Cyrano de Bergerac [40]
letter,--it was passing sad, I wept myself in writing it!
CHRISTIAN: Wept? why?
CYRANO: Oh!. . .death itself is hardly terrible,. . . --But, ne'er to see her more! That is death's sting! --For. . .I shall never. . . (Christian looks at him): We shall. . . (Quickly): I mean, you. . .
CHRISTIAN (snatching the letter from him): Give me that letter!
(A rumor, far off in the camp.)
VOICE Of SENTINEL: Who goes there? Halloo!
(Shots--voices--carriage-bells.)
CARBON: What is it?
A SENTINEL (on the rampart): 'Tis a carriage!
(All rush to see.)
CRIES: In the camp? It enters!--It comes from the enemy! --Fire!--No!--The coachman cries!--What does he say? --'On the King's service!'
(Everyone is on the rampart, staring. The bells come nearer.)
DE GUICHE: The King's service? How?
(All descend and draw up in line.)
CARBON: Uncover, all!
DE GUICHE: The King's! Draw up in line! Let him describe his curve as it befits!
(The carriage enters at full speed covered with dust and mud. The curtains are drawn close. Two lackeys behind. It is pulled up suddenly.)
CARBON: Beat a salute!
(A roll of drums. The cadets uncover.)
DE GUICHE: Lower the carriage-steps!
(Two cadets rush forward. The door opens.)
ROXANE (jumping down from the carriage): Good-day!
(All are bowing to the ground, but at the sound of a woman's voice every head is instantly raised.)
Scene 4.V.
The same. Roxane.
DE GUICHE: On the King's service! You?
ROXANE: Ay,--King Love's! What other king?
CYRANO: Great God!
CHRISTIAN (rushing forward): Why have you come?
ROXANE: This siege--'tis too long!
CHRISTIAN: But why?. . .
ROXANE: I will tell you all!
CYRANO (who, at the sound of her voice, has stood still, rooted to the ground, afraid to raise his eyes): My God! dare I look at her?
DE GUICHE: You cannot remain here!
ROXANE (merrily): But I say yes! Who will push a drum hither for me? (She seats herself on the drum they roll forward): So! I thank you. (She laughs): My carriage was fired at (proudly): by the patrol! Look! would you not think 'twas made of a pumpkin, like Cinderella's chariot in the tale,--and the footmen out of rats? (Sending a kiss with her lips to Christian): Good-morrow! (Examining them all): You look not merry, any of you! Ah! know you that 'tis a long road to get to Arras? (Seeing Cyrano): Cousin, delighted!
CYRANO (coming up to her): But how, in Heaven's name?. . .
ROXANE: How found I the way to the army? It was simple enough, for I had but to pass on and on, as far as I saw the country laid waste. Ah, what horrors were there! Had I not seen, then I could never have believed it! Well, gentlemen, if such be the service of your King, I would fainer serve mine!
CYRANO: But 'tis sheer madness! Where in the fiend's name did you get through?
ROXANE: Where? Through the Spanish lines.
FIRST CADET: --For subtle craft, give me a woman!
DE GUICHE: But how did you pass through their lines?
LE BRET: Faith! that must have been a hard matter!. . .
ROXANE: None too hard. I but drove quietly forward in my carriage, and when some hidalgo of haughty mien would have stayed me, lo! I showed at the window my sweetest smile, and these Senors being (with no disrespect to you) the most gallant gentlemen in the world,--I passed on!
CARBON: True, that smile is a passport! But you must have been asked frequently to give an account of where you were going, Madame?
ROXANE: Yes, frequently. Then I would answer, 'I go to see my lover.' At that word the very fiercest Spaniard of them all would gravely shut the carriage-door, and, with a gesture that a king might envy, make signal to his men to lower the muskets leveled at me;--then, with melancholy but withal very graceful dignity--his beaver held to the wind that the plumes might flutter bravely, he would bow low, saying to me, 'Pass on, Senorita!'
CHRISTIAN: But, Roxane. . .
ROXANE:
CHRISTIAN: Wept? why?
CYRANO: Oh!. . .death itself is hardly terrible,. . . --But, ne'er to see her more! That is death's sting! --For. . .I shall never. . . (Christian looks at him): We shall. . . (Quickly): I mean, you. . .
CHRISTIAN (snatching the letter from him): Give me that letter!
(A rumor, far off in the camp.)
VOICE Of SENTINEL: Who goes there? Halloo!
(Shots--voices--carriage-bells.)
CARBON: What is it?
A SENTINEL (on the rampart): 'Tis a carriage!
(All rush to see.)
CRIES: In the camp? It enters!--It comes from the enemy! --Fire!--No!--The coachman cries!--What does he say? --'On the King's service!'
(Everyone is on the rampart, staring. The bells come nearer.)
DE GUICHE: The King's service? How?
(All descend and draw up in line.)
CARBON: Uncover, all!
DE GUICHE: The King's! Draw up in line! Let him describe his curve as it befits!
(The carriage enters at full speed covered with dust and mud. The curtains are drawn close. Two lackeys behind. It is pulled up suddenly.)
CARBON: Beat a salute!
(A roll of drums. The cadets uncover.)
DE GUICHE: Lower the carriage-steps!
(Two cadets rush forward. The door opens.)
ROXANE (jumping down from the carriage): Good-day!
(All are bowing to the ground, but at the sound of a woman's voice every head is instantly raised.)
Scene 4.V.
The same. Roxane.
DE GUICHE: On the King's service! You?
ROXANE: Ay,--King Love's! What other king?
CYRANO: Great God!
CHRISTIAN (rushing forward): Why have you come?
ROXANE: This siege--'tis too long!
CHRISTIAN: But why?. . .
ROXANE: I will tell you all!
CYRANO (who, at the sound of her voice, has stood still, rooted to the ground, afraid to raise his eyes): My God! dare I look at her?
DE GUICHE: You cannot remain here!
ROXANE (merrily): But I say yes! Who will push a drum hither for me? (She seats herself on the drum they roll forward): So! I thank you. (She laughs): My carriage was fired at (proudly): by the patrol! Look! would you not think 'twas made of a pumpkin, like Cinderella's chariot in the tale,--and the footmen out of rats? (Sending a kiss with her lips to Christian): Good-morrow! (Examining them all): You look not merry, any of you! Ah! know you that 'tis a long road to get to Arras? (Seeing Cyrano): Cousin, delighted!
CYRANO (coming up to her): But how, in Heaven's name?. . .
ROXANE: How found I the way to the army? It was simple enough, for I had but to pass on and on, as far as I saw the country laid waste. Ah, what horrors were there! Had I not seen, then I could never have believed it! Well, gentlemen, if such be the service of your King, I would fainer serve mine!
CYRANO: But 'tis sheer madness! Where in the fiend's name did you get through?
ROXANE: Where? Through the Spanish lines.
FIRST CADET: --For subtle craft, give me a woman!
DE GUICHE: But how did you pass through their lines?
LE BRET: Faith! that must have been a hard matter!. . .
ROXANE: None too hard. I but drove quietly forward in my carriage, and when some hidalgo of haughty mien would have stayed me, lo! I showed at the window my sweetest smile, and these Senors being (with no disrespect to you) the most gallant gentlemen in the world,--I passed on!
CARBON: True, that smile is a passport! But you must have been asked frequently to give an account of where you were going, Madame?
ROXANE: Yes, frequently. Then I would answer, 'I go to see my lover.' At that word the very fiercest Spaniard of them all would gravely shut the carriage-door, and, with a gesture that a king might envy, make signal to his men to lower the muskets leveled at me;--then, with melancholy but withal very graceful dignity--his beaver held to the wind that the plumes might flutter bravely, he would bow low, saying to me, 'Pass on, Senorita!'
CHRISTIAN: But, Roxane. . .
ROXANE: