The church-bell, which likewise seems to have aged, croaks softly,
twice. PETER the Sacristan stands by the bell-rope.
OLD URSULA
No, no. They'll never come. I told ye so.
They all are gone. There will be nothing young
To follow us to the grave.
OLD CLAUS
No, no,--not one!
[The Minster-door opens, and out come certain of the townsfolk
from early mass. They look unnaturally old and colorless. Their
steps lag drearily.--HANS the Butcher and his wife; AXEL the Smith
with his wife, and PETER the Cobbler, meet, on their way to the
little street, left, and greet one another with painstaking,
stricken kindness. They speak in broken voices.
HANS the Butcher
Well, well--
AXEL the Smith
God knows!
[The bell sounds]
HANS the Butcher
Neighbor, how fare your knees?
[AXEL smooths his right leg and gives a jerk of pain. They all
move stiffly.
AXEL the Smith
I'm a changed man.
HANS the Butcher
Peter the Sacristan,
Give by the bell! It tolls like--Oh, well, well!
AXEL the Smith
It does no good, it does no good at all.
PETER the Cobbler
Rather, I do believe it mads the demons;
And I have given much thought--
AXEL the Smith
Over thy shoes!
PETER the Cobbler
[modestly]
To demons.
AXEL'S WIFE
Let him chirp philosophy!
He had no children.
PETER the Cobbler
[wagging his head solemnly]
I'm an altered man.
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