Chapter VI: Ornis. Alwyn. Shy

[_With a gesture of startled wildness_, TACITA _breaks abruptly from
her rhythmic motions, and flees into the wood, while simultaneously
from the other side there enters, swift but staggering_, ORNIS—_a
maiden, garbed symbolically as a bird. On one of her wing-like
sleeves blood shows. With shrill, melodious cry, she flutters
forward._]

ORNIS

Ee-ó-lee! O-rée-o! Sanctuary!

[_Swaying, she falls to the ground._ ALWYN _and_ SHY _spring toward
her_.]

ALWYN

Help, Shy! She falls!

SHY

[_At_ ORNIS’ _side_.]

Wing-struck! Here’s blood.

ALWYN

That shot?

SHY

The gun of Stark.

[_Seeking to lift her._]

Up, birdling! Here is Shy.

ORNIS

[_Droops, moaning._]

O-rée-o!

SHY

Quick! Bring Quercus.

ALWYN

[_Hastening off._]

In a jot.

SHY

[_Soothingly strokes_ ORNIS’ _arm and shoulder_.]

So—so! Dew water soon makes well. So—so!

ORNIS

[_Moans dazedly._]

Ir-re-o! P’tee!

QUERCUS

[_Reëntering with_ ALWYN.]

Here, master!

SHY

[_Pointing._]

Water!—There!

ALWYN

The bird bath!

QUERCUS

[_Dipping his plant pitcher, hastens with it to_ SHY.]

Coming!

SHY

Sprinkle.

QUERCUS

[_Sprinkling water upon_ ORNIS, _sings gaily_.]

Ó-ree-o!
When shawes ben sheen and shraddes full fair,
And leaves both large and long,
’Tis merry walking in the fair forést
To hear the small birds’ song!

[ORNIS _revives_.]

SHY

[_Assisting her._]

Now, gently!

ALWYN

[_Bending over her, calls low._]

Ornis!—Sister!

ORNIS

_Who_ calls? Where
Am I?

ALWYN

In sanctuary. Have no fear.

ORNIS

[_Looking from one to the other._]

Ah, me! But what are these?

SHY

Your brothers, dear.

ORNIS

My brothers—they are birds. But you are Man.

ALWYN

Through Tacita you know us now; we can
Speak to each other. Ornis!—Hark.

ORNIS

[_Rising in glad wonder._]

At last!—
At last!

ALWYN

A thousand ages—they are past,
And dumbness, like a dream,
Sinks with them into sleep. We are awake,
And each to each
Can bid good-morning in our common speech.

ORNIS

How sweet and strange! Are we indeed awaking
From callous slumber and old wrong?
So sorrowfully long
The hand of Man has wrought my birds’ heartbreaking!—
Was it a savage dream?
Methought I sat on Morning’s golden beam
And sang of God’s wild gladness: High and higher
I showered His temple woods with ecstasy;
When suddenly
The earth screamed thunder, and a singeing fire
Shattered my wing. I fell.—
Groping in flight, my feet stuck fast
In smear of lime; swift from below
A tangling net was cast
Where, panting upward, a black hell
Of bloody mouths barked under me;
And there beside them—oh,
There watched, with eyes of wanton cruelty,
A man—bright clothed in many-colored plumes
Of my dead sisters. “Save me from their dooms,”
I cried, “O Sanctuary!”

ALWYN

And you woke
With us, your brothers—healed.

ORNIS

[_With wonder._]

Oh, have you heard
What now I spoke?
And can we answer truly, word for word?

[_Curiously._]

Alwyn!

ALWYN

You know my name?

ORNIS

[_Turning eagerly from one to the other._]

Shy!

SHY

[_Smiling._]

No mistake!

ORNIS

Quercus!

QUERCUS

[_Skipping with a bow._]

Your birdship’s faun!

ORNIS

[_Laughing joyously._]

Good-morning, brothers!

ALWYN

When have you known us?

ORNIS

Many an age and long!
No syllable has bubbled in your song
But I have blown it first from yonder trees:

[_To_ SHY.]

No brooding-place of yours—but _I_ was in the breeze;

[_To_ QUERCUS.]

And ever to your whistle
I pipe the last note from the nearest thistle.

[TACITA _appears remotely_.]

O beautiful my brothers!
O dryad dear, I thank you! In your dawn,
How brave it is to speak with Man and Faun
As mates and fellows. Quick! Fetch me still others.

[_A crashing resounds in the thicket_. TACITA _disappears_.]

Who’s coming now?

SHY

Still others—our fellow man.

ORNIS

I hear a breaking bough.

ALWYN

Kind hearts and cruel are one clan.

ORNIS

Hark! Surely ’tis some strange distress.
Come, brothers, let us look:
It may be one who needs our friendliness.
Come with me!

ALWYN

[_Calling off scene._]

Stand there! Stay beyond the brook.

QUERCUS

[_With excited gestures._]

Back, ho!

ORNIS

[_Suddenly recoiling with a cry._]

Ah, save me!

[_She flies to their protection_. QUERCUS _also scampers back
fearfully, and hides_.]