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._] 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 past._] 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._]