KURT
One thousand rogueries!
JACOBUS
[to PIPER]
You jest too far.
AXEL
Lucky, if he get aught!--Two hundred traps,
And nine, and thirty! By Saint Willibald,
When was I paid?
AXEL'S WIFE
Say, now!
PIPER
. . . One thousand guilders.
PETER the Cobbler
Give him an hundred.
HANS the Butcher
Double!
HANS' WIFE
You were fools
To make agreement with him.--Ask old Claus.
He has the guilders; and his house was full
0' rats!
OLD CLAUS
[shaking his stick from the window]
You Jade! And I that hoard, and save,
And lay by all I have from year to year,
To build my monument when I am gone,
A fine new tomb there, in Saint Boniface!
And I to pay for all your city rats!
OLD URSULA
[leaning out, opposite]
Right, neighbor, right well said!--Piper, hark here.
Piper, how did ye charm the rats away?
PIPER
[coming down]
The rats were led--by Cu-ri-os-ity.
'Tis so with many rats; and all old women;--
Saving your health!
JACOBUS
No thought for public weal,
In this base grasping on--
PIPER
One thousand guilders.
KURT
[contemptuously]
For piping!
PIPER
Shall I pipe them back again?
WOMEN
( Good Saint Boniface!
Merciful heaven! ( Good Saint Willibald!
( Peter and Paul defend us!
HANS the Butcher
No, no; no fear o' that. The rats be drowned.
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