BARBARA
Then why--
Why did you steal me hence?
PIPER
Why did yourself
Long to be stolen?
BARBARA
[shuddering]
Ah! to be shut up. . .
Forever,--young--alive!
PIPER
Alive and singing;
Young,--young;--and four thick walls and no more sun,
No music, and no wandering, and no life!
Think you, I would not steal ail things alive
Out of such doom?--How can I breathe and laugh
While there are things in cages?--You are free;
And you shall never more go back again.
BARBARA
And you, who are you then?
PIPER
How do _I_ know?
Moths in the Moon!--Ask me a thing in reason.
BARBARA
And 't was not . . . that you loved me.
PIPER
Loved thee? No!--
Save but along with squirrels, and bright fish,
And bubbling water.
BARBARA
Then where shall I go?
PIPER
Oh, little bird,--is that your only song?
Go? Everywhere! Here be no walls, no hedges,
No tolls, no taxes,--rats nor aldermen!
Go, say you? Round the world, and round again!
[Apart]
--Ah, she was Hamelin-born.
[He watches her]
But there's a man,--
Sky-true, sword-strong, and brave to look upon;
One that would thrust his hand in dragon's mouth
For your bright sake; one that would face the Devil,
Would swallow fire--
BARBARA
You would?
PIPER
[desperately]
_I_?--No, not I!
Michael,--yon goodman Michael.
BARBARA
[bitterly]
A stroller!---oh, nought but a wandering man.
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