Chapter X

TACITA. QUERCUS. STARK. ORNIS. SHY. ALWYN.

STARK

[_To_ ORNIS.]

Look, sister: friends are coming.
Now lead us to their shrine close by.

ORNIS

Oh, first let all make joy of this our union!
For now my glad heart, like a partridge drumming,
Calls for my mates to join us, all together,
In frolicsome communion.
Ho, Quercus, Quercus, call them!—Tacita,
Summon them with your fairy feet!

QUERCUS

[_Bounding forward._]

Holá!

ALWYN

[_Taking from his pouch_ QUERCUS’ _pipe_.]

Call loud and long!
Here’s our old pipe, to carry a new song.

[ALWYN _puts the pipe to his lips, while_ QUERCUS _sings to it,
calling to the birds. At the end_, QUERCUS _begs in pantomime for
the pipe which_ ALWYN, _smiling, restores to him_.]

QUERCUS

Come here, come here, you little comrades coy,
From hill and swamp and heather:
Make joy, make joy
Together!—
Tawny beak and scarlet vest,
Slant wing and sleek feather,
Bulging bill and cocking crest,
Hither!
Tumble out of nest,
Topple out of windy weather
Here, holá!
With preenings quaint,
Purple dyes and crimson paint,
Here, holá, in merry state!
Up from dew-grass, down from aerie,
Tacita—Tacita
Summons you to dedicate
Here her sanctuary!

[_While_ QUERCUS _calls, from all sides Birds of many species and
colors—like_ ORNIS _human in form—gather, and peer from the edges
of the scene. To these_ TACITA _now beckons, and by her gesture
summons to her dance, while_ QUERCUS _plays joyously on his pipe_.]

ORNIS

Bird and faun and man and fairy,
Gather now to sanctuary!

[TACITA _first dances alone, then with_ QUERCUS; _then, inviting and
leading them all in pied procession, she marshals all away into her
woodland shrine_.]

FINIS