Jacob Grimm

“ Berthold. No, no, do not stop for that! Do you know anything of her? Tell me in pity's name. Is she alive?
Blick. Alas, poor Berthold, one look will tell you more than many words. Brothers, uncover her.
[Reverently two of the Dwarfs strip back the pall from the coffin and reveal Snow White. Her little silver dress gleams in the moonlight. She looks as fair as if she had just fallen asleep. [With a cry Berthold sinks on his knees beside her. Berthold. Snow White! Oh my Princess! Dead ! I knew it must be so; but I hoped against hope!
Whick. [Gently.] She wandered to us in the Forest. ”

“ What a nose! What a nose! Snow White. [Appealingly] Please don't laugh at her !
The Queen. Oh, Hex, can't you help me?
The Witch. Afraid not. The only way to be beautiful without magic is to be good. Who are all these fine folks?
Sir Dandiprat. [Strutting forward importantly] Allow me to present . . .
The Witch. [Waving him away] Shoo, shoo! old turkey-cock!
[Meantime the Queen creeps quietly away on the terrace, and is never seen or heard of again. The Witch. [Going to Snow White.] You must be Snow White. However did you come alive? I made a poisoned apple for you. ”

“ Snow White. Not one!
Glick. A little one?
Snow White. No! That's the rule: one a day, morning or night, but not both.
Blick. You see none of us ever, er—should I say "ate" or "tasted"—a kiss till you came, so perhaps we are a little eager about them.
Snow White. I should say you were! Why, you're perfect children about kisses and games. Blick. [Sadly.] That comes of our being dwarfs. You see, no dwarf is ever born till he's fifty. So, as we've never been young, we enjoy games all the more now. ”

“ She seizes one end of the yarn and winds it into a ball, but so quickly that poor Fiddle, at the other end, spins and whirls and revolves like a top as she unwinds him, and the Witch laughs at his antics till the tears stream down her withered old cheeks. When he is free, Fiddle has to sit in a corner and hold his head in both paws for dizziness; but, picking up her basket, the Witch says: The Witch. Now come here and help me mix that magic hair restorer. We must stew all the other ingredients together before Brangomar comes. ”

“ The Queen.
Mirror, Mirror, in my hand. Who's the fairest in the land? [What the Mirror answers will never be known for hardly has it begun to speak when, with a cry of rage, the Queen dashes it into a thousand pieces on the floor. Suddenly she clasps her hands over her face, sinks to her knees with a moan, and draws her veil close. [And now there is a gasp of wonder from the Courtiers, and Rosalys voice cries. Rosalys. Oh, look ! Snow White !
[The group parts, and Snow White, half supported by the Dwarfs, is seen to stir. The Prince. [Rushing to her.] Snow White! My beloved! She lives! ”

“ Old days nine, Pot in the porridge peas, Cold porridge peas, Hot porridge peas. [And instantly the Pieman's outward appearance changes, and it is Queen Brangomar in her royal robes that sweeps into the room and hastens to Snow White's body. The Queen. [Kneeling beside Snow White.] No breath! No heart! Quite dead at last! This time, my lady, white as snow, red as blood and black as ebony the Dwarfs cannot wake you. ”

“ To-night Snick and Flick are on watch. They sit silent for a time.
Snick. The moon has been up an hour. Flick. It is time Blick came to take my place.
Snick. I wish it were always my turn to watch. I have no heart for anything else. ”

“ Where's the ring, young man? Oh, come! I'll wager you've been carrying it about for a year. [Shyly Prince Florimond produces the ring.] Your hand, Snow White!
Snow White. Please, do you think I ought to—yet? You see I didn't get to school to be prepared and . . .
The Witch. You're just a dear sweet little girl, and that's good enough for any man, prince or pauper. Put it on, Florimond. [The Prince does so.] Now, young man, lead her to the throne and crown her properly, and we'll all swear allegiance to our new little Queen. ”

“ Well, girl or child, it's the most beautiful thing I ever saw.
Glick. Or I. Is it tame, or will it fly away like a bird, when it wakes up? Flick. I've heard that children are quite tame;—and they can talk! ”

“ A great fire blazes in the middle of the floor, and over it stands a boiling cauldron. Against the wall is a large chest, carved with strange signs, in which the Witch keeps her Magic Things.
Curled up asleep by the fire lies her pet cat, Fiddle, Fiddle is enormous for a cat—almost as big as a small boy. Presently he wakes, yawns and has a long stretch, shaking the last sleepiness out of both hind legs. Then he washes his face carefully, round and round, with his paw. He feels hungry, so he rubs his stomach; but as that doesn't do much good he looks about for something to eat. ”

“ The Queen. But she is dead?
Berthold. Yes, and you did the deed.
The Queen. [Trying to regain her self-control.] Nonsense! The man is quite mad. Snow White died at boarding-school. I made the arrangements myself.
Berthold. With that falsehood on your lips,—look!
[The Seven Dwarfs appear on the terrace bearing Snow White's coffin covered with its pall of flowers. They march slowly into the room. The Queen. [Cowering on her throne in an agony of fear.] The Dwarfs! Merciful stars, what are they bringing? No! No! Take it away, take it away! You shall not bring her here! You shall not! ”

“ Blick. Well, brothers, ready. To-day we go into the forest for firewood. March!
[In their usual military file the Dwarfs march off into the forest. Snow White stands in the doorway, waving her hand after them till they are out of sight. Then with a little sigh of content she returns to the room. Snow White. Oh, I'm so happy here. I've never been so happy in all my life. Of course I miss my dear Maids of Honour and the others; but the Dwarfs are so funny and loving and kind. [She looks out of the window.] It's a beautiful day. ”

“ Witch Hex lives in a queer dark place, somewhat like a cavern, with walls of soft black moss. Yet it can't be underground, for looking out through the single entrance that serves for both door and window you can see the moon, very big and low, and always shining day or night. ”

“ Great trees meet over a wild and overgrown path. It is after sunset, and the light is fading fast. A small Brown Bird flies above the path, chirping a little call, and perches in a tree just out of sight Snow White running gaily, follows the Bird. ”

“ As she does so the little Brown Bird that guided her through the forest, flies to the window, perches on the sill, and gives his call. Snow White. Ah, my little brown bird, back again for your morning crumbs? Here they are. [She scatters the crumbs, but instead of eating them, the little Bird breaks into full song.] Not hungry? Just come to sing for me? You dear! [The song is so merry that she dances a step or two.] Whenever you sing, brown bird, I feel like dancing. But I do need somebody to dance with. The Dwarfs never can learn. ”

“ Not pig-tails, Hexy. Your head is covered with little white, curly tails of pigs!
The Witch. Tails of pigs? Tails of pigs? [She feels the growth carefully.] By Hop-scotch, they are pigs' tails! Stop laughing! If the joke's on anybody, it's on you. Instead of a human heart, your precious huntsman has brought back the heart of a pig; and Miss Snow White is alive at this moment. Ha, ha, for you!
The Queen. [Her laughter broken off short.] What? Snow White alive?
The Witch. If these are pigs' tails, that was a pig's heart. Ask your Magic Mirror if Snow White's not alive. ”

“ Blick. Oh, things like that! It might! But I'm afraid not.
Flick. We might try anyhow. Let each man give the most valuable thing he has in the world.
[Blick collects the gifts. Each Dwarf names his present lovingly as he takes it from his pocket. Blick. My thimble! Snick. My almanac.
Plick. My empty bottle.
Glick. And my pet frog.
Blick. [Laying the gifts gently on the foot of Snow White's bed.] There! that may help. But no! It's no use, brothers. There is Quee!
All. [Hopelessly.] Yes! There is Quee!
Flick. We might hide him? Blick. She'd be sure to find him sooner or later. ”

“ You can hear the words of the chanting clearly now. They are: Anybody want to buy, Any sort of baker's pie? Pies! Pies! Pies! Pies! Snow White. Oh, a baker-man selling pies. Really, people do have the most curious ideas about this forest. ”

“ I come right to you. I creep into your arms. You won't hurt me, will you?
Berthold. Oh, my darling! If it were my life alone that were at stake I would suffer any torture rather than harm a hair of your beloved head. But the Queen . . . ”

“ Blick. But I tell you this isn't a child, it's a girl. I don't think girls can talk. [They all heave a sigh of disappointment.]
Flick. I wish she'd stay with us just so we could look at her.
Blick. She won't.
Glick. Why not?
Blick. Of course she won't. Are we handsome, or young, or tall? In fact, aren't we dwarfs? [They all hang their heads.] ”

“ Fiddle brings the mirror, and Witch Hex studies her new appearance carefully. The Witch. Oh, not so bad after all! They're quite becoming; sure to keep their curl in the dampest weather, and certainly the very latest thing! ”

“ But at last Glick feels a bump on Snick's bald head that came at least a hundred and twenty-five years ago when an enormous diamond fell on him in the mines, and has never gone away again. Next they play, "Puss-in-the-Corner," and get so excited about it that they clamber all over the clean, starched coverlets that Snow White had only just finished ironing; so she is relieved when the game is over. Finally comes "Snap-the-Whip." They "snap" it so hard that when the line breaks they all fall down, puffing and holding their old sides ”

“ She bites the red cheek of the apple. Suddenly she grasps her thoat, whirls about once, falls, and lies quite still. After a moment, the face of the Pieman appears at the window, peering in cautiously. ”

“ Blick. Clear away!
They clear the floor for Games, and begin with "Blind Man's Buff." The Dwarfs always want Snow White to choose who shall be blind-folded—they never can agree among themselves—and she chooses Glick. Now Glick is a very spry old fellow, and he nearly catches Whick on the very first dash; so nearly that Whick only escapes by crawling under a bed. Next, he corners Quee; but Quee is so small that he creeps out between Glick's legs. It is a long while before Glick can touch anybody else ”

“ Finally a great stone slab in the floor is pushed up slowly, and from an underground passage that leads from the house into the deep mines, six of the Seven Dwarfs clamber up into sight. Their names are Blick, Flick, Glick, Snick, Plick, and Whick. They are very small—the tallest hardly above your waist—but they are extremely old, and their beards are long and grey. Each carries a lighted lantern and a pickaxe, and bears a heavy sack over his shoulder. As soon as the last one has climbed into the room they form in line, with Blick, the eldest, at the head. Blick. ”

“ Right faces! [They all, except Quee, stand close together, and thrust their faces over one another's shoulders, with eyes closed. Running down the line, Quee washes all their right cheeks with one long sweep of his sponge.] Reverse! [cries Blick. They all turn and face in the opposite direction; and Quee, running up the line, washes all their other cheeks.] Right faces! [cries Blick. With a single sweep of his towel, Quee now dries all their right cheeks; and when Blick commands "Reverse," he dries the opposite sides in the same neat and speedy way. And the evening washing is finished.] ”

“ The Witch. Put that in Snow White's hair, let it stay there while you count one hundred, and all's over with her. It doesn't work instantly like the apple, but it's much safer with a stupid person like you. ”

“ Dwarfs clamber into sight
Snick. But if we didn't come home to supper we wouldn't have to wash.
Blick. [Shocked.] Oh, brothers! Washing is a duty. Hush! I think I hear Quee. [They all cock their heads sidewise like robins and listen.] Yes, that's Quee. He has been stealing again! We must scold him soundly.
Flick. It never does any good.
Blick. But we must bring him up in the way he should go. He is the youngest of us; he's only ninety-nine next April. Clear away and ready for him. ”

“ He rolls on the ground to break it, but the yarn is strong and only binds him round and round. Now he is frightened, and begins to run and whirl and spring into the air; but with every movement the thread, unwinding from the wheel, wraps him closer and closer; and the more he spins and turns and somersaults head over heels, the more tangled he gets, till at last he cannot move a paw or even swing his indignant tail ”