Knopf blichen-dcn lliinscl :::um Stallc und sclz!icsst hinter ilun die Gittcrtlziire, ·z(•(ilzrend Grrtc! rcp,-1111,1!,-slos dastclzt. Die Biilzne crlzcllt siclz 'Zc•icdcr.)

HExE ( 'Z'erp,-niigt :::u Gretel).

Nun, Crctclchen, sei vcrniinftig unci nett! Dcr I1 iinscl wircl nun ba!de fctt. \Vir wollen ihn, so ist's am besten, m[t Mandcln und Rosinen mzisten. T ch geh ins Haus und hoi sie schnell-Du riihrc dich nicht von der Stell!

(Hin!?t ins Haus.)

GRETEL (starr wzd unbewe gliclz).

Hu- \Vie mir vor der Hexc graut!

J-L\NSEL.

Gretel! Pst! sprich nicht so laut! Sei hiibsch gescheit uncl gicb fein acht auf jedes, was die Hexe macht. Zum Schein tim alles, was sie will-cia kommt sie schon zuriick - Pst! still!

HEXE

( de1n fliinsel a us cinem Korbe M andeln und Rosinen hinstreuend).

Nun, Jiingelchen, ergotze de in Z iingclchen ! Friss, Vogel, oder stirb -Kuchen-Heil dir erwirb!

( T/Vendet sich ｾ ｬ ｴ Gretel mzd entzaubert sic mit einem TVachholderbusch.)

Hocus pocus, Holderbusch! Schwincle, Glicdcrstarre, husch! Nun wieclcr krcg-el. siisscs T-Zleinchen, riihr mir g-cschwind clie runc1en Ticinchen! Cch, Zuckerpiippchen. flink tmd ﾣ ｲ Ｑ ｳ ｾ ｨnncl dcckc clrinnen hiibsch den T:sch! Schiisselchcn, Tellerchen, Ｑ ｜ ｦ ｴ ｳ ｾ ･ Ｚ Ｍ ｣ ｨ ･ ｮ Ｌ

Cabclchen, Servicttchen fiir mein Schnahelchen; uncl mach nur alles reLht hurticr und fein

. h ' sonst sperr tch auch dich in den Stall

ilinein!

and li\'ing- with me will he perfect bliss! Come, little mot1:-;eY, come into mY ｨ ｭ Ｑ ｾ ･ Ｌ ﾷ ＡCumc \\'ith 1;1e, my l;rccions, I '11 gi,·c you sweetmeats delicious!

GRETEL.

I ｾ ｵ ｴ sa,., what will you with nw brother de)?

TnE \Vncn. \Veil, well! I'll feed and fatten him up well, with even· sort of dainh· delicious, to make ｬ ｾ ｩ m tender an< ( tast\·. And if he's brave and patie.nt too, and docile and obedient like a lamb, then. I-Linsel. 1 '11 \vhisper it you. I have a great treat in store for you!

ｉ Ｑ ｘ Ｎ ｾ ｓ ｅ ｌ Ｎ

Then speak out loud and whisper not. \Vhat is the g-reat treat in store for me?

TnE \VITcn. Yes, mv dear children. hearing-and sig-ht in this great pleasure will disappear quite!

H;\NSEL.

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! ( l-{ e has ill tlze meantime got out of tlze

rope. and runs 'with Gretel to the fore-ground. Here the:.• arc stopped b)' tlze TVitclz. <1.•/zo imperiously raises against them both a stic/( <chich hangs at her girdle, ·<L'z'tlz repeated p:estures of spel!-binding.)

THE WITCH.

Hold! (The stage becomes gradually dar!?cr.)

Hocus pocus, \vitches' charm! Move not, as ,·ou fear mv arm! Back or forward do not trv, fixed vou are bv the evil ･ ｾ ﾷ ･ ＡHead .on shoulders fixed awrv! Hocus, pocus. now comes joe-us, <:hildren. watch the mag-ic heacl, eyes are staring-, dull as lead! 1\ ow, you atom, off to becl! (Fresh p:esturcs; then she leads Hii nscl.

'Zl'lw is .:::a.'::ing fixed!)' at the i!lulllinatcd head. into the stable, and shuts the lat-tice door upon him.)

Hocus pncus. honus j ocus. malus locus, hocus poctls, bonus jocus. malus lcJcus l

27

(The stage J.::radua!!y baonzcs lighter, ·z,·l!i!st the !i,c:fzt ol the nza,£:,ic lzc(1d di-lllinishcs. Tlzc lFitclz, conf('l/tcdh· to Grct(·!. z,·Jzo still stands there l/l(liion-lt'ss.)

\'cJ\Y Gretel. l1e nlwdicnt :1nd wise. \\·hik 1 fiinsel's gTmvinQ· fat and nice. \ \' e '11 feed him up, ｾ Ｚ ｯ ｵ Ｇ ｬ ｬ seT 111_': reason. and with sweet almcmds and raisins

season. I'll g-o indoors. the thing-s to prepare, and you remain here where yuu arc!

(Size grins as size !w!ds 11[' her finger 'ZC'arninpJy, and goes into the house.)

GRETEL (stiff and motionless).

0, what a horrid witch she is!

H,\xsEL (whispering hastily).

Gretel, sh! don't speak so loud! Be very sharp, watch well and sec whatever she mav do to me! Pretend to clo alf she commands-0, there she's coming- back, sh! hush!

(The TVitclz comes out, satisfies lzcrsclf tlzat Gretel is still standing motionless. and tlzen spreads before Hiinscl almonds and raisins from a bash·t.)

TnE \Vncn.

Now, little man, come prithee enjoy yourself! ( Stic/(ing a raisin into Hiinsel' s mouth.) Eat, minion. eat or die! Here arc cakes. 0 so nice! (Turns to Gretel and disenchants lzer

'Zcitlz a juniper-lmlllclz.) Hocus pocus. elclcr-bush! Rigid body loosen, hush!

( Crctd Jnm•cs again.) Now up ancl move ag-ain, bright and

blithesome, limbs arc become again supple and lithe-

some. Go, my poppet, g-o my pet. \'OU the table now shall set, little knife. little fork, little dish, little

plate, little serviette for nw little mate! :\'"ow g-et everything-. ready and nice, or c lsc I shall lock you up too in a trice!

ｽ ｌ ｾ ｬ ｜ ｓ ｅ ｌ ｬ Ａ ｾ ｄ GRETEL.

(Sic droht kiclzcnzd; Gretel geht ins I-I aus.)

HEXE

( :::u dem sich schlafcnd stellcndcn 1-J an-scl).

Der Liimmel schbft ja nun- sieh mal an,

wie doch die Tm:end schlafcn kann! Na, schlaf mir ｢ ｾ ｡ ｶ Ｌ du gutcs Schaf, bald schtifst du dcincn ewigen Schlaf. Doch erst muss mir die Gretel dran; mit clir, mcin I .ichchcn, fang ich an, bist so nicdlich. zart unci nmd, wie gemacht fiir Hexen-l\1und!

(Sic ijffnct die Raclwfcntlziir wzd ricclzt !zinc in.)

Der Teig ist gar, w1r konnen voran mach en.

Rei, wie im Ofcn die Schcite krachen!

(Sclzicbt noclz cill paar IT o!:::sclzcitc untcr und rcibt sich da11n sclznwn:::clnd die Hiindc.)

Ja, Grctelchen, wirst bald ein ｂ ｲ ｾ ｩ ｴ ･ ｬ ｣ ｨ ･ ｮ Ａ

Schau. schau, wie ich schlau bin. so schlau! Sollst gleich im Backofcn hucken und nach clem I .chkuchcn gucken. Unci hist du clann drin - schwaps, geht die Thiir- klaps! Dann ist fcin Grctckhen

mein Tiriitckhcn! Das Tirzitelchcn soli sich vcrwancleln in Kuchcn mit Zucker und l\Tancleln!

Tm Zauhcrofcn mein wirst clu ein Lcbkuchcn fcin!

(In 'Wilder J7rclfdc rrgrcift sic cinrn Rcsenstic! und rritct ausgc!asscn auf i!nn 1/1//S !!(1//S. Gretel stelzt lausclzcnd am /.:leinen F cnster.)

Hurr, hopp. hopp, hopp! Galopp, Galopp! mein Tksengaul, hurr, hopp, nit faul!

Sowic ich's mag am Iichten Tag spring kreuz unci quer um Hauschen her r

Bei clunkier Nacht, wann niemancl wacht, zum Hexenschmaus am Schornstein raus!

Aus fiinf unci sechs, so sagt die Hex, mach sieb unci acht, so ist's vollhracht; tmcl ncun ist eins. unci zchn ist keins, Ullcl vicl ist nichts, die Hcxe spricht's.

Sc reitct sie his morgens friih-Prr! Bescn ! hiih !

( T'" om Rcscn stcip:nzd lzinkt die H exe :::u Hiinsclmzd kit:::rlt ilzn mit einem Besen-rcis 'Zcac!z.)

ｾ ｜ nf, auf. mein J iingelchen! Zcig mir dcin Ziingclchen!

( Hiinscl strccld die Zunge lzerans.) ( Scluzal::;cnd.)

Schlid::er, schlecker, Ieckcr, Icckcr!

Kleines Ieckrcs Schlingerchen, Zcige mir clcin Fingerchen! (II anscl strccht cin Sti_)ckclzen hera us.) Temine, ic! \Vie ein ·stockchcn, o weh! Biibchcn, dcinc Fingerchen sind elcnde Dingerchcn!

( Ruft.) 1\Eickl ! Gretel !

(Gretel :::cigt siclz an der Tlziir.)

Bring Rosinen unci 1\1ande1n her; I-Lin5elmeint, cs schmcckt nach "mehr! " (Gretel bringt in eZ:ncnz K or!Jc Rosincn

zwd ,1! and c!n: sic stcl! t siclz. walzrend die }fcxe sic dcm I-{(inse! rciclzt, hinter sic ztnd maclzt gcp:Ciz Hiinscl die Ent-:::aubcrzm/!:sgcbiirdc mit dem Wach-!zoldcrbusclz.)

GRETEL (lcisc).

Ff ocus pocus, H o1dcr1msch! Schwinde, Glieclcrstarre-Imsch!

HEXE ( sich rasch umwendcnd).

\Vas sagtest clu, mcin Giinselchen!

GRETEL.

J\Icint' nur: woh1 hekomm's, mein Han· selchen!

HANSEL A::\D GRETEL.

(She threatens and titters. Gretel hurries off. The TVitch, to Hansel) who pre-tends to be asleep.)

The fool is slumb'ring, it does seem queer how youth can sleep and have no fear! \Vell, sleep away, you simple sheep, soon you \vill sleep your last long sleep! But first with Gretel I'll begin-off you, clear maiden, I will dine; you are so tender, plump, and good, just the thint; for witches' food!

(She opens the oven door and sniffs in it, her face lighted up by the deep red glare of the fire.)

The dm:gh has risen, so we'll go on pre-panng.

I-Iark, how the sticks in the fire are crackling!

(Size pushes a couple more faggots under, the fire fla111es up and then clies do7C.'n again. The JVitch, rubbing her hands 7vitlz glee.)

Yes, Gretel mine, how well off vou I'll dine! See, sec. 0 how slv! \\Then in the oven-she's peeping, quickl}· behind her I'm creeping! One little push, bang goes the door. clang! Then soon will Gretel be just done to a T! and when from the oven I take her she'll look like a cake from the baker, by magic fire red changed into gingerbread! See, sec how slv! Hi hi! hi hi! -

(In her wild delight size ｳ ･ ｩ ｾ ｣ ｳ a broom-ｳ ｬ ｩ ､ ｾ and begins to ride Hpon it.)

So hop, hop, hop, gallop. lop, lop! 1\T y broomstick nag, come do not lag! -

(She rides c.rcitcdlv round on the broom-st-icll.)

At dawn of clav I ride awav, · am here ｡ ｾ ､ there and everywhere!

(Size rides again; Gretel meanwhile is 7catching at tlze 7cindow.)

At midnight hour, when none can know to join the w·itches' dance I go! '

And three and four are witches' lore,

and five and six are witches' tricks, and nine is one, and ten is none, and seven is nil, or what she will!

And thus they ride till dawn of dav! (Hopping mad!)' along, she rides-to the

back of the stage and 7/anishes for a time behind the cottage. Jl ere the TV itch becomes ·visible again; she comes to the foreground, 7l'lzere she suddenly pulls up and dismounts.)

Prr, broomstick, hi! (She hobbles back to the stable a!ld

tic/des Hiinsel 7t'ith a birch twig till he awalws.)

Up, awake, my mankin young; come show to me your tongue ! ( Hiinsel puts lzis tongue out. 7'/ze TV itch

snzaclr:s 7(•itlz her tongue.) Daint\· morsel! daint\· morsel! Little. toothsome ma1;kin come, now let me see your thumh!

(Hansel poK'es out a small bone.) Gemini! Oho! 0 how scraggy. how lean ! Frchin, you're a scraggy one, as bad as a skc leton !

(Calls.) lVf aiden. Gretel!

(Gretel appears at the door.) Bring some raisins and almonds sweet, J-hnst'l wants some more to cat. (Gretel runs into the house. and returns

immediate!.\' 7C'itlz a basket full of a!JIIonds and raisins.)

GRETEL.

Here are the almonds.

( JV/zilst tlze TV itch is feeding Hansel, Gretel gets behind her and ma!?cs the gestures of disenchantment ·with the juniper-branch.)

GRETEL (softly).

Hocus pocus, elder-bush, Rigid hody loosen, bush !

TnE \\lrTCli (turning suddenly round). \iVhat were you saying, little goose?

GRETEL (confusedly). Only- much good may it do to Hans!

TnE \VrTCTI. Eh?

GRETEL (louder). Tvf uch good may it do to Hans!

HEXE.

Hihihi! :. ! cin g·utc:-; Tri.•p khcn, da- ｾ ｴ ｣ ｣ ｫ (ii1· ｜ ｜ ﾷ ｡ ｾ ｩ ｮ ｾ !,.,:ri>pfchen!

ｆ ｲ ｩ ｳ ｾ ［ Ｌ \ r •g,·l. und :-:tirh -· [(uchcn-1 lei! dir cn,·irh!

(Sic ii/fnct die !Jaclw/cnthiir: fliins,·! ｾ it'lJ! Crct c! lcb ht!J! r' 7. c iclz CJZ.)

IL\:'\SEL (Ieise die Stalltlziir (jffncnd).

Sc h \\·cstcrlci11, hiit dich fcin!

H EXE (Grete! p:z"crig bctraclztcnd).

Wie w;isscrt mir das 1\ flindchen nach diesem siisscn Kindchen!

Komm. Crctclchen! Zuckcrnl;idelchcn!

Sollst in clcn Backofcn hucken ur..cl nach clcn Lehkuchcn gucken,

sorgtiltig schaun-ja, ob sie schon braun da, ocler oh 's zu friih-'s ist kleinc 1\Ii.ih!

HANSEL (a us dcm Stall schleichend).

Schwesterlein, hi.it dich fcin !

GRETEL ( sic!z ungeschickt stcllend).

Ei, wie fang ich's an, class ich komme dran?

HEXE.

Musst clich nnr eben ein bisschen heben, Kopf vorgebengt-'s ist kinderleicht!

HANSEL (immer niiher den heiden).

Schwesterlein, hiit dich fein !

GRETEL ( schiichtern).

r.:n g·ar so dumm, nimm mir's nicht krumm;

drllm zcig·e mir cl:cn. \vic soil ich mich hcllcn?

( nzach t cin c 1111 )!,cd uld ige B eczcre gung).

]( npf vorgc hcugt ! 's ist kindcrlcicht!

( fndcm sic sich z·orbcugt und 111it halbcm J_cihc hincinl'riaht. pJbcn ihr J liinscl und (;rete! <'on lzint(·n cincn dcr-ben Stoss, sodass sic <'ollcnds hincinflicgt, und sclz!a,!:},cll dann rasch die Tlziir :::u.)

F-L\:\'SEL 1'::\'J) GRETEL.

Und bist du dann drin- schwaps! (;cht die Thiir- klaps! Du bist dann statt Grctelchen

ein Br;itelchcn!

(Hiinsclund Gretel fallen sich jubclnd in die Anne, fasscn sich bci dcr Hand und tan.c·e 11.)

J uchhei! Nun ist die Hexe tot, mausetot !

N 1111 ist geschwundcn Angst unci Not!

T uchhei ! N 1111 ist die Hexe still, - ｭ ｾ ｩ ｵ ｳ ｣ ｨ ｣ ｮ ｳ ｴ ｩ ｬ ｬ ＬlJncl Kuchcn giebt's die Hi.ill unci Fi.ill!

T uchhei ! Nun ist zu End cier Graus, - Hexengraus! Unci b()ser Zauberspuk ist aus!

Drum lasst tms frohlich sein, tanzen im Fcuerschein, halten im Knusperhaus herrlichstcn Freudenschmaus!

J uchhci, juchhei!

(Sic umfasscn sich und wal:::cn zum K111tsperlzaus. czc•o sic al!c f{crrlich-l.:citcn in Be sit::: nclz mc1z. Tm H c.1:en-ofcn lmistcrt cs gc<c•altig wzd die Jf!am,-me sclzliigt lzoch empor: dall7z crfolgt cin starl.:cr Krach, und d£'r Ofen stiirzt :::usammen. Hansel und Gr£'tc! cilcn hcrbci, und stehcn crstaunt da. Ihre Vcr7c•undcr1tlzg stcigt aufs lzoclzstc, als sic die Kinder gez.vahr u•erdcn. ､ ･ ｲ ･ ｊ Ｇ ｾ ＬKuchenhiille inzwische11 abgefallen ist.)

T11E \\'ncn. : ｾ ｌ Ｎ lJ,, 11\'. my iittk ｭ ｩ Ｚ Ｚ ｾ Ｎ1'11 ｾ ｵ ｾ ｰ :.rmr l111lt1lh \'.·ith ｴ ｨ ｾ Ｎ ｲ

! . • '·;·/id·s a raisin into C:ctd's lit.J'ttiz.)

Ａ ﾷ ｾ ｡ ｴ Ｌ 1 ri i 11 inn . c: l\ 1 1 r !] i r ｾ

Here a1 c· ｣ Ｚ ｴ Ｚ Ｌ Ｈ ｾ Ｚ Ｎ () -.:1) ni(_·c!

i Sht' oj'i'IIS !hr• rl'z·,·n dnor: f!z,• /;,·of /;;:s

dintil.•ish,·J. JI ｲ ｯ ｮ ｾ ｴ ﾷ ｬ ｵ Ｇ ｩ ･ii!Ul,·<'s <·i,1lcnt to Gr!'ft'!. l

f} ｾ ｜ ｓ ｉ Ｚ ｌ

(soj'tl_\' O/'tning ihc stable door). Sister dear, 0 ],c\\::rc!

T i [ E \\'I TC1I ( 1 ook ing greed il}: at Grete!). ｾ ｾ ｨ ･ makes m\· 1nmnh \\·atcr, this pretty litt.lc cl:n1g·htcr!

Cnnw, ( ;rdd mine, sugar-lllaidcn mine!

( Grctt'l con1cs to·<mrds !zcr.) Peep in the on·n, he stead\·, see if the .L6ng·erlm.:acl's r·eady!

Carcfulh· look, pet, whet her it's cooked Yet, bnt if it wants more: shnt quick the door!

(Gretel hesitates.)

l-L\N"SEL (slip ping 011 t of the stable).

Sister clear, have a care!

GRETEL

( nza!.:ing herself out <'cry awhward). I don't understand what I have to do!

TnE \Vrrcn. Just stand on tip-toe, head bending fonvarcl ; try it, I pray, it's merely play!

HANSEL

(pulli11g Gretel back by lzcr froc!?). Sister dear, now take care !

(;RETEL (slz;:ly). I'm such a ｧ Ｍ ｮ ｯ ｳ ｾ Ｇ Ｌ don't understand! You'll have to show me how to stand on tip-toe!

Trm \\Trrcn (makes a. 17/0'Z.'cment of impatience).

Do as I sav, it's merely-play!

Ｈ ｾ ｲ ｣ ｣ ｰ ｩ ｮ ｟ ｧ up to _the ｯ ＼ ﾷ ｾ ﾷ ｮ ［

a!t thL' tunc. ond JlfSl as si11' o•·cr it. I !iins,'f ｾ ｾ ｾ ｾ ｾ ｾ Ｈ ［ ｲ Ｌ ﾷ ｩ ｾ ﾷ ｬ

/11! ... ':/t, ·; ._'/, /c!r ｳ Ｈ ｾ ｬ Ａ Ｈ ｬ ｳ hl.,r Ｎ Ｇ ｾ ﾷ (}'('('," i:lf,! it, lfj:,IJI ·z,·/:i,·,'; ｳ Ｏ ［ ｵ ｬ ｴ ｬ Ｚ ｾ Ｇ ｾ Ｈ Ｉ ｮ ｲ Ｎ \

ii.\:\:TL \'\J) C:-:' ::.:1, (i!Oc/:'n.:; her). Tiw:: "()n,· littk ji\1S11. h:uw Ｎ Ｇ ﾷ ｾ ﾷ Ｌ Ｌ ｣ Ｍ Ｎ Ｚ t1w i],•()r. ｣ ｢ ｮ Ｚ Ｎ Ｌ Ｚ ﾷ ｾ Ｂ ,, \'()\1, J1(1t ( ;:Tkl. then \\·i111w

d< ;:;c tn a T! (I /(inscl i:nd ｌ Ｇ ｲ ｣ ｴ ｾ ﾷ Ａ fall into one an-

otli<'r's ar111s.)

n<JTIL

I ｬ ｵ ｲ ｲ ｾ ｬ ｨ Ａ 110\'.' ｳ ｩ ｮ Ｎ ｾ ﾷ the witch 1s dead, rcztllY clC'acl!

:\o more to ､ ｮ ｾ ｡ ､ ｾ

1 I urrah! nnw sing· the witch is still, death h· still!

\ V e can cat our fiil!

Now all the spell is o'er, rcalh· o'er!

\Ve fear no mot:e! (The)' sci:::e each other's hands.)

Y cs. let us happy be, dancing so merrily; now the old \Vitch is gone. ,n,'ll have no cncl of fun! Hey! hurrah, hurrah! Hip hurrah.! Hip hurrah!

Hurrah!

(The:,• tal;:e each other round the waist and ＼ ｬ ﾷ ｡ ｬ ｴ ｾ together, first in the front of" the stage, and then gradually in tlze di-rection of the TVitch's house. TV/zen they t:ct there Hiinsel breal;:s loose from Gretel and rushes illto the house, shuttin.c: the door after him. Then frolll the upper 'Z.c•indo'Z.u he throws dO<i'J/ apples, pears, oranges, gilded nuts. and all ln'nds of S'Z.\.'Cetmeats into Gretel's outstretched apron. i11can-whilc the m·cn bt'J.:,ins crackling loudly, and the flames bunz lzip)1. Then there is a loud crash, and the o<'ell falls th 11 n-dcring into bits. Hi.inse/ and Gretel, 'i.l'lzo in their terror let their S'Z\'cctnzeats· all lall down. lzurrv to<cards the o<·en sf a r !led. and stcnu.l there m o tio nlc ss. Tht'ir astonis!znzcnt increases 'i.clzcll they be ern.·.· c ｡ ｾ ､ Ｗ ｲ ｃ of a troop o/ c lz ild rc 11

aro:11•d tlzcm, ·<•.•lwsc disguisr of cah:c.s has /u!lc·n frolll them.)

[ I.\ :\:; Ｚ ｾ L .\ ｾ ll (;RETE L ( S 11, 0 /,• I' II ) .

There. :-:c(' tl·ose littlr• children dear, T \\·o::ckr l:ow tbc_y all came here!

IL\:\SEL C::-.JD GRETEL.

Vierte Scene.

GRETEL ( nach einer T¥ eile).

Da, sieh nur die artigep Kinderlein, wo mogen die hergekommen sein?

DIE KucnENKINnER (gmz:: Ieise).

Erlost - hcfreit fur aile Zeit!

GRETEL.

Geschlossen sind ihre Xugelein; sie schlafen unci singen doch so fein!

ｋ ｵ ｣ ｈ ｅ ｎ ｋ ｉ ｾ ｄ ｅ ｒ (leise).

0 riihre mich an, dass ich erwachen kann !

HANSEL ('ucrlegen).

Riihr du sie doch an-ich traue mir's nicht.

GRETEL.

J a, streichcln wiii ich dies hiibsches Ge-sicht!

(Sic streiclzelt das ndclzste Kind; dieses offnet die A ugcn ztnd li.ichelt.)

ANDRE KucllENKIKDER.

0 riihre auch mich-auch mich riihr' an, class ich die Xuglein 6ffnen kann. (Gretel gclzt streiche!nd :::11 den iibrip,-c1z

Kindern, die !iichelnd die Augen iiff-ncn, dme siclz :::u riilzren; cndlich er-grcift Hansel den TVaclzlzolder.)

FL\NSEL.

Hocus pocus, Holdcrbusch! Schwinde, Glieclerstarre-husch!

Dm KucuENKINDER

( sprzngen auf, scizlicssen sich :::u em em Ringclrcigen um Hansel und Gretel und verbeugen sich :::ierlich).

Habt Dank, habt Dank euer Leben lang!

Juchhei! Die Hexerei ist nun vorbei;

nun singen und springen wir froh unci frei!

Kommt, Kinderlein, zum Ringelreihn,

reicht allzumal die Handchen fein! Drum singt und springt, drum tanzt unci singt,

class laut der J ubclruf clurchdringt den \Vald,

und rings erschallt von Lust der \Vald.

HANSEL UND GRETEL.

Die Englein hahen's im Traum gesagt in stiller N acht,

was nun so herrlich uns cler Tag hat wahr gemacht.

Ihr Englein, die uns so treu bewacht hei Tag und :\facht,

habt Lob uncl Dank fiir all die Pracht, die uns hicr lacht.

Dm KucnENKINDER.

Habt Dank, haht Dank euer Leben lang!

Letzte Scene.

("Ius dcnz Hintcrgnnzd crt(ilzt die Stim-llle des T7 aters.)

V:\TER.

Rallalala, rallalala, ｷ ｾ ｩ ｲ ｣ ｮ doch 1111src Kinder cla! Rallalala. rallalala.-

( T:r crblid't l Tiinscl zmd Gretel.) J uch- ! Ei, da sind sic ja!

HX.NSEL UND GRETEL

(den Eltcnz entgegcn cilcnd).

Vater! l\Iutter!

l\1UTTER.

Kinderchen!

VATER.

Da sind ja die armen Siinderchen!

( Frolzc Umamzzmp;; wztcrdes haben zwei KJ1aben die H exe als grosse«, Leblm-clzen aus den Trii1n1nern des Zaubero-fens gezogen. Der Vater stellt dieselbe 'ZJOr siclz lzin.)

HANSEL AND GRETEL. .1£3

Scene IV.

THE GINGERBREAD CHILDRE;-.J

(motionless and with closed eyes. as lht' cake figures were before).

''r e're saved, we're freed for evermore !

GH.ETEL.

Your eyes are shut-pray who are you? You're sleeping, and yet you're singing

too!

THE GINGERBREAD CHILDREN

( al·wa:ys very softly).

,J touch us, we pray, (hat we may all awake!

HANSEL (to Gretel) embarrassed).

n touch them for me, I dare not try !

GRETEL.

Yes, let me stroke this innocent face!

(She caresses the nearest child, n•lzo opens its eyes and smiles.)

OTHER GINGERBREAD CHILDREN

(softly).

0 touch me too, 0 touch me too, lhat I also may awake! (Gretel goes and caresses all the rest of

the children. ｾ Ｚ ｣ ｬ ｺ ｯ open their eyes and smile, 7i.•itlwut moving: meaml'h ile Hiinsel sei:::es the juniper--branch.)

HANSEL.

Hocus pocus, elder-hush! Rigid body loosen, hush!

SoME oF TIIE CniLDREN

(jutnp up and hurry tmc•ards Hiinsel a1·d Gretel from all sides).

We thank, we thank you both!

TnE C:nn.m<EN.

The spell is broke ami we are free, we'll sing and we'll dance and we'll shout

for !!lee! Come, c!;ildren all, and form a ring, join hands together while we sing. Then sing and spring, then dance and sing, for cakes and all good things we bring.

Then sing and spring, then dance and sing, that through the wood our song of praise may sound, and echo repeat it all around! \V e thank, we thank, we thank !

HANSEL.

The angels whispered in dreams to \1'- m silent night

what this happy, happy day has bHlHJ!Il!

tonight. (Four Gingerbread Children at a ti1nP

surround ffii11srl and Gretel, and hr:c gracefully ro them.)

GRETEL.

Ye angels. who have watched o'er «"111

steps and led them right, \H' thank for all our joy and wondrPtl'

delight.

TnE GINCEHBRE.\D CHILDREN

(7.oho all press round I fiinsd and (;rc'fl'/

to sha!.'e hands 'Zl'ith them). \Ve'll thank yon both all our life!

FATHER (behind the scene). Tralala. tralalala ! \V ere our children only here! Tralala, tralalala!

(The Father appears i11 the backgrouud ｾ Ｚ ｣ ｩ ｴ ｨ the ll! other, and stops wizen lu sees the children.)

Ha! Why, they're really there!

Last Scene.

HANSEL ( nuz11i11g towards them). Father! mother!

GRETEL (the sante).

Father! mother!

MoTHER.

Children dear!

FATHER.

0 welcome, poor children innocent! (I oyful1:1' embracing. Ｌ ｾ Ｑ camc,!zilc tn•n of

the brrys hm·e dmgJ!/d the JVitc/;. 111

tlze form of a big gingerbread cake. o!lt of the ruins of the llltl.!!:ic m•e1z. At th •· sip)lf of her the_\' a!! burst into a shout of fay. The ｢ ｯ ｾ ﾷ ｳ place the vVitcli 1n tlzc middle of the stage.)

HANSEL eND GRETEL.

VATER.

Kinder. schaut clas \Vunder an, wi·e sokh Hexlein hexcn kann,

\tVie sie hart, knusperhart .

!>dher nun zum K uchen ward!

M ｾ ｲ ｫ ｴ des Himmels St ra fgericht: hose \Verke dauern nicht! :\f\!enn die Not aufs hochste steigt. i ;Qtt der Herr die Hand uns reicht!

ArLE.

\"tenn die Not au fs hi)chste steigt, Gott der Herr die Hand uns reicht!

.; lndrm die Kinder ciuc11 ｬ ｾ ｴ ｳ ｴ ｩ ｧ ｣ ｮ Rcigcn um ､ ｩ ｾ Gruppe tmL'::C1l, fallt der Vor-hang.)

ENDK.

FATHER.

Children, see the wonder wrought, how the \Vitch herself was caught

unaware in the snare

laid for you with cunning rare! ALL THE REST.

See, 0 see the wonder wrought, how the \Vitch hcrsel f was caught

una ware in the snare

laid for us with cunning rare! · ( Tlze two boys drag tlzc Witch tn the

cottage.) F \THER.

Such is Heaven's chastisement; , evil works will have an end.

"\Vhen past hearing is our grief, Then 'tis Heaven will send us sure

relief! " ALL.

" \Vhen past hearing is our grief, Then 'tis Heaven wi11 send relieft"

THE END.