GRETEL
(_holds Hänsel back in astonishment_).
Stand still, be still!
HÄNSEL (_surprised_).
O Heaven, what wondrous place is this,
as ne'er in all my life have I seen!
GRETEL
(_gradually regains her self-possession_).
What odor delicious!
O say, do I dream?
BOTH.
A cottage all made
of chocolate cream.
The roof is all covered
with Turkish delight
the windows with lustre
of sugar are white;
and on all the gables
the raisins invite,
and think! all around
is a gingerbread hedge!
O magic castle,
how nice you'd be to eat!
Where hides the princess
who has so great a treat?
Ah, could she but visit
our little cottage bare,
she'd ask us to dinner,
her dainties to share!
HÄNSEL (_after a while_).
No sound do I hear; no, nothing is stirring!
Come, let's go inside it!
GRETEL
(_pulling him back horrified_).
Are you senseless?
Hänsel, however can you make so bold?
Who knows who may live there,
in that lovely house?
HÄNSEL.
O look, do look how the house seems to smile!
(_Enthusiastically._)
Ah, the angels did our footsteps beguile!
GRETEL (_reflectively_).
The angels? Yes, it must be so!
HÄNSEL.
Yes, Gretel, the angels are beck'ning us in!
Come, let's nibble a bit of the cottage.
BOTH.
Come, let's nibble it,
like two mice persevering!
(_They hop along, hand in hand, towards the back of the stage; then
stand still, and then steal along cautiously on tiptoe to the house.
After some hesitation Hänsel breaks off a bit of cake from the
right-hand corner._)