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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!
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]
_No, mine, mine, mine_!
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 [gladly]
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, appears in the doorway with uplifted hand, commanding silence. He is pale and stern. At sight of his face the PIPER, falters.
ANSELM Silence here!--Good people What means this?
PIPER I have tidings for--the wife Of Kurt--the Councillor.
ANSELM You are too late.
PIPER Bid her--look out!
ANSELM [solemnly]
Her soul is pa.s.sing, now.
[The PIPER falls back stricken and speechless.--The crowd, seeing him humanly overwhelmed, grows brave.
MARTIN'S WIFE 'Tis he has done it!
HANS the Butcher --Nay, it is G.o.d's will.
Poor soul!
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, beware!
( What is he saying?--Peace.
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!
--_I say she shall not die_!
_She shall not_!
ANSELM Hush!--She is in the hands of G.o.d.
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 G.o.d.
PIPER --And I say No!
ANSELM Who dare dispute--
PIPER I dare!
ANSELM With death?--With G.o.d?
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! I bring your Own to you!
Listen, Veronika!
[He feels for his pipe. It is gone.--His face shows dismay, for a moment]
