hidden charms
I have, that I have never counted through.

BARBARA
[fascinated]
Where are they?

PIPER
[touching his heart]
Here.

BARBARA
What are they?

PIPER
How do I know?
If I knew all, why should I care to live?
No, no! The game is What-Will-Happen-Next?

BARBARA
And what will happen?

PIPER
[tantalizingly]
Ah! how do I know?
It keeps me searching. 'T is so glad and sad
And strange to find out, What-Will-Happen-Next!
And mark you this: the strangest miracle. . .

BARBARA
Yes!--

PIPER
Stranger than the Devil or thy Judgment;
Stranger than piping,--even when _I_ pipe!
Stranger than charming mice--or even men--

BARBARA
[with tense expectancy]
What is it? What?

PIPER
[watching her]
Why,--what may come to pass
Here in the heart. There is one very charm--

BARBARA
Oh!

PIPER
Are you brave?

BARBARA
[awe-struck]
Oh!

PIPER
[slowly]
Will you drink the philter?

BARBARA
'Tis. . . some enchantment?

PIPER
[mysteriously]
'T is a love philter.

BARBARA
Oh, tell me first--

PIPER
Why, sooth, the only charm
In it, is Love. It is clear well-water.

BARBARA
[disappointed]
Only well-water?

PIPER
Love is only Love.
It must be philters, then?
[He comes down smiling and beckons to MICHAEL, who draws near, bewildered.
This lady thirsts
For magic!
[He ties a long green scarf that he has over his shoulder, to a
water-jar, and lowers it down the old well; while BARBARA watches,
awe-struck. He continues to sing softly.
_Mind your eyes_,
_Tune your tongue_;
_Let it never he said_,
_But sung,--but sung_!--

MICHAEL
[to BARBARA, timidly]
I am glad at least, fair lady,
To think how my poor show did give you pleasure
That day--that day when--

BARBARA
Ah! that day of doom!

MICHAEL
What is your will?

BARBARA
[passionately]
I know not; and I care not!
[Apart]
Oh, it is true.--And he a sword-eater!
[The PIPER hauls up the jar, full of water.]

PIPER
Michael, your cup.

[MICHAEL gives him a drinking-horn from his belt. The PIPER fills it
with water, solemnly, and turns to BARBARA, who is at first defiant,
then fascinated.
Maiden, your ears. So:--hearken.
Before you drink of this, is it your will
Forever to be gone from Hamelin?

BARBARA
I must,--I must.

PIPER
Your mother?

BARBARA
[piteously]
I have no mother;
Nor any father, more. He gave me up.

PIPER
That did he!--For a round one thousand guilders!
We