 | Cyrano de Bergerac: A Play in Five Acts |  |
Scene I.
Mother Marguerite, Sister Martha, Sister Claire, other sisters.SISTER MARTHA
(to Mother Marguerite)
Sister Claire glanced in the mirror, once--nay, twice, to see if her coif suited.
MOTHER MARGUERITE
(to Sister Claire)
'Tis not well.
SISTER CLAIRE
But I saw Sister Martha take a plum Out of the tart.
MOTHER MARGUERITE
(to Sister Martha)
That was ill done, my sister.
SISTER CLAIRE
A little glance!
SISTER MARTHA
And such a little plum!
I shall tell this to Monsieur Cyrano.
SISTER CLAIRE
Nay, prithee do not!--he will mock!
SISTER MARTHA
He'll say we nuns are vain!
SISTER CLAIRE
And greedy!
MOTHER MARGUERITE
(smiling)
Ay, and kind!
SISTER CLAIRE
Is it not true, pray, Mother Marguerite, That he has come, each week, on Saturday For ten years, to the convent?
MOTHER MARGUERITE
Ay! and more! Ever since--fourteen years ago--the day His cousin brought here, 'midst our woolen coifs, The worldly mourning of her widow's veil, Like a blackbird's wing among the convent doves!
SISTER MARTHA
He only has the skill to turn her mind From grief--unsoftened yet by Time--unhealed!
ALL THE SISTERS
He is so droll!--It's cheerful when he comes!-- He teases us!--But we all like him well!-- --We make him pasties of angelica!
But, he is not a faithful Catholic!
SISTER CLAIRE
We will convert him!
THE SISTERS
Yes! Yes!
MOTHER MARGUERITE
I forbid, My daughters, you attempt that subject. Nay, Weary him not--he might less oft come here!
SISTER MARTHA
But. . .God. . .
MOTHER MARGUERITE
Nay, never fear! God knows him well!
SISTER MARTHA
But--every Saturday, when he arrives, He tells me, 'Sister, I eat meat on Friday!'
MOTHER MARGUERITE
Ah! says he so? Well, the last time he came Food had not passed his lips for two whole days!
SISTER MARTHA
Mother!
MOTHER MARGUERITE
He's poor.
SISTER MARTHA
Who told you so, dear Mother?
Monsieur Le Bret.
SISTER MARTHA
None help him?
MOTHER MARGUERITE
He permits not.
(In an alley at the back Roxane appears, dressed in black, with a widow's coif and veil. De Guiche, imposing-looking and visibly aged, walks by her side. They saunter slowly. Mother Marguerite rises)'Tis time we go in; Madame Madeleine Walks in the garden with a visitor.
SISTER MARTHA
(to Sister Claire, in a low voice)
The Marshal of Grammont?
SISTER CLAIRE
(looking at him)
'Tis he, I think.
SISTER MARTHA
'Tis many months now since he came to see her.
THE SISTERS
He is so busy!--The Court,--the camp!. . .
SISTER CLAIRE
The world!
(They go out. De Guiche and Roxane come forward in silence, and stop close to the embroidery frame.)
| Cyrano de Bergerac: A Play in Five Acts | |