Scene EIGHTHTHE 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.] Be still, 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 gaiters going 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-HEN. Following my calling![She flies toward the danger.] THE WOODPECKER. [Seeing that in her upward swing she must touch the spring of the forgotten snare.] Look out for the snare![Too late. The net falls.] THE PHEASANT-HEN. [Utters a cry of despair.] Ah!PATOU. She 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-barrel shines, shines ——THE PHEASANT-HEN. Dawn, touch the cartridge with your dewy wing! Trip the foot of the hunter in a tangle of grass! He is your Cock! He drove off the darkness and 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-HEN. Let him live! And I will dwell in the farmyard beside the ploughshare and the hoe! And renouncing for his sake all that in my pride I made a burden and torment to him, I will own, O Sun, that when you made his shadow 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-HEN. The forest is astir——ALL THE BIRDS. [Waking among the trees.] Good-morning! Good-morning! Good-morning! Good-morning! Good-morning!THE PHEASANT-HEN. Everyone sings!A JAY. [Darting past like a streak of blue lightning.] Ha, ha!THE WOODPECKER. The 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 fast] Ha, ha!A CUCKOO. [In the distance] Cuckoo!THE PHEASANT-HEN. I abdicate!PATOU. [Lifting his eyes heavenward] She abdicates!THE PHEASANT-HEN. Forgive, O Light, to whom I dared dispute him! Dazzle the eye taking aim, 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 a dying 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 the thyme!A VOICE. [Fresh and solemn, among the trees.] O God of birds.THE RABBITS. [Stopping short in their antics stand abruptly still; soberly.] The morning 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 TREES. God 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 |
