SCENE II
TIME: a few minutes later.
PLACE: the muddy road.
| INGÉ | |
| THE WICKED ELF. |
[INGÉ is seen stopping at the muddy road.]
INGÉ 'T is too wide to leap!
[The WICKED ELF suddenly appears on the opposite side of the road.]
WICKED ELF. Good day to you, pretty maid!
INGÉ Good day to you, dear Elf!
WICKED ELF. Wilt cross this muddy road?
INGÉ I must.
WICKED ELF. Then I'll tell you how to do it and not so much as wet your shoe.
INGÉ Oh, thank you, dear Elf!
WICKED ELF. Throw down your loaf and—
INGÉ (showing surprise; interrupting). Throw down the loaf?
WICKED ELF. Why, yes,—to use it for a stepping-stone.
INGÉ But 't will spoil the bread!
WICKED ELF. But 't will save your shoes!
INGÉ Well, that's true—
WICKED ELF. A pretty maid ne'er wears a muddy shoe.
INGÉ That's true, too—
WICKED ELF. Come, then, throw down the loaf!
INGÉ Well, I'll do it!
(She throws the loaf and steps upon it.)
'T is sinking! What shall I do?
WICKED ELF. Why, then, jump off!
INGÉ (trying to jump). I can't! Don't you see I can't?
WICKED ELF. Ha, ha! You're fastened to it!
INGÉ 'T is drawing me down! Help me! Help me!
WICKED ELF. There's no help for you.
INGÉ No help? What do you mean?
WICKED ELF. You must go down with the loaf.
INGÉ I pray you help me! See how I'm sinking! The mud will soon be over my shoes!
WICKED ELF. The mud will soon be over your head!
INGÉ (weeping). Save me! Save me!
WICKED ELF. Will you be saved by magic?
INGÉ Yes, yes!
WICKED ELF. Listen, then—I'll change you into a bird. Are you willing?
INGÉ Yes, yes! Quick now, before I sink deeper!
WICKED ELF (nodding head three times). A sparrow shall you be! Change, now change!
[Ingé changes into a SPARROW, with a tuft of white feathers, just the shape of a loaf of bread, upon its head. The Sparrow flies from the mud.]
SPARROW. Now change me back into Ingé
WICKED ELF. You shall remain as you are.
SPARROW (showing surprise). Remain as I am?
WICKED ELF (nodding). Until you can change yourself back.
SPARROW. And when will that be?
WICKED ELF. When the loaf has gone from your head.
SPARROW. The loaf from my head? What do you mean?
WICKED ELF (going). Fly away to the brook and see! Ha, ha, ha!
(She runs away, calling back.)
Fly away to the brook and see! Ha, ha, ha!
