Beside, our losses have made us thrifty. The Piper's face fell, and he cried, Of the Head-Cook's pottage, all he's rich in, 173 184 "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, Once more he stepped into the street, Laid his long pipe of smooth straight cane; Never gave the enraptured air) 190 There was a rustling that seemed like a bustling Of merry crowds justling at pitching and hus tling; Small feet were pattering, wooden shoes clat tering, Little hands clapping and little tongues chat tering, 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, The Mayor was dumb, and the Council stood To the children merrily skipping by, Right in the way of their sons and daughters! “He never can cross that mighty top! 207 When, lo, as they reached the mountain-side, As if a cavern was suddenly hollowed; 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, "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, For he led us, he said, to a joyous land, Where waters gushed and fruit-trees grew And everything was strange and new; The sparrows were brighter than peacocks And their dogs outran our fallow deer, My lame foot would be speedily cured, And found myself outside the hill, Left alone against my will, To go now limping as before, And never hear of that country more!" 255 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 To shock with mirth a street so solemn; They wrote the story on a column, And on the great church-window painted And there it stands to this very day. That in Transylvania there's a tribe The outlandish ways and dress On which their neighbors lay such stress, Out of Hamelin town in Brunswick land, So, Willy, let me and you be wipers 299 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 1843. promise! 303 Robert Browning. THE JACKDAW OF RHEIMS THE Jackdaw sat on the Cardinal's chair! Many a monk, and many a friar, Many a knight, and many a squire, With a great many more of lesser degree,— In sooth, a goodly company; And they served the Lord Primate on bended knee. |