_]
CHANTECLER
[_With disgust._] Oh, that hand spread over his paunch!
THE BIG TOAD
[_With a hop toward_ CHANTECLER.]--at once novel,--
ANOTHER TOAD
[_Same business._] Pellucid!
ANOTHER
[_Same business._] Succinct!
ANOTHER
[_Same business._] Vital!
ANOTHER
[_Same business._] Pure!
ANOTHER
[_Same business._] Great!
CHANTECLER
Gentlemen, pray be seated. [_They seat themselves around a large
toadstool._]
THE BIG TOAD
True, we are ugly--
CHANTECLER
[_Politely._] You have fine eyes.
THE BIG TOAD
[_Raising himself by bearing with both hands upon the rim of the
toadstool._] But, Knights of this fungoid Round Table, we desire to do
homage to the Parsifal who has given to the world a sublime song--
SECOND TOAD
A true song!
THE BIG TOAD
And a celestial!
THIRD TOAD
And a no less terrestrial!
THE BIG TOAD
[_With authority._] A song by comparison with which the song of the
Nightingale sinks into insignificance!
CHANTECLER
[_Astonished._] The Nightingale's song?
SECOND TOAD
[_In a tone of finality._] Is not a circumstance to yours!
THE BIG TOAD
[_With a hop._] It was high time that a new singer--
ANOTHER
[_Same business._] And a new song--
FIFTH TOAD
[_Quickly, to his neighbour._] And a song by a stranger--
THE BIG TOAD
Came to change conditions here.
CHANTECLER
Ah, I shall change conditions?
ALL
Glory to the Cock!
CHANTECLER
I do not see that the forest thinks so poorly of me after all!
THE BIG TOAD
Played out, the Nightingale!
CHANTECLER
[_More and more surprised.
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