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Edmond Rostand - Chantecler

Edmond Rostand - Chantecler An Excerpt from the book- IThe customary three knocks are heard. The drop-curtain wavers and isrising, when a voice rings out, "Not yet!" and the_ MANAGER, _agentleman of important mien in evening dress, springing from hisproscenium box, hurries toward the stage, repeating, "Not yet!"__The curtain is again lowered. The_ MANAGER _turns toward the audience,and resting one hand on the prompter's box, addresses them:_The curtain is a wall,--a flying wall. Assured that presently the wallwill fly--why haste? Is it not charming to delay--and just look at itfor a while?Charming to sit before a great red wall, hanging beneath two gilt masksand a scroll--The thrilling moment is when the curtain thrills, andsounds come from the other side.You are desired to-night to listen to those sounds and entering thescene before you see it, to wonder and surmise--_Bending his ear, the_ MANAGER _listens to the sounds now beginning tocome from behind the curtain._A footstep--is it a road? A flutter of wings--is it a garden?_The curtain here rippling as if about to rise, the_ MANAGER_precipitately shouts, "Stop!--Do not raise it yet!" Then again bendinghis ear, continues making note of the noises, clear or confused, singleor combined, that from this onward come without stop from behindthe curtain._A magpie cawing flies away. Great wooden shoes come running over flags.A courtyard, is it?--If so above a valley--from whence that softenedclamour of birds and barking dogs.More and more clearly the scene suggests itself--Magically soundcreates an atmosphere!--A sheep bell tinkles intermittently--Since thereis grazing, we may look for grass.A tree, too--a tree must rustle in the breeze, for a bullfinch warbleshis little native song; and a blackbird whistling the song he has caughtby ear, implies, we may presume, a wicker cage. Bǖy thё thìnɡ Уou wаnt!t! Híɡh perf0rmαncе wìth lοω c0st!