University of Virginia Library

Scene I.

The interior of the Piper's cave among the mountains. As curtain rises the plaintive music of the intermezzo blends into opening notes of the Sleeping Chorus, and the scene, gradually revealed through a transparency, discloses groups of sleeping Children, in whose midst sits the Piper with a weird red light on him, while looking up in his face, as if fascinated, is little Hans. Dim moonlight effect on children.
Chorus of Children,
sleeping.
We are weary of straying
We know not whither,
To the sound of the playing
Which drew us hither.
It is dark and dreary
In these caverns deep,
But we feel so weary
We fain must sleep!

Piper.
Sleep on! still sleep!
Be your slumbers deep!
Ye are mine to keep,
Though ye wake or sleep!

Children.
In our sleep we're dreaming
That still we hear him!
His eyes are gleaming—
We see and fear him!
Though he pinch and pain us,
In vain we weep,
For he who hath ta'en us
Still haunts our sleep.

Piper.
I haunt their sleep!
Through their dreams I creep!
They are mine to keep,
Though they wake or sleep!

Together.
Children.
He haunts our sleep!
Through our dreams doth creep!
We are his to keep,
Though we wake or sleep!

[Music of Chorus dies away, and as the vision fades the scene changes to