The Pied Piper of Hamelin But as for the guilders, what we spoke Of them, as you very well know, was in joke. A thousand guilders! Come, take fifty!" X The Piper's face fell, and he cried, Of the Head Cook's pottage, all he's rich in, Of a nest of scorpions no survivor: XI "How?" cried the Mayor, "d'ye think I brook 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!" 197 XII Once more he stepped into the street; And to his lips again Laid his long pipe of smooth straight cane; And ere he blew three notes (such sweet Soft notes as yet musician's cunning Never gave the enraptured air) There was a rustling that seemed like a bustling All the little boys and girls, With rosy cheeks and flaxen curls, And sparkling eyes and teeth like pearls, The wonderful music with shouting and laughter. XIII The Mayor was dumb, and the Council stood To the children merrily skipping by,- Right in the way of their sons and daughters! 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!" When, lo, as they reached the mountain-side, A wondrous portal opened wide, As if a cavern was suddenly hollowed; And the Piper advanced and the children followed; And when all were in, to the very last, The door in the mountain-side shut fast. Did I say, all? No! One was lame, And could not dance the whole of the way; And in after years, if you would blame His sadness, he was used to say, "It's dull in our town since my playmates left! I can't forget that I'm bereft Of all the pleasant sights they see, The Pied Piper of Hamelin For he led us, he said, to a joyous land, And everything was strange and new; The sparrows were brighter than peacocks here, And honey-bees had lost their stings, My lame foot would be speedily cured, And found myself outside the hill, To go now limping as before, And never hear of that country more!" XIV Alas, alas for Hamelin! There came into many a burgher's pate As the needle's eye takes a camel in! The Mayor sent East, West, North and South, Should think their records dated duly 199 The place of the children's last retreat, To shock with mirth a street so solemn; They wrote the story on a column, That in Transylvania there's a tribe The outlandish ways and dress On which their neighbors lay such stress, Long time ago in a mighty band Out of Hamelin town in Brunswick land, XV So, Willy, let me and you be wipers Of scores out with all men-especially pipers! And, whether they pipe us free from rats or fróm mice, If we've promised them aught, let us keep our promise! Robert Browning [1812-1889] THE GLAD EVANGEL A CAROL HE came all so still Where His mother was, As dew in April That falleth on the grass. He came all so still Where His mother lay, As dew in April That falleth on the spray. He came all so still To His mother's bower, As dew in April That falleth on the flower. Mother and maiden Was never none but she! Well might such a lady Unknown "GOD REST YOU, MERRY GENTLEMEN” GOD rest you, merry gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, O tidings of comfort and joy! |