Chapter 6
THE BLACKBIRD Wiped out! My satirical whistling, as the Dog called it, now expresses pure 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 to the Dog.
THE BLACKBIRD [_With profound conviction._] You’re a wonderful old boy!
CHANTECLER [_Modestly._] Oh!
THE BLACKBIRD To come it over the Hens--[_He again whistles Admiringly._] make them believe that he engineers the dawn! [CHANTECLER _starts._] A simple idea, but it took you to get on to it! Brother, I believe you were hatched in Columbus’ egg!
CHANTECLER But--
THE BLACKBIRD All other Don Juans are donkeys beside you! Says he to himself: Make the daybreak to impress little pheasant-hens! And does it, too--succeeds!
CHANTECLER [_In a smothered voice._] Be still!
THE BLACKBIRD Neat, the little roof which must be gilded! Complete, the ladder for the Motes!
CHANTECLER [_In a spasm of pain._] Be still!
THE BLACKBIRD And the access of modesty, a sweet little final touch! I kiss my hand to you! Oh, he knows how--no mistake he knows--
CHANTECLER [_Constraining himself, in a curt voice._] The Dawn? Certainly, I know her. I think I may claim that honor!
THE BLACKBIRD You precious fakir! Don’t you consider you have succeeded?
CHANTECLER In bringing on the day? Yes, certainly, I have succeeded admirably, in this case.
THE BLACKBIRD Oh, you do it so well! How awfully well he does it!
CHANTECLER Making the light? Of course, I have done it so often! I am used to it. The Sun obeys me.
THE BLACKBIRD So, worthy Joshua! You feel the dawn coming, and then you crow! For lightness 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 know how the thing is done!
CHANTECLER You may know,--not I! I just open my heart and sing!
THE BLACKBIRD [_Hopping about._] That’s the idea!
CHANTECLER Blackbird, laugh at everything besides, but not at that, if you love me!
THE BLACKBIRD I love you!
CHANTECLER [_Bitterly._] With half a heart!
THE BLACKBIRD Can’t say a word about his _Fiat Lux?_
CHANTECLER Not that! Not that!
THE BLACKBIRD Old man, it’s not my fault that I’m no gull.
CHANTECLER [_Looking after him as he hops about._] He cannot keep still long enough, I suppose, to let the sacred truth sink in. [_Trying to stop him in his hopping._] You behold the agony of emotion shaking me. No more baffle 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, convince you I must, if only for a second! I feel the holy impulse to struggle with your soul!
THE BLACKBIRD [_Hopping past him._] Do you!
CHANTECLER In solemn earnest, at the bottom of your heart, you did--did you not?--believe me?
THE BLACKBIRD I believe you!
CHANTECLER [_With pressing anguish._] You must in some manner be aware of the dreadful cost to me of that song? Come, use your reason. To sing as you heard me sing, you must realise that I needed--
THE BLACKBIRD A whopping muscle and a tolerable nerve!
CHANTECLER No, let us not make light of serious things, responsible winged creatures that we are!
THE BLACKBIRD Let us go in for heavy-weight truths, by all means!
CHANTECLER But can’t you see that to look straight at the sun, rising before his eyes by the exertions of his larynx, one must have at the same time--
THE BLACKBIRD Stentorian 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 this soul to the truth! [_With desperate patience._] Come, now, have you any conception, unhappy bird, of what dawn actually is?
THE BLACKBIRD I should say so! It’s the time of day when fluffy Aurora gets busy, as it were, and plays ball!
CHANTECLER But what do you say when you see the dawn shining upon the mountains?
THE BLACKBIRD Mountains, I say, what on earth are you blushing about?
CHANTECLER And what do you say when you hear me singing in the furrow long before the cricket is awake?
THE BLACKBIRD Cricket, 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 in the early glow, looks from afar like a flamingo?
THE BLACKBIRD Sure, brother, sure! I feel like shouting, “Bully, do it again!” [_He hops out of the way._]
CHANTECLER [_Exhausted._] That soul! I am more spent with chasing it than with a whole 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 that little black hole. [_Pointing at the flower-pot._]
CHANTECLER Did you see the mountain-tops tremble and turn crimson?
THE BLACKBIRD While you were crowing, I had my eye on your feet.
CHANTECLER [_Sorrowfully._] Ah!
THE BLACKBIRD They were performing on the soft sod something choice in the line of fancy dances!
CHANTECLER [_Giving up._] I pity you! Back to your darkness, obscure Blackbird!
THE BLACKBIRD Your obedient servant, illustrious Cock!
CHANTECLER My course is toward the sun!
THE BLACKBIRD Take along smoked glasses!
CHANTECLER Blackbird, do you know the one thing upon earth worthy that one should live wholly for its sake?
THE BLACKBIRD There I draw the line. I won’t enter the debate!
CHANTECLER That thing is effort, Blackbird--effort, which uplifts and ennobles the lowest! For which reason, you, contemner of every sublime aspiration, I contemn! And that fragile roseate snail, struggling unaided to silver over 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 little flame! 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 little characteristic way, a grain of antidote against lunacy. But I wash my claws of you. Go ahead, justify the report of your enemies.
CHANTECLER [_Returning._] Who? What?
THE BLACKBIRD Strut about with your bill-board: “I’m the whole show!”
CHANTECLER You associate with those who hate me?
THE BLACKBIRD Do you object?
CHANTECLER No, you pitiful jester! The habit has grown so strong, you can no more be in earnest about friendship now than anything else. [_Going nearer to him._] Who are my enemies?
THE BLACKBIRD The Owls.
CHANTECLER You sorry fool! Can’t you see that to believe in my destiny becomes all too easy if the Owls are against me?
THE BLACKBIRD Rest happy, then. They have a deal on--your lighting of the world being a trifle flashy for their taste--a deal on for cutting your throat.
CHANTECLER Through whom?
THE BLACKBIRD A brother bird.
CHANTECLER A Cock?
THE BLACKBIRD A Saint George of a Cock, who is to meet you--
CHANTECLER Where?
THE BLACKBIRD At the Guinea-hen’s.
CHANTECLER What a farce!
THE BLACKBIRD Wait! It’s one of those Cocks bred and trained for fighting, who would make just two bites of either you or me. [_As_ CHANTECLER _abruptly starts toward the back._] Where are you going?
CHANTECLER To the Guinea-hen’s.
THE BLACKBIRD Ha! I forgot our knightly spurs and helmet! [_He makes a feint of preventing him._] Take my advice, don’t go!
CHANTECLER But I will go!
THE BLACKBIRD Hold on!
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, multitudinous 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 cucumber 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 [_Passing 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-COCK [_Low and quickly to his mother._] Tsicadas, mother. You must pronounce 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 anticipating.--Names called!
THE GUINEA-HEN Yes, 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-HEN Wonders on every side!
THE GUINEA-HEN The 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 of everything!
THE YOUNG GUINEA-COCK The brightest flowers!
THE GUINEA-HEN The big potatoes!
THE BLACKBIRD And peaches! Perfect peaches!
THE PHEASANT-HEN [_Inconvenienced by the movement and the crowd, to the_ BLACKBIRD.] Let us stand out of the crowd a moment, behind this watering-pot.
THE BLACKBIRD The watering-pot, alias the Intermittent Baldpate, so called because there flows from his copper scalp when he is tilted a marvelous growth of silver hair.
THE GUINEA-HEN [_Spying the_ CAT, _who, outstretched along an apple-bough is watching with half-closed eyes._] I have among my guests the Cat.
THE BLACKBIRD Tomkyns de Tomkyns! [_A_ BIRD _is heard warbling in a tree._]
THE GUINEA-HEN I have the Chaffinch!
THE BLACKBIRD Let him chaff inchworms, what care we?
THE GUINEA-HEN The Darning-needle!
THE BLACKBIRD She 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 seen them? I have several of the A.I.’s Chicks!
THE PHEASANT-HEN A.I.?
THE GUINEA-HEN The Acme Incubator.
THE PHEASANT-HEN Oh, have you?
THE GUINEA-HEN [_Presenting the_ CHICKS.] All from the topmost compartment!
THE PHEASANT-HEN Indeed?
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-HEN It’s the famous one, you know! The Guinea-pig who was inoculated--surely you remember the case--very well, that’s the one! There you see him. I made a point of getting him to come. Everybody is here! I have everybody! I have--[_To the_ GUINEA-PIG.] How do you do? [_To the_ PHEASANT-HEN.] I have our great philosopher Tur-Key--Yes, it should be written with a hyphen--who will give us a little talk among the currant bushes under the tea-roses--[_To a passing_ HEN.] How do you do? [_To the_ PHEASANT-HEN.] Educational Tea or Currant Topics! [_Whirling from one to the other._] Everyone is here, everyone of the slightest mark or consequence! The Pheasant-hen is here, in a frock from fairyland. The Duck 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_] I was mistaken, the Tortoise is not here. She is late.
THE BLACKBIRD [_Affecting deep concern._] What is the little talk she seems so regrettably likely to miss?
THE GUINEA-HEN [_Suddenly serious._] The Moral Problem.
THE BLACKBIRD What a pity!
[_The_ GUINEA-HEN _goes to the back, scattering greetings, in ecstasies of sociability._]
THE PHEASANT-HEN [_To the_ BLACKBIRD.] Who is the Tortoise?
THE BLACKBIRD A hard old character, impervious, I fear, to moral problems, who goes in for walking matches in a loud check suit!
[_Murmur among the hollyhocks._]
THE PHEASANT-HEN Listen, a Drone!
THE GUINEA-HEN [_Briskly returning._] The Drone is here! In the bright light overhead, what a stylish figure of a fly!
THE BLACKBIRD No “at home” complete without it! Ladies cry for it! Won’t be happy until--
THE GUINEA-HEN [_Jumping up in the air toward the_ DRONE.] How do you do? How do you do? [_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! How do 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, who now 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 back tumultuously._]
THE BLACKBIRD And Thingumbob, and Stick-in-the-mud! [_He has arrived without appearance of design beneath the tree where the_ CAT _is lying, and asks rapidly, under breath._] Cat, what about the conspiracy?
THE CAT [_Who from his tree can see beyond the hedge._] It is afoot. I see the interminable file of phenomenal Cocks approaching, headed by the Peacock who comes to present them.
A CRY [_Outside._] Ee--yong! [_The_ CROWD _throngs toward the entrance._]
PATOU [_Grumbling._] That abominable concertina cry--
THE MAGPIE The 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 stiff and high._] Master, dear Master, would you be so extremely condescending as 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 with emotion._] 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 PEACOCK Ultimate! [_Sensation._]
THE GUINEA-HEN [_Delighted, to the_ HENS.] I may say that it is at my days most especially he throws off these specimens of a verbal art which might fairly be called--
THE PEACOCK Lapidary.
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 PEACOCK Absolute. [_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 Choir Invisible striking up again!
THE GUINEA-HEN [_Presenting the young_ GUINEA-COCK _to the_ PEACOCK.] My son!--What do you think of him?
THE PEACOCK Plausible.
CHORUS OF WASPS _Busily buzzing_--
THE GUINEA-HEN [_Overjoyed, running to the_ PHEASANT-HEN.] Oh, he said he was plausible!
THE PHEASANT-HEN Who was?
THE GUINEA-HEN My 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 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!
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 _braided with black._] This unexpected pleasure--
THE MAGPIE [_Announcing._] Cock Ramelslohe--
THE GUINEA-HEN Heavens!
THE MAGPIE [_Finishing._]--of the Slate-blue Claw!
THE PEACOCK [_In the_ GUINEA-HEN’S _ear, while the startling_ RAMELSLOHE _bows._] He is 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-HEN Wyandotte! Cock Wyandotte!
THE PEACOCK [_With a fine carelessness._] Cock with strawberry coronet, product of Art 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-COCK Mamma, there are still others coming!
THE MAGPIE His lordship, the Cock--
THE GUINEA-HEN Heavens, what Cock?
THE MAGPIE Cock of Mesopotamia with the Double Comb!
THE GUINEA-HEN Double! Oh! [_Dashing to welcome the newcomer._] Charmed, charmed indeed!
THE PEACOCK Out upon the obsolete! I wished to show you a few young gentlemen slightly superlative and veritably precious.
THE GUINEA-HEN [_Returning to the_ PEACOCK.] How shall I thank you, Peacock, dear friend? [_To the_ PHEASANT-HEN, _patronizingly._] You will excuse me, I know, you charming little thing. You must understand, my dear, that his lordship the Cock of Mesopotamia has just arrived! [_Running to the_ COCK, _who bows his two combs._] A proud day for us! Charmed, delighted, enchanted!
MAGPIE Cock d’Orpington of the Feather-ringed Eye!
THE GUINEA-HEN Feather-ringed--Oh!
THE BLACKBIRD The plot thickens!
THE MAGPIE [_While the_ GUINEA-HEN _is flying toward the_ ORPINGTON COCK.] Bearded Cock 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 we have heard so much about! Charmed, beyond words, charmed!
THE MAGPIE Rose-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 my tea! [_With conviction._] What a social event!
THE MAGPIE Cock--
THE GUINEA-HEN [_Out of her senses._] No, I say, no! There can’t be any more!
THE MAGPIE Cock with Goblet-shaped comb!
THE GUINEA-HEN [_Who at every name rushes excitedly toward the newcomer._] Charmed, I am sure! Oh, what a novel notion! Goblet-shaped!
THE MAGPIE Blue Cock of Andalusia!