Cyrano de Bergerac Page 8
CYRANO [instantly opening the door] Welcome! [Approaching the DUENNA.] Madame, a word with you!
THE DUENNA A dozen.
CYRANO Are you fond of sweets?
THE DUENNA To the point of indigestion!
CYRANO [snatching some paper bags off the counter] Good. Here are two sonnets of Benserade’s ...37
THE DUENNA Pooh!
CYRANO Which I fill for you with grated almond drops.
THE DUENNA [with a different expression] Ha!
CYRANO Do you look with favor upon the cate they call a trifle?
THE DUENNA I affect it out of measure, when it has whipped cream inside.
CYRANO Six shall be yours, thrown in with a poem by Saint-Amant. 38 And in these verses of Chapelain‡ I place this wedge of fruit-cake, light by the side of them.... Oh! And do you like tarts ... little jam ones ... fresh?
THE DUENNA I dream of them at night!
CYRANO [loading her arms with crammed paper bags] Do me the favor to go and eat these in the street.
THE DUENNA But ...
CYRANO [pushing her out] And do not come back till you have finished! [He closes the door upon her, comes forward toward ROXANE, and stands, bareheaded, at a respectful distance.]
SCENE VI
Cyrano, Roxane, the Duenna for a moment
CYRANO Blessed forevermore among all hours the hour in which, remembering that so lowly a being still draws breath, you were so gracious as to come to tell me ... to tell me? ...
ROXANE [who has removed her mask] First of all, that I thank you. For that churl, that coxcomb yesterday, whom you taught manners with your sword, is the one whom a great nobleman, who fancies himself in love with me....
CYRANO De Guiche?
ROXANE [dropping her eyes] Has tried to force upon me as a husband.
CYRANO Honorary? [Bowing.] It appears, then, that I fought, and I am glad of it, not for my graceless nose, but your thrice-beautiful eyes.
ROXANE Further than that ... I wished ... But, before I can make the confession I have in mind to make, I must find in you once more the ... almost brother, with whom as a child I used to play, in the park—do you remember?—by the lake!
CYRANO I have not forgotten. Yes ... you came every summer to Bergerac.
ROXANE You used to fashion lances out of reeds ...
CYRANO The silk of the tasselled corn furnished hair for your doll...
ROXANE It was the time of long delightful games ...
CYRANO And somewhat sour berries ...
ROXANE The time when you did everything I bade you!
CYRANO Roxane, wearing short frocks, was known as Magdeleine.
ROXANE Was I pretty in those days?
CYRANO You were not ill-looking.
ROXANE Sometimes, in your venturesome climbings you used to hurt yourself. You would come running to me, your hand bleeding. And, playing at being your mamma, I would harden my voice and say ... [She takes his hand.] “Will you never keep out of mischief?” [She stops short, amazed.] Oh, it is too much! Here you have done it again! [CYRANO tries to draw back his hand.] No! Let me look at it! ... Aren’t you ashamed? A great boy like you! ... How did this happen, and where?
CYRANO Oh, fun ... near the Porte de Nesle.
ROXANE [sitting down at a table and dipping her handkerchief into a glass of water] Let me have it.
CYRANO [sitting down too] So prettily, so cheeringly maternal!
ROXANE And tell me, while I wash this naughty blood away ... with how many were you fighting?
CYRANO Oh, not quite a hundred.
ROXANE Tell me about it.
CYRANO No. What does it matter? You tell me, you ... what you were going to tell me before, and did not dare ...
ROXANE [without releasing his hand] I do dare, now. I have breathed in courage with the perfume of the past. Oh, yes, now I dare. Here it is. There is someone whom I love.
CYRANO Ah! ...
ROXANE Oh, he does not know it.
CYRANO Ah! ...
ROXANE As yet ...
CYRANO Ah !...
ROXANE But if he does not know it, he soon will.
CYRANO Ah! ...
ROXANE A poor boy who until now has loved me timidly, from a distance, without daring to speak....
CYRANO Ah! ...
ROXANE No, leave me your hand. It is hot, this will cool it ... But I have read his heart in his face.
CYRANO Ah! ...
ROXANE [completing the bandaging of his hand with her small pocket-handkerchief ] And, cousin, is it not a strange coincidence—that he should serve exactly in your regiment!
CYRANO Ah !...
ROXANE [laughing] Yes. He is a cadet, in the same company! CYRANO Ah! ...
ROXANE He bears plain on his forehead the stamp of wit, of genius ! He is proud, noble, young, brave, handsome....
CYRANO [rising, pale] Handsome !...
ROXANE What ... what is the matter?
CYRANO With me? ... Nothing! ... It is ... it is ... [Showing his hand, smiling.] You know! ... It smarts a little ...
ROXANE In short, I love him. I must tell you, however, that I have never seen him save at the play.
CYRANO Then you have never spoken to each other?
ROXANE Only with our eyes.
CYRANO But, then ... how can you know? ...
ROXANE Oh, under the lindens of Place Royale, people will talk. A trustworthy gossip told me many things!
CYRANO A cadet, did you say?
ROXANE A cadet, in your company.
CYRANO His name?
ROXANE Baron Christian de Neuvillette.
CYRANO What? He is not in the cadets.
ROXANE He is! He certainly is, since morning. Captain Carbon de Castel-Jaloux.
CYRANO And quickly, quickly, she throws away her heart! ... But my poor little girl ...
THE DUENNA [opening the door at the back] Monsieur de Bergerac, I have eaten them, every one!
CYRANO Now read the poetry printed upon the bags! [The DUENNA disappears] My poor child, you who can endure none but the choicest language, who savor eloquence and wit, ... if he should be a barbarian!
ROXANE No! no! ... He has hair like one of D’Urfé’s heroes! 39
CYRANO If he had on proof as homely a wit as he has pretty hair!
ROXANE No! No! ... I can see at a single glance, his utterances are fine, pointed ...
CYRANO Ah, yes! A man’s utterances are invariably like his moustache ! ... Still, if he were a ninny? ...
ROXANE [stamping with her foot] I should die, there!
CYRANO [after a time] You bade me come here that you might tell me this? I scarcely see the appropriateness, Madame.
ROXANE Ah, it was because someone yesterday let death into my soul by telling me that in your company you are all Gascons, ... all!
CYRANO And that we pick a quarrel with every impudent fledgling, not Gascon, admitted by favor to our thoroughbred Gascon ranks? That is what you heard?
ROXANE Yes, and you can imagine how distracted I am for him!
CYRANO [in his teeth] You well may be!
ROXANE But I thought, yesterday, when you towered up, great and invincible, giving his due to that miscreant, standing your ground against those caitiffs, I thought “Were he but willing, he of whom all are in awe ...”
CYRANO Very well, I will protect your little baron.
ROXANE Ah, you will ... you will protect him for me? ... I have always felt for you the tenderest regard!
CYRANO Yes, yes.
ROXANE You will be his friend?
CYRANO I will!
ROXANE And never shall he have to fight a duel?
CYRANO I swear it.
ROXANE Oh, I quite love you! ... Now I must go. [She hurriedly resumes her mask, throws a veil over her head; says absentmindedly] But you have not yet told me about last night’s encounter. It must have been amazing! ... Tell him to write to me. [She kisses her hand to him.] I love you dearly!
CYRANO Yes, yes.
&n
bsp; ROXANE A hundred men against you? ... Well, adieu. We are fast friends.
CYRANO Yes, yes.
ROXANE Tell him to write me! ... A hundred men! You shall tell me another time. I must not linger now ... A hundred men! What a heroic thing to do!
CYRANO [bowing] Oh, I have done better since! [Exit ROXANE. CYRANO stands motionless, staring at the ground. Silence. The door at the right opens. RAGUENEAU thrusts in his head.]
SCENE VII
Cyrano, Ragueneau, the Poets, Carbon de Castel-jaloux, the Cadets, the Crowd, etc., then De Guiche
RAGNENEAU May we come back?
CYRANO [without moving] Yes ... [RAGUENEAU beckons, his friends come in again. At the same time, in the doorway at the back, appears CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUX, costume of a Captain of the Guards. On seeing CYRANO, he gesticulates exaggeratedly by way of signal to someone out of sight.]
CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOLIX He is here!
CYRANO [looking up] Captain!
CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUX [exultant] Hero! We know all! ... About thirty of my cadets are out there! ...
CYRANO [drawing back] But ...
CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUX [trying to lead him Off] Come! ... You are in request!
CYRANO No!
CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOLIX They are drinking across the way, at the Cross of the Hilt.
CYRANO I ...
CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUX [going to the door and shouting toward the street corner, in a voice of thunder] The hero refuses. He is not in the humor!
A VOICE [outside] Ah, sandious! ... 40 [Tumult outside, noise of clanking swords and of boots drawing nearer.]
CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUX [rubbing his hands] Here they come, across the street....
THE CADETS [entering the cookshop] Mille diousl .... Capdediousl ... Mordious! ... Pocapdediousl ...
RAGUENEAU [backing in alarm] Messieurs, are you all natives of Gascony?
THE CADETS All!
ONE OF THE CADETS [to CYRANO] Bravo!
CYRANO Baron!
OTHER CADET [shaking both CYRANO’s hands] Vivat!
CYRANO Baron!
THIRD CADET Let me hug you to my heart!
CYRANO Baron!
SEVERAL GASCONS Bravo! Let us hug him!
CYRANO [not knowing which one to answer] Baron! ... baron! ... your pardon!
RAGUENEAU Messieurs, are you all barons?
THE CADETS All!
RAGUENEAU Are they truly?
FIRST CADET Our coats of arms piled up would dwindle in the clouds!
LE BRET [entering, running to CYRANO] They are looking for you! A crowd, gone mad as March, led by those who were with you last night.
CYRANO [alarmed] You never told them where to find me?
LE BRET [rubbing his hands] I did.
A BURGHER [entering,followed by a number of others] Monsieur, the Marais41 is coming in a body! [The street outside has filled with people. Sedan-chairs, coaches stop before the door.]
LE BRET [smiling, low to CYRANO] And Roxane?
CYRANO [quickly] Be quiet!
THE CROWD [outside.] Cyrano! [A rabble bursts into the cookshop. Confusion. Shouting.]
RAGUENEAU [standing upon a table] My shop is invaded! They are breaking everything! It is glorious!
PEOPLE [pressing round CYRANO] My friend ... my friend....
CYRANO I had not so many friends ... yesterday!
LE BRET This is success!
A YOUNG MARQUIS [running toward CYRANO, with outstretched hands] If you knew, my dear fellow .
CYRANO Dear? ... Fellow? ... Where was it we stood sentinel together?
OTHER MARQUIS I wish to present you, sir, to several ladies, who are outside in my coach....
CYRAN O [coldly] But you, to me, by whom will you first be presented?
LE BRET [astonished] But what is the matter with you?
CYRANO Be still!
A MAN OF LETTERS [with an inkhorn] Will you kindly favor me with the details of ...
CYRANO No.
LE BRET [nudging him] That is Theophrastus Renaudot, the inventor of the gazette.42
CYRANO Enough!
LE BRET A sheet close packed with various information! It is an idea, they say, likely to take firm root and flourish!
A POET [coming forward] Monsieur ...
CYRANO Another!
THE POET I am anxious to make a pentacrostic on your name.
SOMEBODY ELSE [likewise approaching CYRANO] Monsieur ...
CYRANO Enough, I say! [At the gesture of impatience which CYRANO cannot repress, the crowd draws away. DE GUICHE appears, escorted by officers; among them CUIGY, BRISSAILLE, those who followed CYRANO at the end of the first act. CUIGY hurries toward CYRANO.]
CUIGY [to CYRANO] Monsieur de Guiche! [Murmurs. Every one draws back] He comes at the request of the Marshal de Gaussion.
DE GUICHE [bowing to CYRANO] Who wishes to express his admiration for your latest exploit, the fame of which has reached him.
THE CROWD Bravo!
CYRANO [bowing] The Marshal is qualified to judge of courage.
DE GUICHE He would scarcely have believed the report, had these gentlemen not been able to swear they had seen the deed performed.
CUIGY With our own eyes!
LE BRET [low to CYRANO, who wears an abstracted air] But ...
CYRANO Be silent!
LE BRET You appear to be suffering ...
CYRANO [starting, and straightening himsef] Before these people? ... [His moustache bristles; he expands his chest.] I ... suffering ? ... You shall see!
DE GUICHE [in whose ear CUIGY has been whispering] But this is by no means the first gallant achievement marking your career. You serve in the madcap Gascon company, do you not?
CYRANO In the cadets, yes.
ONE OF THE CADETS [in a great voice] Among his countrymen!
DE GUICHE [considering the GASCONS, in line behind CYRANO] Ah, ha!—All these gentlemen then of the formidable aspect, are the famous ...
CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUX Cyrano!
CYRANO Captain? ....
CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUX My company, I believe, is here in total. Be so obliging as to present it to the Count.
CYRANO [taking a step toward DE GUICHE, and pointing at the CADETS].
They are the Gascony Cadets
Of Carbon de Castel Jaloux;
Famed fighters, liars, desperates,
They are the Gascony Cadets!
All, better-born than pickpockets,
Talk couchant, rampant, ... pendent, too!
They are the Gascony Cadets
Of Carbon de Castel-Jaloux!
Cat-whiskered, eyed like falconets,
Wolf-toothed and heron-legged, they hew
The rabble down that snarls and threats ...
Cat-whiskered, eyed like falconets!
Great pomp of plume hides and offsets
Holes in those hats they wear askew ...
Cat-whiskered, eyed like falconets,
They drive the snarling mob, and hew!
The mildest of their sobriquets
Are Crack-my-crown and Run-me-through,
Mad drunk on glory Gascon gets!
These boasters of soft sobriquets
Wherever rapier rapier whets
Are met in punctual rendezvous ...
The mildest of their sobriquets
Are Crack-my-crown and Run-me-through!
They are the Gascony Cadets
That give the jealous spouse his due!
Lean forth, adorable coquettes,
They are the Gascony Cadets,
With plumes and scarfs and aigulets!
The husband gray may well look blue ...
They are the Gascony Cadets
That give the jealous spouse his due!
DE GUICHE [nonchalantly seated in an armchair which RAGUENEAU has hurriedly brought for him] A gentleman provides himself today, by way of luxury, with a poet. May I look upon you as mine?
CYRANO No, your lordship, as nobody’s.
DE GUICHE My uncle Richelieu yesterday found your spontaneity diverting. I shall be pleased to be of use to you with him.
LE BRET [dazzled] Great God!
DE GUICHE I cannot think I am wrong in supposing that you have rhymed a tragedy?43
LE BRET [whispering to CYRANO] My boy, your Agrippina will be played!
DE GUICHE Take it to him....
CYRANO [tempted and pleased] Really ...
DE GUICHE He has taste in such matters. He will no more than, here and there, alter a word, recast a passage....
CYRANO [whose face has instantly darkened] Not to be considered, monsieur! My blood runs cold at the thought of a single comma added or suppressed.
DE GUICHE On the other hand, my dear sir, when a verse finds favor with him, he pays for it handsomely.
CYRANO He scarcely can pay me as I pay myself, when I have achieved a verse to my liking, by singing it over to myself!
DE GUICHE You are proud.
CYRANO You have observed it?
ONE OF THE CADETS [coming in with a number of disreputable, draggled tattered hats threaded on his sword] Look, Cyrano! at the remarkable feathered game we secured this morning near the Porte de Nesle! The hats of the fugitives!
CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUX Spoliœ opimœ!44
ALL [laughing] Ha! Ha! Ha! ...
CUIGY The one who planned that military action, my word! must be proud of it to-day!
BRISSAILLE Is it known who did it?
DE GUICHE I!—[The laughter stops short] They had instructions to chastise—a matter one does not attend to in person,—a drunken scribbler. [Constrained silence.]
THE CADET [under breath, to CYRANO, indicating the hats] What can we do with them? They are oily.... Make them into a hotch pot?
CYRANO [taking the sword with the hats, and bowing, as he shakes them off at DE GUICHE’s feet] Monsieur, if you should care to return them to your friends? ...
DE GUICHE [rises, and in a curt tone] My chair and bearers, at once. [To CYRANO, violently.] As for you, sir ...
A VOICE [in the street, shouting] The chairmen of Monseigneur the Comte de Guiche!
DE GUICHE [who has recovered control over himself, with, a smile] Have you read Don Quixote?45
CYRANO I have. And at the name of that divine madman, I uncover ...