Play in Four Acts
By
EDMOND ROSTAND
Translated
By
GERTRUDE HALL
1910
Chantecler
Patou
The Blackbird
The Peacock
The Nightingale
The Grand-duke
The Screech-owl
Little Scops
The Game-cock
The Hunting Dog
A Carrier-pigeon
The Wood-pecker
The Turkey
The Duck
The Young Guinea-cock
The Pheasant-hen
The Guinea-hen
The Old Hen
The White Hen
The Grey Hen
The Black Hen
The Speckled Hen
The Tufted Hen
A Gander. A Capon. Chickens. Chicks. A Cockerel.
A Swan. A Cuckoo. Night-birds. Fancy Cocks.
Toads. A Turkey-hen. A Goose. A Garden Warbler.
A Woodland Warbler. A Spider. A Heron. A Pigeon.
A Guinea-pig. Barnyard animals. Woodland Creatures.
Rabbits. Birds. Bees. Cicadas. Voices.
The customary three knocks are heard. The drop-curtain wavers and isrising, when a voice rings out, “Not yet!” and the Manager, agentleman of important mien in evening dress, springing from hisproscenium box, hurries toward the stage, repeating, “Not yet!”
The curtain is again lowered. The Manager turns toward the audience,and resting one hand on the prompter’s box, addresses them:
The curtain is a wall,—a flying wall. Assured that presently the wallwill fly—why haste? Is it not charming to delay—and just look at itfor a while?
Charming to sit before a great red wall, hanging beneath two gilt masksand a scroll—The thrilling moment is when the curtain thrills, andsounds come from the other side.
You are desired to-night to listen to those sounds and entering thescene before you see it, to wond