] Success to you,
Owls,--success!
THE OWL
Thanks! But how is it that you are with us?
THE CAT
Ah, night brings out what daylight will not own to! I do not like the
Cock because the Dog does.--There you have it!
THE TURKEY
I do not like him, for the reason that having known him as a Chick I
cannot admit him as a Cock!
A DUCK
I do not like the Cock because, not being web-footed, he marks his
passage by a track of stars!
A CHICKEN
I do not like the Cock because I'm such a homely bird!
ANOTHER CHICKEN
I do not like the Cock because he has his picture painted in purple on
all the plates!
ANOTHER CHICKEN
I do not like the Cock because on all the steeples he has his statue in
gilt-bronze!
AN OWL
[_To a big overgrown_ CHICKEN.] Well, well!--And you, Capon?
THE CAPON
[_Dryly._] I do not like the Cock!
THE CUCKOO
[_Beginning to strike eight inside the house._] Cuckoo!
FIRST OWL
The hour!
CUCKOO
Cuckoo!
SECOND OWL
Let us go!
THE CUCKOO
Cuckoo!
FIRST OWL
The moon!
THE CUCKOO
Cuckoo!
FIRST OWL
Silently cleave the blue air--
THE CUCKOO
Cuckoo!
THE MOLE
[_Suddenly pushing up through the ground._]--the dark earth!
FIRST OWL
There comes the Mole!
THE CUCKOO
Cuckoo!
FIRST OWL
[_To the_ MOLE.] And you, why do you hate him?
THE MOLE
I hate him because I have never seen him!
THE CUCKOO
Cuckoo!
FIRST OWL
And you, Cuckoo, do you know why you hate him?
THE CUCKOO
[_On the last stroke.
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