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To Curator Einshtaffel, Altdorf Museum of Literature
Most esteemed Curator,
I have, as requested, spent some time researching and acquiring various scripts and tomes relating to Tilean and Brettonian folklore. My studies recently led me to 'The Prynce of Rattes', so far this is the only complete manuscript either myself or my colleagues have managed to attain. I have enclosed a copy of the original text with this message, I shall personally restore the original manuscript and prepare it for exhibition once I return to Altdorf in three months time.
Yours sincerely
Hans von Kelp
Professor of Literature, Altdorf University
There was a town in Tilea once
Down twyxt river and woode
Where men did dwelle in idlenesse
And proude their houses stoode
The people were moste affluente
With coats of Silke and Ermine
But suffered they, when their faire town
Was invaded by fowle vermin
Rattes Rattes! Of all fowle kindes!
Piebald, Greye and Browne!
Scurrying through filth and dirt
Did descende uponne this town
The councille of the Tilean men
Were wise folke, one and all
But when the rattes did come to play
There was uproare in the hall!
A meeting they held, but alas!
Of it came no goode!
Until the doore was opened wide
And there a stranger stoode
"I am the Prynce of Rattes" spoke he
"And heede my counsel well
I'm the only one in Tilea
That can free you from this hell"
"And how wilt thou free us? Oh stranger!" They asked
"Weapons? or Poisonne?" They cried
"I shall charm them with musick, from my humble pipe"
The confidente stranger replied
"Musick! 'Tis nonsense!" The townsfolk declared
"Doest thou mocke us, oh stranger?" They asked
"Nay! I do not mock!" The Prynce did retorte
"And no price, if I fail, will I aske"
"What have we to lose?" The mayore did say
"Very well, humble stranger, proceed!
Use musick to ridde our town of these rattes
If it works, I shall wonder indeed!"
Into rat-crowded streete did the stranger descende
And produced a fine flute made of reede
He played a few notes, and then a full tune
and his verminous audience took heede!
Swyrling, dancing, skypping and merry
The rattes came out, one and all
To followe the notes of the pipe's sweete tune
And hark to the Piper's call
Out of the town their prynce led them
Into the river so wide
And there, in the water and crashing white foam
The townsmen's tormentors all died
The Piper returned unto glorious welcome
For he had completed his taske
In returne, they pledged any goode pryce
Any rewarde he coulde aske
"I aske for thy children" The Prynce did decree
"Four and Twenty, I thinke should suffice"
"This is madness!" the outraged townsfolk replied
"We cannot agree to this pryce!"
The heade of the councille spoke clear and loude
His face was sette in a frowne
"This outrage, sir cannote be allowed!
Get thy snout from out of my town!"
"I thoughte that thou said anythinge I asked
But I can see thou art foolish as gnats!
For 'tis a foolish, numksull'd oaf
That scornes the Prynce of Rattes!"
That nyghte, the townsfolke rejoiced once more
Their homes were at last free of pests!
But all were afrayde of what consequence
would come of the Prynces requeste
"I fear no Prynce of Rattes!" said one
"A lord of mangy snout and fur!
We are many, and he is but one!
As easy a fighte as ever there were!"
That nyte, whilst man and woman slept
The Piper returned to the town
And with him, came rattes of monstrous build
Piebald, Greye and Browne!
They came with wycked lighte in their eyes
And they moved on two legges, not foure
Runes of powere were painted on every hide
And a weapon was in every pawe
The townsmen stood and fought there
The women and children too
The rattes did ask the pryce to be paid
The humans paid the due
By morninge it was over
Of the town, nothing still stoode
The Prynce had been denied his prize
And the men had paid in bloode
And to this day, on darkest nyte
It can be seen, they tell
A Prynce of Rattes, in finery
Upon a horned bell.
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