VI
Ornis. Alwyn. Shy.
[With a gesture of startled wildness, Tacita breaks abruptly from her rhythmic motions, and flees into the wood, while simultaneously from the other side there enters, swift but staggering, Ornis—a maiden, garbed symbolically as a bird. On one of her wing-like sleeves blood shows. With shrill, melodious cry, she flutters forward.]
ORNIS
Ee-ó-lee! O-rée-o! Sanctuary!
[Swaying, she falls to the ground. Alwyn and Shy spring toward her.]
ALWYN
Help, Shy! She falls!
SHY
[At Ornis’ side.]
Wing-struck! Here’s blood.
ALWYN
That shot?
SHY
The gun of Stark.
[Seeking to lift her.]
Up, birdling! Here is Shy.
ORNIS
[Droops, moaning.]
O-rée-o!
SHY
Quick! Bring Quercus.
ALWYN
[Hastening off.]
In a jot.
SHY
[Soothingly strokes Ornis’ arm and shoulder.]
So—so! Dew water soon makes well. So—so!
ORNIS
[Moans dazedly.]
Ir-re-o! P’tee!
QUERCUS
[Reëntering with Alwyn.]
Here, master!
SHY
[Pointing.]
Water!—There!
ALWYN
The bird bath!
QUERCUS
[Dipping his plant pitcher, hastens with it to Shy.]
Coming!
SHY
Sprinkle.
QUERCUS
[Sprinkling water upon Ornis, sings gaily.]
Ó-ree-o!
When shawes ben sheen and shraddes full fair,
And leaves both large and long,
’Tis merry walking in the fair forést
To hear the small birds’ song!
[Ornis revives.]
SHY
[Assisting her.]
Now, gently!
ALWYN
[Bending over her, calls low.]
Ornis!—Sister!
ORNIS
Who calls? Where
Am I?
ALWYN
In sanctuary. Have no fear.
ORNIS
[Looking from one to the other.]
Ah, me! But what are these?
SHY
Your brothers, dear.
ORNIS
My brothers—they are birds. But you are Man.
ALWYN
Through Tacita you know us now; we can
Speak to each other. Ornis!—Hark.
ORNIS
[Rising in glad wonder.]
At last!—
At last!
ALWYN
A thousand ages—they are past,
And dumbness, like a dream,
Sinks with them into sleep. We are awake,
And each to each
Can bid good-morning in our common speech.
ORNIS
How sweet and strange! Are we indeed awaking
From callous slumber and old wrong?
So sorrowfully long
The hand of Man has wrought my birds’ heartbreaking!—
Was it a savage dream?
Methought I sat on Morning’s golden beam
And sang of God’s wild gladness: High and higher
I showered His temple woods with ecstasy;
When suddenly
The earth screamed thunder, and a singeing fire
Shattered my wing. I fell.—
Groping in flight, my feet stuck fast
In smear of lime; swift from below
A tangling net was cast
Where, panting upward, a black hell
Of bloody mouths barked under me;
And there beside them—oh,
There watched, with eyes of wanton cruelty,
A man—bright clothed in many-colored plumes
Of my dead sisters. “Save me from their dooms,”
I cried, “O Sanctuary!”
ALWYN
And you woke
With us, your brothers—healed.
ORNIS
[With wonder.]
Oh, have you heard
What now I spoke?
And can we answer truly, word for word?
[Curiously.]
Alwyn!
ALWYN
You know my name?
ORNIS
[Turning eagerly from one to the other.]
Shy!
SHY
[Smiling.]
No mistake!
ORNIS
Quercus!
QUERCUS
[Skipping with a bow.]
Your birdship’s faun!
ORNIS
[Laughing joyously.]
Good-morning, brothers!
ALWYN
When have you known us?
ORNIS
Many an age and long!
No syllable has bubbled in your song
But I have blown it first from yonder trees:
[To Shy.]
No brooding-place of yours—but I was in the breeze;
[To Quercus.]
And ever to your whistle
I pipe the last note from the nearest thistle.
[Tacita appears remotely.]
O beautiful my brothers!
O dryad dear, I thank you! In your dawn,
How brave it is to speak with Man and Faun
As mates and fellows. Quick! Fetch me still others.
[A crashing resounds in the thicket. Tacita disappears.]
Who’s coming now?
SHY
Still others—our fellow man.
ORNIS
I hear a breaking bough.
ALWYN
Kind hearts and cruel are one clan.
ORNIS
Hark! Surely ’tis some strange distress.
Come, brothers, let us look:
It may be one who needs our friendliness.
Come with me!
ALWYN
[Calling off scene.]
Stand there! Stay beyond the brook.
QUERCUS
[With excited gestures.]
Back, ho!
ORNIS
[Suddenly recoiling with a cry.]
Ah, save me!
[She flies to their protection. Quercus also scampers back fearfully, and hides.]