 | Cyrano de Bergerac: A Play in Five Acts |  |
Scene 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
Poum, poum--poum. . .
DE GUICHE
(turning round)
What's that?
(slightly drunk)
Nothing!. . .'Tis a song!--a little. . .
DE GUICHE
You are merry, my friend!
THE CADET
The approach of danger is intoxicating!
DE GUICHE
(calling Carbon de Castel-Jaloux, to give him an order)
Captain! I. . .
(He stops short on seeing him)Plague take me! but you look bravely, too!
CARBON
(crimson in the face, hiding a bottle behind his back, with an evasive movement)
Oh!. . .
DE GUICHE
I have one cannon left, and have had it carried there--
(he points behind the scenes)--in that corner. . .Your men can use it in case of need.
A CADET
(reeling slightly)
Charming attention!
ANOTHER
(with a gracious smile)
Kind solicitude!
How? they are all gone crazy?
(Drily)As you are not used to cannon, beware of the recoil.
FIRST CADET
Pooh!
DE GUICHE
(furious, going up to him)
But. . .
THE CADET
Gascon cannons never recoil!
DE GUICHE
(taking him by the arm and shaking him)
You are tipsy!--but what with?
THE CADET
(grandiloquently)
--With the smell of powder!
DE GUICHE
(shrugging his shoulders and pushing him away, then going quickly to Roxane)
Briefly, Madame, what decision do you deign to take?
ROXANE
I stay here.
DE GUICHE
You must fly!
ROXANE
No! I will stay.
Since things are thus, give me a musket, one of you!
CARBON
Wherefore?
DE GUICHE
Because I too--mean to remain.
CYRANO
At last! This is true valor, Sir!
FIRST CADET
Then you are Gascon after all, spite of your lace collar?
ROXANE
What is all this?
DE GUICHE
I leave no woman in peril.
SECOND CADET
(to the first)
Hark you! Think you not we might give him something to eat?
(All the viands reappear as if by magic.)
DE GUICHE
(whose eyes sparkle)
Victuals!
THE THIRD CADET
Yes, you'll see them coming from under every coat!
DE GUICHE
(controlling himself, haughtily)
Do you think I will eat your leavings?
(saluting him)
You make progress.
DE GUICHE
(proudly, with a light touch of accent on the word 'breaking')
I will fight without br-r-eaking my fast!
FIRST CADET
(with wild delight)
Br-r-r-eaking! He has got the accent!
DE GUICHE
(laughing)
I?
THE CADET
'Tis a Gascon!
(All begin to dance.)
CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUX
(who had disappeared behind the rampart, reappearing on the ridge)
I have drawn my pikemen up in line. They are a resolute troop.
(He points to a row of pikes, the tops of which are seen over the ridge.)
DE GUICHE
(bowing to Roxane)
Will you accept my hand, and accompany me while I review them?
(She takes it, and they go up toward the rampart. All uncover and follow them.)
(going to Cyrano, eagerly)
Tell me quickly!
(As Roxane appears on the ridge, the tops of the lances disappear, lowered for the salute, and a shout is raised. She bows.)
THE PIKEMEN
(outside)
Vivat!
CHRISTIAN
What is this secret?
CYRANO
If Roxane should. . .
CHRISTIAN
Should?. . .
CYRANO
Speak of the letters?. . .
CHRISTIAN
Yes, I know!. . .
CYRANO
Do not spoil all by seeming surprised. . .
CHRISTIAN
At what?
CYRANO
I must explain to you!. . .Oh! 'tis no great matter--I but thought of it to- day on seeing her. You have. . .
Tell quickly!
CYRANO
You have. . .written to her oftener than you think. . .
CHRISTIAN
How so?
CYRANO
Thus, 'faith! I had taken it in hand to express your flame for you!. . .At times I wrote without saying, 'I am writing!'
CHRISTIAN
Ah!. . .
CYRANO
'Tis simple enough!
CHRISTIAN
But how did you contrive, since we have been cut off, thus. . .to?. . .
CYRANO
. . .Oh! before dawn. . .I was able to get through. . .
CHRISTIAN
(folding his arms)
That was simple, too? And how oft, pray you, have I written?. . .Twice in the week?. . .Three times?. . .Four?. . .
CYRANO
More often still.
What! Every day?
CYRANO
Yes, every day,--twice.
CHRISTIAN
(violently)
And that became so mad a joy for you, that you braved death. . .
CYRANO
(seeing Roxane returning)
Hush! Not before her!
(He goes hurriedly into his tent.)
| Cyrano de Bergerac: A Play in Five Acts | |