OLD CLAUS
[shaking his stick from the window]
You Jade! And I that hoard, and save,
And lay by all I have from year to year,
To build my monument when I am gone,
A fine new tomb there, in Saint Boniface!
And I to pay for all your city rats!
OLD URSULA
[leaning out, opposite]
Right, neighbor, right well said!—Piper, hark here.
Piper, how did ye charm the rats away?
PIPER
[coming down]
The rats were led—by Cu-ri-os-ity.
'Tis so with many rats; and all old women;—
Saving your health!
JACOBUS
No thought for public weal,
In this base grasping on—
PIPER
One thousand guilders.
KURT [contemptuously] For piping!
PIPER
Shall I pipe them back again?
WOMEN
( Good Saint Boniface!
Merciful heaven! ( Good Saint Willibald!
( Peter and Paul defend us!
HANS the Butcher
No, no; no fear o' that. The rats be drowned.
We saw them with our eyes.
PIPER
Now who shall say
There is no resurrection for a mouse?