As I ride, as I ride, V. Could I loose what Fate has tied, All that's meant me: satisfied When the Prophet and the Bride Stop veins I'd have subside THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN; A CHILD'S STORY. (WRITTEN FOR, AND INSCRIBED TO, W. M. THE YOUNGER.) I. HAMELIN Town's in Brunswick, By famous Hanover city; The river Weser, deep and wide, Washes its wall on the southern side ; A pleasanter spot you never spied; But, when begins my ditty, Almost five hundred years ago, To see the townsfolk suffer so From vermin, was a pity. Rats! II They fought the dogs, and killed the cats, And bit the babies in the cradles, And ate the cheeses out of the vats, And licked the soup from the cook's own ladles, Split open the kegs of salted sprats, Made nests inside men's Sunday hats, At last the people in a body III. To the Town Hall came flocking: ""Tis clear," cried they, "our Mayor's a noddy; "And as for our Corporation-shocking "To think we buy gowns lined with ermine "For dolts that can't or won't determine "What's best to rid us of our vermin! "You hope, because you 're old and obese, "To find in the furry civic robe ease? "Rouse up, Sirs! Give your brains a racking "To find the remedy we 'er lacking, “Or, sure as fate, we 'll send you packing!" At this the Mayor and Corporation Quaked with a mighty consternation. IV. An hour they sate in counsel, At length the Mayor broke silence : "For a guilder I'd my ermine gown sell; "It's easy to bid one rack one's brain— יי! Just as he said this, what should hap "Bless us," cried the Mayor, "what 's that ? ” (With the Corporation as he sat, Looking little though wondrous fat; Nor brighter was his eye, nor moister Save when at noon his paunch grew mutinous "Makes my heart go pit-a-pat!" V. "Come in!"-the Mayor cried, looking bigger: And in did come the strangest figure! His queer long coat from heel to head There was no guessing his kith and kin! The tall man and his quaint attire : “Had walked this way from his painted tomb-stone!” VI He advanced to the council-table: And, "Please your honours," said he, "I'm able, 66 'By means of a secret charm, to draw “All creatures living beneath the sun, "On creatures that do people harm, A scarf of red and yellow stripe, To match with his coat of the self same cheque; And his fingers, they noticed, were ever straying As if impatient to be playing Upon this pipe, as low it dangled Over his vesture so old-fangled.) 66 Yet," said he, " poor piper as I am, "In Tartary I freed the Cham, "Last June, from his huge swarms of gnats; "I eased in Asia the Nizam "Of a monstrous brood of vampyre-bats : "And, as for what your brain bewilders, "If I can rid your town of rats “Will you give me a thousand guilders?" "One? fifty thousand!"—was the exclamation Of the astonished Mayor and Corporation. VII. Into the street the Piper stept, In his quiet pipe the while; Then, like a musical adept, To blow the pipe his lips he wrinkled, Fathers, mothers, uncles, cousins, |