me truly;
Can you spin cloth?

BARBARA
[amazed]
I? Spin?

PIPER
[eagerly]
Can you make shoes?

BARBARA
I--_I_ make shoes!--Fellow!

PIPER
So.

MICHAEL
Art thou mad!

PIPER
With me you may not go! But you'll be safe.
Hearken:--you, Michael, go to Rudersheim;
And tell the nuns--

BARBARA
No, no! I dare not have it!
Oh, they would send and take me! No, no, no!

PIPER
Would you go back to Hamelin?

BARBARA
No--no--no!
Ah, I am spent.
[Droops towards the PIPER; falters and sinks down on the bank
beside the well, in a swoon.--The PIPER is abashed and rueful
for the moment.

MICHAEL
All this, your work!

PIPER
[looking at her closely]
Not mine.
This is no charm. It is all youth and grief,
And weariness. And she shall follow you.--
Tell the good nuns you found her sore bewitched,
Here in this haunt of 'devils';--clean distraught.
No Church could so receive a dancing nun!
Tell them thou art an honest, piteous man
Desires to marry her.

MICHAEL
Marry the Moon!

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 tak