Engelbert Humperdinck: Act 1, Scene 1 from "Hänsel und Gretel"

Libretto by Adelheid Wette, translated by F. Rullman

 

(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 around 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: (gruffy)

 

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!