Mayor. It is useless. Every child in our city is following the magic sound.
Second Councilman. The music seems to say: "Come, children, to the wonderful land of play. There flowers and fruits will welcome you. The birds and beasts will play with you, and you will never be sad or sorry in the wonderful land of play." No wonder the children follow the Piper.
Third Councilman (enters). The children and the Piper have all disappeared! A mountain opened and let them in!
First Councilman. The children, the blessed children, have gone! What shall we do without the children?
Mayor. Oh, wicked man that I am! Why did I break my promise? Why did I not give him the thousand guilders?
Second Councilman. Yes, we are all wicked men, and we are punished for not keeping our word.
Mayor. Let us write this sad story on a column so that all may read; and let us paint the picture of the Piper with our little ones following him, on a church window, so that all men may know how our children have been stolen away.
First Councilman. And may this sad story teach us all to keep our word with every one.