"The Ratcatcher of Hamelin" is a version of the Pied Piper fairytale written by the Brothers Grimm in the nineteenth century. The idea of "paying the piper" has made its way into common usage at all levels of society, and for good reason. If one does not eventually pay the piper for specific services rendered, bad things happen. Karmic boomerang.
We all know the story of the Pied Piper, right?
To recount. Plague rats have infested Hamelin / Hameln. Disruption. Ratcatcher hired for money. Plays the pipes; rats follow and drown in the nearby river: all die except one crippled survivor that swims to the other shore and lives to tell the tale to other rats. Burghers rejoice and chase ratcatcher out of town. Revenge of the Pied Piper: he plays his pipe, children follow him to a magic mountain. They are then sealed inside and presumably, like the drowning rats in the first cycle, perish. One crippled child survives to tell the tale.
Sometimes we forget the details, eh?
Today's Rune: Signals.
3 comments:
If only the Pied piper had done it to the politicians he would be remembered as a great man.
I've never heard the part where a lone crippled rat survives. I like the parallel it draws.
Erik, I am petrified of rats and would have a hard time getting through this one!
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