The Pied Piper
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ScribdTranslationsThe Pied Piper
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ScribdTranslationsThe Pied Piper
Once upon a time, there was the city of Hamelin in Germany. It was a very charming city, but it had two big...
defects: its citizens were very greedy and its cellars full of rats.
Not even a shadow of cats because, since they cost the owners a little something, they had been chased away.
The fact is that the mice became so many that it was no longer possible to live in the city.
It was then thought to bring back the chased cats, but the mice drove them away.
It was a blissful life for them.
There were all sorts: mice, little hamsters, rats, big rats and there was food for everyone: in the barns, in the
kitchens, where there were many shapes of cheese.
The poor citizens, not knowing what else to do, turned to their mayor, but even that one more than
to say: - I will try... I will do... I don't know... - he didn't.
But here, one morning, a tiny little man full of energy and joy appeared in the city and said to the
Mayor: – I will free you from the rats, but I want in return a thousand gold coins.
The request did not seem exaggerated to the mayor and he promised the reward, exchanging with the little man a
nice handshake.
The little man then took a pipe from a bag he was carrying over his shoulder and played two or three notes.
Suddenly the mice that were in the Mayor's office, hidden here and there, jumped out and, when the man
he left, they followed.
The piper continued to play in the street and swarms of rats followed him squeaking happily.
In their little heads, they saw mountains of cheese all for themselves, they saw pantries filled with everything
blessings ready to be plundered.
Everything for you, everything for you, beautiful opinions! - promised the music that attracted and fascinated them.
And the triumphant march of the musician continued: from all the houses hundreds of rats of all kinds came out.
dimensions, of all ages: even the wisest and the cleverest among them believed in what music
magic promised!
And the people, leaning out of the windows, propped against the walls of the houses, watched in astonishment and happiness that
an enormous line of rodents following the musician.
They are leaving! They are leaving! Is it possible? Oh, what joy! Blessed be the heavens!
Finally, when all the rats of the city were gathered behind him, the piper set off towards the
river and the little creatures behind, increasingly fascinated by the magical music. The piper suddenly entered
in the water and those still behind; he advanced further until he was immersed up to his neck and the rats followed him
enchanted and confident.
He then stopped in the middle of the current and continued to play while the mice swam for a while and then,
since they could not distance themselves from him, they all ended up drowning, no one excluded! So the
The musician came out of the river, shook the water off his back, and went to the mayor to receive what was due.
reward.
The mayor, seeing him enter, wrinkled his nose and asked him: –What do you want?
To be paid for everything I have done for the city!
A thousand gold coins for playing the pipe for just over an hour?
Without me, the rats would have destroyed your houses!
-Well, I am giving you nothing!
Ask the citizens if they share your opinion.
The mayor leaned out of the small balcony of the municipality and asked the citizens what he should do and
Everyone agreed with him, those greedy people that they were.
The piper then, bitter and very angry, threatened: - You will regret it, oh, how you will regret it.
what you make me!
He went out into the street and played a scale on the flute, blowing with full cheeks, then, helping himself with his nimble fingers,
sweetest sounds.
Soon they saw the heads of children looking down from the windows, turning towards the piper, then a
The young boy ran out of the house and looked enthusiastically at the man playing.
Two or three companions joined him, and they all looked on, fascinated by the musician.
And he did not stop playing, rather his music became sweeter and more persuasive and in the minds of
children brought forth visions of cities full of toys, of cities all sweet, without schools, without adults
they wanted to command at every hour of the day.
And the crowd grew larger and larger, and all the members were happy and laughing, and holding on to each other.
they sang following the piper more and more hurriedly.
And here are the parents chasing that group of joyful little children who were going away with the little man like this,
like the rats that had followed him to death!
Don't go with him! Come back for goodness' sake! - shouted the desperate fathers and mothers as they joined them.
turn in line.
But they were exhausted to death and could not keep up with their children who were walking.
dreaming wonderful things...
The mayor, locked in his room, was desperately pulling his hair out.
Meanwhile, the musician was heading towards the great mountain that was located right behind the city.
The children behind were singing: they were so happy to follow that little man that no one would distract them from it.
their purpose.
They thus reached halfway up the mountain: at the sound of the pipe, it opened up and everyone, led by the piper,
They entered the crack that sealed hermetically behind the last in line.
Only a little limping one was left out who had not been able to walk as fast as his companions.
The citizens who arrived at the place after a while found him there crying desperately for
not being able to reach his friends.
There was no trace of the children anymore and no one ever knew what had happened to them.
