Cyrano de Bergerac [26]
Because he is fair to see, you would have it that he must be dull of speech.
CYRANO: He hath an eloquent tongue in telling his love?
ROXANE: In telling his love? why, 'tis not simple telling, 'tis dissertation, 'tis analysis!
CYRANO: How is he with the pen?
ROXANE: Still better! Listen,--here:-- (Reciting): 'The more of my poor heart you take The larger grows my heart!' (Triumphantly to Cyrano): How like you those lines?
CYRANO: Pooh!
ROXANE: And thus it goes on. . . 'And, since some target I must show For Cupid's cruel dart, Oh, if mine own you deign to keep, Then give me your sweet heart!'
CYRANO: Lord! first he has too much, then anon not enough! How much heart does the fellow want?
ROXANE: You would vex a saint!. . .But 'tis your jealousy.
CYRANO (starting): What mean you?
ROXANE: Ay, your poet's jealousy! Hark now, if this again be not tender-sweet?-- 'My heart to yours sounds but one cry: If kisses fast could flee By letter, then with your sweet lips My letters read should be! If kisses could be writ with ink, If kisses fast could flee!'
CYRANO (smiling approvingly in spite of himself): Ha! those last lines are,--hm!. . .hm!. . . (Correcting himself--contemptuously): --They are paltry enough!
ROXANE: And this. . .
CYRANO (enchanted): Then you have his letters by heart?
ROXANE: Every one of them!
CYRANO: By all oaths that can be sworn,--'tis flattering!
ROXANE: They are the lines of a master!
CYRANO (modestly): Come, nay. . .a master?. . .
ROXANE: Ay, I say it--a master!
CYRANO: Good--be it so.
THE DUENNA (coming down quickly): Here comes Monsieur de Guiche! (To Cyrano, pushing him toward the house): In with you! 'twere best he see you not; it might perchance put him on the scent. . .
ROXANE (to Cyrano): Ay, of my own dear secret! He loves me, and is powerful, and, if he knew, then all were lost! Marry! he could well deal a deathblow to my love!
CYRANO (entering the house): Good! good!
(De Guiche appears.)
Scene 3.II.
Roxane, De Guiche, the duenna standing a little way off.
ROXANE (courtesying to De Guiche): I was going out.
DE GUICHE: I come to take my leave.
ROXANE: Whither go you?
DE GUICHE: To the war.
ROXANE: Ah!
DE GUICHE: Ay, to-night.
ROXANE: Oh!
DE GUICHE: I am ordered away. We are to besiege Arras.
ROXANE: Ah--to besiege?. . .
DE GUICHE: Ay. My going moves you not, meseems.
ROXANE: Nay. . .
DE GUICHE: I am grieved to the core of the heart. Shall I again behold you?. . .When? I know not. Heard you that I am named commander?. . .
ROXANE (indifferently): Bravo!
DE GUICHE: Of the Guards regiment.
ROXANE (startled): What! the Guards?
DE GUICHE: Ay, where serves your cousin, the swaggering boaster. I will find a way to revenge myself on him at Arras.
ROXANE (choking): What mean you? The Guards go to Arras?
DE GUICHE (laughing): Bethink you, is it not my own regiment?
ROXANE (falling seated on the bench--aside): Christian!
DE GUICHE: What ails you?
ROXANE (moved deeply): Oh--I am in despair! The man one loves!--at the war!
DE GUICHE (surprised and delighted): You say such sweet words to me! 'Tis the first time!--and just when I must quit you!
ROXANE (collected, and fanning herself): Thus,--you would fain revenge your grudge against my cousin?
DE GUICHE: My fair lady is on his side?
ROXANE: Nay,--against him!
DE GUICHE: Do you see him often?
ROXANE: But very rarely.
DE GUICHE: He is ever to be met now in company with one of the cadets,. . .one New-- villen--viller--
ROXANE: Of high stature?
DE GUICHE: Fair-haired!
ROXANE: Ay, a red-headed fellow!
DE GUICHE: Handsome!. . .
ROXANE: Tut!
DE GUICHE: But dull-witted.
ROXANE: One would think so, to look at him! (Changing her tone): How mean you to play your revenge on Cyrano? Perchance you think to put him i' the thick
CYRANO: He hath an eloquent tongue in telling his love?
ROXANE: In telling his love? why, 'tis not simple telling, 'tis dissertation, 'tis analysis!
CYRANO: How is he with the pen?
ROXANE: Still better! Listen,--here:-- (Reciting): 'The more of my poor heart you take The larger grows my heart!' (Triumphantly to Cyrano): How like you those lines?
CYRANO: Pooh!
ROXANE: And thus it goes on. . . 'And, since some target I must show For Cupid's cruel dart, Oh, if mine own you deign to keep, Then give me your sweet heart!'
CYRANO: Lord! first he has too much, then anon not enough! How much heart does the fellow want?
ROXANE: You would vex a saint!. . .But 'tis your jealousy.
CYRANO (starting): What mean you?
ROXANE: Ay, your poet's jealousy! Hark now, if this again be not tender-sweet?-- 'My heart to yours sounds but one cry: If kisses fast could flee By letter, then with your sweet lips My letters read should be! If kisses could be writ with ink, If kisses fast could flee!'
CYRANO (smiling approvingly in spite of himself): Ha! those last lines are,--hm!. . .hm!. . . (Correcting himself--contemptuously): --They are paltry enough!
ROXANE: And this. . .
CYRANO (enchanted): Then you have his letters by heart?
ROXANE: Every one of them!
CYRANO: By all oaths that can be sworn,--'tis flattering!
ROXANE: They are the lines of a master!
CYRANO (modestly): Come, nay. . .a master?. . .
ROXANE: Ay, I say it--a master!
CYRANO: Good--be it so.
THE DUENNA (coming down quickly): Here comes Monsieur de Guiche! (To Cyrano, pushing him toward the house): In with you! 'twere best he see you not; it might perchance put him on the scent. . .
ROXANE (to Cyrano): Ay, of my own dear secret! He loves me, and is powerful, and, if he knew, then all were lost! Marry! he could well deal a deathblow to my love!
CYRANO (entering the house): Good! good!
(De Guiche appears.)
Scene 3.II.
Roxane, De Guiche, the duenna standing a little way off.
ROXANE (courtesying to De Guiche): I was going out.
DE GUICHE: I come to take my leave.
ROXANE: Whither go you?
DE GUICHE: To the war.
ROXANE: Ah!
DE GUICHE: Ay, to-night.
ROXANE: Oh!
DE GUICHE: I am ordered away. We are to besiege Arras.
ROXANE: Ah--to besiege?. . .
DE GUICHE: Ay. My going moves you not, meseems.
ROXANE: Nay. . .
DE GUICHE: I am grieved to the core of the heart. Shall I again behold you?. . .When? I know not. Heard you that I am named commander?. . .
ROXANE (indifferently): Bravo!
DE GUICHE: Of the Guards regiment.
ROXANE (startled): What! the Guards?
DE GUICHE: Ay, where serves your cousin, the swaggering boaster. I will find a way to revenge myself on him at Arras.
ROXANE (choking): What mean you? The Guards go to Arras?
DE GUICHE (laughing): Bethink you, is it not my own regiment?
ROXANE (falling seated on the bench--aside): Christian!
DE GUICHE: What ails you?
ROXANE (moved deeply): Oh--I am in despair! The man one loves!--at the war!
DE GUICHE (surprised and delighted): You say such sweet words to me! 'Tis the first time!--and just when I must quit you!
ROXANE (collected, and fanning herself): Thus,--you would fain revenge your grudge against my cousin?
DE GUICHE: My fair lady is on his side?
ROXANE: Nay,--against him!
DE GUICHE: Do you see him often?
ROXANE: But very rarely.
DE GUICHE: He is ever to be met now in company with one of the cadets,. . .one New-- villen--viller--
ROXANE: Of high stature?
DE GUICHE: Fair-haired!
ROXANE: Ay, a red-headed fellow!
DE GUICHE: Handsome!. . .
ROXANE: Tut!
DE GUICHE: But dull-witted.
ROXANE: One would think so, to look at him! (Changing her tone): How mean you to play your revenge on Cyrano? Perchance you think to put him i' the thick