]
THE PHEASANT-HEN
Oh, cruel!
THE BLACKBIRD
Chantecler's Light o' Love!
A VOICE
A nickname for the Cock!
ALL
Yes! Yes!
THE BLACKBIRD
Grand Master of Illuminations!
ANOTHER VOICE
Purveyor of Sunny Beams!
CHANTECLER
[_Defending himself foot to foot._] Thanks! Another quip, for I can
still fight with my feet!
A VOICE
The Alarm-Cock!
CHANTECLER
[_Who seems upheld by their insults._] Another pun! And I who know no
more of fighting than can be learned on a peaceful farm--
A VOICE
Thresh out his hayseed!
CHANTECLER
Thanks! I--[_His torn feathers fly around him._]
CRY OF JOY
See his fur fly!
CHANTECLER
I feel--Another pleasantry!
A VOICE
Lay on, Macfluff!
CHANTECLER
Thanks! I feel that the more I am mocked, insulted, flouted, and denied--
AN ASS
[_Stretching his neck over the hedge._] Hee-haw!
CHANTECLER
Thanks!--the better I shall fight!
THE WHITE PILE
[_Chuckling._] He is game, but he's giving out.
THE PHEASANT-HEN
Enough. Enough. Oh, stop!
A VOICE
On White Pile, twenty to one!
THE PHEASANT-HEN
[_Seeing_ CHANTECLER'S _bleeding neck._] He bleeds, oh!
A HEN
[_Rising on tiptoe behind the_ GOLDEN PADUA COCK.] I should like to see
the blood!
THE WHITE PILE
[_Increasing the fury of his onset._] I'll have your gizzard!
THE HEN
[_Trying to see._] The Padua Cock's hat shuts off my view!
THE BLACKBIRD
Hats off!
A VOICE
That was a stinger! On his comb!
SHRILL CRIES
[_From the crowd.
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