Part 5
THE OAK Who speaks?... I seem to recognise the honeyed accents of the Lime-tree....
THE FIR-TREE Yes, it's he....
THE OAK So there is a renegade among us, as among the Animals?... Hitherto we have only had to deplore the disloyalty of the Fruit-trees; but they are not real trees....
THE PIG (_rolling his small eyes gluttonously_) I think we should first eat the little girl.... She ought to be very tender....
TYLTYL What's he saying?... Just wait a bit, you...
THE CAT I don't know what is the matter with them; but things are beginning to look badly....
THE OAK Silence!... What we have to decide is which of us shall have the honour of striking the first blow, who shall ward off from, our tops the greatest danger that has threatened us since the birth of Man....
THE FIR-TREE That honour falls to you, our king and our patriarch....
THE OAK Is that the Fir-tree speaking?... Alas, I am too old!... I am blind and infirm and my numbed arms no longer obey me.... No, to you, brother, ever green, ever upright, to you, who have witnessed the birth of most of these trees, to you be the glory, in default of myself, of the noble act of our deliverance....
THE FIR-TREE I thank you, venerable father.... But as I shall, in any case, have the honour of burying the two victims, I should be afraid of arousing the just jealousy of my colleagues; and I think that, next to ourselves, the oldest and the worthiest and the one that owns the best club is the Beech....
THE BEECH You know I am worm-eaten and my club is no longer to be relied upon.... But the Elm and the Cypress have powerful weapons....
THE ELM I should be only too pleased; but I can hardly stand upright.... A mole twisted my great toe last night....
THE CYPRESS As for me, I am ready.... But, like my brother, the Fir-tree, I shall have, if not the privilege of burying them, at least the advantage of weeping over their tomb.... It would be an unlawful plurality of offices.... Ask the Poplar....
THE POPLAR Me?... Are you serious?... Why, my wood is more tender than the flesh of a child!... And, besides, I don't know what's the matter with me.... I am shivering with fever.... Just look at my leaves.... I must have caught cold at sunrise this morning....
THE OAK (_bursting out with indignation_) You are afraid of Man!... Even those unprotected and unarmed little children inspire you with the mysterious terror which has always made us the slaves that we are!... Enough of this! Things being as they are and the opportunity unequalled, I shall go forth alone, old, crippled, trembling, blind as I am, against the hereditary enemy!... Where is he?...
(_Groping with his stick, he moves towards_ TYLTYL.)
TYLTYL (_taking his knife from his pocket_) Is it me he's after, that old one, with his big stick?...
ALL THE TREES (_uttering a cry of alarm at the sight of the knife, they step in between and hold back the_ OAK) The knife!... Take care!... The knife!...
THE OAK (_struggling_) Let me be!... What does it matter?... The knife or the axe!... Who's holding me back?... What! Are you all here?... What! You all want to.... (_Flinging down his_ _stick_) Well, so be it!... Shame upon us!... Let the Animals deliver us!...
THE BULL That's right!... I'll see to It!... And with one blow of the horns!...
THE OX _and_ THE COW (_holding him back by the tail_) What are you doing?... Don't be a fool!... It's a bad business!... It will end badly.... It is we who will pay for it.... Do let be.... It's the wild animals' business....
THE BULL No, no!... It's my business!... Wait and see!... Look here, hold me back or there will be an accident!...
TYLTYL (_to_ MYTYL, _who is uttering piercing screams_) Don't be afraid!... Stand behind me.... I have my knife....
THE COCK He has plenty of pluck, the little chap!...
TYLTYL So you've made up your minds, it's me you're going for?...
THE ASS Why, of course, my little man; you've taken long enough to see it!...
THE PIG You can say your prayers; your last hour has come.... But don't hide the little girl.... I want to feast my eyes on her.... I'm going to eat her first....
TYLTYL What have I done to you?...
THE SHEEP Nothing at all, my little man.... Eaten my little brother, my two sisters, my three uncles, my aunt, my grandpapa and my grandmamma.... Wait, wait, when you're down, you shall see that I have teeth also....
THE ASS And I hoofs!...
THE HORSE (_haughtily pawing the ground_) You shall see what you shall see!... Would you rather that I tore you with my teeth or knocked you down with a kick?... (_He moves ostentatiously towards_ TYLTYL, _who faces him and raises his knife. Suddenly the_ HORSE, _seized with panic, turns and rushes away_.) Ah, no!... That's not fair!... That's against the rules!.... He's defending himself!...
THE COCK (_unable to hide his admiration_) I don't care, the little chap's full of grit!...
THE PIG (_to the_ BEAR _and the_ WOLF) Let us all rush on them together.... I will support you from the rear.... We will throw them down and share the little girl when she is on the ground....
THE WOLF Divert their attention in front.... I am going to make a turning movement....
(_He goes round_ TYLTYL, _whom he attacks from behind and half overthrows_.)
TYLTYL You brute!... (_He raises himself on one knee brandishing his knife and doing his best to cover his little sister, who utters yells of distress. Seeing him half overturned, all the_ ANIMALS _and_ TREES _come up and try to hit him_. TYLTYL _calls distractedly for assistance_.) Help! Help!... Tylô! Tylô!... Where is the Cat?... Tylô!... Tylette! Tylette!... Come! Come!...
THE CAT (_hypocritically, holding aloof_) I can't come.... I have sprained my paw....
TYLTYL (_warding of the blows and defending himself as best he can_) Help!... Tylô! Tylô!... I can't hold out!... There are too many of them!... The Bear! The Pig! The Donkey! The Ass! The Fir-tree! The Beech!... Tylô! Tylô! Tylô!...
(_Dragging his broken bonds after him, the_ DOG _leaps from behind the trunk of the_ OAK _and, elbowing his way through_ TREES _and_ ANIMALS, _flings himself before_ TYLTYL, _whom he defends furiously_.)
THE DOG (_distributing great bites_) Here! Here, my little god!... Don't be afraid! Have at them!... I know how to use my teeth!... Here, there's one for you, Bear, in your fat hams!... Now then, who wants some more?... Here, that's for the Pig and that's for the Horse and that's for the Bull's tail!... There, I've torn the Beech's trousers and the Oak's petticoat!... The Fir-tree's making tracks!... Whew, it's warm work!...
TYLTYL (_overcome_) I'm done for!... The Cypress has caught me a great blow on the head....
THE DOG Ow!... That's the Willow!... He's broken my paw!...
TYLTYL They're coming back, they're charging down upon us, all together!... This time, it's the Wolf!...
THE DOG Wait till I give him one for himself!...
THE WOLF Fool!... Our brother!... His father drowned your seven puppies!...
THE DOG Quite right!... And a good thing too!... It was because they looked like you!...
ALL THE TREES AND ANIMALS Renegade!... Idiot!... Traitor!... Felon!... Simpleton!... Judas!... Leave him!... He's a dead man!... Come over to us!...
THE DOG (_drunk with ardour and devotion_) Never! Never!... I alone against all of you!... Never! Never!... True to the gods, to the best, to the greatest!... (_To_ TYLTYL) Take care, here's the Bear!... Beware of the Bull!... I'll jump at his throat.... Ow!... That's a kick.... The Ass has broken two of my teeth....
TYLTYL I'm done for, Tylô!... Ah!... That was a blow from the Elm.... Look, my hand's bleeding.... That's the Wolf or the Pig....
THE DOG Wait, my little god.... Let me kiss you.... There, a good lick.... That will do you good.... Keep behind me.... They dare not come again.... Yes, though.... Here they are coming back!... This time, it's serious!.... We must stand firm!...
TYLTYL (_dropping to the ground_) No, I can hold out no longer!...
THE DOG (_listening_) They are coming!... I hear them, I scent them!...
TYLTYL Where?... Who?...
THE DOG There! There!... It's Light!... She has found us!... Saved, my little king!... Kiss me!... We are saved!... Look!... They're alarmed!... They're retreating!... They're afraid!...
TYLTYL Light!... Light!... Come quick!... Hurry!... They have rebelled!... They are all against us!...
_Enter_ LIGHT. _As she comes forward, the dawn rises over the forest, which becomes light_.
LIGHT What is it?... What has happened?... But, my poor boy, didn't you know?... Turn the diamond!... They will return into silence and obscurity; and you will no longer perceive their hidden feelings....
(TYLTYL _turns the diamond. Immediately, the souls of all the_ TREES _rush back into the trunks, which close again. The souls of the_ ANIMALS _also disappear; and a peaceful_ COW _and_ SHEEP, _etc., are seen browsing in the distance. The Forest becomes harmless once more_, TYLTYL _looks around him in amazement_.)
TYLTYL Where are they?... What was the matter with them?... Were they mad?...
LIGHT No, they are always like that; but we do not know it because we do not see it.... I told you so before; it is dangerous to wake them when I am not there....
TYLTYL (_wiping his knife_) Well, but for the Dog and if I had not had my knife!... I would never have believed that they were so wicked!...
LIGHT You see that Man is all alone against all in this world....
THE DOG Are you very badly hurt, my little god?...
TYLTYL Nothing serious.... As for Mytyl, they have not touched her.... But you, my dear Tylô?... Your mouth is all over blood and your paw is broken!...
THE DOG It is not worth speaking of.... It won't show to-morrow.... But it was a tough fight!...
THE CAT (_appearing from behind a thicket, limping_) I should think so!... The Ox caught me a blow with his horns in the stomach.... You can't see the marks, but it's very painful.... And the Oak broke my paw....
THE DOG I should like to know which one....
MYTYL (_stroking the_ CAT) My poor Tylette, did he really?.... Where were you?... I did not see you....
THE CAT (_hypocritically_) Mummy dear, I was wounded at the first, while attacking that horrid Pig, who wanted to eat you.... And then the Oak gave me a great blow which struck me senseless....
THE DOG (_to the_ CAT, _between his teeth_) As for you, I want a word with you presently.... It will keep!...
THE CAT (_plaintively, to_ MYTYL) Mummy dear, he's insulting me.... He wants to hurt me....
MYTYL (_to the_ DOG) Leave him alone, will you, you ugly beast?...
(_They all go out_.)
CURTAIN
## ACT IV
## SCENE 1.--_Before the Curtain_.
_The curtain represents beautiful clouds_
(_Enter_ TYLTYL, MYTYL, LIGHT, _the_ DOG, _the_ CAT, BREAD, FIRE, SUGAR, WATER _and_ MILK.)
LIGHT I believe we have the Blue Bird this time. I ought to have thought of it before. But the idea came to me, like a ray from the sky, this morning only, when I recovered my strengthen the dawn.... We are at the entrance to the enchanted palaces where all men's Joys, all men's Happinesses are gathered together in the charge of Fate.
TYLTYL Are there many of them? Shall we have any? Are they little?
LIGHT Some are little and some are great; some are coarse and some are delicate; some are very beautiful and others not so pleasant to look upon.... But the ugliest were expelled from the garden some time ago and took refuge with the Miseries. For we must not forget that the Miseries inhabit an adjoining cave, which communicates with the Garden of Happiness and is separated from it only by a sort of vapour or fine veil, lifted at every moment by the winds that blow from the heights of Justice or from the depths of Eternity.... What we have now to do is to organise ourselves and take certain precautions. Generally, the Joys are very good; but, still, there are some of them that are more dangerous and treacherous than the greatest Miseries.
BREAD I have an idea! If they are dangerous and treacherous, would it not be better for us all to wait at the door, so that we may lend a hand to the children should they be obliged to fly?....
THE DOG Not at all! Not at all! I mean to go everywhere with my little gods! Let those who are afraid remain at the door! We have no need (_looking at_ BREAD) of cowards (_looking at the_ CAT) or traitors!...
FIRE I'm going!... I hear it's great fun!... They dance all the time....
BREAD Do they have any eating as well?
WATER (_moaning_) I have never known the smallest Happiness!... I should like to see some at last!....
LIGHT Hold your tongues! Who asked your opinions?... This is what I have decided: the Dog, Bread and Sugar shall go with the children. Water shall stay outside, because she is too cold, and Fire, because he is too turbulent. I strongly urge Milk to remain at the door, because he is so impressionable. As for the Cat, he can do as he likes.....
THE CAT I shall take the opportunity of calling on the chief Miseries of my acquaintance, who live next door to the Joys....
TYLTYL And you, Light? Aren't you coming?
LIGHT I cannot go into the Joys like this: most of them cannot endure me. But I have here the thick veil with which I cover myself when I visit happy people.... (_She unfolds a long veil and wraps herself in it carefully_.) Not a ray of my soul must startle them, for there are many Happinesses that are afraid and are not happy.... There... like this, even the ugliest and coarsest of them will have nothing to fear....
(_The curtain opens and discloses the next Scene_)
## SCENE 2.--_The Palace of Happiness_.
_When the curtain of clouds opens, the stage represents, in the forefront of the palace, a sort of hall formed of tall marble columns, between which hang heavy purple draperies, supported by golden ropes and concealing all the background. The architecture suggests the most sensual and sumptuous moments of the Venetian or Flemish Renascence, as seen in the pictures of Veronese or Rubens, with garlands, horns of plenty, fringes, vases, statues, gildings, lavishly distributed on every side. In the middle stands a massive and marvellous table of jasper and silver-gilt, laden with candlesticks, glass, gold and silver plate and fabulous viands. Around the table, the biggest luxuries of the Earth sit eating, drinking, shouting, singing, tossing and lolling about or sleeping among the haunches of venison, the miraculous fruits, the overturned jars and ewers. They are enormously, incredibly fat and red in the face, covered with velvet and brocade, crowned with gold and pearls and precious stones. Beautiful female slaves incessantly bring decorated dishes and foaming beverages. Vulgar, blatantly hilarious music, in which the brasses predominate. The stage is bathed in a red and heavy light_.
(TYLTYL, MYTYL, _the_ DOG, BREAD _and_ SUGAR _are a little awestruck at first end crowd round_ LIGHT _in the foreground, to the right. The_ CAT, _without a word, walks to the background, also to the right, lifts a dark curtain and disappears_.)
TYLTYL Who are those fat gentlemen enjoying themselves and eating such a lot of good things?
LIGHT They are the biggest Luxuries of the Earth, the ones that can be seen with the naked eye. It is possible, though not very likely, that the Blue Bird may have strayed among them for a moment. That is why you must not turn the diamond yet. For form's sake, we will begin by searching this part of the hall.
TYLTYL Can we go up to them?
LIGHT Certainly. They are not ill-natured, although they are vulgar and usually rather ill-bred.
MYTYL What beautiful cakes they have!....
THE DOG And such game! And sausages! And legs of lamb and calves' liver!... There is nothing nicer or lovelier in the world than liver!...
BREAD Except quartern-loaves made of fine white flour! They have splendid ones!... How lovely they are! How lovely they are!...
SUGAR I beg your pardon, I beg your pardon, I beg a thousand pardons.... Allow me, allow me.... I would not like to hurt anybody's feelings; but are you not forgetting the sweetmeats, which form the glory of that table and which, if I may say so, surpass in grandeur and magnificence all that exists in this hall, or perhaps anywhere else?...
TYLTYL How pleased and happy they look!... And they are shouting! And laughing! And singing!... I believe they have seen us....
(_A dozen of the biggest_ LUXURIES _have risen from table and now, holding their stomachs in their hands, advance laboriously towards the_ CHILDREN.)
LIGHT Have no fear, they are very affable.... They will probably invite you to dinner.... Do not accept, do not accept anything, lest you should forget your mission....
TYLTYL What? Not even a tiny cake? They look so good, so fresh, so well iced with sugar, covered with candied fruits and brimming over with cream!...
LIGHT They are dangerous and would break your will. A man should know how to sacrifice something to the duty he is performing. Refuse politely, but firmly.
THE BIGGEST OF THE LUXURIES (_holding out his hand to_ TYLTYL) How do you do, Tyltyl?...
TYLTYL (_surprised_) Why, do you know me?... Who are you?...
THE LUXURY I am the biggest of the Luxuries, the Luxury of Being Rich; and I come, in the name of my brothers, to beg you and your family to honour our endless repast with your presence. You will find yourself surrounded by all that is best among the real, big Luxuries of this Earth. Allow me to introduce to you the chief of them. Here is my son-in-law, the Luxury of Being a Landowner, who has a stomach shaped like a pear. This is the Luxury of Satisfied Vanity, who has such a nice, puffy face, (_The_ LUXURY OF SATISFIED VANITY _gives a patronising nod_.) These are the Luxury of Drinking when you are not Thirsty and the Luxury of Eating when you are not Hungry: they are twins and their legs are made of macaroni. (_They bow, staggering_.) Here are the Luxury of Knowing Nothing, who is as deaf as a post, and the Luxury of Understanding Nothing, who is as blind as a bat. Here are the Luxury of Doing Nothing and the Luxury of Sleeping more than Necessary: their hands are made of bread-crumb and their eyes of peach-jelly. Lastly, here is Fat Laughter: his mouth is split from ear to ear and he is irresistible....
(FAT LAUGHTER _bows, writhing and holding his sides_.)
TYLTYL (_pointing to a_ LUXURY _who is standing a little on one side_) And who is that one, who dares not come up to us and who is turning his back?...
THE LUXURY OF BEING RICH Do not ask about him: he is a little awkward and is not fit to be introduced to children.... (_Seizing_ TYLTYL'S _hands_) But come along! They are beginning the banquet all over again.... It is the twelfth time since this morning. We are only waiting for you.... Do you hear all the revellers calling and shouting for you?... I cannot introduce you to all of them, there are so many of them.... (_Offering his arm to the two children_) Allow me to lead you to the two seats of honour....
TYLTYL No, thank you very much, Mr. Luxury.... I am so sorry.... I can't come for the moment.... We are in a great hurry, we are looking for the Blue Bird. You don't happen to know, I suppose, where he is hiding?
THE LUXURY The Blue Bird?... Wait a bit.... Yes, I remember.... Some one was telling me about him the other day.... He is a bird, that is not good to eat, I believe.... At any rate, he has never figured on our table.... That means that we have a poor opinion of him. But don't trouble; we have much better things.... You shall share our life, you shall see all that we do....
TYLTYL What do you do?
THE LUXURY Why, we occupy ourselves incessantly in doing nothing.... We never have a moment's rest.... We have to drink, we have to eat, we have to sleep. It's most engrossing....
TYLTYL Is it amusing?
THE LUXURY Why, yes.... It needs must be; it's all there is on this Earth....
LIGHT Do you think so?...
THE LUXURY (_pointing to_ LIGHT, _aside, to_ TYLTYL) Who is that ill-bred young person?...
(_During the whole of the preceding conversation a crowd of_ LUXURIES _of the second order have been busying themselves with the_ DOG, SUGAR _and_ BREAD _and have dragged them to the orgie_. TYLTYL _suddenly sees them seated fraternally at the table with their hosts, eating, drinking and flinging themselves about wildly_.)
TYLTYL Why, look, Light!... They are sitting at the table!...
LIGHT Call them back, or this will have a bad end!...
TYLTYL Tylô!... Here, Tylô!... Come here at once, will you? Do you hear?... And you too, Sugar and Bread, who told you to leave me?... What are you doing there, without permission?
BREAD (_speaking with his mouth full_) Can't you keep a civil tongue in your mouth?...
TYLTYL What? Is Bread daring to be impertinent?... Why, what's come over you?... And you, Tylô?... Is that the way you obey? Now then, come here, on your knees, on your knees!... And look sharp!...
THE DOG (_muttering, from the end of the table_) When I'm eating, I'm at home to nobody and I hear nothing....
SUGAR (_honey-mouthed_) Pardon us, we could not possibly leave such charming hosts so abruptly: they would be offended....
THE LUXURY You see!... They are setting you an example.... Come, we are waiting for you.... We won't hear of a refusal.... We shall have to resort to a gentle violence.... Come, you Luxuries, help me!... Let us push them to the table by force, so that they may be happy in spite of themselves!... (_All the_ LUXURIES, _uttering cries of joy and skipping about as nimbly as they are able, drag the_ CHILDREN, _who struggle, while_ FAT LAUGHTER _seizes_ LIGHT _vigorously round the waist_.)
LIGHT Turn the diamond, it is time!...