JACOBUS
Who is this man?—Come hither.

BARBARA
[without approaching him, lifting her face clearly]
Good-morning to you, father! We are wed.
Michael,—shall I go hither?
[The townsfolk are amazed.]

JACOBUS
She is mad!
She is quite mad,—my treasure.

PETER the Cobbler
Let her speak.
Maids sometimes marry, even in Hamelin.

ALL
( Ay, tell us!
( Who is he? Barbara?
( Art thou mad?—How came ye hither?

JACOBUS
Who is he?

BARBARA
Michael.

PETER the Cobbler
'Tis the Sword-Eater!
A friend o' the Piper's!—Hearken—

ALL
She's bewitched!

HANS' WIFE
This is the girl was vowed to Holy Church,
For us and for our children that are lost!