Cyrano de Bergerac [41]
Forgive me that I said, 'my lover!' But bethink you, had I said 'my husband,' not one of them had let me pass!
CHRISTIAN: But. . .
ROXANE: What ails you?
DE GUICHE: You must leave this place!
ROXANE: I?
CYRANO: And that instantly!
LE BRET: No time to lose.
CHRISTIAN: Indeed, you must.
ROXANE: But wherefore must I?
CHRISTIAN (embarrassed): 'Tis that. . .
CYRANO (the same): --In three quarters of an hour. . .
DE GUICHE (the same): --Or for. . .
CARBON (the same): It were best. . .
LE BRET (the same): You might. . .
ROXANE: You are going to fight?--I stay here.
ALL: No, no!
ROXANE: He is my husband! (She throws herself into Christian's arms): They shall kill us both together!
CHRISTIAN: Why do you look at me thus?
ROXANE: I will tell you why!
DE GUICHE (in despair): 'Tis a post of mortal danger!
ROXANE (turning round): Mortal danger!
CYRANO: Proof enough, that he has put us here!
ROXANE (to De Guiche): So, Sir, you would have made a widow of me?
DE GUICHE: Nay, on my oath. . .
ROXANE: I will not go! I am reckless now, and I shall not stir from here!--Besides, 'tis amusing!
CYRANO: Oh-ho! So our precieuse is a heroine!
ROXANE: Monsieur de Bergerac, I am your cousin.
A CADET: We will defend you well!
ROXANE (more and more excited): I have no fear of that, my friends!
ANOTHER (in ecstasy): The whole camp smells sweet of orris-root!
ROXANE: And, by good luck, I have chosen a hat that will suit well with the battlefield! (Looking at De Guiche): But were it not wisest that the Count retire? They may begin the attack.
DE GUICHE: That is not to be brooked! I go to inspect the cannon, and shall return. You have still time--think better of it!
ROXANE: Never!
(De Guiche goes out.)
Scene 4.VI.
The same, all but De Guiche.
CHRISTIAN (entreatingly): Roxane!
ROXANE: No!
FIRST CADET (to the others): She stays!
ALL (hurrying, hustling each other, tidying themselves): A comb!--Soap!--My uniform is torn!--A needle!--A ribbon!--Lend your mirror!--My cuffs!--Your curling-iron!--A razor!. . .
ROXANE (to Cyrano, who still pleads with her): No! Naught shall make me stir from this spot!
CARBON (who, like the others, has been buckling, dusting, brushing his hat, settling his plume, and drawing on his cuffs, advances to Roxane, and ceremoniously): It is perchance more seemly, since things are thus, that I present to you some of these gentlemen who are about to have the honor of dying before your eyes. (Roxane bows, and stands leaning on Christian's arm, while Carbon introduces the cadets to her): Baron de Peyrescous de Colignac!
THE CADET (with a low reverence): Madame. . .
CARBON (continuing): Baron de Casterac de Cahuzac,--Vidame de Malgouyre Estressac Lesbas d'Escarabiot, Chevalier d'Antignac-Juzet, Baron Hillot de Blagnac-Salechan de Castel Crabioules. . .
ROXANE: But how many names have you each?
BARON HILLOT: Scores!
CARBON (to Roxane): Pray, upon the hand that holds your kerchief.
ROXANE (opens her hand, and the handkerchief falls): Why?
(The whole company start forward to pick it up.)
CARBON (quickly raising it): My company had no flag. But now, by my faith, they will have the fairest in all the camp!
ROXANE (smiling): 'Tis somewhat small.
CARBON (tying the handkerchief on the staff of his lance): But--'tis of lace!
A CADET (to the rest): I could die happy, having seen so sweet a face, if I had something in my stomach--were it but a nut!
CARBON (who has overheard, indignantly): Shame on you! What, talk of eating when a lovely woman!. . .
ROXANE: But your camp air is keen; I myself am famished. Pasties, cold fricassee, old wines--there is my bill of fare? Pray bring it all here.
(Consternation.)
A CADET: All that?
ANOTHER: But where on earth find it?
ROXANE (quietly): In my carriage.
ALL: How?
ROXANE: Now serve up--carve! Look a little
CHRISTIAN: But. . .
ROXANE: What ails you?
DE GUICHE: You must leave this place!
ROXANE: I?
CYRANO: And that instantly!
LE BRET: No time to lose.
CHRISTIAN: Indeed, you must.
ROXANE: But wherefore must I?
CHRISTIAN (embarrassed): 'Tis that. . .
CYRANO (the same): --In three quarters of an hour. . .
DE GUICHE (the same): --Or for. . .
CARBON (the same): It were best. . .
LE BRET (the same): You might. . .
ROXANE: You are going to fight?--I stay here.
ALL: No, no!
ROXANE: He is my husband! (She throws herself into Christian's arms): They shall kill us both together!
CHRISTIAN: Why do you look at me thus?
ROXANE: I will tell you why!
DE GUICHE (in despair): 'Tis a post of mortal danger!
ROXANE (turning round): Mortal danger!
CYRANO: Proof enough, that he has put us here!
ROXANE (to De Guiche): So, Sir, you would have made a widow of me?
DE GUICHE: Nay, on my oath. . .
ROXANE: I will not go! I am reckless now, and I shall not stir from here!--Besides, 'tis amusing!
CYRANO: Oh-ho! So our precieuse is a heroine!
ROXANE: Monsieur de Bergerac, I am your cousin.
A CADET: We will defend you well!
ROXANE (more and more excited): I have no fear of that, my friends!
ANOTHER (in ecstasy): The whole camp smells sweet of orris-root!
ROXANE: And, by good luck, I have chosen a hat that will suit well with the battlefield! (Looking at De Guiche): But were it not wisest that the Count retire? They may begin the attack.
DE GUICHE: That is not to be brooked! I go to inspect the cannon, and shall return. You have still time--think better of it!
ROXANE: Never!
(De Guiche goes out.)
Scene 4.VI.
The same, all but De Guiche.
CHRISTIAN (entreatingly): Roxane!
ROXANE: No!
FIRST CADET (to the others): She stays!
ALL (hurrying, hustling each other, tidying themselves): A comb!--Soap!--My uniform is torn!--A needle!--A ribbon!--Lend your mirror!--My cuffs!--Your curling-iron!--A razor!. . .
ROXANE (to Cyrano, who still pleads with her): No! Naught shall make me stir from this spot!
CARBON (who, like the others, has been buckling, dusting, brushing his hat, settling his plume, and drawing on his cuffs, advances to Roxane, and ceremoniously): It is perchance more seemly, since things are thus, that I present to you some of these gentlemen who are about to have the honor of dying before your eyes. (Roxane bows, and stands leaning on Christian's arm, while Carbon introduces the cadets to her): Baron de Peyrescous de Colignac!
THE CADET (with a low reverence): Madame. . .
CARBON (continuing): Baron de Casterac de Cahuzac,--Vidame de Malgouyre Estressac Lesbas d'Escarabiot, Chevalier d'Antignac-Juzet, Baron Hillot de Blagnac-Salechan de Castel Crabioules. . .
ROXANE: But how many names have you each?
BARON HILLOT: Scores!
CARBON (to Roxane): Pray, upon the hand that holds your kerchief.
ROXANE (opens her hand, and the handkerchief falls): Why?
(The whole company start forward to pick it up.)
CARBON (quickly raising it): My company had no flag. But now, by my faith, they will have the fairest in all the camp!
ROXANE (smiling): 'Tis somewhat small.
CARBON (tying the handkerchief on the staff of his lance): But--'tis of lace!
A CADET (to the rest): I could die happy, having seen so sweet a face, if I had something in my stomach--were it but a nut!
CARBON (who has overheard, indignantly): Shame on you! What, talk of eating when a lovely woman!. . .
ROXANE: But your camp air is keen; I myself am famished. Pasties, cold fricassee, old wines--there is my bill of fare? Pray bring it all here.
(Consternation.)
A CADET: All that?
ANOTHER: But where on earth find it?
ROXANE (quietly): In my carriage.
ALL: How?
ROXANE: Now serve up--carve! Look a little