Синяя птица / The blue Bird. Уровень 1

The Fairy said she did not want to dress her at all! She is nice as she is.

Fire. It’s necessary to buy her a lampshade!

The Cat. Stop chattering[16 - Stop chattering. – Хватит болтать.]. Our future is at stake. The Fairy says that the end of this journey will, at the same time, mark the end of our lives. It is our business, therefore, to prolong it as much as possible. But there is another thing: we must think of the fate of our race and the destiny of our children.

Bread. Hear, hear! The Cat is right!

The Cat.

Listen to me! All of us here possess a soul which man does not yet know. That is why we retain independence. But, if people find the Blue Bird, they will know all, and they will see all. My old friend, Night, told me so. She is the guardian of the mysteries of Life. It is to our interest, therefore, to prevent the finding of that bird. Even if we endanger the lives of the Children themselves.

The Dog (indignantly). What’s the Cat saying? Just say that again, will you.

Do I heard right?

Bread. Order! Order! It’s not your turn to speak!

Fire. Who made you chairman?

Water (to Fire). Hold your tongue![17 - Hold your tongue! – Попридержи язык!]None of your business[18 - None of your business. – Не твоё дело.].

Fire. I speak when I want. And I want none of your remarks.

Sugar. Excuse me. Do not let us quarrel. This is a serious moment. We must decide what to do.

Bread. I quite agree with Sugar and the Cat.

The Dog.

This is ridiculous! There is Man and that’s all! We must obey him and do as he tells us! That is the fact! Hurrah for Man! Man for ever! In life or death, all for Man! Man is God!

Bread. I quite agree with the Dog.

The Cat (to the Dog). Give your reasons.

The Dog. There are no reasons! I love Man and that’s enough! If you do anything against him, I will throttle you first and I will go and tell him everything.

Sugar (sweetly). Excuse me. Let us not embitter the discussion. From a certain point of view, you are both right.

Bread. I quite agree with Sugar!

The Cat. Are we not, all of us, Water, Fire you yourselves, Bread and the Dog, the victims of a nameless tyranny? Do you remember the time when, before the despot, we wandered at liberty upon the earth? Fire and Water were the sole masters of the world. And we, puny descendants of the great wild animals… Look out! I see the Fairy and Light. Light is with Man; she is our worst enemy.