Chantecler | Page 4

broken.] In that old basket.
THE PIGEON And is the hen who brooded him still living?
THE TURKEY [Again indicating the basket.] She is there.
THE PIGEON Where?
THE TURKEY In that old basket.
THE PIGEON [More and more interested.] Of what breed is she?
THE TURKEY She is just a good old-fashioned Gascon hen, born in
the neighbourhood of Pau.
THE BLACKBIRD [Thrusting out his head.] She is the one Henry the
Fourth wished to see cooking in every Frenchman's pot!

THE PIGEON How proud she must be of having hatched such a Cock!
THE TURKEY Yes, proud with a lowly foster-mother's pride. Her
beloved chick is coming to his inches, that is all she seems to
understand or care about. And when you tell her this, her clouded
reason gives a momentary gleam-- [Calling towards the basket.] Hey,
old lady, he is growing!
ALL THE HENS He is growing!
[_The lid of the basket is suddenly lifted, and a bristling aged hen's
head appears._]
THE PIGEON [To the OLD HEN, gently and feelingly.] Does it make
you happy, mother, to think of him grown to a big fine Cock?
THE OLD HEN [Nodding, sententiously.] Happy?--Wednesday's crops
do credit to Tuesday! [She disappears, the lid drops.]
THE TURKEY She opens now and then, like that, and ping! shoots at
us some such pearl of homely lore--
THE PIGEON [To the WHITE HEN.] White Hen!
THE TURKEY --not always wholly without point!
THE OLD HEN [Reappearing for an instant.] In the Peacock's absence,
the Turkey spreads his tail!
[The TURKEY turns quickly around, the lid has already dropped.]
THE PIGEON [To the WHITE HEN.] Is it a fact that Chantecler is
never hoarse, never the very least husky?
THE WHITE HEN [Keeping on with her pecking.] Perfectly true.
THE PIGEON [With growing enthusiasm.] Ah, you must be proud
Cock who will be numbered among Illustrious Animals and his name
remembered five, ten, fifteen years!

THE TURKEY Very proud. Very proud. [To a CHICK.] Who are the
Illustrious Animals? Tell them off!
THE CHICK [Reciting a lesson.] Noah's Dove--Saint Rocco's
Poodle--The--the Horse of Cali--
THE TURKEY Cali--?
THE CHICK [Trying to remember.] Cali--
THE PIGEON This Cock, now--this Cock of yours--Is it true that his
song attunes, inspires, encourages, makes labour light, and keeps off
birds of prey?
THE WHITE HEN [Pecking.] Perfectly true.
THE CHICK [Still hunting for his word.] Cali--Cali--
THE PIGEON White Hen, is it true that by his song, defender of the
warm and sacred egg, he has frequently kept the lissome weasel from--
THE BLACKBIRD [Looking out between the bars.]--messing his
shirtfront with omelette?
THE WHITE HEN Perfectly true.
THE CHICK Cali--
THE TURKEY [Helping him.] Gu?
THE CHICK Gu--
THE PIGEON Is it true--?
THE CHICK [Jumping for joy at having found.] Gula!
THE PIGEON --true that, as report says, he has a secret for his amazing
singing, a secret whereby his crow becomes the brilliant burst of red
which makes the poppies of the field feel themselves contemptible

imitations?
THE WHITE HEN [Weary of this questioning.] Perfectly true.
THE PIGEON That secret, that great secret, is it known to anyone?
THE WHITE HEN No.
THE PIGEON He has not even told his Hen?
THE WHITE HEN [Correcting him.] His Hens.
THE PIGEON [Slightly shocked.] Ah, he has more than one?
THE BLACKBIRD He crows, remember, you only coo.
THE PIGEON Well, then, he has not even told his favourite?
THE TUFTED HEN [Promptly.] No, he has not!
THE WHITE HEN [As promptly.] No, he has not!
THE BLACK HEN [As promptly.] No, he has not!
THE BLACKBIRD [Thrusting out his head.] Hush!--An aërial drama!
The Butterfly, absorbed in his head of blossom, banquets, all oblivious
of--
[_A great green gauze butterfly-net appears above the wall, softly
coming towards the BUTTERFLY settled on one of the flowers._]
A HEN What is that?
THE TURKEY [Solemnly.] Fate!
THE BLACKBIRD In a thin disguise of gauze!
THE WHITE HEN Oh, a net--at the end of a cane!

THE BLACKBIRD No harm in the cane--it's the kid at the other end of
the cane! [_Half aloud, watching the_ BUTTERFLY.] You neat little
fop, sailing from rose to rose, to-night you'll be neat as a pin can make
you!
ALL [Watching the cautious approach of the net beyond the wall.]
Nearer--Nearer--Hush! He'll catch it!--No he won't!--Yes, he will!
SUDDENLY OUTSIDE Cock-a-doodle-doo!
[At the sound, the BUTTERFLY flies off. The NET _wavers a moment,
with an effect of disappointment, then disappears._]
SEVERAL HENS What?--Eh?--What was it?
A HEN [Who having hopped up on a wheelbarrow can follow the flight
of the BUTTERFLY.] He is off and away, over the meadow.
THE BLACKBIRD [With ironical emphasis.] It's Chantecler,
practicing knight-errantry!
THE PIGEON [With emotion.] Chantecler!
A HEN He is coming!
ANOTHER HEN He is just