The Pied Piper Of Hamelin
I.
1 Hamelin Town's in Brunswick, 2 By famous Hanover city; 3 The river Weser, deep and wide, 4 Washes its wall on the southern side; 5 A pleasanter spot you never spied; 6 But, when begins my ditty, 7 Almost five hundred years ago, 8 To see the townsfolk suffer so 9 From vermin, was a pity. II. 10 Rats! 11 They fought the dogs and killed the cats, 12 And bit the babies in the cradles, 13 And ate the cheeses out of the vats, 14 And licked the soup from the cooks' own ladles, 15 Split open the kegs of salted sprats, 16 Made nests inside men's Sunday hats, 17 And even spoiled the women's chats, 18 By drowning their speaking 19 With shrieking and squeaking 20 In fifty different sharps and flats. [III.] 21 At last the people in a body 22 To the Town Hall came flocking: 23 "Tis clear,'' cried they, `our Mayor's a noddy; 24 And as for our Corporation -- shocking 25 To think we buy gowns lined with ermine 26 For dolts that can't or won't determine 27 What's best to rid us of our vermin! 28 You hope, because you're old and obese, 29 To find in the furry civic robe ease? 30 Rouse up, sirs! Give your brains a racking 31 To find the remedy we're lacking, 32 Or, sure as fate, we'll send you packing!'' 33 At this the Mayor and Corporation 34 Quaked with a mighty consternation. IV. 35 An hour they sat in council, 36 At length the Mayor broke silence: 37 "For a guilder I'd my ermine gown sell; 38 I wish I were a mile hence! 39 It's easy to bid one rack one's brain -- 40 I'm sure my poor head aches again, 41 I've scratched it so, and all in vain 42 Oh for a trap, a trap, a trap!'' 43 Just as he said this, what should hap 44 At the chamber door but a gentle tap? 45 "Bless us", cried the Mayor, "what's that?'' 46 (With the Corporation as he sat, 47 Looking little though wondrous fat; 48 Nor brighter was his eye, nor moister 49 Than a too-long-opened oyster, 50 Save when at noon his paunch grew mutinous 51 For a plate of turtle green and glutinous) 52 "Only a scraping of shoes on the mat? 53 Anything like the sound of a rat 54 Makes my heart go pit-a-pat!'' V. 55 "Come in!'' -- the Mayor cried, looking bigger 56 And in did come the strangest figure! 57 His queer long coat from heel to head 58 Was half of yellow and half of red, 59 And he himself was tall and thin, 60 With sharp blue eyes, each like a pin, 61 And light loose hair, yet swarthy skin 62 No tuft on cheek nor beard on chin, 63 But lips where smile went out and in; 64 There was no guessing his kith and kin: 65 And nobody could enough admire 66 The tall man and his quaint attire. 67 Quoth one: "It's as my great-grandsire, 68 Starting up at the Trump of Doom's tone, 69 Had walked this way from his painted tombstone!'' VI. 70 He advanced to the council-table: 71 And, "Please your honours,'' said he, "I'm able, 72 By means of a secret charm, to draw 73 All creatures living beneath the sun, 74 That creep or swim or fly or run, 75 After me so as you never saw! 76 And I chiefly use my charm 77 On creatures that do people harm, 78 The mole and toad and newt and viper; 79 And people call me the Pied Piper.'' 80 (And here they noticed round his neck 81 A scarf of red and yellow stripe, 82 To match with his coat of the self-same cheque; 83 And at the scarf's end hung a pipe; 84 And his fingers, they noticed, were ever straying 85 As if impatient to be playing 86 Upon this pipe, as low it dangled 87 Over his vesture so old-fangled.) 88 "Yet,'' said he, "poor piper as I am, 89 In Tartary I freed the Cham, 90 Last June, from his huge swarms of gnats, 91 I eased in Asia the Nizam 92 Of a monstrous brood of vampyre-bats: 93 And as for what your brain bewilders, 94 If I can rid your town of rats 95 Will you give me a thousand guilders?'' 96 "One? fifty thousand!'' -- was the exclamation 97 Of the astonished Mayor and Corporation. VII. 98 Into the street the Piper stept, 99 Smiling first a little smile, 100 As if he knew what magic slept 101 In his quiet pipe the while; 102 Then, like a musical adept, 103 To blow the pipe his lips he wrinkled, 104 And green and blue his sharp eyes twinkled, 105 Like a candle-flame where salt is sprinkled; 106 And ere three shrill notes the pipe uttered, 107 You heard as if an army muttered; 108 And the muttering grew to a grumbling; 109 And the grumbling grew to a mighty rumbling; 110 And out of the houses the rats came tumbling. 111 Great rats, small rats, lean rats, brawny rats, 112 Brown rats, black rats, grey rats, tawny rats, 113 Grave old plodders, gay young friskers, 114 Fathers, mothers, uncles, cousins, 115 Cocking tails and pricking whiskers, 116 Families by tens and dozens, 117 Brothers, sisters, husbands, wives -- 118 Followed the Piper for their lives. 119 From street to street he piped advancing, 120 And step for step they followed dancing, 121 Until they came to the river Weser 122 Wherein all plunged and perished! 123 < Save one who, stout as Julius Caesar, 124 Swam across and lived to carry 125 (As he, the manuscript he cherished) 126 To Rat-land home his commentary: 127 Which was, "At the first shrill notes of the pipe, 128 I heard a sound as of scraping tripe, 129 And putting apples, wondrous ripe, 130 Into a cider-press's gripe: 131 And a moving away of pickle-tub-boards, 132 And a leaving ajar of conserve-cupboards, 133 And a drawing the corks of train-oil-flasks, 134 And a breaking the hoops of butter-casks: 135 And it seemed as if a voice 136 (Sweeter far than by harp or by psaltery 137 Is breathed) called out, 'Oh rats, rejoice! 138 The world is grown to one vast drysaltery! 139 So munch on, crunch on, take your nuncheon, 140 Breakfast, supper, dinner, luncheon!' 141 And just as a bulky sugar-puncheon, 142 All ready staved, like a great sun shone 143 Glorious scarce an inch before me, 144 Just as methought it said, `Come, bore me!' 145 -- I found the Weser rolling o'er me.'' VIII. 146 You should have heard the Hamelin people 147 Ringing the bells till they rocked the steeple 148 Go,''cried the Mayor, "and get long poles, 149 Poke out the nests and block up the holes! 150 Consult with carpenters and builders, 151 And leave in our town not even a trace 152 Of the rats!'' -- when suddenly, up the face 153 Of the Piper perked in the market-place, 154 With a, "First, if you please, my thousand guilders!'' IX. 155 A thousand guilders! The Mayor looked blue; 156 So did the Corporation too. 157 For council dinners made rare havoc 158 With Claret, Moselle, Vin-de-Grave, Hock; 159 And half the money would replenish 160 Their cellar's biggest butt with Rhenish. 161 To pay this sum to a wandering fellow 162 With a gipsy coat of red and yellow! 163 "Beside", quoth the Mayor with a knowing wink, 164 "Our business was done at the river's brink; 165 We saw with our eyes the vermin sink, 166 And what's dead can't come to life, I think. 167 So, friend, we're not the folks to shrink 168 From the duty of giving you something to drink, 169 And a matter of money to put in your poke; 170 But as for the guilders, what we spoke 171 Of them, as you very well know, was in joke. 172 Beside, our losses have made us thrifty. 173 A thousand guilders! Come, take fifty!'' X. 174 The Piper's face fell, and he cried, 175 "No trifling! I can't wait, beside! 176 I've promised to visit by dinner-time 177 Bagdad, and accept the prime 178 Of the Head-Cook's pottage, all he's rich in, 179 For having left, in the Caliph's kitchen, 180 Of a nest of scorpions no survivor: 181 With him I proved no bargain-driver, 182 With you, don't think I'll bate a stiver! 183 And folks who put me in a passion 184 May find me pipe after another fashion.'' XI. 185 "How?'' cried the Mayor, "d'ye think I brook 186 Being worse treated than a Cook? 187 Insulted by a lazy ribald 188 With idle pipe and vesture piebald? 189 You threaten us, fellow? Do your worst, 190 Blow your pipe there till you burst!'' XII. 191 Once more he stept into the street, 192 And to his lips again 193 Laid his long pipe of smooth straight cane; 194 And ere he blew three notes (such sweet 195 Soft notes as yet musician's cunning 196 Never gave the enraptured air) 197 There was a rustling that seemed like a bustling 198 Of merry crowds justling at pitching and hustling, 199 Small feet were pattering, wooden shoes clattering, 200 Little hands clapping and little tongues chattering, 201 And, like fowls in a farm-yard when barley is scattering, 202 Out came the children running. 203 All the little boys and girls, 204 With rosy cheeks and flaxen curls, 205 And sparkling eyes and teeth like pearls, 206 Tripping and skipping, ran merrily after 207 The wonderful music with shouting and laughter. XIII. 208 The Mayor was dumb, and the Council stood 209 As if they were changed into blocks of wood, 210 Unable to move a step, or cry 211 To the children merrily skipping by, 212 -- Could only follow with the eye 213 That joyous crowd at the Piper's back. 214 But how the Mayor was on the rack, 215 And the wretched Council's bosoms beat, 216 As the Piper turned from the High Street 217 To where the Weser rolled its waters 218 Right in the way of their sons and daughters! 219 However he turned from South to West, 220 And to Koppelberg Hill his steps addressed, 221 And after him the children pressed; 222 Great was the joy in every breast. 223 "He never can cross that mighty top! 224 He's forced to let the piping drop, 225 And we shall see our children stop! 226 When, lo, as they reached the mountain-side, 227 A wondrous portal opened wide, 228 As if a cavern was suddenly hollowed; 229 And the Piper advanced and the children followed, 230 And when all were in to the very last, 231 The door in the mountain-side shut fast. 232 Did I say, all? No! One was lame, 233 And could not dance the whole of the way; 234 And in after years, if you would blame 235 His sadness, he was used to say, -- 236 "It's dull in our town since my playmates left! 237 I can't forget that I'm bereft 238 Of all the pleasant sights they see, 239 Which the Piper also promised me. 240 For he led us, he said, to a joyous land, 241 Joining the town and just at hand, 242 Where waters gushed and fruit-trees grew, 243 And flowers put forth a fairer hue, 244 And everything was strange and new; 245 The sparrows were brighter than peacocks here, 246 And their dogs outran our fallow deer, 247 And honey-bees had lost their stings, 248 And horses were born with eagles' wings; 249 And just as I became assured 250 My lame foot would be speedily cured, 251 The music stopped and I stood still, 252 And found myself outside the hill, 253 Left alone against my will, 254 To go now limping as before, 255 And never hear of that country more!'' XIV. 256 Alas, alas for Hamelin! 257 There came into many a burgher's pate 258 A text which says that heaven's gate 259 Opes to the rich at as easy rate 260 As the needle's eye takes a camel in! 261 The mayor sent East, West, North and South, 262 To offer the Piper, by word of mouth, 263 Wherever it was men's lot to find him, 264 Silver and gold to his heart's content, 265 If he'd only return the way he went, 266 And bring the children behind him. 267 But when they saw 'twas a lost endeavour, 268 And Piper and dancers were gone for ever, 269 They made a decree that lawyers never 270 Should think their records dated duly 271 If, after the day of the month and year, 272 These words did not as well appear, 273 "And so long after what happened here 274 On the Twenty-second of July, 275 Thirteen hundred and seventy-six:'' 276 And the better in memory to fix 277 The place of the children's last retreat, 278 They called it, the Pied Piper's Street -- 279 Where any one playing on pipe or tabor, 280 Was sure for the future to lose his labour. 281 Nor suffered they hostelry or tavern 282 To shock with mirth a street so solemn; 283 But opposite the place of the cavern 284 They wrote the story on a column, 285 And on the great church-window painted 286 The same, to make the world acquainted 287 How their children were stolen away, 288 And there it stands to this very day. 289 And I must not omit to say 290 That in Transylvania there's a tribe 291 Of alien people who ascribe 292 The outlandish ways and dress 293 On which their neighbours lay such stress, 294 To their fathers and mothers having risen 295 Out of some subterraneous prison 296 Into which they were trepanned 297 Long time ago in a mighty band 298 Out of Hamelin town in Brunswick land, 299 But how or why, they don't understand. XV. 300 So, Willy, let me and you be wipers 301 Of scores out with all men -- especially pipers! 302 And, whether they pipe us free from rats or from mice, 303 If we've promised them aught, let us keep our promise! |
- A town in Germany - The most beautiful place in the world. - "My ditty" - A little song - "Vermin" - Rodents - These rats are violent. - They are cheeky rats; "vats" - Where cheese is kept. ↓ Its not much fun being in Hamelin ↓ - Everyone gathered together and made their way towards the town hall. - "Noddy" - An idiot - "For dolts" - For nothing - The Townsman is fat. - Beautiful robes. - Going to rebel against cooperation. - "Quaked" - Shake; "Consternation"- With worry - Wishes he was out of there - Wants a trap for the Rats. - Looks little because he can't do anything about it. - Whenever he hears something, he thinks that it is a rat. - Trying too big himself up. - "Queer" - Strange - "Swarthy" - Dark - His family of his race - Everybody is looking around saying "wow". *He might do it to those who don't cause him harm. - Hes able to take anything and get rid of them - He does it to creatures that harm others. - "His vesture" - His face - "Nizam" - Are a group of people - Of the thing that is really annoying his town - He wants 1000 guilders. - Mayors says that he'll give 50,000 if he does what he says. - "Stept" - Phonetic - He steps into the street, gets out his pipe and smiles; he knows what noise will come out. - Played three notes. - Sounds like a heard is coming. - Tells history of what happened. - "Tripe" - Haggis, horrible meat; Rats like it - Rats hear it knowing it is food. - These are the sound of foods which he hears. - Getting excited thinking he'll get all of the food but ends up in the river instead. ↓ The mayor and the people of Hamelin start to cheer and they are going to celebrate. The pied piper said he must pay him first. ↓ - He is upset. - Wines at council dinner. - Half the money wouldn't fill cellars with wine (Rhenish) - Stupid money to pay - They'll give him money and a drink - They didn't really mean it. - Will only give 50 - He is going to Bagdad and he is going to accept a dish. - He got rid of something for the chefs so he is being paid with food. - Threatening him to give the whole thousand guilders. - "Do you think a scag like you can threaten us?" - Telling him that he can't threaten him, he can go die! - He blew three notes like before. - The sound of a heard coming like it did with the rats. - Kids started coming towards the Pied Piper. - He is going to take the childen. -Sees kids running away and they can't do anything. - "Rack" - Stretcher for person; They were in a difficult situation, feared that the children will drown. - The kids turned right towards the river. - They expected the children to stop. - Cave looking hole on the side of a mountain. - All the children went in - One child was left behind. - Like before, he was the one left behind to tell the story - All of his friends have gone ↓ * What the Pied Piper promised him/them. ↑ - He was told by the Pied Piper that his foot would be cured if he went there. - He'll never see his friends again. - Sad for Hamelin. - Verse in the Bible in which Jesus says, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God." - Whenever a Lawyer wrote something down, this is what they'd write. - Called the street this to remember the Children. - Banned from playing a pipe on that street. - There is to be no smiling on this street. - So everyone will know how they lost their children. - A tribe that dress like the Pied Piper. - "Trepanned" - Been Shoved - They don't know how they are from there. - Moral: Keep your promise. |