CHANTECLER I shall never forget, however, that there was a morning when we believed equally in my Destiny, and that in the radiant hour of dawning love you forgot, and allowed me to forget, your gold for the gold of the Dawn! THE PHEASANT-HEN The Dawn! Always the Dawn! Be careful, Chantecler I shall do something rash! [_Going toward the Back._] CHANTECLER You will infallibly do as you like. THE PHEASANT-HEN In the glade not long ago I met the--[_She catches herself and stops short, intentionally._] CHANTECLER [_Looks at her, and in an angry cry._] The Pheasant? [_With sudden violence._] Promise me that you will never again go to the glade! THE PHEASANT-HEN [_Assured of her power over him, with a bound returns to his side._] And you, promise that you will love me more than the Light! CHANTECLER [_Sorrowfully._] Oh! THE PHEASANT-HEN That you will not sing-- CHANTECLER More than one song, we have settled that point. [_Rat-tat-tat, from the_ WOODPECKER.] Come in! THE WOODPECKER [_Appearing and pointing with his bill at the net._] The snare! The farmer placed it there. He declared he would capture the Pheasant-hen. THE PHEASANT-HEN He flatters himself! THE WOODPECKER And that he would keep you on his farm. THE PHEASANT-HEN [_Indignant._] Alive? [_To_ CHANTECLER, _in a tone of reproach._] Your farm! CHANTECLER [_Seeing a_ RABBIT _who has returned to the edge of his hole._] Ah, there comes a Rabbit! THE RABBIT [_Showing the snare to the_ PHEASANT-HEN.] You know if you put your foot on that spring-- THE PHEASANT-HEN [_In a tone of superiority._] I know all about snares, my little man. If you put your foot on that spring, the thing shuts. I am afraid of nothing but dogs. [_To_ CHANTECLER.] On your farm, which you secretly yearn for. CHANTECLER [_In a voice of injured innocence._] I? THE PHEASANT-HEN [_To the_ RABBIT, _giving him a light tap with her wing to send him home._] Afraid of nothing but dogs. And since you put me in mind of it, I think I must go and perplex their noses, by tangling my tracks all among the grass and underwoods. CHANTECLER That’s it, you go and fool the dogs! THE PHEASANT-HEN [_Starts of, then returns._] You are homesick for that wretched old farm of yours? CHANTECLER I? I? [_She goes off. He repeats indignantly._] I? [_Watching her out of sight, then, dropping his voice, to the_ WOODPECKER.] She is not coming back, is she? THE WOODPECKER [_Who from his high window in the tree can look off._] No. SCENE THIRD CHANTECLER, THE WOODPECKER. CHANTECLER [_Eagerly._] Keep watch! They are going to talk with me from home. THE WOODPECKER [_Interested._] Who? CHANTECLER The Blackbird. THE WOODPECKER I thought he hated you. CHANTECLER He came near it, but the Blackbird cast of mind admits of compromise, and it amuses him to keep me informed. THE WOODPECKER Is he coming?