Chapter II: Act I: At Home

Scene I.

(_Small, poorly furnished room. In the background a door, a small window near it with a view into the forest. On the left a fireplace, with chimney above it. On the walls many brooms of various sizes. Hänsel sits near the door, making brooms, and Gretel opposite him by the fireplace, knitting a stocking._)

GRETEL.

Susy, little Susy, pray what is the news?
The geese are running barefoot, because they've no shoes!
The cobbler has leather, and plenty to spare,
why can't he make the poor goose a new pair?

HÄNSEL.

Then they'll have to go barefoot!
Eia-popeia, pray what's to be done?
Who'll give me milk and sugar, for bread I have none?
I'll go back to bed and I'll lie there all day;
where there's nought to eat, then there's nothing to pay!

GRETEL.

Then we'll have to go hungry!

HÄNSEL.

If mother would only come home again!
Yes, I am so hungry,
I don't know what to do!
For weeks I've eaten nought but bread--
It's very hard, it is indeed!

GRETEL.

Hush, Hänsel, don't forget what father said,
when mother, too, wished she were dead:
"When past bearing is our grief,
Then 'tis Heaven will send relief!"

HÄNSEL.

Yes, yes, that sounds all very fine,
but you know off maxims we cannot dine!
O Gret, it would be such a treat
if we had something nice to eat!
Eggs and butter and suet paste,
I've almost forgotten how they taste.

(_Nearly crying._)

O Gretel, I wish--

GRETEL.

Hush, don't give way to grumps;
have patience awhile, no doleful dumps!
This woful face, whew! what a sight!
Looks like a horrid old crosspatch fright!
Crosspatch, away!
Leave me, I pray!
Just let me reach you,
quickly I'll teach you
how to make trouble,
soon mount to double!
Crosspatch, crosspatch,
what is the use,
growling and grumbling,
full of abuse?
Off with you, out with you,
shame on you, goose!

HÄNSEL.

Crosspatch, away!
Hard lines, I say.

{HÄNSEL.
{
{ When I am hungry,
{ surely I can say so,
{ cannot allay so,
{ can't chase away so!
{
{GRETEL.
{
{ If I am hungry,
{ I'll never say so,
{ will not give way so,
{ chase it away so!

GRETEL.

That's right. Now, if you leave off complaining,
I'll tell you a most delightful secret!

HÄNSEL.

O delightful! it must be something nice!

GRETEL.

Well, listen, brotherkin--won't you be glad!
Look here in the jug, here is fresh milk,
'twas given to-day by our neighbour,
and mother, when she comes back home,
will certainly make us a rice-blancmange.

HÄNSEL

(_joyfully dances round the room_).

Rice-blancmange!
When blancmange is anywhere near,
then Hänsel, Hänsel, Hänsel, is there!
How thick is the cream on the milk;
let's taste it! O Gemini!
wouldn't I like to drink it!

(_Tasting it._)

GRETEL.

What, Hänsel, tasting? Aren't you ashamed?
Out with your fingers quick, greedy boy!

(_Gives him a rap on the fingers._)

Get back to your work again, be quick,
that we may both have done in time!
If mother comes and we haven't done right,
then badly it will fare with us to-night!

HÄNSEL.

Work again? No, not for me!
That's not my idea at all;
it doesn't suit me! It's such a bore!
Dancing is jollier far, I'm sure!

GRETEL (_delighted_).

Dancing, dancing! O yes, that's better far;
and sing a song to keep us in time!
One that our grandmother used to sing us:
sing then, and dance in time to the singing!

(_Claps her hands_.)

Brother, come and dance with me,
both my hands I offer thee;
right foot first,
left foot then,
round about and back again!

HÄNSEL (_tries to do it, but awkwardly_).

I would dance, but don't know how,
when to jump, and when to bow;
show me what I ought to do,
so that I may dance like you.

GRETEL.

With your foot you tap, tap, tap;
with your hands you clap, clap, clap;
right foot first,
left foot then,
round about and back again!

HÄNSEL.

With your hands you clap, clap, clap;
with your foot you tap, tap, tap;
right foot first,
left foot then,
round about and back again!

GRETEL.

That was very good indeed,
O, I'm sure you'll soon succeed!
Try again, and I can see
Hänsel soon will dance like me!

(_Claps her hands._)

With your head you nick, nick, nick;
with your fingers you click, click, click;
right foot first,
left foot then,
round about and back again.

HÄNSEL.

With your head you nick, nick, nick;
with your fingers you click, click, click;
right foot first,
left foot then,
round about and back again!

GRETEL.

Brother, watch what next I do,
you must do it with me too.
You to me your arm must proffer,
I shall not refuse your offer!
Come!

BOTH.

What I enjoy is dance and jollity,
love to have my fling;
in fact, I like frivolity,
and all that kind of thing.

GRETEL.

Tralala, tralala, tralala!
Come and have a twirl, my dearest Hänsel,
come and have a turn with me, I pray;
come here to me, come here to me,
I'm sure you can't say nay!

HÄNSEL (_gruffly_).

Go away from me, go away from me,
I'm much too proud for you:
with little girls I do not dance,
and so, my dear, adieu!

GRETEL.

Go, stupid Hans, conceited Hans,
you'll see I'll make you dance!
Tralala, tralala, tralala!
Come and have a twirl, my dearest Hänsel,
come and have a turn with me, I pray!

HÄNSEL.

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

GRETEL.

O Hänsel dear, O brother dear,
d'you take me for a fool?
With naughty boys I do not dance,
and so, my dear, adieu!

HÄNSEL.

Now don't be cross,
you silly goose,
you'll see I make you dance!

{Gretel.
{
{ Tralala, tralala, tralala!
{Come and have a twirl, my dearest Hänsel,
{come and have a turn with me, I pray.
{Sing lustily hurrah! hurrah!
{while I dance with you;
{and if the stockings are in holes,
{why, mother'll knit some new!
{
{HÄNSEL.
{
{ Tralala, tralala, tralala!
{Sing lustily hurrah! hurrah!
{while I dance with you;
{and if the shoes are all in holes,
{why mother'll buy some new!
{ Tralala, tralala, tralala!

(_They dance round each other as before. They then seize each other's hands and go round in a circle, quicker and quicker, until at length they lose their balance and tumble over one another on the floor._)

Scene II.

(_At this moment the door opens, the mother appears, whereupon the children jump up quickly._)

MOTHER.

Hallo!

HÄNSEL AND GRETEL.

Heavens! Here's mother!

MOTHER.

What is all this disturbance?

GRETEL.

'Twas Hänsel, he wanted--

HÄNSEL.

'Twas Gretel, she said I--

MOTHER.

Silence, idle and ill-behaved children!

(_The mother comes in, unstraps the basket, and puts it down._)

Call you it working, yodelling and singing?
As though 'twere fair time, hopping and springing!
And while your parents from early morning
till late at night are slaving and toiling!
Take that!

(_Gives Hänsel a box on the ear._)

Now come, let's see what you've done.
Why, Gretel, your stocking not ready yet?
And you, you lazybones, have you nothing to show?
Pray how many besoms have you finished?
I'll fetch my stick, you useless children,
and make your idle fingers tingle!

(_In her indignation at the children she gives the milk-jug a push, so that it falls off the table with a smash._)

Gracious! there goes the jug all to pieces!
What now can I cook for supper?

(_She looks at her dress, down which the milk is streaming. Hänsel covertly titters._)

How, saucy, how dare you laugh?

(_Goes with a stick after Hänsel, who runs out at the open door._)

Wait, wait till the father comes home!

(_With sudden energy she snatches a basket from the wall, and pokes it into Gretel's hands._)

Off, off, to the wood!
There seek for strawberries! Quick, away!
And if you don't bring the basket brimful,
I'll whip you so that you'll both run away!

(_The children run off into the wood. She sits down exhausted by the table._)

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

(_Sobbing._)

No bread, not a crumb, for my starving children!
No crust in the cupboard, no milk in the pot--

(_Resting her head on her hands._)

Weary am I, weary of living!
Father, send help to me!

(_Lays her head down on her arm and drops to sleep._)

Scene III.

(_A voice is heard in the distance._)

Tralala, tralala! little mother, here am I!
Tralala, tralala! bringing luck and jollity!

(_Rather nearer._)

O, for you and me, poor mother,
every day is like the other;
with a big hole in the purse,
and in the stomach an even worse.
Tralala, tralala!
Hunger is the poor man's curse!
Tralala, tralala!
Hunger is the poor man's curse!

(_The father appears at the window, and during the following he comes into the room in a very happy mood, with a basket on his back._)

'Tisn't much that we require,
just a little food and fire!
But alas! it's true enough,
life on some of us is rough!
Hunger is a customer tough! (_or_)
Yes, the rich enjoys his dinner,
while the poor grows daily thinner!
Strives to eat, as well he may,
somewhat less than yesterday!

(_Complainingly._)

Tralala, tralala!
hunger is the devil to pay!
Tralala, tralala!
hunger is the devil to pay!

(_He puts down his basket._)

Yes, hunger's all very well to feel,
if you can get a good square meal;
but when there's nought, what can you do,
supposing the purse be empty too?
Tralalala, tralalala!
O for a drop of mountain dew!
Tralalala, tralalala!
Mother, look what I have brought!

(Reels over to his sleeping wife and gives her a smacking kiss.)

MOTHER (_rubbing her eyes_).

Oho!--
Who's sing-sing-singing
all around the house,
and tra-la-la-ing me
out of my sleep?

FATHER (_inarticulately_).

How now!--
The hungry beast
within my breast
called so for food
I could not rest!
Tralala, tralala!
Hunger is an urgent beast!
Tralala, tralala!
pinches, gnaws, and gives no rest!

MOTHER.

So, so!
And this wild beast,
you gave him a feast.
He's had his fill,
to say the least!

FATHER.

Well, yes! H'm! it was a lovely day,
don't you think so, dear wife?

(_Wants to kiss her._)

MOTHER

(_pushing him angrily away, excitedly_).

Have done! You have no troubles to bear,
'tis I must keep the house!

FATHER.

Well, well,--then let us see, my dear,
what we have got to eat to-day.

MOTHER.

Most simple is the bill of fare,
our supper's gone, I know not where!
Larder bare, cellar bare,
nothing, and plenty of it to spare!

FATHER.

Tralalala, tralalala!
Cheer up, mother, for here am I,
bringing luck and jollity!

(_He takes his basket and begins to display he contents._)

Look, mother, doesn't all this food please you?

MOTHER.

Man, man, what see I?
Ham and butter,
flour and sausage--
eggs, a dozen....
(Husband, and they cost a fortune!)
Turnips, onions, and--for me!
Nearly half a pound of tea!

BOTH.

Tralala, tralala,
hip hurrah!
Won't we have a festive time!
Tralala, hip hurrah!
Won't we have a happy time!
Now listen how it all came about!

FATHER

(_turns the basket topsy-turvy, and a lot of potatoes roll out. He seizes her by the arm and dances round the room. Sits down. Meanwhile the mother packs away the things, lights a fire, breaks eggs into a saucepan, etc._).

Yonder to the town I went,
there was to be a great event,
weddings, fairs, and preparation
for all kinds of jubilation!
Now's my chance to do some selling,
and for that you may be thankful!
He who wants a feast to keep,
he must scrub and brush and sweep.
So I brought my best goods out,
tramped with them from house to house:
"Buy besoms! good besoms!
Buy my brushes! sweep your carpets,
sweep your cobwebs!"
And so I drove a roaring trade,
and sold my brushes at the highest prices!
Now make haste with cup and platter,
bring the glasses, bring the kettle--
here's a health to the besom-maker!

MOTHER.

Here's a health to the besom-maker!

FATHER.

But stay, why, where are the children?
Hänsel, Gretel, what's gone with Hans?

MOTHER.

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

FATHER.

What! the jug is smashed to bits?

MOTHER.

And the cream all run away.

FATHER

(_striking his fist on the table in a rage_).

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

MOTHER (_hastily_).

Been in mischief? I should think so!
Nought have they done but their mad pranking;
as I came home I could hear them
hopping and cutting the wildest capers,
till I was so cross that I gave a push--
and the jug of milk was spilt!

FATHER.

And the jug of milk was spilt!
Ha ha ha ha!

(_Both laughing._)

Such anger, mother, don't take it ill,
seems stupid to me, I must say!
But where, where think you the children can be?

MOTHER (_snappishly and curtly_).

For aught I know, at the Ilsenstein!

FATHER (_horror-struck_).

The Ilsenstein! Come, come, have a care!

(_Fetches a broom from the wall._)

MOTHER.

The besom, just put it away again!

FATHER

(_lets the broom fall and wrings his hands_).

My children astray in the gloomy wood,
all alone without moon or stars!

MOTHER.

O Heaven!

FATHER.

Dost thou not know the awful magic place,
the place where the evil one dwells?

MOTHER (_surprised_).

The evil one! What mean'st thou?

FATHER (_with mysterious emphasis_).

The gobbling ogress!

(_The mother draws back, the father takes up the broom again._)

MOTHER.

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

FATHER.

The besom, the besom, why what is it for?
They ride on it, they ride on it, the witches!
An old witch within that wood doth dwell
and she's in league with the powers of hell.
At midnight hour, when nobody knows,
away to the witches' dance she goes.
Up the chimney they fly,
on a broomstick they hie--
over hill and dale,
o'er ravine and vale,
through the midnight air
they gallop full tear--
on a broomstick, on a broomstick,
hop hop, hop hop, the witches!

MOTHER.

O horror!
But the gobbling witch?

FATHER.

And by day, they say, she stalks around,
with a crinching, crunching, munching sound,
and children plump and tender to eat
she lures with magic gingerbread sweet.
On evil bent,
with fell intent,
she lures the children, poor little things,
in the oven red-hot
she pops all the lot;
she shuts the lid down
until they're done brown,
in the oven, in the oven,
(_Expressively._)
the gingerbread children!

MOTHER.

And the gingerbread children?

FATHER.

Are served up for dinner!

MOTHER.

For the ogress?

FATHER.

For the ogress!

MOTHER.

O horror!
Heav'n help us! the children!
O what shall we do?

(_Runs out of the house._)

FATHER.

Hi, mother, mother, wait for me!

(_Takes the whisky bottle from the table and follows her._)

We'll both go together the witch to seek!

(_The curtain falls quickly._)