The Piper Part 22

Even from now, there may be hearts in Hamelin, Once stabbed awake!

[He pleads, defends, excuses pa.s.sionately; before his will gives way, as the arrow flies from the bow-string.]

--_I 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!

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 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

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 stillness. In the house of KURT, beside the Minster, there is one window-light behind a curtain in the second story. At the cas.e.m.e.nts, 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 Sacristan stands by the bell-rope.

OLD URSULA No, no. They'll never come. I told ye so.

They all are gone. There will be nothing young To follow us to the grave.

OLD CLAUS No, no,--not one!

[The Minster-door opens, and out come certain of the townsfolk from early ma.s.s. 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, 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 G.o.d 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.

AXEL the Smith I'm a changed man.

HANS the Butcher Peter the Sacristan, Give by the bell! It tolls like--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.

PETER the Cobbler [wagging his head solemnly]

I'm an altered man.

Now were we not proceeding soberly, Singing a G.o.dly hymn, and all in tune, But yesterday, when we pa.s.sed 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 ash.o.r.e from the high seas; Still dancing--dancing--

AXEL the Smith With 'Yes--yes!--Yes--yes!'

HANS the Butcher Even as ye heard, the farmer's yokel found me Clasping a tree, and praying to stand still!

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.]

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 Wonderfully-clothed, The Strange Man, with his piping; [They cross themselves]

And they went,-- And never came again.

HANS' WIFE But they may come!

PETER the Cobbler [pityingly]

Marble is final, woman;--nay, poor soul!

When once a man be buried, and over him The stone doth say _Hic Jacet_, or Here Lies, When did that man get up?--There is the stone.