PIPER
No, no, the Moon for me!—­She shall be yours;
And here she sleeps, until her wits be sound.
[He spreads his cloak over her, gently]
The sun’s still high.  ’T is barely afternoon.—­
[Looks at the sunshine.  A thought strikes him with sudden dismay]
’T is—­no, the time is going!—­On my life,
I had forgot Them!—­And They will not stay
After the Rainbow fades.

MICHAEL
[confounded]
Art thou moon-mad?

PIPER
[madly]
No.  Stir not!  Keep her safe!  I come anon. 
But first I go.—­They’ll not mind Cheat-the-Devil! 
They’ll creep, to find out where the Rainbow went. 
I know them!  So would I!—­They’ll all leak out!

MICHAEL
Stay—­stay!

PIPER
  No; guard her, you!—­Anon, anon!

MICHAEL
But you will pipe her up and after you!

PIPER
[flinging him the pipe from his belt]
Do you fear this?  Then keep it till I come. 
You bide!—­The Other cannot.

MICHAEL
Who?

PIPER
  The Rainbow,
The Rainbow!—­

[He runs madly up the hillside, and away.]

Curtain

ACT III

SCENE:  The same, later.  BARBARA lies motionless, still sleeping.—­MICHAEL, sitting on the bank opposite, fingers the pipe with awe and wistfulness.  He blows softly upon it; then looks at the girl hopefully.  She does not stir.

Enter the PIPER, from the hills at back.  He carries a pair of water-jars slung over his shoulders, and seems to be in high feather.

PIPER
[singing]
Out of your cage,
Come out of your cage
And take your soul on a pilgrimage! 
Pease in your shoes, an if you must!—­
But out and away, before you’re dust: 
  Scribe and Stay-at-home,
  Saint and Sage,
  Out of your cage,
  Out of your cage!—­
[He feigns to be terror-struck at sight of the pipe
in Michael’s hands]
Ho, help!  Good Michael, Michael, loose the charm! 
Michael, have mercy!  I’m bewitched!—­

MICHAEL
[giving him the pipe]
  Cock’s faith! 
Still mocking!—­Well ye know, it will not play
Such games for me.

PIPER
  Be soothed,—­’twas as I guessed,
[Unslings the jars]
All of them hungry,—­and the Rainbow going;—­

And Cheat-the-Devil pining in a corner. 
’Twas well I went:  they were for leaking out,
And then,—­lopped ears for two!

MICHAEL
  Oh, that will come.

PIPER
Never believe it!  We have saved her, look you;
We save them all!  No prison walls again,
For anything so young, in Hamelin there. 
Wake her, and see.

MICHAEL
  Ay, wake her.  But for me,
Her sleep is gentler.

PIPER
[comfortingly]
  Nay, but wait.—­Good faith,
Wait.  We have broke the bars of iron now;
Still there are golden!—­’Tis her very self
Is caged within herself.  Once coax her out,
Once set her own heart free!—­