The Pheasant-hen
The language of birds.
Chantecler
Indeed?
The Pheasant-hen
For, you know, the birds when they say their prayers speak the common language, but when they chat together in private they use a twittering dialect, wholly onomatopoetic.
Chantecler
They talk Japanese. [The Woodpecker knocks three times with his bill on the tree: Rat-tat-tat!] Come in!
The Woodpecker
[Appearing, indignant.] Japanese, did you say?
Chantecler
Yes. Some of them say, Tio! Tio! and others say Tzoui! Tzoui!
The Woodpecker
Birds have talked Greek ever since Aristophanes!
Chantecler
[Rushing to the Pheasant-hen.] Oh, for the love of Greek! [They bill.]
The Woodpecker
Know, profane youth, that the Black-chat’s cry Ouis-ouis-tra-tra, is a corruption of the word Lysistrata! [Disappears.]
The Pheasant-hen
[To Chantecler.] Will you never love anyone but me?