Page:The life of the insects by Čapek brothers.pdf/35

 The mightiest of all happenings is at hand.

Tramp. What ’s that?

Chrysalis. I’m being born.

Tramp. That ’s good—And what are you going to be?

Chrysalis. I don’t know—I don’t know—Something great.

Tramp. Ah ha!

Chrysalis. I’ll do something extraordinary—I’m being born.

Tramp. What you want ’s life, my son.

Chrysalis. When half a minute ’s gone,

Something immense, unbounded,

Will happen here.

Tramp.Go on!

Chrysalis.I shall do something great!

Tramp. What?

Chrysalis.When I change my state,

The world will be astounded!

Tramp. Well—’urry up. I’ll wait.

[Enter, dragging the corpse of a  to its lair.

Ichneumon Fly. Look, larva, daddy ’s bringing you something nice.

Chrysalis. (Shouting)

The torment of my birth Is tearing the whole earth.

She groans to set me free

Tramp. Then get a move on. See?

Ichneumon Fly. (Returning) No, no, daughter, you must eat. You mustn’t come out—it wouldn’t do at all. Daddy’ll soon be back and