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 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 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 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, 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.

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 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 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. They come no more, for piping or for prayer; Until the trump of the Lord Gabriel. And if they came, ’tis not in Hamelin men To alter any stone, so graven. Marble Is final. Marble has the last word, ever. [Groans from the burghers.]

HANS the Butcher O little Ilse! Oh! and Lump poor Lump! More than a dog could bear! More than a dog

[They all break down. The Shoemaker consoles them.

PETER the Cobbler Bear up, sweet neighbors. We are all but dust. No mice, no children. Hem! And now Jacobus, 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.

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 O wife! 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 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. I 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! ’T was 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’ll light the candles.

[Exit with his wife.

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.

HANS the Butcher My Iambs, my lambs!

[AXEL reenters, crestfallen]

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 disappointment.

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!

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! ’Tis my daughter, found restored! Oh, heaven is with us!

ALL [sullenly] 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? [The townsfolk are amazed.]

JACOBUS She is mad! She is quite mad, my treasure.

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 ’Tis 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!

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!

MICHAEL Why did we ever come? Poor darling one, Thy too-much duty hath us in a trap!

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 excitement. JACOBUS is cowed. BARBARA and MICHAEL are startled. The shouts turn savage. The uproar grows. Shouts of ’Ay, there be is! We have him! 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.

MICHAEL [apart] 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!

PIPER Loose thy claws, I tell thee I

ALL ( ’Ware! ( Mercy! ( Let him go!

VOICE FROM CROWD I have the squirrel!

PIPER [savagely] Let the squirrel go! Or you shall rue it. Loose him! He’s not mine.

[He 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! [The PIPER gazes at her, open-mouthed.]

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 wandering wits, And gave me safe unto my Love again, My Love I had forgotten. . . .

PIPER So!

MICHAEL [with conviction] Truly said.

BARBARA [proudly] 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?

ALL ( The Children! The Children! ( Where are the Children? ( Piper! Pi-per! 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!

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 ridings, 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! 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 ( It stands. ( Ay, ay!

PIPER Your word!

ALL ( We swear. We answer for him. ( So much for Jacobus!

AXEL the Smith An’ if yon fellow like an honest trade, I’ll take him! I’ll 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!

PIPER [unmoved] Oh, Hamelin to the end! 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 passing, 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 God’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 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.

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! I bring your Own to you! Listen, Veronika!

[He feels for his pipe. It is gone. His face shows dismay, for a moment]

Where? Where?

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 [to himself] ’T is but a voice. What matter?

CROWD ( Seize him ( Bind him!

PIPER [to them] Hush! [Passionately he stretches his arms towards the window.

ANSELM Peace, for this parting Soul!

PIPER [with fixed eyes] It shall not go. [To the Window] Veronika! Ah, listen! wife of Kurt. He comes . . . he comes! Open thine eyes a moment! 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! Oh, do you listen? Do not try to answer, I hear! I hear. . . .

[A faint sound of piping comes from the distance. The PIPER is first watchful, then radiant. The burghers are awe-struck, as it sounds nearer.

BARBARA Listen!

MICHAEL His very tune,

[The PIPER faces front with fixed, triumphant eyes above the crowd.

MARTIN’S WIFE O Lord, have mercy! The Pipe is coming to him, through the air!

ALL ’T is coming to the Piper ; we are lost. The Pipe is coming, coming through the air!

[The PIPER, with a sudden gesture, commands silence. He bounds away (centre), and disappears. The people, spell-bound with terror, murmur and fray.

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] ’T is 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 window. The awe-struck people point to the open casement.

VERONIKA’S two white bands reach out; then she herself appears, pale, shining with ecstasy.

JAN ’Tis Mother!

[The PIPER lifts him still before the window, gazing up. Then he springs upon the bench (outside the lower window) and gives JAN into the arms of VERONIKA. KURT and ANSELM how their heads. A hush. Then JAN looks down from the window-seat.

PIPER [to him, smiling wisely] And all the others?

JAN They were all asleep.

PIPER I’ll waken them! [He takes his pipe. An uproar of joy among the burghers.]

AXEL the Smith, HANS the Butcher, ALL ( Bring lights, bring lights! ( Oh, Piper Oh, my lambs! ( The children! The children!

[Some rush out madly; others go into their houses for lights; some are left on their knees, weeping for joy.

The PIPER sounds a few notes; then lifts his hand and listens, smiling. Uproar in the distance. A great harking 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.

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, shining with new life. JAN leans out and points to the ground. Heja! What now? [Picking up one of 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!

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 him] 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.]

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?

PIPER Why, the Lonely Man.

[He waves them farewells and goes. The Children dance and laugh and sparkle. Through the hundred sounds of joy, there comes a far-off piping.