Cyrano De Bergerac Part 15

ROXANE Say no more... no more!

CYRANO A kiss, Madame, is a thing so n.o.ble that the Queen of France, on the most fortunate of lords, bestowed one, did the queen herself!

ROXANE If that be so ...

CYRANO [with increasing fervor] Like Buckingham Like Buckingham54 I have suffered in long silence, like him I worship a queen, like him I am sorrowful and unchanging... I have suffered in long silence, like him I worship a queen, like him I am sorrowful and unchanging...

ROXANE Like him you enthrall through the eyes the heart that follows you!

CYRANO [to himself, sobered] [to himself, sobered] True, I am handsome... I had forgotten! True, I am handsome... I had forgotten!

ROXANE Come then and gather it, the supreme flower...

CYRANO [pushing [pushing CHRISTIAN CHRISTIAN toward the balcony] toward the balcony] Go! Go!

ROXANE ... tasting of the heart.

CYRANO Go!...

ROXANE ... murmuring like a bee...

CYRANO Go!

CHRISTIAN [hesitating] [hesitating] But now I feel as if I ought not! But now I feel as if I ought not!

ROXANE ... making Eternity an instant...

CYRANO [pushing [pushing CHRISTIAN] Scale the balcony, you donkey! CHRISTIAN] Scale the balcony, you donkey! [CHRISTIAN springs toward the balcony, and climbs by means of the bench, the vine, the posts and bal.u.s.ters] [CHRISTIAN springs toward the balcony, and climbs by means of the bench, the vine, the posts and bal.u.s.ters]

CHRISTIAN Ah, Roxane! [He clasps her to him, and bends over her lips] [He clasps her to him, and bends over her lips]

CYRANO Ha!... What a turn of the screw to my heart! ... Kiss, banquet of Love at which I am Lazarus, a crumb drops from your table even to me,55 here in the shade.... Yes, in my outstretched heart a little falls, as I feel that upon the lip pressing her lip Roxane kisses the words spoken by me! ... here in the shade.... Yes, in my outstretched heart a little falls, as I feel that upon the lip pressing her lip Roxane kisses the words spoken by me! ... [The theorbos are heard.] [The theorbos are heard.] A merry tune... a mournful one... The monk! [ A merry tune... a mournful one... The monk! [He goes through the pretence of arriving on the spot at a run, as if from a distance; calling. ] Ho, there! ] Ho, there!

ROXANE What is it?

CYRANO It is I. I was pa.s.sing this way. Is Christian there?

CHRISTIAN [astonished] Cyrano!

ROXANE Good-evening, cousin!

CYRANO Cousin, good-evening!

ROXANE I will come down. [ROXANE disappears in the house. THE CAPUCHIN re-enters at the back.] [ROXANE disappears in the house. THE CAPUCHIN re-enters at the back.]

CHRISTIAN [seeing him] [seeing him] Oh, again! [ Oh, again! [He follows ROXANE.] ROXANE.]

SCENE XI.

Cyrano, Christian, Roxane, the Capuchin, Ragueneau

THE CAPUCHIN It is here she lives, I am certain... Magdeleine Robin.

CYRANO You said Ro-lin.

THE CAPUCHIN No, bin, ... b, i, n, bin!

ROXANE [appearing upon the threshold, followed by [appearing upon the threshold, followed by RAGUENEAU RAGUENEAU carrying a lantern, and carrying a lantern, and CHRISTIAN] What is it? CHRISTIAN] What is it?

THE CAPUCHIN A letter.

CHRISTIAN What?

THE CAPUCHIN [to ROXANE] Oh, the contents can be only of a sacred character! It is from a worthy n.o.bleman who . . .

ROXANE [to CHRISTIAN] It is from De Guiche!

CHRISTIAN He dares to ... ?

ROXANE Oh, he will not trouble me much longer! [Opening the letter.] [Opening the letter.] I love you, and if... I love you, and if... [By the light of [By the light of RAGUENEAU's RAGUENEAU's lantern she reads, aside lantern she reads, aside, low. low.] Mademoiselle: The drums are beating. My regiment is buckling on its corselet. It is about to leave. I am thought to have left already, but lag behind. I am disobeying you. I am in the convent here. I am coming to you, and send you word by a friar, silly as a sheep, who has no suspicion of the import of this letter. You smiled too sweetly upon me an hour ago: I must see you smile again. Provide to be alone, and deign graciously to receive the audacious worshipper, forgiven already, I can but hope, who signs himself your-etc.... [To THE CAPUCHIN.] Father, this is what the letter tells me ... Listen: [All draw nearer; she reads aloud. [All draw nearer; she reads aloud.] Mademoiselle: The wishes of the cardinal may not be disregarded, however hard compliance with them prove. I have therefore chosen as bearer of this letter a most reverend, holy, and sagacious Capuchin; it is our wish that he should at once, in your own dwelling, p.r.o.nounce the nuptial blessing over you. Christian must secretly become your husband. I send him to you. You dislike him. Bow to Heaven's will in resignation, and be sure that it will bless your zeal, and sure, likewise, Mademoiselle, of the respect of him who is and will be ever your most humble and... etc.

THE CAPUCHIN [beaming] The worthy gentleman! ... I knew it! You remember that I said so: The contents of that letter can be only of a sacred character!

ROXANE [low, to CHRISTIAN] I am a fluent reader, am I not? to CHRISTIAN] I am a fluent reader, am I not?

CHRISTIAN Hm!

ROXANE [with feigned despair] Ah ... it is horrible! Ah ... it is horrible!

THE CAPUCHIN [who has turned the light of his lantern upon CYRANO] You are the one? CYRANO] You are the one?

CHRISTIAN No, I am.

THE CAPUCHIN [turning the light upon him, and as if his good looks aroused suspicion] But... But...

ROXANE [quickly] Postscript: You will bestow upon the convent two hundred and fifty crowns.

THE CAPUCHIN The worthy, worthy gentleman! [To ROXANE.] Be reconciled!

ROXANE [with the expression of a martyr] I will endeavor! [While RAGUENEAU RAGUENEAU opens the door for opens the door for THE CAPUCHIN, THE CAPUCHIN, whom whom CHRISTIAN is CHRISTIAN is showing into the house, showing into the house, ROXANE ROXANE says low to says low to CYRANO.] De Guiche is coming! ... Keep him here! Do not let him enter until... CYRANO.] De Guiche is coming! ... Keep him here! Do not let him enter until...

CYRANO I understand! [To [To THE CAPUCHIN.] How long will it take to marry them? THE CAPUCHIN.] How long will it take to marry them?

THE CAPUCHIN A quarter of an hour.

CYRANO [pushing all toward the house] [pushing all toward the house] Go in! I shall be here! Go in! I shall be here!

ROXANE [to [to CHRISTIAN] Come! CHRISTIAN] Come! [They go in.] [They go in.]

SCENE XII.

Cyrano, alone

CYRANO How can I detain De Guiche for a quarter of an hour? [He jumps upon the bench, climbs the wall toward the balcony rail. [He jumps upon the bench, climbs the wall toward the balcony rail. So! ... I climb up here! ... I know what I will do! ... So! ... I climb up here! ... I know what I will do! ... [The theorbos play a melancholy tune.] [The theorbos play a melancholy tune.] Ho, it is a man! Ho, it is a man! [The tune quavers lugubriously. [The tune quavers lugubriously.] Ho, ho, this time there is no mistake! [He is on the balcony; he pulls the brim of his hat over his eyes, takes off his sword, wraps his cloak about him, and bends over the balcony-rail.] [He is on the balcony; he pulls the brim of his hat over his eyes, takes off his sword, wraps his cloak about him, and bends over the balcony-rail.] No, it is not too far! No, it is not too far! [He climbs over the balcony-rail, and reaching for a long bough that projects beyond the garden wall, holds on to it with both hands, ready to let himself drop.] [He climbs over the balcony-rail, and reaching for a long bough that projects beyond the garden wall, holds on to it with both hands, ready to let himself drop.] I shall make a slight commotion in the atmosphere! I shall make a slight commotion in the atmosphere!

SCENE XIII.

Cyrano, De Guiche

DE GUICHE [enters masked, groping in the dark] [enters masked, groping in the dark] What can that thrice-d.a.m.ned Capuchin be about? What can that thrice-d.a.m.ned Capuchin be about?

CYRANO The devil! if he should recognize my voice? [Letting go with one hand, he makes show of turning a key.] [Letting go with one hand, he makes show of turning a key.] Cric! crac! [ Cric! crac! [Solemnly.] Cyrano, resume the accent of Bergerac!

DE GUICHE [looking at [looking at ROXANE's ROXANE's house] house] Yes, that is it. I can scarcely see. This mask bothers my eyes! Yes, that is it. I can scarcely see. This mask bothers my eyes! [He is about to enter [He is about to enter ROXANE's ROXANE's house; house; CYRANO CYRANO swings from the balcony, holding on to the bough, which bends and lets him down between the door and swings from the balcony, holding on to the bough, which bends and lets him down between the door and DE GUICHE. DE GUICHE. He intentionally drops very heavily, to give the effect of dropping from a great height, and lies flattened upon the ground, motionless, as if stunned. He intentionally drops very heavily, to give the effect of dropping from a great height, and lies flattened upon the ground, motionless, as if stunned.]

DE GUICHE What is it? [When he looks up, the bough has swung into place; sees nothing but the sky] Where did this man drop from? Where did this man drop from?

CYRANO [rising to a sitting posture] From the moon!

lo2 CYRANO DE BERGERAC. CYRANO DE BERGERAC.

DE GUICHE From the ... ?

CYRANO [in a dreamy voice] [in a dreamy voice] What time is it? What time is it?

DE GUICHE Is he mad?

CYRANO What time? What country? What day? What season?

DE GUICHE But...

CYRANO I am dazed!

DE GUICHE Monsieur...

CYRANO I have dropped from the moon like a bomb!

DE GUICHE [impatiently] What are you babbling about?

CYRANO [rising, in a terrible voice] [rising, in a terrible voice] I tell you I have dropped from the moon! I tell you I have dropped from the moon!

DE GUICHE [backing a step] Very well. You have dropped from the moon! ... He is perhaps a lunatic!

CYRANO [walking up close to him [walking up close to him] Not metaphorically, mind that! DE GUICHE But...

CYRANO A hundred years ago, or else a minute,-for I have no conception how long I have been falling,-I was up there, in that saffron-colored ball!

DE GUICHE [shrugging his shoulders] You were. Now, let me pa.s.s!

CYRANO [standing in his way] Where am I? Be frank with me! Keep nothing from me! In what region, among what people, have I been shot like an aerolite? Where am I? Be frank with me! Keep nothing from me! In what region, among what people, have I been shot like an aerolite?

DE GUICHE I wish to pa.s.s!

CYRANO While falling I could not choose my way, and have no notion where I have fallen! Is it upon a moon, or is it upon an earth, I have been dragged by my posterior weight?

DE GUICHE I tell you, sir...

CYRANO [with a scream of terror at which DE GUICHE DE GUICHE starts backward a step] starts backward a step] Great G.o.d! ... In this country men's faces are soot-black! Great G.o.d! ... In this country men's faces are soot-black!

DE GUICHE [lifting his hand to his face] What does he mean?

CYRANO [still terrified] Am I in Algeria? Are you a native? ...

DE GUICHE [who has felt his mask] [who has felt his mask] Ah, my mask! Ah, my mask!

CYRANO [pretending to be easier [pretending to be easier] So I am in Venice! ... Or am I in Genoa?

DE GUICHE [attempting to pa.s.s] A lady is expecting me! to pa.s.s] A lady is expecting me!

CYRANO [completely rea.s.sured] [completely rea.s.sured] Ah, then I am in Paris. Ah, then I am in Paris.

DE GUICHE [smiling in spite of himself [smiling in spite of himself] The rogue is not far from amusing!

CYRANO Ah, you are laughing!

DE GUICHE I laugh... but intend to pa.s.s!

CYRANO [beaming] [beaming] To think I should strike Paris! To think I should strike Paris! [Quite at his ease, laughing, brushing himself, bowing.] [Quite at his ease, laughing, brushing himself, bowing.] I arrived-pray, pardon my appearance! -by the last whirlwind. I am rather unpresentable-Travel, you know! My eyes are still full of star-dust. My spurs are clogged with bristles off a planet. I arrived-pray, pardon my appearance! -by the last whirlwind. I am rather unpresentable-Travel, you know! My eyes are still full of star-dust. My spurs are clogged with bristles off a planet. [Appearing to pick something off his sleeve.] [Appearing to pick something off his sleeve.] See, on my sleeve, a comet's hair! [He makes a feint of blowing it away.] See, on my sleeve, a comet's hair! [He makes a feint of blowing it away.]

DE GUICHE [beside himself] Sir...

CYRANO [as DE GUICHE DE GUICHE is about to pa.s.s, stretching out his leg as if to show something on it, thereby stopping him.] is about to pa.s.s, stretching out his leg as if to show something on it, thereby stopping him.] Embedded in my calf, I have brought back one of the Great Bear's teeth... and as, falling too near the Trident, I strained aside to clear one of its p.r.o.ngs, I landed sitting in Libra, ... yes, one of the scales! ... and now my weight is registered up there! [ Embedded in my calf, I have brought back one of the Great Bear's teeth... and as, falling too near the Trident, I strained aside to clear one of its p.r.o.ngs, I landed sitting in Libra, ... yes, one of the scales! ... and now my weight is registered up there! [Quickly preventing DE GUICHE preventing DE GUICHE from pa.s.sing, and taking hold of a b.u.t.ton on his doublet from pa.s.sing, and taking hold of a b.u.t.ton on his doublet.] And if, Monsieur, you should take my nose between your fingers and compress it ... milk would result!