CHANTECLER [_Stopping beside the flower-pot, as if amazed._] How singular!

THE BLACKBIRD What?

CHANTECLER Did I understand you to say you came out of that flower-pot?

THE BLACKBIRD You 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 that little black hole I was looking at the--[_He thrusts his bill through the hole at the bottom._]

CHANTECLER The 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 you hate and shun the blue sky, you Dwellers in Pots! But one can force you to see at least as much as would cover a corn-flower, by overturning your 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 the back, espaliers. Vegetables and flowers of all kinds. Cold frames. Among the fruit trees, an upright pole, rigged in an old frock-coat, pair of trousers, 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, mult.i.tudinous clatter and confused swarming of_ HENS _and_ CHICKENS.

THE GUINEA-HEN [_Going impetuously from one to the other._] How do you do? How do you do?--There is scarcely room to move! My guests reach all the way to the cuc.u.mber patch!

CHORUS [_Up in the air._]

_Busily buzzing_--

THE GUINEA-HEN A regular crush!

A HEN [_Gazing at a row of huge pumpkins._] What attractive objects!

THE GUINEA-HEN Art pottery! Rather good of its kind, if I do say so!

A CHICK [_Listening with his bill in the air._] Singers?

THE GUINEA-HEN Yes,--

CHORUS _Busily buzzing_--

THE GUINEA-HEN [_In her sprightliest manner._] The Wasps! [_To a_ CHICKEN.] How do you do? [_She flits from one guest to the other._]

THE WASPS _Busily buzzing Estival glees.

Fill we with murmurs The mulberry trees_!

THE PHEASANT-HEN [_Pa.s.sing with the_ BLACKBIRD _and laughing._] So you were caught?

THE BLACKBIRD [_Finishing his story._] Exactly as if a hat had been plumped down over me. 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 the scene as from a pulpit._] I still hope he may change his mind.

THE BLACKBIRD Patou there, in the wheelbarrow?

PATOU [_Shaking his surly head, and a bit of broken chain hanging from his collar._] Chantecler told me everything Blackbird, as he went by. In a towering rage I broke my chain, and am here to keep an eye on the wicked lot of you.

THE GUINEA-HEN [_To the_ BLACKBIRD.] Has he invited himself to my party, that moth-eaten old thing?

CHORUS [_Among the trees._]

_Our praises, Sun, our praises!_

THE PHEASANT-HEN [_Looking upward._] Music?

THE GUINEA-HEN The Cicadas!

CHORUS OF CICADAS _We simmer in thy gaze, We bask beneath thy blaze, Receive our grateful praise!_

THE YOUNG GUINEA-c.o.c.k [_Low and quickly to his mother._] Tsicadas, mother. You must p.r.o.nounce it Tsi!

A MAGPIE [_In black coat and white tie, announcing the guests as they arrive through 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? Our names called as we enter?

THE GUINEA-HEN [_Demurely._] Yes, you see, expecting some rather great people, I thought 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 style and grandeur indeed! Our names called!

THE GUINEA-HEN Yes, you see, expecting some rather great people--

THE MAGPIE The Turkey-hen!

THE TURKEY-HEN [_Entering, after a supercilious glance._] This is quite more of an affair, my dear, than I was antic.i.p.ating.--Names called!

THE GUINEA-HEN Yes, I had in the Magpie to supplement my usual staff.