The Piper - BestLightNovel.com
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Mark how our angel of deliverance came,-- Or it may be. Saint Willibald himself,-- Most piedly clothed, even as the vilest player!-- And straight ascended from us, to the clouds!
But cry him, if you will.--Peace to your lungs!-- He will not come.
[KURT wrathfully consults with JACOBUS, then signals to Crier.
CRIER Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!
Whereas, now three days gone, our Plague of Rats Was wholly driven hence, our City cleansed, Our peace restored after sore threat of famine, By a Strange Man who came not back again, Now, therefore, if this Man have ears to hear, Let him stand forth.--Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!
[Trumpet.--PEOPLE gaze up and down the little streets.--REYNARD steps out of the Ark and comes down slowly, with a modest air.--KURT points him out, threateningly, and the CROWD bursts into derisive laughter.--He doffs his animal-head at leisure, showing a sparkling dark-eyed face.
ALL The Man! the Man!
KURT AND JACOBUS The Devil!--'T is--
ALL --THE PIPER!
[The PIPER regards them all with debonair satisfaction; then reverses his head-piece and holds it out upside-down, with a confident smile.
PIPER Three days of rest, your wors.h.i.+ps, you have had.
I see no signs of famine hereabout.
The rats are gone, even to the nethermost tail: And I've fulfilled my bargain. Is it granted?
[Murmurs, then cheers of "Ay, Ay, PIPER!" from the crowd.
Thank 'ee.--My thousand guilders, an you please.
JACOBUS One thou--Come, come! This was no sober bargain.-- No man in reason could--
PIPER One thousand guilders.
KURT One thousand rogueries!
JACOBUS [to PIPER]
You jest too far.
AXEL Lucky, if he get aught!--Two hundred traps, And nine, and thirty! By Saint Willibald, When was I paid?
AXEL'S WIFE Say, now!
PIPER . . . One thousand guilders.
PETER the Cobbler Give him an hundred.
HANS the Butcher Double!
HANS' WIFE You were fools To make agreement with him.--Ask old Claus.
He has the guilders; and his house was full 0' rats!
OLD CLAUS [shaking his stick from the window]
You Jade! And I that h.o.a.rd, and save, And lay by all I have from year to year, To build my monument when I am gone, A fine new tomb there, in Saint Boniface!
And I to pay for all your city rats!
OLD URSULA [leaning out, opposite]
Right, neighbor, right well said!--Piper, hark here.
Piper, how did ye charm the rats away?
PIPER [coming down]
The rats were led--by Cu-ri-os-ity.
'Tis so with many rats; and all old women;-- Saving your health!
JACOBUS No thought for public weal, In this base grasping on--
PIPER One thousand guilders.
KURT [contemptuously]
For piping!
PIPER Shall I pipe them back again?
WOMEN ( Good Saint Boniface!
Merciful heaven! ( Good Saint Willibald!
( Peter and Paul defend us!
HANS the Butcher No, no; no fear o' that. The rats be drowned.
We saw them with our eyes.
PIPER Now who shall say There is no resurrection for a mouse?
KURT --Do you but crop this fellow's ears!--
VERONIKA [from the steps]
Ah, Kurt!
JACOBUS [to him, blandly]
Deal patiently, good neighbor. All is well.
[To the PIPER]
Why do you name a price so laughable, My man? Call you to mind; you have no claim,-- No scrip to show. You cling upon--
PIPER [sternly]
Your word.
JACOBUS I, would say--just--
PIPER Your word.
JACOBUS Upon--
PIPER Your word.
Sure, 't was a rotten parchment!
