Enter slowly, chanting, the company of burghers from Hamelin,--men
together first, headed by priests; then the women.--ANSELM and all
the townsfolk appear (saving VERONIKA, the wife of KURT); JACOBUS
is meek; KURT very stern.--As they appear, the piping of the Dance-spell
begins softly, high in air. The hymn wavers; when the first burghers
reach the centre of the stage, it breaks down.
They look up, bewildered: then, with every sign of consternation,
struggle, and vacant fear, they begin to dance, willy-nilly. Their
faces work; they struggle to walk on; but it is useless. The music
whirls them irresistibly into a rhythmic pace of 3/4 time, and
jogs their words, when they try to speak, into the same dance-measure.
One by one,--two and two they go,--round and round like corks at first,
with every sign of struggle and protest, then off, on the long road
to Rudersheim. Fat priests waltz together.--KURT the fierce and
JACOBUS the sleek hug each other in frantic endeavor to be released.
Their words jolt insanely.
KURT, JACOBUS
( No, no.--No, no--No, no.--No, no!
( Yes, yes.--I, yes.--Yes, yes.--Yes, yes!
SOME
( _La--crymos--a--Dies--ill--_
( Bewitched--the Devil!--bewitched--bewitched!
( I will not--will not--will--I will!
( No, no--but where!--Help--help!--To arms!
OTHERS
( _Suppli--canti--suppli--Oh_!
( To Hamelln--back--to Hamelln--stay!
( No, no!--No, no,--Away,--away!
[They dance out, convulsively, towards Rudersheim.
Pages:
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48