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!...