Wait! Grey-headed babbler!
Thy death is not far off!
King Dodon
(smiling pitifully).
Thou art still joking, my dear!
Queen of Shemakhan.
No! Already we have had a sorry jest.
(They ascend the staircase. Suddenly the cock begins to fly and circles above their heads. All wave him off with their hands.)
Voice of the Bird.
Cock-a-doodle-do!
I shall peck the old man on the crown of his head!