Cyrano de Bergerac [35]
And mounted, mounted, gently, effortless,. . . When lo! a sudden shock! Then. . .
DE GUICHE (overcome by curiosity, sitting down on the bench): Then?
CYRANO: Oh! then. . . (Suddenly returning to his natural voice): The quarter's gone--I'll hinder you no more: The marriage-vows are made.
DE GUICHE (springing up): What? Am I mad? That voice? (The house-door opens. Lackeys appear carrying lighted candelabra. Light. Cyrano gracefully uncovers): That nose--Cyrano?
CYRANO (bowing): Cyrano. While we were chatting, they have plighted troth.
DE GUICHE: Who? (He turns round. Tableau. Behind the lackeys appear Roxane and Christian, holding each other by the hand. The friar follows them, smiling. Ragueneau also holds a candlestick. The duenna closes the rear, bewildered, having made a hasty toilet): Heavens!
Scene 3.XII.
The same. Roxane, Christian, the friar, Ragueneau, lackeys, the duenna.
DE GUICHE (to Roxane): You? (Recognizing Christian, in amazement): He? (Bowing, with admiration, to Roxane): Cunningly contrived! (To Cyrano): My compliments--Sir Apparatus-maker! Your story would arrest at Peter's gate Saints eager for their Paradise! Note well The details. 'Faith! They'd make a stirring book!
CYRANO (bowing): I shall not fail to follow your advice.
THE FRIAR (showing with satisfaction the two lovers to De Guiche): A handsome couple, son, made one by you!
DE GUICHE (with a freezing look): Ay! (To Roxane): Bid your bridegroom, Madame, fond farewell.
ROXANE: Why so?
DE GUICHE (to Christian): Even now the regiment departs. Join it!
ROXANE: It goes to battle?
DE GUICHE: Without doubt.
ROXANE: But the Cadets go not?
DE GUICHE: Oh ay! they go. (Drawing out the paper he had put in his pocket): Here is the order. (To Christian): Baron, bear it, quick! ROXANE (throwing herself in Christian's arms): Christian!
DE GUICHE (sneeringly to Cyrano): The wedding-night is far, methinks!
CYRANO (aside): He thinks to give me pain of death by this!
CHRISTIAN (to Roxane): Oh! once again! Your lips!
CYRANO: Come, come, enough!
CHRISTIAN (still kissing Roxane): --'Tis hard to leave her, you know not. . .
CYRANO (trying to draw him away): I know.
(Sound of drums beating a march in the distance.)
DE GUICHE: The regiment starts!
ROXANE (To Cyrano, holding back Christian, whom Cyrano is drawing away): Oh!--I trust him you! Promise me that no risks shall put his life In danger!
CYRANO: I will try my best, but promise. . . That I cannot!
ROXANE: But swear he shall be prudent?
CYRANO: Again, I'll do my best, but. . .
ROXANE: In the siege Let him not suffer!
CYRANO: All that man can do, I. . .
ROXANE: That he shall be faithful!
CYRANO: Doubtless, but. . .
ROXANE: That he will write oft?
CYRANO (pausing): That, I promise you!
Curtain.
ACT IV.
The Cadets of Gascony.
Post occupied by company of Carbon de Castel-Jaloux at the siege of Arras.
In the background an embankment across the whole stage. Beyond, view of plain extending to the horizon. The country covered with intrenchments. The walls of Arras and the outlines of its roofs against the sky in the distance. Tents. Arms strewn about, drums, etc. Day is breaking with a faint glimmer of yellow sunrise in the east. Sentinels at different points. Watch-fires. The cadets of Gascony, wrapped in their mantles, are sleeping. Carbon de Castel-Jaloux and Le Bret are keeping watch. They are very pale and thin. Christian sleeps among the others in his cloak in the foreground, his face illuminated by the fire. Silence.
Scene 4.I.
Christian, Carbon de Castel-Jaloux, Le Bret, the cadets, then Cyrano.
LE BRET: 'Tis terrible.
CARBON: Not a morsel left.
LE BRET: Mordioux!
CARBON (making a sign that he should speak lower): Curse under your breath. You will awake them. (To the cadets): Hush! Sleep on. (To Le Bret): He who sleeps,
DE GUICHE (overcome by curiosity, sitting down on the bench): Then?
CYRANO: Oh! then. . . (Suddenly returning to his natural voice): The quarter's gone--I'll hinder you no more: The marriage-vows are made.
DE GUICHE (springing up): What? Am I mad? That voice? (The house-door opens. Lackeys appear carrying lighted candelabra. Light. Cyrano gracefully uncovers): That nose--Cyrano?
CYRANO (bowing): Cyrano. While we were chatting, they have plighted troth.
DE GUICHE: Who? (He turns round. Tableau. Behind the lackeys appear Roxane and Christian, holding each other by the hand. The friar follows them, smiling. Ragueneau also holds a candlestick. The duenna closes the rear, bewildered, having made a hasty toilet): Heavens!
Scene 3.XII.
The same. Roxane, Christian, the friar, Ragueneau, lackeys, the duenna.
DE GUICHE (to Roxane): You? (Recognizing Christian, in amazement): He? (Bowing, with admiration, to Roxane): Cunningly contrived! (To Cyrano): My compliments--Sir Apparatus-maker! Your story would arrest at Peter's gate Saints eager for their Paradise! Note well The details. 'Faith! They'd make a stirring book!
CYRANO (bowing): I shall not fail to follow your advice.
THE FRIAR (showing with satisfaction the two lovers to De Guiche): A handsome couple, son, made one by you!
DE GUICHE (with a freezing look): Ay! (To Roxane): Bid your bridegroom, Madame, fond farewell.
ROXANE: Why so?
DE GUICHE (to Christian): Even now the regiment departs. Join it!
ROXANE: It goes to battle?
DE GUICHE: Without doubt.
ROXANE: But the Cadets go not?
DE GUICHE: Oh ay! they go. (Drawing out the paper he had put in his pocket): Here is the order. (To Christian): Baron, bear it, quick! ROXANE (throwing herself in Christian's arms): Christian!
DE GUICHE (sneeringly to Cyrano): The wedding-night is far, methinks!
CYRANO (aside): He thinks to give me pain of death by this!
CHRISTIAN (to Roxane): Oh! once again! Your lips!
CYRANO: Come, come, enough!
CHRISTIAN (still kissing Roxane): --'Tis hard to leave her, you know not. . .
CYRANO (trying to draw him away): I know.
(Sound of drums beating a march in the distance.)
DE GUICHE: The regiment starts!
ROXANE (To Cyrano, holding back Christian, whom Cyrano is drawing away): Oh!--I trust him you! Promise me that no risks shall put his life In danger!
CYRANO: I will try my best, but promise. . . That I cannot!
ROXANE: But swear he shall be prudent?
CYRANO: Again, I'll do my best, but. . .
ROXANE: In the siege Let him not suffer!
CYRANO: All that man can do, I. . .
ROXANE: That he shall be faithful!
CYRANO: Doubtless, but. . .
ROXANE: That he will write oft?
CYRANO (pausing): That, I promise you!
Curtain.
ACT IV.
The Cadets of Gascony.
Post occupied by company of Carbon de Castel-Jaloux at the siege of Arras.
In the background an embankment across the whole stage. Beyond, view of plain extending to the horizon. The country covered with intrenchments. The walls of Arras and the outlines of its roofs against the sky in the distance. Tents. Arms strewn about, drums, etc. Day is breaking with a faint glimmer of yellow sunrise in the east. Sentinels at different points. Watch-fires. The cadets of Gascony, wrapped in their mantles, are sleeping. Carbon de Castel-Jaloux and Le Bret are keeping watch. They are very pale and thin. Christian sleeps among the others in his cloak in the foreground, his face illuminated by the fire. Silence.
Scene 4.I.
Christian, Carbon de Castel-Jaloux, Le Bret, the cadets, then Cyrano.
LE BRET: 'Tis terrible.
CARBON: Not a morsel left.
LE BRET: Mordioux!
CARBON (making a sign that he should speak lower): Curse under your breath. You will awake them. (To the cadets): Hush! Sleep on. (To Le Bret): He who sleeps,