 | The Piper of Hamelin |  |
ACT I.
Scene. The Market-place of Hamelin, with view of Clock Tower and Bridge. Very quaint, old-fashioned town. Up stage, R., the Bridge, with river winding beneath it, and beyond, on cloth, the town on a hill, with an old-fashioned church. Down L., the Town-hall, looking on Market-place. Stalls covered with wares of all kinds extend right up to Bridge. Market girls and men discovered selling flowers, fish, pipes, etc.Chorus.
Who'll buy? who'll buy?
Here's ware for all wishes,
Fresh capons, fishes,
To boil or fry!
New plates, new dishes.
Come buy! come buy!
A Voice.
Here's a flower for the lady!
A Voice.
And a coral for the baby!
And a pipe for the Herr Papa!
Chorus.
And a pipe for the Herr Papa!
Here's ware of all prices,
Of all devices,
For low and high.
Here's whatever nice is!
Come buy! come buy!
A Voice.
Here's a ring for the lady!
A Voice.
And a cradle for the baby!
A Voice.
And a pipe for the Herr Papa!
A Voice.
And a pipe for the Herr Papa!
Enter Conrad.
(Recitative.)
Con.
How dreary seem the many cries around me!
I have search'd from street to street and cannot find her.
There by the church my darling vow'd to meet me,
For hours I've waited, and alas! she lingers.
Yonder her door is—if I dared but venture,
Softly I'd knock, and tell her I await her!
But ah! I'm poor, and she's the great Mayor's daughter,
And much I fear her purse-proud father's anger.
[Con., Chorus]
Ballad.
Sweet Star up yonder,
O'er which I ponder,
Made ever fonder
Though far above me,
Your light doth move me,
For ah! you love me,
Though set so high!
Chorus.
(Pianissimo.)
Come buy! come buy!
Con.
Ah yes, you love me,
Though set so high!
Chorus.
Come buy!
A Girl.
Here's a ring for the lady!
All.
Come buy!
A Girl.
And a cradle for the baby!
Chorus.
Come buy!
A Man.
And a pipe for the Herr Papa!
Chorus of Men.
Ha, ha! Ha, ha!
Con.
(Petulantly.)
But I'm not a Herr Papa!
Chorus.
(Laughing.)
Ha, ha!
He's not a Herr Papa!
Enter Martha, with market basket.
Con.
Ah, Martha, good morning!
Mar.
Good morning, Master Conrad.
Con.
Marketing, eh?
Mar.
Getting in provision for the old cormorant,
my master. Dear, dear, what an appetite he has!
Capons, carrots, turnips, fish—but there, all's fish that
comes to his gobble! I wish it would choke him, I
do, indeed!
Isn't he a good master?
Mar.
Good? I'd as lief serve the—hem! It isn't
for myself I care, though flesh and blood couldn't stand
such treatment long, but I grieve for the sweet Fraulein,
my mistress. You know what a life he leads her?
Con.
I do indeed!
Mar.
Grudges her the very clothes she wears—the
very morsel she eats.
Con.
Well, tell her—
Mar.
Yes?
Con.
Tell her—by the bye, where is he now?
Mar.
The Mayor? Yonder in the Town-hall, discussing
the great plague of rats with which the town
is infested. You see, it all comes through his stinginess.
If he had employed a proper rat-killer at first, at
a proper price, they would have been exterminated;
but now they're grown to such a pest, that I fear
they'll eat us out of house and home.
Con.
(Up, looking off.)
Liza! . . . There she is,
looking as bright and happy as if there were no trouble
in the world!
[Signals to Martha and moves behind house L., as Liza enters over bridge.
Song, “Liza” (with obligato violin accompaniment).
I.
A youth there was who loved a little maiden,And whisper'd “Sweet, how dear thou art to me!”
She laugh'd, and ran away into the greenwood,
Where birds were singing loud from every tree.
“And May's the merry time of wooing!”
The simple maiden blush'd to hear,
But hoped—the youth was still pursuing!
Her cheeks like roses were, her eyes
The same soft blue as the blue skies.
She was very simple, very simple, very simple,
O so simple!
And yet within her heart began to sound
The same glad song the birds were singing round!
Though she was but a simple country maiden
She loved that song, “How dear thou art to me!”
And she beckon'd to her lover through the greenwood,
While the birds were singing loud on every tree.
II.
The happy youth came running to the maiden,And kiss'd her on the lips with kisses three!
She hid her blushing face upon his bosom,
And who in all the world was glad as he?
Afar and near the birds sang clear,
“May is the merry time of wooing!”
The happy lovers laugh'd to hear,
And kiss'd again, their bliss renewing.
They were very simple, very simple, very simple,
O so simple!
And yet the wisest man alive that day
Could not be wiser in love's ways than they.
And he a simple swain of low degree,
They understood the message of the May-time,
Which the birds were singing loud from every tree!
Con.
Liza!
Liza.
Conrad! How you frightened me! I
thought—
Con.
(Laughing.)
That one of those precious rats
had pounced upon you? There, don't be afraid, I
shan't eat you!
[Cries off. Children run in.
Liza.
What is it, little ones?
A Little Girl.
The rats! the rats! They came out
of their holes while we were at school, and they're
eating up all the books.
Enter Hans, a little lame boy with crutch.
Hans.
Help! help! (Runs to Liza.)
O Liza, I'm
so frightened!
Liza.
At what, dear?
[Children surround them.
Hans.
The rats! They've stolen my dinner, and I
thought they would have eaten me, for though I fought
them with my crutch, they didn't mind.
Liza.
You're safe here, at any rate.
(Aside to
Conrad.)
Poor little fellow, his mother is dead, and
his father has married again. You know what that
means!
(Nestling to and looking up at Liza.)
I'm not
afraid now, Liza!
Liza.
That's right. Now tell us how it all
happened!
Rat-a-pat Song. Hans, Liza and Chorus.
Hans.
I was sitting alone at the top of the stair,
Eating my dinner of dry, black bread,
Stepmother had whipt me and sent me there,
Because I was ugly and bad, she said.
And I said my prayers, for I felt afraid
Of the great black lonely place,
And I thought as I pray'd that I saw in the shade
My own dear mother's face.
Liza.
(Smoothing his hair.)
Poor child! poor child!
Hans.
(Mysteriously.)
Then I heard a sound
Upstairs, downstairs, and all around,
Rat-a-pat! . . . . rat-a-pat! . . . .
And I saw from the corner where I sat
The rats were running this way and that,
With a rat-a-pat, and a rat-a-pat!
And some were lean and some were fat,
And they show'd their teeth and seem'd to say,
“We'll make a meal of this boy to-day.”
And then one great big monster rat
Came climbing up to where I sat,
With a rat-a-pat and a rat-a-pat,
And I scream'd, and ran away!
[Chorus repeat. Children flock together terrified.
Soon in broad day they'll throng and overpower us,
Where they will stop their ravage, there's no knowing,
Unless some help comes quickly, they'll devour us.
[A scream up stage. Women run down.
Liza.
What's that? what's that?
Children.
A rat! a rat!
See where he crawls
Among the stalls!
[Women scream and gather up their petticoats in horror.
Children.
(Retreating.)
Look, there's another,
His great big brother!
A monster rat,
As big as a cat!
Con.
Where is he, where?
Men and Girls.
Look there!
[Girls scream.
Conrad,
recitative.
Such impudence is not to be endured!
In broad daylight—the very devil's in it!
Keep back, and you shall see the rascal skewer'd
Upon my glittering sword's point in a minute!
Take that! and that!
[Thrusting under stalls.
Chorus.
He has kill'd the rat.
Con.
Yes, friends, 'tis done,
His race is run.
Now kill the other,
His great big brother.
Con.
Take that! and that!
Men.
He has done it pat!
All.
He has kill'd the rat!
Con.
(To Liza.)
Come, have no fear—
They're here!
[Showing rats on sword. General murmurs of horror.
Liza.
Horrible monsters!
Con.
Courage, Liza, dearest!
I will protect thee from the swarms thou fearest.
Trust to my prowess, calm this wild pulsation!
Crier.
(Without.)
Room for the Mayor—the Mayor and Corporation!
[Murmurs without. Bells ring, crowd gathers up, and during following scene many of the stalls are cleared and carried off, clearing the stage.
Chatter-Chorus.
Why this clatter? what's the matter?
Why that loud vociferation?
Something stirring is occurring
To the Mayor and Corporation.
Heaven defend us! some stupendous
Terror in the Town-hall's found them!
From some shocking sight they're flocking,
Casting frighten'd looks around them!
Crier.
Good people all, of every occupation,
Make room there for the Mayor and Corporation!
Enter, from Town-hall, Mayor and Aldermen.
Chorus.
Why this clatter? what's the matter?
Pray what means this acclamation?
Cease your chatter! cease your chatter!
How his heart goes patter patter!—
He is driven to desperation.
Song. The Mayor.
Will no one help us and take pity?
By a pest more dire than snake or locust,
We're driven distracted and hocus-pocus'd;
The rats, the rats, are coming to win
The beautiful city of Hamelin.
Civic matters of draining and lighting,
Judging causes, arranging your rates,
Discussing problems of tithes and poor rates,
The rats, the rats, came swarming in,
Affrighting us burghers of Hamelin.
All our arts to appal them scorning!
Though ink and paper we scatter'd at them,
Nothing would fright them off, Od rat them!
They took possession, despite our skin,
Of the very Town-hall of Hamelin.
They took, etc.
To curse the vermin and end the scandal,
They frighten'd the clergy and overpower'd them,
They seized the candles, and they devour'd them,
They gnaw'd the principal parson's shin,
These terrible rats of Hamelin.
They gnaw'd, etc.
Doom'd to be eaten, the more's the pity!
By a pest more dire than snake or locust,
Your Mayor's distracted and hocus-pocus'd.
The rats, the rats, are coming to win,
The beautiful town of Hamelin.
The rats, the rats, etc.
Chatter-Chorus.
Sad disaster! thicker, faster,
To destroy men's occupation,
Come the ermine-eating vermin,
Frighting Mayor and Corporation.
Heaven defend us! this tremendous
Plague will end in desperation.
(Loudly and angrily.)
Stop that ringing from the steeple!
Clear the square of all the people!
Here'll we'll sit in consultation.
Chorus.
Here they'll sit in consultation.
Crier.
Clear the square!
Obey the Mayor!
[During following, trestle-table is brought out, and forms for the Aldermen to sit on.
Chorus of Girls.
Clear the square,
Well I declare!
Crier.
Obey the Mayor!
(Ensemble.)
Mayor and Council. Citizens. Conrad and Liza.
We're the Mayor and Corporation,
We must try in consultation,
To devise some lawful measures
How to save our lives and treasures.
Our provisions are decreasing
Through this pest of rats unceasing:
Oil and tallow, eggs and bacon,
Fowl, fish, flesh, have all been taken;
When the city's stores are eaten,
We shall be completely beaten—
Then, perchance (O sad reflection!)
They'll conclude their fierce refection
With a horrid cold collation
Of the Mayor and Corporation!
Clear the square!
[Flourish. Table and forms having been brought out, the Mayor, the Town Clerk, and others, sit pompously. Crier stands attending.
Mayor.
Bring me the town records.
[Clerk brings an enormous volume half eaten away.
Clerk.
Please, your worship, that's all that's left of
them!
Crier.
O—yes, that's all that's left of them!
Mayor.
Silence, idiot!
Crier.
Silence, id . . .
(correcting himself).
Beg
pardon, your worship!
Mayor.
(Examining book.)
You see, gentlemen, even
the town records are nearly eaten away—through no
fault of mine. Clerk, produce the old bell-rope!
(Rope
produced.)
Gnawed, you see, into pieces. If we had
not had the foresight to provide a new rope, the great
bell would have come down—through no fault of
mine.
Sauerkraut.
No fault of yours! Why, these rats
have destroyed the boots in my shop.
1st Citizen.
And all the dry goods in my store!
Unless something is done there won't be a piece of
toffee left in the town.
All.
Shame! Shame!
Mayor.
Gentlemen, I agree with all you say. In
the whole course of my civic experience I have never
encountered so grave a calamity. But it arises, as I
have explained, through no fault of mine. Has anyone
anything to suggest?
Oh yes! oh yes! Has anyone anything to
suggest?
Sauerkraut.
Well, I'm a plain man—
Mayor.
Stop a minute, Brother Sauerkraut! Be good
enough to address your observations to the Mayor and
the Chair.
Sauerkraut.
Oh, all right! As I was saying—
Mayor.
Address your remarks to me, sir!
Crier.
Oh yes! oh yes! Address your remarks to
me.
Sauerkraut.
I say I'm a plain man—
Mayor.
You are a very plain man—through no fault
of mine. Ha! ha! But be careful; as the Mayor of
this town—
1st Citizen.
Oh, bother him!
All.
Yes, bother the Mayor!
Mayor.
Gentlemen, am I right in supposing that
observation was addressed to me?
Sauerkraut.
Certainly; you've bothered us long
enough, why shouldn't we bother you?
1st Citizen.
If you put that motion I'll second it.
All.
Hear! hear!
Mayor.
Gentlemen, you astound me! I should be
sorry to think I'd lost your confidence.
Sauerkraut.
You haven't.
Mayor.
Ah!
Sauerkraut.
You couldn't lose what you never possessed.
Mayor.
I regret to see, gentlemen, that you underrate
my value.
No, we don't.
Mayor.
Ah!
Sauerkraut.
We can't underrate what never existed.
1st Citizen.
Bravo, Sauerkraut!
Mayor.
Enough; the meeting is dismissed. Crier,
dismiss the meeting.
Crier.
Oh yes! oh yes!
Sauerkraut.
But I say, Oh no! oh no! Citizens,
the hour has come to strike a blow for freedom!
Mayor.
What, a blow?
Sauerkraut.
Sit down! The fact of the matter is,
we owe our misfortunes to you. Trade has dwindled
and declined.
Mayor.
Through no fault of mine.
Sauerkraut.
I beg your pardon; there were no taxes
till you turned them into turtle. Our goods were free
of duty till you neglected yours. False economy!
1st Citizen.
Gluttonous gastronomy!
Sauerkraut.
Muddling!
1st Citizen.
And fuddling!
Sauerkraut.
Have brought us to this pass. In order
to save a few guilders, which you have wasted in
guzzling, you dismissed Hans Breitman, the town ratcatcher,
and when he went our troubles began—this
plague of rats.
Mayor.
I admit there is a rat or two.
Sauerkraut.
A rat or two! the place swarms with
them! And the long and the short of it is that either
you consent to sign this proclamation or forthwith
cease to be Mayor of Hamelin.
Gentlemen, you'll excuse me, but I've an important
appointment.
Sauerkraut.
That won't do for us! Either sign or
resign. Crier, read the proclamation.
Crier.
Oh yes! oh yes! I, the Mayor of Hamelin, offer
a reward of a thousand guilders to whosoever shall rid
the town of the plague of rats that now infests our
city.
Sauerkraut.
Your signature.
Mayor.
Never!
Sauerkraut.
Then by the unanimous decree of the
Corporation—
Mayor.
I don't care a fig for the Corporation; I've
an excellent corporation of my own.
Sauerkraut
(and the others threaten him).
What!
Mayor.
Give me a pen.
[He signs, and the Crier goes out shouting the proclamation, the crowd following with cheers.
Mayor.
(Alone.)
And this is civic gratitude. I could
cry with vexation. So humiliating; and before all the
servants too. But Frederick Schofferganger will be a
match for them yet. Where are they going to find
their ratcatcher? and where is the ratcatcher going
to find his thousand guilders? Not in this part of the
town, I think.
(Slaps his pocket.)
But it's awkward.
However, I'll cool my head under the town pump and
think it out. Hey, what's this?
[Goes up, then pauses, watching, as enter Conrad and Liza.
Con.
At last, darling, we are alone.
But I still feel terribly frightened.
Con.
There is no occasion. If the worst comes to
the worst we will fly together.
Liza.
But whither?
Con.
Anywhere—where the rats cannot follow us.
Liza.
But my father?
Con.
Young birds leave the nest—so do young
maidens. Leave the old fellow to his money-bags;
he'll never miss you.
Mayor.
(Up.)
What's this I hear?
I.
Con.When its wings are grown the young thrush flies.
Both.
Sing hey! the sweet spring weather.
Con.
It seeks its mate 'neath the sunny skies,
And they make their home together.
Both.
They build their nest together.
Con.
They build their nest, and they warble free,
On the leafy bough of the greenwood tree,
“I love my love, and my love loves me!”
They sing in the sun together.
[Repeat.
II.
Con.The young maid flies from the parent nest.
Both.
Sing hey! the wind and the weather.
Con.
She chooses the partner she loves the best,
And for others cares not a feather.
The young maid smiles and they both fly free,
“I love my love, and my love loves me!”
They sing in the sun together.
[Repeat.
(Coming down.)
Hem! when you have quite
finished.
Liza.
My father!
Con.
The Mayor!
Mayor.
Sorry to interrupt you, I am sure. May I
ask you your name?
Con.
Conrad.
Mayor.
Who and what are you?
Con.
Conrad the Cooper; a simple handicraftsman,
of this town.
Liza.
O, father, don't be angry! He loves me!
Mayor.
Very pretty! And you—
Liza.
And I love him. Ah, yes!
Mayor.
Stop! No embracing in my presence.
Young man, if I understand you, you are a pauper?
Liza.
No, no!
Con.
I am poor, it is true.
Mayor.
Poor but virtuous, I suppose. Oh yes, we
have heard all that before; so off with you to your
hoops and staves, and never dare to address my
daughter again!
Liza.
Oh no, no! Father, don't drive him away.
Mayor.
If he doesn't go at once, I'll send for the
watch and have him locked up in the town prison.
Con.
What is my offence? That I love your
also true; but she has overlooked the disparity between
us, and I will not give her up without a struggle.
Mayor.
You won't, eh?
Con.
Certainly not.
Mayor.
You defy me?
Con.
If you put it that way, yes.
Mayor.
And you, Liza?
Liza.
Father, I implore you.
Mayor.
Home, at once, or I'll cut you off without a
groschen.
[Laughter and cries off.
Mayor.
What sounds are those?
Crier.
(Entering.)
So please your worship, the towns-people
following one who looks like a beggar or street
musician.
[Music off; then laughter.
Mayor.
What's that?
Crier.
He is playing upon a pair of miserable bagpipes.
Look, he comes this way.
[Music and jeers continued. Enter Men and Women, laughing, shouting, then the Piper. He is a quaint looking figure in piebald costume, decorated with skins of moles, birds, rats, mice, snakes, etc., very ragged and wild. Hideous music People jeer.
Mayor.
(Stopping his ears.)
Silence! Silence, I say!
Call the watch! How dare you make such an infernal
noise in the public streets! Who are you?
Crier.
Oh yes! Who are you?
Piper.
A poor wandering musician, at your service.
Mayor.
A vagrant and a beggar, by your own confession.
him!
[Movement.
Piper.
Stop a minute! I've come in answer to the
proclamation.
Mayor.
Eh?
Piper.
You offer a reward of a thousand guilders to
anyone who will relieve the town of its vermin.
Mayor.
We do; but there—
Piper.
I'm a musician by nature, and a vermin-killer
by profession. Say the word, and I'll do the job
for you.
Mayor.
You! Pooh!
[All laugh.
Piper.
Yes, me!
Mayor.
Fiddlededee! Pray how do you propose to
set about it?
Piper.
I'll tell you. I'll charm anything under the
sun by my beautiful music.
[Blows on pipes. Discordant music. All stop their ears.
Mayor.
This is hideous. Away with him!
Piper.
Stop! P'r'aps you don't know who I am.
Listen, and I'll tell you!
I charm all things on land or sea, rats, mice, jackdaws, and vipers.
—and they'll follow the sound with pleasure:
Dogs and cats, bats, snakes and rats, will dance away to the measure.
My terms are low, for you must know, I delight in my occupation.
At Timbuctoo King Kalabaloo was plagued with huge Bluebottles—
They darken'd the street, they spoil'd the meat, they stuck in the people's throttles!
During this the people are spellbound, and have business of seeing and catching bluebottles. Chord, and the ballad is renewed.
In every room
Coming and going,
Indoors and out,
They swarm'd about,
Buzz! boom!
Fuzzing and buzzing and blowing.
So I took my pay and I stroll'd away, much honour'd and decorated:
And I found the Khan was a wretched man, for the Daws were a sad vexation.
Jenny-daws, jackdaws,
Grey daws, black daws,
Not a nook in the realm did lack daws!
Wherever you went you heard their caws,
They ate the corn and they left the straws,
They wrangled and jangled without a pause,
They swarm'd about with their goblin jaws,
They darken'd the air, they defied the laws,
With a fluent vociferation.
They had ravenous claws and teeth like saws,
Everything nice went into their maws,
From sugar and spice to hips and haws,
Till nothing was left in the nation!
Of those birds unclean not one was seen on tree, or house, or steeple;
And I sailed away into Indi-ay, with little procrastination,
And found the folk in a frightful way, for the Snakes were abomination.
Hissing and crawling
In a way appalling,
From woods and brakes:
Red snakes, green snakes,
Fat snakes, lean snakes!
Vipers and cobras
All the unclean snakes!
Rustling and creeping
With venomous heads;
Coil'd up, and sleeping
In cupboards, in beds!
With horrible stings and slimy eye-sockets,
Creeping up petticoats, crawling in pockets,
Strangling the babies, hissing, and clinging,
When least expected, upspringing and stinging,
Scattering death in a brace of shakes.
Ugh! Snakes!
Came wriggling out, and went dancing about, in the wake of the wondrous Piper.
And I led them away to an ocean bay, and play'd them into the water,
And there they were drown'd, and the shores around for leagues were black with the slaughter.
I charm and slay, wherever I stray, rats, crickets, daws and vipers,
I've but to blow in my pipes—just so! [Blows, they stop their ears]
—and they follow the sound with pleasure,
Daws, dogs and rats, bats, snakes and cats, will dance away to the measure!
Mayor.
Is it possible that you can help us?
Piper.
(Drily.)
What's your poison?
Mayor.
Eh?
Piper.
What are you plagued with? Cats, dogs,
cobras, fleas, earwigs, beetles, locusts, bees, wasps,
hornets, moles, crocodiles, armadilloes, centipedes,
cockchafers, or daddy-longlegs?
Mayor.
No, rats.
All.
Yes, rats!
Then it's lucky I came your way. I'm
death on that kind of vermin.
Mayor.
But our rats are not ordinary rats, they're a
race of monsters.
Piper.
So much the better. All rats are fond of
music.
Mayor.
(Scornfully.)
Of your music?
Piper.
Of mine particularly. Oh, rats have excellent
taste, your worship, I assure you! What's the
reward?
Mayor.
A thousand golden guilders.
Piper.
Pay the money, and it's done!
Mayor.
Excuse me, good payers never pay beforehand.
Piper.
Then sign a little agreement.
Mayor.
What!
(Pompously)
I am the Mayor of
Hamelin, and my word is my bond.
Piper.
(Doubtfully.)
I suppose I can trust your
worship?
Mayor.
On the honour of a magistrate!
Piper.
Humph! Well, it's a bargain. I'll kill the
rats.
All.
He'll kill the rats!
Mayor.
When will you begin, fellow?
Piper.
No time like the present.
Mayor.
I'm afraid you'll find it a long job.
Piper.
Oh dear, no—a bagatelle!
Now, clear the way while I essay
A charm of strange device!
With hands so bold I weave (behold!)
A circle round me thrice.
Attend! give heed, ye hideous breed,
Wherever ye creep and crawl and feed,
Attend! appear!
Rats.
(Squeak off.)
We hear! We hear!
Piper.
I'll fix them in a trice.
All.
He'll fix them in a trice!
Piper.
First, to make the charm complete,
Hear me your royal names repeat.
Abracadabra!
[Squeak.
Smellfungus!
[Squeak.
Salamander!
[Squeak.
Sanerteig!
[Squeak.
Hearken, hearken, one and all,
Ye kings of ratland, while I call.
Attend! appear!
[Loud squeaking off.
Citizen.
Oh, hark! they hear!
Voices.
We hear!
Invocation. The Piper.
Attend, ye rats!
Come from your nests in greasy vats,
Forsake your feasts of salted sprats,
Leave cheese to mice, and flesh to cats!
Give ear, give ear! O rats, appear!
And follow, follow me!
[He goes up playing and stands on bridge. Wild music. A great squealing and squeaking is heard off, L.
Chatter-Chorus (with rat music in orchestra).
Sight appalling! see them crawling
Out of every door and dwelling;
Tails they're whisking, gladly frisking,
Never pausing or rebelling.
Faster, thicker! quicker, quicker!
Wild and glad as men in liquor,
Cocking ears and twirling whiskers,
Ancient rats and gay young friskers,
Baby ratlings, he rats, she rats
Leading young and giving suction,
Everywhere we gaze we see rats
Trotting on to their destruction.
[During above Chorus swarms of rats are seen to cross stage and follow Piper over the bridge. People look on in wonder. All gradually disappear except the Mayor.
Mayor.
Thank heaven my weary burthen is uplifted.
I should like to know what Mayor Bummelzug
will say now. My office is safe for another
year.
[Music. Wild squealing heard off. Then shouts “Hurrah!”
Con.
Hurrah! I bring you good news—the rats are
all destroyed!
Mayor.
Destroyed?
Con.
Drowned in the river. The Piper stood on
one side, they entered it on the other, and every one
was drowned.
Mayor.
Hurrah! Ring the bells! We'll have a
civic banquet on the spot.
[Bells ring joyfully.
Enter Corporation.
Recitative.
Mayor.
(Pompously.)
Well, gentlemen, you see I've kept my promise.
The rats are totally exterminated;
I hope you now regret your hasty language.
Citizens.
Oh, yes, we now regret our hasty language.
Mayor.
And all will join me at a civic banquet,
Which will be paid for by the public pocket.
Citizens.
Good! 'twill be paid for by the public pocket.
[Shake hands.
Song. Mayor and Chorus.
Come, haste away, this very day,
To celebrate with jollity
This happy news, which will excuse
A little gay frivolity.
The fears we felt so chillingly;
The ratepayers will think it fine
To pay the Piper willingly.
Chorus.
(Chuckling.)
Ha, ha!
They'll pay the Piper willingly!
As they are going off, enter Piper.
Piper.
(Wiping brow.)
Well, it's all right, governor.
Mayor.
(Coldly.)
Ah! How d'ye do!
Piper.
I've done the job, your worship.
Mayor.
What! the rats!—
Piper.
All drowned—exterminated.
Mayor.
You are sure? All dead?
Piper.
Every one.
Mayor.
Can't come to life again?
Piper.
No. Dead as nails.
Mayor.
Then I think I'll go to dinner. Come,
gentlemen.
Piper.
Stop!
[Chord.
Mayor.
Eh?
Piper.
My little fee—the thousand guilders.
Mayor.
Call to-morrow at the Town-hall.
Piper.
I leave for Seringapatam this evening.
Mayor.
Well, send in your little bill, and it shall be
attended to.
Piper.
Can't wait. Come, pay up!
Mayor.
(Aside.)
What do you say, gentlemen? I
suppose the man has earned his money?
That's your affair.
Citizens.
Of course!
Mayor.
Mine? It's yours also. He will be paid
out of the public treasury.
Sauerkraut.
Certainly not.
Citizens.
Certainly not.
Sauerkraut.
It was your bargain; pay the man, and
let him go.
Mayor.
I shall do nothing of the sort. It is
preposterous!
Piper.
I can't wait here all day, I get my living by
the sweat of my brow, and I'm due at Seringapatam.
Come, do you refuse to pay me?
Mayor.
You see, my man, you grossly exaggerated
the difficulty of the job. It was a mere trifle!
Piper.
To me, yes. To you, no!
Mayor.
I tell you what I'll do. Here's a couple of
guilder. I'll give you that as drink money, and
promise to recommend you to all the Mayors of my
acquaintance.
Piper.
Thunder and fury!
[Chord—all start.
Mayor.
Come, don't be insolent!
Piper.
I'll have my money, or—beware!
Mayor.
Threatening a public functionary—the
Watch there!
Piper.
You'd better reflect in time. Come, you!
Will you pay me?
Sauerkraut.
We can't. It's a private matter between
yourself and the Mayor.
Piper.
Cheats! Rascals!
Come, be off!
Piper.
You old gourmandizing villain! Give me
my money!
Mayor.
If you're not out of the town in half-an-hour,
I'll have you committed as a rogue and vagabond.
Liza.
O, sir, I'm so sorry—it's really disgraceful.
Con.
It is infamous. Look here, friend, I'm only a
poor man, but there's all I have, and you're freely
welcome to it.
[Offers money.
Piper.
I don't want your money. I'll have revenge!
But I thank you all the same, and your sweetheart.
She is your sweetheart?
Con.
Yes.
Piper.
Any little sisters or brothers?
Liza.
None.
Con.
Why do you ask?
Piper.
Oh, nothing; only my music has no effect
on any human beings over fourteen years of age; but
all under that age—
Liza.
What do you mean?
Piper.
Mischief! mischief! the pied Piper is not to
be trifled with!
Trio.
O look! O look! I'm really afraid—
He foams at the mouth like a dog with rabies.
Con.
It's really a shame that he hasn't been paid.
Piper.
(Fiercely.)
Now for the little boys, girls, and babies!
All that are fourteen years old and under,
All that prattle and play in the sun about!
I'll coax away, till there isn't one about—
I will, I will, by thunder!
O dear! He's now in a terrible state.
He rolls his eyes as he utters his snarlings.
Con.
His temper's bad, but his wrong is great!
Piper.
Now for the little duckies and darlings!
Dark-hair'd, golden-hair'd, sickly and healthy ones;
The father's treasure, the mother's wonder;
Honest and open ones, sly and stealthy ones,
Ugly and pretty, poor or wealthy ones,
I'll have them all, by thunder!
Liza.
What can he mean?
Con.
I'm almost afraid to guess.
Liza.
Oh, Conrad, I was sure he was no piper.
He's some wicked fiend.
Con.
What?
Liza.
I'm sure of it? I seemed to smell brimstone
in his very breath.
[Music. Cries without.
Enter Martha. Recitative.
Mar.
O woe! O horror!
Liza.
Martha, what's the matter?
That terrible Piper. On his pipe he's playing,
And out of every door and every gateway
The little children flock and gladly follow!
He comes this way!
Liza.
Oh, now I understand him!
Alas! he's luring them to their destruction.
[Music swells. Enter the Piper playing a beautiful melody. As he goes, swarms of little children follow behind him, of all ages up to fourteen, some lame, some blind, all looking at vacancy, and following the sound. As they sing the following, the Piper's music accompanies them, piano.
Children.
Children, children, do not stay,
A sweet voice calls, we must obey!
(Voices off.)
Come away!
Children.
Where the summer roses blow,
Ripe grapes cluster, fountains flow,
Pretty fairies white as snow,
Come and go,
In a bright and golden day!
Come away.
(Voices.)
Come away! come away!
Enter Citizens, in terror.
Chatter-Chorus.
Sight most shocking! how they're flocking
Out of every door together.
Stop them, stay them, he will slay them!
Annchen! Bertha! Hans! come hither!
Hasten, hasten, do not stay!
In the golden fields we'll play,
(Voices.)
Come away!
Children.
See they beckon all in white,
Down the meadows, up the height,
In the golden summer light,
Ah, so bright!
Hasten, hasten, do not stay.
Come away!
(Voices.)
Come away! come away!
Recitative.
Mayor.
Stop him, arrest him. Murder! Help! Despair!
Piper.
Back! He who stirs a finger dies. (Movement.)
Beware!
Chorus.
Sight of sadness! full of gladness
How they flock in swarms behind him!
Stop them, stay them, he will slay them!
Children! Children! Do not mind him.
Liza, Aria.
O hearken to our pleading and our sighing,
Spare the children, they are innocent of guile.
The houses will be empty of their crying,
And the mothers will look vainly for their smile.
Take the fairest, they will follow anywhere!
But spare the little children, O for pity,
For the sake of those who love them, spare, O spare!
Chorus.
Spare them, O spare!
Piper.
Too late your prayer.
Chorus.
They're lost! Despair!
Piper.
No power can stay
Or set them free!
They go with me
Far, far away!
No more you'll hear their happy cries,
No more you'll look into their eyes!
Henceforth with me their souls shall dwell!
Bid them farewell! a last farewell!
Recitative.
Liza.
(To little Hans.)
Hans, is it thou? Come hither, dear, come hither!
Heed not the voice that summons you away.
Alas! he wanders on, he knows not whither,
His eyes are fixed in dream! he will not stay
Little Hans.
(In trance.)
See! see!
The beautiful bright Land,
Where the angels stand
Beckoning and smiling to me!
Hark, can you not hear?
Such sweet, sweet singing!
And the sun shines clear,
And flowers springing.
How beautiful it seems!
And my mother's face shines bright,
Just as it does in dreams
When I lie asleep at night.
[Struggling in Liza's arms.
She calls, she calls, I cannot stay.
Voices.
Come away! come away!
Children.
Children, children, come away,
A sweet voice calls, we must obey.
Piper.
(In a loud voice.)
Come away!
Voices.
(Off, very piano.)
Come away! come away!
[As the Children follow the Piper up and surround him, he stands towering over them in triumph, with a wild laugh. The people stand amazed and wringing their hands. To the last dying sound of the voices the Act-drop slowly descends.
| The Piper of Hamelin | |