Scene II.—Same as Scene I. The Mayor and Councilmen looking out of window

Mayor. There he goes down the street.

First Councilman. What a strange looking pipe he plays!

Second Councilman. I believe it must be a magic one.

Third Councilman. Do you hear the music? What is that other noise?

Mayor. Look, look at the rats! Did you ever see such a sight!

First Councilman. The streets are crowded with them! Big and little, brown, black, and gray, they are tumbling over each other in their hurry!

Second Councilman. Sir! he is going toward the bridge.

Third Councilman. They must think he is playing a tune of apples and cheese!

Mayor. There they are at the river. They are plunging in! they will be drowned!

First Councilman. Good for the piper!

Mayor. Ring the bells for the people. Tell them to get long poles, poke out the nests and block up the holes!

Second Councilman. Here comes the Piper.

Third Councilman. That was well done, Mr. Piper.

Pied Piper. Yes, all the rats are drowned and now I've come for my pay.

Mayor. Pay! why what have you done? Just played a tune on your pipe. You must be joking.

Piper. You promised—

First Councilman. You impudent fellow! You certainly don't think a tune on your pipe is worth one thousand guilders? There is no work in that.

Second Councilman. The rats are dead and can't come to life again, I think!

Mayor. My friend, we are much obliged, of course. We are much obliged and will gladly give you fifty guilders. You know your time is not worth more.

Piper. No trifling, pray. I'll have what you promised, or you may find that I'll play a tune you do not like!

Mayor. What! do you threaten us, fellow? Do what you please. Do you think we care? Play on your old pipe whatever tune you wish.

Piper. Listen, then, and look from your window when I play again in the street below.

[Goes out.]

Mayor. What does the lazy fellow mean by his threats?

First Councilman. Hear his wonderful music! Listen.

Second Councilman. Oh! what is he doing! See the children!

Third Councilman. They are following him. There is my son. Where are you going, my boy? Come back!

Mayor. Let me see! O woe! there are my own three lovely children. Run, some one, and stop them!

Third Councilman. I'll go; I'll go.

[Runs out.]

Mayor. It is useless. Every child in our city is following the magic sound.

Second Councilman. The music seems to say: "Come, children, to the wonderful land of play. There flowers and fruits will welcome you. The birds and beasts will play with you, and you will never be sad or sorry in the wonderful land of play." No wonder the children follow the Piper.

Third Councilman (enters). The children and the Piper have all disappeared! A mountain opened and let them in!

First Councilman. The children, the blessed children, have gone! What shall we do without the children?

Mayor. Oh, wicked man that I am! Why did I break my promise? Why did I not give him the thousand guilders?

Second Councilman. Yes, we are all wicked men, and we are punished for not keeping our word.

Mayor. Let us write this sad story on a column so that all may read; and let us paint the picture of the Piper with our little ones following him, on a church window, so that all men may know how our children have been stolen away.

First Councilman. And may this sad story teach us all to keep our word with every one.