The Piper Part 15

MICHAEL All this, your work!

PIPER [looking at her closely]

Not mine.

This is no charm. It is all youth and grief, And weariness. And she shall follow you.-- Tell the good nuns you found her sore bewitched, Here in this haunt of 'devils';--clean distraught.

No Church could so receive a dancing nun!

Tell them thou art an honest, piteous man Desires to marry her.

MICHAEL Marry the Moon!

PIPER No, no, the Moon for me!--She shall be yours; And here she sleeps, until her wits be sound.

[He spreads his cloak over her, gently]

The sun's still high. 'T is barely afternoon.-- [Looks at the suns.h.i.+ne. A thought strikes him with sudden dismay]

'T is--no, the time is going!--On my life, I had forgot Them!--And They will not stay After the Rainbow fades.

MICHAEL [confounded]

Art thou moon-mad?

PIPER [madly]

No. Stir not! Keep her safe! I come anon.

But first I go.--They'll not mind Cheat-the-Devil!

They'll creep, to find out where the Rainbow went.

I know them! So would I!--They'll all leak out!

MICHAEL Stay--stay!

PIPER No; guard her, you!--Anon, anon!

MICHAEL But you will pipe her up and after you!

PIPER [flinging him the pipe from his belt]

Do you fear this? Then keep it till I come.

You bide!--The Other cannot.

MICHAEL Who?

PIPER The Rainbow, The Rainbow!--

[He runs madly up the hillside, and away.]

Curtain

ACT III

SCENE: The same, later. BARBARA lies motionless, still sleeping.--MICHAEL, sitting on the bank opposite, fingers the pipe with awe and wistfulness. He blows softly upon it; then looks at the girl hopefully. She does not stir.

Enter the PIPER, from the hills at back. He carries a pair of water-jars slung over his shoulders, and seems to be in high feather.

PIPER [singing]

Out of your cage, Come out of your cage And take your soul on a pilgrimage!

Pease in your shoes, an if you must!-- But out and away, before you're dust: Scribe and Stay-at-home, Saint and Sage, Out of your cage, Out of your cage!-- [He feigns to be terror-struck at sight of the pipe in Michael's hands]

Ho, help! Good Michael, Michael, loose the charm!

Michael, have mercy! I'm bewitched!--

MICHAEL [giving him the pipe]

c.o.c.k's faith!

Still mocking!--Well ye know, it will not play Such games for me.

PIPER Be soothed,--'twas as I guessed, [Unslings the jars]

All of them hungry,--and the Rainbow going;--

And Cheat-the-Devil pining in a corner.

'Twas well I went: they were for leaking out, And then,--lopped ears for two!

MICHAEL Oh, that will come.

PIPER Never believe it! We have saved her, look you; We save them all! No prison walls again, For anything so young, in Hamelin there.

Wake her, and see.

MICHAEL Ay, wake her. But for me, Her sleep is gentler.

PIPER [comfortingly]

Nay, but wait.--Good faith, Wait. We have broke the bars of iron now; Still there are golden!--'Tis her very self Is caged within herself. Once coax her out, Once set her own heart free!--

MICHAEL Wake her, and see!

[The PIPER crosses, humming.]

PIPER Mind your eyes, tune your tongue!

Let it never be said, but sung, but sung, 'Out of your cage, out of your cage!'

Maiden, maiden,-- [He wakes her gently. BARBARA sits up, plainly bewildered; then she sees the PIPER, and says happily:--

BARBARA Oh!--you have come to save me. They are gone.

All this, for love of me!

PIPER [ruefully]

No, no--I--No!

BARBARA You--you are robbers?

[Her hands go to the pearls about her neck.]

PIPER [indignant]

No! Blood on the Moon!

This is the maddest world I ever blinked at.-- Fear nothing, maiden. I will tell you all.

Come, sit you down; and Michael shall keep watch From yonder hillock, lest that any pa.s.s.

Fear nothing. None will pa.s.s: they are too sure The Devil hath this cross-ways!--Sit you down.