SCENE IV
Reading edition
TIME: three days later; evening. PLACE: the dark wood. A hut is seen among the vines.
THE FORESTER. THE EXECUTIONER.
HIS SON. THE OLD SOLDIER.
KAREN. THE FAIRY QUEEN.
MOON.
[The FORESTER and his SON are felling a tree.]
KAREN (heard calling off). Stop me! Stop me!
SON. Heard you that cry?
FORESTER (looking off). Mercy on us! 'T is the dancing girl I told you of!
[Enter KAREN, dancing.]
KAREN. Stop me, Forester!
FORESTER. No, no! I dare not!
KAREN (to Son). Stop me, I pray you! Three days have I danced! I can endure it no longer!
SON (to Forester). Come, let us help her!
FORESTER. Do not touch her! She is bewitched!
KAREN. 'T is my shoes are bewitched—not I!
SON. I say, little maid, pull off your shoes!
KAREN. They will not come off. See!
[She pulls at her shoes.]
SON (starting towards Karen). I'll get them off, bewitched or not bewitched!
FORESTER (seizing Son). Would you get yourself into trouble? Come home with me!
[Forester runs from wood with Son. The MOON arises suddenly in a fir tree.]
KAREN. O Moon, see how I dance below you! Pray tell me how to break this spell!
MOON. Ha, ha, ha!
"THE MOON CHANGES INTO THE RED BEARD OF THE OLD SOLDIER"
[The Moon changes into the red beard of the OLD SOLDIER.]
OLD SOLDIER. My beard makes moonlight for me that I may watch you dance.
KAREN. Mercy, Old Soldier! I pray you break your spell!
OLD SOLDIER. You forgot to say the prayers! You thought only of your red shoes!
KAREN. I will go barefoot to church!
OLD SOLDIER. You whispered "red" to the Shoemaker!
KAREN. I will never deceive my dear Grandmother again! Have pity!
OLD SOLDIER. You shall dance in your red shoes till you are pale and cold! By night and by day you shall dance; in sunshine and in rain; in snow and in sleet. Over highways and byways shall you dance; in dark swamps and on mountain tops. You shall go on dancing, dancing, dancing, forever and ever!
[He disappears.]
KAREN. I cannot dance on forever! I cannot! I cannot!
(Weeping; pause.)
Well, I know a way to break the spell, and I'll do it!
(Crossing to hut of the EXECUTIONER; knocking.)
Come out! Come out!
EXECUTIONER (from within the hut). Come in!
KAREN. I cannot come in; I must dance.
EXECUTIONER. Then I will come out.
(The Executioner comes out from hut.)
Well, do you know me?
KAREN. You are the Executioner.
EXECUTIONER. I am the Executioner. I cut off the heads of wicked people with this great ax.
KAREN. Do not strike off my head!
EXECUTIONER. And why not strike off your head, pray?
KAREN. I must have that to repent of my sin. So please to cut off my feet.
EXECUTIONER. It shall be as you say. Thrust out your foot, maid.
[Enter FAIRY QUEEN.]
FAIRY QUEEN. Stay, Executioner, stay! I've come to save you, Karen!
KAREN. To save me?
FAIRY QUEEN. Whenever a child repents of a sin, lo, I am there to save.
KAREN. Will you remove this spell from me?
FAIRY QUEEN. Will you give up your red shoes?
KAREN. Gladly! Gladly! I wish I might never see them again!
FAIRY QUEEN. Then dance to me that I may touch you with my wand.
[Fairy Queen touches Karen's shoes with her wand. The shoes fall off.]
KAREN. Dear Fairy Queen! Dear Fairy Queen! I thank you! I thank you!
FAIRY QUEEN. Look, Karen, your shoes are dancing away! Soon they will be lost to you forever. Shall I not bring them back?
KAREN. No, no! Let them go! Now I am free! Now I can rest!
FAIRY QUEEN. Then come, dear child, I will guide you to your home.