Cyrano de Bergerac [50]
joy dazzled it, But autumn wins it with her dying calm. (She seats herself at the embroidery frame. Two sisters come out of the house, and bring a large armchair under the tree): There comes the famous armchair where he sits, Dear faithful friend!
SISTER MARTHA: It is the parlor's best!
ROXANE: Thanks, sister. (The sisters go): He'll be here now. (She seats herself. A clock strikes): The hour strikes. --My silks?--Why, now, the hour's struck! How strange To be behind his time, at last, to-day! Perhaps the portress--where's my thimble?. . . Here!--Is preaching to him. (A pause): Yes, she must be preaching! Surely he must come soon!--Ah, a dead leaf!-- (She brushes off the leaf from her work): Nothing, besides, could--scissors?--In my bag! --Could hinder him. . .
A SISTER (coming to the steps): Monsieur de Bergerac.
Scene 5.V.
Roxane, Cyrano and, for a moment, Sister Martha.
ROXANE (without turning round): What was I saying?. . . (She embroiders. Cyrano, very pale, his hat pulled down over his eyes, appears. The sister who had announced him retires. He descends the steps slowly, with a visible difficulty in holding himself upright, bearing heavily on his cane. Roxane still works at her tapestry): Time has dimmed the tints. . . How harmonize them now? (To Cyrano, with playful reproach): For the first time Late!--For the first time, all these fourteen years! CYRANO (who has succeeded in reaching the chair, and has seated himself--in a lively voice, which is in great contrast with his pale face): Ay! It is villainous! I raged--was stayed. . .
ROXANE: By?. . .
CYRANO: By a bold, unwelcome visitor.
ROXANE (absently, working): Some creditor?
CYRANO: Ay, cousin,--the last creditor Who has a debt to claim from me.
ROXANE: And you Have paid it?
CYRANO: No, not yet! I put it off; --Said, 'Cry you mercy; this is Saturday, When I have get a standing rendezvous That naught defers. Call in an hour's time!'
ROXANE (carelessly): Oh, well, a creditor can always wait! I shall not let you go ere twilight falls.
CYRANO: Haply, perforce, I quit you ere it falls!
(He shuts his eyes, and is silent for a moment. Sister Martha crosses the park from the chapel to the flight of steps. Roxane, seeing her, signs to her to approach.)
ROXANE (to Cyrano): How now? You have not teased the Sister?
CYRANO (hastily opening his eyes): True! (In a comically loud voice): Sister! come here! (The sister glides up to him): Ha! ha! What? Those bright eyes Bent ever on the ground?
SISTER MARTHA (who makes a movement of astonishment on seeing his face): Oh!
CYRANO (in a whisper, pointing to Roxane): Hush! 'tis naught!-- (Loudly, in a blustering voice): I broke fast yesterday!
SISTER MARTHA (aside): I know, I know! That's how he is so pale! Come presently To the refectory, I'll make you drink A famous bowl of soup. . .You'll come?
CYRANO: Ay, ay!
SISTER MARTHA: There, see! You are more reasonable to-day!
ROXANE (who hears them whispering): The Sister would convert you?
SISTER MARTHA: Nay, not I!
CYRANO: Hold! but it's true! You preach to me no more, You, once so glib with holy words! I am Astonished!. . . (With burlesque fury): Stay, I will surprise you too! Hark! I permit you. . . (He pretends to be seeking for something to tease her with, and to have found it): . . .It is something new!-- To--pray for me, to-night, at chapel-time!
ROXANE: Oh! oh!
CYRANO (laughing): Good Sister Martha is struck dumb!
SISTER MARTHA (gently): I did not wait your leave to pray for you.
(She goes out.)
CYRANO (turning to Roxane, who is still bending over her work): That tapestry! Beshrew me if my eyes Will ever see it finished!
ROXANE: I was sure To hear that well-known jest!
(A light breeze causes the leaves to fall.)
CYRANO: The autumn leaves!
ROXANE (lifting her head, and looking down the distant alley): Soft golden brown,
SISTER MARTHA: It is the parlor's best!
ROXANE: Thanks, sister. (The sisters go): He'll be here now. (She seats herself. A clock strikes): The hour strikes. --My silks?--Why, now, the hour's struck! How strange To be behind his time, at last, to-day! Perhaps the portress--where's my thimble?. . . Here!--Is preaching to him. (A pause): Yes, she must be preaching! Surely he must come soon!--Ah, a dead leaf!-- (She brushes off the leaf from her work): Nothing, besides, could--scissors?--In my bag! --Could hinder him. . .
A SISTER (coming to the steps): Monsieur de Bergerac.
Scene 5.V.
Roxane, Cyrano and, for a moment, Sister Martha.
ROXANE (without turning round): What was I saying?. . . (She embroiders. Cyrano, very pale, his hat pulled down over his eyes, appears. The sister who had announced him retires. He descends the steps slowly, with a visible difficulty in holding himself upright, bearing heavily on his cane. Roxane still works at her tapestry): Time has dimmed the tints. . . How harmonize them now? (To Cyrano, with playful reproach): For the first time Late!--For the first time, all these fourteen years! CYRANO (who has succeeded in reaching the chair, and has seated himself--in a lively voice, which is in great contrast with his pale face): Ay! It is villainous! I raged--was stayed. . .
ROXANE: By?. . .
CYRANO: By a bold, unwelcome visitor.
ROXANE (absently, working): Some creditor?
CYRANO: Ay, cousin,--the last creditor Who has a debt to claim from me.
ROXANE: And you Have paid it?
CYRANO: No, not yet! I put it off; --Said, 'Cry you mercy; this is Saturday, When I have get a standing rendezvous That naught defers. Call in an hour's time!'
ROXANE (carelessly): Oh, well, a creditor can always wait! I shall not let you go ere twilight falls.
CYRANO: Haply, perforce, I quit you ere it falls!
(He shuts his eyes, and is silent for a moment. Sister Martha crosses the park from the chapel to the flight of steps. Roxane, seeing her, signs to her to approach.)
ROXANE (to Cyrano): How now? You have not teased the Sister?
CYRANO (hastily opening his eyes): True! (In a comically loud voice): Sister! come here! (The sister glides up to him): Ha! ha! What? Those bright eyes Bent ever on the ground?
SISTER MARTHA (who makes a movement of astonishment on seeing his face): Oh!
CYRANO (in a whisper, pointing to Roxane): Hush! 'tis naught!-- (Loudly, in a blustering voice): I broke fast yesterday!
SISTER MARTHA (aside): I know, I know! That's how he is so pale! Come presently To the refectory, I'll make you drink A famous bowl of soup. . .You'll come?
CYRANO: Ay, ay!
SISTER MARTHA: There, see! You are more reasonable to-day!
ROXANE (who hears them whispering): The Sister would convert you?
SISTER MARTHA: Nay, not I!
CYRANO: Hold! but it's true! You preach to me no more, You, once so glib with holy words! I am Astonished!. . . (With burlesque fury): Stay, I will surprise you too! Hark! I permit you. . . (He pretends to be seeking for something to tease her with, and to have found it): . . .It is something new!-- To--pray for me, to-night, at chapel-time!
ROXANE: Oh! oh!
CYRANO (laughing): Good Sister Martha is struck dumb!
SISTER MARTHA (gently): I did not wait your leave to pray for you.
(She goes out.)
CYRANO (turning to Roxane, who is still bending over her work): That tapestry! Beshrew me if my eyes Will ever see it finished!
ROXANE: I was sure To hear that well-known jest!
(A light breeze causes the leaves to fall.)
CYRANO: The autumn leaves!
ROXANE (lifting her head, and looking down the distant alley): Soft golden brown,