The Guinea-hen
He insults me in my own house. Sensational!
Chantecler
False hero whom Fashion has taken for leader, you walk in such terror of appearing behindhand to the eyes of your own tail that your throat is blue with it! But, urged forward, on and on, by every staring eye upon it, you will fall at last, breathless for good and all, and end in the false immortality bestowed, false artist, by the—[Imitating the manner of the Peacock.] shall I say bird-stuffer?
The Guinea-hen
[Mechanically.] Yes!
Chantecler
No. Taxidermist,—to use the word you would prefer. That, my dear Peacock, is what I wished to say.
The Blackbird
Bang!
Chantecler
[Turning toward him.] As for you—
The Blackbird
Fire away!
Chantecler
I will! You became acquainted one grey morning with a city sparrow, did you not tell us so? That was your ruin. You have been possessed ever since with the desire to appear like one yourself.
The Blackbird
But—
Chantecler
From that hour, unresting, acting the sparrow night and day, the sparrow even in sleep, self-condemned to play the sparrow without respite, you have appeared—famous jay!