The Piper Part 4

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 s.p.a.ce 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 Clerks.h.i.+p 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 Ma.s.s.

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 wors.h.i.+p?

[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.