Морис Метерлинк
Синяя птица / The blue Bird. Уровень 1

Maurice Maeterlinck

The Blue Bird

© Матвеев С. А., адаптация текста

© ООО «Издательство АСТ», 2021

1. A Wood-Cutter’s Cottage

A wood-cutter’s cottage, simple and rustic. A fireplace, kitchen utensils, a cupboard, a bread-pan[1], a grandfather’s clock, a spinning-wheel, a water-tap. On a table, a lamp. A Dog and a Cat are sleeping at the foot of the cupboard. Between them stands a large blue-and-white sugar-loaf[2]. On the wall hangs a round cage with a turtle-dove[3]. At the back, two windows, with closed shutters. Under one of the windows, a stool. On the left is the front door, with a big latch. On the right, another door. A ladder to a loft. On the right also are two little children’s cots, at the head of which are two chains, with clothes on them. Tyltyl and Mytyl are sleeping in their cots, Mummy Tyl leans over them, and watches them for a moment. Then she goes out.

The lamp on the table lights. The two children wake and sit up in bed.

Tyltyl. Mytyl?

Mytyl. Tyltyl?

Tyltyl. Are you sleeping?

Mytyl. And you?

Tyltyl. No; how can I sleep when I’m talking to you?

Mytyl. Is this Christmas Day?

Tyltyl. Not yet; not till tomorrow. But Father Christmas won’t bring us anything this year.

Mytyl. Why not?

Tyltyl. Mummy says that she can’t go to town to tell him. But he will come next year. He will come to the rich children tonight.

Mytyl. Really?

Tyltyl. Of course. I have an idea!

Mytyl. What?

Tyltyl. Let’s get up!

Mytyl. But we mustn’t.

Tyltyl. Why, there’s no one about. Do you see the shutters?

Mytyl. Oh, how bright they are!

Tyltyl. It’s the Christmas-tree of the rich children. Let’s open the shutters.

Mytyl. Can we?

Tyltyl. Of course; no one will stop us. Do you hear the music? Let us get up!

The two children get up, run to one of the windows, and throw back the shutters. A bright light fills the room.

Tyltyl. We can see everything!

Mytyl. I can’t.

Tyltyl. It’s snowing! There are two carriages, with six horses each!

Mytyl. And twelve little boys!

Tyltyl. How silly you are! They’re little girls.

Mytyl. They’ve got trousers.

Tyltyl. What do you know? Don’t push so!

Mytyl. I never touched you.

Tyltyl. I see the tree!

Mytyl. What tree?

Tyltyl. The Christmas-tree! Lots and lots of lights!

Mytyl. What are those people doing? They are making such a noise.

Tyltyl. They’re the musicians.

Mytyl. Are they angry?

Tyltyl. No; but they work hard.

Mytyl. Another carriage with white horses!

Tyltyl. Be quiet! And look!

Mytyl. What are those gold things there?

Tyltyl. Toys! Swords, guns, soldiers, cannons.

Mytyl. And dolls; are there any dolls?

Tyltyl. Dolls? That’s too silly; dolls are not funny.

Mytyl. And what’s that all round the table?

Tyltyl. Cakes and fruit and tarts.

Mytyl. I had some once when I was little.

Tyltyl. So did I; it’s nicer than bread, but it’s very little.

Mytyl. They’ve got many tarts there. The whole table’s full. Are they going to eat them?

Tyltyl. Of course; what else will they do with them?

Mytyl. Why don’t they eat them at once?

Tyltyl. Because they’re not hungry.

Mytyl (surprised). Not hungry? Why not?

Tyltyl. Because they eat whenever they want.

Mytyl (incredulously). Every day?

Tyltyl. They say so.

Mytyl. Will they eat it all? Will they give some cakes to us?

Tyltyl. They don’t know us.

Mytyl. Let’s ask them.

Tyltyl. We mustn’t.

Mytyl. Why not?

Tyltyl. Because it’s not right.

Mytyl (clapping her hands[4]). Oh, how pretty they are!

Tyltyl. And how they’re laughing and laughing!

Mytyl. And the little babies are dancing!

Tyltyl. Yes, yes; let’s dance too!

Mytyl. Oh, what fun!

Tyltyl. They’re taking the cakes! They can touch them! They’re eating, they’re eating, they’re eating!

Mytyl. Two, three, four cakes!

Tyltyl. Oh, how lovely! Oh, how lovely, how lovely!

A knock at the door of the cottage.

Tyltyl (frightened). What’s that?

Mytyl (scared). It’s Daddy!

The big latch is rising, with a noise. The children see a little old woman dressed in green with a red hood on her head. She is humpbacked and lame and near-sighted; her nose and chin meet; and she walks with a stick. She is obviously a fairy.

The Fairy. Do you have the grass here that sings or the bird that is blue?

Tyltyl. We have some grass, but it can’t sing.

Mytyl. Tyltyl has a bird.

Tyltyl. But I can’t give it to you.

The Fairy. Why not?

Tyltyl. Because it’s mine.

The Fairy. That’s a reason, no doubt. Where is the bird?

Tyltyl. In the cage.

The Fairy. I don’t want it; it’s not blue enough. You must go and find me the bird I want.

Tyltyl. But I don’t know where it is.

The Fairy. Me too. That’s why you must look for it[5]. And I must have the blue bird. It’s for my little girl, who is very ill.

Tyltyl. What’s the matter with her?

The Fairy. We don’t quite know; she wants to be happy.

Tyltyl. Really?

The Fairy. Do you know who I am?

Tyltyl. You’re rather like our neighbour, Madame Berlingot.

The Fairy (angrily). Not a bit![6] This is intolerable! I am the Fairy Berylune.

Tyltyl. Oh! Very well.

The Fairy. You must start at once.

Tyltyl. Are you coming with us?

The Fairy. I can’t, my soup always boils over if I leave it for more than an hour. (Pointing to the ceiling, the chimney and the window). Will you go out this way, or that way, or that way?

Tyltyl (pointing timidly to the door). I want to go out that way.

The Fairy (angrily again). That’s quite impossible. It’s shocking! (Pointing to the window) We’ll go out this way. Well? What are you waiting for? Get dressed at once![7]

The children dress quickly.

Tyltyl. We have no shoes.

The Fairy. That doesn’t matter[8]. I will give you a little magic hat. Where are your father and mother?

Tyltyl (pointing to the door on the right). They’re sleeping there.

The Fairy. And your grandfather and grandmother?

Tyltyl. They’re dead.

The Fairy. And your little brothers and sisters. Have you any?

Tyltyl. Oh, yes; three little brothers.

Mytyl. And four little sisters.

The Fairy. Where are they?

Tyltyl. They are dead, too.

The Fairy. Would you like to see them again?

Tyltyl. Oh, yes! At once! Show them to us!

The Fairy. I don’t have them in my pocket. But you will see them when you go through the Land of Memory. It’s on the way to the Blue Bird, just on the left. What were you doing when I knocked?

Tyltyl. We were eating cakes.

The Fairy. Have you any cakes? Where are they?

Tyltyl. In the house of the rich children. We were just playing. Come and look, it’s so lovely. (He drags the Fairy to the window).

The Fairy (at the window). Do you envy them?

Tyltyl. Why?

The Fairy. Because they are eating the cakes.

Tyltyl. Not at all; they’re rich. But isn’t it beautiful over there?

The Fairy. It’s no more beautiful there than here.

Tyltyl. It’s darker here and smaller and there are no cakes.

The Fairy. It’s exactly the same, only you can’t see.

Tyltyl. Yes, I can; and I have very good eyes. I can see the time on the church clock and daddy can’t.

The Fairy (angrily). I tell you that you can’t see! How do you see me? Well, answer me, will you? I want to know if you can see! Am I pretty or ugly? (The silence). Won’t you answer? Am I young or old? Are my cheeks pink or yellow? Perhaps you’ll say I have a hump?

Tyltyl. No, no; it’s not a big one.

The Fairy. Oh. Have I a hook nose? Did I lose one of my eyes?

Tyltyl. Oh, no, I don’t say that. Who put it out?

The Fairy (more and more irritated). Nobody! You wretched, impudent boy! That eye is much finer than the other; it’s bigger and brighter and blue as the sky. And my hair, do you see that? It’s fair as the corn in the fields, it’s like gold! Do you see it on my hands?

Tyltyl. Yes, I see a little.

The Fairy (indignantly). A little! Sheaves! Armfuls! Waves of gold! I know there are people who say that they don’t see any; but you’re not one of those wicked, blind people, I can hope?

Tyltyl. Oh, no; I can see your own hair.

The Fairy. People are very odd! Since the death of the fairies, they see nothing at all. Luckily, I always carry with me something to give new light to dimmed eyes. What am I taking out of my bag?

Tyltyl. Oh, what a dear little green hat! What’s that in the cockade?

The Fairy. That’s the big diamond that makes people see[9].

Tyltyl. Really?

The Fairy. Yes; first the hat on your head. Then turn the diamond a little; from right to left. Do you see? The diamond presses a bump which opens your eyes.

Tyltyl. Doesn’t it hurt?

The Fairy. Not at all. You will see even the inside of things: the soul of bread, of wine, of pepper, for instance.

Mytyl. Can you see the soul of sugar, too?

The Fairy (angrily). Of course you can! I hate unnecessary questions. The soul of pepper is more interesting than the soul of sugar. I give you all that to help you in your search for the Blue Bird. Oh, one more thing. (Pointing to the diamond) When you hold it like this, and when you turn it, you can behold the past. Another little turn and you behold the future. It’s curious and practical and it’s noiseless.

Tyltyl. Daddy will take it from me.

The Fairy. He won’t see it; no one can see it when it’s on your head. Will you try it? (She puts the little green hat on Tyltyl’s head). Now, turn the diamond.

Tyltyl turned the diamond and a sudden and wonderful change came over everything. The old Fairy alters into a princess of marvellous beauty. The flints of the cottage walls turn blue as sapphires, become transparent and gleam and sparkle like the most precious stones. The humble furniture becomes resplendent. The table looks like a table of marble. The face of the clock winks its eye and smiles genially. The door that contains the pendulum opens and releases the Hours. They begin to dance.

Tyltyl (pointing to the Hours). Who are all those pretty ladies?

The Fairy. Don’t be afraid; they are the hours of your life and they are glad to be free and visible for a moment.

Tyltyl. And why are the walls so bright? Are they made of sugar or of precious stones?

The Fairy. All stones are alike, all stones are precious; but man sees only a few of them.

While they are speaking, the souls of the Quartern-loaves[10], in the form of little men scramble out of the bread-pan and frisk round the table. Fire follows them with laughter.

Tyltyl. Who are those ugly little men?

The Fairy. Oh, they are merely the souls of the Quartern-loaves, who left the pan.

Tyltyl. And the big red fellow, with the nasty smell?

The Fairy. Hush! Don’t speak too loud; that’s Fire. He’s dangerous.

The Dog and the Cat utter a loud and simultaneous cry. The Dog rushes upon Tyltyl, kisses him violently and overwhelms him with noisy and impetuous caresses. The Cat combs its hair, and washes its hands. Then it goes to Mytyl.

The Dog (yelling and jumping). My little god! Good-morning, good-morning, my dear little god! At last, at last we can talk! I have so much to tell you! Good-morning, good-morning! I love you!

Tyltyl. (to the Fairy) Who is this?

The Fairy. Don’t you see? It’s the soul of Tylo.

The Cat (going up to Mytyl with much ceremony and circumspection). Good-morning, Miss. How well you look this morning!

Mytyl. Good-morning. (To the Fairy) Who is it?

The Fairy. Why, don’t you see? It’s the soul of Tylette.

The Dog (hustling the Cat). I’ll kiss the little god! I’ll kiss the little girl! I’ll kiss everybody! Oh, I’ll frighten Tylette! Bow, wow, wow!

The Cat. Sir, I don’t know you.

Meanwhile, the spinning-wheel[11] turns madly in its corner and spins brilliant rays of light. The tap begins to sing in a very high voice and turns into a luminous fountain. It floods the sink with pearls and emeralds, through which darts the soul of Water. It’s a young girl, who immediately begins to fight with Fire.

Tyltyl. And who is that wet lady?

The Fairy. Don’t be afraid. It’s just Water from the tap.

The milk-jug falls from the table and smashes on the floor. From the milk there rises a tall, white, bashful figure. It is afraid of everything.

Tyltyl. And who is that frightened lady in her nightgown?

The Fairy. That’s Milk.

The sugar-loaf grows taller and wider. Then a mawkish and hypocritical creature in a long coat, half blue and half white, goes up to Mytyl with a sanctimonious smile.

Mytyl (alarmed). What does he want?

The Fairy. Why, he is the soul of Sugar!

Mytyl (reassured). Has he any sugar-sticks[12]?

The Fairy. His pockets are full of it and each of his fingers is a sugar-stick, too.

The lamp falls from the table and. Its flame turns into a luminous maid of incomparable beauty. She is dressed in long transparent veils and stands motionless.

Tyltyl. It’s the Queen!

Suddenly, the children hear three loud knocks at the door.

Tyltyl (alarmed). That’s daddy!

The Fairy. Turn the diamond! From left to right!

Tyltyl turns the diamond quickly.

The Fairy. Not so quick! It’s too late! You turned it too briskly; we will have a lot of problems.

The Fairy becomes an old woman again, the walls of the cottage lose their splendour. The Hours go back into the clock, the spinning-wheel stops. Fire runs madly round the room, one of the loaves of bread sobs.

The Fairy. What’s the matter?

Bread (in tears). There’s no room in the pan!

The Fairy (looking into the pan). Yes, there is; yes, there is. (Pushing the other loaves). Come, quick.

Somebody knocks again.

Bread (scared). I can’t get in! He’ll eat me first!

The Dog. My little god! I am still here! I can still talk! I can still kiss you! Once more! Once more! Once more!

The Fairy. What, you too? Are you there still?

The Dog. What luck! I was too late to return.

The Cat. Me too. What will happen? Is there any danger?

The Fairy. Well, I must tell you the truth: all those who accompany the two Children will die at the end of the journey.

The Cat (to the Dog). Come, let us get back.

The Dog. No, no! I won’t! I want to go with the little god! I want to talk to him all the time!

The Cat. Idiot!

Somebody knocks again.

Bread (crying). I don’t want to die at the end of the journey! I want to get back into my pan!

Fire. I can’t find my chimney!

Water (trying to get into the tap). I can’t get into the tap!

Sugar. Where is my packing-paper[13]?

Milk. Where is my little jug?

The Fairy. What fools they are! Fools and cowards too! So you prefer to live in your ugly boxes, in your traps and taps, than accompany the Children in search of the bird?

All (excepting the Dog and Light). Yes, yes! Now, at once! My tap! My pan! My chimney! My trap!

The Fairy (to Light). And you, Light, what do you say?

Light. I will go with the children.

The Dog (yelling with delight). I too! I too!

The Fairy. That’s right. Besides, it’s too late to go back; you have no choice now, you must all start with us. But you, Fire, don’t come near anybody; you, Dog, don’t tease the Cat; and you, Water, hold yourself up.

Somebody knocks violently.

Tyltyl (listening). There’s daddy again! I can hear him.

The Fairy. Let us go out by the window. We’ll come to my house, where I will dress the Animals and the Things properly. (To Bread) You, Bread, take the cage for the Blue Bird. Quick, quick!

The window suddenly becomes a door. They all go out; after which the window closes. The room becomes dark again. The door on the right opens ajar and in the aperture appear the heads of Daddy and Mummy Tyl.

Daddy Tyl. Nothing. It’s the cricket.

Mummy Tyl. Can you see them?

Daddy Tyl. I can. They are sleeping.

2. At the Fairy’s

A magnificent entrance-hall in the palace of the Fairy Berylune. Columns of gleaming marble with gold and silver capitals, staircases, porticoes, balustrades.

The Cat, Sugar and Fire come from a room which emits rays of light; it is the Fairy’s wardrobe. The Cat has the classic costume of Puss-in-boots[14]; Sugar, a silk dress, half white and half pale-blue; and Fire wears a long vermilion mantle.

The Cat. This way, I know every inch of this palace. Let us discuss our position. Are we all here?

Sugar. The Dog is coming out of the Fairy’s wardrobe.

Fire. What he got on?

The Cat. The livery of one of the footmen of Cinderella’s coach. It is just for him. He has the soul of a flunkey. But let us hide behind the balustrade. I mistrust him. He must not hear what I say to you.

Sugar. It is too late. He sees us. Look, Water is also coming out of the wardrobe. How fine she is!

The Dog and Water join the first group.

The Dog. There! There! Aren’t we fine! Just look at these laces and this embroidery! It’s real gold!

The Cat. We are only waiting for Bread; where is he?

Fire. He has such a foolish face and carries an enormous stomach!

The Dog. He decided to put a Turkish robe on, a scimitar and a turban.

The Cat. There he is!

Bread comes in. In one hand he holds a scimitar and in the other the cage for the Blue Bird.

Bread. Well? What do you think of this?

The Dog. How nice he looks! What a fool he looks! How nice he looks! How nice he looks!

The Cat (to the Bread). Are the Children dressed?

Bread. Yes, Master Tyltyl put on Hop-o’-my-Thumb’s[15] blue jacket and red breeches. Miss Mytyl has Gretel’s frock and Cinderella’s slippers. But the most difficult thing was to dress Light!

The Cat. Why?

Bread. 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]. 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] None of your business[18].

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. Here they are.

The Fairy is in the shape of an old woman. She is coming with Light, Tyltyl and Mytyl.

The Fairy. Well? What is it? What are you doing in that corner? You look like conspirators. It is time to start. Listen to me. Light will be your leader. You will obey her. I am giving her my wand. The Children will visit their late grandparents[19] this evening. They will spend the evening with their dead family. Meanwhile, you will prepare all that is wanted for tomorrow’s journey. It will be long.

The Cat (hypocritically). That is just what I was saying to them, madam. I was encouraging them to do their duty bravely and conscientiously. Unfortunately, the Dog interrupted me.

The Dog. What’s that? Just wait a bit I…

He wants to leap upon the Cat, but Tyltyl stops him.

Tyltyl. Tylo! If I catch you again…

The Dog. My little god, you don’t know, it was the Cat who…

Tyltyl. Be quiet!

The Fairy. Come. Bread, for this evening, hand the cage to Tyltyl. It is possible that the Blue Bird may be in the Past, at the grandparents’. In any case, it is a chance which we must not neglect. Well, Bread, the cage?

Bread (solemnly). One moment, if you please, Mrs. Fairy.

The Fairy. We will go out this way and the Children that.

Tyltyl (anxiously). Are we to go all alone?

Mytyl. I feel hungry!

Tyltyl. I, too!

The Fairy (to Bread). Open your Turkish robe and give them a slice of your good stomach.

Bread opens his robe, draws his scimitar and cuts two slices out of his stomach and hands them to the children.

Sugar. Allow me to offer you a few sugar-sticks.

He breaks off the five fingers of his left hand, one by one, and presents them to the children.

Mytyl. What is he doing? He is breaking all his fingers!

Sugar. Please, taste them… They’re real sugar.

Mytyl (tasting one of the fingers). Oh, how good they are! Have you many of them?

Sugar (modestly). Yes; as many as I want.

Mytyl. Does that hurt you much, when you break them off?

Sugar. Not at all. They grow again at once and so I always have new, clean fingers.

The Fairy. Come, children, don’t eat too much sugar. Don’t forget that you will have supper presently with your grandpapa and grandmamma.

Tyltyl. Are they here?

The Fairy. You will see them at once.

Tyltyl. How can we see them, when they are dead?

The Fairy. How can they be dead, when they live in your memory? Men do not know this secret, because they know so little. Thanks to the diamond, you will see that if you remember the dead, they live happily.

Tyltyl. Is Light coming with us?

The Fairy. No, it is a family visit. I will wait near here. They did not invite me.

Tyltyl. Which way will we go?

The Fairy. Over there. You are on the threshold of the Land of Memory. Turn the diamond, and you will see a big tree with a board on it. It will show you that you are there. But don’t forget to come back, by a quarter to nine. It is extremely important. Be punctual, don’t be late. Good-bye!

3. The Land of Memory

A thick fog. The trunk of a large oak, with a board. A vague, milky, impenetrable light.

Tyltyl. Here is the tree!

Mytyl. There’s the board!

Tyltyl. I can’t read it. Wait, I will climb up on this root. It says, “Land of Memory”.

Mytyl. Is this where it begins?

Tyltyl. Yes, there’s an arrow.

Mytyl. Well, where are granddad and granny?

Tyltyl. Behind the fog. We will see.

Mytyl. I can see nothing at all! I can’t see my feet or my hands. (Whimpering) I’m cold! I don’t want to travel any more. I want to go home.

Tyltyl. Come, don’t cry, just like Water. Shame on you! Look, the fog is lifting already. We will see what’s behind it.

The mist begins to move. It disperses, evaporates. Soon, in a more and more transparent light, appears a cheerful little cottage. The door and windows are open. There are bee-hives under a shed, flower-pots on the window-sills, a cage with a sleeping blackbird. Beside the door is a bench, on which Tyltyl’s grandfather and grandmother, are seated. They are sleeping.

Tyltyl. It’s granddad and granny!

Mytyl. (clapping her hands) Yes! Yes! So it is! So it is!

Tyltyl. Take care! We don’t know yet if they can move. Let’s keep behind the tree.

Grandmother opens her eyes, raises her head, stretches herself, and looks at Grandfather, who also wakes slowly from his sleep.

Grandmother. I think that our grandchildren who are still alive are coming to see us today.

Grandfather. They are certainly thinking of us, for I feel something.

Grandmother. I think they must be quite near. I see tears of joy before my eyes.

Grandfather. No, no, they are far away. I still feel weak.

Grandmother. I tell you they are here; I am quite strong.

Tyltyl and Mytyl. Here we are! Here we are! Granddad! Granny! It’s we! It’s we!

Grandfather. There! Do you see? What did I tell you?

Grandmother. Tyltyl! Mytyl! It’s you! It’s she! I can’t run! I’ve still got the rheumatics!

Grandfather. No more can I.

Grandmother. How tall and strong you are, Tyltyl!

Grandfather. And Mytyl! Just look at her. What pretty hair, what pretty eyes!

Grandmother. Come and kiss me again! Come on to my lap. How are Daddy and Mummy Tyl?

Tyltyl. Quite well, granny. They were asleep when we went out.

Grandmother. Lord, how pretty they are and how nice and clean! Is it mummy who washes you? And there are no holes in your stockings! I darned them, you know. Why don’t you come to see us oftener? It makes us so happy! We see nobody here.

Tyltyl. We couldn’t, granny; and today it’s only because of the Fairy.

Grandmother. We are always here. We are waiting for a visit from those who are alive. They come so seldom! The last time you were here, let me see, when was it? It was on All-hallows[20], when the church-bells were ringing.

Tyltyl. All-hallows? We didn’t go out that day, for we were ill.

Grandmother. No; but you thought of us.

Tyltyl. Yes.

Grandmother. Well, every time you think of us, we wake up and see you again.

Tyltyl. Really?

Grandmother. You know that.

Tyltyl. No, I don’t know.

Grandmother (to Grandfather). It’s astonishing. They don’t know anything.

Grandfather. The Living are so stupid when they speak of the Others.

Tyltyl. Do you sleep all the time?

Grandfather. Yes, we sleep a lot. We are waiting for a thought of the Living. It wakes us. Ah, it is good to sleep when life is over. But it is pleasant also to wake up from time to time.

Tyltyl. So you are not really dead?

Grandfather. What do you say? What is he saying? Now he’s using words we don’t understand. Is it a new word?

Tyltyl. The word “dead”?

Grandfather. Yes, that was the word. What does it mean?

Tyltyl. Why, it means that one’s no longer alive.

Grandfather. How silly they are!

Tyltyl. Is it nice here?

Grandfather. Oh, yes; not bad, not bad.

Grandmother. Not bad, yes. But please come and see us oftener. Do you remember, Tyltyl? The last time I baked you a lovely apple-pie.

Tyltyl. I ate apples last year. There are no apples this year.

Grandmother. Don’t talk nonsense. Here, we have them always.

Tyltyl (looking first at his Grandmother and then at his Grandfather). You are the same. But you’re better-looking.

Grandfather. Well, we feel all right. We don’t grow older[21]. But you, how tall you’re growing! Look, over there, on the door, is the mark of the last time. That was on All-hallows. Now then, stand up straight.

(Tyltyl stands up against the door).

Four fingers taller!

(Mytyl also stands up against the door).

And Mytyl, four and a half!

Tyltyl (looking around). Nothing is changed, everything is in its old place! Only everything is prettier! There is the clock with the big hand which I broke. And here is the hole which I made in the door.

Grandfather. And here is the plum-tree in which you were climbing, when I wasn’t looking. It still has its fine red plums.

Mytyl. And here is the old blackbird! Does it still sing?

The blackbird wakes and begins to sing.

Grandmother. You see. As soon as one thinks of it.

Tyltyl. But it’s blue! That’s the Blue Bird which I must take back to the Fairy. And you never told us that you had it here! Oh, it’s blue, blue, blue! Granddad, granny, will you give it to me?

Grandfather. Yes, perhaps, perhaps. What do you think, granny?

Grandmother. Certainly, certainly. He does nothing but sleep.

Tyltyl. I will put him in my cage. But where is my cage? Oh, I left it behind the big tree. (He runs to the tree, fetches the cage and puts the blackbird into it). How pleased the Fairy will be! And Light too!

Grandfather. Hm, I’m afraid that the bird won’t like the restless life and will come back here. However, we will see. Leave it there, and come and look at the cow.

Tyltyl (noticing the hives). And how are the bees getting on?

Grandfather. Oh, pretty well. They are no longer alive, as you call it; but they work hard.

Tyltyl (going up to the hives). Oh, yes! I can smell the honey! All the flowers are so beautiful! And my little dead sisters, are they here too?

Mytyl. And where are my three little brothers who were dead as well?

At these words, seven little children, of different sizes, come out of the cottage, one by one.

Grandfather. Here they are, here they are! As soon as you think of them, as soon as you speak of them, they are there, the darlings!

Tyltyl and Mytyl run to meet the Children. They hustle and hug one another and dance and utter screams of joy.

Tyltyl. Hallo, Pierrot! And Robert! Jean! Madeleine and Pierette and Pauline! And here’s Riquette!

Mytyl. Oh, Riquette, Riquette! She is a baby!

Grandmother. Yes, she does not grow.

Tyltyl (noticing the little dog). There’s Kiki, whose tail I cut off with Pauline’s scissors. It’s still the same.

Grandfather. (sententiously). Nothing changes here.

Tyltyl. And Pauline still has a pimple on her nose.

Grandmother. Yes, it won’t go away.

Tyltyl. Oh, how well they look! What jolly cheeks they have!

Grandmother. They are here. There’s nothing more to fear. Nobody is ever ill, one has no anxiety.

The clock inside the cottage strikes eight.

Grandmother (amazed). What’s that?

Grandfather. I don’t know. It must be the clock.

Grandmother It can’t be. It never strikes.

Grandfather. Because we no longer think of the time. Was anyone thinking of the time?

Tyltyl. Yes, I was. What is the time?

Grandfather. I can’t tell. It struck eight times, so I suppose it’s eight o’clock.

Tyltyl. Light expects me at a quarter to nine. Fairy told me so. It’s extremely important.

Grandfather. Don’t leave us so fast. The supper will be ready soon! Quick, quick, let’s lay the table outside. I’ve got some cabbage-soup and a beautiful plum-tart.

Tyltyl. Well, I have the Blue Bird… And I like cabbage-soup.

Grandmother. There! Sit down, children.

The Grandparents and the Children sit down round the table. They are jostling and laughing and screaming with pleasure.

Tyltyl (eating). How good it is! Oh, how good it is! I want some more! More!

The clock strikes half-past eight.

Tyltyl. Half-past eight! (He flings down his spoon). Mytyl, we’re late!

Grandmother. Oh! Just a few minutes more! We see you so seldom.

Tyltyl. No, we can’t. Light is so kind. And I promised her. Come, Mytyl, come!

Grandfather. How tiresome the Living is with all its business!

Tyltyl (taking his cage and hurriedly kissing everybody). Good-bye, granddad. Good-bye, granny. Good-bye, brothers and sisters, Pierrot, Robert, Pauline, Madeleine, Riquette and you, too, Kiki. We mustn’t stay. Don’t cry, granny; we will come back often.

Grandmother. Come back every day!

Tyltyl. Yes, yes; we will come back as often as we can.

Grandmother. It’s our only pleasure when your thoughts visit us!

Grandfather. We have no other amusements.

Tyltyl. Quick, quick! My cage! My bird!

Grandfather (handing him the cage). Here they are!

Tyltyl. Good-bye! Good-bye!

The Brothers and Sisters Tyl. Good-bye, Tyltyl! Good-bye, Mytyl! Good-bye! Come again! Come again!

They all wave their handkerchiefs while Tyltyl and Mytyl slowly move away. But everything is already in the mist.

Tyltyl. It’s this way, Mytyl.

Mytyl. Where is Light?

Tyltyl. I don’t know. (Looking at the bird in the cage). But the bird is not blue! It’s black!

Mytyl. Give me your hand, little brother. I feel so frightened and so cold.

4. The Palace of Night

A large and wonderful hall. Austere, rigid, metallic and sepulchral magnificence. Impression of a Greek temple with columns, flagstones and ornaments of black marble, gold and ebony. The hall is trapezium-shaped. Basalt steps divide it into three successive stages. On the right and left, between the columns, are doors of somber bronze. At the back, a monumental door of brass.

Night is a very old woman in long, black garments. She is between two children. One, almost naked, is smiling in a deep sleep, while the other is standing up. He is motionless and veiled from head to foot. The Cat enters.

Night. Who goes there?

The Cat. It is I, Mother Night. I am very tired.

Night. What’s the matter, child? You look pale and thin. Were you fighting on the tiles, in the snow and rain?

The Cat. No! It’s the beginning of the end! I escaped for a moment to warn you; but I greatly fear that we can do nothing.

Night. Why? What happened?

The Cat. I told you of little Tyltyl, the woodcutter’s son, and of the magic diamond. Well, he is coming here to demand the Blue Bird of you.

Night. He hasn’t got it yet.

The Cat. He will have it soon, unless we perform some miracle. Light is guiding him and betraying us all. Light knows that the real Blue Bird can live in the light of day, and is here, among the blue birds of the dreams that live on the rays of the moon and die as soon as they see the sun. She can’t cross the threshold of your palace, but she is sending the children. I do not know what to do. If, unfortunately, they get the real Blue Bird, we will disappear.

Night. Oh dear, oh dear! What times we live in! No peace at all. I cannot understand Man, these last few years. What does he want? Must he absolutely know everything? He knows a third of my Mysteries, all my Terrors are afraid and dare not leave the house. My Ghosts flew away, my Sicknesses are ill.

The Cat. I know, Mother Night, I know, the times are hard and we are almost alone in our struggle against Man. But I hear them. I see only one way: as they are children, we must frighten them. And they will not open the great door at the back, behind which they can find the Birds of the Moon. The secrets of the other caverns will distract their attention and terrify them.

Night (listening). What do I hear? Are there many of them?

The Cat. It is nothing; it is our friends, Bread and Sugar; Water is not very well and Fire could not come, because he is that Light’s relative. The Dog is the only one who is not on our side.

Tyltyl, Mytyl, Bread, Sugar and the Dog arrive.

The Cat (to Tyltyl). This way, little master, this way. Night is delighted to see you. You must forgive her, she is sick a little.

Tyltyl. Good-day, Mrs. Night.

Night. Good-day? Nonsense. You must say, Good-night, or, at least, Good-evening.

Tyltyl. I beg your pardon, ma’am. I did not know. (Pointing to the two children). Are those your two little boys? They are very nice.

Night. This is Sleep.

Tyltyl. Why is he so fat?

Night. That is because he sleeps well.

Tyltyl. And the other boy? Why does he veil his face? Is he ill? What is his name?

Night. That is Sleep’s sister. It is better not to mention her name.

Tyltyl. Why?

Night. Because her name is not pleasant to hear. But let us talk of something else. The Cat tells me that you are looking for the Blue Bird.

Tyltyl. Yes, ma’am. Will you tell me where it is?

Night. I don’t know, dear. All I can say is that it is not here.

Tyltyl. Yes, yes. Light told me that the Bird was here. And Light knows what she is saying. Will you hand me your keys?

Night. But you must understand, dear, that I cannot give my keys to a stranger. I keep all Nature’s secrets and I can’t deliver them to anybody, especially to a child.

Tyltyl. You have no right to say “no” to Man. I know that.

Night. Who told you?

Tyltyl. Light.

Night. Light again! Always Light! How dare she interfere, how dare she?

The Dog. I can take the keys from her by force[22], my little god!

Tyltyl. Hold your tongue, keep quiet and try to behave. (To Night) Come, madam, give me your keys, please.

Night. Have you the sign, at least? Where is it?

Tyltyl. (touching his hat). Behold the Diamond!

Night. Well, then… Here is the key that opens all the doors of the hall. But I will not be responsible.

Bread (very anxiously). Is it dangerous?

Night. Dangerous? I myself do not know what I will do when certain of those bronze doors open upon the abyss. In each of those basalt caves, are all the evils, all the plagues, all the sicknesses, all the terrors, all the catastrophes, all the mysteries of the world. I imprisoned them there with the aid of Destiny. If someone escapes and shows itself on earth…

Bread. Mrs. Night, I am the protector of these two children; therefore, permit me to ask you a question.

Night. Certainly.

Bread. In case of danger, which is the way of escape?

Night. There is no way of escape.

Tyltyl (taking the key). Let us begin here. What is behind this bronze door?

Night. I think it is the Ghosts.

Tylty. I will see. (To Bread) Have you the cage for the Blue Bird?

Bread (with chattering teeth). I’m not frightened, but it’s better not to open the door. It’s better to peep through the keyhole!

Tyltyl. I don’t want your advice.

Mytyl (beginning to cry). I am frightened! Where is Sugar? I want to go home!

Sugar (eagerly, obsequiously). Here I am, miss, here I am. Don’t cry, I will break off one of my Fingers. You will have a sugar-stick.

Tyltyl. Enough of this!

He turns the key and cautiously opens the door. Forthwith, five or six ghosts of strange and different forms escape and disperse on every side. Mytyl screams. Bread, terrified, throws away the cage and goes and hides at the back of the hall. Night, running after the ghosts, cries out to Tyltyl.

Night. Quick! Quick! Shut the door! They will all escape and we will never catch them again! They feel bored in there. Man ceased to take them seriously. (She runs after the ghosts with a whip formed of snakes. She tries to drive them back to the door of their prison). Help me! Here! Here!

Tyltyl (to the Dog). Help her, Tylo!

The Dog (leaping up and barking). Bow-wow-wow!

Tyltyl. And Bread, where’s Bread?

Bread (at the back of the hall). Here. I am near the door.

One of the ghosts moves in that direction and he rushes away. He utters yells of terror.

Night

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Примечания

1

bread-pan – квашня

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2

sugar-loaf – сахарная голова

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3

turtle-dove – горлица

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4

clapping her hands – хлопая в ладоши

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5

look for it – поискать её

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6

Not a bit! – Ничуть!

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7

Get dressed at once! – Сейчас же одевайтесь!

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8

That doesn’t matter. – Это не беда.

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9

makes people see – возвращает людям зрение

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10

quartern-loaves – каравай

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11

spinning-wheel – веретено

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12

sugar-stick – леденец

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13

packing-paper – обёртка

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14

Puss-in-boots – Кот в сапогах

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15

Hop-o’-my-Thumb – Мальчик-с-Пальчик

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16

Stop chattering. – Хватит болтать.

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17

Hold your tongue! – Попридержи язык!

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18

None of your business. – Не твоё дело.

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19

late grandparents – умершие бабушка и дедушка

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20

on All-hallows – в День Всех Святых

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21

grow older – стареть

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22

by force – силой

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