_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 impress
you as--
THE PEACOCK
Asunartetos!
A HEN
[_To the_ GUINEA-HEN.] Your guest, my dear, can fit an epithet!
THE GUINEA-HEN
Pontiff of the Unexpected Adjective I call him!
THE PEACOCK
[_Distilling his words, in a discordant haughty voice._] True it is
that--
THE GUINEA-HEN
Ah, 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 a
tact--
THE GUINEA-HEN
Very true!
PEACOCK
--a tact for which I stand largely in my own debt, I have constituted
myself Petronius-Priest and Maecenas-Messiah volatile volatiliser of
words, and that, jeweled judge, I love by my cameos and filigrees of
speech to represent the Taste of which I am the--
PATOU
Oh, my poor head!
THE PEACOCK
[_Nonchalantly._]--shall I say guardian?
THE GUINEA-HEN
[_Effervescently._] Do say guardian!
THE PEACOCK
No. Thesmothetes. [_Respectful murmur of delight._]
THE GUINEA-HEN
[_To the_ PHEASANT-HEN.] Now you have seen our Peacock! Aren’t you
excited?
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 the
general company, enthusiastically._] Chantecler!
THE PEACOCK
[_Slightly miffed._] A far greater triumph lies in store for you, fair
friend.
THE GUINEA-HEN
Triumph? [_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 PEACOCK
I said, “You shall see!”
MAGPIE
[_Announcing._] Cock Braekel of Campine!