_] No, I cannot give up the hope of winning this
soul to the truth! [_With desperate patience._] Come, now, have you any
conception, unhappy bird, of what dawn actually is?
THE BLACKBIRD
I should say so! It's the time of day when fluffy Aurora gets busy, as
it were, and plays ball!
CHANTECLER
But what do you say when you see the dawn shining upon the mountains?
THE BLACKBIRD
Mountains, I say, what on earth are you blushing about?
CHANTECLER
And what do you say when you hear me singing in the furrow long before
the cricket is awake?
THE BLACKBIRD
Cricket, I say, you scandalous slug-a-bed! [_He hops out of the way._]
CHANTECLER
[_Beside himself._] Are you conscious of no impulse to exclaim, cry out,
when I have made a dawn so fine and fiery-red that the heron, flying in
the early glow, looks from afar like a flamingo?
THE BLACKBIRD
Sure, brother, sure! I feel like shouting, "Bully, do it again!" [_He
hops out of the way._]
CHANTECLER
[_Exhausted._] That soul! I am more spent with chasing it than with a
whole day's grasshopper hunting! [_Violently._] Did you not see the sky?
THE BLACKBIRD
[_Simply._] How could I? The ground is all you can see through that
little black hole. [_Pointing at the flower-pot._]
CHANTECLER
Did you see the mountain-tops tremble and turn crimson?
THE BLACKBIRD
While you were crowing, I had my eye on your feet.
CHANTECLER
[_Sorrowfully.
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