The Toads
[Lost among the grass.] Croak!
Chantecler
The squirrel steals down from the lofty tree-tops. The whole vast forest is stirred by a thrill of brotherliness.
The Toads
[Out of sight.]—roak!
Chantecler
The echo alone now repeats—
Faint Distant Voice
—oak!
Chantecler
Gone! Gone are the Toads!
[Music holds the night: a song without words, delicate volleys of rapturous notes.]
Chantecler
The Glow-worms have lighted their small, green lamps. All that is good comes forth, while hate shrinks back to its lair. Now they that shall be eaten lay themselves down in the grass by the side of them that shall eat them. The Star of a sudden looks nearer to earth, and forsaking her web the Spider draws herself up toward your song, climbing by her own silken thread.
All the Forest
[In a moan of ecstasy.] Ah!
[And the forest lies as if under a spell; the moonlight is softer, the tender green fire of the glow-worm shines blinking among the moss; on all sides, between the tree-boles creep, shadow-like, the charmed beasts; eyes shine, moist muzzles point toward the source of the music. The Woodpecker stands at his bark window, dreamily nodding; all the Rabbits, with uppricked ears, sit at their earthen doors.]