The Piper | Page 4

CHEAT-THE-DEVIL [unhappily] No, no--I will not hurt him!
PIPER [soothingly to him] Merry, boy! [To the townsfolk] And,--if ye
will have reasons, good,--ye see,-- I want--one thousand guilders.
JACOBUS In all surety, Payment you'll have, my man, But--
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'll 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.
BARBARA [aside, bitterly] I'll not believe it.
PIPER [to HANS] Your trade?
HANS the Butcher I'm Hans the Butcher.
MICHAEL Butcher?
CHEAT-THE-DEVIL [unhappily] Butcher! Oh, no! I couldn't hurt
them.
[Loud laughter.
BUTCHER'S WIFE 'T is a fool!
[The PIPER motions to MICHAEL and CHEAT-THE-DEVIL, who
during the following join the other player-folk, strike their tent, pack

their bundles, and wheel off the bar 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!
PIPER [at bay] Books! Where's a book? Shew me a book, I say!
OLD URSULA The Holy Book! Bring that--or he'll bewitch you.
PIPER Oh, never fear. I charm but fools and children; Now that the rats
are gone.--Bring me a Book: A big one!--
[Murmurs. The PIPER defiant. The crowd moves towards the Minster.
Enter ANSELM 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! [Beckons another small boy, and sets the
book on their two backs. Well?--well? What now? [He looks 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 fife from his belt] No, the green! The green one. So.
[Starts to pipe, looking on the book.]
CROWD ( Sure 't is a mad-man! ( But hear him piping! ( What is he
doing?
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!--
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--Uncle--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.
PIPER --Give the Devil his due!
JACOBUS [warily] 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 Minster.--The
children play Mouse, to and fro, round about the PIPER.--The women,
some of them, spin on the doorsteps, with little hand distaff's, or stand
about, gossiping.
[The 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 BARBARA, who gazes back at him,
fascinated, through her laughter.
BARBARA Is it for pay you loiter, Master Player? Were you not paid
enough?
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]