The Pied Piper of Hamelin by Robert Browning

The Pied Piper of Hamelin ... From vermin, was a pity. Rats! ... In fifty different sharps and flats. ... What's like to rid us of our vermin! ... 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HamelinTown'sinBrunswick,   ByfamousHanovercity;TheriverWeser,deepandwide,Washesitswallonthesouthernside;Apleasanterspotyouneverspied;   But,whenbeginsmyditty,Almostfivehundredyearsago,Toseethetownsfolksufferso   Fromvermin,wasapity.      Rats!Theyfoughtthedogs,andkilledthecats,   Andbitthebabiesinthecradles,Andeatthecheesesoutofthevats,   Andlickedthesoupfromthecooks'ownladles,Splitopenthekegsofsaltedsprats,Madenestsinsidemen'sSundayhats,Andevenspoiledthewomen'schats      Bydrowningtheirspeaking      WithshriekingandsqueakingInfiftydifferentsharpsandflats.Atlastthepeopleinabody   TotheTownHallcameflocking:'Tisclear,criedthey,ourMayor'sanoddy;   AndasforourCorporation—shockingTothinkwebuygownslinedwithermineFordoltsthatcan'torwon'tdetermineWhat'sliketoridusofourvermin!Rouseup,Sirs!GiveyourbrainsarackingTofindtheremedywe'relacking,Or,sureasfate,we'llsendyoupacking!   AtthistheMayorandCorporation   Quakedwithamightyconsternation.Anhourtheysateincouncil,   AtlengththeMayorbrokesilence:ForaguilderI'dmyerminegownsell;   IwishIwereamilehence!It'seasytobidonerackone'sbrain—I'msuremypoorheadachesagainI'vescratcheditso,andallinvain.Ohforatrap,atrap,atrap!Justashesaidthis,whatshouldhapAtthechamberdoorbutagentletap?Blessus,criedtheMayor,what'sthat?(WiththeCorporationashesate,Lookinglittlethoughwondrousfat);Onlyascrapingofshoesonthemat?AnythinglikethesoundofaratMakesmyheartgopit-a-pat!Comein!—theMayorcried,lookingbigger:Andindidcomethestrangestfigure!HisqueerlongcoatfromheeltoheadWashalfofyellowandhalfofred;Andhehimselfwastallandthin,Withsharpblueeyes,eachlikeapin,Andlightloosehair,yetswarthyskin,Notuftoncheeknorbeardonchin,Butlipswheresmileswentoutandin—Therewasnoguessinghiskithandkin!AndnobodycouldenoughadmireThetallmanandhisquaintattire:Quothone:It'sasmygreat-grandsire,StartingupattheTrumpofDoom'stone,Hadwalkedthiswayfromhispaintedtombstone!Headvancedtothecouncil-table:And,Pleaseyourhonours,saidhe,I'mable,Bymeansofasecretcharm,todrawAllcreatureslivingbeneaththesun,Thatcreep,orswim,orfly,orrun,Aftermesoasyouneversaw!AndIchieflyusemycharmOncreaturesthatdopeopleharm,Themole,andtoad,andnewt,andviper;AndpeoplecallmethePiedPiper.(AndheretheynoticedroundhisneckAscarfofredandyellowstripe,Tomatchwithhiscoatoftheself-samecheque;Andatthescarf'sendhungapipe;Andhisfingers,theynoticed,wereeverstrayingAsifimpatienttobeplayingUponthispipe,aslowitdangledOverhisvesturesoold-fangled.)Yet,saidhe,poorpiperasIam,InTartaryIfreedtheCham,LastJune,fromhishugeswarmsofgnats;IeasedinAsiatheNizamOfamonstrousbroodofvampyre-bats:And,asforwhatyourbrainbewilders,IfIcanridyourtownofratsWillyougivemeathousandguilders?One?fiftythousand!—wastheexclamationOftheastonishedMayorandCorporation.IntothestreetthePiperstept,   Smilingfirstalittlesmile,Asifheknewwhatmagicslept   Inhisquietpipethewhile;Then,likeamusicaladept,Toblowthepipehislipshewrinkled,Andgreenandbluehissharpeyestwinkled,Likeacandle-flamewheresaltissprinkled;Anderethreeshrillnotesthepipeuttered,Youheardasifanarmymuttered;Andthemutteringgrewtoagrumbling;Andthegrumblinggrewtoamightyrumbling;Andoutofthehousestheratscametumbling.Greatrats,smallrats,leanrats,brawnyrats,Brownrats,blackrats,greyrats,tawnyrats,Graveoldplodders,gayyoungfriskers,   Fathers,mothers,uncles,cousins,Cockingtailsandprickingwhiskers,   Familiesbytensanddozens,Brothers,sisters,husbands,wives—FollowedthePiperfortheirlives.Fromstreettostreethepipedadvancing,Andstepforsteptheyfolloweddancing,UntiltheycametotheriverWeserWhereinallplungedandperished—Saveonewho,stoutasJuliusCaesar,Swamacrossandlivedtocarry(Ashethemanuscripthecherished)ToRat-landhomehiscommentary,Whichwas,Atthefirstshrillnotesofthepipe,Iheardasoundasofscrapingtripe,Andputtingapples,wondrousripe,Intoacider-press'sgripe:Andamovingawayofpickle-tub-boards,Andaleavingajarofconserve-cupboards,Andadrawingthecorksoftrain-oil-flasks,Andabreakingthehoopsofbutter-casks;Anditseemedasifavoice(SweeterthanbyharporbypsalteryIsbreathed)calledout,Ohrats,rejoice!Theworldisgrowntoonevastdrysaltery!'Somunchon,crunchon,takeyournuncheon,'Breakfast,supper,dinner,luncheon!Andjustasonebulkysugar-puncheon,Readystaved,likeagreatsunshoneGloriousscarceaninchbeforeme,Justasmethoughtitsaid,Come,boreme!—IfoundtheWeserrollingo'erme.YoushouldhaveheardtheHamelinpeopleRingingthebellstilltheyrockedthesteeple;Go,criedtheMayor,andgetlongpoles!Pokeoutthenestsandblockuptheholes!Consultwithcarpentersandbuilders,AndleaveinourtownnotevenatraceOftherats!—whensuddenlyupthefaceOfthePiperperkedinthemarket-place,Witha,First,ifyouplease,mythousandguilders!Athousandguilders!TheMayorlookedblue;SodidtheCorporationtoo.ForcouncildinnersmaderarehavockWithClaret,Moselle,Vin-de-Grave,Hock;AndhalfthemoneywouldreplenishTheircellar'sbiggestbuttwithRhenish.TopaythissumtoawanderingfellowWithagipsycoatofredandyellow!Beside,quoththeMayorwithaknowingwink,Ourbusinesswasdoneattheriver'sbrink;Wesawwithoureyestheverminsink,Andwhat'sdeadcan'tcometolife,Ithink.So,friend,we'renotthefolkstoshrinkFromthedutyofgivingyousomethingfordrink,Andamatterofmoneytoputinyourpoke;But,asfortheguilders,whatwespokeOfthem,asyouverywellknow,wasinjoke.Beside,ourlosseshavemadeusthrifty;Athousandguilders!Come,takefifty!ThePiper'sfacefell,andhecried,Notrifling!Ican'twait,beside!I'vepromisedtovisitbydinnertimeBagdat,andaccepttheprimeOftheHeadCook'spottage,allhe'srichin,Forhavingleft,intheCaliph'skitchen,Ofanestofscorpionsnosurvivor—WithhimIprovednobargain-driver,Withyou,don'tthinkI'llbateastiver!AndfolkswhoputmeinapassionMayfindmepipeafteranotherfashion.How?criedtheMayor,d'yethinkI'llbrookBeingworsetreatedthanaCook?InsultedbyalazyribaldWithidlepipeandvesturepiebald?Youthreatenus,fellow?Doyourworst,Blowyourpipetheretillyouburst!Oncemorehesteptintothestreet;   AndtohislipsagainLaidhislongpipeofsmoothstraightcane;   Andereheblewthreenotes(suchsweetSoftnotesasyetmusician'scunning   Nevergaveth'enrapturedair)Therewasarustling,thatseem'dlikeabustlingOfmerrycrowdsjustlingatpitchingandhustling,Smallfeetwerepattering,woodenshoesclattering,Littlehandsclapping,andlittletongueschattering,And,likefowlsinafarm-yardwhenbarleyisscattering,Outcamethechildrenrunning.Allthelittleboysandgirls,Withrosycheeksandflaxencurls,Andsparklingeyesandteethlikepearls,Trippingandskipping,ranmerrilyafterThewonderfulmusicwithshoutingandlaughter.TheMayorwasdumb,andtheCouncilstoodAsiftheywerechangedintoblocksofwood,Unabletomoveastep,orcryTothechildrenmerrilyskippingby—CouldonlyfollowwiththeeyeThatjoyouscrowdatthePiper'sback.ButhowtheMayorwasontherack,AndthewretchedCouncil'sbosomsbeat,AsthePiperturnedfromtheHighStreetTowheretheWeserrolleditswatersRightinthewayoftheirsonsanddaughters!HoweverheturnedfromSouthtoWest,AndtoCoppelburgHillhisstepsaddressed,Andafterhimthechildrenpressed;Greatwasthejoyineverybreast.Henevercancrossthatmightytop!He'sforcedtoletthepipingdrop,Andweshallseeourchildrenstop!When,lo,astheyreachedthemountain'sside,Awondrousportalopenedwide,Asifacavernwassuddenlyhollowed;AndthePiperadvancedandthechildrenfollow'd,Andwhenallwereintotheverylast,Thedoorinthemountainsideshutfast.DidIsay,all?No!Onewaslame,Andcouldnotdancethewholeoftheway;Andinafteryears,ifyouwouldblameHissadness,hewasusedtosay,—It'sdullinourtownsincemyplaymatesleft!Ican'tforgetthatI'mbereftOfallthepleasantsightstheysee,WhichthePiperalsopromisedme;Forheledus,hesaid,toajoyousland,Joiningthetownandjustathand,Wherewatersgushedandfruit-treesgrew,Andflowersputforthafairerhue,Andeverythingwasstrangeandnew;Thesparrowswerebrighterthanpeacockshere,Andtheirdogsoutranourfallowdeer,Andhoney-beeshadlosttheirstings,Andhorseswerebornwitheagles'wings:AndjustasIfeltassuredMylamefootwouldbespeedilycured,ThemusicstoppedandIstoodstill,AndfoundmyselfoutsidetheHill,Leftaloneagainstmywill,Togonowlimpingasbefore,Andneverhearofthatcountrymore!Alas,alasforHamelin!   Therecameintomanyaburgher'spate   Atextwhichsays,thatHeaven'sGate   OpestotheRichataseasyarateAstheneedle'seyetakesacamelin!TheMayorsentEast,West,North,andSouth,ToofferthePiper,bywordofmouth,   Whereveritwasmen'slottofindhim,Silverandgoldtohisheart'scontent,Ifhe'donlyreturnthewayhewent,   Andbringthechildrenbehindhim.Butwhentheysaw'twasalostendeavour,AndPiperanddancersweregoneforever,Theymadeadecreethatlawyersnever   ShouldthinktheirrecordsdateddulyIf,afterthedayofthemonthandyear,Thesewordsdidnotaswellappear,"Andsolongafterwhathappenedhere   "OntheTwenty-secondofJuly,"ThirteenhundredandSeventy-six:"AndthebetterinmemorytofixTheplaceoftheChildren'slastretreat,Theycalledit,ThePiedPiper'sStreet—WhereanyoneplayingonpipeortaborWassureforthefuturetolosehislabour.NorsufferedtheyHostelryorTavern   Toshockwithmirthastreetsosolemn;Butoppositetheplaceofthecavern   Theywrotethestoryonacolumn,AndontheGreatChurchWindowpaintedThesame,tomaketheworldacquaintedHowtheirchildrenwerestolenaway;Andthereitstandstothisveryday.AndImustnotomittosayThatinTransylvaniathere'satribeOfalienpeoplewhoascribeTheoutlandishwaysanddressOnwhichtheirneighbourslaysuchstressTotheirfathersandmothershavingrisenOutofsomesubterraneousprisonIntowhichtheyweretrepannedLongtimeagoinamightybandOutofHamelintowninBrunswickland,Buthoworwhy,theydon'tunderstand.So,Willy,letyouandmebewipersOfscoresoutwithallmen—especiallypipers:And,whethertheypipeusfromratsorfrommice,Ifwe'vepromisedthemaught,letuskeepourpromise. 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MoreAboutThisPoem ThePiedPiperofHamelin ByRobertBrowning AboutthisPoet AlthoughtheearlypartofRobertBrowning’screativelifewasspentincomparativeobscurity,hehascometoberegardedasoneofthemostimportantEnglishpoetsoftheVictorianperiod.Hisdramaticmonologuesandthepsycho-historicalepic TheRingandtheBook (1868-1869),anovel... ReadFullBiography MoreAboutthisPoet Region: England School/Period: Victorian QuickTags Arts&Sciences Music SocialCommentaries Mythology&Folklore