[He calls up to the lighted window. The people stand aghast:
ANSELM bars the threshold.
I come, I come! I bring your Own to you!
Listen, Veronika!
[He feels for his pipe. It is gone.—His face shows dismay, for a moment]
Where?—Where?
PEOPLE
( He's lost the pipe.—He's hiding it!
( He cannot pipe them back! 'tis gone—'tis gone.—
( No, 'tis to save his life.—It is for time.
PIPER [to himself] —'T is but a voice. What matter?—
CROWD
( Seize him—
( Bind him!
PIPER
[to them]
Hush!
[Passionately he stretches his arms towards the window.
ANSELM
Peace, for this parting Soul!
PIPER
[with fixed eyes]
It shall not go.
[To the Window]
Veronika!—Ah, listen!—wife of Kurt.
He comes . . . he comes! Open thine eyes a moment!
Blow the faint fire within thy heart. He comes!
Thy longing brings him;—ay, and mine,—and mine!
Heed not these grave-makers, Veronika.
Live, live, and laugh once more!—Oh! do you hear?
Look, how you have to waken all these dead,
That walk about you!—Open their dim eyes;
Sing to them with your heart, Veronika,
As I am piping, far away, outside!
Waken them,—change them! Show them how to long,
To reach their arms as you do, for the stars,
And fold them in. Stay but one moment;—stay,
And thine own Child shall draw thee back again
Down here, to mother him,—mother us all!
Oh, do you listen?—Do not try to answer,—
I hear!—I hear. . . .