THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 BEQUEST OF 
 
 Alice R. Hilgard 
 
^06cpl)iue Preston peaboUp 
 
 (Mrs. Lionel Marks) 
 
 THE PIPER. i2Tm,$i.ione/. Postage exti a. 
 
 THE BOOK OF THE LITTLE PAST. Illus- 
 trated in color. 8vo, $1.50. 
 
 THE SINGING LEAVES. i8mo, Jr.oo, n^i. 
 Postpaid, Si. 05. 
 
 MARLOWE: A DRAMA. izmo, $1.10, net. 
 Postpaid, fug. 
 
 FORTUNE AND MEN'S EYES. i2mo,?i.2S. 
 
 OLD GREEK FOLK STORIES. In Riv. 
 erside Literature Series. Paper, 15 cents, 
 net; linen, 25 cents, net. Postpaid. 
 
 HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY 
 Boston and New York 
 
THE PIPER 
 
 TOSEPHINE PRESTON PEABODY 
 
The Piper 
 
 A Play in Four Acts 
 
 By Josephine Preston ^eabody 
 
 BOSTON and NEW YORK 
 Houghton Mifflin Company 
 
 I 9 I I 
 
COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY JOSEPHINE PEABODY MARKS 
 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 
 
 Published November iqog 
 
 NINTH IMPRESSION 
 
 ^o ^. J. i^ 
 
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 TO 
 
 LIONEL S. MARKS 
 
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 [THE HAMELIN INSCRIPTION] 
 
CHARACTERS 
 
 The Piper 
 
 MicHAEL-THE-S word-Eater 
 
 Cheat-the-Devil 
 
 Jacobus the Burgomeister 
 
 Kurt the Syndic 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 
 Axel the Smith 
 
 Martin the Watch 
 
 Peter the Sacristan 
 
 Anselm, a young priest 
 
 Old Claus, a miser 
 
 Town Crier 
 
 Jan ^ 
 
 Hansel 
 
 Ilse 
 
 Trude 
 
 RUDI 
 
 Strolling Players 
 
 Men of Hamelin 
 
 Children 
 
Characters 
 
 Veronika, the wife of Kurt 
 Barbara, daughter of Jacobus 
 Wife of Hans the Butcher 
 Wife of Axel the Smith 
 Wife of Martin the Watch 
 Old Ursula 
 
 Burghers^ nuns^ priests^ and children 
 
 Scene : Hamelin on the Weser, 1284 a. d. 
 
SCENES 
 
 ACT I. The market-place in Hamelin 
 
 Scene I. Inside the '■Hollow- Hill' 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 Scene II. The Cross-ways 
 
 ACT III. The Cross-ways 
 
 ACT IV. The market-place in Hamelin 
 
 One week is supposed to elapse between Acts I and 11. 
 
 Jets II and III occupy one day. 
 
 Jet IV concerns the following morning. 
 
Act I 
 
The Piper 
 
 Act I 
 
 Scene : The market-place of Hamelin. Rights the 
 Minster J with an open shrine [right centre) 
 containing a large sculptured figure of the 
 Christ. Righty farther front, the house 
 of Kurt ; and other narrow house-fronts. 
 Left, the Rathaus, and {down) the home of 
 Jacobus. Front, to left and right, are cor- 
 ner-houses with projecting stories and case- 
 ment windows. At the centre rear, a narrow 
 street leads away between houses whose 
 gables all but meet overhead. 
 
 It is late summer afternoon, with a holiday crowd. 
 In the open casements, front {right and left, 
 opposite each other), sit Old Ursula and 
 Old Claus, looking on at men and things. 
 — In the centre of the place now stands a 
 
4 ThePiper 
 
 rude wooden Ark with a tented top : and 
 out of the openings {right and left) appear 
 the artificial heads of animals, worn by the 
 players inside. One is a Bear {inhabited by 
 Michael -THE -Sword -Eater); one is a 
 large Reynard-t he-Fox, later apparent as the 
 Piper. Close by is the medieval piece of 
 stage-property known as ^ Hell-Mouth^ i. e. 
 a red painted cave with a jaw-like openings 
 into which a mountebank dressed in scarlet 
 (Cheat-the-Devil) is poking '■Lost Souls* 
 with a pitchfork. 
 
 Barbara loiters by the tent. Veronika, the sad 
 young wife of KuKT, watches from the house 
 steps, left, keeping her little lame boy, Jan, 
 close beside her. 
 
 Shouts of delight greet the end of the show, — 
 a Noah's Ark miracle-play of the rudest; 
 and the Children continue to scream with joy 
 whenever an Animal looks out of the Ark. 
 
 Men and women pay scant attention either to 
 Jacobus, when he speaks {himself none too 
 sober) — from his doorstep, prompted by 
 the frowning Kurt, — or yet to Anselm, 
 the priest, who stands forth with lifted hands y 
 at the close of the miracle-play. 
 
The Piper 
 
 Anselm 
 
 ND you, who heed the colors of this 
 
 show, 
 Look to your laughter ! — It doth 
 
 body forth 
 A Judgment that may take you 
 unaware, — 
 Sun-struck with mirth, like unto chattering 
 
 leaves 
 Some wind of wrath shall scourge to nothing- 
 ness. 
 
 Hans, Axel, and Others 
 Hurrah, Hurrah ! 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 And now, good townsmen all, 
 Seeing we stand delivered and secure 
 As once yon chosen creatures of the Ark, 
 For a similitude, — our famine gone. 
 Our plague of rats and mice, — 
 
 Crowd 
 
 Hurrah — hurrah! 
 
6 ThePiper 
 
 Jacobus 
 *T is meet we render thanks more soberly — 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 Soberly, soberly, ay ! — 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 For our deliverancec 
 And now, ye wit, it will be full three days 
 Since we beheld — our late departed pest. — 
 
 Old Ursula 
 \putting out an ear-trumpet'\ 
 
 What does he say ? 
 
 Reynard 
 \^frQm the ArK\ 
 
 — Oh, how felicitous! 
 
 Hans* Wife 
 He *s only saying there be no more rats. 
 
The Piper 7 
 
 Jacobus 
 [with oratorical endeavor"] 
 
 Three days it is; and not one mouse, — one 
 
 mouse, 
 One mouse, I say! — No-o-o ! Quiet ... as 
 
 a mouse. 
 
 [Resuming] 
 And now . . . 
 
 Crowd 
 
 Long live Jacobus ! — 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 You have seen 
 Noah and the Ark, most aptly happening by 
 With these same play-folk. You have marked 
 
 the Judgment. 
 You all have seen the lost souls sent to — 
 
 Hell — 
 And, nothing more to do. — 
 
 [Kurt prompts him] 
 
 Yes, yes. — And now . . . 
 [Hans the Butcher steps out of his group.] 
 
8 ThePiper 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 
 Hath no man seen the Piper? — Please your 
 worships. 
 
 Others 
 Ay, ay, so ! 
 
 — Ay, where is he? 
 
 — Ho, the Piper! 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 Piper, my good man? 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 
 — He that charmed the rats ! 
 
 Others 
 Yes, yes, — that charmed the rats! 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 \_'piously\ 
 
 Why, no man knows. — 
 Which proves him such a random instrument 
 As Heaven doth sometimes send us, to our use; 
 Or, as I do conceive, no man at all, — 
 A man of air; or, I would say- — delusion. 
 He '11 come no more. 
 
ThePiper 9 
 
 Reynard 
 
 \^from the Jrk] 
 
 Eh? — Oh, indeed, Meaow ! 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 'Tis clearest providence. The rats are gone. 
 The man is gone. And there is nought to 
 
 Save peaceful worship. 
 
 [Pointing to the Minster^ 
 
 Reynard 
 
 [sarcastically^ 
 
 Oh, indeed, — Meaow! 
 [Sudden chorus of derisive animal noises from 
 the Arky delighting People and Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 Kurt 
 
 Silence, — you strollers there! Orl will have you 
 Gaoled, one and all. 
 
 People 
 No, Kurt the Syndic, no! 
 
lo The Piper 
 
 Barbara 
 
 \_to Jacobus'\ 
 
 No, no! Ah, father, bid them stay awhile 
 And play it all again. — Or, if not all, 
 Do let us see that same good youth again. 
 Who swallowed swords — between the Ark 
 
 Preserved 
 And the Last Judgment ! 
 
 Reynard 
 
 Michael-the-Sword-Eater, 
 Laurels for thee ! 
 
 \T^he Bear disappears: Michael puis out 
 his own head^ and gazes fixedly at Bar- 
 bara. 
 
 Children 
 
 Oh, can't we see the animals in the Ark? 
 Again ? Oh, can't we see it all again ? 
 
 Ilse 
 
 Oh, leave out Noah ! And let 's have only Bears 
 And Dromedaries, and the other ones ! — 
 [General confusion."] 
 
The Piper ii 
 
 Kurt 
 Silence ! 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 Good people — you have had your shows; 
 And it is meet, that having held due feast, 
 Both with our market and this Miracle, 
 We bring our holiday to close with prayer 
 And public thanks unto Saint Willibald, — 
 Upon whose day the rats departed thence. 
 
 Reynard 
 
 [loudly] 
 
 Saint WiUibald ! 
 
 Bear 
 — Saint Willibald ! 
 
 Other Animals 
 
 [looking out~\ 
 
 r Saint Willibald! 
 I Saint! Oh! 
 
 Crowd 
 
 Saint Willibald ! — And what had he to do 
 With ridding us o' rats ? 
 
12 The Piper 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 
 'T was the Piping Man 
 Who came and stood here in the market- 
 place, 
 And swore to do it for one thousand guilders ! 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 
 Ay, and he did it, too ! — Saint Willibald ! 
 \Renewed uproar round the tent.~\ 
 
 Kurt 
 
 \jo Jacobus^ 
 
 Drive out those mountebanks ! 'T is ever so. 
 
 Admit them to the town and you must pay 
 
 Their single show with riotings a week. — 
 
 Look yonder at your daughter. 
 
 [Barbara lingers by the Ark-'Tent, S'^^^^S 
 with girlish interest at Michael, who 
 gazes at her., his bear-head in his hand for 
 the moment^ 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 Barbara ! 
 \She turns backy with an angry glance at 
 Kurt.] 
 
The Piper' 13 
 
 Axel the Smith 
 
 \_doggedly to them~\ 
 
 By your leave, Masters! I would like to know, 
 How did Saint Willibald prevail with the 
 
 rats? — 
 That would I like to know. I, who ha' made 
 Of strong wrought traps, two hundred, thirty- 
 nine, 
 Two hundred, thirty-nine. 
 
 Reynard 
 
 [calling] 
 
 And so would I! 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 
 So please your worships, may it please the 
 
 Crier, 
 Now we be here, — to cry the Piping Man — ■ 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 
 A stranger-man, gay-clad, — in divers colors ! 
 Because he, with said piping — 
 
i^ ThePiper 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 
 — Drave away 
 
 The horde of rats ! 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 \_sagely\ 
 
 To our great benefit ; 
 And we be all just men. 
 
 Others 
 
 Ay, ay ! — Amen ! 
 
 Women 
 Amen, Our Lady and the blessed Saints! 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 Why, faith, good souls, if ye will have him 
 
 cried. 
 So be it. — But the ways of Heaven are 
 
 strange ! 
 Mark how our angel of deliverance came, — 
 Or it may be. Saint Willibald himself, — 
 Most piedly clothed, even as the vilest player! — 
 And straight ascended from us, to the clouds ! 
 
The Piper 15 
 
 But cry him, if you will. — Peace to your 
 
 lungs ! — 
 He will not come. 
 
 [Kurt wrathfully consults with Jacobus, 
 
 then signals to Crier, 
 
 Crier 
 
 Oyez ! Oyez 1 Oyez ! 
 
 Whereas, now three days gone, our Plague of 
 
 Rats 
 Was wholly driven hence, our City cleansed, 
 Our peace restored after sore threat of famine, 
 By a Strange Man who came not back again, 
 Now, therefore, if this Man have ears to hear, 
 Let him stand forth. — Oyez ! Oyez ! Oyez ! 
 \ftrumpet. — People gaze up and down 
 the little streets. — Reynard steps out of 
 the Ark and comes down slowly., with a 
 modest air. — Kurt/)o/«/j" him out^ threat- 
 eningly , and the Crowd bursts into deri- 
 sive laughter. — He doffs his animal-head 
 at leisure^ showing a sparkling dark-eyed 
 face. 
 
 All 
 The Man ! the Man ! 
 
i6 ThePiper 
 
 Kurt and Jacobus 
 The Devil ! — 'T is — 
 
 All 
 
 — The Piper ! 
 [The Piper regards them all with debonair 
 satisfaction; then reverses his head-piece 
 and holds it out upside-down, with a con- 
 fident smile. 
 
 Piper 
 
 Three days of rest, your worships, you have had. 
 I see no signs of famine hereabout. 
 The rats are gone, even to the nethermost tail : 
 And I 've fulfilled my bargain. Is it granted ? 
 [Murmurs, then cheers of " Ay, Ay, 
 
 Piper ! ''from the crowd. 
 Thank 'ee. — My thousand guilders, an you 
 
 please. 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 One thou — Come, come 1 This was no sober 
 
 bargain. — 
 No man in reason could — 
 
 Piper 
 
 One thousand guilders. 
 
ThePiper 17 
 
 Kurt 
 One thousand rogueries ! 
 
 Jacobus 
 \jo Piper] 
 
 You jest too far. 
 
 Axel 
 
 Lucky, if he get aught ! — Two hundred traps. 
 And nine, and thirty ! By Saint Willibald, 
 When was I paid ? 
 
 Axel's Wife 
 Say, now ! 
 
 Piper 
 . . . One thousand guilders, 
 
 Peter f^e Cobbler 
 Give him an hundred. 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 Double ! 
 
i8 The Piper 
 
 Hans' Wife 
 
 You were fools 
 To make agreement with him. — Ask old Claus. 
 He has the guilders ; and his house was full 
 O' rats ! 
 
 Old Claus 
 [shaking his stick from the window"] 
 
 You jade ! And I that hoard, and save. 
 And lay by all I have from year to year, 
 To build my monument when I am gone, 
 A fine new tomb there, in Saint Boniface ! 
 And I to pay for all your city rats ! 
 
 Old Ursula 
 [leaning outy opposite] 
 
 Right, neighbor, right well said ! — Piper, hark 
 
 here. 
 Piper, how did ye charm the rats away? 
 
 Piper 
 
 [coming down] 
 
 The rats were led — by Cu-ri-os-ity. 
 
 'T is so with many rats ; and all old women; — 
 
 Saving your health ! 
 
ThePiper 19 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 No thought for public weal, 
 In this base grasping on — 
 
 Piper 
 
 One thousand guilders. 
 
 For piping 
 
 Kurt 
 [contemptuously] 
 
 Piper 
 
 Shall I pipe them back again ? 
 
 Women 
 
 f Good Saint Boniface ! 
 Merciful heaven ! \ Good Saint Willibald ! 
 
 L Peter and Paul defend us ! 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 
 No, no ; no fear o' that. The rats be drowned. 
 "We saw them with our eyes. 
 
 Piper 
 
 Now who shall say 
 There is no resurrection for a mouse ? 
 
20 ThePiper 
 
 Kurt 
 — Do you but crop this fellow's ears ! — 
 
 Veronika 
 
 \_from the steps] 
 
 Ah, Kurt ! 
 
 Jacobus 
 [/o bim, blandly] 
 
 Deal patiently, good neighbor. All is well. 
 
 [fTo the Piper] 
 Why do you name a price so laughable. 
 My man ? Call you to mind ; you have no 
 
 claim, — 
 No scrip to show. You cling upon — 
 
 Piper 
 
 \jternly~\ 
 
 Jacobus 
 I would say — just — 
 
 Piper 
 Your word. 
 
 Your word. 
 
The Piper 2I 
 
 • Jacobus 
 
 Upon — 
 
 Piper 
 
 Your word. 
 Sure, 't was a rotten parchment ! 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 This is a base, 
 Conniving miser ! 
 
 Piper 
 [jurning proudly] 
 
 Stand forth, Cheat-the-Devil ! 
 [Up steps the Devil in red. People shrink, 
 and then come closer. 
 Be not afeard. He pleased you all, of late. 
 He hath no sting. — So, boy ! Do off thy head. — 
 [Cheat-the-Devil doffs his red head- 
 dress and stands forth ^ a pale and timo^ 
 rous youth ^ gentle and half-witted. 
 Michael, stand forth ! 
 
 [Michael comes down, bear-head in hand. 
 
 Barbara 
 [regarding him sadly] 
 
 That goodly sword-eater ! 
 
22 The Piper 
 
 Piper 
 
 ^defiantly] 
 
 So, Michael, so. — These be two friends of mine. 
 Pay now an even third to each of us. 
 Or, to content your doubts, to each of these 
 Do you pay here and now, five hundred 
 
 guilders. 
 "Who gets it matters little, for us friends. 
 But you will pay the sum, friend. You will 
 
 pay ! — 
 
 Hans, Axel, and Crowd 
 
 Come, there's an honest fellow. Ay, now, pay ! 
 
 — There 's a good friend. — And would I had 
 
 the same. 
 
 — One thousand guilders? 
 
 — No, too much. 
 
 — No, no. 
 Kurt 
 
 Pay jugglers ? — With a rope apiece ! 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 Why — so — 
 
 Piper 
 
 They are my friends; and they shall share with 
 me. 
 
The Piper 23 
 
 *T is time that Hamelin reckoned us for men; 
 — Hath ever dealt with us as we were vermin. 
 Now have I rid you of the other sort — 
 Right you that score ! — 
 
 Kurt 
 
 These outcasts ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 [hotly~\ 
 
 Say you so ? 
 Michael, my man ! Which of you here will try 
 With glass or fire, with him? 
 
 Michael 
 
 \jullenly'\ 
 
 No, no more glass, to-day! 
 
 Piper 
 
 Then fire and sword ! 
 
 \_They back away."] 
 
 So! — And there's not one man 
 In Hamelin, here, so honest of his word. 
 Stroller ! A pretty choice you leave us. — Quit 
 This strolling life, or stroll into a cage ! 
 
24 ThePiper 
 
 What do you offer him ? A man eats fire — 
 Swords, glass, young April frogs — 
 
 Children 
 
 Do it again ! 
 Do it again ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 You say to such a man, — 
 * Come be a monk ! A weaver ! ' Pretty choice. 
 Here 's Cheat-the-Devil, now. 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 
 But what's his name? 
 
 Piper 
 
 He does n*t know. What would you ? Nor do I. 
 But for the something he has seen of life, 
 Making men merry, he 'd know something 
 
 more ! 
 The gentlest devil ever spiked Lost Souls 
 Into Hell-mouth, — for nothing-by-the-day ! 
 
 Old Ursula 
 
 \with her ear-trumpet\ 
 
 Piper, why do you call him Cheat-the-Devil ? 
 
The Piper 25 
 
 Piper 
 
 Because his deviltry is all a cheat : — 
 He is no devil, — but a gentle heart ! 
 — Friend Michael here hath played the Devil, 
 
 betimes, 
 Because he can so bravely breathe out fire. 
 He plied the pitchfork so we yelped for 
 
 mercy, — 
 He reckoned not the stoutness of his arm ! — 
 But Cheat-the-Devil here, — he would not hurt 
 Why — Kurt the Syndic — thrusting him in 
 
 hell. \Laughter. 
 
 Cheat-the-Devil 
 
 \unhappily~\ 
 No, no — I will not hurt him 1 
 
 Piper 
 
 [soothingly to him] 
 
 Merry, boy ! 
 
 [To the townsfolk'] 
 And, — if ye will have reasons, good, — ye see, — 
 1 want — one thousand guilders. 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 In all surety, 
 Payment you'll have, my man, But — 
 
26 ThePiper 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 
 As to 's friends, — 
 An that yon Devil be as feat wi' his hands 
 As he be slow o' tongue, why, I will take him 
 For prentice. Wife, — now that would smack 
 o' pride ! 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 
 I '11 take this fellow that can swallow fire. 
 He 's somewhat old for me. But he can learn 
 My trade. — A pretty fellow ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 And your trade ? 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 Peter the cobbler. — 
 
 Michael 
 
 I ? What, I ? Make shoes ? 
 \Proudly\ 
 
 I swallow fire. 
 
 Piper 
 Enough. 
 
i 
 
 ThePiper 27 
 
 Barbara 
 
 [aside, bitterly~\ 
 
 I '11 not believe it. 
 
 Piper 
 \jo Hans] 
 Your trade ? 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 I'm Hans the Butcher. 
 
 Michael 
 
 Butcher ? 
 
 Cheat-the-Devil 
 
 \unhappily~\ 
 
 Butcher ! 
 Oh, no ! I could n't hurt them. 
 
 \_Loud laughter. 
 
 Butcher's Wife 
 
 'T is a fool ! 
 
 \The Piper motions to Michael ^^WCheat- 
 
 the-Devil, who during the following join 
 
 the other player-folk, strike their tenty 
 
 pack their bundles, and wheel off the bar- 
 
28 ThePiper 
 
 rows that have served them for an Ark, 
 leaving the space clear before the Shrine. 
 Exeunt Strollers, all but Michael, who 
 hangs about, still gazing at Barbara. 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 Good people, we have wasted time enow. 
 You see this fellow, that he has no writ — 
 
 Piper 
 
 Why not, then? 'T was a bargain. If your 
 
 word 
 Hold only when 't is writ — 
 
 Kurt 
 
 We cannot spend 
 Clerkship on them that neither write nor read. 
 What good would parchment do thee ? 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 My good man — 
 
 Piper 
 Who says I cannot read ? — Who says I cannot ? 
 
 Old Claus 
 Piper, don't tell me you can read in books ! 
 
ThePiper 29 
 
 Piper 
 
 Books ! Where 's a book ? Shew me a book, 
 I say ! 
 
 Old Ursula 
 
 The Holy Book ! Bring that — or he '11 bewitch 
 you. 
 
 Piper 
 
 Oh, never fear. I charm but fools and chil- 
 dren ; 
 
 Now that the rats are gone. — Bring me a Book : 
 
 A big one ! — 
 
 [Murmurs. The Piper defiant. The crowd 
 moves towards the Minster. Enter An- 
 SELM the priest, with a little acolyte, — 
 the two bearing a large illuminated Gospel- 
 book. Anselm, eyeing the Piper gravely^ 
 opens the book, which the boy supports on 
 his head and shoulders. 
 
 Piper 
 
 Ho, 't is too heavy ! Come, you cherub-head. 
 Here 's too much laid upon one guardian angel ! 
 
3© ThePiper 
 
 [Beckons another small hoy^ and sets the book 
 on their two backs. 
 Well? — well? What now? 
 
 \He laoks in frank bewilderment at the eager 
 crowd. 
 
 Crowd 
 
 Read, read ! 
 
 Kurt 
 
 He cannot read. 
 
 Piper 
 
 \to Anselm] 
 
 Turn — turn — there 's nothing there. 
 [Anselm turns pages. Piper looks on blankly\ 
 
 . . . Ah, turn again ! 
 The red one ! — 
 
 \_He takes his pipe from his belt~\ 
 
 No, the green ! The green one. So. 
 [Starts to pipCy looking on the book.'] 
 
 Crowd 
 
 Sure 't is a mad-man ! 
 But hear him piping ! 
 . What is he doing? 
 
The Piper 31 
 
 Piper 
 
 \_ puzzled at their mirth'] 
 
 What the green one says. — 
 
 \A burst of laughter from the crowd. Jan, 
 
 the little lame boy on the steps, reaches his 
 
 arms out suddenly and gives a cry of delight. 
 
 Jan 
 
 Oh, I love the Man ! 
 
 \_He goes, with his crutch, to the Piper, who 
 turns and gathers him close. 
 
 Jacobus 
 \_to the People'] 
 
 Leave off this argument. 
 
 Kurt 
 
 Go in to Mass. 
 
 Jacobus 
 Saint Willibald! 
 
 Piper 
 
 [in a rage] 
 
 That Saint ! — 
 
32 The Piper 
 
 Kurt 
 
 Hence, wandering dog ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 Oho ! — Well, every Saint may have his day. 
 
 But there are dog-days coming. — Eh, your 
 worship ? 
 
 [To Anselm, suddenly] 
 
 You, there! You — Brother — Father — Un- 
 cle — You ! 
 
 Speak ! Will you let them in, to say their 
 prayers 
 
 And mock me through their fingers? — Tell 
 these men 
 
 To settle it, among their mouldy pockets. 
 
 Whether they keep their oath. Then will I go. 
 
 Kurt 
 
 [savagely] 
 Away with you ! — 
 
 Anselm 
 
 The Piper should be heard ; 
 Ye know it well. Render to Caesar, therefore. 
 That which is Caesar's. 
 
ThePiper 33 
 
 Piper 
 — Give the Devil his due ! 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 [warilyl 
 
 We must take counsel over such a sum. 
 
 [^Beckoning others, he and Kurt go into the 
 Rathaus, followed by all the men. Exit 
 Anselm with the Holy Book into the Min- 
 ster. — "The children play Mouse, to and 
 fro, round about the Piper. — T^'he women, 
 some of them, spin on the doorsteps, with 
 little hand distaffs, or stand about, gossip- 
 ing. 
 
 [jThe Piper wipes his forehead and goes up 
 slowly {centre) to drink from the fountain 
 at the foot of the Shrine. — Michael, like 
 one in a dream, comes down towards Bar- 
 bara, who gazes back at him, fascinated, 
 through her laughter. 
 
 Barbara 
 
 Is it for pay you loiter. Master Player? 
 Were you not paid enough? 
 
34 The Piper 
 
 Michael 
 
 No. — One more look. 
 
 Barbara 
 Here, then. — Still not enough? 
 
 Michael 
 
 No ! One more smile. 
 
 Barbara 
 [agitated ] 
 
 Why would you have me smile ? 
 
 Michael 
 
 \_passionately~\ 
 
 Oh, when you smiled, 
 It was — it was like sunlight coming through 
 Some window there, 
 
 \_Pointing to the Minster] 
 
 — some vision of Our Lady. 
 \_She drops her flowers. — He picks them up 
 and gives them back slowly. 
 
 Barbara 
 
 Who are you ? You are some one in disguise. 
 
The Piper 35 
 
 Michael 
 
 \bitterly\ 
 
 A man — that passes for a mountebank. 
 
 Barbara 
 
 \_eagerly~\ 
 
 I knew ! 
 
 Michael 
 
 What then ? 
 
 Barbara 
 
 Thou art of noble birth. 
 *T is some disguise, this playing with the fire ! 
 
 Michael 
 
 Yes. — For to-day, I lord it with the fire. 
 But it hath burned me, here. 
 
 \_Touching his breast^ 
 \Overcomefor the moment^ she draws away. — 
 The Piper, coming down, speaks stealth- 
 ily to Michael, who is still gazing. 
 
 Piper 
 
 For all our sakes! 
 There is bad weather breeding. — Take to thy 
 heels. 
 
36 ThePiper 
 
 [Barbara turns back to see Michael 
 withdrawing reluctantly, and throws a 
 rose to him with sudden gayety. 
 
 Barbara 
 Farewell to you, Sword-Swallower ! — farewell I 
 
 Michael 
 
 \looking hacK\ 
 Farewell to you, my Lady, in-the-Moon. 
 
 \_Exit. 
 [Jan clings once more to the Piper, while 
 the other children hang about. Veronika 
 calls to her boy ^ from the steps. 
 
 Darling. 
 
 Veronika 
 
 Piper 
 
 \drawing nearer"] 
 
 Is this your Boy ? 
 
 Veronika 
 
 Ay, he is mine ; 
 My only one. He loved thy piping so. 
 
The Piper 37 
 
 Piper 
 And I loved his. 
 
 Hans' Wife 
 
 [sfrUen^/y'\ 
 
 Poor little boy ! He 's lame! 
 
 Piper 
 
 'Tis all of us are lame ! But he, he flies. 
 
 Veronika 
 
 Jan, stay here if you will, and hear the pipe, 
 At Church-time. 
 
 Piper 
 [/o him~\ 
 
 Wilt thou ? 
 Jan 
 
 Mother lets me stay 
 Here with the Lonely Man. 
 
 Piper 
 
 The Lonely Man ? 
 
38 The Piper 
 
 [Jan points to the Christ in the Shrine. Ve- 
 RONiKA crosses herself. The Piper looks 
 long at the little boy. 
 
 Veronika 
 He always calls Him so. 
 
 Piper 
 
 And so would I. 
 
 Veronika 
 
 It grieves him that the Head is always bowed, 
 And stricken. But he loves more to be here 
 Than yonder in the church. 
 
 Piper 
 
 And so do I. 
 
 Veronika 
 
 What would you, darling, with the Lonely 
 
 Man? 
 What do you wait to see ? 
 
 Jan 
 
 [shylyl 
 
 To see Him smile. 
 
ThePiper 39 
 
 [The women murmur. The Pipek comes iiown 
 further to speak to Veronika. 
 
 Piper 
 
 You are some foreign woman. Are you not ? 
 Never from Hamelin ! 
 
 Veronika 
 
 No. 
 
 Axel's Wife 
 \to her chil<r\ 
 
 Then run along. 
 And ask the Piper if he '11 play again 
 The tune that charmed the rats. 
 
 Another 
 
 They might come back 1 
 
 Old Ursula 
 \c ailing from her window] 
 
 Piper ! I want the tune that charmed the rats ! 
 If they come back, 1 '11 have my grandson play 
 it. 
 
40 ThePiper 
 
 Piper 
 I pipe but for the children. 
 
 Ilse 
 [dropping her doll and picking it up"] 
 
 Oh, do pipe 
 Something for Fridolin ! 
 
 Hansel 
 
 Oh, pipe at me ! 
 Nowl 'mamouse! I '11 eat you up ! Rr — rr ! — 
 
 Children 
 
 Oh, pipe ! Oh, play ! Oh, play and make us 
 
 dance ! 
 Oh, play, and make us run away from school ! 
 
 Piper 
 Why, what are these ? 
 
 Children 
 
 \jcampering round him'\ 
 
 We 're mice, we *re mice, we 're mice ! . . . 
 We 're mice, we 're mice ! We '11 eat up every- 
 thing ! 
 
The Piper 41 
 
 Martin's Wife 
 \_calling\ 
 
 'T is church-time. La, what will the neighbors 
 
 say ? 
 
 Ilse 
 
 \JVaving her doW] 
 
 Oh, please do play something for Fridolin ! 
 
 Axel's Wife 
 Do hear the child. She 's quite the little mother ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 A little mother ? Ugh! How horrible. 
 
 That fairy thing, that princess, — no, that Child! 
 
 A little mother ? 
 
 [To her] 
 Drop the ugly thing! 
 
 Martin's Wife 
 
 Now, on my word ! and what 's amiss with 
 
 mothers ? 
 Are mothers horrible ? 
 [The Piper is struck with painful memories^ 
 
42 ThePiper 
 
 Piper 
 
 No, no. But — care 
 And want and pain and age . . . 
 \_Turns back to them zvith a bitter change ofvoice~\ 
 
 And penny-wealth, — 
 And penny -counting. — Penny prides and 
 
 fears — 
 Of what the neighbors say the neighbors say ! — 
 
 Martin's Wife 
 And were you born without a mother, then ? 
 
 All 
 
 Yes, you there ! Ah, I told you ! He 's no man. 
 He 's of the devil. 
 
 Martin's Wife 
 
 Who was your mother, then .? 
 
 Piper 
 
 \_Jiercely'\ 
 
 Mine ! — Nay, I do not know. Foi- when I saw 
 
 her, 
 She was a thing so trodden, lost and sad. 
 
ThePiper 43 
 
 I cannot think, that she was ever young. 
 
 Save in the cherishing voice. — She was a 
 
 stroller ; 
 My father was a stroller. — So, you have it ! 
 And since she clave to him, and hunger too. 
 The Church's ban was on her. — Either live, 
 Mewed up forever, — she ! to be a nun ; 
 Or keep her life-long wandering with the 
 
 wind ; 
 The very name of wife stript from her troth. 
 That was my mother. — And she starved and 
 
 sang; 
 And like the wind, she roved and lurked and 
 
 shuddered 
 Outside your lighted windows, and fled by. 
 Storm-hunted, trying to outstrip the snow. 
 South, south, and homeless as a broken bird, — 
 Limping and hiding! — And she fled, and 
 
 laughed. 
 And kept me warm ; and died ! To you, a 
 
 Nothing; 
 Nothing, forever, oh, you well-housed mothers! 
 As always, always for the lighted windows 
 Of all the world, the Dark outside is nothing; 
 And all that limps and hides there in the dark ; 
 Famishing, — broken, — lost ! 
 
44- ThePiper 
 
 And I have sworn 
 For her sake and for all, that I will have 
 Some justice, all so late, for wretched men. 
 Out of these same smug towns that drive us 
 
 forth 
 After the show ! — Or scheme to cage u? up 
 Out of the sunlight; like a squirrel's heart 
 Torn out and drying in the market-place. 
 My mother! Do you know what mothers 
 
 are ? — 
 Your children ! Do you know them ? Ah, not 
 
 you! 
 There 's not one here but it would follow me. 
 For all your bleating ! 
 
 Axel's Wife 
 
 Kuno, come away! 
 [^he children cling to him. He smiles down 
 triumphantly. 
 
 Piper 
 
 Oho, Oho ! Look you ? — You preach — I pipe ! 
 [^Reenter the men, with Kurt ^«<^ Jacobus, 
 
 from the Rathaus, murmuring dubiously. 
 [The Piper sets down Jan and stands forth^ 
 smiling. 
 
ThePiper 45 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 \_smoothly~\ 
 
 H'm ! My good man, we have faithfully de- 
 bated 
 Whether your vision of so great a sum 
 Might be fulfilled, — as by some miracle. 
 But no. The moneys we administer 
 Will not allow it; nor the common weal. 
 Therefore, for your late service, here you have 
 Full fifteen guilders, 
 
 \_H aiding forth a purse] 
 
 and a pretty sum 
 Indeed, for piping ! 
 
 Kurt 
 \_ominously~\ 
 
 Take them ! 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 Either that, 
 Or, to speak truly, nothing ! 
 
 \The Piper is motionless'] 
 Come, come. Nay, count them, if you will. 
 
 Kurt 
 
 Time goes ! 
 
46 The Piper 
 
 Piper 
 
 Ay. And your oath ? 
 
 Kurt 
 
 No more; Enough. 
 ijThere is a sound of organ music from the 
 MinsterJ\ 
 
 Veronika 
 \beseechingly ] 
 
 Ah, Kurt ! 
 Kurt 
 
 \_savagely to the crowif] 
 
 What do ye, mewling of this fellow's rights? 
 He hath none! — Wit ye well, he is a stroller, 
 A wastrel, and the shadow of a man ! 
 Ye waste the day and dally with the law. 
 Such have no rights ; not in their life nor body ! 
 We are in no wise bound. Nothing is his. 
 He may not carry arms ; nor have redress 
 For any harm that men should put on him. 
 Saving to strike a shadow on the wall ! 
 He is a Nothing, by the statute-book; 
 And, by the book, so let him live or die. 
 Like to a masterless dog ! 
 
ThePiper 47 
 
 [^'The Piper stands molionless with head up- 
 raised^ not looking at Kurt. T^he people ^ 
 half-cowedy half-doubting^ murmur and 
 draw back. Lights appear in the Minster; 
 the music continues. Kurt and Jacobus 
 lead in the people. Jacobus picks up the 
 money-purse and takes it with him. 
 
 Voices 
 [^laughing, drunkenly] 
 
 One thousand guilders to a ' masterless dog ' ! 
 \_Others laugh too, pass by, with pity and 
 
 derision for the Piper, and echoes of 
 
 * Masterless Dog ! ' Exeunt Women 
 
 and Men /o the Minster. 
 Only the children are left, dancing round the 
 
 motionless figure of the Piper. 
 
 Children 
 
 Oh, pipe again ! Oh, pipe and make us dance! 
 Oh, pipe and make us run away from school ! 
 Oh, pipe and make believe we are the mice! 
 
 \He looks down at them. He looks up at 
 the houses. Then he signs to them, with 
 his finger on his lips ; and begins, very 
 
48 ThePiper 
 
 softly^ to pipe the Kinder-spell. "The old 
 Claus and Ursula in the windows seem 
 to doze. 
 
 The children stop first, and look at him, fas- 
 cinated ; then they laugh, drowsily, and 
 creep closer, — Jan always near. They 
 crowd around him. He pipes louder, mov- 
 ing backwards, slowly, with magical 
 gestures, towards the little by-streets and 
 the closed doors. The doors open, every- 
 where. 
 
 Out come the children : little ones in night- 
 gowns ; bigger ones, with playthings, toy 
 animals, dolls. He pipes, gayer and louder. 
 They pour in, right and left. Motion and 
 music fill the air. The Piper lifts Jan to 
 his shoulder {dropping the little crutch) 
 and marches off, up the street at the rear, 
 piping, in the midst of them all. 
 
 Last, out of the Minster come tumbling two 
 little acolytes in red, and after them, Peter 
 the Sacristan. He trips over them in his 
 amazement and terror; and they are 
 gone after the vanishing children before 
 the church-people come out. 
 
 The old folks lean from their windows. 
 
ThePiper 49 
 
 Old Ursula 
 
 The bell, the bell ! the church bell 1 They 're 
 bewitched ! 
 \_Peter rushes to the bell-rope and pulls it. 
 'The bell sounds heavily. Reenter^ from 
 the churchy the citizens by twos and threes 
 and scores. 
 
 Old Ursula 
 
 I told ye all, — I told ye ! — Devils' bargains ! 
 
 {The bell.'] 
 
 [Kurt, Jacobus, and the others appear.] 
 
 Kurt 
 
 Peter the Sacristan ! Give by the bell. 
 What means this clangor ? 
 
 Peter the Sacristan 
 
 They 're bewitched ! bewitched ! 
 [Still pulling and shouting.] 
 
 Ursula 
 They 're gone ! 
 
 Kurt 
 Thy wits ! 
 
50 ThePiper 
 
 Old Claus 
 They 're gone — they 're gone — they 're gone! 
 
 Peter the Sacristan 
 
 The children ! 
 
 Ursula 
 
 — With the Piper ! They 're bewitched I 
 I told ye so. 
 
 Old Claus 
 
 — I saw it with these eyes ! 
 He piped away the children. 
 
 \Horror in the crowd. T^hey bring out lan~ 
 terns and candles. Veronika holds up 
 the forgotten crutch. 
 
 Veronika 
 
 Jan — my Jan ! 
 
 Kurt 
 \to her"] 
 
 Thy boy ! But mine, my three, all fair and 
 •« straight. — 
 
The Piper 51 
 
 Axel's Wife 
 
 \_furiously to birn] 
 
 'Twas thy false bargain, thine ; who would not 
 
 pay 
 The Piper. — But we pay ! 
 
 Peter /^^ Sacristan 
 
 Bewitched, bewitched ! 
 The boys ran out — and I ran after them. 
 And something red did trip me — 't was the 
 
 Devil, 
 The Devil ! 
 
 Old Ursula 
 
 Ah, ring on, and crack the bell; 
 Ye '11 never have them back. — I told ye so ! 
 
 [Ybe bell clangs incessantly 7^ 
 
 Curtain 
 
Act II 
 
Act II 
 
 Scene I : Inside * the Hollow HilU 
 
 A great ^ dim-lighted^ cavernous place ^ which shows 
 signs of masonry. It is part cavern and part 
 cellarage of a ruined^ burned-down and for- 
 gotten old monastery in the hills. — I^he only 
 entrance [at the centre rear), a ramshackle 
 wooden door, closes against a flight of rocky 
 steps. — Light comes from an opening in the 
 roof, and from the right, where a faggot-fire 
 glows under an iron pot. — The scene reaches 
 {right and left) into dim corners, where sleep- 
 ing children lie curled up together like kittens. 
 
 By the fire sits the Piper, on a tree-stump seat, 
 stitching at a bit of red leather. At his feet 
 " is a row of bright -colored small shoes, set 
 two and two. He looks up now and then, to 
 recount the children, and goes back to work, 
 with quizzical despair. 
 
 Left, sits a group of three forlorn Strollers. One 
 nurses a lame knee; one, evidently dumb. 
 
56 
 
 The Piper 
 
 talks in signs to the others ; one is munch- 
 ing bread and cheese out of a wallet. All 
 have the look of hunted and hungry men, 
 'They speak only in whispers to each other 
 throughout the scene ; but their hoarse laugh- 
 ter breaks out now and then over the bird- 
 like ignorance of the children. 
 A shaft of sunlight steals through the hole in the 
 roof. Jan, who lies nearest the Piper, wakes 
 up. 
 
 Jan 
 
 O 
 
 H! 
 
 \frhe Piper turns'] 
 Oh, I thought ... I had a dream ! 
 
 I thought . 
 me. 
 
 Soho ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 [softly-] 
 
 Ahe? 
 
 Jan 
 
 I dreamed . . . somebody wanted 
 
 Piper 
 
ThePiper 57 
 
 Jan 
 
 [earnestly'] 
 
 I thought . . . Somebody Wanted me. 
 
 Piper 
 
 How then? 
 
 \JVith watchful tenderness.] 
 
 Jan 
 
 I thought I heard Somebody crying. 
 
 Piper 
 
 Pfu'i ! — What a dream. — Don't make me cry 
 again. 
 
 Jan 
 
 Oh, was it you ? — Oh, yes ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 \_apartj tensely] 
 
 No Michael yet ! 
 [Jan begins to laugh softly, in a bewildered 
 way ; then grows quite happy and forget- 
 ful. While the other children waken, he 
 
58 The Piper 
 
 reaches for the pipe and tries to blow upon 
 it, to the Piper's amusement. Ilse and 
 Hansel, the Butcher s children, wake. 
 
 Ilse 
 Oh! 
 
 Hansel 
 — Oh! 
 
 Piper 
 
 Ahe? 
 
 Ilse 
 I thought I had a dream. 
 
 Piper 
 Again ? 
 
 Ilse 
 ... It was some lady, calling me. 
 
 Hansel 
 
 Yes, and a fat man called us to come quick; 
 A fat man, he was crying — about me ! 
 That same fat man I dreamt of, yesterday. 
 
ThePiper 59 
 
 Piper 
 
 Come, did you ever see a fat man cry, 
 About a little Boy? 
 
 [T'he Strollers are convulsed with hoarse 
 mirth. 
 
 Hansel 
 
 No, — Never. 
 
 Ilse 
 
 Never ! 
 Oh, what a funny dream! 
 
 [They giggle together.'] 
 
 [The Piper silences the Strollers ^with a ges- 
 ture of warning towards the rocky door. 
 
 Piper 
 
 [to himself] 
 
 'T is Hans the Butcher. 
 
 [To the Children] 
 
 Well, what did he say ? 
 
 Hansel 
 
 ' Come home, come home, come home I ' But I did n't 
 
 go- 
 I don't know where . . . Oh, what a funny dream! 
 
6o ThePiper 
 
 Ilse 
 
 Mine was a bad dream! — Mine was a lovely 
 
 lady 
 And she was by the river, staring in. 
 
 Piper 
 
 You were the little gold-fish, none could catch. 
 Oh, what a funny dream ! . . . 
 \_Aparti anxiously] 
 
 No Michael yet. 
 \_Aloud'] 
 Come, bread and broth ! Here — not all, three 
 
 at a time ; 
 'T is simpler. Here, you kittens. Eat awhile ; 
 Then — 
 
 [RuDi wakes. "] 
 
 RuDi 
 
 Oh ! I had a dream, — an awful dream ! 
 
 \l'he Piper takes Jan on his knee and feeds 
 him, after ladling out a big bowl of broth 
 from the kettle for the Children, and giv- 
 ing them bread. 
 
ThePiper 6i 
 
 Piper 
 
 Oh ! oh ! I had a dream ! 
 
 Children 
 
 Oh, tell it to us ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 I dreamed ... a Stork . . . had nested in 
 my hat. 
 
 Children 
 Oh! 
 
 Piper 
 And when I woke — 
 
 Children 
 
 You had — 
 
 Piper 
 
 One hundred children ! 
 
 Children 
 Oh, it came true ! Oh, oh ; it all came true ! 
 
62 ThePiper 
 
 The Strollers 
 
 Ah, ho, ho, ho ! 
 
 [The dumb one rises, stretches, and steals 
 toward the entrance, stopping to slip a * 
 blind-patch over one eye. The Piper ^oifj" 
 to him with one stride, seizing him by the 
 shoulder. 
 
 Piper 
 
 [to him, and the others, apart~\ 
 
 Look you. — No Michael yet! — And he is 
 
 gone 
 Full three days now, — three days. If he be 
 
 caught. 
 Why then, — the little ravens shall be fed! 
 
 [Groans from the three~\ 
 Enough that Cheat-the-Devil leaked out too ; — 
 No foot but mine shall quit this fox-hole 
 
 now ! 
 And you, — think praise for once, you have no 
 
 tongue. 
 And keep these magpies quiet. [Turns away. 
 [To himself~\ 
 
 Ah, that girl. 
 The Burgomeister's Barbara ! But for her, 
 
ThePiper 63 
 
 And moon-struck Michael with his 'one more 
 
 look'! 
 Where is he now? — And where are we? 
 
 [^Turning back to the Children^ So, so. 
 
 [ 'The Strollers huddle together^ with looks 
 of renewed anxiety and wretchedness. — 
 Their laughter at the Children breaks out 
 forlornly now and then. — The Piper 
 shepherds the Children^ but with watchful 
 eyes and ears toward the entrance always. 
 — His action grows more and more tense, 
 
 RuDi 
 
 \_over his broth'] 
 
 Oh, I remember now ! — Before I woke . . . 
 Oh, what an awful dream ! 
 
 Ilse 
 
 Oh, tell us, Rudi, — 
 Oh, scare us, — Rudi, scare us ! — 
 
 RuDi 
 
 [bursting into tears] 
 
 . . . Lump was dead! 
 Lump, Lump ! — [The Children wail. 
 
64 ThePiper 
 
 Piper 
 
 \distractecr\ 
 Who 's Lump ? — 
 
 RUDI 
 
 Our Dog ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 [shocked and pained^ 
 
 The Dog! — No, no. 
 Heaven save us — I forgot about the dogs ! 
 
 RuDi 
 
 He Wanted me; — and I always wasn't there! 
 And people tied him up, — and other people 
 Pretended that he bit. — He never bites ! 
 He Wanted me, until it broke his heart. 
 And he was dead ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 [struggling with his emotion'] 
 
 And then he went to heaven. 
 To chase the happy cats up all the trees ; — 
 Little white cats ! ... He wears a golden 
 collar . . . 
 
ThePiper 65 
 
 And sometimes — \_Aside] — I 'd forgot about 
 
 the dogs ! 
 Well, dogs must suffer, so that men grow wise. 
 *T was ever so. 
 
 \_He turns to give Jan a piping lesson.'] 
 
 Children 
 
 Oh, what a funny dream ! 
 [Suddenly he lifts his hand. 'They listen^ and 
 hear a dim sound of distant chanting^ going 
 by on some neighboring road. The Piper 
 is puzzled; the Strollers are plainly de- 
 pressed. 
 
 Jan 
 
 What is it ? 
 
 Piper 
 
 People ; passing down below. 
 In the dark valley. 
 
 \_He looks at the Children fixedly] 
 
 Do you want to see them ? 
 
 Children 
 
 Don't let them find us ! What an ugly noise. — 
 No, no — don't let them come ! 
 
66 ThePiper 
 
 Piper 
 
 Hark ye to me. 
 Some day I '11 take you out with me to play; 
 High in the sun, — close to the water-fall. . . . 
 And we will make believe — We'll make believe 
 We 're hiding ! . . . 
 
 [The Scrollers rock with mirth.'l 
 
 Children 
 Yes, yes ! Oh, let us make believe ! 
 
 Strollers 
 Oho, ho, ho 1 — A make-believe ! — Ho, ho ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 But, if you 're good, — yes, very, very soon 
 I '11 take you, as I promised, — 
 
 Children 
 
 — Gypsies, oh ! 
 Piper 
 
 Yes, with the gypsies. We shall go at night. 
 With just a torch — 
 
 [Watching themJ] 
 
The Piper 67 
 
 Children 
 Oh! 
 
 Piper 
 
 Like fire-flies ! Will-o'-the-wisps ! 
 And make believe we 're hiding, all the way, 
 Till we come out into a sunny land, — 
 All vines and sunlight, yes, and men that sing ! 
 Far, far away — forever. 
 \_Gives Ilse a bowl to feed the other children] 
 
 [Jan pipes a measure of the Kinder-spell, 
 brokenly. "The Piper turns. 
 
 So ! Thou 'It be 
 My master, some day. Thou shalt pipe for me. 
 
 Jan 
 
 [piping] 
 
 Oh, was n't that one beautiful ? — Now you ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 [taking the pipe] 
 
 The rainbow-bridge by day ; 
 
 — And borrow a shepherd-crook! 
 At night we take to the Milky Way ; 
 And then we follow the brook! 
 
68 ThePiper 
 
 We Ul follow the brook^ whatever way 
 The brook shall sing^ or the sun shall say. 
 
 Or the mothering wood-dove coos ! 
 And what do I care, what else I wear. 
 
 If I keep my rainbow shoes ! 
 
 [He points to the little row of bright shoes. 
 The Children scream with joy. Ilse and 
 Hansel run back. 
 
 Children 
 
 Oh dear ! What lovely shoes ! Oh, which 
 
 are mine ? 
 Oh! Oh! — What lovely shoes ! Oh, which 
 
 are mine ? 
 
 Piper 
 
 Try, till you see. 
 
 [Taking up a little red pair"] 
 
 But these, — these are for Jan. 
 [Jan is perched on the tree-stumpy shy and 
 silent with pleasure. 
 
 Ilse 
 Oh, those are best of all ! And Jan — 
 
The Piper 69 
 
 Piper 
 
 And Jan 
 Is not to trudge, like you. Jan is to wear 
 Beautiful shoes, and shoes made most of all, 
 To look at ! 
 
 [Takes up a pair of bird's wings. ~\ 
 
 Children 
 \_squealing'\ 
 
 Oh! Where did you find the wings? 
 Bird's wings ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 There was some hunter In the woods, 
 Who killed more birds than he could carry 
 
 home. 
 He did not want these, — though the starling 
 
 did, 
 But could not use them more ! And so, — 
 \_Fastening one to each beef] 
 
 And so, — 
 They trim a little boy. 
 
 \_Puls them on Jan. He is radiant. He 
 stretches out his legs and pats the feath- 
 ers. 
 
70 ThePiper 
 
 Children 
 
 \_frying on theirs and capering] 
 
 O Jan ! — O Jan 1 
 
 Oh ! see my shoes ! 
 
 [T'he Piper looks at Jan.] 
 
 Piper 
 Hey day, what now ? 
 
 Jan 
 
 I wish . . . 
 
 Piper 
 
 What do you wish ? Wish for it ! — It shall 
 come. 
 [Jan pulls him closer and speaks shyly ^ 
 
 Jan 
 
 I wish — that I could show them — to the 
 
 Man, 
 The Lonely Man. 
 
 \T^he Piper looks at him and backs away ; 
 
 sits down helplessly and looks at him again. 
 Oh, can I ? — 
 
The Piper 71 
 
 Piper 
 Thou ! — 'T would make me a proud man. 
 
 Jan 
 
 Oh ! it would make Him smile ! 
 
 \T^he Children dance and caper. Trude 
 wakes up and joins them. Sound of distant 
 chanting again, 
 
 Trude 
 
 — I had a dream ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 A dream ! 
 
 [Pretending to be amazed. Reflects^ a moment^ 
 
 I know ! — Oh, what a funny dream ! 
 
 [The Children all fall a-laughing when he 
 
 does. — Noise without. Cheat-the-DeviY s 
 
 voice cryingy * Cuckoo — Cuckoo ! * 
 
 Cheat-the-Devil 
 
 Quick, quick ! — I 've something here. 
 
 [The others roll away a big stone^ and enter 
 by the wooden door {rear\ Cheat-the- 
 
72 ThePiper 
 
 Devil. He does not wear his red hood. 
 He has a garland round his neck^ and a 
 basket on his arm. 
 
 Piper 
 
 \_sharply to himself '\ 
 
 No Michael yet ! 
 \_To Cheat-the-Devil] 
 Michael ! — Where 's Michael ? 
 
 Cheat-the-Devil 
 
 Look you, — you must wait. 
 We must be cunning. — There 's a squirrel, 
 
 mark you. 
 Hopped after me ! He would have found us 
 
 out. 
 I wanted him ; I loved him. But I ran. 
 For once a squirrel falls a-talking. — Ah! 
 Look what I have. — Guess, guess ! 
 
 \Showing his basket to the Children."] 
 
 Children 
 
 Cakes ! 
 \_He is sad] 
 
The Piper 73 
 
 Shoes ! 
 [//(f is sadder~\ 
 
 Then — honey ! 
 \_He radiantly undoes his basket ^ and displays 
 a honeycomb. 'The Str oiler s^toOy rush upon 
 him. 
 
 Piper 
 
 Ah, Cheat-the-Devil ! They would crop your 
 
 ears. 
 Where had you this ? 
 
 Cheat-the-Devil 
 
 Why, such a kind old farmer! 
 He'd left his bee-hives; they were all alone; 
 And the bees know me. So I brought this for 
 
 you; 
 I knew They 'd like it. — Oh, you 're happy 
 
 now ! 
 
 Piper 
 But Michael, — have they caught him ? 
 
 Cheat-the-Devil 
 
 Oh, not they! 
 I heard no word of Michael ; Michael 's safe ! 
 
74 ThePiper 
 
 Once on the road I met a countryman, 
 Asked me the way. And not a word I spoke! 
 *Tis far the wisest. Twenty riddles he asked 
 
 me. 
 I smiled and wagged my head. Anon cries he, 
 'This Fool is deaf and dumb!' — That made 
 
 me angry. 
 But still I spoke not. — And I would not hurt 
 
 him ! 
 He was a bad man. But I liked the mule. — 
 Now am I safe! — Now am I home at last! 
 
 Piper 
 
 'St. — Met you any people on the way. 
 Singing? 
 
 Cheat-the-Devil 
 
 No, growling, — growling dreary psalms 
 All on a sunny day ! Behind the hedges, 
 I saw them go. They go from Hamelin, now ; 
 And I know why! — 
 
 [T'he Piper beckons him away from the 
 Children. 
 
 The mayor's Barbara 
 Must go to Rudersheim, to be a Nun ! 
 
The Piper 75 
 
 Piper 
 
 To be a Nun ! 
 
 Cheat-the-Devil 
 
 A penance for them all. 
 She weeps; but she must go! All they, you see, 
 Are wroth against him. — He must give his 
 child — 
 
 Piper 
 A nun! 
 
 Cheat-the-Devil 
 
 [nodding] 
 
 Forever! — She, who smiled at Michael. 
 Look you, she weeps ! They are bad people 
 
 all; — 
 Nothing like these. \_Looking at the Children. 
 These are all beautiful. 
 
 Piper 
 
 To lock her up! A maiden, shut away 
 Out of the light. To cage her there for life. 
 Cut off her hair ; pretend that she is dead ! — 
 Horrible, horrible ! No, I '11 not endure it. 
 
76 ThePiper 
 
 I '11 end this murder. — He shall give up his; 
 But never so ! — Not so ! — While I do live 
 To let things out of cages ! — Tell me, quick ! — 
 "When shall it happen? 
 
 Cheat-the-Devil 
 
 Why, it falls to-day. 
 I saw two herds of people going by, 
 To be there well aforetime, for the sight. 
 And she is going last of all, at noon; 
 All sparkling, like a Bride. — I heard them tell. 
 
 Piper 
 
 No, never, never! — No, it shall not be! 
 Hist! — 
 
 \_Steps heard scrambling down the entrance- 
 way. 
 
 [Enter Michael in mad haste. "They rush 
 upon him with exultation and relief. He 
 shakes them off, doggedly. 
 
 Piper 
 
 So ! — You had like to have hanged us. 
 
The Piper 77 
 
 Michael 
 
 — What of that ? 
 
 Piper 
 
 All for a lily maiden. 
 
 Michael 
 
 Ah, — thy pipe ! 
 How will it save her ? — Save her ! — Tune thy 
 
 pipe 
 To compass that! — You do not know — 
 
 Piper 
 
 I know. 
 Tell me no more. — I say it shall not be ! 
 To heel, lad ! No, I follow, — none but I ! 
 Go, — go ! [Michael rushes out again. 
 
 [T'o Cheat-the-Devil, pointing to the 
 Children~\ 
 Do you bide here and shepherd these. 
 
 Children 
 
 Where are you going ? — Take us too ! — us 
 
 too ! — 
 Oh, take us with you ? — Take us ! 
 
78 ThePiper 
 
 Piper 
 
 \distracted~\ 
 
 No, no, no ! 
 
 You shall be kittens all. And chase your tails, 
 Till I come back ! — So here ! 
 
 [Catches Hansel and affixes to his little 
 jacket a long strip of leather for a tail; 
 then whirls him about. 
 
 Children 
 
 Me too ! — Me too ! 
 
 Cheat-the-Devil 
 
 Let me make tails, — let me ! 
 
 [Seizing shears and leather!^ 
 
 Piper 
 
 [wildly^ 
 
 Faith, and you shall, 
 
 A master tailor! — Come, here 's food for 
 
 thought. 
 
 Think all, — 
 
 [To the Strollers'] 
 
 And hold your tongues, there ! — 
 
 If a Cat — 
 
The Piper 79 
 
 If a Cat have — as all men say — Nine Lives, 
 
 And if Nine Tailors go to make a Man, 
 
 How long, then, shall it take one Man turned 
 Tailor 
 
 To keep a Cat in Tails, until she die ? 
 
 [Cheat-the-Devil looks subdued ; the chil- 
 dren whirl about. 
 
 But here 's no game for Jan. — Stay ! Some- 
 thing else. — 
 \H.e runs to a wooden coffer^ rear^ and takes 
 out a long crystal on the end of a string, 
 with a glance at the shaft of sunlight from 
 th? roof. 'The Children watch. 
 
 Be quiet, now. — Chase not your tails too far, 
 
 Till I come home again. 
 
 Children 
 Come home — come home 1 
 
 Piper 
 And you shall see my — 
 
 Children 
 
 Something Beautiful ! 
 Oh, oh, what is It ? — Oh, and will it play I 
 Will it play music ? 
 
8o ThePiper 
 
 Piper 
 
 Yes. 
 [//(? hangs the crystal in the sun. A Rain-^ 
 bow strikes the wall. 
 
 — The best of all ! 
 
 Cheat-the-Devil, Jan, Children 
 Oh, oh, how beautiful, — how beautiful ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 And hear it pipe and call, and dance, and sing. 
 Heja! — And hark you all. You have to 
 
 mind — 
 The Rainbow ! 
 
 \_He climbs out^ pipe in hand. 'The Children 
 whirl about after their tails. — Cheat- 
 the-Devil, and Jan on his tree-stumps 
 open-mouthed with happiness^ watch the 
 Rainbow. 
 
 Curtain 
 
The Piper 8i 
 
 Scene 1 1 : The Cross-ways : on the Long Road 
 to Ruder sheim. 
 
 A wooded country : high hills at back. 'The place 
 is wild and overgrown^ like the haunted spot 
 it is reputed to be. In the foreground, right, a 
 ruined stone well appears, in a mass of weeds 
 and vines. Opposite, left, tall trees and dense 
 thickets. Where the roads cross {to left of 
 centre^, stands a large, neglected shrine, with 
 a weather-worn figure of Christ, — again the 
 ^Lonely Man,' — facing towards Hamelin. — 
 The stage is empty, at rise of the curtain ; but 
 the sound of chanting from burghers just gone 
 by fades slowly, on the road to Rudersheim. 
 
 From the hillside at the rear comes the Piper, 
 wrapped in a long green cloak, his pipe in 
 his hand. He looks after the procession, and 
 back to Hamelin. — Enter, springing from the 
 bushes to the right, Michael, who seizes him. 
 
 Their speech goes breathlessly. 
 
 
 
 Michael 
 
 UICK! — tellme- 
 
 PlPER 
 
 — Patience. 
 
82 The Piper 
 
 Michael 
 
 Patience ? — Death and hell ! 
 Oh, save her — save her! Give the children 
 back. 
 
 Piper 
 Never. Have you betrayed us ? 
 
 Michael 
 
 1 ! — betrayed ? 
 Piper 
 So, so, lad. 
 
 Michael 
 But to save her — 
 
 Piper 
 
 There 's a way, — 
 Trust me ! I save her, or we swing together 
 Merrily, in a row. — How did you see her? 
 
 Michael 
 
 By stealth: two days ago, at evening, 
 
 Hard by the vine-hid wall of her own garden, 
 
The Piper 83 
 
 I made a warbling like a nightingale; 
 And she came out to hear. 
 
 Piper 
 
 A serenade ! 
 
 Under the halter ! 
 
 Michael 
 
 Hush. — A death-black night, 
 Until she came. — Oh, how to tell thee, lad! 
 She came, — she came, not for the nightingale. 
 But even dreaming that it would be I 1 
 
 Piper 
 She knew you ? — We are trapped, then. 
 
 Michael 
 
 No, not so ! 
 She smiled on me. — Dost thou remember how 
 She smiled on me that day? Alas, poor maid. 
 She took me for some noble in disguise ! 
 And all these days, — she told me, — she had 
 
 dreamed 
 That I would come to save her ! 
 
84 ThePiper 
 
 Piper 
 
 Said she this? 
 
 Michael 
 
 All this — all this, and more! . . . 
 
 What could lies do ? — I lied to her of thee ; 
 
 I swore I knew not of thy vanishment, 
 
 Nor the lost children. But 1 told her true, 
 
 I was a stroller and an outcast man 
 
 That hid there, like a famished castaway, 
 
 For one more word, without a hope, — a hope; 
 
 Helpless to save her. 
 
 Piper 
 
 And she told thee then. 
 She goes to be a nun? 
 
 Michael 
 
 Youth to the grave ! 
 And I — vile nothing — cannot go to save 
 
 her. 
 Only to look my last — 
 
 Piper 
 
 Who knows? 
 
ThePiper 85 
 
 Michael 
 
 [bitterly] 
 
 Ah, thou! — 
 
 Piper 
 
 Poor Nightingale ! 
 
 [Fingers his pipe, noiselessly.'] 
 
 Michael 
 [rapt with grief] 
 
 Oh, but the scorn of her ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 She smiled on thee. 
 
 Michael 
 
 Until she heard the truth : — 
 A juggler, — truly, — and no wandering knight ! 
 Oh, and she wept. 
 
 [TVildly] 
 Let us all hang together. 
 
 Piper 
 Thanks. Kindly spoken. — Not this afternoon ! 
 
86 ThePiper 
 
 Michael 
 Thou knowest they are given up for dead ? 
 
 Piper 
 
 Truly. 
 
 Bewitched? 
 
 Michael 
 
 Piper 
 So are they. 
 
 Michael 
 
 Sold to the Devil? 
 
 Piper 
 
 \_Pacmg softly up and dowriy with the rest- 
 less cunning of a squirrel at watch~\ 
 
 Pfui 1 But who else ? Of course. This same old 
 
 Devil ! 
 This kind old Devil takes on him all we do ! 
 Who else is such a refuge in this world ? 
 Who could have burned the abbey in this place. 
 Where holy men did live? Why, 't was the 
 
 Devil ! 
 
ThePiper 87 
 
 And who did guard us one secluded spot 
 By burying a wizard at this cross-ways ? — 
 So none dare search the haunted, evil place ! 
 The Devil for a landlord! — So say I ! 
 And all we poor, we strollers, for his tenants; 
 We gypsies and we pipers in the world, 
 And a few hermits and sword-swallowers, 
 And all the cast-aways that Holy Church 
 Must put in cages — cages — to the end ! 
 
 \_To Michael, who is overcome] 
 Take heart! I swear, — by all the stars that 
 
 chime ! 
 I '11 not have things in Cages 1 
 
 Michael 
 
 Barbara ! 
 So young, — so young and beautiful ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 And fit 
 To marry with friend Michael ! 
 
 Michael 
 
 Do not mock. 
 
88 The Piper 
 
 Piper 
 I mock not. — (Baa — Baa — Barbara !) 
 
 Michael 
 
 Ay, she laughed, 
 On that first day. But still she gazed. — I saw 
 Her, all the while ! I swallowed — 
 
 Piper 
 
 Prodigies ! 
 A thousand swallows, and no summer yet ! 
 But now, — 't is late to ask, — why did you not 
 Swallow her father ? — That had saved us all. 
 
 Michael 
 
 They will be coming soon. They will cut off 
 All her bright hair, — and wall her in forever. 
 
 Piper 
 
 Never. They shall not. 
 
 Michael 
 
 [dully~\ 
 
 Will you give them back, 
 
 Now? 
 
ThePiper 89 
 
 Piper 
 
 I will never give them back. Be sure. 
 
 Michael 
 
 And she Is made an offering for the town ! 
 I heard it of the gossips. — They have sworn 
 Jacobus shall not keep his one ewe-lamb 
 While all the rest go childless. 
 
 Piper 
 
 And I swear 
 That he shall give her up, — to none but thee ! 
 
 Michael 
 
 You cannot do it ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 Have I lived like Cain, 
 But to make good one hour of Life and Sun ? 
 And have I got this Hamelin in my hands. 
 To make it pay its thousand cruelties 
 With such a fool's one-more ? . . . 
 
 — You know right well, 
 *T was not the thousand guilders that I wanted 
 
90 ThePiper 
 
 For thee, or me, or any ! — Ten would serve. 
 But there it ached ; there^ in the money-bag 
 That serves the town of Hamelin for an heart ! 
 That stab was mortal ! And I thrust it deep. 
 Life, life, I wanted ; safety, — sun and wind ! — 
 And but to show them how that daily fear 
 They call their faith, is made of blasphemies 
 That would put out the Sun and Moon and 
 
 Stars, 
 Early, for some last judgment! 
 
 \He laughs up to the tree-tops^ 
 
 And the Lord, 
 Where will He get His harpers and singing-men 
 And them that laugh for joy ? — From Hamelin 
 
 guilds ? — 
 Will you imagine Kurt the Councillor 
 Trying to sing ? 
 
 \_He looks at his pipe again ; then listens in- 
 tently. 
 
 Michael 
 
 His lean throat freeze! — But she — 
 Barbara ! Barbara ! — 
 
 Piper 
 
 Patience. She will come, 
 Dressed like a bride. 
 
I mock not. 
 
 The Piper 91 
 
 Michael 
 
 Ah, do not mock me so. 
 
 Piper 
 
 Michael 
 
 She will never look at me. 
 
 Piper 
 
 Rather than be a nun, I swear she will 
 Look at thee twice, — and with a long, long look. 
 [Chant approaches in the distance^ coming 
 from Hamelin. 
 
 Voices 
 
 Dies iraCy dies ilia 
 Solve t saeclum in favilla^ 
 Teste David cum Sibylla, 
 
 ^uantus tremor est futuruSy 
 ^ando judex est venturuSy 
 Cuncta strict e discussurus ! 
 
 Piper 
 Bah, how they whine ! Why do they drag it so ? 
 
92 ThePiper 
 
 Michael 
 [^overcome] 
 
 Oh, can it be the last of all? O Saints! — 
 O blessed Francis, Ursula, Catherine ! 
 Hubert — and Crispin — Pantaleone — Paul ! 
 George o' the Dragon ! — Michael the Arch- 
 angel ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 Michael Sword-eater, canst not swallow a chant ? 
 The well, the well ! — Take care. 
 
 Voices 
 [nearer] 
 
 Inter oves locum praesta^ 
 Et ab hoedis me sequestra, 
 Statuens in -parte dextra. 
 
 Confutatis maledictis, 
 Flammis acribus addictis : 
 Voca me cum benedictis. 
 
 [Michael climbs down the ancient well, 
 
 reaching his head up warily, to see. 
 The Piper waves to him debonairly, points 
 
The Piper 93 
 
 to the tree-tops^ left^ and stands a moment 
 showing in his face his disapproval of the 
 music. He fingers his pipe. As the hymn 
 draws near, he scrambles among the bushes y 
 lefty and disappears. 
 Enter slowly y chantingy the company of burgh- 
 ers from Hameliny — men together fir sty 
 headed hy priests ; then the women. — An- 
 SELM and all the townsfolk appear {saving 
 Veronika, the wife ^Kurt); Jacobus 
 is meek; Kurt very stern. — As they 
 appear y the piping of the Dance-spell begins 
 softly y high in air. The hymn wavers; 
 when the first burghers reach the centre 
 of the stage y it breaks down. 
 They look upy bewildered ; theny with every 
 sign of consternationy struggle y and vacant 
 feary they begin to dance y willy-nilly. Their 
 faces work ; they struggle to walk on ; but 
 it is useless. The music whirls them irre- 
 sistibly into a rhythmic pace of f time, and 
 jogs their wordsy when they try to speak, 
 into the same dance-measure. One by one, 
 — two and two they go, — round and round 
 like corks at first y with every sign of strug- 
 gle and protest y then off, on the long road 
 
94 The Piper 
 
 to Ruder sheim. Fat priests waltz together. 
 — Kurt the fierce and Jacobus the sleek 
 hug each other in frantic endeavor to be 
 released. 'Their words jolt insanely. 
 
 { 
 
 Kurt, Jacobus 
 
 No, no. — No, no — No, no. — No, no ! 
 Yes, yes. — I, yes. — Yes, yes. — Yes, yes ! 
 
 Some 
 
 La — cry mo s — a — Dies — /// — 
 Bewitched — the Devil ! — bewitched — be- 
 witched ! 
 I will not — will not — will — 1 will ! 
 No, no — but where ! — Help — help ! — To 
 
 arms 
 
 Others 
 
 Suppli — canti — suppli — Oh I 
 
 To Hamelin — back — to Hamelin — stay! 
 
 No, no ! — No, no, — Away, — away ! 
 
 [They dance out^ convulsively y towards Ru- 
 dersheim. Kurt ^«<^ Jacobus, still whirl- 
 ing, cry, — 
 
The Piper 95 
 
 Jacobus, Kurt 
 
 r Yes, yes ! — yes, yes! — Let go — let go — 
 LNo, no! — I will not — No! ... No ! 
 
 \_Exeunt left^ dancing. 
 
 Others 
 
 ' Keep time, keep time ! Have mercy ! — 
 Time ! 
 Oh, let me — go ! — Let go — let go ! 
 Yes, yes — Yes, yes — No, no — no — no ! 
 
 [Barbara appears^ pale and beautiful; — 
 richly dressed in white ^ with flowing locks. 
 She is wan and exhausted. — 'The dance- 
 mania, as it seizes her, makes her circle 
 slowly and dazedly with a certain pitiful 
 silliness. 'The nuns and monks accompanying 
 her point in horror. But they, too, dance off 
 with each other, willy-nilly, — like leaves 
 in a tempest, Barbara is left alone, still 
 circling slowly. The piping sounds softer. 
 She staggers against a tree, and keeps on 
 waving her hands and turning her head, 
 vaguely, in time. 
 
 Michael looks forth from the well ; then 
 climbs out and approaches her. 
 
g6 The Piper 
 
 Michael 
 
 She is so beautiful, — how dare I tell her ? 
 
 My heart, how beautiful ! The blessed 
 saint ! . . . 
 
 Fear nothing, fairest Lady. — You are saved. 
 [^Sbe looks at him unseeingly^ and continues to 
 dance. — He holds out his arms to stop her. 
 
 Pray you, the danger 's gone. Pray you, take 
 breath ! 
 
 Poor, shining dove, — I would not hold thee 
 here. 
 
 Against thy wish. — 'T is Michael, the sword- 
 cater. 
 
 \T^he piping ceases^ 
 
 Barbara 
 
 \murmuring\ 
 
 Yes, yes — I must — I must — I must . . . 
 \Reenter the Viper from the thickets."] 
 
 Michael 
 
 Look, I will guard you like a princess, here ; 
 Yes, like Our Lady's rose-vine. 
 
The Piper 97 
 
 Barbara 
 
 [gasping] 
 
 Ah, my heart ! 
 
 [The Piper comes towards her. She sees 
 
 him and holds out her arms^ crying : — 
 
 Oh, he has saved me ! — I am thine — thine — 
 
 thine ! 
 
 \Falls into his arms half-fainting. The 
 
 Piper stands amazed^ alarmed^ chagrined. 
 
 Piper 
 Mine? 
 
 Michael 
 
 \_furiously\ 
 
 Thine ? — So was it ? All a trap ? Cock's 
 
 blood ! 
 Thine, thine ! — And thou hast piped her wits 
 
 away. 
 Thine ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 [holding her off^ 
 
 No, not mine ! 
 
98 T H E Pi P E R 
 
 Barbara 
 
 Why did you steal me hence? 
 When did you love me ? — Was It on first sight ? 
 
 Piper 
 
 \confounded'\ 
 I, love thee ? 
 
 Michael 
 
 — Knave ! thief! liar ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 — Give me breath. 
 [Holds off Barbara gently. "] 
 
 Barbara 
 Where are you taking me ? 
 
 Piper 
 
 I ? Taking thee ? 
 
 Michael 
 \_to her\ 
 
 He shall not steal thee ! 
 
ThePiper 99 
 
 Barbara 
 
 £/« a dazi] 
 
 I must follow him. 
 
 Piper 
 
 No! 'T Is too much. You shall not follow me ? 
 I '11 not be followed. — Damsel, sit you down. 
 Here is too much ! I love you not. 
 
 You do not ? 
 
 Barbara 
 
 \_'Wonderingly'\ 
 
 Why did you pipe to me ? 
 
 Michael 
 
 — And steal her wits, 
 Stealer of all the children ! 
 
 Barbara 
 
 [vaguely^ 
 
 Are they safe? 
 
 Piper 
 
 \_to Michael] 
 
 Oh, your good faith ! — 
 
 [T'o her] 
 
 They 're safe. 
 
loo The Piper 
 
 Barbara 
 
 I knew — I knew it ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 And so art thou. But never shall they go 
 To Hamelin more ; and never shalt thou go 
 To be a nun. 
 
 Barbara 
 
 To be a nun, — no, no! Ah me, I 'm spent. 
 Sir, take me with you. 
 
 Michael 
 
 \jtill enragedy to the Piper] 
 
 Rid her of the spell ! 
 Is this thy pledge? 
 
 Piper 
 
 [distracted^ 
 
 I do but rub my wits — 
 To think — to think. 
 
 [To hmself~\ 
 
 What shall I do with her, 
 Now that she 's here ! — Suppose her bound to 
 stay ! 
 
The Piper ioi 
 
 ITo theni] 
 
 Hearken. — You, Michael, on to Rudershelm — 
 
 Michael 
 
 And leave her here ? No, no ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 Then take the girL 
 
 Barbara 
 To Rudersheim ? No, never, never! 
 
 Piper 
 
 Well . . . 
 Hearken. — There is the hermit, over the hill. 
 
 \_Apart^ wildly^ 
 But how — suppose she will not marry him? 
 I will not take her where the children are. 
 And yet — 
 
 [An idea strikes him. To her\ 
 Hark, now; — hark, now, and tell me truly s 
 Can you spin cloth ? 
 
 Barbara 
 \amazec[\ 
 
 I? Spin? 
 
I02 The Piper 
 
 Piper 
 
 [eagerly~\ 
 
 Can you make shoes? 
 
 Barbara 
 I — / make shoes ! — Fellow ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 So. 
 
 Michael 
 
 Art thou mad ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 With me you may not go ! But you '11 be safe. 
 Hearken : — you, Michael, go to Rudersheim ; 
 And tell the nuns — 
 
 Barbara 
 
 No, no! I dare not have it! 
 Oh, they would send and take me ! No, no, no ! 
 
 Piper 
 Would you go back to Hamelin? 
 
The Piper 103 
 
 Barbara 
 
 No — no — no ! 
 Ah, I am spent. 
 
 \_Droops towards the Piper; falters and 
 sinks down on the bank beside the welly 
 in a swoon. — The Piper is abashed and 
 rueful for the moment. 
 
 Michael 
 All this, your work ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 [looking at her closely\ 
 
 Not mine. 
 
 This is no charm. It is all youth and grief, 
 
 And weariness. And she shall follow you. — 
 
 Tell the good nuns you found her sore be- 
 witched, 
 
 Here in this haunt of Mevils'; — clean dis- 
 traught. 
 
 No Church could so receive a dancing nun ! 
 
 Tell them thou art an honest, piteous man 
 
 Desires to marry her. 
 
 Michael 
 
 Marry the Moon! 
 
I04 The Piper 
 
 Piper 
 
 No, no, the Moon for me ! — She shall be 
 
 yours ; 
 And here she sleeps, until her wits be sound. 
 
 \^He spreads his cloak over her y gent ly~\ 
 The sun 's still high. 'T is barely afternoon. — 
 
 \_Looks at the sunshine. A thought strikes 
 him with sudden dismay] 
 'T is — no, the time is going ! — On my life, 
 I had forgot Them ! — And They will not stay 
 After the Rainbow fades. 
 
 Michael 
 
 [confounded] 
 
 Art thou moon-mad ? 
 
 Piper 
 
 [madly] 
 
 No. Stir not ! Keep her safe ! I come anon. 
 But first I go. — They'll not mind Cheat-the- 
 
 Devil! 
 They '11 creep, to find out where the Rainbow 
 
 went. 
 I know them ! So would I ! — They '11 all leak 
 
 out! 
 
The Piper 105 
 
 Michael 
 
 Stay — stay ! 
 
 Piper 
 No ; guard her, you ! — Anon, anon ! 
 
 Michael 
 But you will pipe her up and after you ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 [Jlinging him the pipe from his belf\ 
 
 Do you fear this? Then keep it till I come. 
 You bide ! — The Other cannot. 
 
 Michael 
 
 Who? 
 
 Piper 
 
 The Rainbow, 
 The Rainbow I — 
 
 [He runs madly up the hillside, and away."] 
 Curtain 
 
Act III 
 
Act III 
 
 Scene : The same^ later. Barbara lies motionless, 
 still sleeping. — Michael, sitting on the 
 bank opposite, fingers the pipe with awe and 
 wistfulness. He blows softly upon it; then 
 looks at the girl hopefully. She does not stir. 
 
 Enter the Piper, from the hills at back. He 
 carries a pair of water-jars slung over his 
 shoulders, and seems to be in high feather. 
 
 Piper 
 
 Isinging'] 
 
 ^^UT of your cage, 
 I M Come out of your cage 
 ^"^ And take your soul on a pilgrimage! 
 Pease in your shoes, an if you must I — 
 But out and away, before you're dust: 
 Scribe and Stay-at-home, 
 Saint and Sage, 
 Out of your cage. 
 Out of your cage ! — 
 
iio The Piper 
 
 \_He feigns to be terror-struck at sight of the 
 pipe in Michael's hands'] 
 Ho, help! Good Michael, Michael, loose the 
 
 charm ! 
 Michael, have mercy ! I 'm bewitched ! — 
 
 Michael 
 
 \_giving him the pipe~\ 
 
 Cock's faith ! 
 Still mocking ! — Well ye know, it will not play 
 Such games for me. 
 
 Piper 
 
 Be soothed, — 'twas as I guessed. 
 \Uns lings the jars~\ 
 All of them hungry, — and the Rainbow 
 
 going; — 
 And Cheat-the-Devil pining in a corner. 
 'Twas well I went: they were for leaking out. 
 And then, — lopped ears for two! 
 
 Michael 
 
 Oh, that will come. 
 Piper 
 Never believe it ! We have saved her, look you ; 
 
The Piper iii 
 
 We save them all ! No prison walls again, 
 For anything so young, in Hamelin there. 
 Wake her, and see. 
 
 Michael 
 
 Ay, wake her. But for me. 
 Her sleep is gentler. 
 
 Piper 
 
 [comfortingly] 
 
 Nay, but wait. — Good faith, 
 Wait. We have broke the bars of iron now ; 
 Still there are golden ! — 'Tis her very self 
 Is caged within herself Once coax her out. 
 Once set her own heart free ! — 
 
 Michael 
 
 Wake her, and see ! 
 \_The Piper crosses^ humming.'] 
 
 Piper 
 
 Mind your eyes, tune your tongue 1 
 
 Let it never be said, but sung, but sung, 
 
 * Out of your cage, out of your cage I * 
 
 Maiden, maiden, — 
 
112 The Piper 
 
 \_He wakes her gently. Barbara sits up, 
 plainly bewildered; then she sees the Piper, 
 
 and says happily : — 
 
 Barbara 
 
 Oh ! — you have come to save me. They are 
 
 gone. 
 All this, for love of me ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 ^ruefully"] 
 
 No, no — I — No! 
 
 Barbara 
 
 You — you are robbers ? 
 [Her hands go to the pearls about her neck."] 
 
 Piper 
 
 [indignant'] 
 
 No ! Blood on the Moon 1 
 This is the maddest world I ever blinked at. — 
 Fear nothing, maiden. I will tell you all. 
 Come, sit you down ; and Michael shall keep 
 watch 
 
The Piper 113 
 
 From yonder hillock, lest that any pass. 
 
 Fear nothing. None will pass : they are too 
 
 sure 
 The Devil hath this cross-ways ! — Sit you 
 
 down. 
 Michael watches ^ with jealous wistfulness, 
 
 from the road {left rear). — Barbara half 
 
 fearfully sits up, on the bank by the welL 
 
 Barbara 
 
 Not love? And yet . . . you do not want my 
 
 pearls ? 
 Then why — 
 
 Piper 
 
 For why should all be love or money ? 
 
 Money! Oho, — that mouldy thousand guil- 
 ders 
 
 You think of! — But it was your Hamelin 
 friends 
 
 That loved the guilders, and not I. 
 
 Barbara 
 
 Then why — 
 Why did you steal me hence ? 
 
114 The Piper 
 
 Piper 
 
 Why did yourself 
 Long to be stolen ? 
 
 Barbara 
 
 Ah ! to be shut up . . . 
 Forever, — young — alive ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 Alive and singing ; 
 Young, — young; — and four thick walls and 
 
 no more sun, 
 No music, and no wandering, and no life ! 
 Think you, I would not steal all things alive 
 Out of such doom ? — How can I breathe and 
 
 laugh 
 While there are things in cages ? — You are 
 
 free; 
 And you shall never more go back again. 
 
 Barbara 
 And you, who are you then ? 
 
The Piper 115 
 
 Piper 
 
 How do / know? 
 Moths in the Moon! — Ask me a thing in 
 reason. 
 
 Barbara 
 And 't was not . . . that you loved me. 
 
 Piper 
 
 Loved thee ? No ! — 
 Save but along with squirrels, and bright fish. 
 And bubbling water. 
 
 Barbara 
 
 Then where shall I go ? 
 
 Piper 
 
 Oh, little bird, — is that your only song? 
 
 Go ? Everywhere ! Here be no walls, no 
 
 hedges. 
 No tolls, no taxes, — rats nor aldermen ! 
 Go, say you ? Round the world, and round 
 
 again ! 
 
 — Ah, she was Hamelin-born. 
 
ii6 The Piper 
 
 [_He watches her] 
 
 But there's a man, — 
 Sky-true, sword-strong, and brave to look upon ; 
 One that would thrust his hand in dragon's 
 
 mouth 
 For your bright sake ; one that would face the 
 
 Devil, 
 Would swallow fire — 
 
 Barbara 
 You would? 
 
 Piper 
 
 [^desperate/yl 
 
 /? — No, noti! 
 Michael, — yon goodman Michael. 
 
 Barbara 
 
 l_i?itterly] 
 
 A stroller ! — oh, nought but a wandering 
 man. 
 
 Piper 
 Well, would you have a man take root, I ask ? 
 
The Piper 117 
 
 Barbara 
 
 That swallows swords. . . . 
 
 Piper 
 
 Is he a comely man ? 
 
 Barbara 
 
 That swallows swords ! — 
 
 Piper 
 
 What 's manlier to swallow ? 
 
 Did he but swallow pancakes, were that praise ? 
 
 Pancakes and sausage, like your Hamelin yo- 
 kels? 
 
 He swallows fire and swords, I say, and more. 
 
 And yet this man hath for a whole noon- 
 hour 
 
 Guarded you while you slept; — still as a dove. 
 
 Distant and kind as shadow ; giant-strong 
 
 For his enchanted princess, — even you. 
 
 Barbara 
 
 So you bewitched me, then. 
 
ii8 The Piper 
 
 Piper 
 
 \_wildly~\ 
 
 How do I know ? 
 
 Barbara 
 
 Where are the children ? 
 
 Piper 
 
 I '11 not tell you that. 
 You are too much of Hamelin. 
 
 Barbara 
 
 You bewitched them ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 Yes, so it seems. But how ? — Upon my life, 
 *T is more than I know, — yes, a little more. 
 \_Rapidly : half in earnest and half in whimsy\ 
 Sometimes it works, and sometimes no. There 
 
 are 
 Some things upon my soul, I cannot do. 
 \JVatching herJ] 
 
The Piper 119 
 
 Barbara 
 
 \_expectantly'\ 
 
 Not even with thy pipe? 
 
 Piper 
 
 Not even so. 
 Some are too hard. — Yet, yet, I love to try : 
 
 And most, to try with all the hidden charms 
 I have, that I have never counted through. 
 
 Barbara 
 
 \J'ascinated^ 
 
 Where are they ? 
 
 Piper 
 
 \jouching his hearf\ 
 
 Here. 
 
 Barbara 
 
 What are they ? 
 
 Piper 
 
 How do I know? 
 If I knew all, why should I care to live ? 
 
120 The Piper 
 
 No, no ! The game is What-Will-Happen- 
 Next? 
 
 Barbara 
 And what will happen ? 
 
 Piper 
 
 \jantalizmgly~\ 
 
 Ah ! how do I know? 
 It keeps me searching. 'T is so glad and sad 
 And strange to find out, What- Will-Happen- 
 Next ! 
 And mark you this : the strangest miracle . , , 
 
 Barbara 
 Yes! — 
 
 Piper 
 
 Stranger than the Devil or the Judgment; 
 Stranger than piping, — even when / pipe ! 
 Stranger than charming mice — or even men — 
 
 Barbara 
 
 \_with tense expectancy^ 
 
 What is it ? What ? 
 
The Piper i2i 
 
 Piper 
 
 [watching her\ 
 
 Why, — what may come to pass 
 Here in the heart. There is one very charm — 
 
 Barbara 
 Oh! 
 
 Piper 
 
 Are you brave ? 
 
 Barbara 
 [awe-struck~\ 
 
 Oh! 
 
 Piper 
 
 [slowly^ 
 
 Will you drink the philter ? 
 
 Barbara 
 'Tis . . . some enchantment? 
 
 Piper 
 [mysteriously^ 
 
 'T is a love philter. 
 
122 The Piper 
 
 Barbara 
 
 Oh, tell me first — 
 
 Piper 
 
 Why, sooth, the only charm 
 In it, is Love. It is clear well-water. 
 
 Barbara 
 
 \_disappointed'\ 
 
 Only well-water ? 
 
 Piper 
 
 Love is only Love. 
 It must be philters, then ? 
 
 \_He comes down smiling and beckons to 
 Michael, who draws near^ bewildered. 
 This lady thirsts 
 For magic ! 
 
 [He ties a long green scarf that he has over 
 his shoulder y to a water-jar y and lowers it 
 down the old well ; while Barbara watches, 
 awe-struck. He continues to sing softly, ' 
 
 Mind your eyes, 
 ^ ^une your tongue; 
 
The Piper 123 
 
 Let it never be saidj 
 But sung, — but sung ! — 
 
 Michael 
 
 \jo Barbara, timidly] 
 
 I am glad at least, fair lady, 
 To think how my poor show did give you plea- 
 sure 
 That day — that day when — . 
 
 Barbara 
 
 Ah ! that day of doom ! 
 
 Michael 
 What is your will ? 
 
 Barbara 
 
 \_passionately\ 
 
 I know not ; and I care not ! 
 \_Apart'] 
 Oh, it is true. — And he a sword-eater ! 
 [The Piper hauls up the jar , full of water ^ 
 
1 24 The Piper 
 
 Piper 
 
 Michael, your cup. 
 
 [Michael gives him a drinking-horn from 
 his belt. The Piper fills it with water, 
 solemnly, and turns to Barbara, who is 
 at first defiant, then fascinated. 
 
 Maiden, your ears. So: — hearken. 
 Before you drink of this, is it your will 
 Forever to be gone from Hamelin ? 
 
 Barbara 
 I must, — I must. 
 
 Piper 
 Your mother? 
 
 Barbara 
 
 \jpiteously\ 
 
 I have no mother ; 
 Nor any father, more. He gave me up. 
 
 Piper 
 
 That did he! — For a round one thousand 
 guilders ! 
 
The Piper 125 
 
 Weep not, I say. First, loose you, heart and 
 
 shoes. 
 From Hamelin. Put off now, the dust, the 
 
 mould, 
 The cobble-stones, the little prying windows ; 
 The streets that dream o' What the Neighbors 
 
 Say. 
 Think you were never born there. Think some 
 
 Breath 
 Wakened you early — early on one morning. 
 Deep in a Garden (but you knew not whose), 
 Where voices of wild waters bubbling ran, 
 Shaking down music from glad mountain- 
 tops, — 
 Where the still peaks were burning in the dawn. 
 Like fiery snow, — down into greenest valleys. 
 That do off their blue mist only to show 
 Some deeper blue, some haunt of violets. 
 No voice you heard, nothing you felt or saw. 
 Save in your heart, the tumult of young birds, 
 A nestful of wet wings and morning-cries. 
 Throbbing for flight ! . . . 
 Then, — for your Soul, new wakened, felt athirst. 
 You turned to where that call of water led. 
 Laughing for truth, — all truth and star-like 
 laughter ! 
 
126 The Piper 
 
 Beautiful water, that will never stay, 
 But runs and laughs and sparkles in the heart, 
 And sends live laughter trickling everywhere, 
 And knows the thousand longings of the Earth ! 
 And as you drank it then, so now, drink here ; 
 \_He reaches her the horn. She has listened^ 
 motionless, like a thing bewitched, her 
 eyes fixed and wide, as if she were sleep- 
 walking. She drinks. Michael stands 
 near, also motionless. When she speaks, it 
 is in a younger voice, shy, sweet and full 
 of wonder. 
 And tell me, — tell me, you, — what happened 
 
 then ? 
 What do you see ? 
 
 Barbara 
 
 Ah! — 
 [She looks before her with wide, new eyes."] 
 
 Piper 
 Do you see — a — 
 
 Barbara 
 
 . . . Michael! 
 
The Piper 127 
 
 Piper 
 
 So ! — And a good one. And you call him ? — 
 
 Barbara 
 
 . . . Michael. 
 
 Piper 
 
 So. — 'Tisa world of wonders, by my faith! — 
 What is the fairest thing you see but — 
 
 Barbara 
 
 Michael. 
 
 Piper 
 
 And is he comely as a man should be ? 
 
 And strong ? — And wears good promise in his 
 
 eyes. 
 And keeps it with his heart and with his hands ? 
 
 \_She nods like a child~\ 
 And would you fear to go with him ? — 
 
 Barbara 
 
 No, no ! 
 Piper 
 Then reach to him that little hand of yours. 
 
128 The Piper 
 
 [Michael, wonder-struck, runs to the jar, 
 pours water upon his hand, rubs it off with 
 haste, and falls on his knees before her, tak- 
 ing her hand fearfully, 
 
 Barbara 
 \_timidly\ 
 
 And can he talk ? — 
 
 Piper 
 
 Yes, yes. — The maid's bewildered. 
 Fear nothing. Thou'rt so dumb, man ! — Yes, 
 
 yes, yes. 
 Only he kneels ; he cannot yet believe. 
 Speak roundly to him. — Will you go with him? 
 He will be gentler to you than a father: 
 He would be brothers five, and dearest friend. 
 And sweetheart, — ay, and knight and serving- 
 man ! 
 
 Barbara 
 Yes, yes, I know he will. And can he talk, too ? 
 
 Piper 
 Lady, you have bewitched him. 
 
The Pip e r 129 
 
 Michael 
 
 Oh ! dear Lady, 
 With you — with you, I dare not ope my 
 
 mouth 
 Saving to sing, or pray ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 Let it be singing ! 
 Lad, 't is a wildered maiden, with no home 
 Save only thee ; and she is more a child 
 Than yesterday. 
 
 Michael 
 
 Oh, lordly, wondrous world ! — 
 How is it, Sweet, you smile upon me now ? 
 
 Barbara 
 
 Sure I have ever smiled on thee. How not ? 
 Art thou not Michael ? — And thou lovest me. 
 And I love thee I — If I unloved thee ever, 
 It was some spell. — 
 
 \Rapturou5ly\ 
 
 But this, — ah, T^his is If 
 [Michael, on his knees ^ winds his arms 
 about her. 
 
130 The Piper 
 
 Piper 
 
 Isofi/y} 
 
 It is all true, — all true. Lad, do not doubt; 
 The golden cage is broken. 
 
 Michael 
 
 Oh ! more strange 
 Than morning dreams! I am like one new-born; 
 I am a speechless babe. — And this is she. 
 My Moon I cried for, — here, — 
 
 Piper 
 
 It is thy bride. 
 
 Michael 
 Thou wilt not fear to come with me ? 
 
 Barbara 
 
 With thee ? 
 With thee ! Ah, look! What have I more than 
 
 thee? 
 And thou art mine, tall fellow ! How comes it 
 
 now 
 Right happily that I am pranked so fair! 
 
 [She touches her fineries^ her long pearl- 
 strings^ joyously~\ 
 
The Piper 131 
 
 And all this came so near to burying; 
 This! 
 
 Michael 
 
 And this dearer gold. 
 
 [^Kissing her hair.'] 
 
 Barbara 
 
 All, all for thee! — 
 
 \_She leans over in a playful rapture and 
 binds her hair about hint] 
 Look, — I will be thy garden that we lost. 
 Yea, everywhere, — in every wilderness. 
 There shall none fright us with a flaming 
 
 sword ! 
 But I will be thy garden ! 
 
 \jrhere is the sound of a herd-bell approach- 
 ing. 
 
 Piper 
 
 See, — how the sunlight soon shall pour red 
 
 wine 
 To make your marriage-feast ! — And do you 
 
 hear 
 That faery bell? — No fear! — 'T is some white 
 
 creature. 
 
132 The Piper 
 
 Seeking her whiter lamb. — Go; find our her- 
 mit; 
 
 And he shall bless you, — as a hermit can! 
 
 And be your pledge for shelter. There's the 
 path. — 
 
 [To Michael] 
 
 Follow each other, close! 
 
 Michael 
 
 Beyond the Sun I 
 
 Piper 
 
 A golden afternoon, — and all is well ! 
 
 [He gives Michael bis cloak to wrap 
 round Barbara. They go^ hand in hand, 
 up into the hills. The herd-bell sounds 
 softly. — The Piper cocks his head like 
 a squirrel^ and listens with delight. He 
 watches the two till they disappear ; then 
 comes down joyously. 
 
 Piper 
 
 If you can only catch them while they 're young ! 
 
 \The herd-bell sounds nearer. He lets down 
 
 a water-jar into the well again. The 
 
The Piper 133 
 
 nearness of the bell startles him. He be- 
 comes watchful as a wild creature. It 
 sounds nearer and nearer. A woman s voice 
 calls like the wind: ' Jan ! Jan ! ' — 
 'The Piper, tense and cautious^ moves softly 
 down into the shrubbery by the well, 
 
 Veronika's voice 
 Jan! 
 
 Piper 
 Hist! Who dared? 
 
 Veronika's voice 
 
 ... Jan ! — 
 
 Piper 
 
 Who dared, I say? 
 A woman. — 'T is a woman ! 
 
 \_Enter Veronika, on the road from Hame- 
 lin. She is very pale and worn, and drags 
 herself along, clutching in her hand a 
 herd-bell. She looks about her, holds up 
 the bell and shakes it once softly, covering 
 it with her fingers again ; then she sits 
 wearily down at the foot of the ruined 
 
134 The Piper 
 
 shrine^ and covers her face^ with a sharp 
 breath. 
 
 Veronika • 
 
 . . . Ah, — ah, — ah! 
 \^he Piper watches with breathless wonder 
 and fascination. It seems to horrify him. 
 
 Piper 
 
 \under breath'] 
 That woman ! 
 
 [Veronika lifts her head suddenly and sees 
 the motion of the bushes. 
 
 Veronika 
 
 He is coming ! — He is here ! 
 \_She darts towards the well. — 'The Piper 
 springs up. 
 
 Oh, God of Mercy! ... It is only you! 
 Where is he ? — Where ? — Where are you hid- 
 ing him ? 
 
 Piper 
 
 \_confusedly~\ 
 
 Woman . . . what do you, wandering, with that 
 
 bell? 
 That herd-bell? 
 
The Piper 135 
 
 Veronika 
 
 Oh ! are you man or cloud ? . . . Where is my 
 
 Jan ? 
 Jan, — Jan, — the little lame one ! He is mine. 
 He lives, I know he lives. I know — yes, yes, 
 You 've hidden him. I will be patient. — Yes. 
 
 Piper 
 Surely he lives ! 
 
 Veronika 
 
 — Lives ! will you swear it ? Ah, — 
 I will believe ! But he ... is not so strong 
 As all the others. 
 
 Piper 
 [aparf~\ 
 
 Aie, how horrible ! 
 [5^0 her"] 
 Sit you down here. You cannot go away 
 While you are yet so pale. Why are you thus? 
 [She looks at him distractedly^ 
 
 Veronika 
 You, who have torn the hearts out of our bodies 
 
136 The Piper 
 
 And left the city like a place of graves, — 
 Why am I spent ? — Ah, ah ! — But he 's alive ! 
 Yes, yes, he 's living. 
 
 Piper 
 
 Oh, how horrible ! 
 Why should he not be living ? — What am I ? 
 
 Veronika 
 I do not know. 
 
 Piper 
 Do you take me for the Devil ? 
 
 Veronika 
 I do not know. 
 
 Piper 
 Yet you were not afraid ? 
 
 Veronika 
 What is there now to fear ? 
 
 Piper 
 
 [^waubing ber] 
 
 Where are the townsfolk ? 
 
The Piper 137 
 
 Veronika 
 They are all gone to Rudershelm . . . 
 
 Piper 
 
 [sti/I watchfur\ 
 
 How so? 
 
 Veronika 
 
 Where, for a penance, Barbara, Jacob's daugh- 
 ter. 
 Will take the veil. His one, for all of ours ! 
 It will be over now. 
 
 Piper 
 Have none returned ? 
 
 Veronika 
 I know not ; I am searching, since the dawn. 
 
 Piper 
 
 To-day ? 
 
 Veronika 
 And every day. 
 
138 The Piper 
 
 Piper 
 
 That herd-bell, there — 
 Why do you bring it? 
 
 Veronika 
 
 Oh, he loves them so. 
 I knew, if he but heard it, he would follow — 
 
 Piper 
 No more. 1 know ! 
 
 Veronika 
 
 An if he could ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 \_Iike a wounded antmal~\ 
 
 You hurt me 
 Somewhere, — you hurt me! 
 
 Veronika 
 
 You ! — A man of air ? 
 
 Piper 
 What, am I that ? 
 
The Piper 139 
 
 Veronika 
 
 What are you ? — Give them back ! 
 Give them to me, I say. You have them hidden. 
 Are they all living ? 
 
 Piper 
 
 [struggling with pity~\ 
 
 Yes, yes. 
 
 Veronika 
 
 Give them back ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 No. 
 
 Veronika 
 But they live, they live ? 
 
 Piper 
 — Wilt thou believe me ? 
 
 Veronika 
 And are they safe? 
 
140 The Piper 
 
 Piper 
 Yes. 
 
 Veronika 
 
 And you hide them ? 
 
 Piper 
 
 Yes. 
 
 Veronika 
 
 And are they . . . warm ? 
 
 Piper 
 
 — Yes. 
 
 Veronika 
 
 Are they happy? — Oh, 
 That cannot be! — But do they laugh, some- 
 times ? 
 
 Piper 
 Yes. 
 
 Veronika 
 
 — Then you'll give them back again! 
 
HE Piper 
 
 141 
 
 Piper 
 
 
 
 No, never. 
 
 Veronika 
 \_Halfto hers elf y distraught between suspense 
 and hope'] 
 I must be patient. 
 
 Piper 
 
 Woman, they all are mine. 
 I hold them in my hands ; they bide with me. 
 What 's breath and blood, — what are the hearts 
 
 of children. 
 To Hamelin, — while it heaps its money-bags? 
 
 Veronika 
 
 You cared not for the money. 
 
 Piper 
 
 No? — You seem 
 A foreign woman, — come from very far, 
 That you should know. 
 
 Veronika 
 
 I know. I was not born 
 There. But you wrong them. There were yet 
 a few 
 
142 The Piper 
 
 Who would have dealt with you more honestly 
 Than this Jacobus, or — 
 
 Piper 
 
 Or Kurt the Syndic! 
 Believe it not. Those two be tongue and brain 
 For the whole town ! I know them. And that 
 
 town 
 Stands as the will of other towns, a score, 
 That make us wandering poor the things we are! 
 It stands for all, unto the end of time. 
 That turns this bright world black and the Sun 
 
 cold, 
 With hate, and hoarding; — all-triumphant 
 
 Greed 
 That spreads above the roots of all despair. 
 And misery, and rotting of the soul ! 
 Now shall they learn — if money-bags can 
 
 learn — 
 What turns the bright world black, and the Sun 
 
 cold ; 
 And what 's that creature that they call a child ! — 
 And what this winged thing men name a heart 
 Beating queer rhythms that they long to kill. — 
 What is this hunger and this thirst to sing. 
 To laugh, to fight, — to hope, to be believed? 
 
The Piper 143 
 
 And what is truth ? And who did make the stars ? 
 
 I have to pay for fifty thousand hates, 
 Greeds, cruelties ; such barbarous tortured days 
 A tiger would disdain ; — for all my kind ! 
 Not my one mother, not my own of kin, — 
 All, all, who wear the motley in the heart 
 Or on the body : — for all caged glories 
 And trodden wings, and sorrows laughed to 
 
 scorn. 
 I, — I! — At last. 
 
 Veronika 
 
 Ah, me ! How can I say: 
 Yet make them happier than they let you be? 
 
 Piper 
 
 Woman, you could ! — They know not how to be 
 Happy! They turn to darkness and to woe 
 All that is made for joy. They deal with men 
 As, far across the mountains, in the south. 
 Men trap a singing thrush, put out his eyes, — 
 And cage him up and bid him then to sing — 
 Sing before God that made him, — yes, to sing ! 
 
 I save the children. — Yes, I save them, so, 
 
144 The Piper 
 
 Save them forever, who shall save the world ! — 
 Yes, even Hamelln. — 
 
 But for only you. 
 What do they know of Children ? — Pfui, their 
 
 own I 
 Who knows a treasure, when It Is his own ? 
 Do they not whine : * Five mouths around the 
 
 table ; 
 And a poor harvest. And now comes one morel 
 God chastens usV — Pfui ! — 
 
 Veronika 
 
 \_apart, dully] 
 
 . . . But I must be patient. 
 
 Piper 
 
 You know, you know, that not one dared, save 
 
 you,— 
 Dared all alone, to search this devil's haunt. 
 
 Veronika 
 They would have died — 
 
 Piper 
 
 But never risked their souls ! 
 That knew I also. 
 
The Piper 145 
 
 Veronika 
 Ah! 
 
 Piper 
 
 * Young faces,' sooth, 
 The old ones prate of ! — Bah, what is 't they 
 
 want? 
 * Some one to work for me, when I am old ; 
 Some one to follow me unto my grave ; 
 Some one — for me ! ' Yes, yes. There is not 
 
 one 
 Old huddler-by-the-fire would shift his seat 
 To a cold corner, if it might bring back 
 All of the Children in one shower of light ! 
 
 Veronika 
 The old, ah, yes ! But not — 
 
 Piper 
 
 The younger men ? 
 Aha ! Their pride to keep the name alive ; 
 The name, the name, the little Hamelin name. 
 Tied to the trade ; — carved plain upon his 
 gravestone ! 
 
146 The Piper 
 
 Wonderful ! If your name must chain you, live. 
 To your gaol of a house, your trade you love 
 
 not, — why, 
 Best go without a name, like me ! — How now? 
 "Woman, — you suffer? 
 
 Veronika 
 
 Ah, yet could I laugh, 
 Piper, yet could I laugh, for one true word, — 
 But not of all men. 
 
 Piper 
 
 Then of whom ? 
 
 Veronika 
 
 Of Kurt, 
 
 Piper 
 
 Bah, Kurt the Councillor! a man to curse. 
 
 Veronika 
 He is my husband. 
 
 Piper 
 
 [shortly] 
 
 Thine ? I knew it not. 
 
The Piper 147 
 
 Thine? But it cannot be. He could not father 
 That Httle Jan, — that little shipwrecked Star. 
 
 Veronika 
 Oh, then you love him ? You will give him back? 
 
 Piper 
 The son of Kurt ? 
 
 Veronika 
 
 No, not his son ! No, no. 
 He is all mine, all mine. Kurt's sons are straight, 
 And ruddy, like Kurt's wife of Hamelin there. 
 Who died before. 
 
 Piper 
 
 And you were wed . . . 
 
 Veronika 
 
 So young. 
 It is all like some dream before the sunrise, 
 That left me but that little shipwrecked Star. 
 
 Piper 
 
 Why did you marry Kurt the Councillor? 
 
148 T H E P I P E R 
 
 Veronika 
 
 He wanted me. Once I was beautiful. 
 
 Piper 
 
 [wondering ly] 
 
 What, more than now ? 
 
 Veronika 
 Mock if you will. 
 
 Piper 
 
 I mock you ! 
 
 Woman, , . . you are very beautiful. 
 
 Veronika 
 
 1 meant, with my poor self, to buy him house 
 And warmth, and softness for his little feet. 
 Oh, then I knew not, — when we sell our hearts, 
 We buy us nothing. 
 
 Piper 
 
 Now you know. 
 
The Piper 149 
 
 Veronika 
 
 I know. 
 His dearest home it was, to keep my heart 
 Alone and beautiful, and clear and still ; 
 And to keep all the gladness in my heart, 
 That bubbled from nowhere ! — for him to 
 
 drink; — 
 And to be houseless of all other things. 
 Even as the Lonely Man. 
 
 [T'he Piper starts'] 
 
 Where is the child? 
 
 Piper 
 
 No; that I will not tell. Only thus much: 
 I love thy child. Trust me, — I love them, all. 
 They are the brightest miracle I know. 
 Wherever I go, I search the eyes of men 
 To find such clearness ; — and it is not there. 
 Lies, greed and cruelty, and dreadful dark ! 
 And all that makes Him sad these thousand 
 
 years. 
 And keeps His forehead bleeding. — Ah, you 
 
 know ! 
 
 Veronika 
 
 Whom do you think on ? 
 
150 The Piper 
 
 Piper 
 
 Why, the Lonely Man. — 
 But now I have the children safe with me; 
 And men shall never teach them what men 
 
 know ; — 
 Those radiant things that have no wish at all 
 Save for what is all-beautiful ! — the Rainbow, 
 The running Water, and the Moon, the Moon ! 
 The only things worth having ! 
 
 Veronika 
 
 — Oh, you will not 
 Give him to me ? 
 
 Piper 
 
 How give you yours again, 
 And not the others ? What a life for him ! 
 
 \_She hides her face~\ 
 And Kurt the Syndic, left without his sons ? 
 Bah, do not dream of it ! What would Kurt 
 
 do? — 
 And hearken here ! Should any hunt me down, 
 Take care. Who then could bring the children 
 back ? 
 
 Veronika 
 Jan! Jan! 
 
The Piper 151 
 
 Piper 
 He loves me. He is happy. 
 
 Veronika 
 \_pas3i0nately ] 
 
 No! 
 Without me ? — No. 
 
 Piper 
 
 He has not even once 
 Called you. 
 
 Veronika 
 [staggering] 
 
 Ah, ah ! how cruel ! 'T is the spell, 
 The spell. 
 
 Piper 
 
 [touching bis heart] 
 
 ■ — You hurt me, here. What makes it, 
 
 Woman ? — 
 Would you not have him happy ^ 
 
 Veronika 
 
 O my God ! 
 
152 The Piper 
 
 Piper 
 
 \offering her water] 
 
 Drink here. Take heart. O Woman, they must 
 
 stay! 
 'T is better so. No, no, I mock thee not. 
 Thou foldest all about me like the Dark 
 That holds the stars. I would I were thy child. 
 
 Veronika 
 But I will find him. I will find him — 
 
 Piper 
 
 No, 
 It must not be ! Their life is bound with mine. 
 If I be harmed, they perish. Keep that word. 
 Go, go ! 
 
 Veronika 
 [^passionately'] 
 
 My longing will bring back my Own. 
 
 Piper 
 Ah, long not so. 
 
The Piper 153 
 
 Veronika 
 
 Yes, it will bring him back ! 
 He breathes. And I will wish him home to me. 
 Till my heart break ! 
 
 , Piper 
 
 Hearts never break in Hamelin. 
 Go, then; and teach those other ones to long; 
 Wake up those dead ! 
 
 Veronika 
 Peace. I shall draw him home. 
 
 Piper 
 Not till he cries for thee. 
 
 Veronika 
 
 Oh, that will be 
 Soon, — soon. 
 
 Piper 
 
 Igentfy'] 
 
 Remember, — if one word of thine 
 Set on the hounds to track me down and slay me. 
 
154 The Piper 
 
 They will be lost forever; they would die, — 
 They, who are in my keeping. 
 
 Veronika 
 
 Yea, I hear. 
 But he will come . . . oh, he will come to me. 
 Soon, — soon. 
 
 [She goes, haltinglyy and disappears along 
 the road to Hamelin. — The Piper, alone, 
 stands spell-bound, breathing hard, and 
 looking after her. 'Then he turns his head 
 and comes down, doggedly. Again he 
 pauses. With a sudden sharp effort he 
 turns, and crosses with passionate appeal 
 to the shrine, his arm uplifted towards 
 the carven Christ as if he warded off some 
 accusation. His speech comes in a torrent. 
 
 Piper 
 
 I will not, no, I will not. Lonely Man ! 
 I have them in my hand. I have them all — 
 All — all ! And I have lived unto this day. 
 You understand . . . 
 
 \He waits as if for some reply"] 
 
 You know what men they are. 
 And what have they to do with such as these ? 
 
The Piper 155 
 
 Think of those old as death, in body and heart, 
 Huorging their wretched hoardings, in cold fear 
 Of moth and rust ! — While these miraculous 
 
 ones, 
 Like golden creatures made of sunset-cloud, 
 Go out forever, — every day, fade by 
 With music and wild stars ! — Ah, but You 
 
 know. 
 The hermit told me once, You loved them, too. 
 But I know more than he, how You must love 
 
 them : 
 Their laughter, and their bubbling, skylark 
 
 words 
 To cool Your heart. Oh, listen. Lonely Man ! — 
 
 Oh, let me keep them ! I will bring them to You, 
 Still nights, and breathless mornings ; they shall 
 
 touch 
 Your hands and feet with all their swarming 
 
 hands, 
 Like showering petals warm on furrowed 
 
 ground, — 
 All sweetness! They will make Thee whole 
 
 again. 
 With love. Thou wilt look up and smile on us! 
 
156 The Piper 
 
 Why not? I know — the half — You will be 
 saying. 
 
 You will be thinking of Your Mother. — Ah, 
 
 But she was different. She was not as they. 
 
 She was more like . . . this one, the wife of 
 Kurt! 
 
 Of Kurt I No, no; ask me not this, not this ! 
 
 Here is some dawn of day for Hamelin, — 
 now ! 
 
 'T is hearts of men You want. Not mumbled 
 prayers ; 
 
 Not greed and carven tombs, not misers' candles ; 
 
 No offerings, more, from men that feed on 
 men; 
 
 Eternal psalms and endless cruelties ! . . . 
 
 Even from now, there may be hearts in Ham- 
 elin, 
 
 Once stabbed awake! 
 
 \_He pleads, defends, excuses passionately ; be- 
 fore his will gives way, as the arrow flies 
 from the bow-string. ~\ 
 
 — / will not give them back ! 
 
 And Jan, — for Jan, that little one, that dearest 
 
 To Thee and me, hark, — he is wonderful. 
 
 Ask it not of me. Thou dost know I cannot I 
 
The Piper 157 
 
 Look, Lonely Man ! You shall have all of us 
 To wander the world over, where You stand 
 At all the crossways, and on lonely hills, — 
 Outside the churches, where the lost ones 
 
 go ! — 
 And the wayfaring men, and thieves and wolves 
 And lonely creatures, and the ones that sing! 
 We will show all men what we hear and see ; 
 And we will make Thee lift Thy head, and 
 
 smile. 
 
 No, no, I cannot give them all ! No, no. — 
 Why wilt Thou ask it ? — Let me keep but one. 
 No, no, I will not. . . . , . 
 
 , . . . Have 'Thy way. — I will! 
 
 Curtain 
 
Act IV 
 
Act IV 
 
 Scene : Hamelin market-place. 
 
 It is early morning; so dark that only a bleak 
 twilight glimmers in the square ; the little 
 streets are dim. Everywhere gloom and still- 
 ness. In the house of Kurt, beside the Min- 
 ster^ there is one window-light behind a cur- 
 tain in the second story. At the casements^ 
 down right and left, sit Old Claus and 
 Old Ursula, wan and motionless as the 
 dead. 
 
 The church-bell, which likewise seems to have 
 aged, croaks softly, twice. Peter the Sacris- 
 tan stands by the bell-rope. 
 
 Old Ursula 
 
 NO, no. They '11 never come. I told 
 ye so. 
 They all are gone. There will be no- 
 thing young 
 To follow us to the grave. 
 
i62 The Piper 
 
 Old Claus 
 
 No, no, — not one! 
 [The Minster-door opens^ and out come cer- 
 tain of the townsfolk from early mass. 
 They look unnaturally old and colorless. 
 Their steps lag drearily. — Hans the 
 Butcher and his wife; Axel the Smith 
 with his wife, and Peter the Cobbler y 
 meet, on their way to the little street , left, 
 and greet one another with painstaking, 
 stricken kindness. They speak in broken 
 voices. 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 Well, well — 
 
 Axel the Smith 
 
 God knows ! 
 
 [The bell sounds~\ 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 
 Neighbor, how fare your knees? 
 [Axel smooths his right leg and gives a jerk 
 of pain. They all move stiffly. 
 
The Piper 163 
 
 Axel the Smith 
 I*m a changed man. 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 
 Peter the Sacristan, 
 Give by the bell ! It tolls hke — Oh, well, well! 
 
 Axel the Smith 
 It does no good, it does no good at all. 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 
 Rather, I do believe it mads the demons ; 
 And I have given much thought — 
 
 Axel the Smith 
 
 Over thy shoes ! 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 [modestly^ 
 To demons. 
 
 Axel's Wife 
 
 Let him chirp philosophy! 
 He had no children. 
 
164 The Piper 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 Ij^aggi^g his head solemnly^ 
 
 I 'm an altered man. 
 Now were we not proceeding soberly, 
 Singing a godly hymn, and all in tune. 
 But yesterday, when we passed by — 
 
 Hans' Wife 
 
 Don't say it! 
 
 Don't name the curseful place. 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 
 — And my poor head. 
 It goes round yet; — around, around, around. 
 As I were new ashore from the high seas; 
 Still dancing — dancing — 
 
 Axel the Smith 
 With ' Yes — y es ! — Yes — yes ! ' 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 
 Even as ye heard, the farmer's yokel found me 
 Clasping a tree, and praying to stand still ! 
 
The Piper 165 
 
 Axel the Smith 
 Ay, ay, — but that is nought. 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 
 All nought beside. 
 
 Hans' Wife 
 
 Better we had the rats and mice again. 
 Though they did eat us homeless, — if we 
 
 might 
 All starve together ! — Oh, my Hans, my 
 
 Hans! 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 
 Hope not, good souls. Rest sure, they will not 
 come. 
 
 Axel's Wife 
 
 Who will say that ? 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 \_discreetly'\ 
 
 Not I ; but the Inscription. 
 \_He points to the Rathaus wall^ 
 
i66 The Piper 
 
 Axel the Smith 
 Of our own making? 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 
 On the Rathaus wall! 
 At our own bidding it was made and graved : — 
 How, — on that day and down this very street. 
 He led them, — he, the WonderfuUy-clothed, 
 The Strange Man, with his piping; 
 \J['hey cross themsehes~\ 
 
 And they went, — 
 And never came again. 
 
 Hans* Wife 
 
 But they may come ! 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 \jityingly] 
 
 Marble is final, woman ; — nay, poor soul ! 
 When once a man be buried, and over him 
 The stone doth say Hie Jacet, or Here Lies, 
 When did that man get up? — There is the 
 
 stone. 
 They come no more, for piping or for prayer ; 
 Until the trump of the Lord Gabriel. 
 
The Piper 167 
 
 And if they came, 't is not in Hamelin men 
 To alter any stone, so graven. — Marble 
 Is final. Marble has the last word, ever. 
 \Groans from the burgher s.~\ 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 
 O little Use ! — Oh ! and Lump — poor Lump ! 
 
 More than a dog could bear! — More than a 
 dog — 
 ' [They all break down. The Shoemaker con- 
 soles them. 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 
 Bear up, sweet neighbors. — We are all but 
 dust. 
 
 No mice, no children. — Hem ! And now Ja- 
 cobus, — 
 
 His child, not even safe with Holy Church, 
 
 But lost and God knows where ! 
 
 Axel's Wife 
 
 Bewitched, — bewitched ! 
 \_Hans and his wife, arm in arm, turn left, 
 towards their house, peering ahead. 
 
i68 The Piper 
 
 Hans' Wife 
 
 Kind saints ! Me out and gone to early mass, 
 And all this mortal church-time, there 's a 
 
 candle, 
 A candle burning in the casement there ; — 
 Thou wasteful man ! 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 [huskily] 
 
 Come, come ! Do not be chiding. 
 Suppose they came and could not see their 
 
 way. 
 Suppose — Owife! — I thought they 'd love the 
 
 light ! 
 I thought — 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 
 Ay, now ! And there 's another light 
 In Kurt the Syndic's house. 
 
 [They turn and look up. Other burghers join 
 the group. All walk lamely and look the 
 picture of wretchedness. 
 
 Axel's Wife 
 
 His wife, poor thing. 
 
The Piper 169 
 
 The priest is with her. Ay, for once, they say, 
 
 Kurt's bark is broken. 
 
 Old Ursula 
 
 There will be nothing young 
 To follow us to the grave. 
 
 Axel's Wife 
 
 They tell, she seems 
 Sore stricken since the day that she was lost, 
 Lost, searching on the mountain. Since that 
 
 time, 
 She will be saying nought. She stares and smiles. 
 
 Hans' Wife 
 And reaches out her arms, — poor soul ! 
 
 All 
 
 Poor soul ! 
 [^Murmur in the distance. 'They do not 
 heed it. 
 
 Axel the Smith 
 [To the Butcher] 
 
 That was no foolish thought of thine, yon 
 candle. 
 
lyo The Piper 
 
 1 do remember now as I look back, 
 They always loved the lights. My Rudi there 
 Would aye be meddling with my tinder-box. 
 And once I — Oh! — 
 
 [Choking] 
 
 Axel's Wife 
 
 [soothingly] 
 
 Now, now! thou didst not hurt him! 
 'Twas I! Oh, once — I shut him in the dark ! 
 
 Axel the Smith 
 Come home . . . and light the candles. 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 
 In the day-time ! 
 
 Axel's Wife 
 Oh, it is dark enough ! 
 
 Axel the Smith 
 
 Lord knows, who made 
 Both night and day, one of 'em needs to shine ! 
 But nothing does ! — Nothing is daylight now. 
 Come, wife, we '11 light the candles. 
 
 [Exit with his wife. 
 
The Piper 171 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 
 He 's a changed man. 
 
 Peter the Sacristan 
 
 God help us, what 's to do ? 
 
 [Tumult approaching. Shouts of * Jacobus ' 
 and ^ Barbara.^ 
 
 Hark! 
 
 Hans' Wife 
 
 Neighbors ! 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 
 Hark! Hark! 
 [Axel and his wife reenter hastily ; Axel 
 rushes toward the noise. 
 
 Axel's Wife 
 Oh, I hear something ! Can it be — 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 
 They 're shouting. 
 
172 The Piper 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 
 My Iambs, — my lambs ! 
 
 [Axel reenters, crestfalien\ 
 
 Axel the Smith 
 
 'Tis naught — but Barbara! 
 His — his! 
 
 [Shaking his fist at the house of Jacobus,'\ 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 
 \_calling\ 
 
 Jacobus ! 
 [The others are stricken with disappoint- 
 ment, 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 
 Wife, — 't is none of ours. 
 
 Axel the Smith 
 
 Let him snore on ! — The only man would 
 
 rather 
 Sleep late than meet his only child again ! 
 
The Piper 173 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 [deprecatingly\ 
 
 No man may parley with the gifts of Fortune ! 
 
 \_Knocking on the door] 
 Jacobus ! 
 
 \_Enter^ at the rear, with a straggling crowd, 
 Barbara and Michael, both radiant and 
 resolute. She wears the long green cloak 
 over her bridal array. 
 
 Jacobus appears in his doorway, night- 
 capped and fur-gowned, shrinking from 
 the hostile crowd. The people murmur. 
 
 Crowd 
 
 Barbara ! — She that was bewitched! 
 And who's the man? Is it the Piper? No! 
 No, no — some stranger. Barbara! Barbara's 
 
 home ; — 
 ^ He never gave her up ! — Who is the man ? 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 My daughter! 'T is my daughter, — found — 
 
 restored ! 
 Oh, heaven is with us! 
 
174 The Piper 
 
 All 
 
 \juUenly~\ 
 
 Ah! 
 
 Jacobus 
 Child, where have you been ? 
 
 All 
 
 Ay, where, Jacobus? 
 
 \He is dismayed.'\ 
 
 Jacobus 
 Who is this man ? — Come hither. 
 
 Barbara 
 
 [without approaching him^ lifting her face clearly] 
 
 Good-morning to you, father ! We are wed. 
 Michael, — shall I go hither? 
 
 [T^he townsfolk are amaxed7\ 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 She Is mad ! 
 She is quite mad, — my treasure. 
 
The Piper 175 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 
 Let her speak. 
 Maids sometimes marry, even in Hamelin. 
 
 All 
 Ay, tell us! 
 Who is he? Barbara? 
 . Art thou mad? — How came ye hither? 
 
 Jacobus 
 Who is he? 
 
 Barbara 
 
 Michael. 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 
 'T is the Sword-Eater! 
 A friend o' the Piper's! — Hearken — 
 
 All 
 
 She's bewitched! 
 
 Hans' Wife 
 
 This is the girl was vowed to Holy Church, 
 For us and for our children that are lost! 
 
176 The Piper 
 
 Barbara 
 
 Ay, and did any have a mind to me. 
 
 When I was lost ? Left dancing, and distraught ? 
 
 All 
 
 We could not. We were spell-bound. Nay, 
 we could not. 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 [sagely^ after the others] 
 
 We could not. 
 
 Barbara 
 
 So ! — But there was one who could. 
 There was one man. And this is he. 
 [Turning to Michael~\ 
 
 And I, 
 I am no more your Barbara, — I am his. 
 And I will go with him, over the world. 
 I come to say farewell. 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 He hath bewitched her! 
 
The Piper 177 
 
 Michael 
 
 Why did we ever come ? Poor darling one, 
 Thy too-much duty hath us in a trap I 
 
 Axel the Smith 
 No, no ! — Fair play ! 
 
 Others 
 Don't let them go ! We have them. 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 
 Hold what ye have. Be 't children, rats or mice ! 
 \Hubbub without^ and shouts. Some of the 
 burghers hasten out after this fresh excite- 
 ment. Jacobus is cowed. Barbara and 
 Michael are startled. 'The shouts turn 
 savage. The uproar grows. Shouts of 
 * Ay, there he is! We have him I We 
 have him ! Help — help ! Hold fast ( 
 Ah! Piper! Piper! Piper!' 
 
 How now? What all! — 
 
 [The crowd parts to admit the Piper, haled 
 hither with shouts and pelting, by Martin 
 the Watch and other men, all breathless. 
 His eyes burn. 
 
178 The Piper 
 
 Michael 
 
 Save us ! — They have him. 
 
 Martin 
 [gaspingly] 
 
 Help! 
 Mark ye — I caught him! — Help, — and hold 
 him fast! 
 
 Piper 
 I came here, — frog ! 
 
 Martin 
 
 Ay, he were coming on ; 
 And after him a squirrel, hopping close! 
 
 Second Man 
 
 As no man ever saw a squirrel hop — 
 
 Near any man from Hamelin ! And I looked^ 
 
 Martin 
 
 And it was he ; and all we rush upon him — 
 And take him ! 
 
The Piper 179 
 
 Piper 
 Loose thy claws, I tell thee ! — 
 
 All 
 
 r 'Ware ! 
 Mercy ! 
 Let him go ! 
 
 Voice from Crowd 
 I have the squirrel ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 [savage/y'] 
 
 Let the squirrel go ! 
 Or you shall rue it. — Loose him ! He's not 
 
 mine. 
 [//(? sees Barbara and Michael for the 
 first time and recoils with amazement. 
 Barbara steps towards him. 
 
 Barbara 
 
 Oh, let him go, — let be. His heart is clear. 
 As water from the well ! 
 
 \fthe Piper gazes at her, open-mouthed.'] 
 
i8o The Piper 
 
 All 
 
 She talks in her sleep ! 
 The maid 's bewitched ! 
 . Now, will ye hear? 
 
 Axel's Wife 
 
 He piped and made thee dance ! 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 
 'T was he bewitched us ! 
 
 Barbara 
 \serenely~\ 
 
 Whatever was, — it was for love of me. 
 
 Piper 
 
 [thunderstruck^ 
 So! 
 
 Barbara 
 
 He piped; — and all ye danced and fled away! 
 He piped ; — and brought me back my wander- 
 ing wits, 
 And gave me safe unto my Love again, — 
 My Love I had forgotten. . . . 
 
The Piper i8i 
 
 Piper 
 
 So! 
 
 Michael 
 
 [wiih conviction] 
 
 Truly said. 
 
 Barbara 
 
 l^proud/y'] 
 
 Michael. 
 
 Jacobus 
 
 Who is he, pray ? 
 
 Barbara 
 My own true love. 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 
 Now, is that all his name ? 
 
 Barbara 
 It is enough. 
 
 Jacobus 
 — She 's mad. Shall these things be? 
 
i82 The Piper 
 
 All 
 
 The Children ! The Children ! 
 "s Where are the Children ? 
 .Piper! Piper! Piper! 
 
 Piper 
 
 [sternly] 
 
 Quiet you. And hear me. 
 I came to bring good tidings. In good faith, 
 Of mine own will, I came. — And like a thief 
 You haled me hither. — 
 
 [They hang upon his words'] 
 
 . . . Your children — live. 
 
 All 
 
 Thank God ! I knew, I knew ! 
 We could not think them lost. 
 Bewitched ! Oh, but they live ! — 
 Piper!— O Piper! 
 
 Peter the Cobbler 
 They're spell-bound, — mark me! 
 
The Piper 183 
 
 Piper 
 
 Ay, they are, — spell-bound : 
 Fast bound by all the hardness of your hearts; 
 Caged, — in the iron of your money-lust — 
 
 { 
 
 All 
 
 No, no, not all! Not I ! Not mine, not mine! 
 No, no, — it is not true. 
 
 Piper 
 
 Your blasphemies, — your cunning and your 
 Fear. 
 
 All 
 
 No, no ! — What can we do ? 
 < News, Piper, news! 
 .Where are your tidings. Piper? 
 
 Piper 
 
 Now hear me. You did make Jacobus swear 
 To give his child. — What recks it, how he lose 
 
 her? — 
 Either to Holy Church — against her will! — 
 Or to this man, — so that he give her up! 
 
184 The Piper 
 
 He swore to you. And she hath pledged her 
 
 faith. 
 She is fast wed. — Jacobus shall not have her. 
 He breaks all bargains ; and for such as he. 
 You suffer. — Will you bear it ? 
 
 All 
 
 No, no, no ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 Then she who was " Proud Barbara " doth wed 
 Michael-the-Sword-Eater. — The pledge shall 
 
 stand. 
 Shall it? 
 
 All 
 
 f It stands. 
 I Ay, ay ! 
 
 Piper 
 Your word ! 
 
 { 
 
 All 
 
 We swear. We answer for him. 
 So much for Jacobus ! 
 
The Piper 185 
 
 Axel the Smith 
 
 An' if yon fellow like an honest trade, 
 I '11 take him ! — I '11 make swords ! 
 [Cheers. Michael is happy. "] 
 
 All 
 
 Quick, quick ! — Our children. — Piper ! — Tell 
 
 us all ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 'T is well begun. — Now have I come to say : 
 There is one child I may bring back to 
 
 you, — 
 The first. 
 
 All 
 
 [in an uproar^ 
 
 " Mine — mine ! Let it be mine ! 
 Ours ! — All of them ! Now ! 
 Mine — mine — mine ! — mine I 
 
 Piper 
 [unmoved'\ 
 
 — Oh, Hamelin to the end 1 
 
1 86 The Piper 
 
 Which of you longed the most, and dared the 
 
 most? 
 Which of you — 
 
 \_He searches the crowd anxiously with his 
 eyes.'] 
 
 All 
 
 I! I! I! 
 
 We searched the hills ! 
 We prayed four days ! 
 We fasted twenty hours — 
 Mine! Mine! 
 ^ Mine — mine — mine — mine 1 
 
 Piper 
 
 Not yet. — They all do live 
 Under a spell, — deep in a hollow hill. 
 They sleep, and wake; and lead a charmed 
 
 life. 
 But first of all, — one child shall come again. 
 
 [He scans the crowd still~\ 
 Where is the wife — of Kurt, the Councillor? 
 
 All 
 
 [savagely] 
 
 Noy minCy minCy mine ! 
 
The Piper 187 
 
 Martin's Wife 
 
 What, that lame boy of hers? 
 
 Piper 
 Where is the wife of Kurt ? 
 
 Peter the Cobbler and Others 
 
 — Veronika? 
 The foreign woman ? She is lying ill : 
 Sore-stricken yonder — 
 
 \_Pointing to the house.'] 
 
 Piper 
 
 Igladly] 
 
 Bid her come, look out ! 
 [The crowd moves confusedly towards Kurt's 
 house. The Piper too approaches^ calling] 
 Ho, — ho, within there ! 
 
 [Anselm, the priest y appears in the doorway 
 with uplifted hand^ commanding silence. 
 He is pale and stern. At sight of his face 
 the ^iP^K falters. 
 
 Anselm 
 Silence here ! — Good people, 
 
 What means this ? 
 
1 88 The Piper 
 
 Piper 
 
 I have tidings for — the wife 
 Of Kurt — the Councillor. 
 
 Anselm 
 
 You are too late. 
 
 Piper 
 Bid her — look out ! 
 
 Anselm 
 \jolemnly\ 
 
 Her soul is passing, now. 
 
 \frhe Piper falls back stricken and speech- 
 less. — 'The crowdy seeing him humanly 
 overwhelmed^ grows brave. 
 
 Martin's Wife 
 *T is he has done it ! 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 
 — Nay, it is God's will. 
 Poor soul ! 
 
The Piper 189 
 
 Peter the Sacristan 
 \_fearfully] 
 
 Don't anger him ! 'T was Kurt the Syndic 
 With his bad bargain. 
 
 Axel the Smith 
 
 Do not cross the Piper ! 
 
 Martin 
 
 Nay, but he 's spent. He 's nought to fear. — 
 
 Look there. 
 Mark how he breathes ! Upon him ! Help, 
 
 help, ho ! — 
 Thou piping knave ! 
 
 Others 
 
 Tie — chain him ! — Kill him ! — Kill him ! 
 [They surround him. He thrusts them off^ 
 
 Peter the Cobbler and Others 
 
 Bind him, but do not kill him ! — Oh, be- 
 ware! 
 , What is he saying ? — Peace. 
 
iQO The Piper 
 
 Piper 
 
 [brokenly] 
 
 The wife of Kurt ! 
 Off! what can you do? — Oh ! I came, I came 
 Here, full of peace, and with a heart of love ; — 
 To give — but now that one live Soul of all 
 Is gone ! — No, no ! 
 
 — / say she shall not die! 
 She shall not ! 
 
 Anselm 
 
 Hush ! — She is in the hands of God. 
 She is at peace. 
 
 Piper 
 
 No, never ! Let me by ! 
 [Anselm bars the threshold and steps out.'] 
 
 Anselm 
 
 Thou froward fool! ■ — Wouldst rend with tears 
 
 again 
 That shriven breath? And drag her back to 
 
 sorrow ? 
 It is the will of God. 
 
The Piper 191 
 
 Piper 
 — And I say No ! 
 
 Anselm 
 Who dare dispute — 
 
 Piper 
 I dare ! 
 
 Anselm 
 
 With death ? — With God ? 
 
 Piper 
 
 I know His will, for once ! She shall not die. 
 She must come back, and live ! — Veronika ! 
 [He calls up to the lighted window. The 
 people stand aghast: Anselm bars the 
 threshold. 
 I come, I come! 1 bring your Own to you I 
 Listen, Veronika ! 
 
 \_He feels for his pipe. It is gone. — His 
 face shows dismay^ for a moment~\ 
 Where? — Where? 
 
192 The Piper 
 
 People 
 
 He 's lost the pipe. — He 's hiding it ! — 
 He cannot pipe them back! 'tis gone — 'tis 
 
 gone. — 
 .No, 'tis to save his life. — It is for time. 
 
 Piper 
 
 [/o himself~\ 
 
 — 'T is but a voice. What matter ? — 
 
 Crowd 
 
 J Seize him — 
 [ Bind him ! 
 
 Piper 
 \to them\ 
 
 Hush! 
 \Passionately he stretches his arms towards 
 the window. 
 
 Anselm 
 Peace, for this parting Soul I 
 
The Piper 193 
 
 Piper 
 
 \_with fixed eyes] 
 
 It shall not go. 
 [To the PFindoisi] 
 Veronika ! — Ah, listen ! — wife of Kurt. 
 He comes . . . he comes I Open thine eyes a moment I 
 Blow the faint fire within thy heart. He comes! 
 Thy longing brings him ; — ay, and mine, — 
 
 and mine ! 
 Heed not these grave-makers, Veronika. 
 Live, live, and laugh once more ! — Oh! do you 
 
 hear ? 
 Look, how you have to waken all these dead, 
 That walk about you ! — Open their dim eyes ; 
 Sing to them with your heart, Veronika, 
 As I am piping, far away, outside ! 
 Waken them, — change them ! Show them how 
 
 to long, 
 To reach their arms as you do, for the stars, 
 And fold them in. Stay but one moment; — 
 
 stay. 
 And thine own Child shall draw thee back again 
 Down here, to mother him, — mother us all ! 
 Ohy do you listen ? — Do not try to answer, — 
 I hear ! — I hear. . . . 
 
194 The Piper 
 
 [A faint sound of piping comes from the dis- 
 tance. — The Piper is first watchful, then 
 radiant. — The burghers are awe-struck^ 
 as it sounds nearer. 
 
 Barbara 
 
 Listen ! — 
 
 Michael 
 
 His very tune. 
 \The ^ivEK faces front with fixed, triumph- 
 ant eyes above the crowd. 
 
 Martin's Wife 
 
 O Lord, have mercy ! — > 
 The Pipe is coming to him, through the air! 
 
 All 
 
 *Tis coming to the Piper ; — we are lost. — 
 The Pipe is coming, coming through the air ! 
 \The Piper, with a sudden gesture, com- 
 mands silence. He bounds away [centre^, 
 and disappears. The people, spell-bound 
 with terror, murmur and pray. 
 
The Piper 195 
 
 Anselm 
 
 Retro me, Sathanas! 
 
 [Kurt the Syndic appears on the threshold 
 behind Anselm, whose arm he touches , 
 whispering. — Their faces are wonder- 
 struck with hope and awe. 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 [ to the others, pointing] 
 
 'Tis Kurt the Syndic. 
 
 Axel the Smith 
 
 Then she lives ! — 
 
 Hans' Wife 
 
 Look there ! 
 Others 
 Look, look ! The casement / . . . 
 
 [The casement of the lighted window opens 
 wide and slowly. — Reenter the Piper 
 with Jan in his arms. The little boy holds 
 the Pipe, and smiles about with tranquil 
 happiness. The Piper, radiant with joy, 
 lifts him high, looking toward Veronika's 
 
196 The Piper 
 
 window. — The awe-struck people point 
 to the open casement. 
 Veronika's two white hands reach out; 
 then she herself appears y palcy shining with 
 ecstasy. 
 
 Jan 
 
 *Tis Mother I 
 
 [The Piper lifts him still before the win- 
 dow, gazing up. Then he springs upon the 
 bench [outside the lower window) and gives 
 Jan into the arms of Veronika. — Kurt 
 and Anselm bow their heads. A hush, 
 — Then Jan looks down from the win- 
 dow-seat. 
 
 Piper 
 \to him, smiling wisely\ 
 
 And all the others ? 
 
 Jan 
 
 They were all asleep. 
 
 Piper 
 
 I '11 waken them ! 
 
 \_He takes his pipe. — An uproar of joy 
 among the burghers^ 
 
The Piper 'i97 
 
 Axel the Smith, Hans the Butcher, All 
 
 r Bring lights, — bring lights ! 
 \ Oh, Piper — Oh, my lambs ! 
 L The children ! — The children ! 
 
 [Some rush out madly ; others go into their 
 houses for lights ; some are left on their, 
 knees, weeping for joy. 
 
 ^he Piper sounds a few notes; then lifts 
 his hand and listens, smiling. — Uproar in 
 the distance. — A great barking of dogs ; 
 
 — shouts and cheers ; then the high, sweet 
 voices of the Children. 
 
 'The piping is drowned in cries of joy. The 
 sun comes out, still rosy, in a flood of light. 
 The crowd rushes in. Fat burghers hug 
 each other, and laugh and cry. They are 
 all younger. Their faces bloom, as by a 
 miracle. 
 
 The Children pour in. Some are carried, some 
 run hand-in-hand. Everywhere women 
 embrace their own. — Kurt has his sons. 
 
 — Cheat-the-Devil comes, with a daisy 
 chain around his neck, all smiles. 
 
 An uproar of light and faces. 
 
198 The Piper 
 
 Hans the Butcher. 
 The treasure for the Piper ! 
 
 All 
 
 Ay, ay, Piper ! 
 
 Hans the Butcher 
 The thousand guilders ! 
 
 Piper 
 
 Give them Michael there, 
 For all us three. I hate to carry things ; — 
 Saving out one ! 
 
 \He waves his hand to Jan in the window. 
 — Veronika appears behind him^ shin- 
 ing with new life. Jan leans out and points 
 to the ground. 
 
 Heja ! What now ? — 
 
 \Picking up one ^t/* Jan's winged shoes^ 
 
 Hans' Wife 
 
 Look ! Look ! — 
 And wings upon it ! Mercy, what a shoe. — 
 Don't give it back. — The child will fly away ! 
 
The Piper 199 
 
 Piper 
 
 No, no ! 
 
 \_Looking up at the window soothingly.~\ 
 He only wanted one to show — 
 
 Jan 
 
 To Mother ! — See. 
 
 [Showing her his other foot ^joyously^ 
 
 Piper 
 
 [to hini\ 
 
 And this, — wilt leave it here ? 
 Here — with — 
 
 Jan 
 
 The Lonely Man ! Oh, make Him smile ! 
 
 ['The Piper crosses to the Shrine^ with the 
 little shoe, and hangs it up there ; then he 
 turns towards the window^ waving his 
 hand. 
 
 Children 
 
 Where are you going? . . . 
 
 [They run and cling."] 
 
200 The Piper 
 
 Piper 
 
 Ah, the high-road now! 
 
 Children 
 Oh! why? 
 
 Piper 
 
 I have to find somebody there. 
 Yes, now and every day, and everywhere 
 The wide world over. — So: good-night, good- 
 morning, 
 Good-by ! There *s so much piping left to do, — 
 I must be off, and pipe. 
 
 Children 
 
 Oh! why? 
 
 Piper 
 
 I promised, 
 Look you ! . . . 
 
 Children 
 
 Who is it ? 
 
The Piper 
 Piper 
 
 20I 
 
 Why, — the Lonely Man. 
 
 \_He waves them farewell^ and goes. 'The 
 Children dance and laugh and sparkle. 
 Through the hundred sounds of joy ^ there 
 comes a far-off piping. 
 
 The End 
 
14 DAY USF 
 
 ^ _^ LOAN DEPT 
 
 This book is due on ,h. l,., H., 
 
 REC'D LD 
 
 3£;' 2 i>3i 
 
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