"Glorious scarce an inch before me,

"Just as methought it said, 'Come, bore me!' "-I found the Weser rolling o'er me."

You should have heard the Hamelin people 5 Ringing the bells till they rocked the steeple. Go," cried the Mayor," and get long poles, "Poke out the nests and block up the holes! "Consult with carpenters and builders, "And leave in our town not even a trace 10 “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;
So did the Corporation too.

15 For council dinners made rare havoc
With Claret, Moselle, Vin-de-Grave, Hock;
And half the money would replenish
Their cellar's biggest butt with Rhenish.
Το pay

this sum to a wandering fellow

With a gypsy coat of red and yellow!

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, "And what's dead can't come to life, I think. 25 "So, friend, we're not the folks to shrink "From the duty of giving you something to drink, "And a matter of money to put in your poke; "But as for the guilders, what we spoke

"Of them, as you very well know, was in joke. "Beside, our losses have made us thrifty.

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A thousand guilders! Come, take fifty!"

The Piper's face fell, and he cried
"No trifling! I can't wait, beside!
"I've promised to visit by dinner time

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Bagdat, and accept the prime

"Of the Head-Cook's pottage, all he's rich in "For having left, in the Caliph's kitchen,

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Of a nest of scorpions no survivor:

"With him, I proved no bargain-driver,
"With you, don't think I'll bate a stiver!
"And folks who put me in a passion

"May find me pipe after another fashion."

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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!"

20

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

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10

15

5

5

10

Of merry crowds justling at pitching and hustling, Small feet were pattering, wooden shoes clattering, Little hands clapping and little tongues chattering; And, like fowls in a farm-yard when barley is scattering,

Out came the children running.

All the little boys and girls,

With

rosy cheeks and flaxen curls,

And sparkling eyes and teeth like pearls,
Tripping and skipping, ran merrily after

The wonderful music with shouting and laughter.

The Mayor was dumb, and the Council stood
As if they were changed into blocks of wood,
Unable to move a step, or cry

15 To the children merrily skipping by,
-Could only follow with the eye
That joyous crowd at the Piper's back.
But how the Mayor was on the rack,
And the wretched Council's bosoms beat,
20 As the Piper turned from the High Street
To where the Weser rolled its waters

Right in the way of their sons and daughters!
However he turned from South to West,
And to Koppelberg Hill his steps addressed,
25 And after him the children pressed;
Great was the joy in every breast.

"He never can cross that mighty top!

"He's forced to let the piping drop,

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And we shall see our children stop!"

ADVANCED READER.

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,

"Which the Piper also promised me.
"For he led us, he said, to a joyous land,

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Joining the town and just at hand,

"Where waters gushed and fruit-trees grew
"And flowers put forth a fairer hue,
"And everything was strange and new;

"The sparrows were brighter than peacocks here,
"And their dogs outran our fallow deer,
"And honey-bees had lost their stings,
"And horses were born with eagles' wings:
"And just as I became assured

"My lame foot would be speedily cured,
"The music stopped and I stood still
"And found myself outside the hill,
"Left alone against my will,

"To go now limping as before,

"And never hear of that country more!"

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20

80

THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN.