But here's no game for Jan.--Stay! Something else.--
[He runs to a wooden coffer, rear, and takes out a long crystal on the
end of a string, with a glance at the shaft of sunlight from the roof.
The Children watch.
Be quiet, now.--Chase not your tails too far,
Till I come home again.
CHILDREN
Come home--come home!
PIPER
And you shall see my--
CHILDREN
Something Beautiful!
Oh, oh, what is it?--Oh, and will it play?
Will it play music?
PIPER
Yes.
[He hangs the crystal in the sun. A Rainbow strikes the wall.
--The best of all!
CHEAT-THE-DEVIL, JAN, CHILDREN
Oh, oh, how beautiful,--how beautiful!
PIPER
And hear it pipe and call, and dance, and sing.
Heja!--And hark you all. You have to mind--
The Rainbow!
[He climbs out, pipe in hand. The Children whirl about after their
tails.--CHEAT-THE-DEVIL, and JAN on his tree-stump, open-mouthed with
happiness, watch the Rainbow.
Curtain
SCENE II: The Cross-ways: on the Long Road to Rudersheim.
A wooded country: high hills at back. The place is wild and overgrown,
like the haunted spot it is reputed to be. In the foreground, right,
a ruined stone well appears, in a mass of weeds and vines. Opposite,
left, tall trees and dense thickets. Where the roads cross (to left of
centre), stands a large, neglected shrine, with a weather-worn figure
of Christ,--again the 'Lonely Man'--facing towards Hamelin.
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