Cyrano de Bergerac
--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:
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 Lésbas
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, open 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
_fricassée_, 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 closer at my coachman, gentlemen, and
you will recognize a man most welcome. All the sauces can be sent to table
hot, if we will!
THE CADETS (rushing pellmell to the carriage):
'Tis Ragueneau!
(Acclamations):
Oh, oh!
ROXANE (looking after them):
Poor fellows!
CYRANO (kissing her hand):
Kind fairy!
RAGUENEAU (standing on the box like a quack doctor at a fair):
Gentlemen!. . .
(General delight.)
THE CADETS:
Bravo! bravo!
RAGUENEAU:
. . .The Spaniards, gazing on a lady so dainty fair, overlooked the fare so
dainty!. . .
(Applause.)
CYRANO (in a whisper to Christian):
Hark, Christian!
RAGUENEAU:
. . .And, occupied with gallantry, perceived not--
(He draws a plate from under the seat, and holds it up):
--The galantine!. . .
(Applause. The galantine passes from hand to hand.)
CYRANO (still whispering to Christian):
Prythee, one word!
RAGUENEAU:
And Venus so attracted their eyes that Diana could secretly pass by with--
(He holds up a shoulder of mutton):
--her fawn!
(Enthusiasm. Twenty hands are held out to seize the shoulder of mutton.)
CYRANO (in a low whisper to Christian):
I must speak to you!
ROXANE (to the cadets, who come down, their arms laden with food):
Put it all on the ground!
(She lays all out on the grass, aided by the two imperturbable lackeys who
were behind the carriage.)
ROXANE (to Christian, just as Cyrano is drawing him apart):
Come, make yourself of use!
(Christian comes to help her. Cyrano's uneasiness increases.)
RAGUENEAU:
Truffled peacock!
FIRST CADET (radiant, coming down, cutting a big slice of ham):
By the mass! We shall not brave the last hazard without having had a
gullet-full!--
(quickly correcting himself on seeing Roxane):
--Pardon! A Balthazar feast!
RAGUENEAU (throwing down the carriage cushions):
The cushions are stuffed with ortolans!
(Hubbub. They tear open and turn out the contents of the cushions. Bursts of
laughter--merriment.)
THIRD CADET:
Ah! Viedaze!
RAGUENEAU (throwing down to the cadets bottles of red wine):
Flasks of rubies!--
(and white wine):
--Flasks of topaz!
ROXANE (throwing a folded tablecloth at Cyrano's head):
Unfold me that napkin!--Come, come! be nimble!
RAGUENEAU (waving a lantern):
Each of the carriage-lamps is a little larder!
CYRANO (in a low voice to Christian, as they arrange the cloth together):
I must speak with you ere you speak to her.
RAGUENEAU:
My whip-handle is an Arles sausage!
ROXANE (pouring out wine, helping):
Since we are to die, let the rest of the army shift for itself. All for the
Gascons! And mark! if De Guiche comes, let no one invite him!
(Going from one to the other):
There! there! You have time enough! Do not eat too fast!--Drink a
little.—Why are you crying?
FIRST CADET:
It is all so good!. . .
ROXANE:
Tut!--Red or white?--Some bread for Monsieur de Carbon!--a knife! Pass your
plate!--a little of the crust? Some more? Let me help you!--Some
champagne?—A wing?
CYRANO (who follows her, his arms laden with dishes, helping her to wait on
everybody):
How I worship her!
ROXANE (going up to Christian):
What will you?
CHRISTIAN:
Nothing.
ROXANE:
Nay, nay, take this biscuit, steeped in muscat; come!. . . but two
drops!
CHRISTIAN (trying to detain her):
Oh! tell me why you came?
ROXANE:
Wait; my first duty is to these poor fellows.--Hush! In a few minutes. . .
LE BRET (who had gone up to pass a loaf on the end of a lance to the sentry on
the rampart):
De Guiche!
CYRANO:
Quick! hide flasks, plates, pie-dishes, game-baskets! Hurry!--Let us all
look unconscious!
(To Ragueneau):
Up on your seat!--Is everything covered up?
(In an instant all has been pushed into the tents, or hidden under doublets,
cloaks, and beavers. De Guiche enters hurriedly--stops suddenly, sniffing the
air. Silence.)
Scene 4.VII.
The same. De Guiche.
DE GUICHE:
It smells good here.
A CADET (humming):
Lo! Lo-lo!
DE GUICHE (looking at him):
What is the matter?--You are very red.
THE CADET:
The matter?--Nothing!--'Tis my blood--boiling at the thought of the coming
battle!
ANOTHER: