Chantecler | Page 6

That is what I was doing to limber up my glottis before I was rid of the egg-shell sticking to my tail!
A HEN [Airily.] None of this is particularly interesting!
CHANTECLER Everything is interesting! Pray go and sit on the eggs you have been entrusted with! [To another HEN.] You, walk among the roses and verbenas, and gobble every creature threatening them. Ha, ha! If the caterpillar thinks we will make him a gift of our flowers he can stroke his belly--with his back! [To another.] You, hie to the rescue of cabbages in old neglected corners, where the grasshopper lays siege to them with his vigorous battering-ram! [To the remaining HENS.] You--[Catching sight of the OLD HEN, _whose shaking, senile head has lifted the basket-lid.] Ah, there you are, Nursie! Good day! [She gazes at him admiringly._] Well, have I grown?
THE OLD HEN Sooner or later, tadpole becomes toad!
CHANTECLER True! [To the HENS, resuming his tone of command.] Ladies, stand in line! Your orders are to peck in the fields. Off at a quick-step, go!
THE WHITE HEN [To the GREY HEN.] Are you coming?
THE GREY HEN Not a word! I intend to stay behind, to see the Cuckoo. [_She hides behind the basket._]
CHANTECLER You, little tufted hen, was it just my fancy that you looked sulky falling into line?
THE TUFTED HEN [Going up to him.] Cock--
CHANTECLER What is it?
THE TUFTED HEN I, who am nearest to your heart--
CHANTECLER [Quickly.] Hush!
THE TUFTED HEN It annoys me not to be told--
THE WHITE HEN [Who has drawn near on the other side.] Cock--
CHANTECLER Well?
THE WHITE HEN [Coaxingly.] I who am your favourite--
CHANTECLER [Quickly.] Hush!
THE WHITE HEN [Caressingly.] I want to know--
THE BLACK HEN [Who has softly drawn near.] Cock--
CHANTECLER What?
THE BLACK HEN Your special and tender regard for me--
CHANTECLER [Quickly.] Hush!
THE BLACK HEN Tell me, do--
THE WHITE HEN --the secret--
THE TUFTED HEN --of your song? [_Going still closer to him, in a voice thrilled with curiosity._] I do believe that you have in your throat a little copper contrivance--
CHANTECLER That's it, that's what I have, very carefully concealed!
THE WHITE HEN [Same business.] Most likely, like great tenors one has heard of, you gulp raw eggs--
CHANTECLER You have guessed!--A second Ugolino!
THE BLACK HEN [Same business.] My idea is that taking snails out of their shells, you pound them to a paste--
CHANTECLER And make them into troches! Exactly!
ALL THREE HENS Cock--!
CHANTECLER Off with you all! Be off! [The HENS _hastily start, he calls them back._] A word before you go. When your blood-bright combs--now in, now out of sight, now in again--shall flash among the sage and borage yonder, like poppies playing at hide-and-seek,--to the real poppies, I enjoin you, do no injury! Shepherdesses, counting the stitches of their knitting, trample the grass all unaware that it's a crime to crush a flower--even with a woman! But you, my Spouses, show considerate and touching thought for the flowers whose only offence is growing wild. The field-carrot has her right to bloom in beauty. Should you spy, as he strolls across some flowery umbel, a scarlet beetle peppered with black dots,--the stroller take, but spare his strolling-ground. The flowers of one same meadow are sisters, as I hold, and should together fall beneath the scythe!--Now you may go. [_They are leaving, he again calls them back._] And remember, when chickens go to the--
A HEN --fields--
CHANTECLER --the foremost--
THE HENS ALL TOGETHER --walks ahead!
CHANTECLER You may go! [_They are again starting, he peremptorily calls them back.] A word! [In a stern voice._] Never when crossing the road stop to peck! [The HENS bow in obedience.] Now let me see you cross!
A HORN [In the distance.] Honk! Honk! Honk!
CHANTECLER [Rushing in front of the HENS and spreading his wings before them.] Not yet!
THE HORN [Very near, accompanied by a terrific snorting.] Honk! Honk! Honk!
CHANTECLER [Barring the HENS' passage, while everything shakes.] Wait!
THE HORN [Far away.] Honk! Honk! Honk!
CHANTECLER [Standing aside for them to pass.] You can safely go!
THE GREY HEN [From her hiding-place.] He has not seen me!
THE TUFTED HEN You may think this is fun! Now everything we eat will taste of gasoline!

SCENE THIRD
CHANTECLER, the BLACKBIRD in his cage, the CAT _still asleep on the wall, the GREY HEN behind the OLD HEN'S basket._
CHANTECLER [To himself, after a pause.] No, I will not trust a frivolous soul with such a weighty secret. Let me try rather to cast off the burden of it myself--forget and [Shaking his feathers.] just rejoice in being a rooster! [He struts up and down.] I am beautiful. I am proud. I walk--then I stand still. I give a skip or two, I tread a measure.--I shock the cart sometimes by my boldness with the fair, so that it raises scandalised shafts in horror to the sky!--Hang care!--A barleycorn--Eat and be merry.--The gear upon