Cyrano de Bergerac [39]
--Our courage, Sir, is of a different sort-- I would have picked it up and put it on.
DE GUICHE: Oh, ay! Another Gascon boast!
CYRANO: A boast? Lend it to me. I pledge myself, to-night, --With it across my breast,--to lead th' assault.
DE GUICHE: Another Gascon vaunt! You know the scarf Lies with the enemy, upon the brink Of the stream,. . .the place is riddled now with shot,-- No one can fetch it hither!
CYRANO (drawing the scarf from his pocket, and holding it out to him): Here it is.
(Silence. The cadets stifle their laughter in their cards and dice-boxes. De Guiche turns and looks at them; they instantly become grave, and set to play. One of them whistles indifferently the air just played by the fifer.)
DE GUICHE (taking the scarf): I thank you. It will now enable me To make a signal,--that I had forborne To make--till now.
(He goes to the rampart, climbs it, and waves the scarf thrice.)
ALL: What's that?
THE SENTINEL (from the top of the rampart): See you yon man Down there, who runs?. . .
DE GUICHE (descending): 'Tis a false Spanish spy Who is extremely useful to my ends. The news he carries to the enemy Are those I prompt him with--so, in a word, We have an influence on their decisions!
CYRANO: Scoundrel!
DE GUICHE (carelessly knotting on his scarf): 'Tis opportune. What were we saying? Ah! I have news for you. Last evening --To victual us--the Marshal did attempt A final effort:--secretly he went To Dourlens, where the King's provisions be. But--to return to camp more easily-- He took with him a goodly force of troops. Those who attacked us now would have fine sport! Half of the army's absent from the camp!
CARBON: Ay, if the Spaniards knew, 'twere ill for us, But they know nothing of it?
DE GUICHE: Oh! they know. They will attack us.
CARBON: Ah!
DE GUICHE: For my false spy Came to warn me of their attack. He said, 'I can decide the point for their assault; Where would you have it? I will tell them 'tis The least defended--they'll attempt you there.' I answered, 'Good. Go out of camp, but watch My signal. Choose the point from whence it comes.'
CARBON (to cadets): Make ready!
(All rise; sounds of swords and belts being buckled.)
DE GUICHE: 'Twill be in an hour.
FIRST CADET: Good!. . .
(They all sit down again and take up their games.)
DE GUICHE (to Carbon): Time must be gained. The Marshal will return.
CARBON: How gain it?
DE GUICHE: You will all be good enough To let yourselves to be killed.
CYRANO: Vengeance! oho!
DE GUICHE: I do not say that, if I loved you well, I had chosen you and yours,--but, as things stand,-- Your courage yielding to no corps the palm-- I serve my King, and serve my grudge as well.
CYRANO: Permit that I express my gratitude. . .
DE GUICHE: I know you love to fight against five score; You will not now complain of paltry odds.
(He goes up with Carbon.)
CYRANO (to the cadets): We shall add to the Gascon coat of arms, With its six bars of blue and gold, one more-- The blood-red bar that was a-missing there!
(De Guiche speaks in a low voice with Carbon at the back. Orders are given. Preparations go forward. Cyrano goes up to Christian, who stands with crossed arms.)
CYRANO (putting his hand on Christian's shoulder): Christian!
CHRISTIAN (shaking his head): Roxane!
CYRANO: Alas!
CHRISTIAN: At least, I'd send My heart's farewell to her in a fair letter!. . .
CYRANO: I had suspicion it would be to-day, (He draws a letter out of his doublet): And had already writ. . .
CHRISTIAN: Show!
CYRANO: Will you. . .?
CHRISTIAN (taking the letter): Ay! (He opens and reads it): Hold!
CYRANO: What?
CHRISTIAN: This little spot!
CYRANO (taking the letter, with an innocent look): A spot?
CHRISTIAN: A tear!
CYRANO: Poets, at last,--by dint of counterfeiting-- Take counterfeit for true--that is the charm! This farewell
DE GUICHE: Oh, ay! Another Gascon boast!
CYRANO: A boast? Lend it to me. I pledge myself, to-night, --With it across my breast,--to lead th' assault.
DE GUICHE: Another Gascon vaunt! You know the scarf Lies with the enemy, upon the brink Of the stream,. . .the place is riddled now with shot,-- No one can fetch it hither!
CYRANO (drawing the scarf from his pocket, and holding it out to him): Here it is.
(Silence. The cadets stifle their laughter in their cards and dice-boxes. De Guiche turns and looks at them; they instantly become grave, and set to play. One of them whistles indifferently the air just played by the fifer.)
DE GUICHE (taking the scarf): I thank you. It will now enable me To make a signal,--that I had forborne To make--till now.
(He goes to the rampart, climbs it, and waves the scarf thrice.)
ALL: What's that?
THE SENTINEL (from the top of the rampart): See you yon man Down there, who runs?. . .
DE GUICHE (descending): 'Tis a false Spanish spy Who is extremely useful to my ends. The news he carries to the enemy Are those I prompt him with--so, in a word, We have an influence on their decisions!
CYRANO: Scoundrel!
DE GUICHE (carelessly knotting on his scarf): 'Tis opportune. What were we saying? Ah! I have news for you. Last evening --To victual us--the Marshal did attempt A final effort:--secretly he went To Dourlens, where the King's provisions be. But--to return to camp more easily-- He took with him a goodly force of troops. Those who attacked us now would have fine sport! Half of the army's absent from the camp!
CARBON: Ay, if the Spaniards knew, 'twere ill for us, But they know nothing of it?
DE GUICHE: Oh! they know. They will attack us.
CARBON: Ah!
DE GUICHE: For my false spy Came to warn me of their attack. He said, 'I can decide the point for their assault; Where would you have it? I will tell them 'tis The least defended--they'll attempt you there.' I answered, 'Good. Go out of camp, but watch My signal. Choose the point from whence it comes.'
CARBON (to cadets): Make ready!
(All rise; sounds of swords and belts being buckled.)
DE GUICHE: 'Twill be in an hour.
FIRST CADET: Good!. . .
(They all sit down again and take up their games.)
DE GUICHE (to Carbon): Time must be gained. The Marshal will return.
CARBON: How gain it?
DE GUICHE: You will all be good enough To let yourselves to be killed.
CYRANO: Vengeance! oho!
DE GUICHE: I do not say that, if I loved you well, I had chosen you and yours,--but, as things stand,-- Your courage yielding to no corps the palm-- I serve my King, and serve my grudge as well.
CYRANO: Permit that I express my gratitude. . .
DE GUICHE: I know you love to fight against five score; You will not now complain of paltry odds.
(He goes up with Carbon.)
CYRANO (to the cadets): We shall add to the Gascon coat of arms, With its six bars of blue and gold, one more-- The blood-red bar that was a-missing there!
(De Guiche speaks in a low voice with Carbon at the back. Orders are given. Preparations go forward. Cyrano goes up to Christian, who stands with crossed arms.)
CYRANO (putting his hand on Christian's shoulder): Christian!
CHRISTIAN (shaking his head): Roxane!
CYRANO: Alas!
CHRISTIAN: At least, I'd send My heart's farewell to her in a fair letter!. . .
CYRANO: I had suspicion it would be to-day, (He draws a letter out of his doublet): And had already writ. . .
CHRISTIAN: Show!
CYRANO: Will you. . .?
CHRISTIAN (taking the letter): Ay! (He opens and reads it): Hold!
CYRANO: What?
CHRISTIAN: This little spot!
CYRANO (taking the letter, with an innocent look): A spot?
CHRISTIAN: A tear!
CYRANO: Poets, at last,--by dint of counterfeiting-- Take counterfeit for true--that is the charm! This farewell