Cyrano de Bergerac [10]
WOMAN: A pretty stroke!
RAGUENEAU: A marvel!
A MARQUIS: A novelty!
LE BRET: O madman!
THE CROWD (presses round Cyrano. Chorus of): Compliments! Bravo! Let me congratulate!. . .Quite unsurpassed!. . .
A WOMAN'S VOICE: There is a hero for you!. . .
A MUSKETEER (advancing to Cyrano with outstretched hand): Sir, permit; Naught could be finer--I'm a judge I think; I stamped, i' faith!--to show my admiration!
(He goes away.)
CYRANO (to Cuigy): Who is that gentleman?
CUIGY: Why--D'Artagnan!
LE BRET (to Cyrano, taking his arm): A word with you!. . .
CYRANO: Wait; let the rabble go!. . . (To Bellerose): May I stay?
BELLEROSE (respectfully): Without doubt!
(Cries are heard outside.)
JODELET (who has looked out): They hoot Montfleury!
BELLEROSE (solemnly): Sic transit!. . . (To the porters): Sweep--close all, but leave the lights. We sup, but later on we must return, For a rehearsal of to-morrow's farce.
(Jodelet and Bellerose go out, bowing low to Cyrano.)
THE PORTER (to Cyrano): You do not dine, Sir?
CYRANO: No.
(The porter goes out.)
LE BRET: Because?
CYRANO (proudly): Because. . . (Changing his tone as the porter goes away): I have no money!. . .
LE BRET (with the action of throwing a bag): How! The bag of crowns?. . .
CYRANO: Paternal bounty, in a day, thou'rt sped!
LE BRET: How live the next month?. . .
CYRANO: I have nothing left.
LE BRET: Folly!
CYRANO: But what a graceful action! Think!
THE BUFFET-GIRL (coughing, behind her counter): Hum! (Cyrano and Le Bret turn. She comes timidly forward): Sir, my heart mislikes to know you fast. (Showing the buffet): See, all you need. Serve yourself!
CYRANO (taking off his hat): Gentle child, Although my Gascon pride would else forbid To take the least bestowal from your hands, My fear of wounding you outweighs that pride, And bids accept. . . (He goes to the buffet): A trifle!. . .These few grapes. (She offers him the whole bunch. He takes a few): Nay, but this bunch!. . . (She tries to give him wine, but he stops her): A glass of water fair!. . . And half a macaroon!
(He gives back the other half.)
LE BRET: What foolery!
THE BUFFET-GIRL: Take something else!
CYRANO: I take your hand to kiss.
(He kisses her hand as though she were a princess.)
THE BUFFET-GIRL: Thank you, kind Sir! (She courtesies): Good-night.
(She goes out.)
Scene 1.V.
Cyrano, Le Bret.
CYRANO (to Le Bret): Now talk--I listen. (He stands at the buffet, and placing before him first the macaroon): Dinner!. . . (then the grapes): Dessert!. . . (then the glass of water): Wine!. . . (he seats himself): So! And now to table! Ah! I was hungry, friend, nay, ravenous! (eating): You said--?
LE BRET: These fops, would-be belligerent, Will, if you heed them only, turn your head!. . . Ask people of good sense if you would know The effect of your fine insolence--
CYRANO (finishing his macaroon): Enormous!
LE BRET: The Cardinal. . .
CYRANO (radiant): The Cardinal--was there?
LE BRET: Must have thought it. . .
CYRANO: Original, i' faith!
LE BRET: But. . .
CYRANO: He's an author. 'Twill not fail to please him That I should mar a brother-author's play.
LE BRET: You make too many enemies by far!
CYRANO (eating his grapes): How many think you I have made to-night?
LE BRET: Forty, no less, not counting ladies.
CYRANO: Count!
LE BRET: Montfleury first, the bourgeois, then De Guiche, The Viscount, Baro, the Academy. . .
CYRANO: Enough! I am o'erjoyed!
LE BRET: But these strange ways, Where will they lead you, at the end? Explain Your system--come!
CYRANO: I in a labyrinth Was lost--too many different paths to choose; I took. . .
LE BRET: Which?
CYRANO: Oh! by far the simplest path. . . Decided to be admirable in all!
LE BRET (shrugging his shoulders): So be it! But the motive of your
RAGUENEAU: A marvel!
A MARQUIS: A novelty!
LE BRET: O madman!
THE CROWD (presses round Cyrano. Chorus of): Compliments! Bravo! Let me congratulate!. . .Quite unsurpassed!. . .
A WOMAN'S VOICE: There is a hero for you!. . .
A MUSKETEER (advancing to Cyrano with outstretched hand): Sir, permit; Naught could be finer--I'm a judge I think; I stamped, i' faith!--to show my admiration!
(He goes away.)
CYRANO (to Cuigy): Who is that gentleman?
CUIGY: Why--D'Artagnan!
LE BRET (to Cyrano, taking his arm): A word with you!. . .
CYRANO: Wait; let the rabble go!. . . (To Bellerose): May I stay?
BELLEROSE (respectfully): Without doubt!
(Cries are heard outside.)
JODELET (who has looked out): They hoot Montfleury!
BELLEROSE (solemnly): Sic transit!. . . (To the porters): Sweep--close all, but leave the lights. We sup, but later on we must return, For a rehearsal of to-morrow's farce.
(Jodelet and Bellerose go out, bowing low to Cyrano.)
THE PORTER (to Cyrano): You do not dine, Sir?
CYRANO: No.
(The porter goes out.)
LE BRET: Because?
CYRANO (proudly): Because. . . (Changing his tone as the porter goes away): I have no money!. . .
LE BRET (with the action of throwing a bag): How! The bag of crowns?. . .
CYRANO: Paternal bounty, in a day, thou'rt sped!
LE BRET: How live the next month?. . .
CYRANO: I have nothing left.
LE BRET: Folly!
CYRANO: But what a graceful action! Think!
THE BUFFET-GIRL (coughing, behind her counter): Hum! (Cyrano and Le Bret turn. She comes timidly forward): Sir, my heart mislikes to know you fast. (Showing the buffet): See, all you need. Serve yourself!
CYRANO (taking off his hat): Gentle child, Although my Gascon pride would else forbid To take the least bestowal from your hands, My fear of wounding you outweighs that pride, And bids accept. . . (He goes to the buffet): A trifle!. . .These few grapes. (She offers him the whole bunch. He takes a few): Nay, but this bunch!. . . (She tries to give him wine, but he stops her): A glass of water fair!. . . And half a macaroon!
(He gives back the other half.)
LE BRET: What foolery!
THE BUFFET-GIRL: Take something else!
CYRANO: I take your hand to kiss.
(He kisses her hand as though she were a princess.)
THE BUFFET-GIRL: Thank you, kind Sir! (She courtesies): Good-night.
(She goes out.)
Scene 1.V.
Cyrano, Le Bret.
CYRANO (to Le Bret): Now talk--I listen. (He stands at the buffet, and placing before him first the macaroon): Dinner!. . . (then the grapes): Dessert!. . . (then the glass of water): Wine!. . . (he seats himself): So! And now to table! Ah! I was hungry, friend, nay, ravenous! (eating): You said--?
LE BRET: These fops, would-be belligerent, Will, if you heed them only, turn your head!. . . Ask people of good sense if you would know The effect of your fine insolence--
CYRANO (finishing his macaroon): Enormous!
LE BRET: The Cardinal. . .
CYRANO (radiant): The Cardinal--was there?
LE BRET: Must have thought it. . .
CYRANO: Original, i' faith!
LE BRET: But. . .
CYRANO: He's an author. 'Twill not fail to please him That I should mar a brother-author's play.
LE BRET: You make too many enemies by far!
CYRANO (eating his grapes): How many think you I have made to-night?
LE BRET: Forty, no less, not counting ladies.
CYRANO: Count!
LE BRET: Montfleury first, the bourgeois, then De Guiche, The Viscount, Baro, the Academy. . .
CYRANO: Enough! I am o'erjoyed!
LE BRET: But these strange ways, Where will they lead you, at the end? Explain Your system--come!
CYRANO: I in a labyrinth Was lost--too many different paths to choose; I took. . .
LE BRET: Which?
CYRANO: Oh! by far the simplest path. . . Decided to be admirable in all!
LE BRET (shrugging his shoulders): So be it! But the motive of your