Cyrano de Bergerac [49]
old ivory: He has retained one shabby suit of serge.
THE DUKE: Ay, there is one who has no prize of Fortune!-- Yet is not to be pitied!
LE BRET (with a bitter smile): My Lord Marshal!. . .
THE DUKE: Pity him not! He has lived out his vows, Free in his thoughts, as in his actions free!
LE BRET (in the same tone): My Lord!. . .
THE DUKE (haughtily): True! I have all, and he has naught;. . . Yet I were proud to take his hand! (Bowing to Roxane): Adieu!
ROXANE: I go with you.
(The Duke bows to Le Bret, and goes with Roxane toward the steps.)
THE DUKE (pausing, while she goes up): Ay, true,--I envy him. Look you, when life is brimful of success --Though the past hold no action foul--one feels A thousand self-disgusts, of which the sum Is not remorse, but a dim, vague unrest; And, as one mounts the steps of worldly fame, The Duke's furred mantles trail within their folds A sound of dead illusions, vain regrets, A rustle--scarce a whisper--like as when, Mounting the terrace steps, by your mourning robe Sweeps in its train the dying autumn leaves.
ROXANE (ironically): You are pensive?
THE DUKE: True! I am! (As he is going out, suddenly): Monsieur Le Bret! (To Roxane): A word, with your permission? (He goes to Le Bret, and in a low voice): True, that none Dare to attack your friend;--but many hate him; Yesterday, at the Queen's card-play, 'twas said 'That Cyrano may die--by accident!' Let him stay in--be prudent!
LE BRET (raising his arms to heaven): Prudent! He!. . . He's coming here. I'll warn him--but!. . .
ROXANE (who has stayed on the steps, to a sister who comes toward her): What is it?
THE SISTER: Ragueneau would see you, Madame.
ROXANE: Let him come. (To the Duke and Le Bret): He comes to tell his troubles. Having been An author (save the mark!)--poor fellow--now By turns he's singer. . .
LE BRET: Bathing-man. . .
ROXANE: Then actor. . .
LE BRET: Beadle. . .
ROXANE: Wig-maker. . .
LE BRET: Teacher of the lute. . .
ROXANE: What will he be to-day, by chance?
RAGUENEAU (entering hurriedly): Ah! Madame! (He sees Le Bret): Ah! you here, Sir!
ROXANE (smiling): Tell all your miseries To him; I will return anon.
RAGUENEAU: But, Madame. . .
(Roxane goes out with the Duke. Ragueneau goes toward Le Bret.)
Scene 5.III.
Le Bret, Ragueneau.
RAGUENEAU: Since you are here, 'tis best she should not know! I was going to your friend just now--was but A few steps from the house, when I saw him Go out. I hurried to him. Saw him turn The corner. . .suddenly, from out a window Where he was passing--was it chance?. . .may be! A lackey let fall a large piece of wood.
LE BRET: Cowards! O Cyrano!
RAGUENEAU: I ran--I saw. . .
LE BRET: 'Tis hideous!
RAGUENEAU: Saw our poet, Sir--our friend-- Struck to the ground--a large wound in his head!
LE BRET: He's dead?
RAGUENEAU: No--but--I bore him to his room. . . Ah! his room! What a thing to see!--that garret!
LE BRET: He suffers?
RAGUENEAU: No, his consciousness has flown.
LE BRET: Saw you a doctor?
RAGUENEAU: One was kind--he came.
LE BRET: My poor Cyrano!--We must not tell this To Roxane suddenly.--What said this leech?--
RAGUENEAU: Said,--what, I know not--fever, meningitis!-- Ah! could you see him--all his head bound up!-- But let us haste!--There's no one by his bed!-- And if he try to rise, Sir, he might die!
LE BRET (dragging him toward the right): Come! Through the chapel! 'Tis the quickest way!
ROXANE (appearing on the steps, and seeing Le Bret go away by the colonnade leading to the chapel door): Monsieur le Bret! (Le Bret and Ragueneau disappear without answering): Le Bret goes--when I call! 'Tis some new trouble of good Ragueneau's.
(She descends the steps.)
Scene 5.IV.
Roxane alone. Two sisters, for a moment.
ROXANE: Ah! what a beauty in September's close! My sorrow's eased. April's
THE DUKE: Ay, there is one who has no prize of Fortune!-- Yet is not to be pitied!
LE BRET (with a bitter smile): My Lord Marshal!. . .
THE DUKE: Pity him not! He has lived out his vows, Free in his thoughts, as in his actions free!
LE BRET (in the same tone): My Lord!. . .
THE DUKE (haughtily): True! I have all, and he has naught;. . . Yet I were proud to take his hand! (Bowing to Roxane): Adieu!
ROXANE: I go with you.
(The Duke bows to Le Bret, and goes with Roxane toward the steps.)
THE DUKE (pausing, while she goes up): Ay, true,--I envy him. Look you, when life is brimful of success --Though the past hold no action foul--one feels A thousand self-disgusts, of which the sum Is not remorse, but a dim, vague unrest; And, as one mounts the steps of worldly fame, The Duke's furred mantles trail within their folds A sound of dead illusions, vain regrets, A rustle--scarce a whisper--like as when, Mounting the terrace steps, by your mourning robe Sweeps in its train the dying autumn leaves.
ROXANE (ironically): You are pensive?
THE DUKE: True! I am! (As he is going out, suddenly): Monsieur Le Bret! (To Roxane): A word, with your permission? (He goes to Le Bret, and in a low voice): True, that none Dare to attack your friend;--but many hate him; Yesterday, at the Queen's card-play, 'twas said 'That Cyrano may die--by accident!' Let him stay in--be prudent!
LE BRET (raising his arms to heaven): Prudent! He!. . . He's coming here. I'll warn him--but!. . .
ROXANE (who has stayed on the steps, to a sister who comes toward her): What is it?
THE SISTER: Ragueneau would see you, Madame.
ROXANE: Let him come. (To the Duke and Le Bret): He comes to tell his troubles. Having been An author (save the mark!)--poor fellow--now By turns he's singer. . .
LE BRET: Bathing-man. . .
ROXANE: Then actor. . .
LE BRET: Beadle. . .
ROXANE: Wig-maker. . .
LE BRET: Teacher of the lute. . .
ROXANE: What will he be to-day, by chance?
RAGUENEAU (entering hurriedly): Ah! Madame! (He sees Le Bret): Ah! you here, Sir!
ROXANE (smiling): Tell all your miseries To him; I will return anon.
RAGUENEAU: But, Madame. . .
(Roxane goes out with the Duke. Ragueneau goes toward Le Bret.)
Scene 5.III.
Le Bret, Ragueneau.
RAGUENEAU: Since you are here, 'tis best she should not know! I was going to your friend just now--was but A few steps from the house, when I saw him Go out. I hurried to him. Saw him turn The corner. . .suddenly, from out a window Where he was passing--was it chance?. . .may be! A lackey let fall a large piece of wood.
LE BRET: Cowards! O Cyrano!
RAGUENEAU: I ran--I saw. . .
LE BRET: 'Tis hideous!
RAGUENEAU: Saw our poet, Sir--our friend-- Struck to the ground--a large wound in his head!
LE BRET: He's dead?
RAGUENEAU: No--but--I bore him to his room. . . Ah! his room! What a thing to see!--that garret!
LE BRET: He suffers?
RAGUENEAU: No, his consciousness has flown.
LE BRET: Saw you a doctor?
RAGUENEAU: One was kind--he came.
LE BRET: My poor Cyrano!--We must not tell this To Roxane suddenly.--What said this leech?--
RAGUENEAU: Said,--what, I know not--fever, meningitis!-- Ah! could you see him--all his head bound up!-- But let us haste!--There's no one by his bed!-- And if he try to rise, Sir, he might die!
LE BRET (dragging him toward the right): Come! Through the chapel! 'Tis the quickest way!
ROXANE (appearing on the steps, and seeing Le Bret go away by the colonnade leading to the chapel door): Monsieur le Bret! (Le Bret and Ragueneau disappear without answering): Le Bret goes--when I call! 'Tis some new trouble of good Ragueneau's.
(She descends the steps.)
Scene 5.IV.
Roxane alone. Two sisters, for a moment.
ROXANE: Ah! what a beauty in September's close! My sorrow's eased. April's