PATOU [_To_ CHANTECLER.] Go in and thrash him. This crowd is longing for the sight of your blood. CHANTECLER [_Sadly._] I was never anything but kind! PATOU [_Showing the ring which has formed, the faces lighted with hateful eagerness._] Look at them! [_All necks are craned, all eyes shine; it is hideous._ CHANTECLER _looks, understands, and bows his head._] THE PHEASANT-HEN [_With a cry of rage._] It’s a disgrace! A disgrace to the name of fowl! CHANTECLER [_Raising his head again._] So be it. But they shall at least learn to-day who I was, and my secret-- PATOU No, don’t tell them, if it’s what my old dreamer’s heart has apprehended! CHANTECLER [_Addressing the multitude, in a loud voice, solemnly, like one confessing his faith._] Know, all of you, that it is I--[_Deep silence falls. To the_ WHITE PILE, _who has given a sign of impatience._] Your pardon, excellent duellist, but I have a mind, before getting myself killed, to do something brave-- THE WHITE PILE [_Surprised._] Ah? CHANTECLER Yes,--get myself laughed at! THE PHEASANT-HEN No, dearest, no! Don’t do it! CHANTECLER I wish to perish amid salvos of laughter! [_To the crowd._] Riot, spirit of Mockery! Disciples of the Blackbird, prepare! [_In a still louder voice, hammering home every word._] It is I, who, by my song, bring back the light of day! [_Amazement, then vast laughter shakes the multitude._] Is the merriment well under way? On guard! THE GOLDEN PADUA COCK [_Nodding his plume._] Gentlemen, engage! VOICES [_Amid storms of laughter._] Funny! Side-splitting! Was anything ever so droll? I shall die laughing! THE BLACKBIRD The old Gallic love of a joke is not dead! A CHICKEN He sings light into the sky! A DUCK The Sun gets up to hear him! CHANTECLER [_Avoiding the blows which the_ WHITE PILE _is beginning to aim at him._] Yes, it is I who give you back the Day! A CHICK And a jolly fine day it is! CHANTECLER [_While parrying and attacking._] The crowing of other Cocks, able neither to make nor mar, is no better nor worse than sonorous sneezing! Mine--[_He is wounded._] A VOICE Biff! In the neck! CHANTECLER --mine makes--[_He is again wounded._] THE TURKEY Insufferable self-sufficiency! CHANTECLER --the light--[_Again he is struck._] A VOICE Biff! On the neb! CHANTECLER --the light appear! A VOICE Biff! In the eye! CHANTECLER [_Blinded with blood._] Yes, the light! A VOICE [_Sneering._] Better have let sleeping darkness lie! CHANTECLER [_Automatically repeating beneath his adversary’s blows._] It is I who make the dawn appear! PATOU [_Barking._] Aye! Aye! Aye! THE PHEASANT-HEN [_Sobbing._] Stand up to him, darling! Oh, hit back! Hit back! A CHICK Fellows, a nickname for the dawn! ALL Yes! Yes! [_The_ WHITE PILE _hurls himself upon_ CHANTECLER.] THE PHEASANT-HEN Oh, cruel! THE BLACKBIRD Chantecler’s Light o’ Love! A VOICE A nickname for the Cock! ALL Yes! Yes! THE BLACKBIRD Grand Master of Illuminations! ANOTHER VOICE Purveyor of Sunny Beams!