CHANTECLER
[_Looking after him as he hops about._] He cannot keep still long
enough, I suppose, to let the sacred truth sink in. [_Trying to stop him
in his hopping._] You behold the agony of emotion shaking me. No more
baffle and keep me off with words!
THE BLACKBIRD
[_Hopping past him._] Catch, if you can, and convince me!
CHANTECLER
[_Imploring._] It's a matter of life--my profoundest life! Oh, convince
you I must, if only for a second! I feel the holy impulse to struggle
with your soul!
THE BLACKBIRD
[_Hopping past him._] Do you!
CHANTECLER
In solemn earnest, at the bottom of your heart, you did--did you
not?--believe me?
THE BLACKBIRD
I believe you!
CHANTECLER
[_With pressing anguish._] You must in some manner be aware of the
dreadful cost to me of that song? Come, use your reason. To sing as you
heard me sing, you must realise that I needed--
THE BLACKBIRD
A whopping muscle and a tolerable nerve!
CHANTECLER
No, let us not make light of serious things, responsible winged
creatures that we are!
THE BLACKBIRD
Let us go in for heavy-weight truths, by all means!
CHANTECLER
But can't you see that to look straight at the sun, rising before his
eyes by the exertions of his larynx, one must have at the same time--
THE BLACKBIRD
Stentorian lungs and the eyes of a lynx! [_He hops out of the way._]
CHANTECLER
[_Controlling himself.
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