The Piper Part 13

That stab was mortal! And I thrust it deep.

Life, life, I wanted; safety,--sun and wind!-- And but to show them how that daily fear They call their faith, is made of blasphemies That would put out the Sun and Moon and Stars, Early, for some last Judgment!

[He laughs, up to the tree-tops]

And the Lord, Where will He get His harpers and singing-men And them that laugh for joy?--From Hamelin guilds?-- Will you imagine Kurt the Councillor Trying to sing?

[He looks at his pipe again; then listens intently.

MICHAEL His lean throat freeze!--But she-- Barbara! Barbara!--

PIPER Patience. She will come, Dressed like a bride.

MICHAEL Ah, do not mock me so.

PIPER I mock not.

MICHAEL She will never look at me.

PIPER Rather than be a nun, I swear she will Look at thee twice,--and with a long, long look.

[Chant approaches in the distance, coming from Hamelin.

VOICES Dies irae, dies illa Solvet saeclum in favilla, Teste David c.u.m Sibylla.

Quantus tremor est futurus, Quando judex est venturus, Cuncta stricte discussurus!

PIPER Bah, how they whine! Why do they drag it so?

MICHAEL [overcome]

Oh, can it be the last of all? O Saints!-- O blessed Francis, Ursula, Catherine!

Hubert--and Crispin--Pantaleone--Paul!

George o' the Dragon!--Michael the Archangel!

PIPER Michael Sword-eater, canst not swallow a chant?

The well, the well!--Take care.

VOICES [nearer]

Inter oves loc.u.m praesta, Et ab hoedis me sequestra, Statuens in parte dextra.

Confutatis maledictis, Flammis acribus addictis: Voca me c.u.m benedictis.

[MICHAEL climbs down the ancient well, reaching his head up warily, to see.

The PIPER waves to him debonairly, points to the tree-tops, left, and stands a moment showing in his face his disapproval of the music. He fingers his pipe. As the hymn draws near, he scrambles among the bushes, left, and disappears.

Enter slowly, chanting, the company of burghers from Hamelin,--men together first, headed by priests; then the women.--ANSELM and all the townsfolk appear (saving VERONIKA, the wife of KURT); JACOBUS is meek; KURT very stern.--As they appear, the piping of the Dance-spell begins softly, high in air. The hymn wavers; when the first burghers reach the centre of the stage, it breaks down.

They look up, bewildered: then, with every sign of consternation, struggle, and vacant fear, they begin to dance, w.i.l.l.y-nilly. Their faces work; they struggle to walk on; but it is useless. The music whirls them irresistibly into a rhythmic pace of 3/4 time, and jogs their words, when they try to speak, into the same dance-measure.

One by one,--two and two they go,--round and round like corks at first, with every sign of struggle and protest, then off, on the long road to Rudersheim. Fat priests waltz together.--KURT the fierce and JACOBUS the sleek hug each other in frantic endeavor to be released.

Their words jolt insanely.

KURT, JACOBUS

( No, no.--No, no--No, no.--No, no!

( Yes, yes.--I, yes.--Yes, yes.--Yes, yes!

SOME ( _La--crymos--a--Dies--ill--_ ( Bewitched--the Devil!--bewitched--bewitched!

( I will not--will not--will--I will!

( No, no--but where!--Help--help!--To arms!

OTHERS ( _Suppli--canti--suppli--Oh_!

( To Hamelln--back--to Hamelln--stay!

( No, no!--No, no,--Away,--away!

[They dance out, convulsively, towards Rudersheim.

KURT and JACOBUS, still whirling, cry,--

JACOBUS, KURT ( Yes, yes!--yes, yes!--Let go--let go-- ( No, no!--I will not--No! . . . No

[Exeunt left, dancing.

OTHERS ( Keep time, keep time! Have mercy!--Time!

( Oh, let me--go!--Let go--let go!

( Yes, yes--Yes, yes--No, no--no--no!

[BARBARA appears, pale and beautiful;--richly dressed in white, with flowing locks. She is wan and exhausted.--The dance-mania, as it seizes her, makes her circle slowly and dazedly with a certain pitiful silliness. The nuns and monks accompanying her point in horror. But they, too, dance off with each other, w.i.l.l.y-nilly,--like leaves in a tempest. BARBARA is left alone, still circling slowly. The piping sounds softer. She staggers against a tree, and keeps on waving her hands and turning her head, vaguely, in time.

MICHAEL looks forth from the well; then climbs out and approaches her.

MICHAEL

She is so beautiful,--how dare, I tell her?

My heart, how beautiful! The blessed saint! . . .

Fear nothing, fairest Lady.--You are saved.

[She looks at him unseeingly, and continues to dance.--He holds out his arms to stop her.

Pray you, the danger's gone. Pray you, take breath!

Poor, s.h.i.+ning dove,--I would not hold thee here, Against thy wish.--'Tis Michael, the sword-eater.

[The piping ceases.]

BARBARA [murmuring]

Yes, yes--I must--I must--I must. . .

[Reenter the PIPER from the thickets.]

MICHAEL Look, I will guard you like a princess, here; Yes, like Our Lady's rose-vine.

BARBARA [gasping]

Ah, my heart!

[The PIPER comes towards her. She sees him and holds out her arms, crying:-- Oh, he has saved me!--I am thine--thine--thine!

[Falls into his arms half-fainting. The PIPER stands amazed, alarmed, chagrined.

PIPER Mine?

MICHAEL [furiously]

_Thine_?--So was it? All a trap? c.o.c.k's blood!