The Mayor was dumb, and the Council stood
As if they were changed into blocks of wood,
Unable to move a step, or cry 210
To the children merrily skipping by,
—­Could only follow with the eye
That joyous crowd at the Piper’s back. 
But how the Mayor was on the rack,
And the wretched Council’s bosoms beat,
As the Piper turned from the High Street
To where the Weser rolled its waters
Right in the way of their sons and daughters! 
However he turned from South to West,
And to Koppelberg Hill his steps addressed, 220
And after him the children pressed;
Great was the joy in every breast. 
“He never can cross that mighty top! 
He’s forced to let the piping drop,
And we shall see our children stop!”
When, lo, as they reached the mountain-side,
A wondrous portal opened wide,
As if a cavern was suddenly hollowed;
And the Piper advanced and the children followed,
And when all were in to the very last, 230
The door in the mountain-side shut fast. 
Did I say, all?  No!  One was lame,
        And could not dance the whole of the way;
And in after years, if you would blame
        His sadness, he was used to say,—­
“It’s dull in our town since my playmates left! 
I can’t forget that I’m bereft
Of all the pleasant sights they see,
Which the Piper also promised me. 
For he led us, he said, to a joyous land, 240
Joining the town and just at hand,
Where waters gushed and fruit-trees grew
And flowers put forth a fairer hue,
And everything was strange and new;
The sparrows were brighter than peacocks here,
And their dogs outran our fallow deer,
And honeybees had lost their stings,
And horses were born with eagles’ wings: 
And just as I became assured
My lame foot would be speedily cured, 250
The music stopped and I stood still,
And found myself outside the hill,
Left alone against my will,
To go now limping as before,
And never hear of that country more!”

XIV

Alas, alas for Hamelin! 
        There came into many a burgher’s pate
        A text which says that heaven’s gate
        Opes to the rich at as easy rate
As the needle’s eye takes a camel in! 260
The mayor sent East, West, North and South
To offer the Piper, by word of mouth,
        Wherever it was men’s lot to find him
Silver and gold to his heart’s content,
If he’d only return the way he went,
        And bring the children behind him. 
But when they saw ’twas a lost endeavour,
And Piper and dancers were gone for ever,
They made a decree that lawyers never
        Should think their records dated duly 270
If, after the day of the month and year,