[CHEAT-THE-DEVIL doffs his red head-dress and stands forth, a pale and timorous youth, gentle and half-witted.
Michael, stand forth!
[MICHAEL comes down, bear-head in hand.
BARBARA [regarding him sadly] That goodly sword-eater!
PIPER
[defiantly]
So, Michael, so.—These be two friends of mine.
Pay now an even third to each of us.
Or, to content your doubts, to each of these
Do you pay here and now, five hundred guilders.
Who gets it matters little, for us friends.
But you will pay the sum, friend. You will pay!—
HANS, AXEL, AND CROWD
Come, there's an honest fellow. Ay, now, pay!
—There's a good friend.—And would I had the same.
—One thousand guilders?
—No, too much.
—No, no.
KURT
Pay jugglers?—With a rope apiece!
JACOBUS
Why—so—
PIPER
They are my friends; and they shall share with me.
'T is time that Hamelin reckoned us for men;
—Hath ever dealt with us as we were vermin.
Now have I rid you of the other sort—
Right you that score!—
KURT
These outcasts!
PIPER
[hotly]
Say you so?
Michael, my man! Which of you here will try
With glass or fire, with him?