November 20, 2023 • 16 mins
"Nutcracker and Mouse King" is a classic German Christmas story written by E. T. A. Hoffmann, first published in 1816. The tale is known for its adaptation into the popular ballet "The Nutcracker" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.The story revolves around a young girl named Marie Stahlbaum, who receives a special wooden nutcracker doll as a Christmas gift from her godfather, Drosselmeyer. Marie's family is hosting a Christmas Eve party, and during the festivities, the nutcracker is broken by her brother Fritz. Later that night, Marie returns to the living room to check on her beloved nutcracker, and she finds herself drawn into a magical world of adventure.Marie discovers that her nutcracker has come to life, and he leads her into a fantastical realm inhabited by toys, where they must confront the nefarious Mouse King and his army of mice. With the help of the Nutcracker and other enchanting characters, including the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Snow Queen, Marie embarks on a journey to defeat the Mouse King and restore peace to the Land of Sweets.The story combines elements of fantasy, fairy tale, and Christmas magic, and it explores themes of bravery, transformation, and the power of imagination. E. T. A. Hoffmann's "Nutcracker and Mouse King" has been adapted and retold numerous times over the years, becoming a beloved holiday tradition for many, particularly through the ballet version choreographed by Marius Petipa and set to Tchaikovsky's iconic music.
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(00:00):
Chapter eleven of Nutcracker and mouse Kingby E. T. A. Hoffmann.
This LibriVox recording is in the publicdomain. The Victory not long after,
Maria was awakened one moonlight night bya strange rattling that seemed to come
out of a corner of the chamber. It sounded as if little stones were
(00:24):
thrown and rolled about, and everynow and then there was a terrible squeaking
and squealing. Ah, the mice, The mice are coming again, exclaimed
Maria in a fright, and shewas about to wake her mother, but
her voice failed her, and shecould ster neither hand nor foot, For
(00:47):
she saw the mouse King work hisway out of a hole in the wall,
then run with sparkling eyes and crowns, around and around the chamber,
when at last, with a desperateleap, he sprang upon the little table
that stood close by her. Bed, Hi, hi, Hi, must
(01:10):
give me thy sugar plums, thygingerbread, little thing, or I will
bite thy nutcracker, Thy nutcracker,So squeaked the mouse king, and snapped
and grated hideously with his teeth,then sprang down again and away through the
hole in the wall. Maria wasso distressed by this occurrence that she looked
(01:34):
very pale in the morning and wasscarcely able to say a word. A
hundred times. She was going toinform her mother or Louise of what had
happened, or at least tell Fred, but she thought, no one will
believe me, and I shall onlybe laughed at. This at least was
(01:56):
very clear that if she wished tosave little Nutcracker, she must give up
her sugar plums and her gingerbread.So in the evening she laid all that
she had, and she had agreat deal down before the foot of the
glass case. The next morning,her mother said, it is strange what
brings the mice all at once intothe sitting room. See, poor Maria,
(02:22):
they have eaten up all your gingerbread. And so it was the ravenous
mouse king had not found the sugarplums exactly to his taste, but he
had gnawed them with his sharp teeth, so that they had to be thrown
away. Maria did not grieve abouther cake and sugar plums, for she
(02:43):
was greatly delighted to think that shehad saved little Nutcracker. But what was
her terror when the very next nightshe heard a squeaking and squealing close to
her ear. Ah, the mouseking was there again, and his eyes
sparkled more dreadfully, and he whistledand squeaked much louder than before. Must
(03:09):
give me thy sugar puppets, chocolatefigures, little thing, or I will
bite thy nutcracker, thy nutcracker.And with this the terrible mouse king sprang
down and ran away again. Mariawas very sad. She went the next
morning to the glass case and gazedwith the most sorrowful looks at her sugar
(03:31):
and chocolate figures. And her griefwas reasonable, for thou canst not imagine,
my attentive reader, what beautiful figuresof sugar and chocolate. Little Maria
Stalbaum possessed a pretty shepherd and shepherdesswatched a whole flock of milk white lambs,
(03:52):
while a little dog frisked about them. Next came two letter carriers with
letters in their hands, and thenfour neat pairs of nicely dressed boys and
girls with gay ribbons rocked at seesawupon as many boards, white and smooth
as marble. Behind some dancers stoodFarmer Carraway and the Maid of Orleans these
(04:17):
Maria did not care so much about. But close in a corner stood her
darling, a little red cheeked baby, And now the tears came into her
eyes. Ah, dear Master Josselmia, she said, turning to Nutcracker,
(04:38):
there is nothing that I will notdo to save you. But this is
very hard. Nutcracker looked all thewhile so sorrowfully that Maria, who felt
as if she saw the mouse kingopen his seven mouths to devour the unhappy
youth, resolved to sacrifice them all. So at evening she placed all her
(05:02):
sugar figures down at the foot ofthe glass case, just as she had
done before with her sugar plums andcake. She kissed the shepherd and the
shepherdess and the lambs, and atlast took her darling, the little red
cheeked baby, out of the corner, and placed it down behind all the
(05:23):
rest. Farmer carraway in the Maidof Orleans must stand in the first row.
Well, that is too bad,said her mother. The next morning,
a mouse must have got into theglass case. For all poor Maria's
sugar figures are gnawed and bitten inpieces. Maria could not keep from shedding
(05:48):
tears but she soon smiled again andsaid to herself, that is nothing if
Nutcracker is only saved. In theevening, her mother told the counselor of
the mischief which the mouse had beendoing in the glass case, and said,
(06:08):
it is provoking that we cannot destroythis fellow that makes such havoc with
Maria's sugar toys. Ha cried Fredmerrily. The baker opposite has a fine
gray secretary of legation. Suppose Ibring him over. He will soon make
an end of the thing. Hewill have the mouse's head off very quickly,
(06:30):
even if it be Lady mouse Ringsherself or her son the mouse king,
and jump about the tables and chairs, said his mother, laughing,
and throw down cups and saucers,and do all kinds of mischief. Ah.
No, indeed, said Fred.The baker's secretary of legation is a
(06:53):
light, careful fellow. I wishI could walk on the roof of a
house as well as he. Letus have no cats in the night,
said Louise, who could not bearthem. Fred's plan is the best,
said the doctor. But we willtry a trap first. Have we got
one, Godfather Josselmeia can make thembest, said Fred, for he invented
(07:15):
them. All laughed, and whenthe mother said that there was no mouse
trap in the house, the counselorassured her that he had a number in
his possession, and immediately sent forone. In a short time it was
brought, and a very excellent mousetrap. It seemed to be the story
(07:36):
of the hard nut now came vividlyto the minds of the children. As
the cook toasted the fat, Mariashook and trembled. Her head was full
of the story and its wonders,and she said to her old friend Dora,
ah great queen, take care oflady Mouserings and her family. But
(08:00):
Fred had drawn his sword and cried, let them come on, Let them
come on, I will scatter them. But all remained still and quiet under
the hearth. As the counselor tiedthe fact to a fine piece of thread
and set the trap softly, softlydown by the glass case, Fred cried
(08:24):
out, take care, God,father, mechanist or mouse king will play
you a trick. Ah. Butwhat a night did Maria pass? Something
cold as ice tapped here and thereagainst her arm, and crept rough and
hideous upon her cheek. And squeakedand squealed in her ear. The hateful
(08:48):
mouse king sat upon her shoulder.He opened his seven blood red mouths,
and grating and snapping his teeth,he squeaked and hissed in her ear.
Wise mouse wise, mouse goes notinto the house, goes not to the
(09:09):
feast, likes sugar things, bestcraft set at nought, will not be
caught. Give, give all newFrock picture books, all the best,
or shall have no rest. Iwill tear and bite Nutcracker at night,
(09:30):
Hi high, kay Kay. Mariawas full of sorrow and anxiety. She
looked very pale and disturbed on thefollowing morning when Fred told her that the
mouse had not been caught, sothat her mother thought that she was grieving
for her sugar things, or perhapswas afraid of the mouse. Do not
(09:52):
grieve, dear child, she said, we will soon get rid of him.
If the trap does not answer,Fred shall bring his gray secretary of
legation. As soon as Maria wasalone in the sitting room, she stepped
to the glass case and said,sobbing to Nutcracker, Ah, my dear
good mister Josselmiah, what can Ipoor unhappy maiden do for if I should
(10:18):
give up all my picture books andeven my new beautiful frock to the hateful
mouse. He will ask more andmore, and when I have nothing left
to give him, he will atlast want me instead of you, to
bite in pieces. As little Mariagrieved and sorrowed in this way, she
(10:39):
observed a large spot of blood onNutcracker's neck, which had been there ever
since the battle. Now, afterMaria had known that her Nutcracker was young
Josselmiah, the Counselor's nephew, shedid not carry him any more in her
arms, nor hug and kiss himas she used to do. Indeed,
(11:01):
she would very seldom move or touchhim. But when she saw the spot
of blood, she took him carefullyfrom the shelf and commenced rubbing it with
her pocket handkerchief. But what washer astonishment when she felt that he suddenly
grew warm in her hand and beganto move. She put him quickly back
(11:24):
upon the shelf again, when behold, his little mouth began to work and
twist and move up and down,And at last, with a great deal
of labor, he lisped out,Ah, dearest best miss daalbarm excellent friend.
How shall I thank you, no, no picture books, no Christmas
(11:48):
Frock, get me a sword,a sword for the rest ay. Here
speech left him, and his eyes, which had begun to express the deepest
sympathy, became staring and motionless.Maria did not feel the least terror.
(12:11):
On the contrary, she leaped forjoy, for she had now found a
way to rescue Nutcracker without any morepainful sacrifices. But where should she obtain
a sword for him? Maria atlast resolved to ask a vi Sir Fred,
And in the evening, when theirparents had gone out and they sat
(12:33):
alone together in the chamber by theglass case, she'd told him all that
had happened to Nutcracker and mouse King, and then begged him to furnish the
little fellow with a sword. Uponno part of this narration did Fred reflect
so long and so earnestly as uponthe poor account which she gave him of
(12:56):
the bravery of his huzzars. Heasked, once more, very seriously,
if it were so, Maria assuredhim of it. Upon her word,
when Fred ran quickly to the glasscase, addressed his huszars in a very
moving speech, and then, asa punishment for their cowardice, cut their
(13:18):
military badges from their caps, andforbade them for a year to play the
Hussar's Grand March. After this,he turned again to Maria and said,
as to a sword, I caneasily supply the little fellow with one.
I yesterday permitted an old colonel ofthe Curasseurs to retire upon a pension,
(13:43):
and consequently he has no farther usefor his fine sharp saber. The aforesaid
colonel was living on the pension whichFred had allowed him. In the farthest
corner of the third shelf. Hewas brought out, his fine silver taken
from him, and buckled about nutcracker. Maria could scarcely get to sleep that
(14:07):
night. She was so anxious andfearful about midnight it seemed to her as
if she heard a strange rustling andrattling and slashing in the sitting room.
All at once it went queak themouse king. The mouse king, cried
Maria, and sprang in her frightout of bed. All was still,
(14:30):
but presently she heard a gentle knockingat the door, and a soft voice
was heard. Worthiest, best kindest, Miss Staalbaum opened the door without fear
good tidings. Maria knew the voiceof the young Josselmire, so she threw
her frock about her and opened thedoor. Little Nutcracker stood without, with
(14:54):
a bloody sword in his right handand a wax taper in his left.
As soon as he saw Maria,he bent down on one knee and said,
you, o, lady, youalone. It was that filled me
with knightly courage and gave this armedstrength to contend with the presumptuous foe who
(15:16):
dared to disturb your slumber. Thetreacherous mouse King is overcome. He lies
bathed in his blood. Score notto receive the tokens of victory from a
knight who will remain devoted to yourservice until death. With these words,
Nutcracker took off the seven crowns ofthe mouse King, which he had hung
(15:39):
upon his left arm, and reachedthem to Maria, who received them with
great joy. Nutcracker then arose andsaid, best kindest, Miss Staalbam.
You know not what beautiful things Icould show you at this moment, while
my enemy lies eyes vanquished, Ifyou would have the condescension to follow me
(16:04):
for a few steps, Oh,will you not be so kind? Will
you not be so good? Bestkindest, Miss Staalban end of chapter eleven,
Chapter eleven of Nutcracker and mouse Kingby E. T. A. Hoffmann.
This LibriVox recording is in the publicdomain. The Victory not long after,
Maria was awakened one moonlight night bya strange rattling that seemed to come
out of a corner of the chamber. It sounded as if little stones were
(00:24):
thrown and rolled about, and everynow and then there was a terrible squeaking
and squealing. Ah, the mice, The mice are coming again, exclaimed
Maria in a fright, and shewas about to wake her mother, but
her voice failed her, and shecould ster neither hand nor foot, For
(00:47):
she saw the mouse King work hisway out of a hole in the wall,
then run with sparkling eyes and crowns, around and around the chamber,
when at last, with a desperateleap, he sprang upon the little table
that stood close by her. Bed, Hi, hi, Hi, must
(01:10):
give me thy sugar plums, thygingerbread, little thing, or I will
bite thy nutcracker, Thy nutcracker,So squeaked the mouse king, and snapped
and grated hideously with his teeth,then sprang down again and away through the
hole in the wall. Maria wasso distressed by this occurrence that she looked
(01:34):
very pale in the morning and wasscarcely able to say a word. A
hundred times. She was going toinform her mother or Louise of what had
happened, or at least tell Fred, but she thought, no one will
believe me, and I shall onlybe laughed at. This at least was
(01:56):
very clear that if she wished tosave little Nutcracker, she must give up
her sugar plums and her gingerbread.So in the evening she laid all that
she had, and she had agreat deal down before the foot of the
glass case. The next morning,her mother said, it is strange what
brings the mice all at once intothe sitting room. See, poor Maria,
(02:22):
they have eaten up all your gingerbread. And so it was the ravenous
mouse king had not found the sugarplums exactly to his taste, but he
had gnawed them with his sharp teeth, so that they had to be thrown
away. Maria did not grieve abouther cake and sugar plums, for she
(02:43):
was greatly delighted to think that shehad saved little Nutcracker. But what was
her terror when the very next nightshe heard a squeaking and squealing close to
her ear. Ah, the mouseking was there again, and his eyes
sparkled more dreadfully, and he whistledand squeaked much louder than before. Must
(03:09):
give me thy sugar puppets, chocolatefigures, little thing, or I will
bite thy nutcracker, thy nutcracker.And with this the terrible mouse king sprang
down and ran away again. Mariawas very sad. She went the next
morning to the glass case and gazedwith the most sorrowful looks at her sugar
(03:31):
and chocolate figures. And her griefwas reasonable, for thou canst not imagine,
my attentive reader, what beautiful figuresof sugar and chocolate. Little Maria
Stalbaum possessed a pretty shepherd and shepherdesswatched a whole flock of milk white lambs,
(03:52):
while a little dog frisked about them. Next came two letter carriers with
letters in their hands, and thenfour neat pairs of nicely dressed boys and
girls with gay ribbons rocked at seesawupon as many boards, white and smooth
as marble. Behind some dancers stoodFarmer Carraway and the Maid of Orleans these
(04:17):
Maria did not care so much about. But close in a corner stood her
darling, a little red cheeked baby, And now the tears came into her
eyes. Ah, dear Master Josselmia, she said, turning to Nutcracker,
(04:38):
there is nothing that I will notdo to save you. But this is
very hard. Nutcracker looked all thewhile so sorrowfully that Maria, who felt
as if she saw the mouse kingopen his seven mouths to devour the unhappy
youth, resolved to sacrifice them all. So at evening she placed all her
(05:02):
sugar figures down at the foot ofthe glass case, just as she had
done before with her sugar plums andcake. She kissed the shepherd and the
shepherdess and the lambs, and atlast took her darling, the little red
cheeked baby, out of the corner, and placed it down behind all the
(05:23):
rest. Farmer carraway in the Maidof Orleans must stand in the first row.
Well, that is too bad,said her mother. The next morning,
a mouse must have got into theglass case. For all poor Maria's
sugar figures are gnawed and bitten inpieces. Maria could not keep from shedding
(05:48):
tears but she soon smiled again andsaid to herself, that is nothing if
Nutcracker is only saved. In theevening, her mother told the counselor of
the mischief which the mouse had beendoing in the glass case, and said,
(06:08):
it is provoking that we cannot destroythis fellow that makes such havoc with
Maria's sugar toys. Ha cried Fredmerrily. The baker opposite has a fine
gray secretary of legation. Suppose Ibring him over. He will soon make
an end of the thing. Hewill have the mouse's head off very quickly,
(06:30):
even if it be Lady mouse Ringsherself or her son the mouse king,
and jump about the tables and chairs, said his mother, laughing,
and throw down cups and saucers,and do all kinds of mischief. Ah.
No, indeed, said Fred.The baker's secretary of legation is a
(06:53):
light, careful fellow. I wishI could walk on the roof of a
house as well as he. Letus have no cats in the night,
said Louise, who could not bearthem. Fred's plan is the best,
said the doctor. But we willtry a trap first. Have we got
one, Godfather Josselmeia can make thembest, said Fred, for he invented
(07:15):
them. All laughed, and whenthe mother said that there was no mouse
trap in the house, the counselorassured her that he had a number in
his possession, and immediately sent forone. In a short time it was
brought, and a very excellent mousetrap. It seemed to be the story
(07:36):
of the hard nut now came vividlyto the minds of the children. As
the cook toasted the fat, Mariashook and trembled. Her head was full
of the story and its wonders,and she said to her old friend Dora,
ah great queen, take care oflady Mouserings and her family. But
(08:00):
Fred had drawn his sword and cried, let them come on, Let them
come on, I will scatter them. But all remained still and quiet under
the hearth. As the counselor tiedthe fact to a fine piece of thread
and set the trap softly, softlydown by the glass case, Fred cried
(08:24):
out, take care, God,father, mechanist or mouse king will play
you a trick. Ah. Butwhat a night did Maria pass? Something
cold as ice tapped here and thereagainst her arm, and crept rough and
hideous upon her cheek. And squeakedand squealed in her ear. The hateful
(08:48):
mouse king sat upon her shoulder.He opened his seven blood red mouths,
and grating and snapping his teeth,he squeaked and hissed in her ear.
Wise mouse wise, mouse goes notinto the house, goes not to the
(09:09):
feast, likes sugar things, bestcraft set at nought, will not be
caught. Give, give all newFrock picture books, all the best,
or shall have no rest. Iwill tear and bite Nutcracker at night,
(09:30):
Hi high, kay Kay. Mariawas full of sorrow and anxiety. She
looked very pale and disturbed on thefollowing morning when Fred told her that the
mouse had not been caught, sothat her mother thought that she was grieving
for her sugar things, or perhapswas afraid of the mouse. Do not
(09:52):
grieve, dear child, she said, we will soon get rid of him.
If the trap does not answer,Fred shall bring his gray secretary of
legation. As soon as Maria wasalone in the sitting room, she stepped
to the glass case and said,sobbing to Nutcracker, Ah, my dear
good mister Josselmiah, what can Ipoor unhappy maiden do for if I should
(10:18):
give up all my picture books andeven my new beautiful frock to the hateful
mouse. He will ask more andmore, and when I have nothing left
to give him, he will atlast want me instead of you, to
bite in pieces. As little Mariagrieved and sorrowed in this way, she
(10:39):
observed a large spot of blood onNutcracker's neck, which had been there ever
since the battle. Now, afterMaria had known that her Nutcracker was young
Josselmiah, the Counselor's nephew, shedid not carry him any more in her
arms, nor hug and kiss himas she used to do. Indeed,
(11:01):
she would very seldom move or touchhim. But when she saw the spot
of blood, she took him carefullyfrom the shelf and commenced rubbing it with
her pocket handkerchief. But what washer astonishment when she felt that he suddenly
grew warm in her hand and beganto move. She put him quickly back
(11:24):
upon the shelf again, when behold, his little mouth began to work and
twist and move up and down,And at last, with a great deal
of labor, he lisped out,Ah, dearest best miss daalbarm excellent friend.
How shall I thank you, no, no picture books, no Christmas
(11:48):
Frock, get me a sword,a sword for the rest ay. Here
speech left him, and his eyes, which had begun to express the deepest
sympathy, became staring and motionless.Maria did not feel the least terror.
(12:11):
On the contrary, she leaped forjoy, for she had now found a
way to rescue Nutcracker without any morepainful sacrifices. But where should she obtain
a sword for him? Maria atlast resolved to ask a vi Sir Fred,
And in the evening, when theirparents had gone out and they sat
(12:33):
alone together in the chamber by theglass case, she'd told him all that
had happened to Nutcracker and mouse King, and then begged him to furnish the
little fellow with a sword. Uponno part of this narration did Fred reflect
so long and so earnestly as uponthe poor account which she gave him of
(12:56):
the bravery of his huzzars. Heasked, once more, very seriously,
if it were so, Maria assuredhim of it. Upon her word,
when Fred ran quickly to the glasscase, addressed his huszars in a very
moving speech, and then, asa punishment for their cowardice, cut their
(13:18):
military badges from their caps, andforbade them for a year to play the
Hussar's Grand March. After this,he turned again to Maria and said,
as to a sword, I caneasily supply the little fellow with one.
I yesterday permitted an old colonel ofthe Curasseurs to retire upon a pension,
(13:43):
and consequently he has no farther usefor his fine sharp saber. The aforesaid
colonel was living on the pension whichFred had allowed him. In the farthest
corner of the third shelf. Hewas brought out, his fine silver taken
from him, and buckled about nutcracker. Maria could scarcely get to sleep that
(14:07):
night. She was so anxious andfearful about midnight it seemed to her as
if she heard a strange rustling andrattling and slashing in the sitting room.
All at once it went queak themouse king. The mouse king, cried
Maria, and sprang in her frightout of bed. All was still,
(14:30):
but presently she heard a gentle knockingat the door, and a soft voice
was heard. Worthiest, best kindest, Miss Staalbaum opened the door without fear
good tidings. Maria knew the voiceof the young Josselmire, so she threw
her frock about her and opened thedoor. Little Nutcracker stood without, with
(14:54):
a bloody sword in his right handand a wax taper in his left.
As soon as he saw Maria,he bent down on one knee and said,
you, o, lady, youalone. It was that filled me
with knightly courage and gave this armedstrength to contend with the presumptuous foe who
(15:16):
dared to disturb your slumber. Thetreacherous mouse King is overcome. He lies
bathed in his blood. Score notto receive the tokens of victory from a
knight who will remain devoted to yourservice until death. With these words,
Nutcracker took off the seven crowns ofthe mouse King, which he had hung
(15:39):
upon his left arm, and reachedthem to Maria, who received them with
great joy. Nutcracker then arose andsaid, best kindest, Miss Staalbam.
You know not what beautiful things Icould show you at this moment, while
my enemy lies eyes vanquished, Ifyou would have the condescension to follow me
(16:04):
for a few steps, Oh,will you not be so kind? Will
you not be so good? Bestkindest, Miss Staalban end of chapter eleven,
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