Scene III.—In the Wood—Morning
Reading edition
Hänsel. Wake up, dear little sister! The birds are singing and it is time to get up!
Gretel. I'm awake, dear brother. Come, let us hurry home.
Hänsel. Here is a path! Oh, Gretel, look at the pretty house!
Gretel. A cottage all made of chocolate creams!
Hänsel. The house seems to smile!
Gretel. It looks good enough to eat.
Hänsel. Let's nibble it!
[A voice within the house.]
Nibble, nibble, manikin! Who's nibbling at my housekin?
Hänsel. Oh, did you hear?
Gretel. It's the wind!
Hänsel. Never mind, let us eat the cake. I'm hungry. Take a bite! Isn't it good?
Gretel. Yes, and look at the candy! What a funny fence this is! It looks like little boys and girls made of gingerbread with sugar trimmings. I wonder who lives in this house?
[The Gingerbread Woman comes out of the house and speaks.]
You've come to visit me, that is sweet, You charming children, so good to eat!
Hänsel. Who are you, ugly one? Let me go!
Gretel. Take your arms away from me!
The Gingerbread Witch. Come into my house, little children! You may have sugarplums and peaches and cherries and candies and everything nice that little folks like!
Hänsel. No, I won't! I don't want to go into your house. I want to go home!
Gretel. I don't like you, Mrs. Gingerbread! You aren't nice like my mother. I want to go home to my own mother!
The Gingerbread Witch. Come, dear little Gretel. You must go in with me. We'll leave Hänsel in this little house outside. He must get fatter, so we will give him many good things to eat. Get in, Hänsel. I must lock you in!
Hänsel. What are you going to do with me?
The Gingerbread Witch. I'll fatten you up nicely and then you will see! Now I'll go inside for some sugarplums. You wait here, Gretel, until I come back. Hocus, pocus, malus locus! now you can't move!
[Goes in.]
Hänsel. Listen, Gretel! Watch the old witch and see everything she does to me. Hush, she's coming back!
The Gingerbread Witch. Now, Hans, eat this raisin. It will make you fat! Now, Gretel, you have stood still long enough.
Hocus, pocus, elder bush! Rigid body loosen, hush!
Then, Gretel, you must come with me, but Hans cannot move until he gets nice and fat like you. Run in, little daughter, and get some more nuts and raisins for him. I like plump little bodies like yours!
[Gretel goes in.]
Hänsel. Please let me out, Mrs. Gingerbread.
The Gingerbread Witch. When you are fatter. Now I must look to my fire. It is burning well, and the oven will soon be hot enough to bake my dinner. When I change my gingerbread I'll pop little Gretel in and shut the door.
[Gretel comes in very quietly and goes to Hans.]
Gretel.
Hocus, pocus, elder bush! Rigid body loosen, hush!
The Gingerbread Witch. What are you saying?
Gretel. Oh, nothing,—only,—
The Gingerbread Witch. Only what?
Gretel. Only, much good may it do to Hans!
The Gingerbread Witch. Poor Hans is too thin, but I hope the raisins and nuts will be good for him. But, you, my plump little Gretel, are just fat enough—come, peep in the oven and see if the gingerbread is ready!
Hänsel (softly).
Sister dear, have a care; She means to hurt you, so beware!
Gretel (shyly). I don't understand what I am to do!
The Gingerbread Witch. Do? Why, open the oven door!
Hänsel. Sister dear, now take care!
Gretel. I'm such a goose, I don't understand.
The Gingerbread Witch. Do as I say, it's only play! This is the way.
[Opens the door and looks in oven. Hans and Gretel run and push her in.]
Children sing. One little push, bang goes the door, clang! Now, let us be happy, dancing so merrily. Hurrah! Hurrah!
Hänsel. Why, see the children, Gretel. The fence is moving! The gingerbread children are real children, but their eyes are shut!
The Children. We are saved! We are saved!
Gretel. Who are you? Why do you keep your eyes shut? You're sleeping and yet you are talking!
The Children. O touch us, we pray, that we may awake!
Hänsel. The witch has changed them into gingerbread children. I know what to do. Let us say what the witch said to you, and what you said to me!
Hänsel and Gretel.
Hocus, pocus, elder bush! Rigid body loosen, hush!
The Children. (Opening their eyes and running toward Hänsel and Gretel.) We thank you, we thank you both!
Gretel. Oh, I am so glad!
The Children. The spell is broken and we are free. The witch can do us no more harm. Come, let us shout for glee!
Hänsel.
Come, children all, and form a ring, Join hands together, while we sing.
Gretel. Oh, Hänsel dear, I wish father and mother were here!
Hänsel. Look, Gretel! There they are!
[Father and Mother enter.]
Father. Why, mother, the children are here! Come, my dear Hänsel and Gretel! How glad I am we have found you safe and well!
Hänsel. Oh, father, we must tell you all about the Gingerbread Witch!
Mother. My dear children, were you frightened?
Gretel. Yes, mother, I was. But, mother, Hänsel comforted me, and we said our prayers and went to sleep.
Mother. The good angels watched over you and brought you back! Come, let us go to the village and take all these dear children to their mothers. Won't they be surprised and happy to see their dear children again?
Father. Come, children!
