The Blue Bird. Maurice Maeterlinck

I see the Dog coming out of the Fairy's wardrobe. …

      FIRE What on earth has he got on? …

      THE CAT He has put on the livery of one of the footmen of Cinderella's coach. … It was just the thing for him. … He has the soul of a flunkey. … But let us hide behind the balustrade. … It's strange how I mistrust him. … He had better not hear what I have to say to you. …

      SUGAR It is too late. … He has discovered us. … Look, here is Water also coming out of the wardrobe. … Goodness me, how fine she is! …

      (The DOG and WATER join the first group.)

      THE DOG (frisking about) There! There! … Aren't we fine I. … Just look at these laces and this embroidery! … It's real gold and no mistake! …

      THE CAT (to WATER) Is that Catskin's "colour-of-time" dress? … I seem to recognise it. …

      WATER Yes, it's the one that suited me best. …

      FIRE (between his teeth) She's not brought her umbrella. …

      WATER What's that? …

      FIRE Nothing, nothing. …

      WATER I thought you might be speaking of a great red I saw the other day. …

      THE CAT Come, don't let as quarrel; we have more important things to do. … We are only waiting for Bread; where is he?

      THE DOG He was making an endless fuss about choosing his dress. …

      FIRE Worth while, isn't it, for a fellow who looks a fool and carries an enormous stomach? …

      THE DOG At last, he decided in favour of a Turkish robe, adorned with gems, a scimitar and a turban. …

      THE CAT There he is! … He has put on Bluebeard's finest dress …

      Enter BREAD, in the costume described above. The silk robe is crossed tightly over his huge stomach. In one hand he holds the hilt of a scimitar passed through his sash and in the other the cage intended for the Blue Bird.

      BREAD (waddling conceitedly) Well? … What do you think of this?

      THE DOG (frisking round the LOAF) How nice he looks! What a fool he looks! How nice he looks! How nice he looks! …

      THE CAT (to the LOAF) Are the children dressed? …

      BREAD Yes, Master Tyltyl has put on Hop-o'-my-Thumb's blue jacket and red breeches; and Miss Mytyl has Gretel's frock and Cinderella's slippers. … But the great thing was the dressing of Light! …

      THE CAT Why? …

      BREAD The Fairy thought her so lovely that she did not want to dress her at all! … Thereupon I protested in the name of our dignity as essential and eminently respectable elements; and I ended by declaring that, under those conditions, I should refuse to be seen with her. …

      FIRE They ought to have bought her a lampshade! …

      THE CAT And what answer did the Fairy make? …

      THE LOAF She hit me with her stick on my head and stomach. …

      THE CAT And then? …

      BREAD I allowed myself to be convinced; but, at the last moment, Light decided on the moonbeam dress at the bottom of the chest with Catskin's treasures. …

      THE CAT Come, stop chattering, time presses. … Our future is at stake. … You have heard—the Fairy has just said so—that the end of this journey will, at the same time, mark the end of our lives. … It is our business, therefore, to prolong it as much as possible and by every possible means. … But there is another thing: we must think of the fate of our race and the destiny of our children. …

      BREAD Hear, hear! … The Cat is right! …

      THE CAT Listen to me! … All of us here present, Animals, Things and Elements, possess a soul which man does not yet know. That is why we retain a remnant of independence; but, if he finds the Blue Bird, he will know all, he will see all and we shall be completely at his mercy. … This is what I have just learned from my old friend, Night, who is also the guardian of the mysteries of Life. … It is to our interest, therefore, at all costs to prevent the finding of that bird, even if we have to go so far as to endanger the lives of the children themselves. …

      THE DOG (indignantly) What's the fellow saying? … Just say that again, will you, to see if I heard right? …

      BREAD Order! Order! … It's not your turn to speak! … I'm in the chair at this meeting. …

      FIRE Who made you chairman? …

      WATER (to FIRE) Hold your tongue! … What are you interfering with? …

      FIRE I shall interfere where I choose. … And I want none of your remarks. …

      SUGAR (concilatorily) Excuse me. … Do not let us quarrel. … This is a serious moment. … We must, above all things, decide what measures to adopt. …

      BREAD I quite agree with Sugar and the Cat. …

      THE DOG This is ridiculous! … There is Man and that's all! … We have to obey him and do as he tells us! … That is the one and only fact! … I recognise no one but him! … Hurrah for Man! … Man for ever! … In life or death, all for Man! … Man is God! …

      BREAD I quite agree with the Dog.

      THE CAT (to the DOG) But at least give your reasons. …

      THE DOG There are no reasons! … I love Man and that's enough! … If you do anything against him, I will throttle you first and I will go and tell him everything. …

      SUGAR (intervening sweetly) Excuse me. … Let us not embitter the discussion. … From a certain point of view, you are both of you right. … There is something to be said on both sides. …

      BREAD I quite agree with SUGAR! …

      THE CAT Are we not, all of us, Water, Fire you yourselves, Bread and the Dog, the victims of a nameless tyranny? … Do you remember the time when, before the coming of the despot, we wandered at liberty upon the face of the earth? … Fire and Water were the sole masters of the world; and see what they have come to! … As for us puny descendants of the great wild animals. … Look out! … Pretend to be doing nothing! … I see the Fairy and Light coming. … Light has taken sides with Man; she is our worst enemy. … Here they are. …

      Enter, on the right, the FAIRY, in the shape of an old woman, and LIGHT, followed by TYLTYL and MYTYL.

      THE FAIRY Well? … What is it? … What are you doing in that corner? … You look like conspirators. … It is time to start. … I have decided that Light shall be your leader. … You will obey her as you would me and I am giving her my wand. … The children will pay a visit to their late grandparents this evening. … You will remain behind; that is more discreet. … They will spend the evening in the bosom of their dead family. … Meanwhile, you will be getting ready all that is wanted for to-morrow's journey, which will be a long one. … Come, up, be off and every one to his post! …

      THE CAT (hypocritically) That is just what I was saying to them, madam. … I was encouraging them to do their duty bravely and conscientiously; unfortunately, the Dog, who kept on interrupting me. …

      THE DOG What's that? … Just wait a bit I …

      (He is about to leap upon the CAT, but TYLTYL foreseeing his intention, stops with a threatening gesture.)

      TYLTYL Down, Tylô! … Take care; and, if ever I catch you again …

      THE DOG My little god, you don't know, it was he who …

      TYLTYL (threatening him) Be quiet! …

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