Pilfering

Definition and stakes

Portrait of Josephine Preston Peabody Josephine Preston Peabody,  The Piper: A Play in Four Acts

“ CHEAT-THE-DEVIL
No, growling,—growling dreary psalms
All on a sunny day! Behind the hedges,
I saw them go. They go from Hamelin, now;
And I know why!—
[The PIPER beckons him away from the Children.
The mayor's Barbara
Must go to Rudersheim, to be a Nun!
PIPER
To be a Nun!
CHEAT-THE-DEVIL
A penance for them all.
She weeps; but she must go! All they, you see,
Are wroth against him.—He must give his child—
PIPER
A nun!
CHEAT-THE-DEVIL
[nodding]
Forever!—She, who smiled at Michael.
Look you, she weeps! They are bad people all;—
Nothing like these.
”
Source: Gutenberg

Portrait of Harry Graham Harry Graham,  The Motley Muse (Rhymes for the Times…

“ The tears from his eyes at the sound of your piping!
Though many may term you infestive,
Discordant, or dull, as they please,
Or say that your skirls are suggestive
Of pigs being bitten by bees;
There's nought so exciting, for marching or fighting,
As sounds that your chanter produces;
No strains so entrancing, for dining, or dancing,
Or similar uses!
In peace or in war, for civilian or 'sniper,'
There's nothing on earth like the pipes of the Piper!
”
Source: Gutenberg

Portrait of Josephine Preston Peabody Josephine Preston Peabody,  The Piper: A Play in Four Acts

“ PIPER
Because his deviltry is all a cheat:—
He is no devil,—but a gentle heart!
—Friend Michael here hath played the Devil, betimes,
Because he can so bravely breathe out fire.
He plied the pitchfork so we yelped for mercy,—
He reckoned not the stoutness of his arm!—
But Cheat-the-Devil here,—he would not hurt
Why—Kurt the Syndic—thrusting him in hell.
[Laughter.
CHEAT-THE-DEVIL [unhappily] No, no—I will not hurt him!
PIPER
[soothingly to him]
Merry, boy!
[To the townsfolk]
And,—if ye will have reasons, good,—ye see,—
I want—one thousand guilders.
”
Source: Gutenberg

Get perspective with Kwize: daily news enlightened by great literature