Scene I.

(_The curtain rises. The middle of the forest. In the background is the Ilsenstein, thickly surrounded by fir-trees. On the right is a large fir-tree, under which Gretel is sitting on a mossy tree-trunk and making a garland of wild roses. By her side lies a nosegay of flowers. Amongst the bushes on the left is Hänsel, looking for strawberries. Sunset._)

GRETEL (_humming quietly to herself_).

There stands a little man in the wood alone, he wears a little mantle of velvet brown. Say, who can the mankin be, standing there beneath the tree, with the little mantle of velvet brown? His hair is all of gold, and his cheeks are red, he wears a little black cap upon his head. Say, who can the mankin be, standing there so silently, with the little black cap upon his head?

(_She holds up the garland of roses, and looks it all round._)

With the little black cap upon his head!

HÄNSEL

(_comes out, swinging his basket joyfully_).

Hurrah! my strawberry basket is nearly brimful! O won't the mother be pleased with Hänsel!

GRETEL (_standing up_).

My garland is ready also! Look! I never made one so nice before!

(_Tries to put the wreath on Hänsel's head._)

HÄNSEL (_drawing back roughly_).

You won't catch a boy wearing that! It is only fit for a girl!

(_Puts the wreath on her._)

Ha, Gretel! "Fine feathers!" O the deuce! You shall be the queen of the wood!

GRETEL.

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

HÄNSEL (_gives her the nosegay_).

Queen of the wood, with sceptre and crown, I give you the strawberries, but don't eat them all!

(_He gives the basket full of strawberries into her other hand, at the same time kneeling before her in homage. At this moment the cuckoo is heard._)

Cuckoo, cuckoo, how d'you do?

GRETEL.

Cuckoo, cuckoo, where are you?

(_Takes a strawberry from the basket and pokes it into Hänsel's mouth; he sucks it up as though he were drinking an egg._)

HÄNSEL (_jumping up_).

Oho, I can do that just like you!

(_Takes some strawberries and lets them fall into Gretel's mouth._)

Let us do like the cuckoo too, who takes what doesn't belong to him!

(_It begins to grow dark._)

HÄNSEL (_helping himself again_).

Cuckoo, how are you?

GRETEL.

Cuckoo, where are you?

HÄNSEL.

In your neighbour's nest you go.

GRETEL (_helping herself_).

Cuckoo, cuckoo!

HÄNSEL.

Cuckoo, why do you do so?

(_Pours a handful of strawberries into his mouth._)

GRETEL.

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

HÄNSEL.

Cuckoo, cuckoo!

(_They get rude and begin to quarrel for the strawberries. Hänsel gains the victory, and puts the whole basket to his mouth until it is empty._)

GRETEL

(_horrified, clasping her hands together_).

Hänsel, what have you done? O Heaven! all the strawberries eaten. You glutton! Listen, you'll have a punishment from the mother--this passes a joke!

HÄNSEL (_quietly_).

Now come, don't make such a fuss; you, Gretel, you did the same thing yourself!

GRETEL.

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

HÄNSEL.

What, here in the dark, under hedges and bushes? Why, naught can we see of fruit or leaves! It's getting dark already here!

GRETEL.

O Hänsel! O Hänsel! O what shall we do? What bad disobedient children we've been! We ought to have thought and gone home sooner!

(_Cuckoo behind the scenes, rather nearer than before._)

HÄNSEL.

Hark, what a noise in the bushes! Know you what the forest says? "Children, children," it says, "Are you not afraid?"

(_Hänsel spies all around uneasily, at last he turns in despair to Gretel._)

Gretel, I cannot find the way!

GRETEL (_dismayed_).

O God! what say you? Not know the way?

HÄNSEL

(_pretending to be very brave_).

Why, how ridiculous you are! I am a boy, and know not fear!

GRETEL.

O Hänsel, some dreadful thing may come!

HÄNSEL.

O Gretel, come, don't be afraid!

GRETEL.

What's glimmering there in the darkness?

HÄNSEL.

That's only the birches in silver dress.

GRETEL.

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

HÄNSEL (_stammering_).

Th--that's only the stump of a willow-tree.

GRETEL (_hastily_).

But what a dreadful form it takes, and what a horrid face it makes!

HÄNSEL (_very loud_).

Come, I'll make faces, you fellow! D'you hear?

GRETEL (_terrified_).

There, see! a lantern, it's coming this way!

HÄNSEL.

Will-o'-the-wisp is hopping about-- Gretel, come, don't lose heart like this! Wait, I'll give a good loud call!

(_Goes back some steps to the back of the stage and calls through his hands._)

Who's there?

ECHO.

You there! There!

(_The children cower together._)

GRETEL.

Is some one there?

ECHO.

Where? Here!

GRETEL (_softly_).

Did you hear? a voice said, "Here!" Hänsel, surely some one's near.

(_Crying._)

I'm frightened, I'm frightened, I wish I were home! I see the wood all filled with goblin forms!

HÄNSEL.

Gretelkin, stick to me close and tight, I'll shelter you, I'll shelter you!

(_A thick mist rises and completely hides the background._)

GRETEL.

I see some shadowy women coming! See, how they nod and beckon, beckon! They're coming, they're coming, they'll take us away!

(_Crying out, rushes horror-struck under the tree and falls on her knees, hiding herself behind Hänsel._)

Father! mother! Ah!

HÄNSEL.

See there, the mankin, sister dear! I wonder who the mankin is?

(_At this moment the mist lifts on the left; a little grey man is seen with a little sack on his back._)