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?