BARBARA
[shuddering]
Ah! to be shut up. . .
Forever,—young—alive!
PIPER
Alive and singing;
Young,—young;—and four thick walls and no more sun,
No music, and no wandering, and no life!
Think you, I would not steal ail things alive
Out of such doom?—How can I breathe and laugh
While there are things in cages?—You are free;
And you shall never more go back again.
BARBARA
And you, who are you then?
PIPER
How do I know?
Moths in the Moon!—Ask me a thing in reason.
BARBARA
And 't was not . . . that you loved me.
PIPER
Loved thee? No!—
Save but along with squirrels, and bright fish,
And bubbling water.
BARBARA
Then where shall I go?
PIPER
Oh, little bird,—is that your only song?
Go? Everywhere! Here be no walls, no hedges,
No tolls, no taxes,—rats nor aldermen!
Go, say you? Round the world, and round again!
[Apart]
—Ah, she was Hamelin-born.
[He watches her]
But there's a man,—
Sky-true, sword-strong, and brave to look upon;
One that would thrust his hand in dragon's mouth
For your bright sake; one that would face the Devil,
Would swallow fire—
BARBARA
You would?
PIPER [desperately] I?—No, not I! Michael,—yon goodman Michael.