Name: The Pied Piper of Hamelin
Author: Robert Browning

Quotes from The Pied Piper of Hamelin (Robert Browning)

Robert Browning, The Pied Piper of Hamelin

“ Listen
VIII.
You should have heard the Hamelin people
Ringing the bells till they rocked the steeple
"Go," cried the Mayor, "and get long poles,
Poke out the nests and block up the holes!
[Pg 21]
Consult with carpenters and builders,
And leave in our town not even a trace
Of the rats!"—when suddenly up the face
Of the Piper perked in the market-place,
With a, "First, if you please, my thousand guilders!"
[Pg 22]
Listen
IX.
A thousand guilders! ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Robert Browning, The Pied Piper of Hamelin

“ They fought the dogs and killed the cats,
And bit the babies in the cradles,
[Pg 7]
And ate the cheeses out of the vats.
[Pg 8]
And licked the soup from the cook's own ladles,
[Pg 9]
Split open the kegs of salted sprats,
Made nests inside men's Sunday hats,
[Pg 10]
And even spoiled the women's chats,
[Pg 11]
By drowning their speaking
With shrieking and squeaking
In fifty different sharps and flats. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Robert Browning, The Pied Piper of Hamelin

“ And a breaking the hoops of butter-casks:
And it seemed as if a voice
(Sweeter far than by harp or by psaltery
Is breathed) called out, 'Oh rats, rejoice!
The world is grown to one vast drysaltery! ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Robert Browning, The Pied Piper of Hamelin

“ Listen
XV.
So, Willy, let me and you be wipers
Of scores out with all men—especially pipers!
And, whether they pipe us free from rats or from mice,
If we've promised them aught, let us keep our promise! ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Robert Browning, The Pied Piper of Hamelin

“ Beside, our losses have made us thrifty.
A thousand guilders! Come, take fifty!"
[Pg 23]
[Pg 24]
Listen
X.
The Piper's face fell, and he cried,
"No trifling! I can't wait, beside!
I've promised to visit by dinner-time
Bagdad, and accept the prime
Of the Head-Cook's pottage, all he's rich in,
For having left, in the Caliph's kitchen,
Of a nest of scorpions no survivor:
With him I proved no bargain-driver,
With you, don't think I'll bate a stiver!
And folks who put me in a passion
May find me pipe after another fashion."
Listen
XI.
"How?" ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Robert Browning, The Pied Piper of Hamelin

“ And out of the houses the rats came tumbling.
Great rats, small rats, lean rats, brawny rats,
Brown rats, black rats, grey rats, tawny rats,
Grave old plodders, gay young friskers,
[Pg 19] Fathers, mothers, uncles, cousins,
Cocking tails and pricking whiskers,
Families by tens and dozens,
Brothers, sisters, husbands, wives—
Followed the Piper for their lives. ”

Robert Browning

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Quotes from The Pied Piper of Hamelin (Robert Browning)

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Robert Browning

Summary

Quotes from The Pied Piper of Hamelin (Robert Browning)

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