英语沙龙：6月26日 彩衣魔笛手节（在线收听）

June 26 Pied Piper Day

One summer day in the Middle Ages，a strange man in multicolored（that is，pied）clothing strode into the German town of Hamelin．Learning that the town was infested with rats，the stranger offered to dispose of the rodents －－for a fee．When the burg hers gratefully agreed，the stranger whipped out a flute and played a mysterious tune that proved an irresistible rat lure．Rats swarmed out of every house in Hamelin and followed the Pied Piper to the banks of the Weser River.Then they followed him into the swirling waters and were drowned．

When the burghers refused to pay the piper，he devised a plan of revenge．Once again putting his pipe to his lips，he played yet another air－－one that seduced not rodents but children．Parents watched helplessly as the Pied Piper，playing merrily，led all of Hamelin's youngsters out of town，after which they were never seen again．

Although opinions vary on the exact d ate of the piper's revenge，the German government holds with June26，1284．The town of Hamelin stages Pied Piper plays every Sunday from June to September．Children form the bulk of the cast，but as130was the alleged number who went with the piper on that fateful day in 1284，the cast of today' s productions is ritually limited to130．

6月26日 彩衣魔笛手节

在中世纪的一个夏日里，一个穿彩衣的陌生人大步走进德国的哈默尔恩镇。他听说这个镇里老鼠成灾，表示可以消灭它们---不过要收一笔费用。当市民们感激地表示同意时，陌生人立即拿出一支笛子，吹出了一种神奇的曲调。这曲调对老鼠有不可抗拒的诱惑力。于是老鼠从镇里的各家各户成群地跑了出来，跟着彩衣魔笛手来到威悉河岸，跟着他走进激流之中，统统淹死在河里。

可是市民们却拒不付钱给他，于是他想了一个办法报复他们。他再次把笛子拿到唇边，吹出了另一种曲调---这个曲调不是引诱老鼠而是引诱孩子的。父母们无奈地望着彩衣魔笛手吹起了欢快的笛声，带着所有的孩子走出了哈默尔恩镇。人们从此再没见到孩子们的踪影。

对于笛手究竟是在哪天进行报复的，人们众说不一，不过德国政府认为是在１２８４年６月２６日。每年从６月到９月的每个星期天，哈默尔恩镇都要上演彩衣魔笛手的戏，由孩子们主演。据说在１２８４年那灾难的一天有１３０人跟着笛手走了，所以，演戏的演员通常都限定为１３０人。