_]
CHANTECLER
The earth! And now through a little blue hole you shall look at the sky!
[_With a vigorous blow of his wing he turns the pot over the_ BLACKBIRD,
_who is heard fluttering beneath it, with smothered cries._] For you
hate and shun the blue sky, you Dwellers in Pots! But one can force you
to see at least as much as would cover a corn-flower, by overturning
your pot, now and then--with the sweep of a wing! [_Off._]
CURTAIN
ACT THIRD
THE GUINEA-HEN'S DAY
_Corner of a kitchen-garden, enclosed on the sides by hedges. At the
back, espaliers. Vegetables and flowers of all kinds. Cold frames. Among
the fruit trees, an upright pole, rigged in an old frock-coat, pair of
trousers, and opera hat, fills the function of scarecrow._
SCENE FIRST
_The_ GUINEA-HEN, HENS, DUCKS, _etc.; the_ PHEASANT-HEN, _the_
BLACKBIRD, _later_ PATOU.
_At the rise of the curtain, multitudinous clatter and confused swarming
of_ HENS _and_ CHICKENS.
THE GUINEA-HEN
[_Going impetuously from one to the other._] How do you do? How do you
do?--There is scarcely room to move! My guests reach all the way to the
cucumber patch!
CHORUS
[_Up in the air._]
_Busily buzzing_--
THE GUINEA-HEN
A regular crush!
A HEN
[_Gazing at a row of huge pumpkins._] What attractive objects!
THE GUINEA-HEN
Art pottery! Rather good of its kind, if I do say so!
A CHICK
[_Listening with his bill in the air.
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