Never gave the enraptured air)
There was a rustling that seemed like a bustling
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 farmyard 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.
XIII.
The Mayor was dumb, and the
Council stood
As if they were changed into
blocks of wood,
Unable to move a step, or
cry
To the children merrily skipping
by—
—Could only follow
with the eye
That joyous crowd at the Piper’s
back.
And now the Mayor was on the
rack,
And the wretched Council’s
bosoms beat,
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
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,
And we shall see our children
stop!”
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,
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!”
XIV.