ollow us to the grave.

OLD CLAUS
No, no,--not one!

[The Minster-door opens, and out come certain of the townsfolk
from early mass. They look unnaturally old and colorless. Their
steps lag drearily.--HANS the Butcher and his wife; AXEL the Smith
with his wife, and PETER the Cobbler, meet, on their way to the
little street, left, and greet one another with painstaking,
stricken kindness. They speak in broken voices.

HANS the Butcher
Well, well--

AXEL the Smith
God knows!
[The bell sounds]

HANS the Butcher
Neighbor, how fare your knees?
[AXEL smooths his right leg and gives a jerk of pain. They all
move stiffly.

AXEL the Smith
I'm a changed man.

HANS the Butcher
Peter the Sacristan,
Give by the bell! It tolls like--Oh, well, well!

AXEL the Smith
It does no good, it does no good at all.

PETER the Cobbler
Rather, I do believe it mads the demons;
And I have given much thought--

AXEL the Smith
Over thy shoes!

PETER the Cobbler
[modestly]
To demons.

AXEL'S WIFE
Let him chirp philosophy!
He had no children.

PETER the Cobbler
[wagging his head solemnly]
I'm an altered man.
Now were we not proceeding soberly,
Singing a godly hymn, and all in tune,
But yesterday, when we passed by--

HANS' WIFE
Don't say it!
Don't name the curseful place.

HANS the Butcher
--And my poor head,
It goes round yet;--around, around, around,
As I were new ashore from the high seas;
Still dancing--dancing--

AXEL the Smith
With 'Yes--yes!--Yes--yes!'

HANS the Butcher
Even as ye heard, the farmer's yokel found me
Clasping a tree, and praying to stand still!

AXEL the Smith
Ay, ay,--but that is nought.

PETER the Cobbler
All nought beside.

HANS' WIFE
Better we had the rats and mice again,
Though they did eat us homeless,--if we might
All starve together!--Oh, my Hans, my Hans!

PETER the Cobbler
Hope not, good souls. Rest sure, they will not come.

AXEL'S WIFE
Who will say that?

PETER the Cobbler
[discreetly]
Not I; but the Inscription,
[He points to the Rathaus wall.]

AXEL the Smith
Of our own making?

PETER the Cobbler
On the Rathaus wall!
At our own bidding it was made and graved:--
How,--on that day and down this very street,
He led them,--he, the Wonderfully-clothed,
The Strange Man, with his piping;
[They cross themselves]
And they went,--
And never came again.

HANS' WIFE
But they may come!

PETER the Cobbler
[pityingly]
Marble i