THE TOADS The Toads, croak! croak! the Toads are we! [_And the Villanelle proceeds, sung by the alternate voices, one of which, ever higher and more enraptured, carries the song proper, and the others, ever angrier and lower, the burden of the song._] THE NIGHTINGALE _and_ THE TOADS, _alternately_ I sing! for Wind, that harper free, And music bubbling from the well-- --We welter in malignity!-- And fragrance floating from the lea, Of meadow-sweet and pimpernel-- --The Toads, croak! croak! the Toads are we!-- And Luna showering ecstasy, All weave so wonderful a spell-- --We welter in malignity!-- Its melting magic moveth me The secret of my heart to tell! --The Toads, croak! croak! the Toads are we!-- Within my heart all sympathy, Within mine eye all visions dwell-- --We welter in malignity!-- Life, Death, I turn to rhapsody, Who am the deathless Philomel! --The Toads, croak! croak! the Toads are we, Who welter in malignity! CHANTECLER Beside those heavenly pipes, ah, me! my voice is Punchinello’s squeak! Sing on! Sing on! The Croakers are in retreat. THE TOADS [_Retreating, overcome by the conquering song._] Croak! croak! CHANTECLER Their fate to seethe in the cauldron of a witch! But you, the creatures of the forest come to slake the thirst of their hearts at your song. See them creeping to the lure-- THE TOADS [_From the underbrush._] Croak! croak! CHANTECLER A doe, look! tiptoeing on delicate hoofs, followed by a wolf who has forgotten to be a wolf-- THE TOADS [_Lost among the grass._] Croak! CHANTECLER The squirrel steals down from the lofty tree-tops. The whole vast forest is stirred by a thrill of brotherliness. THE TOADS [_Out of sight._]--roak! CHANTECLER The echo alone now repeats-- FAINT DISTANT VOICE --oak! CHANTECLER Gone! Gone are the Toads! [_Music holds the night: a song without words, delicate volleys of rapturous notes._] CHANTECLER The Glow-worms have lighted their small, green lamps. All that is good comes forth, while hate shrinks back to its lair. Now they that shall be eaten lay themselves down in the grass by the side of them that shall eat them. The Star of a sudden looks nearer to earth, and forsaking her web the Spider draws herself up toward your song, climbing by her own silken thread. ALL THE FOREST [_In a moan of ecstasy._] Ah! [_And the forest lies as if under a spell; the moonlight is softer, the tender green fire of the glow-worm shines blinking among the moss; on all sides, between the tree-boles creep, shadow-like, the charmed beasts; eyes shine, moist muzzles point toward the source of the music. The_ WOODPECKER _stands at his bark window, dreamily nodding; all the_ RABBITS, _with uppricked ears, sit at their earthen doors._] CHANTECLER When he sings thus without words, what is he singing, Squirrel? THE SQUIRREL [_From a tree-top._] The joy of swift motion. CHANTECLER And what say you, Hare? THE HARE [_In the coppice._] The thrill of fear!