Part 27 (1/2)

Where?--Where?

PEOPLE ( He's lost the pipe.--He's hiding it!

( He cannot pipe them back! 'tis gone--'tis gone.-- ( No, 'tis to save his life.--It is for time.

PIPER [to himself]

--'T is but a voice. What matter?--

CROWD ( Seize him-- ( Bind him!

PIPER [to them]

Hus.h.!.+

[Pa.s.sionately he stretches his arms towards the window.

ANSELM Peace, for this parting Soul!

PIPER [with fixed eyes]

_It shall not go_.

[To the Window]

Veronika!--Ah, listen!--wife of Kurt.

_He comes . . . he comes! Open thine eyes a moment_!

_Blow the faint fire within thy heart. He comes_!

Thy longing brings him;--ay, _and mine,--and mine_!

Heed not these grave-makers, Veronika.

Live, live, and laugh once more!--_Oh! do you hear_?

Look, how you have to waken all these dead, That walk about you!--Open their dim eyes; Sing to them with your heart, Veronika, As I am piping, far away, outside!

Waken them,--change them! Show them how to long, To reach their arms as you do, for the stars, And fold them in. Stay but one moment;--stay, And thine own Child shall draw thee back again Down here, to mother him,--mother us all!

_Oh, do you listen?--Do not try to answer_,-- I hear!--I hear. . . .

[A faint sound of piping comes from the distance.--The PIPER is first watchful, then radiant.--The burghers are awe-struck, as it sounds nearer.

BARBARA Listen!

MICHAEL His very tune,

[The PIPER faces front with fixed, triumphant eyes above the crowd.

MARTIN'S WIFE O Lord, have mercy!

The Pipe is coming to him, through the air!

ALL 'T is coming to the Piper ;--we are lost.-- The Pipe is coming, coming through the air!

[The PIPER, with a sudden gesture, commands silence. He bounds away (centre), and disappears. The people, spell-bound with terror, murmur and fray.

ANSELM _Retro me, Sathanas_!

[KURT the Syndic appears on the threshold behind ANSELM, whose arm he touches, whispering.--Their faces are wonder-struck with hope and awe.