Veronika_!

[He calls up to the lighted window. The people stand aghast:
ANSELM bars the threshold.

I come, I come! I bring your Own to you!
Listen, Veronika!

[He feels for his pipe. It is gone.--His
face shows dismay, for a moment]

Where?--Where?

PEOPLE
( He's lost the pipe.--He's hiding it!
( He cannot pipe them back! 'tis gone--'tis gone.--
( No, 'tis to save his life.--It is for time.

PIPER
[to himself]
--'T is but a voice. What matter?--

CROWD
( Seize him--
( Bind him!

PIPER
[to them]
Hush!
[Passionately he stretches his arms towards the window.

ANSELM
Peace, for this parting Soul!

PIPER
[with fixed eyes]
_It shall not go_.
[To the Window]
Veronika!--Ah, listen!--wife of Kurt.
_He comes . . . he comes! Open thine eyes a moment_!
_Blow the faint fire within thy heart. He comes_!
Thy longing brings him;--ay, _and mine,--and mine_!
Heed not these grave-makers, Veronika.
Live, live, and laugh once more!--_Oh! do you hear_?
Look, how you have to waken all these dead,
That walk about you!--Open their dim eyes;
Sing to them with your heart, Veronika,
As I am piping, far away, outside!
Waken them,--change them! Show them how to long,
To reach their arms as you do, for the stars,
And fold them in. Stay but one moment;--stay,
And thine own Child shall draw thee back again
Down here, to mother him,--mother us all!
_Oh, do you listen?--Do not try to answer_,--
I hear!--I hear. . . .

[A faint sound of piping comes from the distance.--The PIPER is
first watchful, then radiant.--The burghers are awe-struck, as it
sounds nearer.

BARBARA
Listen!

MICHAEL
His very tune,

[The PIPER faces front with fixed, triumphant eyes above the crowd.

MARTIN'S WIFE
O Lord, have mercy!
The Pipe is coming to him, through the air!

ALL
'T is coming to the Piper ;--we are lost.--
The Pipe is coming, coming through the air!

[The PIPER, with a sudden gesture, commands silence. He bounds away
(centre), and disappears. The people, spell-bound with terror,
murmur and fray.

ANSELM
_Retro me, Sathanas_!

[KURT the Syndic appears on the threshold behind ANSELM, whose arm
he touches, whispering.--Their faces are wonder-struck with hope
and awe.

HANS the Butcher
[to the others, pointing]
'T is Kurt the Syndic.

AXEL the Smith
Then she lives!--

HANS' WIFE
Look there!

OTHERS
Look, look! The casement! . . .

[The casement of the lighted window opens