CHANTECLER Play in Four ActsByEDMOND ROSTAND TranslatedByGERTRUDE HALL 1910 _DRAMATIS PERSONAE_ CHANTECLERPATOUTHE BLACKBIRDTHE PEACOCKTHE NIGHTINGALETHE GRAND-DUKETHE SCREECH-OWLLITTLE SCOPSTHE GAME-COCKTHE HUNTING DOGA CARRIER-PIGEONTHE WOOD-PECKERTHE TURKEYTHE DUCKTHE YOUNG GUINEA-COCKTHE PHEASANT-HENTHE GUINEA-HENTHE OLD HENTHE WHITE HENTHE GREY HENTHE BLACK HENTHE SPECKLED HENTHE TUFTED HEN A Gander. A Capon. Chickens. Chicks. A Cockerel. A Swan. A Cuckoo. Night-birds. Fancy Cocks. Toads. A Turkey-hen. A Goose. A Garden Warbler. A Woodland Warbler. A Spider. A Heron. A Pigeon. A Guinea-pig. Barnyard animals. Woodland Creatures. Rabbits. Birds. Bees. Cicadas. Voices. PROLOGUE _The customary three knocks are heard. The drop-curtain wavers and isrising, when a voice rings out, "Not yet!" and the_ MANAGER, _agentleman of important mien in evening dress, springing from hisproscenium box, hurries toward the stage, repeating, "Not yet!"_ _The curtain is again lowered. The_ MANAGER _turns toward the audience, and resting one hand on the prompter's box, addresses them:_ The curtain is a wall, --a flying wall. Assured that presently the wallwill fly--why haste? Is it not charming to delay--and just look at itfor a while? Charming to sit before a great red wall, hanging beneath two gilt masksand a scroll--The thrilling moment is when the curtain thrills, andsounds come from the other side. You are desired to-night to listen to those sounds and entering thescene before you see it, to wonder and surmise-- _Bending his ear, the_ MANAGER _listens to the sounds now beginning tocome from behind the curtain. _ A footstep--is it a road? A flutter of wings--is it a garden? _The curtain here rippling as if about to rise, the_ MANAGER_precipitately shouts, "Stop!--Do not raise it yet!" Then again bendinghis ear, continues making note of the noises, clear or confused, singleor combined, that from this onward come without stop from behindthe curtain. _ A magpie cawing flies away. Great wooden shoes come running over flags. A courtyard, is it?--If so above a valley--from whence that softenedclamour of birds and barking dogs. More and more clearly the scene suggests itself--Magically soundcreates an atmosphere!--A sheep bell tinkles intermittently--Since thereis grazing, we may look for grass. A tree, too--a tree must rustle in the breeze, for a bullfinch warbleshis little native song; and a blackbird whistling the song he has caughtby ear, implies, we may presume, a wicker cage. The rattling of a wagon run out of a shed--the dripping of a bucketdrawn up overfull--the patter of doves' feet alighting on a roof--Surelyit is a farmyard--unless it be a mill! Rustling of straw, click of a wooden latch--A stable or a haymow theremust be. The locust shrills: the weather then is fine. --Church-bellsring: it is Sunday then. --Chatter of jays: the woods cannot be far! Hark! Nature with the scattered voices of a fair midsummer day iscomposing--in a dream!--the most mysterious of overtures--harmonised byevening distance and the wind! And all these sounds--song of a passing girl--laughter of childrenjogged by the donkey trotting--faraway gun-reports and hunting-horns--these sounds describe a holiday. A window opens, a door closes--The harness shakes its bells. Is it notplain in sight, the old farmyard?--The dog sleeps, the cat butfeigns to sleep. Sunday!--Farmer and farmer's wife are starting for the fair. The oldhorse paws the ground-- A ROUGH VOICE[_Behind the curtain, through the horse's pawing. _] Whoa, Dapple! ANOTHER VOICE[_As if calling to a laggard. _] Come along! We shan't get home tillmorning! AN IMPATIENT VOICEAre you ready? ANOTHER VOICEFasten the shutters! MAN'S VOICEAll right! WOMAN'S VOICEMy sunshade! MAN'S VOICE[_Through the cracking of the whip. _] Gee up! THE MANAGERThe wagon to the jingling of the harness rattles off, jolting outditties. A turn in the road cuts off the unfinished song. --They aregone, quite gone. The performance can begin. Some philosophers would say there was not a soul left, but we humblybelieve that there are hearts. Man in leaving does not take with him alldrama. One can laugh and suffer without him. [_He listens again. _] Ardently humming, a velvety bumblebee hovers--then is still; he hasplunged into a flower--Let us begin. Pray note that Aesop's humpto-night does duty as prompter's box! The members of our company are small, but--[_Calling toward the flies. _]Alexander! [_To the audience. _] He is my chief machinist. [_Callingagain. _] Let it down! A VOICE[_From the flies. _] It's coming, sir! MANAGERWe have lowered between the audience and the stage an invisible screenof magnifying glass-- But there the violins are tuning up: Scraping of crystal bows, pickingof strings!--Hush! Let the footlights now leap into brightness, for at asignal from their little leader the crickets' orchestra have brisklyfallen to! Frrrt! The bumblebee emerges from the flower, shaking the yellow dust--AHen comes on the scene as in La Fontaine's fable. A Cuckoo calls, as inBeethoven's symphony. Hush! Let the chandelier draw in its myriad lights--for the curiouscall-boy of the woods has, airily, to summon us, repeated thrice hisdouble call-- And since Nature is one of our performers, and feathered notables are onour staff--Hush! the curtain must go up: A wood-pecker's bill has rappedout the three strokes! ACT I THE EVENING OF THE PHEASANT-HEN _A farmyard such as the sounds from behind the curtain have described. At the right, a house over-clambered with wistaria. At the left, thefarmyard gate, letting on to the road. A dog-kennel. At the back, a lowwall, beyond which distant country landscape. The details of the settingdefine themselves in the course of the act. _ SCENE FIRST _The whole barnyard company, _ HENS, CHICKENS, CHICKS, DUCKS, TURKEYS, _etc. ;_ THE BLACKBIRD _in his cage_, THE CAT _asleep on the wall, later_A BUTTERFLY _on the flowers. _ THE WHITE HEN[_Pecking. _] Ah! Delicious! ANOTHER HENWhat are you eating? ALL THE HENS[_Rushing to the spot. _] What's she eating? THE WHITE HENA small green beetle, crisp and nice, tasting of the rose-leaves he hadlived on. THE BLACK HEN[_Standing before the_ BLACKBIRD'S _cage. _] Really, the Blackbirdwhistles amazingly! THE WHITE HENAny little street urchin can do as much! THE TURKEY[_Solemnly. _] An urchin who had learned of a shepherd in Sicily! THE DUCKHe never whistles his tune to the end-- THE TURKEYThat's too easy, carrying it to the end! [_He hums the tune the_BLACKBIRD _has been whistling. _] "How sweet to fare afield, andcull--and cull--" You should know, Duck, that the thing in art is toleave off before the end! "And cull--and cull--" Bravo, Blackbird! [_The_ BLACKBIRD _comes out on the little platform in front of his cageand bows. _] A CHICK[_Astonished. _] Can he get out? BLACKBIRDApplause is salt on my tail! THE CHICKBut his cage? THE TURKEYHe can come out, and he can go in again. His cage has that sort ofspring. --"And cull--and cull--" The whole point is missed if you tellthem what you cull! THE BLACK HEN[_Catching sight of a_ BUTTERFLY _alighting on the flowers above thewall at the back. _] Oh, what a gorgeous butterfly! THE WHITE HENWhere? THE BLACK HENOn the honey-suckle. THE TURKEYThat kind is called an Admiral. THE CHICK[_Looking after the_ BUTTERFLY. ] Now he has settled on a pink. THE WHITE HEN[_To the_ TURKEY. ] An Admiral, wherefore? THE BLACKBIRDObviously because he is neither a seaman nor a soldier. THE WHITE HENOur Blackbird has a pretty wit! THE TURKEY[_Nodding and swinging his red stalactite. _] He has better than wit, mydear! ANOTHER HEN[_Watching the_ BUTTERFLY. ] It's sweet--a butterfly! THE BLACKBIRDEasy as possible to make! You take a W and set it on top of a Y! A HEN[_Delighted. _] A flourish of his bill, and there you have yourcaricature! THE TURKEYHe does better than execute caricatures! Hen, our Blackbird forces youto think while obliging you to laugh. He is a Teacher in wit's clothing. A CHICK[_To a_ HEN. ] Mother, why does the Cat hate the Dog? THE BLACKBIRDBecause he appropriates his seat at the theatre. THE CHICK[_Surprised. _] They have a theatre? THE BLACKBIRDWhere dumb-shows are given. THE CHICKEh? THE BLACKBIRDThe hearthstone from whence both alike wish to watch the play of theFire among the Logs. THE TURKEY[_Delighted. _] How aptly he conveys that the hatred of peoples is atbottom a question of wanting the other's territory. There's a brainfor you! THE SPECKLED HEN[_To the_ WHITE HEN, _who is pecking. _] Do you peck peppers? THE WHITE HENConstantly. THE SPECKLED HENHow can you stand the sting? THE WHITE HENIt imparts to the feathers a delicate rosy tint. THE SPECKLED HENOh, does it! A VOICE IN THE DISTANCECuckoo! THE WHITE HENListen! THE VOICE[_From a greater distance. _] Cuckoo! THE WHITE HENThe Cuckoo! A GREY HEN[_Comes running excitedly. _] Which Cuckoo? The one who lives in thewoods, or the one who lives in the clock? THE VOICE[_Still further off. _] Cuckoo! THE WHITE HENThe one of the woods. THE GREY HEN[_With a sigh of relief. _] Oh, I was so afraid of having missed theother! THE WHITE HEN[_Going near enough to her to speak in an undertone. _] Do you mean tosay you love him? THE GREY HEN[_Sadly. _] Without ever having set eyes on him. He lives in a chalethanging on the kitchen wall, above the farmer's great-coat andfowling-piece. The moment he sings, I rush to the spot, but I never getthere in time to see anything but his little wicket closing. Thisevening I mean to stay right here beside the door--[_She takes up herposition on the threshold. _] A VOICEWhite Hen! SCENE SECOND THE SAME, _a_ PIGEON _on the roof, later_ CHANTECLER. THE WHITE HEN[_Looking about with quick jerks of her head. _] Who called me? THE VOICEA pigeon. THE WHITE HEN[_Looking for him. _] Where? THE PIGEONOn the sloping roof. THE WHITE HEN[_Lifting her head and seeing him. _] Ah! THE PIGEONThough I am the bearer of an important missive, I would not miss theopportunity--Good evening, Hen! THE WHITE HENPostman, howdedo? THE PIGEONMy duty on the Postal Service of the Air obliging me this summer eveningto pass your habitations, I should be most happy if-- THE WHITE HEN[_Spying a crumb of some sort. _] One moment, please. ANOTHER HEN[_Running eagerly towards her. _] What are you eating? ALL THE HENS[_Arriving at a run. _] What's she eating? THE WHITE HENA simple grain of wheat. THE GREY HEN[_Taking up her conversation with the_ WHITE HEN. ] As I was telling you, I mean to stay right on the door-step there--[_Showing the door ofthe house. _] THE WHITE HEN[_Looking at the door. _] The door is shut. THE GREY HENYes, but I shall hear the hour striking, and I will catch a look at myCuckoo by stretching my neck, -- THE PIGEON[_Calling, slightly out of patience. _] White Hen! THE WHITE HENOne moment, please! [_To the_ GREY HEN. ]--Catch a look at your Cuckoo, by stretching your neck where?--Where? THE GREY HEN[_Pointing with her beak at the small, round opening at the foot of thedoor. _] Through the cat-hole! THE PIGEON[_Raising his voice to a shout. _] Am I to be kept here cooling my feeton your rain-pipe? Hi, there, whitest of Hens! THE WHITE HEN[_Hopping towards him. _] You were saying? THE PIGEONI was about to say-- THE WHITE HENWhat, bluest of Pigeons? THE PIGEONThat I should consider myself past expression fortunate if--But no! I amabashed at my own boldness!--if I might be so favoured as to bepermitted to get a glimpse-- THE WHITE HENOf what? THE PIGEONOh, just a glimpse, the very least glimpse of-- ALL THE HENS[_Impatiently. _] Of what?--What? THE PIGEONOf his comb! THE WHITE HEN[_Laughing, to the others. _] Ha! ha! he wishes to see-- THE PIGEON[_In great excitement. _] That's it! Just to see-- THE WHITE HENThere, there, cool down! THE PIGEONI am shaking with excitement! THE WHITE HENYou are shaking down the roof! THE PIGEONYou can't think how we admire him! THE WHITE HENOh, everyone admires him! THE PIGEONAnd I promised my missis to tell her what he is like! THE WHITE HEN[_Quietly pecking. _] Oh, he's a fine fellow, no doubtof that! THE PIGEONWe can hear him crowing from our dove-cote. The One he is whose song ismore an ornament to the landscape than the white hamlet to the hill! TheOne he is whose cry pierces the blue horizon like a gold-threaded needlestitching the hill-tops to the sky! The Cock he is! When you wouldpraise him, call him the Cock! THE BLACKBIRD[_Hopping up and down in his cage. _] Tick-tock!--who sets all heartsa-beating, tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock! A HENOur Cock! THE BLACKBIRD[_Thrusting his head between the bars of his cage. _] My, thy, his, her, our, your, and their Cock! THE TURKEY[_To the_ PIGEON. ] He will soon be coming in from his usual round in thefields. THE PIGEONYou have the honour of his acquaintance, sir? THE TURKEY[_Importantly. _] I have known him from a baby. This chick--for to me heis still a chick!--used to come to me for his bugle lesson. THE PIGEONAh, indeed? You give lessons in-- THE TURKEYCertainly. A bird who can gobble is qualified to teach crowing. THE PIGEONWhere was he born? THE TURKEY[_Indicating an old covered basket, badly battered and broken. _] In thatold basket. THE PIGEONAnd is the hen who brooded him still living? THE TURKEY[_Again indicating the basket. _] She is there. THE PIGEONWhere? THE TURKEYIn that old basket. THE PIGEON[_More and more interested. _] Of what breed is she? THE TURKEYShe is just a good old-fashioned Gascon hen, born in the neighbourhoodof Pau. THE BLACKBIRD[_Thrusting out his head. _] She is the one Henry the Fourth wished tosee cooking in every Frenchman's pot! THE PIGEONHow proud she must be of having hatched such a Cock! THE TURKEYYes, proud with a lowly foster-mother's pride. Her beloved chick iscoming to his inches, that is all she seems to understand or care about. And when you tell her this, her clouded reason gives a momentary gleam--[_Calling towards the basket. _] Hey, old lady, he is growing! ALL THE HENSHe is growing! [_The lid of the basket is suddenly lifted, and a bristling aged hen'shead appears. _] THE PIGEON[_To the_ OLD HEN, _gently and feelingly. _] Does it make you happy, mother, to think of him grown to a big fine Cock? THE OLD HEN[_Nodding, sententiously. _] Happy?--Wednesday's crops do credit toTuesday! [_She disappears, the lid drops. _] THE TURKEYShe opens now and then, like that, and ping! shoots at us some suchpearl of homely lore-- THE PIGEON[_To the_ WHITE HEN. ] White Hen! THE TURKEY--not always wholly without point! THE OLD HEN[_Reappearing for an instant. _] In the Peacock's absence, the Turkeyspreads his tail! [_The_ TURKEY _turns quickly around, the lid has already dropped. _] THE PIGEON[_To the_ WHITE HEN. ] Is it a fact that Chantecler is never hoarse, never the very least husky? THE WHITE HEN[_Keeping on with her pecking. _] Perfectly true. THE PIGEON[_With growing enthusiasm. _] Ah, you must be proud Cock who will benumbered among Illustrious Animals and his name remembered five, ten, fifteen years! THE TURKEYVery proud. Very proud. [_To a_ CHICK. ] Who are the Illustrious Animals?Tell them off! THE CHICK[_Reciting a lesson. _] Noah's Dove--Saint Rocco's Poodle--The--the Horseof Cali-- THE TURKEYCali--? THE CHICK[_Trying to remember. _] Cali-- THE PIGEONThis Cock, now--this Cock of yours--Is it true that his song attunes, inspires, encourages, makes labour light, and keeps off birds of prey? THE WHITE HEN[_Pecking. _] Perfectly true. THE CHICK[_Still hunting for his word. _] Cali--Cali-- THE PIGEONWhite Hen, is it true that by his song, defender of the warm and sacredegg, he has frequently kept the lissome weasel from-- THE BLACKBIRD[_Looking out between the bars. _]--messing his shirtfront with omelette? THE WHITE HENPerfectly true. THE CHICKCali-- THE TURKEY[_Helping him. _] Gu? THE CHICKGu-- THE PIGEONIs it true--? THE CHICK[_Jumping for joy at having found. _] Gula! THE PIGEON--true that, as report says, he has a secret for his amazing singing, asecret whereby his crow becomes the brilliant burst of red which makesthe poppies of the field feel themselves contemptible imitations? THE WHITE HEN[_Weary of this questioning. _] Perfectly true. THE PIGEONThat secret, that great secret, is it known to anyone? THE WHITE HENNo. THE PIGEONHe has not even told his Hen? THE WHITE HEN[_Correcting him. _] His Hens. THE PIGEON[_Slightly shocked. _] Ah, he has more than one? THE BLACKBIRDHe crows, remember, you only coo. THE PIGEONWell, then, he has not even told his favourite? THE TUFTED HEN[_Promptly. _] No, he has not! THE WHITE HEN[_As promptly. _] No, he has not! THE BLACK HEN[_As promptly. _] No, he has not! THE BLACKBIRD[_Thrusting out his head. _] Hush!--An a๋rial drama! The Butterfly, absorbed in his head of blossom, banquets, all oblivious of-- [_A great green gauze butterfly-net appears above the wall, softlycoming towards the_ BUTTERFLY _settled on one of the flowers. _] A HENWhat is that? THE TURKEY[_Solemnly. _] Fate! THE BLACKBIRDIn a thin disguise of gauze! THE WHITE HENOh, a net--at the end of a cane! THE BLACKBIRDNo harm in the cane--it's the kid at the other end of the cane! [_Halfaloud, watching the_ BUTTERFLY. ] You neat little fop, sailing from roseto rose, to-night you'll be neat as a pin can make you! ALL[_Watching the cautious approach of the net beyond the wall. _]Nearer--Nearer--Hush! He'll catch it!--No he won't!--Yes, he will! SUDDENLY OUTSIDECock-a-doodle-doo! [_At the sound, the_ BUTTERFLY _flies off. The_ NET _wavers a moment, with an effect of disappointment, then disappears. _] SEVERAL HENSWhat?--Eh?--What was it? A HEN[_Who having hopped up on a wheelbarrow can follow the flight of the_BUTTERFLY. ] He is off and away, over the meadow. THE BLACKBIRD[_With ironical emphasis. _] It's Chantecler, practicing knight-errantry! THE PIGEON[_With emotion. _] Chantecler! A HENHe is coming! ANOTHER HENHe is just outside-- THE WHITE HEN[_To the_ PIGEON. ] Now you will see. He's a very fine bird indeed. THE BLACKBIRD[_Thrusting his head between the bars. _] Easy as possible to make, aCock! THE TURKEY[_Admiringly. _] Admirable amenity! THE BLACKBIRDYou take a melon--a fine specimen, I will grant, --for the trunk. For thelegs, two sticks of asparagus, --prize sticks, of course. For the head, ared pepper, --as handsome as you may find. For the eye, acurrant, --exceptionally clear and light. For the tail, a sheaf of leeks, with luxuriant blue-green flags. For the ear, a dainty kidney-bean, --extra, superfine!--And there you have him, there's your Cock! THE PIGEON[_Gently. _] One thing you have omitted--His heavenly clarion call! THE BLACKBIRD[_Indicating_ CHANTECLER, _who now appears upon the wall. _] Yes, butwith the exception of that--slight detail, you must own my portrait isa likeness. THE PIGEONNot at all. Not in the very least. [_Contemplating_ CHANTECLER _with avery different eye from the_ BLACKBIRD'S. ] What I see, beneath thatquivering hemlet, is Summer's glorious and favoured knight, who, from agroaning wain at evening borrowing its golden harvest-robe has arrayedhimself in this, and lifts it from the dust with a gleaming sickle! CHANTECLER[_On the wall, in a long guttural sigh. _] Coa-- THE BLACKBIRDWhen he makes that noise in his throat, he either is in love, orpreparing some poetic outburst. CHANTECLER[_Motionless on the wall, with head high. _] Blaze forth inglory!--Dazzle-- THE BLACKBIRDHe's letting off hot air! CHANTECLERIrradiate the world! A HENNow he pauses--one claw lifted-- CHANTECLER[_In a sort of groan of excessive tenderness. _] Coa-- THE BLACKBIRDThat, if you please, is ecstasy! CHANTECLERThy gold is of all gold alone beneficent! I worship thee! THE PIGEON[_Under breath. _] To whom is he talking? THE BLACKBIRD[_Sneering. _] To the sun, sonny, the sun! CHANTECLER O thou that driest the tears of the meanest among weeds And dost of a dead flower make a living butterfly-- Thy miracle, wherever almond-trees Shower down the wind their scented shreds, Dead petals dancing in a living swarm-- I worship thee, O Sun! whose ample light, Blessing every forehead, ripening every fruit, Entering every flower and every hovel, Pours itself forth and yet is never less, Still spending and unspent--like mother's love! I sing of thee, and will be thy high priest, Who disdainest not to glass thy shining face In the humble basin of blue suds, Or see the lightning of thy last farewell Reflected in an humble cottage pane! THE BLACKBIRD[_Thrusting out his head. _] Can't call it off now, boys, he's started onan ode! THE TURKEY[_Watching_ CHANTECLER _as by a series of stately hops he comes down apile of hay. _] Here he comes, prouder than-- A HEN[_Stopping in front of a small tin cone. _] See there! The new-fangleddrinking-trough! [_She drinks. _] Handy! THE BLACKBIRDProuder than a drum major chanting as he marches: "My country, 'tis of thee!" CHANTECLER[_Beginning to walk about the yard. _] Thou smilest on the-- ALL THE HENS[_Rushing to the_ WHITE HEN _who is eating something. _] What's sheeating? THE WHITE HENCorn. Nothing but corn. CHANTECLER Thou smilest on the sunflower craning after thee, And burnishest my brother of the vane, And softly sifting through the linden-trees Strewest the ground with dappled gold, So fine there's no more walking where it lies. Through thee the earthen pot is an enamelled urn, The clout hung out to dry a noble banner, The hay-rick by thy favour boasts a golden cape, And the rick's little sister, the thatched hive, Wears, by thy grace, a hood of gold! Glory to thee in the vineyards! Glory to thee in the fields! Glory among the grass and on the roofs, In eyes of lizards and on wings of swans, -- Artist who making splendid the great things Forgets not to make exquisite the small! 'Tis thou that, cutting out a silhouette, To all thou beamest on dost fasten this dark twin, Doubling the number of delightful shapes, Appointing to each thing its shadow, More charming often than itself. I praise thee, Sun! Thou sheddest roses on the air, Diamonds on the stream, enchantment on the hill; A poor dull tree thou takest and turnest to green rapture, O Sun, without whose golden magic--things Would be no more than what they are! THE PIGEONBravo! I shall have something to tell my mate. We shall long talk ofthis! CHANTECLER[_Seeing him, with noble courtesy. _] Young blue-winged stranger, withnew-fledged bill, thanks! Pray lay my duty at her coral feet! [_The_ PIGEON _flies off. _] THE BLACKBIRDJolly your admirers, it pays! CHANTECLER[_In a cordial voice, to the whole barnyard. _] To work now, all of you, with a will! [_A_ FLY _darts past, buzzing. _] CHANTECLERBusy and resonant Fly, I love thee! Behold her! What is her flight butthe heart-whole gift of herself? THE TURKEY[_Loftily. _] Yes. --She has dropped considerably in my esteem, however, since that matter of the-- CHANTECLEROf the what? THE TURKEYOf the Fly and the-- CHANTECLERI never thought much of that story. Who knows whether the coach wouldhave reached the top of the hill without the Fly? Do you believe thatrude shouts "Gee up! Ge' lang!" were more effective than the hymn to theSun buzzed by the little Fly? Do you believe in the virtue of ablustering oath? Really believe it was the Coachman who made the coachto go? No, I tell you, no! She did much more than the big whip's noisycracking, did the little Fly, with the music straight from herbuzzing heart! THE TURKEYYes, but all the same-- CHANTECLER[_Turning his back on him. _] Come, let us make of labour a delight!Come, all of you!--High time, Ganders my worthies, you escorted yourgeese to the pond. A GANDER[_Lazily. _] Is it quite necessary, do you think? CHANTECLER[_Going briskly towards him, with a look that forbids discussion. _]Quite! And let there be no idle quacking and paltering! [_The_ GANDERS_go off in haste. _] You, Chicken, your task, as you know, is to pick offslugs, your full number before evening being thirty-two. --You, Cockerel, go practise your crow. Four hundred times cryCock-a-doodle-doo in hearing of the echo! THE COCKEREL[_Slightly mortified. _] The echo--? CHANTECLERThat is what I was doing to limber up my glottis before I was rid of theegg-shell sticking to my tail! A HEN[_Airily. _] None of this is particularly interesting! CHANTECLEREverything is interesting! Pray go and sit on the eggs you have beenentrusted with! [_To another_ HEN. ] You, walk among the roses andverbenas, and gobble every creature threatening them. Ha, ha! If thecaterpillar thinks we will make him a gift of our flowers he can strokehis belly--with his back! [_To another. _] You, hie to the rescue ofcabbages in old neglected corners, where the grasshopper lays siege tothem with his vigorous battering-ram! [_To the remaining_ HENS. ]You--[_Catching sight of the_ OLD HEN, _whose shaking, senile head haslifted the basket-lid. _] Ah, there you are, Nursie! Good day! [_Shegazes at him admiringly. _] Well, have I grown? THE OLD HENSooner or later, tadpole becomes toad! CHANTECLERTrue! [_To the _HENS, _ resuming his tone of command. _] Ladies, stand inline! Your orders are to peck in the fields. Off at a quick-step, go! THE WHITE HEN[_To the_ GREY HEN. ] Are you coming? THE GREY HENNot a word! I intend to stay behind, to see the Cuckoo. [_She hidesbehind the basket. _] CHANTECLERYou, little tufted hen, was it just my fancy that you looked sulkyfalling into line? THE TUFTED HEN[_Going up to him. _] Cock-- CHANTECLERWhat is it? THE TUFTED HENI, who am nearest to your heart-- CHANTECLER[_Quickly. _] Hush! THE TUFTED HENIt annoys me not to be told-- THE WHITE HEN[_Who has drawn near on the other side. _] Cock-- CHANTECLERWell? THE WHITE HEN[_Coaxingly. _] I who am your favourite-- CHANTECLER[_Quickly. _] Hush! THE WHITE HEN[_Caressingly. _] I want to know-- THE BLACK HEN[_Who has softly drawn near. _] Cock-- CHANTECLERWhat? THE BLACK HENYour special and tender regard for me-- CHANTECLER[_Quickly. _] Hush! THE BLACK HENTell me, do-- THE WHITE HEN--the secret-- THE TUFTED HEN--of your song? [_Going still closer to him, in a voice thrilled withcuriosity. _] I do believe that you have in your throat a little coppercontrivance-- CHANTECLERThat's it, that's what I have, very carefully concealed! THE WHITE HEN[_Same business. _] Most likely, like great tenors one has heard of, yougulp raw eggs-- CHANTECLERYou have guessed!--A second Ugolino! THE BLACK HEN[_Same business. _] My idea is that taking snails out of their shells, you pound them to a paste-- CHANTECLERAnd make them into troches! Exactly! ALL THREE HENSCock--! CHANTECLEROff with you all! Be off! [_The_ HENS _hastily start, he calls themback. _] A word before you go. When your blood-bright combs--now in, nowout of sight, now in again--shall flash among the sage and borageyonder, like poppies playing at hide-and-seek, --to the real poppies, Ienjoin you, do no injury! Shepherdesses, counting the stitches of theirknitting, trample the grass all unaware that it's a crime to crush aflower--even with a woman! But you, my Spouses, show considerate andtouching thought for the flowers whose only offence is growing wild. Thefield-carrot has her right to bloom in beauty. Should you spy, as hestrolls across some flowery umbel, a scarlet beetle peppered with blackdots, --the stroller take, but spare his strolling-ground. The flowers ofone same meadow are sisters, as I hold, and should together fall beneaththe scythe!--Now you may go. [_They are leaving, he again calls themback. _] And remember, when chickens go to the-- A HEN--fields-- CHANTECLER--the foremost-- THE HENS ALL TOGETHER--walks ahead! CHANTECLERYou may go! [_They are again starting, he peremptorily calls themback. _] A word! [_In a stern voice. _] Never when crossing the road stopto peck! [_The_ HENS _bow in obedience. _] Now let me see you cross! A HORN[_In the distance. _] Honk! Honk! Honk! CHANTECLER[_Rushing in front of the_ HENS _and spreading his wings before them. _]Not yet! THE HORN[_Very near, accompanied by a terrific snorting. _] Honk! Honk! Honk! CHANTECLER[_Barring the_ HENS' _passage, while everything shakes. _] Wait! THE HORN[_Far away. _] Honk! Honk! Honk! CHANTECLER[_Standing aside for them to pass. _] You can safely go! THE GREY HEN[_From her hiding-place. _] He has not seen me! THE TUFTED HENYou may think this is fun! Now everything we eat will taste of gasoline! SCENE THIRD CHANTECLER, _the_ BLACKBIRD _in his cage, the_ CAT _still asleep on thewall, the_ GREY HEN _behind the_ OLD HEN'S _basket. _ CHANTECLER[_To himself, after a pause. _] No, I will not trust a frivolous soulwith such a weighty secret. Let me try rather to cast off the burden ofit myself--forget and [_Shaking his feathers. _] just rejoice in being arooster! [_He struts up and down. _] I am beautiful. I am proud. Iwalk--then I stand still. I give a skip or two, I tread a measure. --Ishock the cart sometimes by my boldness with the fair, so that it raisesscandalised shafts in horror to the sky!--Hang care!--A barleycorn--Eatand be merry. --The gear upon my head and under my eye is a far moregorgeous red, when I puff out my chest and strut, than any robin'swaistcoat or finch's tie. --A fine day. All is well. I curvet--I blow myhorn. Conscious of having done my duty, I may quite properly assume theswagger of a musketeer, and the calm commanding bearing of a cardinal. I can-- A VOICE[_Loud and gruff. _] Beware, Chantecler! CHANTECLERWhat silly beast is bidding me beware? SCENE FOURTH THE SAME, PATOU. PATOU[_Barking inside his kennel. _] I! I! I! CHANTECLER[_Retreating. _] Is it you, Patou, good shaggy head starting out of thedark, with straws caught among your eyelashes? PATOUWhich do not prevent my seeing what is plain as that hen-house rrrroof! CHANTECLERCross? PATOUGrrrrrrr-- CHANTECLERWhen he rolls his r's like that he is very cross indeed. PATOUIt's my devotion to you, Cock, makes me roll my r's. Guardian of thehouse, the orchard and the fields, more than all else I am bound toprotect your song. And I growl at the dangers I suspect lurking. Such ismy humour. CHANTECLERYour humour? Your dogma, suspicion is! Call it your _dog_ma! PATOUYou can stoop to a pun? From bad to worse! I'm enough of a psychologistto feel the evil spreading, and I've the scent of a rat-terrier. CHANTECLERBut you are no rat-terrier! PATOU[_Shaking his head. _] Chantecler, how do we know? CHANTECLER[_Considering him. _] Your appearance is in fact peculiar What actuallyis your breed? PATOUI am a horrible mixture, issue of every passer-by! I can feel barkingwithin me the voice of every blood. Retriever, mastiff, pointer, poodle, hound--my soul is a whole pack, sitting in circle, musing. Cock, I amall dogs, I have been every dog! CHANTECLERThen what a sum of goodness must be stored in you! PATOUBrother, we are framed to understand each other. You sing to the sun andscratch up the earth. I, when I wish to do myself a good and apleasure-- CHANTECLERYou lie on the earth and sleep in the sun! PATOU[_With a pleased yap. _] Aye! CHANTECLERWe have ever had in common our love for those two things. PATOUI am so fond of the sun that I howl at the moon. And so fond of theearth that I dig great holes and shove my nose in it! CHANTECLERI know! The gardener's wife has her opinion of those holes. --But whatare the dangers you discern? All lies quiet beneath the quiet sky. Nothing appears to be threatening my humble sunlit dominions. THE OLD HEN[_Lifting the basket-lid with her head. _] The egg looks like marbleuntil it gets smashed! [_The lid drops. _] CHANTECLER[_To_ PATOU. ] What dangers, friend? PATOUThere are two. First, in yonder cage-- CHANTECLERWell? PATOUThat satirical whistling. CHANTECLERWhat about it? PATOUPernicious. CHANTECLERIn what way? PATOUIn every way! CHANTECLER[_Ironical. _] Bad as all that, is it? [_The_ PEACOCK'S _squall is heardin the distance: "Ee--yong!"_] PATOUAnd then that cry, the Peacock's! [_The_ PEACOCK, _further off: "Ee--yong!"_] PATOUMore out of tune all by itself than a whole village singing society! CHANTECLERCome, what have they done to you, that whistler and that posturer? PATOU[_Grumbling. _] They have done to me--that I know not what they may do toyou! They have done to me--that among us simple, kindly folk they haveintroduced new fashions, the Blackbird of being funny, the Peacock ofputting on airs! Fashions which the latter in his grotesque bad tastepicked up parading on the marble terraces of the vulgar rich, and theformer--Heaven knows where! along with his cynicism and his slang. Nowthe one, travelling salesman of blighting corrosive laughter, and theother, brainless ambassador of Fashion, their mission to kill among uslove and labour, the first by persiflage, the second by display, --theyhave brought to us, even here in our peaceful sunny corner, the twopests, the saddest in the world, the jest which insists on being funnyat any cost, and the cry which insists on being the latest scream! [_The_ BLACKBIRD _is heard tentatively whistling, "How sweet to fareafield". _] You, Cock, who had the sense to prefer the grain of truewheat to the pearl, how can you allow yourself to be taken in by thatvillainous Blackbird! A bird who practises a tune! CHANTECLER[_Indulgently. _] Come, he whistles his tune like many another! PATOU[_Unwillingly agreeing, in a drawling growl. _] Ye-e-es, but he neverwhistles it to the end! CHANTECLER[_Watching the_ BLACKBIRD _hopping about. _] A light-hearted fellow! PATOU[_Same business. _] Ye-e-es, but he lies heavy on our hearts. A bird whotakes his exercise indoors! CHANTECLERYou must own he is intelligent! PATOU[_In a longer, more hesitant growl. _] Ye-e-e-es! But not so very! Forhis eye never brightens with wonder and admiration. He preserves beforethe flower--of whose stalk he sees more than of its chalice--the glancewhich deflowers, the tone which depreciates! CHANTECLERTaste, my dear fellow, he unmistakably has! PATOUYe-e-e-es! But not much taste! To wear black is too easy a way of havingtaste! One should have the courage of colours on his wing. CHANTECLERYou will admit at least that he has an original fancy. No denying thathe is amusing. PATOUYe-e-es--No! Why is it amusing to adopt a few stock phrases and makethem do service at every turn? Why amusing to miscall, exaggerate, andvulgarise? CHANTECLERHis mind has a diverting, unexpected turn-- PATOUReady but cheap! I cannot think it particularly brilliant to remark, with a knowing wink, at sight of an innocent cow at pasture, "The simplecow knows her way to the hay!" Nor do I regard it as evidence of notablemental gifts to answer the greeting of the inoffensive duck, "The quackshoots off his mouth!" No, the extravagances of that Blackbird, whomakes me bristle, no more constitute wit than his slang achieves style! CHANTECLERHe is not altogether to blame. He wears the modern garb. See him therein correct evening dress. He looks, in his neat black coat-- PATOULike a beastly little undertaker who, after burying Faith, hops withrelief and glee! CHANTECLERThere, there! You make him blacker than he is! PATOUI do believe a blackbird is just a misfit crow! CHANTECLERHis diminutive size, however-- PATOU[_Vigorously shaking his ears. _] Oh, be not deceived by his size! Evilmakes his models first on a tiny scale. The soul of a cutlass dwells inthe pocket-knife; blackbird and crow are of the selfsame crape, and thestriped wasp is a tiger in miniature! CHANTECLER[_Amused at_ PATOU'S _violence. _] The blackbird in short is wicked, stupid, ugly-- PATOUThe chief thing about the Blackbird is--that you can't tell what he is!Is there thought in that head? feeling in that breast? Hear him!"Tew-tew-tew-tew tew--" CHANTECLERBut what harm does he do? PATOUHe tew-tew-tews! And nothing is so mortal to thought and sentiment asthat same derisive tew-tewing, disingenuous and non-committal! Day byday, and that is why I roll my rs, I must witness this debasing oflanguage and ideals. It's enough to produce rabies! CHANTECLERCome, Patou!-- PATOUIn their objectionable jargon, they have the ha-ha on all of us! I am nofastidious King Charles, but I dislike, I tell you, being referred to asHis Whiskers!--Oh, to be gone, escape, follow the heels of some poorshepherd without a crust in his wallet, but at least, at eveningdrinking from the glassy pond, to have--oh, better than allmarrow-bones!--the fresh illusion of lapping up the stars! CHANTECLER[_Surprised at_ PATOU'S _having lowered his voice to utter the lastwords. _] Why do you drop your voice? PATOUYou see?--If we speak of stars nowadays we must do it in a whisper! [_Helays his head on his paws in deep dejection. _] CHANTECLER[_Comforting him. _] Be not downcast! PATOU[_Lifting his head again. _] No, it is too silly and too weak! I'll shoutit if I please! [_He howls with the whole power of his lungs. _]Stars!--[_Then in a tone of relief. _] There, I feel better! CHICKENS[_Passing at the back, mocking. _] Stars!--Ho! Stars for ours! Stars![_They go off, fooling and giggling. _] PATOUHear them! Our pullets will be whistling soon like blackbirds! CHANTECLER[_Proudly strutting up and down. _] What care I? I sing, and have on myside the Hens. PATOUTrust not to the hearts of Hens--or of crowds. You are too willing totake the price of your singing in lip-service. CHANTECLERBut love--love is glory awarded in kisses! PATOUAh! I, too, was young once, I had my wilding devil's beauty, --aninflammatory eye, an inflammable heart. Well, I was deceived. For ahandsomer dog?--No, they deceived me for a miserable cur!--[_Roaring insudden wrath. _] For whom?--For whom, do you suppose? CHANTECLER[_Retreating. _] You alarm me! PATOUFor a low-down dachshund who trod on his own ears! THE BLACKBIRD[_Who has overheard_ PATOU'S _last words, sticking his head between thebars of his cage. _] Still harping on the dachshund, is he? What's theodds, old chappie? You were the goat!--How does being the goat matter? PATOUBut you up there, scoffing at everything, who are you, may one ask? BLACKBIRDI'm the pet of the poultry yard! PATOUBad luck is what you'll bring them! BLACKBIRDA prophecy-sharp?--Say, wisteria, we are twisted up with laughter! [_Hecomes out of his cage and hops to the ground. _] PATOU[_As he approaches_] Grrrrrrr-- CHANTECLERHush! He's a friend! PATOUA false one. CHANTECLER[_To_ BLACKBIRD. ] Fine things we learn when the talk is of you! THE OLD HEN[_Her head protruding from the basket. _] Strike rotten wood, and see thewood-lice scatter! [_The basket-lid drops. _] PATOU[_To_ CHANTECLER. ] He laughs at you behind your back! BLACKBIRD[_To_ PATOU. ] Ha, retriever, you retrieve? PATOUWhen you pour forth your heart in your ardent cry, giving it over andover, he calls it the same old saw that your jag-toothed red creststands for! CHANTECLERSo that's what you say? BLACKBIRD[_Affecting simplicity. _] You surely don't mind? How can it affect you?And a joke about you is always so sure of success! PATOU[_To the_ BLACKBIRD. ] Point-blank, do you admire or despise the Cock? BLACKBIRDI make fun of him in spots, but admire him in lump! PATOUYou always peck two kinds of seed. THE BLACKBIRDMy cage has two seed-cups, you see. PATOUI am single-minded and downright! THE BLACKBIRDYou--are an old poodle of the year 48! I am an up-to-date bird! PATOU[_Gruffly. _] Out of my way! lest I give your black coat red tails![_The_ BLACKBIRD _nimbly gets out of the way, _ PATOU _goes into hiskennel grumbling. _] I'll show him some up-to-date jaws! CHANTECLERBe quiet! It's his way. The truth is that if once he stood in thepresence of beauty, this very Blackbird would applaud! PATOUNot with both wings! What can you expect of a bird who, with woodbineand juniper full in sight, prefers to go inside and peck at amusty biscuit? BLACKBIRDHe never seems to suspect that the poacher is a blackguardly sort ofbrute! PATOUWhat I know is that the underbrush is all a delicate golden gloom-- THE BLACKBIRDYes, but leaden shot can cleave your delicate gold. The quail is such acanny bird, that he lies low lest he make his last appearance on toast. And so, in lack of quail-- PATOUDoes the great stag delight any the less in his green forest for turningover among the grass at evening some bit of a rusty cartridge? THE BLACKBIRDNo, old chap--but the stag, you see, is just another kind of a hat-rack! PATOUOh, but freedom, freedom, with violets looking on! Love!-- THE BLACKBIRDAntediluvian pastimes! not nearly such good fun as my nice new woodentrapeze. Oh, my cage, let us sign a joyful three-six-nine years' lease!I live like a Duke, I have filtered drinking-water--[_At_ PATOU'S_significant start and growl, he springs aside, finishing. _] You cansling mud upon me, I have a porcelain bath! CHANTECLER[_Slightly out of patience. _] Why not make a practice of talking simplyand to the point? THE BLACKBIRDI like to make you sit up, and watch you blinking. PATOUGrrrrr--in the plain interest of public decency, I say it behooves us-- THE BLACKBIRDDon't say behooves, say it's up to you, old chap! CHANTECLERWhat's all this juggling with words? THE BLACKBIRDThe thing, Chantecler, quite the thing! I knew a city sparrow once, andit's the way they talk in fashionable circles. CHANTECLERI was well acquainted with a little red-breast, who lived beneath a citypoet's eaves; he did not talk like you. THE BLACKBIRDI belong to my time. Every chap that's a bit of a swell nowadays must bea bit of a tough. It's smart, you know. PATOUI froth at the mouth! Smart, --there's the Peacock's password! CHANTECLEROh, the Peacock, by the way, what is he doing these days? THE BLACKBIRDOgling with his tail-feathers! PATOUBaneful his example has been to many an humble heart. CHANTECLERWhat signs do you see of his influence? PATOUA thousand nothings. THE OLD HEN[_Appearing. _] Bubbles floating down the stream tell of laundresses upstream! [_The lid drops. _] CHANTECLERI am sure I have not seen the smallest bubble from which-- PATOU[_Indicating a_ GUINEA-PIG, _who is passing. _] See there, thatGuinea-pig-- CHANTECLER[_Considering him. _] What about him? He is just a yellow Guinea-pig! GUINEA-PIG[_Snippily correcting. _] Khaki, if you please! CHANTECLER[_To_ PATOU. ] Kha--? PATOUA bubble!--And yonder waddling duck-- CHANTECLER[_Looking at him. _] He is going to take his bath-- THE DUCK[_Drily. _] My tub! CHANTECLERHis--? PATOUA bubble! [_A long grating noise is heard within the house Crrrrrrr, then. _] THE CLOCKCuckoo! THE GREY HEN[_Leaving her hiding-place and running towards the cat-hole. _] Hisvoice!--Now through the kitty's little door I finally shall see him![_She thrusts her head into the hole. The_ CUCKOO'S _call is notrepeated. _] Oh, deary, deary me! I am too late! [_Calling. _]Bis! Encore! CHANTECLER[_Turning around at the noise. _] Eh? THE GREY HEN[_Desperately, with her head in the cat-hole. _] He has stopped! THE BLACKBIRDIt was the half-hour. CHANTECLER[_Close behind the_ GREY HEN, _abruptly. _] How does it happen, my love, that we are not in the fields? THE GREY HEN[_Turning, scared. _] Goodness gracious! CHANTECLERWhat are we doing, my love, in the cat-hole? THE GREY HEN[_Upset. _] I was just taking a peep-- CHANTECLERTo see whom? THE GREY HEN[_More and more upset. _] Oh--! CHANTECLER[_Dramatically. _] Who is it? THE GREY HENOh-- CHANTECLERConfess! THE GREY HEN[_In the voice of a woman caught in guilt. _] The Cuckoo! CHANTECLER[_Amazed. _] You love him?--But wherefore? THE GREY HEN[_Drops her eyes, then with emotion. _] He is Swiss! PATOUA bubble! THE GREY HENHe is a thinker. He takes his airing-- CHANTECLERShe loves a clock! THE GREY HEN--always takes his airing at the same hour, like Kant. CHANTECLERLike what? THE GREY HENLike Kant. CHANTECLERDid one ever--! Out of my sight! THE BLACKBIRDTrot, Kant you? [THE GREY HEN _hurries off. _] CHANTECLERHere's a pretty--Wherever did she learn that Kant--? PATOUAt the Guinea-hen's. CHANTECLERThat foolish old party of the crazy cries and the white-plastered beak? PATOUShe has taken a day. CHANTECLERA day off, do you mean? PATOUNo, a day at home. CHANTECLERA day at--Where does she receive? THE BLACKBIRDIn a corner of the kitchen-garden. PATOUUnder the auspices of that strawman with the unsavoury old top-hat. CHANTECLERThe scarecrow? THE BLACKBIRDYes, his being there makes the affair select. CHANTECLER[_Bewildered. _] How is that? THE BLACKBIRDDon't you see? He scares off all the puny fowl--. Poor relations are notwanted at a function. CHANTECLERSo the Guinea-hen has a day! PATOU[_Phlegmatically. _] A bubble! CHANTECLERA balloon! THE BLACKBIRD[_Imitating the_ GUINEA-HEN. ] Mondays, my dear-- CHANTECLERAnd what do they do at that feather-brain's parties? PATOUCluck and cackle. The Turkey-cock airs his social gifts, the Chick getsinto society. BLACKBIRD[_Imitating the_ GUINEA-HEN. ] From five to six-- CHANTECLEREvening? PATOUNo, morning. CHANTECLERWhat--? THE BLACKBIRDYou see, she must take advantage of the time when the garden isdeserted, and yet have it a five-o'clock tea. So she chose the hour whenthe old gardener is at his early potations. CHANTECLERWhat nonsense! THE BLACKBIRDQuite so. PATOUYou needn't talk. You go to her teas. CHANTECLERHe goes--? THE BLACKBIRDYes, I am one of their ornaments. PATOUAnd I am not so sure but that some day-- CHANTECLERWhat are you mumbling to your brass-studded collar? PATOU--some Hen may get you too to go! CHANTECLERMe? PATOUYou! CHANTECLERMe?-- PATOULed by the end of your beak. CHANTECLER[_In high wrath. _] Me?-- PATOUFor when a new Hen heaves in sight, you can't help yourself, youknow--you lose your balance-wheel-- THE BLACKBIRDYou slowly circumambulate the fair one--[_He imitates the_ COCK _walkingaround a_ HEN. ] "Yes, it's me. --Here I am!" And you say, "Coa--" CHANTECLERI never knew a more idiotic bird! THE BLACKBIRD[_Continuing to mimic him. _] You let your wing hang, sentimentally--yourfoot performs a sort of stately jig--[_A shot is heard. _] Ha! I don'tlike that! PATOU[_Starts up quivering, and scents the air. _] Poaching Julius is at histricks again! THE BLACKBIRDDog, it seems to stimulate you agreeably! PATOU[_With ears up-pricked and shining eyes. _] Yes! [_Suddenly, as ifcontrolling himself, passionately. _] No--! THE BLACKBIRDWhat affects you so? PATOUOh, horrible, horrible! A poor little partridge perhaps-- THE BLACKBIRDIs that streaming eye, my friend, a result of age or rheumatism? PATOUNeither! But I have within me several dogs, and there is conflict amidstme. My hunter's nostril twitches at a shot, but, directly, myhouse-dog's memory raises before me a bleeding wing, the glazing eye ofa doe, the pathos of a rabbit's dying look--and I feel the heart of aSaint Bernard waking in my breast! [_Another shot. _] CHANTECLERAgain? SCENE FIFTH THE SAME, A GOLDEN PHEASANT, _later_ BRIFFAUT. A GOLDEN PHEASANT[_Flying suddenly over the wall, and dropping in the yard, mad withfright. _] Hide me! CHANTECLERHeavens! PATOUA golden pheasant! GOLDEN PHEASANTIs this great Chantecler? THE BLACKBIRDAll over the shop, we're famous! GOLDEN PHEASANT[_Running hither and thither. _] Save me, if you are he! CHANTECLERI am!--Rely on me! [_Another shot. _] GOLDEN PHEASANT[_Jumping and casting himself on_ CHANTECLER. ] Merciful powers! CHANTECLERBut what a nervous bird it is--a golden pheasant! GOLDEN PHEASANTI have no breath left! I ran too hard!-[_Faints. _] THE BLACKBIRDPuff!--Out goes his light! CHANTECLER[_Upholding the_ PHEASANT _with one wing. _] How beautiful he is, withdrooping neck and softly ruffled throat-feathers! [_He runs to thedrinking-trough. _] Water!--One almost hesitates to dim such beauty witha wetting--[_He splashes him vigorously with his other wing. _] THE GOLDEN PHEASANT[_Coming to. _] I am pursued! Oh, hide me! THE BLACKBIRD"And the villain still--" Here's melodrama! [_To the_ PHEASANT. ] How the dickens did he manage to miss you? THE PHEASANTSurprise!--The huntsman was looking for a little grey lark. Seeing merise, he cried, "Thunder!" He saw but a flash of gold, and I a flash offire. --But the dog is chasing me, a horrible dog--[_Seeing_ PATOU _hequickly adds. _] I am speaking of a hunting-dog! [_To_ CHANTECLER. ]Hide me! CHANTECLERThe trouble is he is so conspicuous. That increases our dilemma. Wherecan he lie concealed?--Gentle sir, my lord, most noble stranger, wheremight we hope to hide the rainbow, supposing it in danger? PATOUThere by the bench with the beehives stands my green cottage, very muchat your service. --Go in, I pray! [_The_ GOLDEN PHEASANT _goes in, buthis long tail projects. _] There is too much of this golden vanity!--Thetip is still in sight. --I shall have to sit on it. [BRIFFAUT _appears above the wall. Long hanging ears and quiveringchops. _] PATOU[_To_ BRIFFAUT, _affecting unconcern. _] Good afternoon! BRIFFAUT[_Snuffing. _] Humph, what a good smell! PATOU[_Pointing to his bowl. _] My poor dinner! Soup with seasonable vegetables. BRIFFAUT[_Hurriedly. _] Have you seen a pheasant-hen go by? PATOU[_In astonishment, reflecting. _] A pheasant-hen, --? CHANTECLER[_Walking about, with an assumption of gaiety. _] Impressive, isn't he, Briffaut there? with his look of a thoroughbred old Englishman! PATOUNo, but I saw a pheasant. BRIFFAUTThat was she! PATOUA pheasant-hen wears dun. This was a golden pheasant He went off towardsthe meadow. BRIFFAUTIt is she! CHANTECLER[_Going towards him, incredulous. _] A pheasant-hen with golden plumage? BRIFFAUTAh, you do not know what sometimes happens? CHANTECLER _and_ PATOUNo. THE BLACKBIRDWe are in for a hunting yarn!--Give me chloroform! BRIFFAUTIt sometimes happens--the thing is exceptional, of course--My masterknows because he has read about it. --It sometimes happens--Anextraordinary phenomenon to be sure! which is likewise observed amongmoor-fowl. --It happens-- PATOUWhat happens? BRIFFAUTThat the pheasant-hen--Ah, my dear fellows--! CHANTECLER[_Stamping with impatience. _] The pheasant-hen what?--what? BRIFFAUTMakes up her mind one day that the cock-pheasant goes altogether toofine. When the male in springtime puts on his holiday feathers, she seesthat he is handsomer than she-- THE BLACKBIRDAnd it makes her sore! BRIFFAUTShe leaves off laying and hatching eggs. Nature then gives her back herpurple and her gold, and the pheasant-hen proud and magnificent Amazon, preferring to put on her back blue, green, yellow, all the colours ofthe prism, rather than under a sober grey wing to shelter a brood ofyoung pheasants, flies freely forth--Light-mindedly she sheds thevirtues of her sex, and having done it--sees life! [_He sketches withhis paw a slightly disrespectful gesture. _] CHANTECLER[_Dryly. _] Pray, what do you know about it? BRIFFAUT[_Astonished. _] Is he annoyed? PATOU[_Aside. _] Already! CHANTECLERIn short, the pheasant your master missed-- BRIFFAUTWas a she!--[_He stops and scents the air. _] Oh but!-- PATOU[_Quickly, showing his dish. _] You know, it's my dinner you smell! BRIFFAUTIt smells very unusually good. CHANTECLER[_Aside. _] I don't like that way his nose has of twitching. BRIFFAUT[_Starting upon another story. _] Fancy such an instance as the following-- THE BLACKBIRDHoly Smoke! Here comes another!--Oh, I say, hire a hall! [_A distant whistle is heard. _] CHANTECLER[_Quickly. _] You are whistled for! BRIFFAUTThe deuce! Good evening! [_Disappears. _] PATOUGood evening. CHANTECLERGone, at last! BLACKBIRD[_Calling. _] Briffaut! CHANTECLERGreat Glory, what are you doing? THE BLACKBIRD[_Calling. _] I have something to tell you! BRIFFAUT[_His head reappears above the wall. _] Well--? THE BLACKBIRDLook out, Briffaut! CHANTECLER[_Low to the_ BLACKBIRD. ] Do you make sport of our fears? THE BLACKBIRDYou are losing something! BRIFFAUTWhat? THE BLACKBIRDTime! BRIFFAUT[_Disappearing with a snort of fury. _] Wow! SCENE SIXTH CHANTECLER, THE BLACKBIRD, PATOU, THE PHEASANT-HEN CHANTECLER[_After a moment, to the_ BLACKBIRD _who from his cage, which he hasreturned, can see off over the wall. _] Is he gone? THE BLACKBIRDHe is nearly out of sight! CHANTECLER[_Going toward_ PATOU'S _kennel. _] Madam, come forth! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Appearing at the threshold of the kennel. _] Well?--A rebellious, self-freed slave I am--even as that dog was saying! But of greatlineage, and proud as I am free--A pheasant of the woods! THE BLACKBIRDWhew! We hate ourself, don't we! THE PHEASANT-HENIn the forest where I live there comes a-poaching-- CHANTECLERThat madman who would have given to vile lead a jewel for setting! THE PHEASANT-HENBeneath foliage--not so thick but a sunbeam may glide in!--I make myhome. I am descended, however, from elsewhere. From whence? From Persia?China? None can tell! But of one thing we may be certain: that I wasmeant to shimmer in the blue among the fragrant gum-trees of the East, and not to be chased through brambles by a hound!--Am I the ancientPhoenix? or the sacred Chinese hen? Whence was I brought to this land?And how brought? And by whom? History is not explicit on the point, andleaves us a splendid choice. Wherefore I choose to have been born inColchis, from whence I came on Jason's fist. I am all gold. Perhaps Iwas the Fleece! PATOUYou? THE PHEASANT-HENThe Pheasant! PATOU[_Politely correcting her. _] Pheasant-hen. THE PHEASANT-HENI refer to my race, for which I stand, by token of my crimson shield. Yes, my ancient fate of being a dead leaf beside a ruby, having appearedto me one day too distinctly dull a lot, I stole his dazzling plumagefrom the male. A good thing, too, for it becomes me so much better! Thegolden tippet, as I wear it, curves and shimmers. The emerald epauletteacquires a dainty grace. I have made of a mere uniform a miracleof style! CHANTECLERShe is distractingly lovely, so much is certain! PATOUHe is never going to fall in love with a woman dressed as a man! THE BLACKBIRD[_Who has again hopped down from his cage. _] I must go and tell theGuinea-hen that a golden bird has blown into town. She'll have a fit!She will invite her! [_Off. _] CHANTECLERSo you come to us from the East, like the Dawn? THE PHEASANT-HENMy life has the picturesque disorder of a poem. If I came from the East, it was by way of Egypt. PATOU[_Aside, heart-broken. _] A gypsy, on top of the rest! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_To_ CHANTECLER, _tossing and twisting her head so that the coloursripple at her throat. _] Have you noticed these two shades? They are ourown especial colours--the Dawn's and mine! Princess of the underbrush, queen of the glade, I am pleased to wear the yellow locks of anadventuress. Dreamy and homesick for my unknown home, I choose mypalaces among the rustling flags and withered irises that fringe thepool. I dote upon the forest, and when it smells in autumn of deadleaves and decaying wood-- PATOU[_In consternation. _] She is mad! THE PHEASANT-HENWild as a tree-bough in a southerly gale, I tremble, flutter, spendmyself in motion, till a vast languor overtakes me-- CHANTECLER[_Who for a minute or so has been letting his wing hang, now beginsslowly circling about the_ PHEASANT-HEN, _in the manner of the_BLACKBIRD _aping him, with a very gentle, throaty. _] Coa--[_The_PHEASANT-HEN _looks at him. Believing himself encouraged, he takes upagain louder, while circling about her. _] Coa-- THE PHEASANT-HENMy dear sir, I prefer to tell you at once that if it is for my benefityou are doing that-- CHANTECLER[_Stopping short. _] What? THE PHEASANT-HENThe eye--the peculiar gait--the drooping wing--the "Coa--" CHANTECLERBut I-- THE PHEASANT-HENYou do it all very nicely, I admit; only, it has not the very slightesteffect upon me! CHANTECLER[_Slightly abashed. _] Madam-- THE PHEASANT-HENOh, I understand, of course. We are the illustrious Cock! Not a Hen inthe world but preens her feathers in the hope--the very touching hope, certainly--of offering us a moment's distraction, some day, between twosongs. We are so sure of ourself that we never hesitate, not even whenthe lady is a visitor, and not quite the ordinary short-kirtled Hen whomone can engage without further ceremony by such advances-- CHANTECLERBut-- THE PHEASANT-HENI do not bestow my affections quite so lightly. For my taste, anyhow, you are altogether too frankly Cock of the Walk! CHANTECLERToo--? THE PHEASANT-HENSpoiled! The only Cock to my fancy would be a plain inglorious Cock towhom I should be all in all. CHANTECLERBut-- THE PHEASANT-HENLove a celebrated Cock? I am not such a very woman! CHANTECLERBut--well--still--We might, however, Madam, take a little stroll together! THE PHEASANT-HENYes, like two friends. CHANTECLERTwo friends. THE PHEASANT-HENTwo chickens. CHANTECLERVery old! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Quickly. _] No, no--not old! Very ugly! CHANTECLER[_Quicker still. _] Oh, no, not ugly! [_Coming nearer to her. _] Will youtake a turn in the yard?--Accept my wing! THE PHEASANT-HENYou shall show me the sights. CHANTECLER[_Stopping before the_ CHICKENS' _drinking-trough. _]This, of course, ishideous. It is a model drinking-trough on the siphon principle, made ofgalvanised iron. But everything excepting that is charming, noble, timeand weather worn, from the hen-house roof to the stable door-- THE BLACKBIRD[_Returning. _] The Guinea-hen is having a fit! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_To_ CHANTECLER, _looking about her. _] And so you live here untroubled, and have nothing to fear? CHANTECLERNothing whatever. Because the owner is a vegetarian An amazing man, alover of animals. He calls them by names borrowed from the poets. Thedonkey there is Midas; the heifer, Io. THE BLACKBIRDThe showman's on the job! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Indicating the_ BLACKBIRD. ] And that? CHANTECLEROur humorist. THE PHEASANT-HENWhat does he do? CHANTECLEROh, he keeps busy! THE PHEASANT-HENDoing what? CHANTECLERTrying never to appear a fool, and that's hard work. THE PHEASANT-HENPossibly--but most unattractive! [_They move towards the back. _] THE BLACKBIRD[_With a glance at the_ PHEASANT-HEN'S _scarlet breast. _] Size up thehighfalutin' dame!--Get on to the waistcoat will you? CHANTECLER[_Continuing the round. _] The hay-cock. The old wall. The wall, when Ising, is alive with lizards, the hay-cock bends to listen. I sing on thespot where you see the earth scratched up, and when I have sung, I drinkin the bowl over there. PHEASANT-HENYour song then is a matter of importance? CHANTECLER[_Seriously. _] The greatest. THE PHEASANT-HENWhy? CHANTECLERThat is my secret. THE PHEASANT-HENIf I should ask you to tell me? CHANTECLER[_Turning the conversation, and showing a pile of brushwood tied inbundles. _] My friends, the fagots. THE PHEASANT-HENStolen from my forest!--So what they say is true?--you have a secret? CHANTECLER[_Dryly. _] Yes, Madam. THE PHEASANT-HENI suppose it would be useless to insist-- CHANTECLER[_Climbing on the wall at the back. _] And from here you can see theremainder of the estate, to the edge of the kitchen-garden, where theyply at evening a serpent ending like a sprinkling can. THE PHEASANT-HENWhat?--This is all? CHANTECLERThis is all. THE PHEASANT-HENAnd do you imagine the world ends at your vegetable-patch? CHANTECLERNo. THE PHEASANT-HENDo you never, as you watch, far overhead, the wedge of the south-flyingbirds, dream of vaster horizons? CHANTECLERNo. PHEASANT-HENBut all these things about you are dreary and poor and flat! CHANTECLERAnd I can never become used to the richness and wonder of these things! THE PHEASANT-HENIt is always the same, you must agree! CHANTECLERNothing is ever the same, --nothing, --ever, --under the sun! And thatbecause of the sun!--For _She_ changes everything! THE PHEASANT-HENShe--Who? CHANTECLERLight, the universal goddess! That geranium planted by the farmer's wifeis never twice the same red! And that old wooden shoe, spurting straw, what a sight, what a beautiful sight! And the wooden comb hanging amongthe farmer's smocks, with the green hair of the sward caught in itsteeth! The pitchfork, stood in the corner, like a misbehaving child, dozing as he stands and dreaming of the hay-fields! And the bowl andskittles there, --the trim-waisted skittles, shapely maids, whose orderlyquadrilles Patou in his gambols clumsily upsets! The great worm-eatenbowl whose curved expanse some ant is always crossing, travelling withno less pride than famed explorers, --around her ball in 80seconds!--Nothing, I tell you, is two instants quite the same!--And I, sweet lady, have been so susceptible ever, that a garden-rake in acorner, a flower in a pot, cast me long since into a helpless ecstasy, and that from gazing at a morning-glory I fell into the startledadmiration which has made my eye so round! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Thoughtfully. _] One feels that you have a soul. --A soul then may findwherewithal to grow, so far from life and its drama, shut in by afarmyard wall with a cat asleep on it? CHANTECLERWith power to see, capacity to suffer, one may come Ito understand allthings. In an insect's death are hinted all disasters. Through aknot-hole can be seen the sky and marching stars! THE OLD HEN[_Appearing. _] None knows the heavens like the water in the well! CHANTECLER[_Presenting her to the _PHEASANT-HEN_ before the basket-lid drops. _] Myfoster-mother! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Politely approaching. _] Delighted! THE OLD HEN[_Slyly winking at her. _] He's a fine Cock! THE PHEASANT-HENHe is a Cock, moreover, for whom that fact is not the only thing in theworld! CHANTECLER[_Who has gone toward_ PATOU. ] There, my dear boy, is a Hen with whomone can have a bit of solid conversation. SCENE SEVENTH THE SAME, _the_ GUINEA-HEN, _and the whole_ POULTRY-YARD _Cries outside, nearer and nearer, _ "Ah!--" _Enter all the_ HENS _intumult, preceded by the agitated_ GUINEA-HEN. THE BLACKBIRD[_In his cage. _] The next course will be Guinea-hen! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Running to the_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] Ah, my dear, my dear, my dear!--Abeauty, a very beauty!--We have come to make your acquaintance, my dear! [_General admiration, _ "Ah!--" _The_ PHEASANT-HEN _is surrounded. Conversation, cries, clucking. _] CHANTECLER[_Watching the_ PHEASANT-HEN, _aside. _] How well she walks, with freeand graceful gait!--[_He looks at the_ HENS. ] So differently from myHens! [_Irritably, to the_ HENS. ] Ladies, you walk as if you hadblisters! You walk as if you trod on your own eggs! PATOUNo mistaking the symptoms! He is very much in love. THE GUINEA-HEN[_Presenting her son to the_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] The Guinea-cock, my son. THE YOUNG GUINEA-COCK[_Looking admiringly at the_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] What a jolly shade of blond! A HEN[_Disparagingly. _] Like butter! CHANTECLER[_Turning, dryly to the_ HENS. ] It is time you went indoors. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Amiably. _] So soon? CHANTECLERThey retire early. A HEN[_A little mortified. _] Yes, we must turn in. THE PHEASANT-HENThey go in by a ladder! THE GUINEA-HEN[_To the_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] Let us be great friends, my dear, shall we? CHANTECLER[_Looking at the_ PHEASANT-HEN, _aside. _] Her sumptuous court-dress setsher apart from the rest, and removes her far above. --My Hensare dowdies! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_To the_ GUINEA-HEN, _excusing herself. _] I return to my forest hometo-night. THE GUINEA-HEN[_In excessive grief. _] So soon--? [_A shot in the distance. _] PATOUThey are still after game. THE GUINEA-HENYou must stay. CHANTECLER[_Eagerly. _] That's it! Let us keep her a prisoner among us till to-morrow. PHEASANT-HENBut where can I spend the night? PATOU[_Indicating his kennel. _] There, in my bachelor's quarters. PHEASANT-HENI?--Sleep beneath a roof? PATOU[_Insisting. _] Go in, I pray. THE PHEASANT-HENBut you? What shall you do? PATOUI shall do very well! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Resigning herself. _] I will stay then until to-morrow. THE GUINEA-HEN[_With piercing cries. _] Ah! Ah! But to-morrow, my dear! to-morrow-- ALL[_In alarm. _] What is it? THE YOUNG GUINEA-COCKTo-morrow is my mother's day! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Impetuously. _] My dear, would you care to come to-morrow quiteinformally, and take a simple snail with us? The Peacock-- CHANTECLER[_Mounting the ladder, from whence he can inspect the scene. _] Quiet, ifyou please! Evening has blown its smoke across the sky--[_In a tone ofcommand. _] Is every one in his accustomed place? THE GUINEA-HEN[_Lower, to the_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] The Peacock is coming. We shall hold ourlittle gathering among the currant-bushes. CHANTECLERAre the turkeys on their roost? THE GUINEA-HEN[_Same business. _] From five to six. CHANTECLERAre the ducks in their pointed house? THE GUINEA-HEN[_Same business. _] The Tortoise has kindly said we may expect her. PHEASANT-HENIndeed? CHANTECLER[_On the last rung of the ladder. _] Is every one under cover?--Everychick under a wing? THE GUINEA-HEN[_Still insisting with the_ PHEASANT-HEN _that she come on the morrow. _]The Tufted Hen has promised to bring the Cock. --[_To_ CHANTECLER. ]Charmed, I am sure. CHANTECLERBut-- THE TUFTED HEN[_Looking out of the hen-house. _] You will come, won't you, dear? CHANTECLERNo. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_At the foot of the ladder, looking up at him. _] Oh, but you will? CHANTECLERWhy? THE PHEASANT-HENBecause you said "No!" to the other! CHANTECLER[_Wavering. _] Ah! PATOUHumph! I beseech you-- CHANTECLER[_Still wavering. _] I-- PATOUHumph! He is weakening. --They will make him pay dear if he yields! THE OLD HEN[_Appearing. _] Make a reed into a pipe and play a tune upon it! [_Thebasket-lid drops. _] [_Night is thickening. _] CHANTECLER[_Still hesitating. _] I-- A VOICELet us go to sleep-- THE TURKEY[_On his roost, solemnly. _] _Quandoque dormitat_-- THE BLACKBIRD[_In his cage. _] Dormittimus! CHANTECLER[_Very firmly to the_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] I will not go. Good night. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Slightly offended. _] Good night! [_With a curt hop she enters thedog-kennel. _] PATOU[_Falling asleep, stretched in front of his kennel. _] Let us sleep untilthe sky grows pink--pink as--as--a puppy's tummy-- THE GUINEA-HEN[_Dropping off. _] From five to six-- THE BLACKBIRD[_Likewise dropping off. _] Tew--tew--[_He nods. _] tew-- CHANTECLER[_Still at the top of the ladder. _] All sleeps. --[_He spies a_ CHICK_stealing out. _] Is that a chick I see?--[_Springing after him anddriving him in. _] Let me catch you!--[_In driving back the_ CHICK, _hefinds himself near the kennel. He calls very softly. _] Pheasant-hen! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Lost among the straw, sleepily. _] What do you want? CHANTECLER[_After a moment's hesitation. _] Nothing. --Nothing! [_He goes back tothe top of his ladder. _] THE PHEASANT-HENShall I be able to sleep, I wonder-- PATOU[_Falling sound asleep. _] A puppy's tum-- THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Indistinctly, overcome by slumber. _] To sleep under a roof?--I, withmy gypsy tastes? CHANTECLERI am going in. [_He disappears in the hen-house. He is heard saying in adreamy voice. _] It is time to shut my--my-- THE PHEASANT-HEN[_In a last effort. _]--gyp--sy--tastes. --[_Her head nods and disappearsamong the straw. _] CHANTECLER[_His voice, sleepier and fainter. _]--to shut my eyes--[_Silence. Hesleeps. Two green eyes are seen suddenly kindling at the top ofthe wall. _] THE CATAnd to open mine! [_Immediately two more yellow eyes shine forth fromthe darkness above the hay-cock. _] A VOICEAnd mine! [_Two more yellow eyes on the wall. _] ANOTHER VOICEAnd mine! [_Two more yellow eyes. _] ANOTHER VOICEAnd mine! SCENE EIGHTH _The_ POULTRY-YARD _asleep. The_ CAT _awake. Three_ SCREECH-OWLS, _later the_ MOLE _and the_ VOICE _of the_ CUCKOO. FIRST VOICETwo green eyes? THE CAT[_Sitting up on the wall, and looking at the other phosphorescenteyes. _] Six golden eyes? FIRST VOICEOn the wall? THE CATOn the rick?--[_He calls. _] Owls! THE OWLSCat! THE BLACKBIRD[_Waking up. _] What's this? THE SCREECH-OWL[_To the_ CAT. ] Great plot against him! THE CATTo-night? THE THREE OWLSTo-night, too-whit! THE CATPfitt!--Where? THE OWLSThe hollies, too-whoo! THE CATWhat o'clock? THE OWLSEight, too-whit! too-whoo! FIRST OWLBats weaving soft black snares of flight-- THE CATAre they with us? THE THREE OWLSThey are! FIRST OWLMole, burrowing from nether to upper night-- THE CATIs she with us? THE THREE OWLSShe is! THE CAT[_Talking toward the house-door. _] You, strike your eight strokesbravely, Cuckoo of the little clock! THE SCREECH-OWLIs he with us? THE CATHe is!--And I am pleased to tell you, silent night-watchers that some ofthe day-birds are likewise with us. THE TURKEY[_Coming forward surrounded by a number of the barnyard constituents, obsequiously. _] So it is settled for this evening, dear Round Eyes? Youwill be there? THE OWLSWe will be there! All the Round Eyes of the neighbourhood will be there! THE BLACKBIRDThat's a show I'd like to see! PATOU[_In his sleep. _] Grrrrrrr-- THE CAT[_To the startled_ NIGHT-BIRDS. ] The dog is dreaming. --He growls in hissleep. CHANTECLER[_Inside the hen-house. _] Coa-- THE OWLS[_Frightened. _] Himself! THE TURKEYFly! FIRST OWLNo need. The night is dark. We can vanish by merely closing our eyes. [_They shut their luminous eyes. Darkness. _ CHANTECLER _appears at thetop of the ladder. _] CHANTECLER[_To the_ BLACKBIRD. ] Did you hear anything, Blackbird? THE BLACKBIRDI did, indeed, old chap. THE OWLS[_Frightened. _] What's this? THE BLACKBIRDA black conspiracy-- CHANTECLERAh? THE BLACKBIRD[_With melodramatic emphasis. _] Against you!--Tremble! CHANTECLER[_Going in again, unalarmed. _] Joker! THE OWLSHe has gone in. THE BLACKBIRDI have betrayed no one! AN OWLThe Blackbird then is with us? THE BLACKBIRDNo--but may I come and look on? AN OWLA Night-bird never eats a black bird. You can come. THE BLACKBIRDThe password? THE OWLTerror and Talons! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Putting her head out of the dog-kennel. _] I can't breathe in thatstifling, low-roofed little house, and--[_Catching sight of the_NIGHT-BIRDS. ] Oh!--[_She darts aside, behind the kennel, and watches. _] THE OWLSHush! [_They close their eyes. _ THE CAT _does the same. After a time, hearing no further sound, they open them again. _] It was nothing. Letus be off. THE GROUP OF THE DISAFFECTED[_With fawning obsequiousness to the_ NIGHT-BIRDS. ] Success to you, Owls, --success! THE OWLThanks! But how is it that you are with us? THE CATAh, night brings out what daylight will not own to! I do not like theCock because the Dog does. --There you have it! THE TURKEYI do not like him, for the reason that having known him as a Chick Icannot admit him as a Cock! A DUCKI do not like the Cock because, not being web-footed, he marks hispassage by a track of stars! A CHICKENI do not like the Cock because I'm such a homely bird! ANOTHER CHICKENI do not like the Cock because he has his picture painted in purple onall the plates! ANOTHER CHICKENI do not like the Cock because on all the steeples he has his statue ingilt-bronze! AN OWL[_To a big overgrown_ CHICKEN. ] Well, well!--And you, Capon? THE CAPON[_Dryly. _] I do not like the Cock! THE CUCKOO[_Beginning to strike eight inside the house. _] Cuckoo! FIRST OWLThe hour! CUCKOOCuckoo! SECOND OWLLet us go! THE CUCKOOCuckoo! FIRST OWLThe moon! THE CUCKOOCuckoo! FIRST OWLSilently cleave the blue air-- THE CUCKOOCuckoo! THE MOLE[_Suddenly pushing up through the ground. _]--the dark earth! FIRST OWLThere comes the Mole! THE CUCKOOCuckoo! FIRST OWL[_To the_ MOLE. ] And you, why do you hate him? THE MOLEI hate him because I have never seen him! THE CUCKOOCuckoo! FIRST OWLAnd you, Cuckoo, do you know why you hate him? THE CUCKOO[_On the last stroke. _] Because he does not have to be wound up! Cuckoo! FIRST OWLAnd we do not love-- SECOND OWL[_Hurriedly. _] We are keeping the others waiting-- ALL--the Cock, because--[_They fly off. Silence. _] THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Coming slowly from behind the kennel. _] I am beginning to love him! CURTAIN ACT SECOND THE MORNING OF THE COCK _Wild hillside, moss-grown and ferny, overlooking a valley withscattered villages and winding river. Ruined wall, fragment of somevanished terrace. Gigantic chestnut tree, rank hollies and foxgloves. Litter suggesting neglected corner of a park: gardening implements lyingon the ground, fagots, broken flower-pots. _ SCENE FIRST _The_ NIGHT-BIRDS, _of all sorts and sizes, form a great circle, perching in tiers on the branches, the briers, the stones; the_ CAT_crouches in the grass; the_ BLACKBIRD _hops hither and thither ona fagot. _ _At the rise of the curtain the_ NIGHT-BIRDS _are discovered, motionless, black shapes with closed eyes. The_ GRAND DUKE _is perchedupon a tree branch above the rest. The_ SCREECH-OWL'S _phosphorescenteyes alone are wide open. He proceeds with the roll-call, and at everyname two great round eyes brighten in the dark. _ THE SCREECH-OWL[_Calling. _] Strix! [_Two eyes light up. _] Scops! [_Two more eyes lightup. _] Grand-Duke! [_Two more eyes. _] Metascops! [_Two more eyes. _]Minor! [_Two more eyes. _] ONE NIGHT-BIRD[_To the other. _] The Great Bubo presides. THE SCREECH-OWL[_Calling. _] Owl of the Wall! Of the Belfry! Of the Cloister! Of theYew! [_At every name two more eyes have opened wide. _] A NIGHT-BIRD[_To another just arriving. _] The roll is called! THE OTHERI know. All there is to do is to open our eyes. THE SCREECH-OWLAsio! Nictea! Nyctalis! [_Three more pairs of eyes have opened. _]Brachyotus! [_No eye opening at the name, he repeats. _] Brachyotus! ONE OF THE NIGHT-BIRDSHe will be here directly. He stopped to eat a linnet. BRACHYOTUS[_Arriving. _] Present! THE SCREECH-OWLNot one of them would miss, when the meeting relates to the Cock! BRACHYOTUSNot one! THE SCREECH-OWLCarine! [_Two eyes open. _] Caparacoch! [_No eye opening, he repeatsemphatically. _] Ca-pa-ra-coch!--Well?--Well? CAPARACOCH[_Arriving out of breath, opens his eyes, faltering an excuse. _] I livea long way off! THE SCREECH-OWL[_Dryly. _] You should have started the earlier! [_Looking around. _] Weare all present, I believe. [_Calling. _] Flammeolus! And Flammeoline![_All the eyes are now open. _] THE GRAND-DUKE[_Solemnly. _] Before beginning, let us give, but not too loud, the crywhich makes us all as one! ALL Long live the Night! _And in a weird, savage, hurried chorus, interspersed with hoots andflapping of wings, all talking together and rocking themselves inhideous glee. _ THE GRAND-DUKE Praise the Night, discreet, propitious, When with wadded wing and muted O'er the sleeping world we fly, And the partridge in the bracken Ne'er suspects the hovering presence Till we pounce without a cry. THE SCREECH-OWL Praise the Night, convenient, secret, When in slaughtering baby rabbits We can do it at our ease, Daub the grass with blood in comfort, Spare the pains to look like heroes, Be ourselves where no one sees! AN OLD HORNED-OWL Praise the density of darkness! A WOOD-OWL The intensity of stillness Letting crunching bones be heard! A BARN-OWL Freshness pleasantly contrasting With the genial warmth of blood drops Spurting from a strangled bird! THE WOOD-OWL Praise the black rock oozing terror! THE SCREECH-OWL And the cross-roads where our screeches, Furrowing the startled air, Our demoniac yelling, hooting, Make the hardened unbeliever Cross himself and fall to prayer! THE GRAND-DUKE Praise the snares of the great Weaver, Night, whose only fault or weakness Is her tolerance of stars! THE SCREECH-OWL For spectators are not wanted At the work of plucking fledglings-- Be they Jupiter and Mars! THE GRAND-DUKE Praise the Night, when we take vengeance On the goldfinch for his beauty, On the titmouse for his grace! When the darkness takes possession Let them tremble, those confiding Hostages of Day's! THE WOOD-OWL For there is a choice in murder! THE GRAND-DUKE And the inkier the blackness All the clearer do we see To select the whitest pigeon In the dove-cote, and the bluest Blue jay on the shuddering tree! THE BARN-OWL Praise the hour and taste and relish Of the eggs we suck, destroying Hopes of many a haughty line! THE SCREECH-OWL And the councils where in whispers We prepare what shall resemble Accidents by every sign! THE GRAND-DUKE Praise the shadow's grim suggestions! The advantage over others We inherit through their fright! THE SCREECH-OWL For our grisly cachinnations Give the very eagle goose-flesh-- ALL TOGETHER Praise our patroness, the Night! THE GRAND-DUKEAnd now let the Screech-Owl in his russet robe take the floor. SEVERAL VOICESSilence! THE BLACKBIRD[_On his fagot. _] What an awf'ly lovely evening party! THE SCREECH-OWL[_Oratorically. _] Brethren of the Night-- THE GRAND-DUKE[_To the_ OWL _next to him. _] The meeting-place seems to me particularlywell chosen. The blackest spot, the moldiest tree. To the right, oldpostherds. To the left, in the dark between the hollies--the view! THE SCREECH-OWLBrethren of the Night!-- AN OWLThere comes the Mole! SEVERAL VOICESSilence! THE OWLShe must have taken, to come here, a route below the roots of thedaisies-- THE BLACKBIRDThe subway, what else? THE GRAND-DUKE[_To his neighbor. _] Is that the Blackbird? THE BLACKBIRD[_Coming forward. _] Yes, your Grace. And the two agate balls over thereare the Cat. THE GRAND-DUKEI can hear him licking his paws. THE SCREECH-OWL[_Resuming. _] Brethren of the Night! Inasmuch as everybody here--and weplume ourselves upon it!--is possessed of the evil eye-- ALL THE BIRDS[_Chuckling and rocking in their peculiarly disgusting andcharacteristic fashion. _] Ha, ha! THE GRAND-DUKE[_Spreading his wings to demand silence. _] Hush! [_All return to theirappalling stillness. _] THE BLACKBIRDMy eye is merely roguish. I am here to look on, you know, without takingsides, --in the artist spirit, that's all. AN OWLIf you are not taking sides, then you are siding with us! THE BLACKBIRDOh, I say, what a primitive notion! THE SCREECH-OWL[_Completing his sentence. _] Let us express ourselves with simple anddirect malevolence: the Cock is a robber! ALLA robber! He robs us! THE BLACKBIRDNow, what the--Robs you of what? THE GRAND-DUKEOf health! Gladness! THE BLACKBIRDHow is that? THE SCREECH-OWLBy his crowing! THE GRAND-DUKEHis crowing brings on enlargement of the spleen and pericarditis! For itheralds-- THE BLACKBIRD[_Hopping about. _] Oh, I see--The light! [_All make a violent motion in his direction; the_ BLACKBIRD_frightened, hides among the fagots. _] THE GRAND-DUKE[_Emphatically. _] Never speak that word! When that word is spoken, Nightat the horizon feels a crawling discomfort, a titillation underneathher wing. THE BLACKBIRD[_Cautiously correcting himself. _] The brightness of--[_General startof dismay repeated; the_ BLACKBIRD _again dodges behind the fagots. _] AN OWL[_Hurriedly. _] Never utter that horrible grating word, which sohatefully suggests the scratching of a match! THE SCREECH-OWLYou should express yourself: The Cock heralds the folding back of thepall-- THE BLACKBIRDBut the day--[_Start and threatening gesture from all. _] ALL[_In voices of unspeakable anguish. _] Not that word! THE GRAND-DUKEYou must refer to it as "that which will be!" THE BLACKBIRDWhat difference does it make whether or not he heralds the-- ALL[_Stopping him. _] Ha! THE BLACKBIRD--the folding back of the pall, since that which will be--will be! THE GRAND-DUKE[_In tones of despair. _] Simple torture it is to hear a brazen throatforever reminding you of what you know to be only too true! ALL[_Writhing in pain. _] Too true! Too true! THE GRAND-DUKEHe begins while the night is still pleasant and cool-- CRIES ON ALL SIDESHe is a robber, a thief! THE GRAND-DUKEHe cheats us! ALL THE OWLSHe cheats us! Cheats us! THE GRAND-DUKEOf the good bit of night there still is left. AN OWLETHe compels us to leave our posts beside the warrens-- THE SCREECH-OWLOur feasts of steaming flesh! THE WOOD-OWLThe witches' routs where we ride perched on the fist of a hag! THE GRAND-DUKEAfter cock-crow an Owl is no longer in his normal state-- THE SCREECH-OWLHe does evil in a hurry! THE GRAND-DUKEAnd bungles it in consequence! THE OLD HORNED-OWLAs soon as the Cock has crowed all becomes temporary provisional-- THE BARN-OWLThough the Night be still black, we are painfully aware of it growingless and less black! THE SCREECH-OWLWhen his metallic voice has cleft the night, we squirm like a worm in afruit that is cut in two. THE BLACKBIRD[_On his fagot, mystified. _] The other Cocks, however-- THE GRAND-DUKETheir song creates no uneasiness. It is his song which must be silenced. ALL THE NIGHT-BIRDS[_Flapping their wings, in a long lament. _] Silenced! Silenced! AN OWLHow can it be accomplished? THE SCREECH-OWLThe Blackbird here has worked in our cause. THE BLACKBIRDWho--I? THE SCREECH-OWLYes, you laughed at him. ALL[_Cackling. _] Ha, ha! THE GRAND-DUKE[_Spreading his wings. _] Hush! [_They resume their sinister stillness. _] THE SCREECH-OWLBut his song has not acted any the less directly on our gall-bladdersfor the fun that has been made of him. He has grown stronger than eversince he was found ridiculous. ALLWhat shall we do? THE SCREECH-OWLThe Peacock, that great booby-- ALL[_Cackling and rocking. _] Ha, ha! THE GRAND-DUKE[_Opening his wings. _] Hush! [_All instantly motionless. _] THE SCREECH-OWLThrough the Peacock, likewise working in our cause, the Cock came out offashion. But his song is just as inconvenient, in fashion or out of it. He is all the more proudly uncompromising for no longer being in style. ALLWhat shall we do? AN OWLCut his throat! CRIESDeath to the Cock! AN OWLDeath to that aristocrat posing as a democrat and socialist! ANOTHERWith spurs on his heels, but a liberty cap on his head! THE GRAND-DUKENight-birds all, arise! [ALL, _arising with outspread wings and glaring eyes, increaseenormously in size. The night appears doubly dark. _] THE BLACKBIRD[_With unabated lightness. _] Midnight to the fore! THE SCREECH-OWLKill him! But how can we, when our eyes cease to see the moment he comesout? ALL[_Wailing like an ancient chorus. _] Woe! THE OLD HORNED-OWL[_Craftily. _] How kill--from afar? THE GRAND-DUKEBy means of what secret spring? A VOICE[_From the tree. _] Duke, may I lay a plan before the assembly? THE GRAND-DUKEScops! Let us hear! ALL[_At sight of a small_ OWL _dropping from a bough, and coming forwardwith tiny hops. _] Scops, dear little Scops! SCOPS[_Bowing before the_ GRAND-DUKE. ] You are aware, mightyBlind-by-day-and-seer-by-night, that in pleasant gardens up yonder hilla breeder of birds--termed aviculturist, raises for exhibitions--termedagricultural, the most magnificent Cocks of the most extraordinaryvarieties. Now, that great discoverer of rare birds, the Peacock, who, possessing a voice which pierces the ear-drum cannot abide a voice whichpierces the darkness--the Peacock, whose specialty it is to confercelebrity upon every strange beast-- THE GRAND-DUKE[_To his neighbour. _] From every strange region! SCOPSCherishes the dream of presenting these same Cocks to-morrow, in thekitchen garden, at the-- ALL TOGETHER[_Laughing. _] Guinea-hen's! SCOPSAnd launching among her set these Birds whose glory will be thefinishing blow to the glory of Chantecler. THE BLACKBIRDFlatten him out like a pan cake! THE SCREECH OWLBut those Cocks are always locked in! SCOPSI am coming to that. This evening, when a maid, having entered theirwire-netted close, was scattering corn in a golden shower, I started upsuddenly from the hollow of a pollard willow, and the girl-- AN OWL[_To his neighbour. _] What a bright mind, our little Scops! SCOPSAt sight of the ill-omened bird-- ALL[_Cackling and rocking. _] Ha, ha! THE GRAND-DUKE[_Spreading his wings. _] Hush! [_All suddenly still. _] SCOPSFled, with one arm across her eyes! The cage was left open, and thewhole fantastic host will meet Chantecler to-morrow at the-- ALL[_With peals of laughter. _] Guinea-hen's! THE BLACKBIRDHe is not going. He has refused. SCOPSThe devil! THE CAT[_Quietly. _] Go on, Scops. He will be there. THE BLACKBIRD[_Looking at him from a distance. _] What do you know about it, pocketpanther? THE CATI saw a Pheasant-hen exciting his admiration, and I saw that he wouldgo. THE BLACKBIRDIt's when you're sound asleep that you see everything! THE GRAND-DUKE[_To_ SCOPS. ] Very well, then, let us suppose him going. SCOPSChantecler, for all his fame, has retained his bluff country squire'sfrankness. When he sees this-- THE BLACKBIRD[_Prompting. _] Tea-fight-- SCOPSAnd the contortions of those-- THE BLACKBIRD[_Same business. _] Snobs-- SCOPSIn the presence of those-- THE BLACKBIRD[_Same business. _] Big guns-- SCOPSHe is sure to say things which they are equally sure to take up. THE GRAND-DUKE[_Thrilled. _] And do you believe that a cock-fight--? SCOPSSuch is my fond hope. THE CATBut listen, Scops. Suppose Chantecler should win? SCOPSKnow, Angora, that there will be among those fancy cocks a genuinegame-cock, lean, with tawny wing, the same who-- THE BLACKBIRD[_Seeing the_ OWLS _puff out their feathers for joy. _] Sensation amongthe audience! SCOPSThe same who has defeated the most famous champions--the White Pile. And as this victor in Flemish and English encounters wears at his heels, for the defter dispatching of his enemy, two razors fastened there bythe ingenuity of man, by tomorrow night Chantecler will be dead, and hiseyes picked out of their sockets. THE SCREECH-OWL[_Enthusiastically. _] We will go and gloat over his corpse! THE GRAND-DUKE[_Risen to his full height, formidable. _] And his comb, which lookedabove his forehead like an incarnate bit of scarlet dawn, we will takehis comb, --our dearest dream at length fulfilled!--and we will eat it! ALL[_With a yell, which ends in their ferocious cackling and rocking. _] Andwe will eat it, --eat it, ha, ha! THE GRAND-DUKE[_Spreading his wings. _] Hush! [_Dead silence. _] SCOPSAnd after that-- THE BLACKBIRD[_Hopping. _] It's quite a tidy proposition as it stands-- SCOPSWhat? THE BLACKBIRDYour scheme! By Jingo, if I were the sort of bird to take thingssolemnly, I would go straight to the Cock and tell him. But I will donothing of the sort. [_He concludes, with four little hops. _] For Iknow--that all this--will turn out--beautifully! SCOPS[_Ironically. _] Beautifully indeed! [_He continues in growingexcitement. _] And after that, if those absurd Cocks of far-fetchedbreeds have not by to-morrow evening gone back to their cages, we willeat them all, no longer good for anything! THE GRAND-DUKE[_In his neighbour's ear. _] And after that we will eat the Blackbird fordessert. THE BLACKBIRD[_Who has not caught the last sentence. _] What did he say? SCOPS[_Quickly. _] Nothing! [_In a still increasing frenzy of glee. _] Andafter that-- [_In the distance: Cock-a-doodle-doo! Instant silence. _SCOPS_ stopsshort and collapses, as if mown down. All the puffed _OWLS_ appearsuddenly to have grown thin. _] ALL[_Looking at one another and blinking. _] What is it? What was that?[_They hastily spread their wings and call to one another for flight. _]Grand-Duke! Minor! Minimus! THE BLACKBIRD[_Hopping from one to the other. _] Going? So soon? Why, what's yourhurry? VOICE[_Of one of the_ NIGHT-BIRDS _calling to another. _] Nyctalis! THE BLACKBIRDIt's hours before daybreak. Oceans of time, you have! AN OWLAsio, are you coming? ANOTHER OWL[_Calling. _] Nictea! ANOTHER[_Fluttering up to him. _] Yes, my dear! [_They all stagger and trip overtheir wings. _] THE BLACKBIRDWhat makes them stumble? THE NIGHT-BIRDS[_Winking and blinking with marked evidences of pain. _] Oh, how ithurts! Ow! Ow! THE BLACKBIRDLightning opthalmia, I declare! [_One by one the_ OWLS _fly off. _] THE GRAND-DUKE[_The last to go, spins on himself with a cry of pain and rage. _] Howdoes he contrive, that pernicious Cock, to have a voice that fairly putsout your eyes! [_He heavily flaps off. _] VOICES OF THE NIGHT-BIRDS[_In the distance. _] Strix! THE BLACKBIRD[_Looking after them among the branches, and later in the blue spaceover the valley. _] They are calling one another! VOICE IN THE DISTANCEScops! THE BLACKBIRD[_Bending over the valley, where the dark wings are dwindling andfading. _] They wheel--waver--dip-- VOICES[_Dying in the distance. _] Owl of the Wall! Of the Belfry! Of the Yew! THE BLACKBIRDGone! [_He looks about, gives a hop, and with an immediate return tolevity. _] But it's supper-time. --Now for a bite of cold grasshopper![_The_ PHEASANT-HEN _suddenly flies over the brushwood tangle, droppingbeside him. _] You! SCENE SECOND THE BLACKBIRD, THE PHEASANT-HEN, _later_ CHANTECLER THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Panting, tragically earnest. _] I ran all the way. --You werethere. --Oh, I am half dead with terror!--Well you must have overheardtheir dreadful secret! You, his friend! THE BLACKBIRD[_Cheerfully rummaging among the moss. _] Or the thigh of a katydid willdo. THE PHEASANT-HENI was watching from a distance. I crouched in a ditch--[_In an anguishedvoice. _] Well? THE BLACKBIRD[_In genuine surprise. _] Well, what? THE PHEASANT-HENTheir conspiracy-- THE BLACKBIRD[_Calmly. _] It all went off very nicely. THE PHEASANT-HENWhat do you mean? THE BLACKBIRDThe shadow was a correct and appropriate blue, and the Owls saidperfectly characteristic things. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_In wild alarm. _] Heavens, they plotted his death? THE BLACKBIRDHis decease, which is not nearly so bad. THE PHEASANT-HENBut-- THE BLACKBIRDDon't smite your brow! In spite of the Screech-Owl's grave andself-important tone, I shouldn't wonder if it all amounted tovery little. THE PHEASANT-HENThose Owls-- THE BLACKBIRDAre good enough in their various parts, but it's the old excessive styleof acting. THE PHEASANT-HENI beg your pardon? THE BLACKBIRDBack numbers! THE PHEASANT-HENOh? THE BLACKBIRDThey have eyelashes, fancy, all the way round their eyes! It's too muchof a good thing, really. --And that black plot, those desperately darkdesigns, all that belongs to the year one; you can see moss growingon its back! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Fluttering hither and thither feverishly. _] I am never quite sure ofunderstanding when a person is talking in fun. THE BLACKBIRD[_Winking at her. _] No flies on your acting! THE PHEASANT-HENSurely you wouldn't be laughing if he were in danger? Those ruffians--? THE BLACKBIRDPrattlers! Wooden Swords! Knights of Hot Air! THE PHEASANT-HENBut Scops--? THE BLACKBIRDA stuffed Owl! THE PHEASANT-HENAnd the Great Bubo--? THE BLACKBIRDJust two ten-candle-power lamps, to be turned on and off with aswitch, --crick-crack! And Flammeolus, two lamps likewise--but acetylene! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Bewildered by his imagery. _] And so--? THE BLACKBIRDNo, trembling Gypsy, there's not enough in this great plot to choke aflea withal! THE PHEASANT-HENTruly? I have been so horribly afraid-- THE BLACKBIRDFear, I warn you, lovely Zingara, leads to dyspepsia! It's because hekeeps his eye closed and buried in the sand that the ostrich haspreserved his famous digestion! THE PHEASANT-HENSo it might seem. THE BLACKBIRDWe have in these latter days bowed Tragedy respectfully out of thehouse! THE PHEASANT-HENBut had we not best warn Chantecler, so that-- THE BLACKBIRDHe would go instantly and challenge them. And then such a whetting ofsteel! THE PHEASANT-HENYou are right. So he would. THE BLACKBIRDOn your principle, mad Gitana, an oak-gall could be made into a world. THE PHEASANT-HENYou have much good sense. THE BLACKBIRDDaughter of the forest, I have. CHANTECLER'S VOICE[_Outside. _] Coa-- THE PHEASANT-HENChantecler! CHANTECLER[_Approaching on the left, between the hollies, calls from afar. _] Whois there? THE PHEASANT-HENIt is I! CHANTECLER[_Still from a distance. _] Alone? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_With a significant look at the_ BLACKBIRD. ] Yes, alone. THE BLACKBIRD[_Understanding. _] I vanish--I am off to supper. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Low to the_ BLACKBIRD. ] And so--? THE BLACKBIRD[_Motioning her to be silent. _] Keep it dark! [_As he is leaving, by theright, in the manner of one giving an order to a waiter. _] Earwigsfor one! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Low. _] It is wiser, you think, not to tell him? THE BLACKBIRD[_Before disappearing among the flower-pots. _] Well, rather! SCENE THIRD THE PHEASANT-HEN, CHANTECLER. CHANTECLER[_Who has reached the_ PHEASANT-HEN'S _side. _] Out so early? THE PHEASANT-HENTo see the daybreak. CHANTECLER[_With repressed emotion. _] Ah--? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Teasingly. _] What troubles you? CHANTECLERI have had a wretched night. THE PHEASANT-HENSo sorry! [_A pause. _] CHANTECLERAre you going to the Guinea-hen's? THE PHEASANT-HENI stayed over solely for that purpose. CHANTECLERAh, yes, I know. [_A pause. _] I dislike her extremely. THE PHEASANT-HENCome to her party. CHANTECLERNo. THE PHEASANT-HENAs you please. Then we may as well say good-bye. CHANTECLERNo. THE PHEASANT-HENCome to the Guinea-hen's. We shall have a chance to see something ofeach other there. CHANTECLERNo. THE PHEASANT-HENYou are determined not to come? CHANTECLERI am coming--but I hate it. THE PHEASANT-HENWhy? CHANTECLERIt is weak. THE PHEASANT-HENNo, no! That is no great sign of weakness! CHANTECLERAh--? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Softly, coming closer to him. _] What would be showing a sweet, delightful, and fully masculine weakness-- CHANTECLER[_In alarm at her approach. _] What? THE PHEASANT-HENWould be to tell me your secret. Oh, just a wee bit! CHANTECLER[_With a start. _] The secret of my song? THE PHEASANT-HENYes. CHANTECLERGolden Hen, my secret-- THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Coaxingly. _] Often from the edge of the woods I hear you in the firstgolden glimmer of day-- CHANTECLER[_Flattered. _] My song has reached your shapely little ear? THE PHEASANT-HENIt has! CHANTECLER[_Abruptly, moving away from her. _] My secret--Never! THE PHEASANT-HENYou are not very gallant! CHANTECLERNo--I am full of conflict and misery. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Languidly reciting. _] The Cock and the Pheasant-hen a Fable-- CHANTECLER[_Half aloud. _] A Cock loved a Pheasant-hen-- THE PHEASANT-HENAnd would not tell her anything-- CHANTECLERMoral-- THE PHEASANT-HENIt was horrid of him! CHANTECLER[_Pressing close to her. _] Moral: Your dress has the fascinating rustleof silk! THE PHEASANT-HENMoral: I dislike familiarity! [_Withdrawing from him. _] Go home to yourHen of the plebeian petticoat! CHANTECLER[_Stamping. _] I shall be angry! THE PHEASANT-HENNo, no, don't be angry--Say "Coa--" [_They stand bill to bill. _] CHANTECLER[_Angrily. _] Coa-- THE PHEASANT-HENNo, no! Say it nicely-- CHANTECLER[_In a long, tender coo. _] Coa-- THE PHEASANT-HENLook at me without laughing. Your secret-- CHANTECLERWell? THE PHEASANT-HENYou are dying to tell it to me! CHANTECLERYes, I feel that I shall tell, and I know I shall do ill in telling. Andit's all because of the gold on her dainty little head! [_Goingbrusquely nearer to her. _] Shall you prove worthy, at least, of havingbeen chosen? Is your breast true red to the core? THE PHEASANT-HENNow tell me! CHANTECLERLook at me, Pheasant-hen, and try, if indeed it be possible, try torecognise, by yourself, sign by sign, the vocation of which my body isthe symbol. Guess, to begin with, at my destiny from my shape, and seehow, curved like a sort of living hunting-horn, I am as much formed forsound to turn and gain volume within me, as the wild duck is formed toswim!--Wait!--Mark the fact that, impatient and proud, scratching up theearth with my claws, I appear always to be seeking something inthe soil-- THE PHEASANT-HENYou are seeking for grains of corn, seeds, I suppose. CHANTECLERNever! I have never looked for such things. I find them occasionally, into the bargain, but disdainfully I give them to my Hens. THE PHEASANT-HENWell, then, in your perpetual scratching, what is it you are lookingfor? CHANTECLERThe right spot! For always before singing I carefully choose my stand. Pray, observe-- THE PHEASANT-HENTrue, and then you ruffle your feathers. CHANTECLERI never start to sing until my eight claws, after clearing a space ofweeds and stones, have found the soft, dark turf underneath. Then, placed in direct contact with the good earth, I sing!--And that isalready half the mystery, Pheasant-hen, half the mystery of my song, which is not of those songs one sings after composing them, but isreceived straight from the native soil, like sap! And the time above allwhen that sap arises in me, --the hour, briefly, in which I have genius, in which I can never doubt I have!--is the hour when dawn falters on theboundaries of the dark sky. Then, filled with the same quivering asleaves and grass, thrilled to the very tips of my wing quills, I feelmyself a chosen instrument. I accentuate my curve of a hunting-horn, Earth speaks in me as in a conch, and ceasing to be an ordinary bird, Ibecome the mouthpiece, in some sort official, through which the cry ofthe earth escapes toward the sky! THE PHEASANT-HENChantecler! CHANTECLERAnd that cry which rises from the earth, that cry is such a cry of lovefor the light, is such a deep and frenzied cry of love for the goldenthing we call the Day, and that all thirst to feel again: the pine onits bark, the tortuous roots in woodland paths on their mosses, thefeather-grass on each delicate spray, the tiniest pebble in its tiniestmica flake; it is so wonderfully the cry of all that misses and mournsits colour, its reflection, its flame, its coronet, its pearl; thebeseeching cry of the dew-washed meadow begging for a wee rainbow atevery grass-tip, of the forest begging a burst of fire at the end ofeach gloomy avenue; that cry which mounts to the sky through me is sogreatly the cry of all that feels itself in disgrace, plunged in asunless pit, deprived of light without knowing for what offence; is thecry of cold, the cry of fear, the cry of weariness, of all that nightdisables or disarms; the rose shivering alone in the dark, the haywanting to be dried and go to the mow, the sickle forgotten out of doorsby the reaper and fearing it will rust in the grass, the white thingsdismayed at not looking white; is so greatly the cry of the innocentamong beasts, who have nothing to conceal, of the brook fain to show itscrystal clearness; and even--for thy very works, O Night, disownthee!--of the puddle longing to glisten, the mud longing to become earthagain, by drying; it is so greatly the magnificent cry of the fieldimpatient to feel its wheat and barley growing, of the blossoming treemad for still more blossoms of the green grapes craving a purple side;of the bridge waiting for footsteps, for shadows of birds among shadowsof branches; the voice of all that yearns to sing, to drop the garb ofmourning, live again, serve again, be a brink, be a bourn, a sun-warmseat, a stone glad to comfort with warmth the hand touching, or theinsect overcrawling it; finally, it is so greatly the cry toward thelight of all Beauty, all Health, all which wishes, in sunshine and joy, to see its work while doing it, and do it to be seen--And when I feelthat vast call to the Day arising within me, I so expand my soul to makeit more sonorous, by making it more spacious, that the great cry maystill be increased in greatness; before giving it, I withold it in mysoul a moment so piously; then, when, to expel it, I contract my soul, Iam so convinced of accomplishing a great act, I have such faith that mysong will make night crumble like the walls of Jericho-- THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Frightened. _] Chantecler! CHANTECLERAnd sounding its victory beforehand, my song springs forth so clear, soproud, so peremptory, that the horizon, seized with a rosytrembling--_obeys!_ THE PHEASANT-HENChantecler! CHANTECLERI sing! Vainly Night offers to compromise, offers a dubious twilight--Ising again! And suddenly-- THE PHEASANT-HENChantecler! CHANTECLERI fall back, blinded by the red light bathing me, dazzled at having, I, the Cock, made the Sun to rise! THE PHEASANT-HENThen the whole secret of your song--? CHANTECLERIs that I dare assume that the East without me must rest in idleness! Ising, not to hear the echo repeat, a shade fainter, my song! I think oflight and not of glory! Singing is my fashion of waging war and bearingwitness. And if my song is the proudest of songs, it is that I singclearly to make the day rise clear! THE PHEASANT-HENWhat he says sounds slightly mad!--You are responsible for the risingof-- CHANTECLERThat which opens flower, eye, soul, and window! Certainly! My voicedispenses light! And when the sky is grey, the reason is that I havesung badly. THE PHEASANT-HENBut when you sing by day? CHANTECLERI am practising, or else promising the ploughshare, the hoe, the harrow, the scythe, not to neglect my duty of waking them. THE PHEASANT-HENBut what wakens you? CHANTECLERThe fear of forgetting. THE PHEASANT-HENAnd you believe that at the sound of your voice the whole world issuffused--? CHANTECLERI have no clear idea of the whole world. But I sing for my own valley, and desire that every Cock may do the same for his. THE PHEASANT-HENStill-- CHANTECLERBut here I stand, explaining, perorating, and forgetting altogether tomake my dawn. THE PHEASANT-HENHis dawn! CHANTECLERAh, what I say sounds mad? I will make the dawn before your very eyes!And the wish to please you adding its ardour to the ordinary forces ofmy soul, I shall rise in singing, as I feel, to unusual heights, and thedawn will rise more fair to-day than ever it rose before! THE PHEASANT-HENMore fair? CHANTECLERAssuredly, --in just the measure that strength is added to the song bythe knowledge of listeners, boldness to the exploit by the consciousnessof lovely watching eyes--[_Taking his stand upon a hillock at the back, overlooking the valley. _] Now, Madam! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Gazing at his outline against the sky. _] How beautiful he is! CHANTECLERLook attentively at the sky. Already it has paled. The reason is that ashort while back, with my earliest crow I ordered the sun to stand inreadiness just below the horizon. THE PHEASANT-HENHe is so beautiful that what he says almost seems possible! CHANTECLER[_Talking toward the horizon. _] Ha, Sun, I feel you just behind there, stirring--and I laugh with pride and joy amidst my scarletwattles--[_Rising on tiptoe suddenly, in a voice of startlingloudness. _] Cock-a-doodle-doo! THE PHEASANT-HENWhat great breath lifts his breast-feathers? CHANTECLER[_Toward the east. _] Obey!--I am the Earth, and I am Labour! My comb isthe pattern of a forge fire, and the voice of the furrow rises to mythroat! [_Whispering mysteriously. _] Yes, yes, month of July-- THE PHEASANT-HENTo whom is he speaking? CHANTECLERYou shall have it earlier than April! [_Bending to right and left, encouragingly. _] Yes, Bramble!--Yes, Brake! THE PHEASANT-HENHe is magnificent! CHANTECLER[_To the_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] You see, I must at all timesremember--[_Stroking the earth with his wing. _] Yes, dearGrass!--remember the humble prayers whose interpreter I become. [_Talking to invisible things. _] The golden ladder?--I understand! thatyou may all dance on it together! THE PHEASANT-HENTo whom are you promising a ladder? CHANTECLERTo the Motes--Cock-a-doodle-doo! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Watching the sky and landscape. _] A shiver of blue runs across thethatched roofs. --A star went out just then-- CHANTECLERNo, it veiled itself. Even by daylight the stars are there. THE PHEASANT-HENYou do not extinguish them? CHANTECLERI extinguish nothing! But you shall see how great I am at kindling! THE PHEASANT-HENOh, I see a dawning of-- CHANTECLERWhat do you see? THE PHEASANT-HENThe blue is no longer blue! CHANTECLERI told you! It is already green! THE PHEASANT-HENThe green is turning to orange-- CHANTECLERYou will have been the first this morning to see the transformation! [_The distant plain takes on velvety purplish hues. _] THE PHEASANT-HENIt all seems to end in leagues of purple heather. CHANTECLER[_Whose crow is beginning to tire. _] Cock-a-doo-- THE PHEASANT-HENOh--yellow among the pine trees! CHANTECLERGold it ought to be, --gold! THE PHEASANT-HENAnd pearly grey-- CHANTECLERIt shall be white!--I haven't done it yet! Cock-a-doodle-doo--It's verybad so far, but I won't give up! THE PHEASANT-HENEvery hollow in every tree is pink as a wild rose-- CHANTECLER[_With growing enthusiasm. _] Since love lends me strength in addition tofaith, I say the Day to-day shall be more beautiful that the Day!--Doyou see? Do you see the eastern sky at my voice dappling itselfwith light? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Lured along and half persuaded by the madness of the_ COCK. ] Such athing might be, after all, since love is involved in the mystery! CHANTECLERResume, horizon, at my command, your fringe of little poplars! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Bending over the valley. _] There emerges from the shadow, gradually, aworld of your creation-- CHANTECLERSacred things you are witnessing--To sacred things I am initiatingyou!--Define your outlines, distant hills! Pheasant-hen, do you love me? THE PHEASANT-HENWe shall always love to be in the secret of the Makers of Dawn! CHANTECLERYou help me to sing better. Come closer. Collaborate. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Springing to his side. _] I love you! CHANTECLEREvery word you whisper in my ear shall be translated into sunshine forall the world to see! THE PHEASANT-HENI love you! CHANTECLERSay it again, and I will gild that mountain suddenly! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Wildly. _] I love you!--Let me see you gild it! CHANTECLER[_In his greatest, most splendid manner. _] Cock-a-doodle-doo! [_Themountain turns golden. _] THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Pointing to the lower ranges, still purple. _] But the hills? CHANTECLEREach in its turn. To the highest peaks belong the earliest rays!Cock-a-doodle-doo! THE PHEASANT-HENAh!--across yonder drowsing slope a stealing gleam-- CHANTECLER[_Joyously. _] I dedicate it to you! THE PHEASANT-HENThe distant villages are coming into view. CHANTECLERCock-a--[_His voice breaks. _] THE PHEASANT-HENYou are weary! CHANTECLER[_Stiffening himself. _] I refuse to be! [_Wildly. _] Cock-a-doodle-doo! THE PHEASANT-HENExhausted! CHANTECLERDo you see those tatters of mist still clinging? Cock-a-doodle-doo! THE PHEASANT-HENYou will kill yourself! CHANTECLERI only live, dear, when I am killing myself giving great splendid cries! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Pressing close to his side. _] I am proud of you! CHANTECLER[_With emotion. _] Your head bows-- THE PHEASANT-HENI listen to the Day arising in your breast! I delight to hear first inyour lungs what by-and-by will be purple and gold on the mountain sides! CHANTECLER[_While the little distant houses begin to smoke in the dawn. _] Idedicate to you moreover those reawakened farmsteads. Man offerstrinkets, I--wreaths and plumes of smoke! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Looking off. _] I can see your work growing, --growing in the distance. CHANTECLER[_Looking at her. _] I can see it in your eyes! THE PHEASANT-HENOver the meadows-- CHANTECLEROn your throat--[_In a smothered voice. _] Oh, it is exquisite! THE PHEASANT-HENWhat? CHANTECLERI am at once doing my duty, and making you more fair. I am gilding myvalley, while brightening your wing. [_Tearing himself from love, anddashing toward the right. _] But the shadow still fights all along theline of retreat. There is much to be done over there! Cock-a-doodle-doo! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Looking up at the sky. _] Oh, look! CHANTECLER[_Looking too, sadly. _] How can I prevent it? The morning star is fadingout! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_In a tone of regret for the little bright spark which the growinglight must necessarily quench. _] It is fading out-- CHANTECLERAlas!--But shall we therefore despond? [_And tearing himself frommelancholy, he springs toward the left. _] There is still much to do overhere. Cock-a--[_At this point the crowing of other_ COCKS _ascends fromthe valley. _ CHANTECLER _listens, then softly. _] Hark! Do you hearthem now? THE PHEASANT-HENWho dare--? CHANTECLERThe other Cocks. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Bending above the plain. _] They are singing in the rosy light-- CHANTECLERYes, they believe in the light as soon as they see it. THE PHEASANT-HENThey sing all in a haze of blue-- CHANTECLERI sang in total blackness. My song rose from the cheerless shade, andwas the first to rise. It is when Night prevails that it's fine tobelieve in the Light! THE PHEASANT-HENHow dare they sing when you are singing? CHANTECLERLet them sing! Their songs acquire significance from mingling with mine, and their tardy but numerous cries unconsciously hasten the flight ofthe dark. [_Straightening upon his hillock, he calls to the distant_COCKS. ] Now, all together! CHANTECLER AND ALL THE COCKSCock-a-doodle-doo! CHANTECLER[_Alone, with familiar cordiality. _] Forward, forward, boldly, Day! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Beside him, stamping her feet. _] Boldly, Day! CHANTECLER[_Crying encouragements to the Light. _] Yes, there, there before you, isa roof for you to gild! Come, come, a touch of green on that patch ofwaving hemp! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Beside herself with excitement. _] A glimmer of white on that road! CHANTECLERA wash of blue on the river! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_In a great cry. _] The Sun! Look, the Sun! CHANTECLERThere he is, I can see him, but we must hale him from that grove! [_Andboth of them, moving backward together, appear to be drawing somethingafter them. _ CHANTECLER _prolonging his crow as if to drag up the_ SUN_by it. _] Cooooooo-- THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Shouting above_ CHANTECLER'S _crow. _] There he comes-- CHANTECLER--oock-a-- THE PHEASANT-HEN--climbing-- CHANTECLER--doodle-- THE PHEASANT-HEN--above-- CHANTECLER--doooooo! THE PHEASANT-HEN--the poplars! CHANTECLER[_In a last, dry-throated, desperate crow. _] Cock-a-doodle-doo [_Bothstagger, suddenly flooded with light. _] It is done! [_He adds, in a toneof satisfaction. _] A proper Sun, --a giant! [_He totters toward a mossyrise and drops against it. _] THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Running to him, while all grows brighter and brighter. _] One song nowto greet the beautiful rising Sun! CHANTECLER[_Very low. _] I have no voice left. I spent it all. [_Hearing the other_COCKS _crowing in the valley, he adds gently. _] It matters not. He hasthe songs and praises of the others. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Surprised. _] What? After he appears, he hears no more from you? CHANTECLERNo more. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Indignant. _] But in that case, perhaps the Sun believes the otherCocks have made him rise? CHANTECLERIt matters not. THE PHEASANT-HENBut-- CHANTECLERHush! Come to my heart and let me thank you. Never has there been alovelier dawn. THE PHEASANT-HENBut what will repay you for all your pains? CHANTECLEREchoes of awakening life down in the valley! [_Confused living noisesare beginning to mount from below. _] Tell me of them. I have not thestrength to listen for myself. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Runs to the top of the rise, and listens. _] I hear a finger knockingagainst the rim of a brazen sky-- CHANTECLER[_With closed eyes. _] The Angelus. THE PHEASANT-HENOther strokes, which sound like a human Angelus after the divine-- CHANTECLERThe forge-hammer. THE PHEASANT-HENLowing, --then a song-- CHANTECLERThe plow. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Continuing to listen. _] Sounds as of a bird's nest fallen into thelittle street-- CHANTECLER[_With growing emotion. _] The school! THE PHEASANT-HENImps of whom I catch no glimpse buffet one another in the water-- CHANTECLERWomen washing linen. THE PHEASANT-HENAnd suddenly, on all sides, what are they--iron locusts rubbing theirwings together? CHANTECLER[_Half rising, in the fullness of pride. _] Ah, if scythes are whetting, the reapers will soon be harvesting the golden grain! [_The soundsincrease and mingle: bells, hammers, washer-women's wooden spades, laughter, singing, grinding of steel, cracking of whips. _] All at work!And I have done that!--Oh, impossible!--Pheasant-hen, help me! This isthe dreadful moment! [_He looks wildly about him. _] I made the sunrise!I did! Wherefore And how? And where? No sooner does my reasonreturn--than I go mad! For I who believe I have power to rekindle thecelestial gold--I--well--oh, it is dreadful-- THE PHEASANT-HENWhat is? CHANTECLERI am humble-minded, modest! You will never tell? THE PHEASANT-HENNo, no! CHANTECLERYou promise? Ah! let my enemies never know! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Moved. _] Chantecler! CHANTECLERI feel myself unworthy of my glory. Why was I chosen, even I, to driveout black night? No sooner have I brought the heavens to a white glow, than the pride which lifted me aloft drops dead. I fall to earth. What, I, so small, I made the immeasurable dawn? And having done this, I mustdo it again? Nay, but I cannot! Nay, it would be vain! Never need Iattempt it! Despair overtakes me--Comfort me, love! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Tenderly. _] My own! CHANTECLERSuch a burden of responsibility resting upon me! That inspiring breathwhich I await when I scratch in the sand, will it come again? I feel thewhole future depending upon an incomprehensible something which mightperchance fail me! Do you understand now the anguish gnawing me? Ah, theswan is certain, by bending his neck, to find under water the grasses hedelights in; the eagle, when he swoops from the blue, sure of fallingupon his prey; and you are ever sure of finding in the earth the wellsupplied nests of the ants, --but I, for whom my own work remains amystery, I, possessed ever by the fear of the morrow, am I sure offinding my song in my heart? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Clasping him with her wings. _] Surely, you will find it, surely! CHANTECLERYes, talk to me like that. I listen, I heed you. You must believe mewhen I believe, and not when I doubt. Tell me again-- THE PHEASANT-HENYou are beautiful! CHANTECLERAbout that I care very little. THE PHEASANT-HENAnd you sang beautifully! CHANTECLERSay that I sang badly, but tell me that it is I who make-- THE PHEASANT-HENIndeed, indeed, I admire you beyond all bounds and measure! CHANTECLERNo, --tell me that what I told you is true-- THE PHEASANT-HENWhat? CHANTECLERThat it is I who make-- THE PHEASANT-HENYes, my glorious Beloved, yes, it is you who make the dawn appear! THE BLACKBIRD[_Suddenly appearing. _] Well, well, old man! SCENE FOURTH THE SAME, THE BLACKBIRD CHANTECLERThe Blackbird!--My secret! THE BLACKBIRD[_Bowing with every sign of admiration. _] Allow me to-- CHANTECLERThat inveterate mocker! [_To the_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] Leave us not alone! Mysoul is still open--his mockery would enter in! THE BLACKBIRDRipping! CHANTECLERWhere have you come from? THE BLACKBIRD[_Indicating an empty overturned flower-pot. _] From that flower-pot. CHANTECLERBut how--? THE BLACKBIRDI was having my early snack cozily in the earthenware retreat you see, when suddenly--oh, allow me to express at once the amazement, theadmiration-- CHANTECLEREavesdropping inside a pot! How can you stoop to-- THE BLACKBIRDHang the pot! I've had a sensation! I tell you I was wild! My feet weredoing such a horn-pipe I had trouble to keep my eye steady at thepeep-hole. THE PHEASANT-HENYou could see us? THE BLACKBIRD[_Showing the hole at the bottom of the flower-pot. _] Could I see you!Yonder stump of red cone has exactly the black hole to let through myyellow bill. Apologies, --but it was too tempting! A bird of taste, I am. THE PHEASANT-HENFor the sake of this sincere tribute, I forgive you all the rest! CHANTECLERBut-- THE BLACKBIRD[_Coming and going in excitement. _] Oh, wonderful, and again wonderful, and then again wonderful!--Hear me rant! CHANTECLER[_Amazed. _] What, is it possible that you--? THE BLACKBIRDAm I given to gush? This time, old man, it's the genuine article, Enthusiasm with a capital E! CHANTECLERAre you in earnest? THE BLACKBIRDMust I send you a blankety carrier-pigeon with the news?--That Cock andthat crow, --oh, my soul!--And then the day breaking, --oh, my stars! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_To_ CHANTECLER. ] There seems to be no reason, dear, why I should notleave you alone together. CHANTECLERBut where are you going? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Slightly ashamed of her own frivolity. _] I am going to the-- THE BLACKBIRDThe Guinea-hen's Day he's just given the finishing touches to! CHANTECLER[_To the_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] Must I go too? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Tenderly. _] No, after rising to such heights, I think you may beexcused from the Guinea-hen's at home! CHANTECLER[_With a touch of sadness. _] You, however, are going? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Gaily. _] I want to show off your sunshine on my dress! I will be backdirectly. Wait for me here. THE BLACKBIRDYes, much better keep out of the way. CHANTECLER[_Looking at him. _] Wherefore? THE BLACKBIRD[_Quickly. _] Nothing! [_Falling into fresh ecstasies. _] Oh, this blessedCock of ours! CHANTECLER[_To the_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] You will not be long? THE PHEASANT-HENThe merest moment. [_Low to him before leaving. _] You see, even theBlackbird is impressed! [_She flies off. _] SCENE FIFTH CHANTECLER, THE BLACKBIRD CHANTECLER[_Coming back to the_ BLACKBIRD. ] And so that habitual skepticalsneer--? THE BLACKBIRDWiped out! My satirical whistling, as the Dog called it, now expressespure admiration. Listen, like this: [_He whistles admiringly. _]Tew!--How is that?--Tew-tew [_Nodding soberly. _] That's all right! CHANTECLER[_Innocently. _] You are not such a bad fellow, after all. I said so tothe Dog. THE BLACKBIRD[_With profound conviction. _] You're a wonderful old boy! CHANTECLER[_Modestly. _] Oh! THE BLACKBIRDTo come it over the Hens--[_He again whistles Admiringly. _] make thembelieve that he engineers the dawn! [CHANTECLER _starts. _] A simpleidea, but it took you to get on to it! Brother, I believe you werehatched in Columbus' egg! CHANTECLERBut-- THE BLACKBIRDAll other Don Juans are donkeys beside you! Says he to himself: Make thedaybreak to impress little pheasant-hens! And does it, too--succeeds! CHANTECLER[_In a smothered voice. _] Be still! THE BLACKBIRDNeat, the little roof which must be gilded! Complete, the ladder for theMotes! CHANTECLER[_In a spasm of pain. _] Be still! THE BLACKBIRDAnd the access of modesty, a sweet little final touch! I kiss my hand toyou! Oh, he knows how--no mistake he knows-- CHANTECLER[_Constraining himself, in a curt voice. _] The Dawn? Certainly, I knowher. I think I may claim that honor! THE BLACKBIRDYou precious fakir! Don't you consider you have succeeded? CHANTECLERIn bringing on the day? Yes, certainly, I have succeeded admirably, inthis case. THE BLACKBIRDOh, you do it so well! How awfully well he does it! CHANTECLERMaking the light? Of course, I have done it so often! I am used to it. The Sun obeys me. THE BLACKBIRDSo, worthy Joshua! You feel the dawn coming, and then you crow! Forlightness of touch and richness of invention, give us a lyric poet! CHANTECLER[_Bursting forth. _] Wretch! THE BLACKBIRD[_Surprised. _] Are you keeping it up with me? [_Winking. _] Oh, we knowhow the thing is done! CHANTECLERYou may know, --not I! I just open my heart and sing! THE BLACKBIRD[_Hopping about. _] That's the idea! CHANTECLERBlackbird, laugh at everything besides, but not at that, if you love me! THE BLACKBIRDI love you! CHANTECLER[_Bitterly. _] With half a heart! THE BLACKBIRDCan't say a word about his _Fiat Lux?_ CHANTECLERNot that! Not that! THE BLACKBIRDOld man, it's not my fault that I'm no gull. CHANTECLER[_Looking after him as he hops about. _] He cannot keep still longenough, I suppose, to let the sacred truth sink in. [_Trying to stop himin his hopping. _] You behold the agony of emotion shaking me. No morebaffle and keep me off with words! THE BLACKBIRD[_Hopping past him. _] Catch, if you can, and convince me! CHANTECLER[_Imploring. _] It's a matter of life--my profoundest life! Oh, convinceyou I must, if only for a second! I feel the holy impulse to strugglewith your soul! THE BLACKBIRD[_Hopping past him. _] Do you! CHANTECLERIn solemn earnest, at the bottom of your heart, you did--did younot?--believe me? THE BLACKBIRDI believe you! CHANTECLER[_With pressing anguish. _] You must in some manner be aware of thedreadful cost to me of that song? Come, use your reason. To sing as youheard me sing, you must realise that I needed-- THE BLACKBIRDA whopping muscle and a tolerable nerve! CHANTECLERNo, let us not make light of serious things, responsible wingedcreatures that we are! THE BLACKBIRDLet us go in for heavy-weight truths, by all means! CHANTECLERBut can't you see that to look straight at the sun, rising before hiseyes by the exertions of his larynx, one must have at the same time-- THE BLACKBIRDStentorian lungs and the eyes of a lynx! [_He hops out of the way. _] CHANTECLER[_Controlling himself. _] No, I cannot give up the hope of winning thissoul to the truth! [_With desperate patience. _] Come, now, have you anyconception, unhappy bird, of what dawn actually is? THE BLACKBIRDI should say so! It's the time of day when fluffy Aurora gets busy, asit were, and plays ball! CHANTECLERBut what do you say when you see the dawn shining upon the mountains? THE BLACKBIRDMountains, I say, what on earth are you blushing about? CHANTECLERAnd what do you say when you hear me singing in the furrow long beforethe cricket is awake? THE BLACKBIRDCricket, I say, you scandalous slug-a-bed! [_He hops out of the way. _] CHANTECLER[_Beside himself. _] Are you conscious of no impulse to exclaim, cry out, when I have made a dawn so fine and fiery-red that the heron, flying inthe early glow, looks from afar like a flamingo? THE BLACKBIRDSure, brother, sure! I feel like shouting, "Bully, do it again!" [_Hehops out of the way. _] CHANTECLER[_Exhausted. _] That soul! I am more spent with chasing it than with awhole day's grasshopper hunting! [_Violently. _] Did you not see the sky? THE BLACKBIRD[_Simply. _] How could I? The ground is all you can see through thatlittle black hole. [_Pointing at the flower-pot. _] CHANTECLERDid you see the mountain-tops tremble and turn crimson? THE BLACKBIRDWhile you were crowing, I had my eye on your feet. CHANTECLER[_Sorrowfully. _] Ah! THE BLACKBIRDThey were performing on the soft sod something choice in the line offancy dances! CHANTECLER[_Giving up. _] I pity you! Back to your darkness, obscure Blackbird! THE BLACKBIRDYour obedient servant, illustrious Cock! CHANTECLERMy course is toward the sun! THE BLACKBIRDTake along smoked glasses! CHANTECLERBlackbird, do you know the one thing upon earth worthy that one shouldlive wholly for its sake? THE BLACKBIRDThere I draw the line. I won't enter the debate! CHANTECLERThat thing is effort, Blackbird--effort, which uplifts and ennobles thelowest! For which reason, you, contemner of every sublime aspiration, Icontemn! And that fragile roseate snail, struggling unaided to silverover a whole fagot, I honour! THE BLACKBIRD[_Snapping up the snail. _] I'll make him look silly! CHANTECLER[_With a cry of horror. _] Abominable! To point a joke--put out a littleflame! An end. Here we part. You have no more heart than soul. [_Going. _] THE BLACKBIRD[_Hopping up on the fagot. _] I have mind, however! CHANTECLER[_Turning, disdainfully. _] That is open to discussion. THE BLACKBIRD[_Acidly. _] Oh, very well! I was administering, in my merry littlecharacteristic way, a grain of antidote against lunacy. But I wash myclaws of you. Go ahead, justify the report of your enemies. CHANTECLER[_Returning. _] Who? What? THE BLACKBIRDStrut about with your bill-board: "I'm the whole show!" CHANTECLERYou associate with those who hate me? THE BLACKBIRDDo you object? CHANTECLERNo, you pitiful jester! The habit has grown so strong, you can no morebe in earnest about friendship now than anything else. [_Going nearer tohim. _] Who are my enemies? THE BLACKBIRDThe Owls. CHANTECLERYou sorry fool! Can't you see that to believe in my destiny becomes alltoo easy if the Owls are against me? THE BLACKBIRDRest happy, then. They have a deal on--your lighting of the world beinga trifle flashy for their taste--a deal on for cutting your throat. CHANTECLERThrough whom? THE BLACKBIRDA brother bird. CHANTECLERA Cock? THE BLACKBIRDA Saint George of a Cock, who is to meet you-- CHANTECLERWhere? THE BLACKBIRDAt the Guinea-hen's. CHANTECLERWhat a farce! THE BLACKBIRDWait! It's one of those Cocks bred and trained for fighting, who wouldmake just two bites of either you or me. [_As_ CHANTECLER _abruptlystarts toward the back. _] Where are you going? CHANTECLERTo the Guinea-hen's. THE BLACKBIRDHa! I forgot our knightly spurs and helmet! [_He makes a feint ofpreventing him. _] Take my advice, don't go! CHANTECLERBut I will go! THE BLACKBIRDHold on! CHANTECLER[_Stopping beside the flower-pot, as if amazed. _] How singular! THE BLACKBIRDWhat? CHANTECLERDid I understand you to say you came out of that flower-pot? THE BLACKBIRDYou did. CHANTECLER[_Incredulous. _] But how could you possibly have got into it? THE BLACKBIRD[_Getting into the pot. _] I told you, and tell you again! Through thatlittle black hole I was looking at the--[_He thrusts his bill throughthe hole at the bottom. _] CHANTECLERThe earth! And now through a little blue hole you shall look at the sky![_With a vigorous blow of his wing he turns the pot over the_ BLACKBIRD, _who is heard fluttering beneath it, with smothered cries. _] For youhate and shun the blue sky, you Dwellers in Pots! But one can force youto see at least as much as would cover a corn-flower, by overturningyour pot, now and then--with the sweep of a wing! [_Off. _] CURTAIN ACT THIRD THE GUINEA-HEN'S DAY _Corner of a kitchen-garden, enclosed on the sides by hedges. At theback, espaliers. Vegetables and flowers of all kinds. Cold frames. Amongthe fruit trees, an upright pole, rigged in an old frock-coat, pair oftrousers, and opera hat, fills the function of scarecrow. _ SCENE FIRST _The_ GUINEA-HEN, HENS, DUCKS, _etc. ; the_ PHEASANT-HEN, _the_BLACKBIRD, _later_ PATOU. _At the rise of the curtain, multitudinous clatter and confused swarmingof_ HENS _and_ CHICKENS. THE GUINEA-HEN[_Going impetuously from one to the other. _] How do you do? How do youdo?--There is scarcely room to move! My guests reach all the way to thecucumber patch! CHORUS[_Up in the air. _] _Busily buzzing_-- THE GUINEA-HENA regular crush! A HEN[_Gazing at a row of huge pumpkins. _] What attractive objects! THE GUINEA-HENArt pottery! Rather good of its kind, if I do say so! A CHICK[_Listening with his bill in the air. _] Singers? THE GUINEA-HENYes, -- CHORUS _Busily buzzing_-- THE GUINEA-HEN[_In her sprightliest manner. _] The Wasps! [_To a_ CHICKEN. ] How do youdo? [_She flits from one guest to the other. _] THE WASPS _Busily buzzing Estival glees. Fill we with murmurs The mulberry trees_! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Passing with the_ BLACKBIRD _and laughing. _] So you were caught? THE BLACKBIRD[_Finishing his story. _] Exactly as if a hat had been plumped down overme. But I managed by beating my wings to throw off the beastly pot. [_Looking around him. _] Chantecler has not come yet? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Surprised. _] Is he coming? PATOU[_Suddenly appearing on the wheelbarrow, from whence he can watch thescene as from a pulpit. _] I still hope he may change his mind. THE BLACKBIRDPatou there, in the wheelbarrow? PATOU[_Shaking his surly head, and a bit of broken chain hanging from hiscollar. _] Chantecler told me everything Blackbird, as he went by. In atowering rage I broke my chain, and am here to keep an eye on the wickedlot of you. THE GUINEA-HEN[_To the_ BLACKBIRD. ] Has he invited himself to my party, thatmoth-eaten old thing? CHORUS[_Among the trees. _] _Our praises, Sun, our praises!_ THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Looking upward. _] Music? THE GUINEA-HENThe Cicadas! CHORUS OF CICADAS _We simmer in thy gaze, We bask beneath thy blaze, Receive our grateful praise!_ THE YOUNG GUINEA-COCK[_Low and quickly to his mother. _] Tsicadas, mother. You must pronounceit Tsi! A MAGPIE[_In black coat and white tie, announcing the guests as they arrivethrough a hole such as Chickens dig at the foot of hedges. _] The Gander! THE GANDER[_Entering, jocularly. _] What's all this fuss and feathers my lady? Ournames called as we enter? THE GUINEA-HEN[_Demurely. _] Yes, you see, expecting some rather great people, Ithought it well to stand an usher at the blackthorn door. THE MAGPIE[_Announcing. _] The Duck! THE DUCK[_Entering, impressed by the elegance of the occasion. _] Here is styleand grandeur indeed! Our names called! THE GUINEA-HENYes, you see, expecting some rather great people-- THE MAGPIEThe Turkey-hen! THE TURKEY-HEN[_Entering, after a supercilious glance. _] This is quite more of anaffair, my dear, than I was anticipating. --Names called! THE GUINEA-HENYes, I had in the Magpie to supplement my usual staff. CHORUS[_Among blossoming branches. _] _Boom! Boom! From bloom to bloom_! THE TURKEY-HEN[_Lifting her bill. _] A Chorus? THE GUINEA-HEN[_Breezily. _] The Bees! CHORUS _Make distant flowers Bride and groom!_ THE TURKEY-HENWonders on every side! THE GUINEA-HENThe Bees here, the Tsicadas yonder--[_To a passing_ HEN. ] How do you do?How do you do? BEES[_At the right. _] _Boom!_ CICADAS[_At the left. _] _Our praises!_ BEES _Boom!_ CICADAS _Our praises!_ THE GUINEA-HEN[_To the_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] My garden produces the most remarkable ofeverything! THE YOUNG GUINEA-COCKThe brightest flowers! THE GUINEA-HENThe big potatoes! THE BLACKBIRDAnd peaches! Perfect peaches! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Inconvenienced by the movement and the crowd, to the_ BLACKBIRD. ] Letus stand out of the crowd a moment, behind this watering-pot. THE BLACKBIRDThe watering-pot, alias the Intermittent Baldpate, so called becausethere flows from his copper scalp when he is tilted a marvelous growthof silver hair. THE GUINEA-HEN[_Spying the_ CAT, _who, outstretched along an apple-bough is watchingwith half-closed eyes. _] I have among my guests the Cat. THE BLACKBIRDTomkyns de Tomkyns! [_A_ BIRD _is heard warbling in a tree. _] THE GUINEA-HENI have the Chaffinch! THE BLACKBIRDLet him chaff inchworms, what care we? THE GUINEA-HENThe Darning-needle! THE BLACKBIRDShe shall mend up Ragged Robin, now's his chance! PATOU[_More and more disgusted. _] All that is supposed to be funny! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Pecking a cabbage leaf from which roll drops of dew. _] I have the Dew! PATOU[_Grimly. _] Your witticism for her? THE BLACKBIRD[_Brightly. _] Fresh-water pearls! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Pointing out several_ CHICKS _walking among the crowd. _] Have you seenthem? I have several of the A. I. 's Chicks! THE PHEASANT-HENA. I. ? THE GUINEA-HENThe Acme Incubator. THE PHEASANT-HENOh, have you? THE GUINEA-HEN[_Presenting the_ CHICKS. ] All from the topmost compartment! THE PHEASANT-HENIndeed? ONE OF THE CHICKS[_Nudging his neighbour. _] She is dumbfounded! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Contemptuously. _] Eggs hatched by the old vulgar method, fie! THE BLACKBIRD, Good Lord, exempt us! THE MAGPIE[_Announcing. _] The Guinea-pig! THE GUINEA-HENIt's the famous one, you know! The Guinea-pig who was inoculated--surelyyou remember the case--very well, that's the one! There you see him. Imade a point of getting him to come. Everybody is here! I haveeverybody! I have--[_To the_ GUINEA-PIG. ] How do you do? [_To the_PHEASANT-HEN. ] I have our great philosopher Tur-Key--Yes, it should bewritten with a hyphen--who will give us a little talk among the currantbushes under the tea-roses--[_To a passing_ HEN. ] How do you do? [_Tothe_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] Educational Tea or Currant Topics! [_Whirling fromone to the other. _] Everyone is here, everyone of the slightest mark orconsequence! The Pheasant-hen is here, in a frock from fairyland. TheDuck is here, who is so good as to say he will recite for us by and by. The Tortoise is here--[_Noticing that the_ TORTOISE _is not there_] Iwas mistaken, the Tortoise is not here. She is late. THE BLACKBIRD[_Affecting deep concern. _] What is the little talk she seems soregrettably likely to miss? THE GUINEA-HEN[_Suddenly serious. _] The Moral Problem. THE BLACKBIRDWhat a pity! [_The_ GUINEA-HEN _goes to the back, scattering greetings, in ecstasiesof sociability. _] THE PHEASANT-HEN[_To the_ BLACKBIRD. ] Who is the Tortoise? THE BLACKBIRDA hard old character, impervious, I fear, to moral problems, who goes infor walking matches in a loud check suit! [_Murmur among the hollyhocks. _] THE PHEASANT-HENListen, a Drone! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Briskly returning. _] The Drone is here! In the bright light overhead, what a stylish figure of a fly! THE BLACKBIRDNo "at home" complete without it! Ladies cry for it! Won't be happyuntil-- THE GUINEA-HEN[_Jumping up in the air toward the_ DRONE. ] How do you do? How do youdo? [_She follows his flight with excited leaps and hops. _] THE BLACKBIRD[_Touching his brow with his wing. _] She is dotty! THE GUINEA-HEN[_At the back, with shrill_ GUINEA-HEN _cries. _] It's my last day! Howdo you do? My last day until August! Mondays in August, don't forget! A HEN[_Seeing cherries dropping around her. _] Oh, cherries, look! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Looking upward. _] It is the Breeze! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Fluttering forward again, excited as ever. _] I have the Breeze, whonow and then shakes down a cherry! I never ask her. She comes unasked. What's-his-name is here! And What's-her-name is here, and--[_To the backtumultuously. _] THE BLACKBIRDAnd Thingumbob, and Stick-in-the-mud! [_He has arrived withoutappearance of design beneath the tree where the_ CAT _is lying, and asksrapidly, under breath. _] Cat, what about the conspiracy? THE CAT[_Who from his tree can see beyond the hedge. _] It is afoot. I see theinterminable file of phenomenal Cocks approaching, headed by the Peacockwho comes to present them. A CRY[_Outside. _] Ee--yong! [_The_ CROWD _throngs toward the entrance. _] PATOU[_Grumbling. _] That abominable concertina cry-- THE MAGPIEThe Peacock! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_To the_ BLACKBIRD. ] Have you a fancy name for him? THE BLACKBIRD[_Imitating the_ PEACOCK'S _cry. _] Our great Accordee-yong! SCENE SECOND THE SAME, THE PEACOCK. THE GUINEA-HEN[_To the_ PEACOCK, _who enters slowly, with his head borne very stiffand high. _] Master, dear Master, would you be so extremely condescendingas to come and stand with your back to these sunflowers? Peacock!Sunflowers! A study for Burne-Jones! ALL[_Crowding around the_ PEACOCK. ] Master! Master! A CHICKEN[_Low to the_ DUCK. ] A word from him can make one's fortune in society! ANOTHER CHICKEN[_Who has succeeded in forcing his way to the_ PEACOCK, _stammering withemotion. _] Master, what do you think of my latest "cheep"? [_Suspense. Religious silence. _] THE PEACOCK[_Solemnly, letting the word drop slowly from his beak. _] Definitive. [_Sensation. _] A DUCK[_Trembling. _] And my "quack"? [_Suspense. _] THE PEACOCKUltimate! [_Sensation. _] THE GUINEA-HEN[_Delighted, to the_ HENS. ] I may say that it is at my days mostespecially he throws off these specimens of a verbal art which mightfairly be called-- THE PEACOCKLapidary. ALL THE HENS[_Rolling up their eyes. _] Wonderful! A HEN[_Coming forward, faint with emotion. _] Master, high priest of taste, what do you think of my dress? [_Suspense. _] THE PEACOCK[_After a glance. _] Affirmative. [_Sensation. _] THE TUFTED HEN[_Same business. _] And my bonnet? [_Suspense. _] THE PEACOCKAbsolute. [_Sensation. _] THE GUINEA-HEN[_In a burst of emotion. _] Our bonnets are absolute! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Affecting exclusive interest in the_ BEES. ] Ah, there is the ChoirInvisible striking up again! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Presenting the young_ GUINEA-COCK _to the_ PEACOCK. ] My son!--What doyou think of him? THE PEACOCKPlausible. CHORUS OF WASPS _Busily buzzing_-- THE GUINEA-HEN[_Overjoyed, running to the_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] Oh, he said he was plausible! THE PHEASANT-HENWho was? THE GUINEA-HENMy son! CHORUS OF BEES _When July Too holly glows Seek the shade Inside the rose_! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Returning to the_ PEACOCK. ] Does not the rhythm of that chorus impressyou as-- THE PEACOCKAsunartetos! A HEN[_To the_ GUINEA-HEN. ] Your guest, my dear, can fit an epithet! THE GUINEA-HENPontiff of the Unexpected Adjective I call him! THE PEACOCK[_Distilling his words, in a discordant haughty voice. _] True it is that-- THE GUINEA-HENAh, this is most pleasant, most pleasant! He is going to talk to us. THE PEACOCK--a Ruskin rather more refined, I hope, than the earlier one, with atact-- THE GUINEA-HENVery true! PEACOCK--a tact for which I stand largely in my own debt, I have constitutedmyself Petronius-Priest and Maecenas-Messiah volatile volatiliser ofwords, and that, jeweled judge, I love by my cameos and filigrees ofspeech to represent the Taste of which I am the-- PATOUOh, my poor head! THE PEACOCK[_Nonchalantly. _]--shall I say guardian? THE GUINEA-HEN[_Effervescently. _] Do say guardian! THE PEACOCKNo. Thesmothetes. [_Respectful murmur of delight. _] THE GUINEA-HEN[_To the_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] Now you have seen our Peacock! Aren't youexcited? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Slightly bored. _] Yes, --because I know the Cock is coming. THE GUINEA-HEN[_Delighted. _] To-day? He is coming to-day? [_She announces to thegeneral company, enthusiastically. _] Chantecler! THE PEACOCK[_Slightly miffed. _] A far greater triumph lies in store for you, fairfriend. THE GUINEA-HENTriumph? [_The_ PEACOCK _nods mysteriously. _] What triumph? THE PEACOCK[_Walking away from her. _] You shall see. THE GUINEA-HEN[_Following him. _] Of what triumph are you speaking? THE PEACOCKI said, "You shall see!" MAGPIE[_Announcing. _] Cock Braekel of Campine! SCENE THIRD THE SAME, _then gradually the_ COCKS. THE GUINEA-HEN[_Stopping short, amazed. _] Braekel? At my party? There's some mistake. THE BRAEKEL COCK[_Bowing before her. _] Madam-- THE GUINEA-HEN[_Breathless with emotion in the presence of this white_ COCK _braidedwith black. _] This unexpected pleasure-- THE MAGPIE[_Announcing. _] Cock Ramelslohe-- THE GUINEA-HENHeavens! THE MAGPIE[_Finishing. _]--of the Slate-blue Claw! THE PEACOCK[_In the_ GUINEA-HEN'S _ear, while the startling_ RAMELSLOHE _bows. _] Heis one of the most recent leucotites! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Blankly. _] A leucotite--How interesting! THE MAGPIE[_Announcing in a louder and louder, more and more impressive voice. _]Cock Wyandotte of the Sable Spur! [_Shiver of emotion among the_ HENS. ] THE GUINEA-HEN[_Off her head with excitement. _] Heavens and gracious powers--my son! THE YOUNG GUINEA-COCK[_Running to her. _] Mamma! THE GUINEA-HENWyandotte! Cock Wyandotte! THE PEACOCK[_With a fine carelessness. _] Cock with strawberry coronet, product ofArt Nouveau! THE GUINEA-HEN[_To the newcomers who are surrounded by astonished murmurs. _]Strawberry coronet!--Gentlemen-- THE YOUNG GUINEA-COCK[_Who has gone to take a look outside. _] Mamma! THE GUINEA-HEN--so kindly condescending to honour my poor house-- THE YOUNG GUINEA-COCKMamma, there are still others coming! THE MAGPIEHis lordship, the Cock-- THE GUINEA-HENHeavens, what Cock? THE MAGPIECock of Mesopotamia with the Double Comb! THE GUINEA-HENDouble! Oh! [_Dashing to welcome the newcomer. _] Charmed, charmed indeed! THE PEACOCKOut upon the obsolete! I wished to show you a few young gentlemenslightly superlative and veritably precious. THE GUINEA-HEN[_Returning to the_ PEACOCK. ] How shall I thank you, Peacock, dearfriend? [_To the_ PHEASANT-HEN, _patronizingly. _] You will excuse me, Iknow, you charming little thing. You must understand, my dear, that hislordship the Cock of Mesopotamia has just arrived! [_Running to the_COCK, _who bows his two combs. _] A proud day for us! Charmed, delighted, enchanted! MAGPIECock d'Orpington of the Feather-ringed Eye! THE GUINEA-HENFeather-ringed--Oh! THE BLACKBIRDThe plot thickens! THE MAGPIE[_While the_ GUINEA-HEN _is flying toward the_ ORPINGTON COCK. ] BeardedCock of Varna! THE PEACOCK[_To the_ GUINEA-HEN. ] A typical Slav! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Leaving the_ ORPINGTON _for the_ BEARDED COCK. ] Oh, the Slav soul wehave heard so much about! Charmed, beyond words, charmed! THE MAGPIERose-footed Scotch Grey Cock! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Leaving the_ BEARDED COCK _for the_ SCOTCH GREY. ] Oh, that rose foot!I do admire that rose foot! Think of introducing that rose foot at mytea! [_With conviction. _] What a social event! THE MAGPIECock-- THE GUINEA-HEN[_Out of her senses. _] No, I say, no! There can't be any more! THE MAGPIECock with Goblet-shaped comb! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Who at every name rushes excitedly toward the newcomer. _] Charmed, Iam sure! Oh, what a novel notion! Goblet-shaped! THE MAGPIEBlue Cock of Andalusia! THE GUINEA-HENYour egg, I presume, was laid in the vibrating hollow of a guitar!Delighted and honored, --both! THE MAGPIECock Langsham! THE PEACOCKA Tartar! ALL THE HENS[_Smitten with amazement at sight of the black giant. _] A Tartar! THE MAGPIEGold-penciled Hamburg Cock! ALL THE HENS[_At sight of the gold-laced_ COCK _in the cocked hat. _] Gold-penciledHamburg! THE GUINEA-HENMy kitchen-garden party will be famous! [_To the_ HAMBURG COCK, _whosebreast is striped with black and yellow. _] Oh, what a wonderfulwaistcoat! May I ask what it is made of? THE BLACKBIRDOf zebra! THE GUINEA-HENZebra, you don't say so! It will be the pride of my life, of my whole-- THE MAGPIECock-- THE GUINEA-HEN[_Jumping. _] No, I can't believe it! THE MAGPIE--of Burma! THE GUINEA-HENBurma! [_Increasing general agitation. _] THE PEACOCKAn East Indian. THE GUINEA-HENOh, I can see his Hindu soul right in his eyes, the Hindu soul we hearso much about! [_Running to the newcomer, in an adoring voice. _]Charmed, charmed! The Hindu soul--oh! THE MAGPIEPadua Cocks--The Dutch Padua of Poland! THE GUINEA-HENDutch of Poland! This is really more than I ever aspired to! [_The_ PADUA COCKS _enter, shaking their plumes. _] THE MAGPIEThe Gold Cock! The Silver Cock! THE GUINEA-HEN[_In ecstasies of admiration before the flowing plume of the latter. _]With a waterfall on his head! THE BLACKBIRDAnd a suspension bridge! THE GUINEA-HEN[_No longer conscious of what she is saying. _] And a suspension bridge! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_To_ PATOU. ] Poor Guinea-hen, she will say anything after anybody! THE MAGPIE[_Announcing in a louder and louder tone ever more extraordinary_COCKS. ] Bagdad Cock! THE PEACOCK[_Dominating the tumult. _] Consummately Arabian Nights. THE GUINEA-HENDid you hear? Consummately Arabian Nights! ALL THE HENSTo be sure! Awfully Arabian Nights! THE PEACOCKKamaralzaman himself is hardly more so. THE MAGPIEBantam Cock with ruffles! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Transported. _] How eighteenth century this is! Look, oh, look! Adwarf! A dwarf! Dwarfs! Little cunning bits of dwarfs! THE YOUNG GUINEA-COCK[_Low. _] Mamma, do control yourself! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Screaming in the midst of the_ COCKS. ] No, no, I can't and won't! Thatis Kamaralzaman! I don't really know which I prefer, which I-- THE MAGPIEGuelder Cock! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Rushing to the newcomer. _] This is truly a treat! Another Belgian! THE MAGPIESerpent-necked Cock! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Rattled. _] To you, dear Seacock, I owe this Perpentneck! THE MAGPIEDuck-sided Cock! Crow-billed Cock! Hawk-footed Cock! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Who has fallen upon the new arrivals, bursts into shrill volubilitybefore the last of them. _] This surpasses all! An albino! Charmed, mydear sir, honoured, enchanted! Oh, on his head he wears a cheese! A HENSo he does, a cheese!--A cream cheese, to be sure! A cream cheese! ALL THE HENSA cream cheese! THE MAGPIECr่ve Coeur Cock! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Rushing to meet him. _] Oh, he has horns on his head! THE PEACOCKSatanic. THE MAGPIEPtarmigan Cock! THE PEACOCKAesthetic. THE GUINEA-HEN[_Rushing up to him. _] Oh, he wears on his head an Assyrian helmet! THE MAGPIEWhite Pile-- THE GUINEA-HEN[_Rushing up to him. _] He wears on his head--[_Stopping short at sightof his docked comb. _] Nothing whatever. He wears nothing whatever on hishead. How odd it looks! THE CAT[_From his apple tree, to the_ BLACKBIRD, _indicating the_ WHITE PILEGAME-COCK. ] There is the champion. The dust conceals a razor on his leanfoot. [_The_ GAME-COCK _disappears among the throng of fancy_ COCKS, _who are surrounded by a swarm of cackling_ HENS. ] THE MAGPIENegro Cock! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Gone quite mad among the multitude of_ COCKS _now filling thekitchen-garden with their extraordinary head-gear aigrettes, and plumesand helmets, double and triple combs. _] Charmed, honoured, enchanted--enchanted, honoured, charmed! PATOUShe has taken leave of her wits! THE GUINEA-HEN[_To the empty air. _] Charmed, charmed, enchanted, en-- THE MAGPIECock with Supernumerary Toe!--Naked-necked Cock! THE GUINEA-HENNaked? THE MAGPIENecked! THE GUINEA-HEN[_To a_ HEN. ] My dear, now we shall see something worth while! THE MAGPIEJapanese Cocks--Cock Splendens! THE GUINEA-HEN[_At sight of this_ COCK _whose tail is eight yards long. _] Oh!--In aswallow tail! THE MAGPIEClump-backed-- THE BLACKBIRD[_Perceiving that this_ COCK _is absolutely flat at the back. _] In amonkey-jacket! THE MAGPIE[_Finishing. _]--or Tailless Cock! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Beside herself. _] He has nothing whatever behind! This is the crowningmoment of my career! [_To the newcomer, effusively. _] Charmed! Notail! This is-- THE BLACKBIRDI like his cheek! THE MAGPIE[_While more and more heterogeneous_ COCKS _appear. _] Cock Walikikili, called Choki-kukullo! Pseudo-Chinese Cuculicolor! THE GUINEA-HENWhat a choice gathering! THE PEACOCKKaleidoscopically cosmopolitan. THE MAGPIEBlue Java! White Java! THE BLACKBIRD[_Losing all shame. _] Won't Java cup o' coffee? THE GUINEA-HEN[_Falling upon the_ JAVA COCKS. ] Charmed, charmed! THE MAGPIEBrahma Cock! Cochin Cock! THE PEACOCK[_Proudly. _] The great vicious Cocks, representatives of the corruptEast, the putrescent Orient! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Intoxicated. _] Putrescent! THE PEACOCKUnwholesome, morbid grace! THE GUINEA-HEN[_To the_ COCHIN COCK. ] Charmed! Charmed!--Do notice his obscene eye! THE MAGPIE[_Announcing wildly, infected with the general delirium. _] Chili Cock, curled hindside fore! Antwerp Cock, curled inside out! ALL THE HENS[_Fighting for the newcomers. _] Oh, putrescent!--Oh, hindside fore! THE GUINEA-HENInside out! THE MAGPIEShankless Jumping-cock! A HEN[_Fainting with emotion. _] I suppose he jumps with his stomach! THE GUINEA-HENAn India-rubber Cock! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_To_ PATOU, _who from his wheelbarrow is looking off into thedistance. _] And Chantecler? PATOUWill be here soon. THE PHEASANT-HENCan you see him? PATOUYes, off there, scratching up the earth. Now he is on his way. THE MAGPIEGhoondook Cock with Umbrella Topknot! CRY OF ENTHUSIASMOh! THE MAGPIEIberian Cock with Lint Side Whiskers! CRY OF ENTHUSIASMOh! THE MAGPIECock Bans Backin or Fat Cheek of Thuringia! CRY OF ENTHUSIASMOh! THE MAGPIEYankee Cochin of Plymouth Rock! [_Sudden silence. _ CHANTECLER _has appeared at the entrance, just behindthe_ COCK _last announced. _] CHANTECLER[_To the_ MAGPIE. ] Pray simply say, "The Cock!" SCENE FOURTH THE SAME, CHANTECLER, _later_ THE PIGEONS, _and_THE SWAN. THE MAGPIE[_After looking_ CHANTECLER _up and down, disdainfully. _] The Cock! CHANTECLER[_From the threshold, to the_ GUINEA-HEN. ] Your pardon Madam, --my humbleduty!--for venturing to present myself in this plumage-- THE GUINEA-HENCome in, I pray! CHANTECLERI hardly know whether I should. I have a limited number of toes-- THE GUINEA-HEN[_Indulgently. _] Oh, never mind! CHANTECLERI cannot claim to be a Carpathian, and--I hardly know how to conceal itfrom you--I have feet! THE GUINEA-HENOh, let not that distress you! CHANTECLERA plain red-pepper comb, an ordinary garlic clove ear-- THE GUINEA-HENOf course, of course, we will excuse you. You came in your business suit! CHANTECLERNay, my best! Pardon if my best combines merely the green of all Aprilwith the gold of all October! I stand abashed. I am the Cock, just theCock, without further addition. The Cock such as he is still found insome old-fashioned barnyard. A Cock shaped like a Cock, whose outlinepersists in the vane on the steeple-top in the artist's eye, and thehumble toy which a child's hand finds among shavings in a littlewooden box. AN IRONICAL VOICE[_From among the group of gorgeous prodigies. _] The Gallic Cock, in short? CHANTECLER[_Gently, without even turning. _] Sure as I am of my aboriginal claim tothis soil, I make no point of assuming the name. But, now you mentionit, I recognise that when one simply says the Cock, that is the Cockhe means! THE BLACKBIRD[_Low to_ CHANTECLER. ] I have seen your adversary! CHANTECLER[_Catching sight of the_ PHEASANT-HEN _approaching. _] Be still! She mustknow nothing of this! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Coquettishly. _] Did you come for the sake of seeing me? CHANTECLER[_Bowing. _] I am weak, you remember! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Listening to the_ COCHIN-CHINA COCK, _who is talking in an undertone, thickly surrounded by_ HENS. ] That Cock from Cochin China issimply awful! CHANTECLER[_Turning. _] Enough! THE HENS[_Around the_ COCHIN COCK, _giving little scandalised cries. _] Oh!-- THE GUINEA-HEN[_Tickled. _] Oh, you naughty bird!--He is quite the most improper of ourgallinacea! CHANTECLER[_Louder. _] Enough! THE COCHIN-CHINA COCK[_Stops, and with mocking surprise. _] Is it the Gallic Cock objecting? CHANTECLERI am not Gallic if you give the word a base or ridiculous meaning. ByJove! Every Hen here knows whether my trumpet blast belongs to asoprano! But your perverse attempts to wring blushes from littlebaggages in convenient corners outrage my love of Love! It is true thatI care more to retain love's dream than these Cochin-Chinese, who, courting a giggle, use refinement in coarseness, research in vulgarity;true that my blood has swifter flow in a less ponderous body, and that Iam not a feathered pig, --but a Cock! THE PHEASANT-HENCome, come away to the woods, --I love you! CHANTECLER[_Looking around him. _] Oh, to see a real being appear! Someone simple, someone-- THE MAGPIE[_Announcing. _] Two Pigeons! CHANTECLER[_Drawing a breath of relief. _] At last, --pigeons! [_He runs eagerly tothe entrance. _] THE PIGEONS[_Entering with a series of somersaults. _] Hop! CHANTECLER[_Falling back in amazement. _] What is this? THE PIGEONS[_Introducing themselves between two springs. _] The Tumblers! EnglishClowns! CHANTECLERWhere am I? THE GUINEA-HEN[_Running after the_ TUMBLERS _who disappear among the throng ofguests. _] Hop! Hop! CHANTECLERPigeons turning acrobats!--Oh, the joy of seeing something true, something unblemished-- THE MAGPIE[_Announcing. _] The Swan! CHANTECLER[_Coming forward delighted. _] Good! A Swan! [_Shrinking away. _] He isblack! THE BLACK SWAN[_With swaggering satisfaction. _] I have discarded the whiteness whilepreserving the outline! CHANTECLERThe real Swan's shadow does no less! [_Thrusting the_ SWAN _aside to hopup on a bench whence, through a gap in the hedge, he can see the distantmeadows. _] Let me climb up on this bench. I need to make sure thatNature still exists--though so far away! Ah, yes! The grass is green, acow is grazing, a calf sucking--And Heaven be praised, the calf has asingle head! [_Coming down again beside the_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] THE PHEASANT-HENOh, come away to the innocent woods, sincere and dewy, where we willlove each other! THE BLACKBIRD[_Pointing at_ CHANTECLER _and the_ PHEASANT-HEN, _who are standingclose and talking low. _] We are getting on! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Intensely interested. _] Do you think so? [_She spreads her wings toscreen them. _] Oh, I am so fond of helping along a clandestinelove affair! THE BLACKBIRD[_Sticking his bill under the_ GUINEA-HEN'S _wing so as to keep the pairin sight. _] I believe she has thoughts of annexing his comb. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_To_ CHANTECLER. ] Come, dearest, come away! CHANTECLER[_Resisting. _] No, I must sing where Destiny placed me. I am usefulhere, I am beloved-- THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Remembering what she overheard the night before in the farmyard. _] Areyou so sure?--Come away to the woods, where we shall hear real pigeonscooing tenderly to each other! THE TURKEY[_At the back. _] Ladies, the great Peacock-- THE PEACOCK[_Modestly. _] The Super-peacock--who supervenes, and supersedes-- THE GUINEA-HENWill spread his tail for us! He has expressed his amiable willingness sofar to favour us. [_The company falls into groups of spectators, the outlandish_ COCKS_forming a wreath around their patron. _] THE PEACOCK[_Preparing to spread his tail. _] I am, by precious natural gift, inaddition to my multifarious accomplishments something of a--shall I sayartist in firework? THE GUINEA-HEN[_Effervescently. _] Yes! THE PEACOCKNo. Pyrotechnist. For the choicest piece in urban gardens, whereCatharine-wheels on festival nights spurt sidereal spray, and rocketsshot into gold-riddled skies fall back in prismatic showers, is lesssapphirine, smaragdine, cuprine-- CHANTECLERZounds! THE PEACOCK--than, I venture to say, ladies, am I-- THE PHEASANT-HENOh, I understood that last word! THE PEACOCK--when I unfurl the union of fan, jewel-case, and screen, upon which Ioffer to the self-same sunbeams that redden the reed all the joyous gemsyou now may contemplate! CHANTECLERWhat a silly bill! [_The_ PEACOCK _has spread his tail. _] A COCK[_To the_ PEACOCK. ] Master, which of us will you make the fashion? THE PADUA COCK[_Quickly coming forward. _] Me! I look like a palm-tree! A CHINA COCK[_Pushing the_ PADUA COCK _aside. _] I look like a pagoda! A BIG FEATHER-FOOTED COCK[_Pushing the_ CHINA COCK _aside. _] Me! I have cauliflowers sprouting atmy heels! CHANTECLEREach is in one the show and Mr. Barnum! ALL[_Parading and filing past the_ PEACOCK. ] See my beak! See my feet! Seemy feathers! CHANTECLER[_Suddenly shouting at them. _] Lo! While you hold your costume contest, a Scarecrow gives you his blessing! [_Behind them, in fact, the wind has lifted the arms of the_ SCARECROW, _which loosely wave above the pageant. _] ALL[_Starting back. _] What? CHANTECLERBehold this dummy talking to that lay-figure! [_While the wind blowsthrough the flapping rags. _] What say the trousers, dancing their limpfandango? They say, "We were once the fashion!" And, terror of thetitlark, what says the old hat which a beggar would none of? "I was thefashion!" And the coat? "I was the fashion!" And the tattered sleeves, that no one has care to mend, try to clasp the Wind, whom they take forthe Fashion, and drop back empty--The Wind has passed, the Wind is far! THE PEACOCK[_To the animals slightly dismayed by this address. _] You poor-spiritedcreatures, that thing cannot talk! CHANTECLERMan says the same of us. THE PEACOCK[_To the birds nearest to him. _] He is vexed because of those Cocks whomI introduced. [_To_ CHANTECLER, _ironically. _] What, my dear sir, do yousay to these resplendent gentlemen? CHANTECLERI say, my dear sir, that these resplendent gentlemen are manufacturedwares, the work of merchants with highly complex brains, who to fashiona ridiculous Chicken have taken a wing from that one, a topknot fromthis. I say that in such Cocks nothing remains of the true Cock. Theyare Cocks of shreds and patches, idle bric-a-brac, fit to figure in acatalogue, not in a barnyard with its decent dunghill and its dog. I saythat those befrizzled, beruffled, bedeviled Cocks were never stroked andcherished by Nature's maternal hand. I say that it's all Aviculture, andAviculture is flapdoodle! And I say that those preposterous parrots, without style, without beauty, without form, whose bodies have not evenkept the pleasing oval of the egg they were hatched from, look like somany desperate fowls escaped from some hen-coop of the Apocalypse! A COCKMy dear sir-- CHANTECLER[_With rising spirit. _] And I add that the whole duty of a Cock is to bean embodied crimson cry! And when a Cock is not that, it matters littlethat his comb be shaped like a toadstool, or his quills twisted like ascrew, he will soon vanish and be heard of no more, having been nothingbut a variety of a variety! A COCKI protest-- CHANTECLER[_Going from one to the other. _] Yes, Cocks affecting incongruous forms, Cocks crowned with cocoa-palm coiffures--Hear me talk like the Peacock!I lapse into alliteration! [_Finding his fun in bewildering them withcackling guttural volubility. _] Yes, Cockerels cockaded with cockles, Cockatrice-headed Cockasters, cock-eyed Cockatoos! Not content to becommon Cocks, your crotchet it was to be what but crack Cocks? Yes, Fashion, to be accounted of thy flock, these chuckle-headed Cocks cravedto be Super-cocks. But know ye not, ye crazy Cocks, one cannot be soqueer a Cock, but there may occur a queerer Cock? Let some Cock comewhose coccyx boasts a more flamboyant shock, and you pass like childishmeasles, croup or chicken-pox! Consider that to-morrow, highCockalorums, fancy Cocks, consider that day after to-morrow, cheese-capped goblet-crested Cocks, in spite of curly hackle andcauliflowered hocks, a more fantastic Cock than ever may creep out ofa--box! For the Cock-fancier, to diversify his stock, may morefantastically still combine his Cutcutdaycuts and his Cocks, and youwill be no more--sad Cuckoos made a mock!--but old rococo Cocks besidethis more coquettish Cock! A COCKAnd how, may one learn from you, can a Cock secure himself againstbecoming rococo? CHANTECLEROne royal way there is: to think only of crowing like a right and properCock! A COCK[_Haughtily. _] We are well known, I beg to state, for our exceptionallyfine crowing! CHANTECLERKnown to whom? SCENE FIFTH THE SAME, _three_ CHICKENS, _noticeable among the rest for a certainjaunty pertness of gait and demeanour, who for a minute or so have beenmoving among the artificial_ COCKS. FIRST CHICKENTo us, of course! SECOND CHICKENTo us! THIRD CHICKENTo us! ALL THREE[_Bowing at once. _] Good morning! FIRST CHICKENYour voice? SECOND CHICKENTenor? THIRD CHICKENBass? SECOND CHICKENRobusto? THIRD CHICKENDi cortesia? CHANTECLER[_Bewildered, looking toward the_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] What is this? Aninterlude? THE PHEASANT-HENAn interview. SECOND CHICKENDo you take it in your chest? THIRD CHICKENOr in your head? CHANTECLERDo I take what? FIRST CHICKENPray talk without reserve. We represent the Board of Investigation intothe Gallodoodle Movement. CHANTECLERThat's all very well, but I--[_Attempting to pass. _] FIRST CHICKENYou will find it difficult, I think, to leave, until you have answeredsuch questions as we are pleased to ask. Is your early meal a light one? CHANTECLERBut-- SECOND CHICKENYou have tendencies, no doubt-- CHANTECLERHosts. SECOND CHICKENWhat do you feel most particularly drawn to? CHANTECLERHens. FIRST CHICKEN[_Without smiling. _] Have you nothing to communicate with regard to yoursong? CHANTECLERI just sing. SECOND CHICKENAnd when you sing--? CHANTECLERThe heavens hear me. THIRD CHICKENHave you a special method? CHANTECLERI-- FIRST CHICKENYou live-- CHANTECLERTo sing! SECOND CHICKENAnd your song--? CHANTECLERIs my life! THIRD CHICKENBut how do you sing? CHANTECLERI take pains. FIRST CHICKENBut do you scan [_Beating furiously with his wing. _] one-one-twoOne-three? Three-one? Or four? What is your dynamic theory? THE BLACKBIRD[_Shouting. _] Who has not his little pet dynamic theory? CHANTECLERDyna--? SECOND CHICKENWhere do you place the accent? On the Cock--? THIRD CHICKENOn the Doo? CHANTECLEROn the-- FIRST CHICKEN[_Impatiently. _] What is your school? CHANTECLERSchools of Cocks? SECOND CHICKEN[_Rapidly. _] Certainly. Some sing Cock-a-doodle-doo, and someKeek-a-deedle-dee! CHANTECLERCock--? Keek--? THIRD CHICKENNot to speak of those who-- A COCK[_Coming forward. _] The correct and proper way to crow isCowkerdowdledow! CHANTECLERWhat Cock is that? FIRST CHICKENAn Anglo-Indian. SECOND CHICKENAnd the Turk over there, whose comb suggests a cyst, crowsCoocooroocoocoo! THIRD CHICKEN[_Shouting in his ear. _] Do you not upon occasions vary yourCockadoodledoo with Cackadaddledaa? ANOTHER COCK[_Springing up at the right. _] I, for one, entirely suppress the vowels:C-ck-d-dl-d! CHANTECLER[_Trying to get away. _] Is it a Welsh Rabbit dream? ANOTHER COCK[_Springing up at the left. _] O-a-oo-e-oo! Have you ever triedsuppressing the consonants? ANOTHER COCK[_Pushing aside all the others. _] I mix the whole thingup--Cuck-o-deedle-daa!--in a free and supple song! CHANTECLERMy brain reels! ALL THE COCKS[_Gathered about him, fighting. _] No! Cuckodee--No, Cackadaa--No, Coocooroo-- THE COCK[_Who mixes all up. _] The free Cockadoodle! The free crow is obligatory! CHANTECLERPray, who is that, speaking with such authority? FIRST CHICKENIt is a wonderful Cock who has never sung at all. CHANTECLER[_In humble despair. _] And I am only a Cock who sings! EVERYBODY[_Drawing away from him in disgust. _] I wouldn't mention it if I wereyou! CHANTECLERI give my song as the rose-tree gives its Rose! THE PEACOCK[_Sarcastically. _] Ah, I was waiting for the Rose! [_Pitying laughter. _] CHANTECLER[_Low, nervously, to the_ BLACKBIRD. ] Is my prospective slayer going tokeep me waiting much longer? EVERYONE[_Disgusted. _] The Rose? Oh! THE GUINEA-HENIf you must mention flowers, let them be rather less-- THE PEACOCKElementary. [_With the most disdainful impertinence. _] So you are stillat the declension of _Rosa?_ CHANTECLERI am, you--Peacock! You, I suppose, may be forgiven for speakingslightingly of the Rose, being a rival candidate for the beauty prize. [_Looking around him. _] But I summon these Cocks, from Dorking toBantam, to defend with me-- A COCK[_Nonchalantly. _] Pray whom? CHANTECLERThe Rose, _Rosam;_ to declare on the spot and forthwith-- THE BLACKBIRD[_Ironically. _] You set yourself up as the champion-- CHANTECLER_Rosarum, _ of roses, I do!--To declare that worshipis due-- A COCKTo whom, pray? CHANTECLERTo roses, _rosis!_--in whose hearts sleep rain-drops like essences infragrant vials, to declare that they are, and ever will be-- A VOICE[_Cold and cutting. _] Painted jades, things of naught! [_All the fancy_COCKS _draw aside, revealing the_ WHITE PILE GAME COCK, _who appears, tall and lean and sinister at the further end of their double row. _] CHANTECLERAt last! THE BLACKBIRDIt's time to climb up on the chairs! CHANTECLER[_To the_ WHITE PILE. ] Sir-- THE PHEASANT-HENYou are never going to challenge that giant? CHANTECLERI am! To appear tall it is sufficient to talk on stilts! [_To the_ GAMECOCK, _slowly crossing the stage toward him. _] Know that such a remarkis not to be endured, and permit me to tell you--[_Finding a_ CHICK_between himself and the_ GAME COCK, _he gently puts him aside, saying_]Run to your mother, tot! [_To the_ WHITE PILE, _looking insolently athis docked comb_]--that you look like a Fool who has mislaidhis coxcomb! THE WHITE PILE[_Astonished. _] Fool? Coxcomb? What? What? What? CHANTECLER[_Beak to beak with the_ GAME COCK. ] What? What? What? [_A pause. Theyarch themselves, with bristling neck-hackle. _] THE WHITE PILE[_Emphatically. _] In America, during my grand tour, I killed threeClaybornes in a day. I have killed two Sherwoods, three Smoks, and oneSumatra. I have killed--let me advise anyone fighting me to takesomething beforehand to keep down his pulse!--three Red-game atCambridge and ten Braekels at Bruges! CHANTECLER[_Very simply. _] I, my dear sir, have never killed anything. But as Ihave at different times succored, defended, protected, this one andthat, I might perhaps be called, in my own fashion, brave. You need nottake these mighty airs with me. I came here knowing that you would come. That rose was dangled to afford you the opportunity for brutalstupidity. You did not fail to nibble at its petals. Your name? THE GAME COCKWhite Pile. And yours? CHANTECLERChantecler. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Running desperately to the_ DOG. ] Patou! CHANTECLER[_To_ PATOU, _who is growling between his teeth. _] You, keep out of this! PATOUSo I will, but it's rrrrrrrough! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_To_ CHANTECLER. ] A Cock does not risk his life for a Rose! CHANTECLERA slur upon a flower is a slur upon the Sun! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Running to the_ BLACKBIRD. ] Do something! This must be patched up--Youknow you had promised me! THE BLACKBIRDEverything can be patched up, my dear, except the quarrels of a fellow'sfriends! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Giving loud cries of despair. _] Horrible! Oh, horrible A five-o'clocktea at which guests kill each other! How dreadful--[_To her son. _] thatthe Tortoise should not have got here yet! A VOICE[_Crying. _] Chantecler, ten against one! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Seating her company, assisting the_ HENS _to climb upon flower-pots, cold-frames, pumpkins. _] Quick! quick! THE BLACKBIRDOur charming hostess is in great feather, doing the honours of an affairof honour. PATOU[_To_ CHANTECLER. ] Go in and thrash him. This crowd is longing for thesight of your blood. CHANTECLER[_Sadly. _] I was never anything but kind! PATOU[_Showing the ring which has formed, the faces lighted with hatefuleagerness. _] Look at them! [_All necks are craned, all eyes shine; it ishideous. _ CHANTECLER _looks, understands, and bows his head. _] THE PHEASANT-HEN[_With a cry of rage. _] It's a disgrace! A disgrace to the name of fowl! CHANTECLER[_Raising his head again. _] So be it. But they shall at least learnto-day who I was, and my secret-- PATOUNo, don't tell them, if it's what my old dreamer's heart has apprehended! CHANTECLER[_Addressing the multitude, in a loud voice, solemnly, like oneconfessing his faith. _] Know, all of you, that it is I--[_Deep silencefalls. To the_ WHITE PILE, _who has given a sign of impatience. _] Yourpardon, excellent duellist, but I have a mind, before getting myselfkilled, to do something brave-- THE WHITE PILE[_Surprised. _] Ah? CHANTECLERYes, --get myself laughed at! THE PHEASANT-HENNo, dearest, no! Don't do it! CHANTECLERI wish to perish amid salvos of laughter! [_To the crowd. _] Riot, spiritof Mockery! Disciples of the Blackbird, prepare! [_In a still loudervoice, hammering home every word. _] It is I, who, by my song, bring backthe light of day! [_Amazement, then vast laughter shakes themultitude. _] Is the merriment well under way? On guard! THE GOLDEN PADUA COCK[_Nodding his plume. _] Gentlemen, engage! VOICES[_Amid storms of laughter. _] Funny! Side-splitting! Was anything ever sodroll? I shall die laughing! THE BLACKBIRDThe old Gallic love of a joke is not dead! A CHICKENHe sings light into the sky! A DUCKThe Sun gets up to hear him! CHANTECLER[_Avoiding the blows which the_ WHITE PILE _is beginning to aim athim. _] Yes, it is I who give you back the Day! A CHICKAnd a jolly fine day it is! CHANTECLER[_While parrying and attacking. _] The crowing of other Cocks, ableneither to make nor mar, is no better nor worse than sonorous sneezing!Mine--[_He is wounded. _] A VOICEBiff! In the neck! CHANTECLER--mine makes--[_He is again wounded. _] THE TURKEYInsufferable self-sufficiency! CHANTECLER--the light--[_Again he is struck. _] A VOICEBiff! On the neb! CHANTECLER--the light appear! A VOICEBiff! In the eye! CHANTECLER[_Blinded with blood. _] Yes, the light! A VOICE[_Sneering. _] Better have let sleeping darkness lie! CHANTECLER[_Automatically repeating beneath his adversary's blows. _] It is I whomake the dawn appear! PATOU[_Barking. _] Aye! Aye! Aye! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Sobbing. _] Stand up to him, darling! Oh, hit back! Hit back! A CHICKFellows, a nickname for the dawn! ALLYes! Yes! [_The_ WHITE PILE _hurls himself upon_ CHANTECLER. ] THE PHEASANT-HENOh, cruel! THE BLACKBIRDChantecler's Light o' Love! A VOICEA nickname for the Cock! ALLYes! Yes! THE BLACKBIRDGrand Master of Illuminations! ANOTHER VOICEPurveyor of Sunny Beams! CHANTECLER[_Defending himself foot to foot. _] Thanks! Another quip, for I canstill fight with my feet! A VOICEThe Alarm-Cock! CHANTECLER[_Who seems upheld by their insults. _] Another pun! And I who know nomore of fighting than can be learned on a peaceful farm-- A VOICEThresh out his hayseed! CHANTECLERThanks! I--[_His torn feathers fly around him. _] CRY OF JOYSee his fur fly! CHANTECLERI feel--Another pleasantry! A VOICELay on, Macfluff! CHANTECLERThanks! I feel that the more I am mocked, insulted, flouted, and denied-- AN ASS[_Stretching his neck over the hedge. _] Hee-haw! CHANTECLERThanks!--the better I shall fight! THE WHITE PILE[_Chuckling. _] He is game, but he's giving out. THE PHEASANT-HENEnough. Enough. Oh, stop! A VOICEOn White Pile, twenty to one! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Seeing_ CHANTECLER'S _bleeding neck. _] He bleeds, oh! A HEN[_Rising on tiptoe behind the_ GOLDEN PADUA COCK. ] I should like to seethe blood! THE WHITE PILE[_Increasing the fury of his onset. _] I'll have your gizzard! THE HEN[_Trying to see. _] The Padua Cock's hat shuts off my view! THE BLACKBIRDHats off! A VOICEThat was a stinger! On his comb! SHRILL CRIES[_From the crowd. _] Land him one! Do him up! Lay him out! Have his gore! PATOU[_Standing up in his wheelbarrow. _] Will you stop behaving like humanbeings? CRIES[_Furiously keeping time with the blows showering upon_ CHANTECLER. ] Inthe neck! On the nut! On the wing! On the--[_Sudden silence. _] CHANTECLER[_Amazed. _] What is this? The ring breaks up, the shouting dies--[_Helooks around. The_ WHITE PILE _has drawn away and backed against thehedge. A strange commotion agitates the crowd. _ CHANTECLER, _exhausted, bleeding, tottering, does not understand, and murmurs. _] What joke arethey preparing against my end? [_And suddenly. _] Joy, Patou, joy! PATOUWhat? CHANTECLERI have done them an injustice. All of them, ceasing to insult and mockme, look, gather round me, closer and closer--look! PATOU[_Seeing them all, in fact, crowding around_ CHANTECLER, _and gazinganxiously at the sky, looks up too, and says simply. _] It is the hawk! CHANTECLERAh! [_A dark shadow slowly sweeps over the motley crowd, who crouch andcower. _] PATOUWhen that great shadow falls, it is not the fine, strange Cocks we trustto keep off the bird of prey! CHANTECLER[_Suddenly grown great of size, his wounds forgotten, stands in themidst of them, and in an authoritative tone. _] Yes, close around me, allof you, all! [_All, huddled in their feathers, their heads drawn inbetween their wings, press against him. _] THE PHEASANT-HENDear, brave, and gentle heart! CHANTECLER[_The shadow sweeps over the crowd a second time. The_ GAME COCK _makeshimself small. _ CHANTECLER _alone remains standing, in the midst of aheap of ruffled, trembling feathers. _] A HEN[_Looking up at the_ HAWK. ] Twice the black shadow has swept over us! CHANTECLER[_Calling to the_ CHICKS, _who come madly running. _] Chicks, come hereto me! THE PHEASANT-HENYou take them under your wing? CHANTECLERI must. Their mother is a box! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Looking upward. _] He hovers over us--[_The shadow of the_ HAWK, _circling lower and lower, passes for the third time, darkerthan ever. _] ALL[_In a moan of fear. _] Ah! CHANTECLER[_Shouting toward the sky. _] I am here! PATOUHe has heard your trumpet cry! THE PHEASANT-HENHe flies further. [_All rise with a joyous cry of deliverance, "Ah!" and go back to theirplaces to watch the end of the combat. _] PATOUWithout loss of a moment they form the ring again. CHANTECLER[_With a start. _] What did you say? [_He looks. It is true, the ring hasimmediately formed. _] THE PHEASANT-HENNow they want you killed to be revenged for their fine scare. CHANTECLERBut now I shall not be killed! I felt my strength come back when thecommon enemy flew across the sky. [_Striding boldly up to the_ WHITEPILE. ] I got back my courage, fearing for the others. THE WHITE PILE[_Amazed at being smartly attacked. _] Whence has he drawn new strength? CHANTECLERI am thrice stronger now than you. Black excites me, you see, as redexcites the bull, and thrice I have stared at night in the form of abird's shadow! THE WHITE PILE[_Driven to bay, against the hedge, prepares to use his razors. _] THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Screaming. _] Look out! He has two sharp razors at his heels, the beast! CHANTECLERI knew it! THE CAT[_From his tree, to the_ GAME COCK. ] Use your knives! PATOU[_Ready to spring from his wheelbarrow. _] If he uses those, I'llstrangle him, that's all! THE CROWDOh! PATOUI will! Howl you never so loud! THE WHITE PILE[_Feeling himself lost. _] No help for it! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Closely watching him. _] He is getting one of his razors ready! THE WHITE PILE[_Striking with his sharp spur. _] Take that! Die! [_He utters a terriblecry, while_ CHANTECLER, _avoiding the blow, springs aside. _] Ah! [_Hedrops to the ground. Cry of amazement. _] SEVERAL VOICESWhat is it? THE BLACKBIRD[_Who has hopped up to the fallen_ COCK _and examined him. _] Nothing!Merely he has dexterously slashed his left claw with his right! THE CROWD[_Following and hooting the_ WHITE PILE, _who, having picked himself up, limps off. _] Hoo! Hoo! PATOU _and the_ PHEASANT-HEN[_Laughing and weeping and talking, all in one, beside_ CHANTECLER, _who stands motionless, utterly spent, with closed eyes. _] Chantecler!It is we! The Pheasant-hen! The Dog! Speak to us, speak! CHANTECLER[_Opening his eyes, looks at them and says gently. _] The day will riseto-morrow! SCENE SIXTH THE SAME, _except the_ WHITE PILE THE CROWD[_After seeing the_ WHITE PILE _off, return tumultuously to_ CHANTECLER, _hailing him with acclamations. _] Hurrah! CHANTECLER[_Drawing away from them, in a terrible voice. _] Stand back! I know yourworth! [_The crowd hastily draws back. _] THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Close by his side. _] Come away to the woods, where true-heartedanimals live! CHANTECLERNo, I will stay here. THE PHEASANT-HENAfter finding them out? CHANTECLERAfter finding them out. THE PHEASANT-HENYou will stay here? CHANTECLERNot for their sakes, but the sake of my song. It might spring forth lessclear from any other soil! But now, to inform the Day that it is sure tobe called tomorrow I will sing! [_Obsequious movement of the crowd, attempting to approach. _] Back! All of you! I have nothing left but mysong! [ALL _draw away, and alone in his pride, he begins. _] Co--[_Tohimself, stiffening himself against pain. _] Nothing left but my song, therefore let us sing well! [_He tries again. _] Co--Now, I wonder, shall I take it as a chest-note, or--Co--a head-note? Shall I countone-three, or--Co--And the accent? Since they filled my head with allthat sort of thing, I--Coocooroo--Keekee-ree--And the theory? Thedynamic theory? Cock-a--I am all tangled up in schools and rules andrubbish! If he reduced his flight to a theory, what eagle would eversoar? Co--[_Trying again, and ending in a raucous, abortive crow. _]Co--I cannot sing any more, I, whose method was not to know how, but bequite certain why! [_In a cry, of despair. _] I have nothing left! Theyhave taken everything from me, my song and everything else. How shall Iget it back? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Opening her wings. _] Come away to the woods! CHANTECLER[_Falling upon her breast. _] I love you! THE PHEASANT-HENTo the woods, where the simple birds sing their sweet unconscious songs! CHANTECLERLet us go! [_Both go toward the back. _ CHANTECLER _turning. _] But thereis one thing I wish to say-- THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Trying to lead him away. _] Come to the woods! CHANTECLER--to all the Guineahennery gathered beneath these arbors. Let thegarden--the Bees agree with me, I fancy!--let the garden work untroubledat changing its blossoms into fruit-- BUZZING OF BEES_We agree--ee--ee_! CHANTECLERNothing good is ever accomplished in the midst of noise. Noise preventsthe bough-- BUZZING[_Further off. _]_So say we--e--e! we--e--e_! CHANTECLER--from bringing its apple to perfection, prevents the grape-- BUZZING[_Dying away among the foliage. _] _So say we--e--e_! CHANTECLER--from ripening on the vine. [_Going toward the back with the_PHEASANT-HEN. ] Let us go! [_Turning and coming again angrily toward thefront. _] But I wish furthermore to say to these H--[_The_ PHEASANT-HEN_lays her wing across his beak. _]--ens that those unnatural Cocks willlightly take themselves away, back to the gilded mangers of their soleaffection, the moment they hear the cry of Chick-chick-chick-chick-chick![_Imitating a servant girl calling_ CHICKENS _to feed. _] For all thosecharlatans are stalking appetites, and nothing more! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Trying to lead him off. _] Come! Come! A HENShe is eloping with him. CHANTECLERI am coming! But--[_Coming forward again. _] I must first say to thisPeacock, in the presence of that Addlepate--[_Indicating the_GUINEA-HEN. ] THE GUINEA-HENHe insults me in my own house. Sensational! CHANTECLERFalse hero whom Fashion has taken for leader, you walk in such terror ofappearing behindhand to the eyes of your own tail that your throat isblue with it! But, urged forward, on and on, by every staring eye uponit, you will fall at last, breathless for good and all, and end in thefalse immortality bestowed, false artist, by the--[_Imitating the mannerof the_ PEACOCK. ] shall I say bird-stuffer? THE GUINEA-HEN[_Mechanically. _] Yes! CHANTECLERNo. Taxidermist, --to use the word you would prefer. That, my dearPeacock, is what I wished to say. THE BLACKBIRDBang! CHANTECLER[_Turning toward him. _] As for you-- THE BLACKBIRDFire away! CHANTECLERI will! You became acquainted one grey morning with a city sparrow, didyou not tell us so? That was your ruin. You have been possessed eversince with the desire to appear like one yourself. THE BLACKBIRDBut-- CHANTECLERFrom that hour, unresting, acting the sparrow night and day, the sparroweven in sleep, self-condemned to play the sparrow without respite, youhave appeared--famous jay! THE BLACKBIRDBut-- CHANTECLERPathetic effort of a country birdkin, twisting his thick bill to talkwith a city accent! Ah, you wish to bite off bits of slang? My friend, they are green! Every grape you pick breaks in your jaws, for citygrapes are glass bubbles! Having taken from the sparrow only his make-upand grimace, you are just a clumsy understudy, a sort of vice-buffoon!And you serve up stale old cynicisms picked up with crumbs infashionable club-rooms, poor little bird, and think to astonish us withyour budget of scandalous news-- THE BLACKBIRDBut-- CHANTECLERI have not exhausted my ammunition! You wish to imitate the sparrow? Butthe sparrow does not, slyly and meanly mischievous, make a cult ofsprightliness is not funny with authority, is not the pedant offlippancy! You percher among low bushes, who never care to fly, you wishto imitate--[_Turning to one of the exotic_ COCKS _cackling behindhim. _] Silence, Cock of Japan! or I shall spoil a picture! THE JAPANESE COCK[_Hurriedly. _] I beg your pardon! CHANTECLER[_Continuing to the_ BLACKBIRD. ] You wish to imitate the sparrow, who, rising on light wing, underlines his words with a telegraph wire! Verywell, I hate to grieve you, but--you know I can hear the sparrows whenthey come to steal my corn!--you are not in it, you do not pull it off. Your lingo is a fake! THE BLACKBIRDA--? CHANTECLERAnd your performance is a shine! THE BLACKBIRDHe can talk slang? CHANTECLERI can talk anything!--It's the Paris article made in Germany! THE BLACKBIRDBut-- CHANTECLERFire away, I think you said. I hope you don't mind my air-gun? THE BLACKBIRDI-- CHANTECLERThe Grand Master of Illuminations is entirely at your service. What doyou say? THE BLACKBIRD[_Hastily. _] Nothing! [_He tries to get away. _] CHANTECLERYou wish to ape the sparrow of city streets! But his impudence is not amanner of prudence, an art of remaining vague, an elegant method ofhaving no opinion. His eyes always express either wrath or delight. Doyou care to know the secret by which the little beggar, with his"Chappie" and his "See" can steal away our hearts? It is that he isfrank and fearless that he believes, that he loves, that the railings ofa balcony where some child strews crumbs for him are the only cage heever knew! It is that one can be sure of his gaiety of soul, since he isgay when he is hungry! But you who, void of gaiety because void of love, have imagined that evil wit can take the place of good humour, and thatone can play the sparrow when he is a sleek and vulgar trimmer, sniggering behind his wing, what I say to you is, "Guess again, Mock-sparrow, guess again!" THE GUINEA-HEN[_Always applauding everything that is said at her receptions. _] Good!That was extremely good! A CHICKEN[_To the crestfallen_ BLACKBIRD. ] You will make him smart for this? THE BLACKBIRD[_Prudently. _] No. I will take it out on the Turkey. [_At this point a_VOICE _calls, "Chick-chick-chick-chick-chick!" and all the_ FANCY COCKS, _rushing toward the irresistible call to food, hurry out, tumbling overone another in their haste. _] THE GUINEA-HEN[_Running after them. _] Are you going? A PADUA COCK[_The last to leave. _] I beg to be excused! [_Disappears. _] THE GUINEA-HEN[_In the midst of the hubbub. _] Are you going? Must you go? Oh, don't goyet! CHANTECLER[_To the_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] Come, my golden Pheasant! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Running to_ CHANTECLER. ] Are you running away? CHANTECLERTo save my song! THE GUINEA-HEN[_Running to the_ YOUNG GUINEA-COCK. ] My son, I am in such a state--I amin such-- A HEN[_Calling after_ CHANTECLER. ] And when shall we see you again? CHANTECLER[_Before going. _] When you have grown teeth! [_Off with the_PHEASANT-HEN. ] THE GUINEA-HEN[_To the_ YOUNG GUINEA-COCK. ] This has been quite the finest affair ofthe season! [_Darting madly about among the departing guests. _] Aurevoir! Mondays in August! Don't forget! THE MAGPIE[_Announcing. _] The Tortoise! ACT FOURTH THE NIGHT OF THE NIGHTINGALE _In the Forest. Evening. Huge trees with thick gnarled roots. At thebase of one of the trees, Time or a lightning stroke has hollowed a sortof chamber. Rising slopes carpeted with heather. Rabbit holes. Mosses. Toadstools. Stretched between two ferns, a great cobweb, spangled withwater-drops. At the rise of the curtain_, RABBITS _are discovered onevery side among the underbrush, peacefully inhaling the evening air. Atime of serene silence and coolness. _ SCENE FIRST _A_ RABBIT _in front of his burrow_, CHOIR OF UNSEEN BIRDS. A RABBITIt is the hour when with sweet and solemn voices the two warblers, Black-cap of the Gardens, and Red-wing of the Woods, intone theevening prayer. A VOICE[_Among the branches. _] O God of Birds! ANOTHER VOICE O God of Birds! or, rather, for the Hawk Has surely not the same God as the Wren, O God of Little Birds! A THOUSAND VOICES[_Among the leaves. _] O God of Little Birds! FIRST VOICE Who breathed into our wings to make us light, And painted them with colours of His sky, All thanks for this fair day, for meat and drink-- Sweet sky-born water caught in cups of stone, Sweet hedgerow berries washed of dust with dew, And thanks for these good little eyes of ours That spy the unseen enemies of man, And thanks for the good tools by Thee bestowed To aid our work of little gardeners, Trowels and pruning-hooks of living horn. THE SECOND VOICE To-morrow we will fight borer and blight, Forgive Thy birds to-night their trespasses, The stripping of a currant-bush or two! THE FIRST VOICE Breathe on our bright round eyes and over them The triple curtain of the lids will close. If Man, the unjust, pay us by casting stones, For filling field and wood and eaves with song, For battling with the weevil for his bread, If he lime twigs for us, if he spread snares, Call to our memory Thy gentle Saint, Thy good Saint Francis, that we may forgive The cruelty of men because a man Once called us brothers, "My brothers, the birds!" THE SECOND VOICE Saint Francis of Assisi-- A THOUSAND VOICES[_Among the leaves. _] Pray for us! THE VOICE Confessor of the mavis-- ALL THE VOICES Pray for us! THE VOICE Preacher to the swallows-- ALL THE VOICES Pray for us! THE VOICE O tender dreamer of a generous dream, Who didst believe so surely in our soul That, ever since, our soul, and ever more, Affirms, defines itself-- ALL THE VOICES Remember us! THE FIRST VOICE And by the favour of thy prayers obtain The needful daily sup and crumb! Amen. THE SECOND VOICE Amen! ALL THE VOICES[_In a murmur spreading to the uttermost ends of the forest. _] Amen! CHANTECLER[_Who, having a moment before stepped from the hollow tree, has stoodlistening. _] Amen! [_The shade has deepened and taken a bluer tinge. The spiderweb, touchedby a moonbeam, looks as if sifting silver dust. The_ PHEASANT-HEN _comesfrom the tree and follows_ CHANTECLER _with little shortfeminine steps. _] SCENE SECOND CHANTECLER, _the_ PHEASANT-HEN, _from time to time the_ RABBITS, _nowand then the_ WOODPECKER. CHANTECLERHow softly sleeps the moonlight on the ferns! Now is the time-- A LITTLE QUAVERING VOICE Spider at night, Bodeth delight! THE PHEASANT-HENThanks, kind Spider! CHANTECLERNow is the time-- THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Close behind him. _] Now is the time to kiss me. CHANTECLERAll those Rabbits looking on make it a trifle-- THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Suddenly flaps her wings; the frightened_ RABBITS _start, on all sideswhite tails disappear into rabbit-holes. The_ PHEASANT-HEN _coming backto_ CHANTECLER. ] There! [_They bill. _] Do you love my forest? CHANTECLERI love it, for no sooner had I crossed its verdant border than I gotback my song. Let us go to roost. I must sing very early to-morrow. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Imperiously. _] But one song only! CHANTECLERYes. THE PHEASANT-HENFor a month I have only allowed you one song. CHANTECLER[_Resignedly. _] Yes. THE PHEASANT-HENAnd has the Sun not risen just the same? CHANTECLER[_In a tone of unwilling admission. _] The Sun has risen. THE PHEASANT-HENYou see that one can have the Dawn at a smaller cost. Is the sky anyless red for your only crowing once? CHANTECLERNo. THE PHEASANT-HENWell then? [_Offering her bill. _] A kiss! [_Finding his kissabsent-minded. _] You are thinking of something else. Please attend![_Reverting to her idea. _] Why should you wear yourself out? You weresimply squandering the precious copper of your voice. Daylight is allvery well, but one must live! Oh! the male creature! If we were notthere, with what sad frequency he would be fooled! CHANTECLER[_With conviction. _] Yes, but you are there, you see. THE PHEASANT-HENIt is barbarous anyhow to keep up a perpetual cockaduddling when I amtrying to sleep. CHANTECLER[_Gently correcting her. _] Doodling, dearest. THE PHEASANT-HENDuddling is correct. CHANTECLERDoodling. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Raising her head toward the top of the tree and calling. _] Mr. Woodpecker! [_To_ CHANTECLER. ] We will ask the learned gentleman in thegreen coat. [_To the_ WOODPECKER _the upper half of whose figure appearsat a round hole high up in the tree trunk; his coat is green, hiswaistcoat buff, and he wears a red skull-cap. _] Do you say cockaduddlingor cockadoodling? THE WOODPECKER[_Bending a long professorial bill. _] Both. CHANTECLER _and the_ PHEASANT-HEN[_Turning to each other, triumphantly. _] Ah! THE WOODPECKERDuddling is more tender, doodling more poetic. [_He disappears. _] CHANTECLERIt is for you I cockaduddle! THE PHEASANT-HENYes, but you cockadoodle for the Dawn! CHANTECLER[_Going toward her. _] I do believe you are jealous! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Retreating coquettishly. _] Do you love me more than her? CHANTECLER[_With a cry of warning. _] Be careful, a snare! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Jumping aside. _] Ready to spring! [_Dimly visible against a tree, is, in fact, a spread bird-net. _] CHANTECLER[_Examining it. _] A dangerous contrivance. THE PHEASANT-HENForbidden by the game-laws of 44. CHANTECLER[_Laughing. _] Do you know that? THE PHEASANT-HENYou seem to forget that the object of your affections comes under thehead of game. CHANTECLER[_With a touch of sadness. _] It is true that we are of different kinds. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Returning to his side with a hop. _] I want you to love me more thanher. Say it's me you love most. Say it's me! THE WOODPECKER[_Reappearing. _] I! CHANTECLER[_Looking up. _] Not in a love-scene. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_To the_ WOODPECKER. ] See here, --you! Be so kind another time as to knock! WOODPECKER[_Disappearing. _] Certainly. Certainly. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_To_ CHANTECLER. ] He has a bad habit of thrusting his bill between thebark and the tree, but he is a rare scholar, exceptionally wellinformed-- CHANTECLER[_Absent-mindedly. _] On what subjects? THE PHEASANT-HENThe language of birds. CHANTECLERIndeed? THE PHEASANT-HENFor, you know, the birds when they say their prayers speak the commonlanguage, but when they chat together in private they use a twitteringdialect, wholly onomatopoetic. CHANTECLERThey talk Japanese. [_The_ WOODPECKER _knocks three times with his billon the tree: Rat-tat-tat!_] Come in! THE WOODPECKER[_Appearing, indignant. _] Japanese, did you say? CHANTECLERYes. Some of them say, Tio! Tio! and others say Tzoui! Tzoui! THE WOODPECKERBirds have talked Greek ever since Aristophanes! CHANTECLER[_Rushing to the_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] Oh, for the love of Greek! [_They bill. _] THE WOODPECKERKnow, profane youth, that the Black-chat's cry Ouis-ouis-tra-tra, is acorruption of the word Lysistrata! [_Disappears. _] THE PHEASANT-HEN[_To_ CHANTECLER. ] Will you never love anyone but me? [THE WOODPECKER'S _knock is heard: Rat-tat-tat. _] CHANTECLERCome in! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_To_ CHANTECLER. ] Do you promise? THE WOODPECKER[_Appears, soberly nodding his red cap. _] Tiri-para! sings the smallsedge-warbler to the reeds. Incontrovertibly from the Greek. _Para, _along, and the word water is understood. [_Disappears. _] CHANTECLERHe has Greek on the brain! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Reverting to her idea. _] Am I the whole, whole world to you? CHANTECLEROf course you are, only-- THE PHEASANT-HENIn my green-sleeved Oriental robe, I look to you--how do I look? CHANTECLERLike a living commandment ever to worship that which comes from the East. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Exasperated. _] Will you stop thinking of the light of day, and thinkonly of the light in my eyes? CHANTECLERI shall never forget, however, that there was a morning when we believedequally in my Destiny, and that in the radiant hour of dawning love youforgot, and allowed me to forget, your gold for the gold of the Dawn! THE PHEASANT-HENThe Dawn! Always the Dawn! Be careful, Chantecler I shall do somethingrash! [_Going toward the Back. _] CHANTECLERYou will infallibly do as you like. THE PHEASANT-HENIn the glade not long ago I met the--[_She catches herself and stopsshort, intentionally. _] CHANTECLER[_Looks at her, and in an angry cry. _] The Pheasant? [_With suddenviolence. _] Promise me that you will never again go to the glade! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Assured of her power over him, with a bound returns to his side. _] Andyou, promise that you will love me more than the Light! CHANTECLER[_Sorrowfully. _] Oh! THE PHEASANT-HENThat you will not sing-- CHANTECLERMore than one song, we have settled that point. [_Rat-tat-tat, from the_WOODPECKER. ] Come in! THE WOODPECKER[_Appearing and pointing with his bill at the net. _] The snare! Thefarmer placed it there. He declared he would capture the Pheasant-hen. THE PHEASANT-HENHe flatters himself! THE WOODPECKERAnd that he would keep you on his farm. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Indignant. _] Alive? [_To_ CHANTECLER, _in a tone of reproach. _] Yourfarm! CHANTECLER[_Seeing a_ RABBIT _who has returned to the edge of his hole. _] Ah, there comes a Rabbit! THE RABBIT[_Showing the snare to the_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] You know if you put your footon that spring-- THE PHEASANT-HEN[_In a tone of superiority. _] I know all about snares, my little man. Ifyou put your foot on that spring, the thing shuts. I am afraid ofnothing but dogs. [_To_ CHANTECLER. ] On your farm, which you secretlyyearn for. CHANTECLER[_In a voice of injured innocence. _] I? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_To the_ RABBIT, _giving him a light tap with her wing to send himhome. _] Afraid of nothing but dogs. And since you put me in mind of it, I think I must go and perplex their noses, by tangling my tracks allamong the grass and underwoods. CHANTECLERThat's it, you go and fool the dogs! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Starts of, then returns. _] You are homesick for that wretched old farmof yours? CHANTECLERI? I? [_She goes off. He repeats indignantly. _] I? [_Watching her out ofsight, then, dropping his voice, to the_ WOODPECKER. ] She is not comingback, is she? THE WOODPECKER[_Who from his high window in the tree can look off. _] No. SCENE THIRD CHANTECLER, THE WOODPECKER. CHANTECLER[_Eagerly. _] Keep watch! They are going to talk with me from home. THE WOODPECKER[_Interested. _] Who? CHANTECLERThe Blackbird. THE WOODPECKERI thought he hated you. CHANTECLERHe came near it, but the Blackbird cast of mind admits of compromise, and it amuses him to keep me informed. THE WOODPECKERIs he coming? CHANTECLER[_Who is a different bird since the_ PHEASANT-HEN'S _exit, light-hearted, boyishly cheerful. _] No, but the blue morning-gloryopening in his cage amid the wistaria, communicates by subterraneanfilaments with this white convolvulus trembling above the pool. [_Goingto the convolvulus. _] So that by talking into its chalice--[_He plungeshis bill into one of the trembling milky trumpets. _] Hello! THE WOODPECKER[_Nodding to himself. _] From the Greek, _allos_, another. He talks with another. CHANTECLERHello! The Blackbird, please! THE WOODPECKER[_Keeping watch. _] Most imprudent, this is! To choose among theconvolvuli exactly the one which-- CHANTECLER[_Lighter and lighter of mood, returning to the_ WOODPECKER. ] But it'sthe only one open all night! When the Blackbird answers, the Bee whosleeps in the flower wakes up and we-- THE BEE[_Inside the convolvulus. _] Vrrrrrrrrr! CHANTECLER[_Briskly running to the flower and listening at the horn-shapedreceiver. _] Ah? This morning, did you say? THE WOODPECKER[_Filled with curiosity. _] What is it? CHANTECLER[_In a voice of sudden emotion. _] Thirty chicks have been born![_Listening again. _] Briffaut, the hunting-dog, is ill? [_As ifsomething interfered with his hearing. _] I believe it is theDragon-flies, deafening us with the crackling of their wings--[_Shouting. _]Will you be so kind, young ladies, as not to cut us off? [_Listening. _]And big Julius obliges Patou to go with him on his hunting expeditions?[_To the_ WOODPECKER. ] Ah, you ought to know my friend Patou! [_Buryinghis bill again in the flower. _] So? Without me everything goes wrong? Yes![_With satisfaction. _] Yes! Waste and carelessness naturally! THE WOODPECKER[_Who has been keeping watch, warns him suddenly under breath. _] Hereshe comes! CHANTECLER[_With his bill in the flower. _] Indeed? THE WOODPECKER[_Fluttering desperately. _] Hush! CHANTECLERThe Ducks spent the night under the cart, did they? THE WOODPECKERPst! SCENE FOURTHTHE SAME, THE PHEASANT-HEN THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Who has come upon the scene, with a threatening gesture at the_WOODPECKER. ] Go inside! [_The_ WOOD PECKER _precipitately disappears. She stands listening to_ CHANTECLER. ] CHANTECLER[_In the convolvulus, more and more deeply interested. _] You don't meanit! What, all of them?--Yes?--No--Oh!--Well, well!--Is that so? THE WOODPECKER[_Who has timidly come back, aside. _] Oh, that an ant of the heaviestmight weigh down his tongue! CHANTECLER[_Talking into the flower. _] So soon? The Peacock out of fashion? THE WOODPECKER[_Trying to get_ CHANTECLER'S _attention behind the_ PHEASANT-HEN'S_back. _] Pst! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Turning around, furious. _] You!--You had better! [_The_ WOODPECKER_alertly retires, bumping his head. _] CHANTECLER[_In the flower. _] An elderly Cock?--I hope that the Hens--? [_Withintonations more and more expressive of relief. _] Ah, that's right!that's right! that's right! [_He ends, with evident lightening of theheart. _] A father! [_As if answering a question. _] Do I sing? Yes, butfar away from here, at the water-side. THE PHEASANT-HENOh! CHANTECLER[_With a tinge of bitterness. _] Golden Pheasants will not long allow oneto purchase glory by too strenuous an effort, and so I go off by myself, and work at the Dawn in secret. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Approaching from behind with threatening countenance. _] Oh! CHANTECLERAs soon as the beauteous eye which enthralls me-- THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Pausing. _] Oh! CHANTECLER--closes, and in her surpassing loveliness she sleeps-- THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Delighted. _] Ah! CHANTECLERI make my escape. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Furious. _] Oh! CHANTECLERI speed through the dew to a distant place, to sing there the necessarynumber of times, and when I feel the darkness wavering, when only onesong more is needed, I return and noiselessly getting back to roost, wake the Pheasant-hen by singing it at her side. --Betrayed by the dew?Oh, no! [_Laughing. _] For with a whisk of my wing I brush my feet clearof the tell-tale silveriness! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Close behind him. _] You brush your--? CHANTECLER[_Turning. _] Ouch! [_Into the convolvulus. _] No nothing! I--Later!--Ouch! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Violently. _] So! So! Not only you keep up an interest in the fidelityof your old flames-- CHANTECLER[_Evasively. _] Oh! THE PHEASANT-HENYou furthermore-- CHANTECLERI-- THE BEE[_Inside the morning-glory. _] Vrrrrrrr! CHANTECLER[_Placing his wing over the flower. _] I-- THE PHEASANT-HENYou deceive me to the point of remembering to brush off your feet! CHANTECLERBut-- THE PHEASANT-HENThis clodhopper, see now, whom I picked up off his haystack--and to rulealone in his soul is apparently quite beyond my power! CHANTECLER[_Collecting himself and straightening up. _] When one dwells in a soul, it is better, believe me, to meet with the Dawn there, thanwith nothing. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Angrily. _] No! the Dawn defrauds me of a great and undivided love! CHANTECLERThere is no great love outside the shadow of a great dream! How shouldthere not flow more love from a soul whose very business it is to openwide every day? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Coming and going stormily. _] I will sweep everything aside with mygolden russet wing! CHANTECLERAnd who are you, bent upon such tremendous sweeping [_They stand rigidand erect in front of each other, looking defiance into eachother's eyes. _] THE PHEASANT-HENThe Pheasant-hen I am, who have assumed the golden plumage of thearrogant male! CHANTECLERRemaining in spite of all a female, whose eternal rival is the Idea! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_In a great cry. _] Hold me to your heart and be still! CHANTECLER[_Crushing her brutally to him. _] Yes, I strain you to my Cock'sheart--[_With infinite regret. _] Better it were I had folded you to myAwakener's soul! THE PHEASANT-HENTo deceive me for the Dawn's sake! Very well, however much you may abhorit, you shall for my sake deceive the Dawn. CHANTECLERI? How? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Stamping her foot; in a capricious tone. _] It is my formal andexplicit wish-- CHANTECLERBut listen, dear-- THE PHEASANT-HENMy formal and explicit wish that you should for one whole day refrainaltogether from singing. CHANTECLERThat I-- THE PHEASANT-HENI desire you to remain one whole day without singing. CHANTECLERBut, heavens and earth, am I to leave the valley in total darkness? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Pouting. _] What harm will it do to the valley? CHANTECLERWhatever lies too long in darkness and sleep becomes used to falsehoodand consents to death. THE PHEASANT-HENLeave singing for one day--[_In a tone of evil insinuation. _] It willfree my mind of certain suspicions troubling it. CHANTECLER[_With a start. _] I can see what you are trying to do! THE PHEASANT-HENAnd I can see what you are afraid of! CHANTECLER[_Earnestly. _] I will never give up singing. THE PHEASANT-HENAnd what if you were mistaken? What if the truth were that Dawn comeswithout help from you? CHANTECLER[_With fierce resolution. _] I shall not know it. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_In a sudden burst of tears. _] Could you not forget the time, for once, if you saw me weeping? CHANTECLERNo, I could not. THE PHEASANT-HENNothing, ever, can make you forget the time? CHANTECLERNothing. I am conscious of darkness as too heavy a weight. THE PHEASANT-HENYou are conscious of darkness as--Shall I tell you the truth? You thinkyou sing for the Dawn, but you sing in reality to be admired, you--songster, you! [_With contemptuous pity. _] Is it possible you arenot aware that your poor notes raise a smile right through the forest, accustomed to the fluting of the thrush? CHANTECLERI know, you are trying now to reach me through my pride, but-- THE PHEASANT-HENI doubt if you can get so many as three toadstools and a couple ofsassafras stalks to listen to you, when the ardent oriole flings acrossthe leafy gloom his melodious pir-piriol! THE WOODPECKER[_Reappearing. _] From the Greek: Pure, _puros. _ CHANTECLERNo more from you, please! [_The_ WOODPECKER _hurriedly withdraws. _] THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Insisting. _] The echo must make some rather interesting mentalreservations, one fancies, when he hears you sing after hearing thegreat Nightingale! CHANTECLER[_Turning to leave. _] My nerves, my dear girl, are not of the verysteadiest to-night. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Following. _] Did you ever hear him? CHANTECLERNever. THE PHEASANT-HENHis song is so wonderful that the first time--[_She stops short, struckby an idea. _] Oh! CHANTECLERWhat is it? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Aside. _] Ah, you feel the weight of the darkness-- CHANTECLER[_Coming forward again. _] What? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_With an ironical curtsey. _] Nothing! [_Carelessly. _] Let us go toroost! [CHANTECLER _goes to the back and is preparing to rise to abranch. The_ PHEASANT-HEN _aside. _] He does not know that when theNightingale sings one listens, supposing it to be a minute, and lo! thewhole night has been spent listening, even as happens in the enchantedforest of a German legend. CHANTECLER[_As she does not join him, returns to her. _] What are you saying? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Laughing in his face. _] Nothing! A VOICE[_Outside. _] The illustrious Cock? CHANTECLER[_Looking around him. _] I am wanted? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Who has gone in the direction from whence came the voice. _] There, inthe grass! [_Jumping back. _] Mercy upon us! They are the--[_With amovement of insuperable disgust. _] They are the--[_With a spring sheconceals herself in the hollow tree, calling back to_ CHANTECLER. ] Becivil to them! SCENE FIFTH CHANTECLER, _the_ PHEASANT-HEN, _hidden in the tree, and the_ TOADS. A BIG TOAD[_Rearing himself in the grass. _] We have come--[_Other_ TOADS _becomevisible behind him. _] CHANTECLERYe gods, how ugly they are! THE BIG TOAD[_Obsequiously. _]--in behalf of all the thinking contingency of theForest, to the author of so many songs--[_He places his hand onhis heart. _] CHANTECLER[_With disgust. _] Oh, that hand spread over his paunch! THE BIG TOAD[_With a hop toward_ CHANTECLER. ]--at once novel, -- ANOTHER TOAD[_Same business. _] Pellucid! ANOTHER[_Same business. _] Succinct! ANOTHER[_Same business. _] Vital! ANOTHER[_Same business. _] Pure! ANOTHER[_Same business. _] Great! CHANTECLERGentlemen, pray be seated. [_They seat themselves around a largetoadstool. _] THE BIG TOADTrue, we are ugly-- CHANTECLER[_Politely. _] You have fine eyes. THE BIG TOAD[_Raising himself by bearing with both hands upon the rim of thetoadstool. _] But, Knights of this fungoid Round Table, we desire to dohomage to the Parsifal who has given to the world a sublime song-- SECOND TOADA true song! THE BIG TOADAnd a celestial! THIRD TOADAnd a no less terrestrial! THE BIG TOAD[_With authority. _] A song by comparison with which the song of theNightingale sinks into insignificance! CHANTECLER[_Astonished. _] The Nightingale's song? SECOND TOAD[_In a tone of finality. _] Is not a circumstance to yours! THE BIG TOAD[_With a hop. _] It was high time that a new singer-- ANOTHER[_Same business. _] And a new song-- FIFTH TOAD[_Quickly, to his neighbour. _] And a song by a stranger-- THE BIG TOADCame to change conditions here. CHANTECLERAh, I shall change conditions? ALLGlory to the Cock! CHANTECLERI do not see that the forest thinks so poorly of me after all! THE BIG TOADPlayed out, the Nightingale! CHANTECLER[_More and more surprised. _] Really? SECOND TOADMore and more his song confesses itself effete-- THE BIG TOADMawkish! THIRD TOADNull! FOURTH[_Contemptuously. _] And his old-fashioned pretense of inspiration! FIFTH TOADAnd the name he has adopted: Bul-bul! ALL THE TOADS[_Puffing with laughter. _] Bul-bul! THE BIG TOADThis is the way he goes on: [_Parodying the song of the_ NIGHTINGALE. ]Tio! Tio! SECOND TOADHis solitary idea is an old silver trill copied from the bubblingspring. [_He imitates in grotesque fashion the singing of the_NIGHTINGALE. ] Tio! Tio! CHANTECLERBut-- THE BIG TOAD[_Quickly. _] Do not attempt, you, the Renovator of Art, to defend thatancient high authority on sentimental gargling! SECOND TOADThat superannuated tenor quavering out his cavatinas to the glory ofminor poetry and the edification of fogydom! THIRD TOADThe Harp that twanged through Tara's hall, and insists on twangingstill! CHANTECLER[_Indulgently. _] But why should he not, after all, if he enjoys it? THE BIG TOADEndeavouring to impose on a suffering and surfeited public the musty oldfashion of ingenious fioritura! CHANTECLERAudiences nowadays, of course, look for a different sort of thing. THIRD TOADYour song has exposed the artificiality of his. ALL[_In an explosion. _] Down with Bul-bul! CHANTECLER[_Whom the_ TOADS _have gradually surrounded. _] Gentlemen and honoredBatrachians, my voice, it is true, gives forth natural notes-- THE BIG TOADYes, notes which lend us wings-- CHANTECLER[_Modestly. _] Oh! ALL[_Waggling their bodies as if about to fly. _] Wings! THE BIG TOADTheir secret being that they sing Life! CHANTECLERThat is true. SECOND TOADYes, my dear fellow, Life! CHANTECLER[_With careless complacency. _] My crest for that reason is flesh and blood! ALL THE TOADS[_Clapping their little hands. _] Good, very good! THE BIG TOADThat formula is a programme. SECOND TOADSince we are assembled around a table, why should we not offer to theChief-- CHANTECLER[_Modestly, hanging back from the suggested honour. _]Gentlemen-- SECOND TOAD--to the Chief of whom we stood in notable need, a banquet? ALL[_Beating enthusiastically upon the toadstool. _] A banquet! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Looking out from the tree. _] What is the matter? CHANTECLER[_In spite of all, rather flattered. _] A banquet! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Slightly ironical. _] Shall you accept? CHANTECLERYou see, my dear--the new tendencies--Art, --the thinking contingency ofthe Forest--[_Indicating the_ TOADS. ] Yes, I have lent wings to--[_In alight and careless tone. _] It's all up with the Nightingale, you see. Musty old method! Antiquated trill! This is the way he goes on--[_Tothe_ TOADS. ] How was it you said he went on? ALL THE TOADS[_Comically. _] Tio! Tio! CHANTECLER[_To the_ PHEASANT-HEN, _with pitying indulgence. _] He goes on likethis: Tio! Tio! And I believe I need not scruple to accept-- A VOICE[_In the tree above him breaks forth in a long note, limpid, andheart-moving. _] Tio! [_Silence. _] CHANTECLER[_Startled, raising his head. _] What was that? THE BIG TOAD[_Quickly, visibly embarrassed. _] Nothing! It is he! THE VOICE[_Slowly and wonderfully, with the sigh of a soul in every note. _] Tio!Tio! Tio! Tio! CHANTECLER[_Turning upon the_ TOADS. ] Scum of the earth! THE TOADS[_Backing away from him. _] What--? SCENE SIXTH THE SAME, _the_ NIGHTINGALE _unseen, and little by little all the_FOREST CREATURES. THE NIGHTINGALE[_From the tree, in his emotionally throbbing voice. _] Tiny bird, lostin the darkness of the tree, I feel myself turning into the heart-beatof the infinite night! CHANTECLER[_To the_ TOADS. ] And you have dared-- THE NIGHTINGALEHushed lies the ravine beneath the magic of the moon-- CHANTECLER--to compare my rude singing with that divine voice? Scum of the earth!Toads! And I never divined that they were doing to him here what wasdone to me over yonder! THE BIG TOAD[_Suddenly swelling to a great size. _] Toads! Yes, as it happens, we areToads! THE NIGHTINGALEVapour of pearl wreathes the summits in an ethereal veil-- THE BIG TOAD[_Self-appreciatively. _] We are Toads, certainly, magnificently embossedwith warts! [_All rear themselves up, swollen, standing between_CHANTECLER _and the tree. _] CHANTECLERAnd I perceived not, I who have never known envy, to what venomous feastI was bidden! THE NIGHTINGALEWhat matter? Sooner or later, you, the strong, and I, the tender, wewere fated, despite all the Toads in the world, to understandeach other! CHANTECLER[_With religious fervour. _] Sing! A TOAD[_Who has hastily dragged himself to the tree in which the_ NIGHTINGALE_is singing. _] Let us clasp the bark with our slimy little arms, andslaver upon the foot of the tree! [_All crawl toward the tree. _] CHANTECLER[_Trying to stop one of them who is clumsily hopping. _] But are you notyourself gifted with a singing voice of exceptional purity? THE TOAD[_In a tone of sincerest suffering. _] I am, but when I hear somebodyelse singing, I can't help it, --I see green! [_He joins hiscompanions. _] THE BIG TOAD[_Working his jaws as if chewing something which foamed. _] There foam upbeneath our tongues I know not what strange soapsuds, and--[_To hisneighbour. _] Are you frothing? THE OTHERI am frothing. ANOTHERHe is frothing. ALLWe are frothing. A TOAD[_Tenderly laying his arm about the neck of a dilatory_ TOAD. ] Come andfroth! CHANTECLER[_To the_ NIGHTINGALE. ] But will they not trouble and prevent yourmellifluent song? THE NIGHTINGALEIn no wise. I will take their refrain into my song-- THE BIG TOAD[_Patting a little_ TOAD _on the head to encourage him. _] Don't beafraid, go ahead, --froth! THE TOADS[_All together, at the base of the tree to which they form a crawling, writhing girdle. _] The Toads, croak! croak! the Toads are we! THE NIGHTINGALE--And make of both a Villanelle! THE TOADSWe welter in malignity! THE NIGHTINGALEThe while they fume beneath my tree I fill with song the enchanted dell-- THE TOADSThe Toads, croak! croak! the Toads are we! [_And the Villanelleproceeds, sung by the alternate voices, one of which, ever higher andmore enraptured, carries the song proper, and the others, ever angrierand lower, the burden of the song. _] THE NIGHTINGALE _and_ THE TOADS, _alternately_ I sing! for Wind, that harper free, And music bubbling from the well-- --We welter in malignity!-- And fragrance floating from the lea, Of meadow-sweet and pimpernel-- --The Toads, croak! croak! the Toads are we!-- And Luna showering ecstasy, All weave so wonderful a spell-- --We welter in malignity!-- Its melting magic moveth me The secret of my heart to tell! --The Toads, croak! croak! the Toads are we!-- Within my heart all sympathy, Within mine eye all visions dwell-- --We welter in malignity!-- Life, Death, I turn to rhapsody, Who am the deathless Philomel! --The Toads, croak! croak! the Toads are we, Who welter in malignity! CHANTECLERBeside those heavenly pipes, ah, me! my voice is Punchinello's squeak!Sing on! Sing on! The Croakers are in retreat. THE TOADS[_Retreating, overcome by the conquering song. _] Croak! croak! CHANTECLERTheir fate to seethe in the cauldron of a witch! But you, the creaturesof the forest come to slake the thirst of their hearts at your song. Seethem creeping to the lure-- THE TOADS[_From the underbrush. _] Croak! croak! CHANTECLERA doe, look! tiptoeing on delicate hoofs, followed by a wolf who hasforgotten to be a wolf-- THE TOADS[_Lost among the grass. _] Croak! CHANTECLERThe squirrel steals down from the lofty tree-tops. The whole vast forestis stirred by a thrill of brotherliness. THE TOADS[_Out of sight. _]--roak! CHANTECLERThe echo alone now repeats-- FAINT DISTANT VOICE--oak! CHANTECLERGone! Gone are the Toads! [_Music holds the night: a song without words, delicate volleys ofrapturous notes. _] CHANTECLERThe Glow-worms have lighted their small, green lamps. All that is goodcomes forth, while hate shrinks back to its lair. Now they that shall beeaten lay themselves down in the grass by the side of them that shalleat them. The Star of a sudden looks nearer to earth, and forsaking herweb the Spider draws herself up toward your song, climbing by her ownsilken thread. ALL THE FOREST[_In a moan of ecstasy. _] Ah! [_And the forest lies as if under a spell; the moonlight is softer, thetender green fire of the glow-worm shines blinking among the moss; onall sides, between the tree-boles creep, shadow-like, the charmedbeasts; eyes shine, moist muzzles point toward the source of the music. The_ WOODPECKER _stands at his bark window, dreamily nodding; all the_RABBITS, _with uppricked ears, sit at their earthen doors. _] CHANTECLERWhen he sings thus without words, what is he singing, Squirrel? THE SQUIRREL[_From a tree-top. _] The joy of swift motion. CHANTECLERAnd what say you, Hare? THE HARE[_In the coppice. _] The thrill of fear! CHANTECLERYou, Rabbit? ONE OF THE RABBITSThe Dew! CHANTECLERYou, Doe? THE DOE[_From the depths of the woods. _] Tears! CHANTECLERWolf? THE WOLF[_In a gentle distant howl. _] The Moon! CHANTECLERAnd you, Tree with the golden wound, singing Pine? THE PINE-TREE[_Softly beating time with one of its boughs. _] He tells me that mydrops of resin in the form of rosin will sing upon the bows of violins! CHANTECLERAnd you, Woodpecker, what does he say to you? THE WOODPECKER[_In ecstasy. _] He says that Aristophanes-- CHANTECLER[_Promptly interrupting him. _] Never mind! I know! You, Spider? THE SPIDER[_Swinging at the end of one of her threads. _] He sings of the raindropsparkling in my web like a royal gift. CHANTECLERAnd you, Drop of Water, sparkling in her web? A LITTLE VOICE[_From the cobweb. _] Of the Glow-worm! CHANTECLERAnd you, Glow-worm? A LITTLE VOICE[_In the grass. _]Of the Star! CHANTECLERAnd you, if one may so far presume as to question you, of what does hesing to you, Star? A VOICE[_In the sky. _] Of the Shepherd! CHANTECLERAh, what fountain is it-- THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Who is watching the horizon between the trees. _] The darkness islightening. CHANTECLERWhat fountain, in which each finds water for his thirst? [_Listeningwith greater attention. _] To me he speaks of the Day, which arises andshines at my song! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Aside. _] And speaks of it so eloquently that for once you will forget it! CHANTECLER[_Noticing a_ BIRD _who having come a little way out of the thicket isbeatifically listening. _] And how do you, Snipe, translate his poem? THE SNIPEI don't know. I only know I like it--It is sweet! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Who is not lured--she!--into forgetting to watch thesky between the branches, aside. _] The night is wearingaway! CHANTECLER[_To the_ NIGHTINGALE, _in a discouraged voice. _] To sing! To sing! Buthow, after hearing the faultless crystal of your note, can I ever besatisfied again with the crude, brazen blare of mine? THE NIGHTINGALEBut you must! CHANTECLERShall I find it possible ever again to sing? My song, alas, must seem tome always after this too brutal and too red! THE NIGHTINGALEI have sometimes thought that mine was too facile, perhaps, and too blue! CHANTECLEROh, how can you humble yourself to make such a confession to me? THE NIGHTINGALEYou fought for a friend of mine, the Rose! Learn, comrade, thissorrowful and reassuring fact, that no one, Cock of the morning orevening Nightingale, has quite the song of his dreams! CHANTECLER[_With passionate desire. _] Oh, to be a sound that soothes and lulls! THE NIGHTINGALETo be a splendid call to duty! CHANTECLERI make nobody weep! THE NIGHTINGALEI awaken nobody! [_But after the expression of this regret, he continuesin an ever higher and more lyrical voice. _] What matter? One must singon! Sing on, even while knowing that there are songs which he prefers tohis own song. One must sing, --sing, --sing, --until--[_A shot. A flashfrom the thicket. Brief silence, then a small, tawny body drops at_CHANTECLER'S _feet. _] CHANTECLER[_Bending and looking. _] The Nightingale!--The brutes! [_And withoutnoticing the vague, earliest tremour of daylight spreading through theair, he cries in a sob. _] Killed! And he had sung such a little, littlewhile! [_One or two feathers slowly flutter down. _] THE PHEASANT-HENHis feathers! CHANTECLER[_Bending over the body which is shaken by a last throe. _] Peace, littlepoet! [_Rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs; from a thicket projects_PATOU'S _shaggy head. _] SCENE SEVENTH _The same_, PATOU, _emerging for a moment from the brush. _ CHANTECLER[_To_ PATOU. ] You! [_Reproachfully. _] You have come to get him? PATOU[_Ashamed. _] Forgive me! The poacher compels me-- CHANTECLER[_Who had sprung before the body, to protect it, uncovers it. _] ANightingale! PATOU[_Hanging his head. _] Yes. The evil race of man loves to shower leadinto a singing tree. CHANTECLERSee, the burying beetle has already come. PATOU[_Gently withdrawing. _] I will make believe I found nothing. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Watching the day break. _] He has not noticed that night is nearly over. CHANTECLER[_Bending over the grasses which begin to stir about the dead bird. _]Insect, where the body has fallen, be swift to come and open the earth. The funereal necrophaga are the only grave-diggers who never carry thedead elsewhere, believing that the least sad, and the most fitting tomb, is the very clay whereon one fell into the final sleep. [_To the funeralinsects, while the_ NIGHTINGALE _begins gently to sink into theground. _] Piously dig his grave! Light lie the earth upon him! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Aside, looking at the horizon. _] Over there-- CHANTECLERVerily, verily, I say unto you, Bul-bul to-night shall see the Bird ofParadise! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Aside. _] The sky is turning white! [_A whistle is heard in thedistance. _] PATOU[_To_ CHANTECLER. ] I will come back. He is whistling me. [_Disappears. _] THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Restlessly dividing her attention between the horizon and the_ COCK. ]How can I conceal from him--[_She moves tenderly toward_ CHANTECLER, _opening her wings so as to hide the brightening East, and takingadvantage of his grief. _] Come and weep beneath my wing! [_With a sob helays his head beneath the comforting wing which is quickly clapped overhim. And the_ PHEASANT-HEN _gently lulls him, murmuring. _] You see thatmy wing is soft and comforting! You see-- CHANTECLER[_In a smothered voice. _] Yes! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Gently rocks him, darting a glance now and then over her shoulder tosee how the dawn is progressing. _] You see that a wing is an outspreadheart--[_Aside. _] Day is breaking! [_To_ CHANTECLER. ] You seethat--[_Aside. _] The sky has paled! [_To_ CHANTECLER. ]--that a wingis--[_Aside. _] The tree is steeped in rosy light! [_To_CHANTECLER. ]--partly a shield, and partly a cradle, partly a cloak and aplace of rest, --that a wing is a kiss which enfolds and covers you over. You see that--[_With a backward leap, suddenly withdrawing her wings. _]the Day can break perfectly well without you! CHANTECLER[_With the greatest cry of anguish possible to created being. _] Ah! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Continuing inexorably. _] That the mosses in a moment will be scarlet! CHANTECLER[_Running toward the moss. _] Ah, no! No! Not without me! [_The mossflushes red. _] Ungrateful! THE PHEASANT-HENThe horizon-- CHANTECLER[_Imploringly, to the horizon. _] No! THE PHEASANT-HEN--is glowing gold! CHANTECLER[_Staggering. _] Treachery! THE PHEASANT-HENOne may be all in all to another heart, you see, one can be nothing tothe sky! CHANTECLER[_Swooning. _] It is true! PATOU[_Returning, cheery and cordial. _] Here I am! I have come to tell youthat they are all mad over there, at the topsy-turvy farm, to have backthe Cock who orders the return of Day! CHANTECLERThey believe that now I have ceased to believe it! PATOU[_Stopping short, amazed. _] What do you mean? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Bitterly pressing close to_ CHANTECLER. ] You see that a heart pressingagainst your own is better than a sky which does not in the veryleast need you. CHANTECLERYes! THE PHEASANT-HENThat darkness after all may be as sweet as light if there are twoclose-clasped in the shade. CHANTECLER[_Wildly. _] Yes! Yes! [_But suddenly leaving her side he raises his headand in a ringing voice. _] Cock-a-doodle-doo! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Taken aback. _] Why are you crowing? CHANTECLERAs a warning to myself, --for thrice have I denied the thing I love! THE PHEASANT-HENAnd what is that? CHANTECLERMy life's work! [_To_ PATOU. ] Up and about! Come, let us go! THE PHEASANT-HENWhat are you going to do? CHANTECLERFollow my calling. THE PHEASANT-HENBut what night is there for you to rout? CHANTECLERThe night of the eyelid! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Pointing toward the growing glory of the dawn. _] Very well, you willrouse sleepers-- CHANTECLERAnd Saint Peter! THE PHEASANT-HENBut can you not see that Day has risen without the benefit of your crowing? CHANTECLERI am more sure of my destiny than of the daylight before my eyes. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Pointing at the_ NIGHTINGALE _who has already half disappeared intothe earth. _] Your faith can no more return to life than can thatdead bird. [_From the tree above their heads suddenly rings forth theheart-stirring, limpid, characteristic note: Tio! Tio!_] THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Struck with amazement. _] Is it another singing? PATOU[_With quivering ear. _] And singing still better, if possible. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Looking up in a sort of terror at the foliage, and then down at thelittle grave. _] Another takes up the song when this one disappears? THE VOICEIn the forest must always be a Nightingale! CHANTECLER[_With exaltation. _] And in the soul a faith so faithful that it comesback even after it has been slain. THE PHEASANT-HENBut if the Sun is climbing up the sky? CHANTECLERThere must have been left in the air some power from my yesterday's song. [_Flights of noiseless grey wings pass among the trees. _] THE OWLS[_Hooting joyfully. _] He kept still! PATOU[_Raising his head and looking after them. _] The Owls, fleeing from thenewly risen light, are coming home to the woods. THE OWLS[_Returning to their holes in the old trees. _] He kept still! CHANTECLER[_With all his strength come back to him. _] The proof that I was servingthe cause of light when I sang is that the Owls are glad of my silence. [_Going to the_ PHEASANT-HEN, _with defiance in his mien. _] I make theDawn appear, and I do more than that! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Choking. _] You do-- CHANTECLEROn grey mornings, when poor creatures waking in the twilight dare notbelieve in the day, the bright copper of my song takes the place of thesun! [_Turning to go. _] Back to our work! THE PHEASANT-HENBut how find courage to work after doubting the work's value? CHANTECLERBuckle down to work! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_With angry stubbornness. _] But if you have nothing whatever to do withmaking the morning? CHANTECLERThen I am just the Cock of a remoter Sun! My cries so affect the nightthat it lets certain beams of the day pierce through its black tent, andthose are what we call the stars. I shall not live to see shining uponthe steeples that final total light composed of stars clustered inunbroken mass; but if I sing faithfully and sonorously and if, longafter me, and long after that, in every farmyard its Cock singsfaithfully, sonorously, I truly believe there will be no more night! THE PHEASANT-HENWhen will that be? CHANTECLEROne Day! THE PHEASANT-HENGo, go, and forget our forest! CHANTECLERNo, I shall never forget the noble green forest where I learned that hewho has witnessed the death of his dream must either die at once or elsearise stronger than before. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_In a voice which she does her best to make insulting. _] Go and getinto your hen-house by the way of a ladder. CHANTECLERThe birds have taught me that I can use my wings to go in. THE PHEASANT-HENGo and see your old Hen in her old broken basket. CHANTECLERAh, forest of the Toads, forest of the Poacher, forest of theNightingale, and of the Pheasant-hen, when my old peasant mother sees mehome again, back from your green recesses where pain is so interwovenwith love, what will she say? PATOU[_Imitating the_ OLD HEN'S _affectionate quaver. _] How that Chick hasgrown! CHANTECLER[_Emphatically. _] Of course she will! [_Turning to leave. _] THE PHEASANT-HENHe is going! When faithless they turn to leave, oh, that we had arms, arms to hold them fast, --but we have only wings! CHANTECLER[_Stops short and looks at her, troubled. _] She weeps? PATOU[_Hastily, pushing him along with his paw. _] Hurry up! CHANTECLER[_To_ PATOU. ] Wait a moment. PATOUI am willing. Nothing can sit so patiently and watch the dropping oftears as an old dog. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Crying to_ CHANTECLER, _with a leap toward him. _] Take me with you! CHANTECLER[_Turns and in an inflexible voice. _] Will you consent to stand secondto the Dawn? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Fiercely drawing back. _] Never! CHANTECLERThen farewell! THE PHEASANT-HENI hate you! CHANTECLER[_Already at some distance among the brush. _] I love you, but I shouldpoorly serve the work to which I devote myself anew at the side of oneto whom it were less than the greatest thing in the world! [_Hedisappears. _] SCENE EIGHTH THE PHEASANT-HEN, PATOU, _later the_ WOODPECKER, RABBITS, _and, all the_VOICES _of the awakening forest. _ PATOU[_To the_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] Mourn! THE SPIDER[_In the centre of her-web which now sifts the gold dust of a sunbeam. _] Spider at morn, Cometh to warn! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Furiously, tearing down the cobweb with a brush of her wing. _] Bestill, hateful Spider!--Oh, may he perish for having disdained me! THE WOODPECKER[_Who from his window has been watching_ CHANTECLER'S _departure, suddenly, frightened. _] The poacher has seen him! THE OWLS[_In the trees. _] The Cock is in danger! THE WOODPECKER[_Leaning out to see better. _] He breaks his gun in two! PATOU[_Alarmed. _] To load it! Is that murderous fool in sheepskin gaitersgoing to fire upon a rooster? THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Spreading her wings to rise. _] Not if he sees a pheasant! PATOU[_Springing before her. _] What are you doing? THE PHEASANT-HENFollowing my calling! [_She flies toward the danger. _] THE WOODPECKER[_Seeing that in her upward swing she must touch the spring of theforgotten snare. _] Look out for the snare! [_Too late. The net falls. _] THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Utters a cry of despair. _] Ah! PATOUShe is caught! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Struggling in the net. _] He is lost! PATOU[_Wildly. _] She is--He is-- [_All the_ RABBITS _have thrust out their heads to see. _] THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Crying in an ardent prayer. _] Daybreak protect him! THE OWLS[_Rocking themselves gleefully among the branches. _] The gun-barrelshines, shines-- THE PHEASANT-HENDawn, touch the cartridge with your dewy wing! Trip the foot of thehunter in a tangle of grass! He is your Cock! He drove off the darknessand the shadow of the Hawk! And he is going to die. Nightingale, you, say something! Speak! THE NIGHTINGALE[_In a supplicating sob. _] He fought for a friend of mine, the Rose! THE PHEASANT-HENLet him live! And I will dwell in the farmyard beside the ploughshareand the hoe! And renouncing for his sake all that in my pride I made aburden and torment to him, I will own, O Sun, that when you made hisshadow you marked out my place in the world! [_Daylight grows. On all sides, rustles and murmurs. _] THE WOODPECKER[_Singing. _] The air is blue! A CROW[_Cawing as he flies past. _] Daylight grows! THE PHEASANT-HENThe forest is astir-- ALL THE BIRDS[_Waking among the trees. _] Good-morning! Good-morning! Good-morning!Good-morning! Good-morning! THE PHEASANT-HENEveryone sings! A JAY[_Darting past like a streak of blue lightning. _] Ha, ha! THE WOODPECKERThe Jay shakes with homeric laughter. THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Crying in the midst of the music of the morning. _] Let him live! THE JAY[_Again darting past. _] Ha, ha! A CUCKOO[_In the distance. _] Cuckoo! THE PHEASANT-HENI abdicate! PATOU[_Lifting his eyes heavenward. _] She abdicates! THE PHEASANT-HENForgive, O Light, to whom I dared dispute him! Dazzle the eye takingaim, and be victory awarded, O Sunbeams-- THE JAY _and the_ CUCKOO[_Far away. _] Ha! Cuckoo! THE PHEASANT-HEN--to your powder of gold--[_A shot. She gives a sharp cry, ending in adying voice. _]--over man's black powder! [_Silence. _] CHANTECLER'S VOICE[_Very far away. _] Cock-a-doodle-doo! ALL[_In a glad cry. _] Saved! THE RABBITS[_Capering gaily out of their burrows. _] Let us turn somersets among thethyme! A VOICE[_Fresh and solemn, among the trees. _] O God of birds! THE RABBITS[_Stopping short in their antics stand abruptly still; soberly. _] Themorning prayer! THE WOODPECKER[_Crying to the_ PHEASANT-HEN. ] They are coming to examine the trap! THE PHEASANT-HEN[_Closes her eyes in resignation. _] So be it! THE VOICE IN THE TREESGod by whose grace we wake to this new day-- PATOU[_Before leaving. _] Hush! Drop the curtain! Men folk are coming! [_Off. _] [_All the woodland creatures hide. The_ PHEASANT-HEN _is left alone, and, held down by the snare, with spread wings and panting breast, awaits the approach of the giant. _] CURTAIN