_] A word! [_In a stern voice._] Never when crossing the road stop
to peck! [_The_ HENS _bow in obedience._] Now let me see you cross!
A HORN
[_In the distance._] Honk! Honk! Honk!
CHANTECLER
[_Rushing in front of the_ HENS _and spreading his wings before them._]
Not yet!
THE HORN
[_Very near, accompanied by a terrific snorting._] Honk! Honk! Honk!
CHANTECLER
[_Barring the_ HENS' _passage, while everything shakes._] Wait!
THE HORN
[_Far away._] Honk! Honk! Honk!
CHANTECLER
[_Standing aside for them to pass._] You can safely go!
THE GREY HEN
[_From her hiding-place._] He has not seen me!
THE TUFTED HEN
You may think this is fun! Now everything we eat will taste of gasoline!
SCENE THIRD
CHANTECLER, _the_ BLACKBIRD _in his cage, the_ CAT _still asleep on the
wall, the_ GREY HEN _behind the_ OLD HEN'S _basket._
CHANTECLER
[_To himself, after a pause._] No, I will not trust a frivolous soul
with such a weighty secret. Let me try rather to cast off the burden of
it myself--forget and [_Shaking his feathers._] just rejoice in being a
rooster! [_He struts up and down._] I am beautiful. I am proud. I
walk--then I stand still. I give a skip or two, I tread a measure.--I
shock the cart sometimes by my boldness with the fair, so that it raises
scandalised shafts in horror to the sky!--Hang care!--A barleycorn--Eat
and be merry.--The gear upon my head and under my eye is a far more
gorgeous red, when I puff out my chest and strut, than any robin's
waistcoat or finch's tie.
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