THE PHEASANT-HEN Let him live! And I will dwell in the farmyard beside the ploughshare and the hoe! And renouncing for his sake all that in my pride I made a burden and torment to him, I will own, O Sun, that when you made his shadow you marked out my place in the world! [_Daylight grows. On all sides, rustles and murmurs._] THE WOODPECKER [_Singing._] The air is blue! A CROW [_Cawing as he flies past._] Daylight grows! THE PHEASANT-HEN The forest is astir-- ALL THE BIRDS [_Waking among the trees._] Good-morning! Good-morning! Good-morning! Good-morning! Good-morning! THE PHEASANT-HEN Everyone sings! A JAY [_Darting past like a streak of blue lightning._] Ha, ha! THE WOODPECKER The Jay shakes with homeric laughter. THE PHEASANT-HEN [_Crying in the midst of the music of the morning._] Let him live! THE JAY [_Again darting past._] Ha, ha! A CUCKOO [_In the distance._] Cuckoo! THE PHEASANT-HEN I abdicate! PATOU [_Lifting his eyes heavenward._] She abdicates! THE PHEASANT-HEN Forgive, O Light, to whom I dared dispute him! Dazzle the eye taking aim, and be victory awarded, O Sunbeams-- THE JAY _and the_ CUCKOO [_Far away._] Ha! Cuckoo! THE PHEASANT-HEN --to your powder of gold--[_A shot. She gives a sharp cry, ending in a dying voice._]--over man’s black powder! [_Silence._] CHANTECLER’S VOICE [_Very far away._] Cock-a-doodle-doo! ALL [_In a glad cry._] Saved! THE RABBITS [_Capering gaily out of their burrows._] Let us turn somersets among the thyme! A VOICE [_Fresh and solemn, among the trees._] O God of birds! THE RABBITS [_Stopping short in their antics stand abruptly still; soberly._] The morning prayer! THE WOODPECKER [_Crying to the_ PHEASANT-HEN.] They are coming to examine the trap! THE PHEASANT-HEN [_Closes her eyes in resignation._] So be it! THE VOICE IN THE TREES God by whose grace we wake to this new day-- PATOU [_Before leaving._] Hush! Drop the curtain! Men folk are coming! [_Off._] [_All the woodland creatures hide. The_ PHEASANT-HEN _is left alone, and, held down by the snare, with spread wings and panting breast, awaits the approach of the giant._] CURTAIN