 | Cyrano de Bergerac: A Play in Five Acts |  |
Scene VI.
The same. Le Bret and Ragueneau.LE BRET
What madness! Here? I knew it well!
CYRANO
(smiling and sitting up)
What now?
LE BRET
He has brought his death by coming, Madame.
ROXANE
God! Ah, then! that faintness of a moment since. . .?
CYRANO
Why, true! It interrupted the 'Gazette:' . . .Saturday, twenty-sixth, at dinner-time, Assassination of De Bergerac.
(He takes off his hat; they see his head bandaged.)
What says he? Cyrano!--His head all bound! Ah, what has chanced? How?--Who?. . .
CYRANO
'To be struck down, Pierced by sword i' the heart, from a hero's hand!' That I had dreamed. O mockery of Fate! --Killed, I! of all men--in an ambuscade! Struck from behind, and by a lackey's hand! 'Tis very well. I am foiled, foiled in all, Even in my death.
RAGUENEAU
Ah, Monsieur!. . .
CYRANO
(holding out his hand to him)
Ragueneau, Weep not so bitterly!. . .What do you now, Old comrade?
RAGUENEAU
(amid his tears)
Trim the lights for Moliere's stage.
CYRANO
Moliere!
RAGUENEAU
Yes; but I shall leave to-morrow. I cannot bear it!--Yesterday, they played 'Scapin'--I saw he'd thieved a scene from you!
LE BRET
What! a whole scene?
Oh, yes, indeed, Monsieur, The famous one, 'Que Diable allait-il faire?'
LE BRET
Moliere has stolen that?
CYRANO
Tut! He did well!. . .
(to Ragueneau)How went the scene? It told--I think it told?
RAGUENEAU
(sobbing)
Ah! how they laughed!
CYRANO
Look you, it was my life To be the prompter every one forgets!
(To Roxane)That night when 'neath your window Christian spoke --Under your balcony, you remember? Well! There was the allegory of my whole life I, in the shadow, at the ladder's foot, While others lightly mount to Love and Fame! Just! very just! Here on the threshold drear Of death, I pay my tribute with the rest, To Moliere's genius,--Christian's fair face!
(The chapel-bell chimes. The nuns are seen passing down the alley at the back, to say their office)Let them go pray, go pray, when the bell rings!
(rising and calling)
Sister! Sister!
CYRANO
(holding her fast)
Call no one. Leave me not; When you come back, I should be gone for aye.
(The nuns have all entered the chapel. The organ sounds)I was somewhat fain for music--hark! 'tis come.
ROXANE
Live, for I love you!
CYRANO
No, In fairy tales When to the ill-starred Prince the lady says 'I love you!' all his ugliness fades fast-- But I remain the same, up to the last!
ROXANE
I have marred your life--I, I!
CYRANO
You blessed my life! Never on me had rested woman's love. My mother even could not find me fair I had no sister; and, when grown a man, I feared the mistress who would mock at me. But I have had your friendship--grace to you A woman's charm has passed across my path.
(pointing to the moon, which is seen between the trees)
Your other lady-love is come.
CYRANO
(smiling)
I see.
ROXANE
I loved but once, yet twice I lose my love!
CYRANO
Hark you, Le Bret! I soon shall reach the moon. To-night, alone, with no projectile's aid!. . .
LE BRET
What are you saying?
CYRANO
I tell you, it is there, There, that they send me for my Paradise, There I shall find at last the souls I love, In exile,--Galileo--Socrates!
LE BRET
(rebelliously)
No, no! It is too clumsy, too unjust! So great a heart! So great a poet! Die Like this? what, die. . .?
CYRANO
Hark to Le Bret, who scolds!
(weeping)
Dear friend. . .
CYRANO
(starting up, his eyes wild)
What ho! Cadets of Gascony! The elemental mass--ah yes! The hic. . .
LE BRET
His science still--he raves!
CYRANO
Copernicus Said. . .
ROXANE
Oh!
CYRANO
Mais que diable allait-il faire, Mais que diable allait-il faire dans cette galere?. . . Philosopher, metaphysician, Rhymer, brawler, and musician, Famed for his lunar expedition, And the unnumbered duels he fought,-- And lover also,--by interposition!-- Here lies Hercule Savinien De Cyrano de Bergerac, Who was everything, yet was naught. I cry you pardon, but I may not stay; See, the moon-ray that comes to call me hence!
(He has fallen back in his chair; the sobs of Roxane recall him to reality; he looks long at her, and, touching her veil)I would not bid you mourn less faithfully
ROXANE
I swear it you!. . .
CYRANO
(shivering violently, then suddenly rising)
Not there! what, seated?--no!
(They spring toward him)Let no one hold me up--
(He props himself against the tree)Only the tree!
(Silence)It comes. E'en now my feet have turned to stone, My hands are gloved with lead!
(He stands erect)But since Death comes, I meet him still afoot,
(He draws his sword)And sword in hand!
LE BRET
Cyrano!
ROXANE
(half fainting)
Cyrano!
CYRANO
Why, I well believe He dares to mock my nose? Ho! insolent!
(He raises his sword)What say you? It is useless? Ay, I know But who fights ever hoping for success? I fought for lost cause, and for fruitless quest! You there, who are you!--You are thousands! Ah! I know you now, old enemies of mine! Falsehood!
(He strikes in air with his sword)Have at you! Ha! and Compromise! Prejudice, Treachery!. . .
(He strikes)Surrender, I? Parley? No, never! You too, Folly,--you? I know that you will lay me low at last; Let be! Yet I fall fighting, fighting still!
(He makes passes in the air, and stops, breathless)You strip from me the laurel and the rose! Take all! Despite you there is yet one thing I hold against you all, and when, to-night, I enter Christ's fair courts, and, lowly bowed, Sweep with doffed casque the heavens' threshold blue, One thing is left, that, void of stain or smutch, I bear away despite you.
(He springs forward, his sword raised; it falls from his hand; he staggers, falls back into the arms of Le Bret and Ragueneau.)
(bending and kissing his forehead)
'Tis?. . .
CYRANO
(opening his eyes, recognizing her, and smiling)
MY PANACHE.
Curtain.
| Cyrano de Bergerac: A Play in Five Acts | |