_] Simple torture it is to hear a brazen throat
forever reminding you of what you know to be only too true!
ALL
[_Writhing in pain._] Too true! Too true!
THE GRAND-DUKE
He begins while the night is still pleasant and cool--
CRIES ON ALL SIDES
He is a robber, a thief!
THE GRAND-DUKE
He cheats us!
ALL THE OWLS
He cheats us! Cheats us!
THE GRAND-DUKE
Of the good bit of night there still is left.
AN OWLET
He compels us to leave our posts beside the warrens--
THE SCREECH-OWL
Our feasts of steaming flesh!
THE WOOD-OWL
The witches' routs where we ride perched on the fist of a hag!
THE GRAND-DUKE
After cock-crow an Owl is no longer in his normal state--
THE SCREECH-OWL
He does evil in a hurry!
THE GRAND-DUKE
And bungles it in consequence!
THE OLD HORNED-OWL
As soon as the Cock has crowed all becomes temporary provisional--
THE BARN-OWL
Though the Night be still black, we are painfully aware of it growing
less and less black!
THE SCREECH-OWL
When his metallic voice has cleft the night, we squirm like a worm in a
fruit that is cut in two.
THE BLACKBIRD
[_On his fagot, mystified._] The other Cocks, however--
THE GRAND-DUKE
Their song creates no uneasiness. It is his song which must be silenced.
ALL THE NIGHT-BIRDS
[_Flapping their wings, in a long lament._] Silenced! Silenced!
AN OWL
How can it be accomplished?
THE SCREECH-OWL
The Blackbird here has worked in our cause.
Pages:
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68