Синяя птица / The blue Bird. Уровень 1

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.

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.

Meanwhile, the spinning-wheel[11 - spinning-wheel – веретено] 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 - sugar-stick – леденец]?

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.