The Piper | Page 8

take you, as I promised,--
CHILDREN --Gypsies, oh!
PIPER Yes, with the gypsies. We shall go at night, With just a torch-- [Watching them.]
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'lt be My master, some day. Thou shalt pipe for me.
JAN [piping] Oh, wasn'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!
We'll 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-stump, shy and silent with pleasure.
ILSE Oh, those are best of all! And Jan--
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 heel] And so,-- They trim a little boy. [Puts them on JAN. He is radiant. He stretches out his legs and pats the feathers.
CHILDREN [trying on theirs and capering] O Jan!--O Jan! Oh! see my shoes!
[The 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. [The PIPER looks at him and backs away; sits down helplessly and looks at him again. Oh, can I?--
PIPER Thou!--'T would make me a proud man.
JAN Oh! it would make Him smile!
[The 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-Devil's voice crying, '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-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] Shoes! [He is sadder] Then--honey! [He radiantly undoes his basket, and displays a honeycomb. The Strollers, too, 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! 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!-- [The PIPER beckons him away from the Children. The mayor's Barbara Must go to Rudersheim, to be a Nun!
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