第402页 / 共626页

'Whither away, Hans?' 'To Gretel, mother.' 'Behave well, Hans.'

'Oh, I'll behave well. Goodbye, mother.' 'Goodbye, Hans.' Hans

comes to Gretel. 'Good day, Gretel.' 'Good day, Hans. What good

thing do you bring?' 'I bring nothing, I want something given

me.' Gretel presents Hans with a young goat. 'Goodbye, Gretel.'

'Goodbye, Hans.' Hans takes the goat, ties its legs, and puts it

in his pocket. When he gets home it is suffocated. 'Good evening,

mother.' 'Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?' 'With

Gretel.' 'What did you take her?' 'Took nothing, she gave me

something.' 'What did Gretel give you?' 'She gave me a goat.'

'Where is the goat, Hans?' 'Put it in my pocket.' 'That was ill

done, Hans, you should have put a rope round the goat's neck.'

'Never mind, will do better next time.'