His queer long coat from heel to head 60 But lips where smiles went out and in- 65 Quoth one: 'It's as my great grandsire, Had walked this way from his painted tombstone.' 70 He advanced to the council-table: And, Please your honours,' said he, 'I'm able, By means of a secret charm, to draw All creatures living beneath the sun, 75 And I chiefly use my charm On creatures that do people harm, The mole, and toad, and newt, and viper; And people call me the Pied Piper.' (And here they noticed round his neck 80 A scarf of red and yellow stripe, To match with his coat of the self-same cheque ; And his fingers, they noticed, were ever straying, 85 Upon this pipe, as low it dangled Over his vesture so old-fangled.) 'Yet,' said he, 'poor Piper as I am, In Tartary I freed the Cham, Last June, from his huge swarms of gnats; Of a monstrous brood of vampyre bats : 90 And, as for what your brain bewilders, Will you give me a thousand guilders?' Into the street the Piper stept, To blow the pipe his lips he wrinkled, And green and blue his sharp eyes twinkled, And ere three shrill notes the pipe uttered, And the grumbling grew to a mighty rumbling; Fathers, mothers, uncles, cousins, 93 100 105 ΠΙΟ 115 120 (As he the manuscript he cherished) To Rat-land home his commentary, Which was, 'At the first shrill notes of the pipe, 125 And putting apples, wondrous ripe, Into a cider-press's gripe; And a moving away of pickle-tub-boards, And a leaving ajar of conserve cupboards, And a breaking the hoops of butter casks; (Sweeter far than by harp or by psaltery 130 135 So munch on, crunch on, take your nuncheon, 140 And just as a bulky sugar-puncheon, All ready staved, like a great sun shone Just as methought it said, Come, bore me! 145 You should have heard the Hamelin people 150 Of the rats!'-when suddenly up the face Of the Piper perked in the market-place, With a, First, if you please, my thousand guilders!' A thousand guilders! The Mayor looked blue; 155 So did the Corporation too. For council dinners made rare havock With Claret, Moselle, Vin-de-Grave, Hock; 160 Their cellar's biggest butt with Rhenish. Ꮓ 'Beside,' quoth the Mayor, with a knowing wink, 'Our business was done at the river's brink; We saw with our eyes the vermin sink, 165 And what's dead can't come to life, I think. So, friend, we're not the folks to shrink From the duty of giving you something for drink, But, as for the guilders, what we spoke 170 Of them, as you very well know, was in joke. The Piper's face fell, and he cried, 175 I've promised to visit by dinner-time Bagdad, and accept the prime Of the Head Cook's pottage, all he's rich in, Of a nest of scorpions no survivor- 182 'How?' cried the Mayor, 'd'ye think I'll brook 185 Being worse treated than a Cook? Insulted by a lazy ribald With idle pipe and vesture piebald? You threaten us, fellow? Do your worst, Blow your pipe there till you burst!' 190 Once more he stept into the street; And to his lips again Laid his long pipe of smooth straight cane; Soft notes as yet musician's cunning Never gave the enraptured air), 195 There was a rustling, that seemed like a bustling tering, Out came the children running. All the little boys and girls, With rosy cheeks and flaxen curls, And sparkling eyes and teeth like pearls, 200 205 The wonderful music with shouting and laughter. The Mayor was dumb, and the Council stood As if they were changed into blocks of wood, 210 To the children merrily skipping by- Right in the way of their sons and daughters! And to Koppelberg Hill his steps addressed, Great was the joy in every breast. 'He never can cross that mighty top! He's forced to let the piping drop, And we shall see our children stop!' 215 220 225 When lo! as they reached the mountain's side, A wondrous portal opened wide, As if a cavern was suddenly hollowed; And the Piper advanced and the children followed, Z 2 |