ACT FOUR

The Gascony Cadets

The post occupied at the siege of Arras⁵⁷ by the company of CARBON DE CASTEL JALOUX. At the back, across the whole stage, sloping earthwork. Beyond this is seen a plain stretching to the horizon; the country is covered with constructions relating to the siege. In the distance, against the sky, the outlines of the walls and roofs of Arras. Tents; scattered arms; drums, etc. It is shortly before sunrise. The East is yellow. Sentinels at even intervals. Camp-fires. The GASCONY CADETS lie asleep, rolled in their cloaks. CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUX and LE BRET are watching. All are very pale and gaunt. CHRISTIAN lies sleeping among the others, in his military cape, in the foreground, his face lighted by one of the camp-fires. Silence.

SCENE I

Christian, Carbon de Castel-Jaloux, Le Bret, the Cadets, then Cyrano

LE BRET It is dreadful!

CARBON Yes. Nothing left.

LE BRET Mordious!

CARBON [warning him by a gesture to speak lower] Curse in a whisper! You will wake them! ... [To the CADETS.] Hush! Go to sleep! [To LE BRET.] Who sleeps dines.

LE BRET Who lies awake misses two good things... What a situation! [A few shots are heard in the distance.]

CARBON The devil take their popping! They will wake my young ones! ... [To the CADETS who lift their heads.] Go to sleep! [The CADETS lie down again. Other shots are heard, nearer.]

ONE OF THE CADETS [stirring] The devil! Again?

CARBON It is nothing. It is Cyrano getting home. [The heads which had started up, go down again.]

A SENTINEL [outside] Ventrebleu! Who goes there?

CYRANO’S VOICE Bergerac!

THE SENTINEL [upon the embankment] Ventrebieu! Who goes there?

CYRANO [appearing at the top of the embankment] Bergerac, blockhead! [He comes down. LE BRET goes to him, uneasy]

LE BRET Ah, thank God!

CYRANO [warning him by a sign to wake no one] Hush!

LE BRET Wounded?

CYRANO Do you not know that it has become a habit with them to miss me?

LE BRET To me, it seems a little excessive that you should, every morning, for the sake of taking a letter, risk...

CYRANO [stopping in front of CHRISTIAN] I promised that he would write often. [He looks at CHRISTIAN] He sleeps. He has grown pale. If the poor little girl could know that he is starving.... But handsome as ever!

LE BRET Go at once and sleep.

CYRANO Le Bret, do not grumble! Learn this: I nightly cross the Spanish lines at a point where I know beforehand every one will be drunk.

LE BRET You ought some time to bring us back some victuals!

CYRANO I must be lightly burdened to flit through! ... But I know that there will be events before the evening. The French, unless I am much mistaken, will eat or die.

LE BRET Oh, tell us!

CYRANO No, I am not certain... You will see!

CARBON What a shameful reversal of the order of things, that the besieger should be starved!

LE BRET Alas! never was more complicated siege than this of Arras: We besiege Arras, and, caught in a trap, are ourselves besieged by the Cardinal-prince of Spain...

CYRANO Someone now ought to come and besiege him.

LE BRET I am not joking!

CYRANO Oh, oh!

LE BRET To think, ungrateful boy, that every day you risk a life precious as yours, solely to carry... [ CYRANO goes toward one of the tents. ] Where are you going?

CYRANO I am going to write another. [He lifts the canvas flap, and disappears in the tent.]

SCENE II

The Same, without Cyrano

[Daybreak has brightened. Rosy flush. The city of Arras at the horizon catches a golden light. The report of a cannon is heard, followed at once by a drum-call, very far away, at the left. Other drums beat, nearer. The drum-calls answer one another, come nearer, come very near, and go off, decreasing, dying in the distance, toward the right, having made the circuit of the camp. Noise of general awakening. Voices of officers in the distance]

CARBON [with a sigh] The reveille Ah, me! ... [The CADETS stir in their cloaks, stretch.] An end to the succulent slumbers! I know but too well what their first word will be!

ONE OF THE CADETS [sitting up] I am famished!

OTHER CADET I believe I am dying!

ALL Oh!...

CARBON Get up!

THIRD CADET I cannot go a step!

FOURTH CADET I have not strength to stir!

FIRST CADET [looking at himself in a bit of armor.] My tongue is coated: it must be the weather that is indigestible!

OTHER CADET Any one who wants them, can have all my titles of nobility for a Chester cheese... or part of one!

OTHER CADET If my stomach does not have something put into it to take up the attention of my gastric juice, I shall retire into my tent before long... like Achilles!

OTHER CADET Yes, they ought to provide us with bread!

CARBON [going to the tent into which CYRANO has retired; low.] Cyrano!

OTHER CADETS We cannot stand this much longer!

CARBON [as above, at the door of the tent] To the rescue, Cyrano! You who succeed so well always in cheering them, come and make them pluck up spirits!

SECOND CADET [falling upon FIRST CADET who is chewing something] What are you chewing, man?

FIRST CADET A bit of gun-tow fried in axle-grease.... using a burganet as frying pan. The suburbs of Arras are not precisely rich in game....

OTHER CADET [entering] I have been hunting!

OTHER CADET [the same] I have been fishing!

ALL [rising and falling upon the newcomers] What?—what did you catch?—A pheasant?—A carp?—Quick! quick! ... Let us see!

THE HUNTSMAN A sparrow!

THE ANGLER A gudgeon!

ALL [exasperated] Enough of this! Let us revolt!

CARBON To the rescue, Cyrano! [It is now broad daylight.]

SCENE III

The Same, Cyrano

CYRANO [coming out of the tent, tranquil, a pen behind his ear, a book in his hand] What is the matter? [Silence. To FIRST CADET.] Why do you go off like that, with that slouching gait?

THE CADET I have something away down in my heels which inconveniences me.

CYRANO And what is that?

THE CADET My stomach.

CYRANO That is where mine is, too.

THE CADET Then you too must be inconvenienced.

CYRANO No. The size of the hollow within me merely increases my sense of my size.

SECOND CADET I happen to have teeth, long ones!

CYRANO The better will you bite... in good time!

THIRD CADET I reverberate like a drum!

CYRANO You will be of use... to sound the charge!

OTHER CADET I have a buzzing in my ears!

CYRANO A mistake. Empty belly, no ears. You hear no buzzing.

OTHER CADET Ah, a trifling article to eat... and a little oil upon it!

CYRANO [taking off the CADET’s morion⁵⁸ and placing it in his hand] That is seasoned.

OTHER CADET What is there we could devour?

CYRANO [tossing him the book he has been holding] Try the Iliad!

OTHER CADET The minister, in Paris, makes his four meals a day!

CYRANO You feel it remiss in him not to send you a bit of partridge?

THE SAME Why should he not? And some wine!

CYRANO Richelieu, some Burgundy, if you please?

THE SAME He might, by one of his capuchins!

CYRANO By his Eminence, perhaps, in sober gray?

OTHER CADET No ogre was ever so hungry!

CYRANO You may have your fill yet of humble-pie!

FIRST CADET [shrugging his shoulders] Forever jests!... puns! ... mots!

CYRANO Le mot⁵⁹ forever, indeed! And I would wish to die, on a fine evening, under a rose-flushed sky, delivering myself of a good mot in a good cause! ... Ah, yes, the best were indeed, far from fever bed and potion, pierced with the only noble weapon, by an adversary worthy of oneself, to fall upon a glorious field, the point of a sword through his heart, the point of a jest on his lips! ...

ALL [in a wail] I am hungry!

CYRANO [folding his arms] God ha’ mercy! can you think of nothing but eating? ... Come here, Bertrandou the fifer, once the shepherd! Take from the double case one of your fifes: breathe into it, play to this pack of guzzlers and of gluttons our homely melodies, of haunting rhythm, every note of which appeals like a little sister, through whose every strain are heard strains of beloved voices... mild melodies whose slowness brings to mind the slowness of the smoke upcurling from our native hamlet hearths... melodies that seem to speak to a man in his native dialect! ... [The old fifer sits down and makes ready his fife.] To-day let the fife, martial unwillingly, be reminded, while your fingers upon its slender stem flutter like birds in a delicate minuet, that before being ebony it was reed; surprise itself by what you make it sing, ... let it feel restored to it the soul of its youth, rustic and peaceable! [The old man begins playing Languedoc tunes] Listen, Gascons! It is no more, beneath his fingers, the shrill fife of the camp, but the soft flute of the woodland! It is no more, between his lips, the whistling note of battle, but the lowly lay of goatherds leading their flocks to feed! ... Hark! ... It sings of the valley, the heath, the forest! ... of the little shepherd, sunburned under his crimson cap! ... the green delight of evening on the river! ... Hark, Gascons all! It sings of Gascony! [Every head has drooped; all eyes have grown dreamy; tears are furtively brushed away with a sleeve, the hem of a cloak]

CARBON [to CYRANO, low] You are making them weep!

CYRANO With homesickness! ... a nobler pain than hunger... not physical: mental! I am glad the seat of their suffering should have removed... that the gripe should now afflict their hearts!

CARBON But you weaken them, making them weep!

CYRANO [beckoning to a drummer] Never fear! The hero in their veins is quickly roused. It is enough to ... [He signs to the drummer who begins drumming.]

ALL [starting to their feet and snatching up their arms] Hein?... What? ... What is it?

CYRANO [smiling] You see? ... The sound of the drum was enough! Farewell dreams, regrets, old homestead, love... What comes with the fife with the drum may go ...

ONE OF THE CADETS [looking off at the back] Ah! ah! ... Here comes Monsieur de Guiche!

ALL THE CADETS [grumbling] Hoo...

CYRANO [smiling] Flattering murmur...

ONE OF THE CADETS He bores us! ...

OTHER CADET Showing himself off, with his broad point collar on top of his armor! ...

OTHER CADET As if lace were worn with steel!

FIRST CADET Convenient, if you have a boil on your neck to cover...

SECOND CADET There is another courier for you!

OTHER CADET His uncle’s own nephew!

CARBON He is a Gascon, nevertheless!

FIRST CADET Not genuine! ... Never trust him. For a Gascon, look you, must be something of a madman: nothing is so deadly to deal with as a Gascon who is completely rational!

LE BRET He is pale!

OTHER CADET He is hungry, as hungry as any poor devil of us! But his corslet being freely embellished with gilt studs, his stomach-ache is radiant in the sun!

CYRANO [eagerly] Let us not appear to suffer, either! You, your cards, your pipes, your dice... [All briskly set themselves to playing with cards and dice, on the heads of drums, on stools, on cloaks spread over the ground. They light long tobacco pipes.] And I will be reading Descartes... [He Walks to and fro, forward and backward, reading a small book which he has taken from his pocket. Tableau. Enter DE GUICHE. Every one appears absorbed and satisfied. DE GUICHE is very pale. He goes toward CARBON.]

SCENE IV

The Same, De Guiche

DE GUICHE [to CARBON] Ah, good-morning. [They look at each other attentively. Aside, with satisfaction] He is pale as plaster.

CARBON [same business] His eyes are all that is left of him.

DE GUICHE [looking at the CADETS] So here are the wrong-headed rascals? ... Yes, gentlemen, it is reported to me on every side that I am your scoff and derision; that the cadets, highland nobility, Béarn clodhoppers, Perigord baronets, cannot express sufficient contempt for their colonel; call me intriguer, courtier, find it irksome to their taste that I should wear, with my cuirass, a collar of Genoese point, and never cease to air their wondering indignation that a man should be a Gascon without being a vagabond! [Silence. The CADETS continue smoking and playing] Shall I have you punished by your captain? ... I do not like to.

CARBON Did you otherwise, however, ... I am free, and punish only ...

DE GUICHE Ah? ...

CARBON My company is paid by myself, belongs to me. I obey no orders but such as relate to war.

DE GUICHE Ah, is it so? Enough, then. I will treat your taunts with simple scorn. My fashion of deporting myself under fire is well known. You are not unaware of the manner in which yesterday, at Bapaume, I forced back the columns of the Comte de Bucquoi; gathering my men together to plunge forward like an avalanche, three times I charged him....

CYRANO [without lifting his nose from his book] And your white scarf?

DE GLIICHE [surprised and self-satisfied) You heard of that circumstance ? ... In fact, it happened that as I was wheeling about to collect my men for the third charge, I was caught in a stream of fugitives which bore me onward to the edge of the enemy. I was in danger of being captured and cut off with an arquebuse, when I had the presence of mind to untie and let slip to the ground the white scarf which proclaimed my military grade. Thus was I enabled, undistinguished, to withdraw from among the Spaniards, and thereupon returning with my reinspirited men, to defeat them. Well? . . . What do you say to the incident? [The CADETS have appeared not to be listening; at this point, however, hands with cards and dice-boxes remain suspended in the air; no pipe-smoke is ejected; all expresses expectation.]

CYRANO That never would Henry the Fourth, however great the number of his opponents, have consented to diminish his presence by the size of his white plume.⁶⁰ [Silent joy. Cards fall, dice rattle, smoke upwreathes.]

DE GUICHE The trick was successful, however! [As before, expectation suspends gambling and smoking.]

CYRANO Very likely. But one should not resign the honor of being a target. [Cards, dice, smoke, fall, rattle, and upwreathe, as before, in expression of increasing glee.] Had I been at hand when you allowed your scarf to drop—the quality of our courage, monsieur, shows different in this,-I would have picked it up and worn it....

DE GUICHE Ah, yes,-more of your Gascon bragging! ...

CYRANO Bragging? ... Lend me the scarf. I engage to mount, ahead of all, to the assault, wearing it crosswise upon my breast!

DE GUICHE A Gascon’s offer, that too! You know that the scarf was left in the enemy’s camp, by the banks of the Scarpe, where bullets since then have hailed... whence no one can bring it back!

CYRANO [taking a white scarf from his pocket and handing it to DE GUICHE] Here it is. [Silence. The CADETS smother their laughter behind cards and in dice-boxes. DE GUICHE turns around, looks at them; instantly they become grave; one of them, with an air if unconcern, whistles the tune played earlier by the fifer]

DE GUICHE [taking the scarf] I thank you. I shall be able with this shred of white to make a signal... which I was hesitating to make ... [He goes to the top of the bank and waves the scarf.]

ALL What now? ... What is this?

THE SENTINEL [at the top of the bank] A man ... over there ... running off ...

DE GUICHE [coming forward again] It is a supposed Spanish spy. He is very useful to us. The information he carries to the enemy is that which I give him,—so that their decisions are influenced by us.

CYRANO He is a scoundrel!

DE GUICHE [coolly tying on his scarf] He is a convenience. We were saying? ... Ah, I was about to tell you. Last night, having resolved upon a desperate stroke to obtain supplies, the Marshal secretly set out for Dourlens. The royal sutlers⁶¹ are encamped there. He expects to join them by way of the tilled fields; but, to provide against interference, he took with him troops in such number that, certainly, if we were now attacked, the enemy would find easy work. Half of the army is absent from the camp.

CARBON If the Spaniards knew that, it might be serious. But they do not know.

DE GUICHE They do. And are going to attack us.

CARBON Ah!

DE GUICHE My pretended spy came to warn me of their intention. He said, moreover: I can direct the attack. At what point shall it be? I will lead them to suppose it the least strong, and they will centre their efforts against it. I answered: Very well. Go from the camp. Look down the line. Let them attack at the point I signal from.

CARBON [to the CADETS] Gentlemen, get ready! [All get up. Noise of swords and belts being buckled on.]

DE GUICHE They will be here in an hour.

FIRST CADET Oh! ... if there is a whole hour! ... [All sit down again, and go on with their games.]

DE GUICHE [to CARBON] The main object is to gain time. The Marshal is on his way back.

CARBON And to gain time?

DE GUICHE You will be so obliging as to keep them busy killing you.

CYRANO Ah, this is your revenge!

DE GUICHE I will not pretend that if I had been fond of you, I would have thus singled out you and yours; but, as your bravery is unquestionably beyond that of others, I am serving my King at the same time as my inclination.

CYRANO Suffer me, monsieur, to express my gratitude.

DE GUICHE I know that you affect fighting one against a hundred. You will not complain of lacking opportunity. [He goes toward the back with CARBON.]

CYRANO [to the CADETS] We shall now be able, gentlemen, to add to the Gascon escutcheon, which bears, as it is, six chevrons, or⁶² and azure, the chevron that was wanting to complete it,—blood-red! [DE GUICHE at the back speaks low with CARBON. Orders are given. All is made ready to repel an attack. CYRANO goes toward CHRISTIAN, who stands motionless, with folded arms.]

CYRANO [laying his hand on CHRISTIAN’s shoulder] Christian?

CHRISTIAN [shaking his head] Roxane!

CYRANO Ah me!

CHRISTIAN I wish I might at least put my whole heart’s last blessing in a beautiful letter!

CYRANO I mistrusted that it would come to-day ... [he takes a letter from his doublet] and I have written your farewells.

CHRISTIAN Let me see!

CYRANO You wish to see it? ...

CHRISTIAN [taking the letter] Yes! [He opens the letter, begins to read, stops short.] Ah? ...

CYRANO What?

CHRISTIAN That little round blister?

CYRANO [hurriedly taking back the letter, and looking at it with an artless air] A blister?

CHRISTIAN It is a tear!

CYRANO It looks like one, does it not? ... A poet, you see, is sometimes caught in his own snare,—that is what constitutes the interest, the charm! ... This letter, you must know, is very touching. In writing it I apparently made myself shed tears.

CHRISTIAN Shed tears? ...

CYRANO Yes, because ... well, to die is not terrible at all ... but never to see her again, ... never! ... that, you know, is horrible beyond all thinking.... And, things having taken the turn they have, I shall not see her ... [CHRISTIAN looks at him] we shall not see her ... [Hastily] you will not see her. . . .

CHRISTIAN [snatching the letter from him] Give me the letter! [Noise in the distance.]

VOICE OF A SENTINEL Ventrebieu, who goes there? [Shots. Noise of voices, tinkling of bells.]

CARBON What is it?

THE SENTINEL [on the top of the bank] A coach! [All run to see.] [Noisy exclamations.] What?—In the camp?—It is driving into the camp!—It comes from the direction of the enemy! The devil! Fire upon it!—No! the coachman is shouting something!—What does he say?—He shouts: Service of the King!

DE GUICHE What? Service of the King? [All come down from the bank and fall into order.]

CARBON Hats off, all!

DE GUICHE [at the corner] Service of the King! Stand back, low rabble, and give it room to turn around with a handsome sweep! [The coach comes in at a trot. It is covered with mud and dust. The curtains are drawn. Two lackeys behind. It comes to a standstill.]

CARBON [shouting] Salute! [Drums roll. All the CADETS uncover.]

DE GUICHE Let down the steps! [Two men hurry forward. The coach door opens.]

ROXANE [stepping from the carriage] Good-morning! [At the sound of a feminine voice, all the men, in the act of bowing low, straighten themselves. Consternation.]

SCENE V

The Same, Roxane

DE GUICHE Service of the King! You?

ROXANE Of the only King! ... of Love!

CYRANO Ah, great God!

CHRISTIAN [rushing to her] You! Why are you here?

ROXANE This siege lasted too long!

CHRISTIAN Why have you come?

ROXANE I will tell you!

CYRANO [who at the sound of her voice has started, then stood motionless without venturing to look her way] God! ... can I trust myself to look at her?

DE GUICHE You cannot remain here.

ROXANE But I can,—I can, indeed! Will you favor me with a drum? [She seats herself upon a drum brought forward for her.] There! I thank you! [She laughs.] They fired upon my carriage. [Proudly.] A patrol! It does look rather as if it were made out of a pumpkin, does it not? like Cinderella’s coach! and the footmen made out of rats! [Blowing a kiss to CHRISTIAN.] How do you do? [Looking at them all.] You do not look overjoyed! ... Arras is a long way from Paris, do you know it? [Catching sight of CYRANO.] Cousin, delighted!

CYRANO [coming toward her] But how did you ... ?

ROXANE How did I find the army? Dear me, cousin, that was simple: I followed straight along the line of devastation.... Ah, I should never have believed in such horrors had I not seen them! Gentlemen, if that is the service of your King, I like mine better!

CYRANO But this is mad! ... By what way did you come?

ROXANE Way? ... I drove through the Spaniards’ camp.

FIRST CADET Ah, what will keep lovely woman from her way!

DE GUICHE But how did you contrive to get through their lines?

LE BRET That must have been difficult ...

ROXANE No, not very. I simply drove through them, in my coach, at a trot. If a hidalgo,⁶³ with arrogant front, showed likely to stop us, I put my face at the window, wearing my sweetest smile, and, those gentlemen being,—let the French not grudge my saying so!—the most gallant in the world, ... I passed!

CARBON Such a smile is a passport, certainly! ... But you must have been not unfrequently bidden to stand and deliver where you were going?

ROXANE Not unfrequently, you are right. Whereupon I would say, “I am going to see my lover!” At once, the fiercest looking Spaniard of them all would gravely close my carriage door; and, with a gesture the King might emulate, motion aside the musket-barrels levelled at me; and, superb at once for grace and haughtiness, bringing his spurs together, and lifting his plumed hat, bow low and say, “Pass, senorita, pass!”

CHRISTIAN But, Roxane ...

ROXANE I said, “My lover!” yes, forgive me!—You see, if I had said, “My husband!” they would never have let me by!

CHRISTIAN But ...

ROXANE What troubles you?

DE GUICHE You must leave at once.

ROXANE I?

CYRANO At once!

LE BRET As fast as you can.

CHRISTIAN Yes, you must.

ROXANE But why?

CHRISTIAN [embarrassed] Because ...

CYRANO [embarrassed too] In three quarters of an hour ...

DE GUICHE [the same] Or an hour ...

CARBON [the same] You had much better ...

LE BRET [the same] You might ...

ROXANE I shall remain. You are going to fight.

ALL Oh, no! ... No!

ROXANE He is my husband! [She throws herself in CHRISTIAN’s arms.] Let me be killed with you!

CHRISTIAN How your eyes shine!

ROXANE I will tell you why they shine!

DE GUICHE [desperately] It is a post of horrible probabilities!

ROXANE [turning toward him] What—of horrible? ...

CYRANO In proof of which he appointed us to it! ...

ROXANE Ah, you wish me made a widow?

DE GUICHE I swear to you ...

ROXANE No! Now I have lost all regard.... Now I will surely not go.... Besides, I think it fun!

CYRANO What? The precieuse contained a heroine?

ROXANE Monsieur de Bergerac, I am a cousin of yours!

ONE OF THE CADETS Never think but that we will take good care —of you!

ROXANE [more and more excited] I am sure you will, my friends!

OTHER CADET The whole camp smells of iris!

ROXANE By good fortune I put on a hat that will look well in battle! [Glancing toward DE GUICHE.] But perhaps it is time the Count should go.—The battle might begin.

DE GUICHE Ah, it is intolerable!—I am going to inspect my guns, and coming back.—You still have time: think better of it!

ROXANE Never! [Exit DE GUICHE]

SCENE VI

The Same, without De Guiche

CHRISTIAN [imploring] Roxane!

ROXANE No!

FIRST CADET She is going to stay!

ALL [hurrying about, pushing one another, snatching things from one another] A comb!—Soap!—My jacket is torn, a needle!—A ribbon!—Lend me your pocket-mirror!—My cuffs!—Curling-irons!-A razor!

ROXANE [to CYRANO, who is still’pleading with her] No! Nothing shall prevail upon me to stir from this spot!

CARBON [after having, like the others, tightened his belt, dusted himself, brushed his hat, straightened his feather, pulled down his cuffs, approaches ROXANE, and ceremoniously] It is, perhaps, proper, since you are going to stay, that I should present to you a few of the gentlemen about to have the honor of dying in your presence ... [ROXANE bows, and stands waiting, with her arm through CHRISTIAN’s.] Baron Peyrescous de Colignac!

THE CADET [bowing] Madame!

CARBON [continuing to present the CADETS] Baron de Casterac de Cahuzac,—Vidame do Malgouyre Estressac Lesbas d‘Escarabiot, —Chevalier d’Antignac-Juzet,—Baron Hillot de Blagnac-Salechan de Castel Crabioules ...

ROXANE But how many names have you apiece?

BARON HILLOT Innumerable!

CARBON [to ROXANE] Open your hand with the handkerchief!

ROXANE [opens her hand; the handkerchief drops] Why? [ The whole company starts forward to pick it up]

CARBON [instantly catching it] My company had no flag! Now, my word, it will have the prettiest one in the army!

ROXANE [smiling] It is rather small!

CARBON [fastening the handkerchief on the staff of his captain’s spear] But it is lace!

ONE OF THE CADETS [to the others] I could die without a murmur, having looked upon that beautiful face, if I had so much as a walnut inside me! ...

CARBON [who has overheard, indignant] Shame! ... to talk of food when an exquisite woman ...

ROXANE But the air of the camp is searching, and I myself am hungry: Patties, jellied meat, light wine ... are what I should like best! Will you kindly bring me some? [Consternation]

ONE OF THE CADETS Bring you some?

OTHER CADET And where, great God, shall we get them?

ROXANE [quietly] In my coach.

ALL What?

ROXANE But there is much to be done, carving and boning and serving. Look more closely at my coachman, gentlemen, and you will recognize a precious individual: the sauces, if we wish, can be warmed over ...

THE CADETS [springing toward the coach] It is Ragueneau! [Cheers.] Oh! Oh!

ROXANE [watching them] Poor fellows!

CYRANO [kissing her hand] Kind fairy!

RAGUENEAU [standing upon the box-seat like a vendor at a public fair] Gentlemen! [Enthusiasm]

THE CADETS Bravo! Bravo!

RAGUENEAU How should the Spaniards, when so much beauty passed, suspect the repast? [Applause.]

CYRANO [low to CHRISTIAN] Hm! Hm! Christian!

RAGUENEAU Absorbed in gallantry, no heed took they ... [he takes a dish from the box-seat] ... of galantine !⁶⁴ [Applause. The galantine is passed from hand to hand.]

CYRANO [low to CHRISTIAN] A word with you ...

RAGUENEAU Venus kept their eyes fixed upon herself, while Diana slipped past with the ... [he brandishes a joint] game! [Enthusiasm. The joint is seized by twenty hands at once.]

CYRANO [low to CHRISTIAN] I must speak with you.

ROXANE [to the CADETS who come forward, their arms full of provisions] Spread it all upon the ground! [Assisted by the two imperturbable footmen who were on the back of the coach, she arranges everything on the grass.]

ROXANE [to CHRISTIAN whom CYRANO is trying to draw aside] Make yourself useful, sir! [CHRISTIAN comes and helps her. CYRANO gives evidence of uneasiness.]

RAGUENEAU A truffled peacock!

FIRST CADET [radiant, comes forward cutting off a large slice of ham] Praise the pigs, we shall not go to our last fight with nothing in our b ... [correcting himself at sight of ROXANE] hm ... stomachs!

RAGUENEAU [flinging the carriage cushions] The cushions are stuffed with snipe! [Tumult. The cushions are ripped open. Laughter. Joy. J

RAGUENEAU [flinging bottles of red wine] Molten ruby! [Bottles of white wine.] Fluid topaz!

ROXANE [throwing a folded tablecloth to CYRANO] Unfold the cloth: Hey! ... be nimble!

RAGUENEAU [waving one of the coach lanterns] Each lantern is a little larder!

CYRANO [low to CHRISTIAN, while together they spread the cloth] I must speak with you before you speak with her ...

RAGUENEAU The handle of my whip, behold, is a sausage!

ROXANE [pouring wine, dispensing it] Since we are the ones to be killed, morbleu, we will not fret ourselves about the rest of the army! Everything for the Gascons! ... And if De Guiche comes, nobody must invite him! [Going from one to the other.] Gently! You have time ... You must not eat so fast! There, drink. What are you crying about?

FIRST CADET It is too good!

ROXANE Hush! White wine or red?—Bread for Monsieur de Carbon! —A knife!—Pass your plate!—You prefer crust?—A little more?—Let me help you.—Champagne?—A wing?—

CYRANO [following ROXANE, his hands full of dishes, helping her] I adore her!

ROXANE [going to CHRISTIAN] What will you take?

CHRISTIAN Nothing!

ROXANE Oh, but you must take something! This biscuit—in a little Muscatel,—just a little?

CHRISTIAN [trying to keep her from going] Tell me what made you come?

ROXANE I owe myself to those poor fellows.... Be patient, ... By and by ...

LE BRET [who had gone toward the back to pass a loaf of bread on the end of a pike to the SENTINEL upon the earthwork] De Guiche!

CYRANO Presto! Vanish basket, flagon, platter and pan! Hurry! Let us look as if nothing were! [To RAGUENEAU. Take a flying leap on to your box!—Is everything hidden? [In a wink, all the eatables have been pushed into the tents, or hidden under clothes, cloaks, hats. Enter DE GUICHE, hurriedly; he stops short, sniffing the air. Silence.]

SCENE VII

The Same, De Guiche

DE GUICHE What a good smell!

ONE OF THE CADETS [singing, with effect of mental abstraction] To lo lo lo....

DE GUICHE [stopping and looking at him closely] What is the matter with you—you, there? You are red as a crab.

THE CADET I? Nothing ... It is just my blood.... We are going to fight: it tells ...

OTHER CADET Poom ... poom ... poom ...

DE GUICHE [turning] What is this?

THE CADET [slightly intoxicated] Nothing ... A song ... just a little song.

DE GUICHE You look in good spirits, my boy!

THE CADET Danger affects me that way!

DE GUICHE [calling CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUX to give an order] Captain, I ... [He stops at sight of his face. ] Pestel You look in good spirits, too.

CARBON [flushed, holding a bottle behind him; with an evasive gesture] Oh! ...

DE GUICHE I had a cannon left over, which I have ordered them to place [he points in the wing] there, in that corner, and which your men can use, if necessary ...

ONE OF THE CADETS [swaying from one foot to the other] Charming attention!

OTHER CADET [smiling sugarily] Our thanks for your gracious thoughtfulness!

DE GUICHE Have they gone mad? ... [Drily.] As you are not accustomed to handling a cannon, look out for its kicking ...

FIRST CADET Ah, pfft! ...

DE GUICHE [going toward him, furious] But ...

THE CADET A cannon knows better than to kick a Gascon!

DE GUICHE [seizing him by the arm and shaking him] You are all tipsy: on what?

THE CADET [magnificently] The smell of powder!

DE GUICHE [shrugs his shoulders, pushes aside the CADET, and goes rapidly toward ROXANE] Quick, Madame! what have you condescended to decide?

ROXANE I remain.

DE GUICHE Retire, I beseech you!

ROXANE No.

DE GUICHE If you are determined, then ... Let me have a musket!

CARBON What do you mean?

DE GUICHE I, too, will remain.

CYRANO At last, Monsieur, an instance of pure and simple bravery!

FIRST CADET Might you be a Gascon, lace collar notwithstanding?

DE GUICHE I do not leave a woman in danger.

SECOND CADET [to FIRST CADET] Look here! I think he might be given something to eat! [All the food reappears, as if by magic.]

DE GUICHE [his eyes brightening] Provisions?

THIRD CADET Under every waistcoat!

DE GUICHE [mastering himself, haughtily] Do you imagine that I will eat your leavings?

CYRANO [bowing] You are improving!

DE GUICHE [proudly, falling at the last of the sentence into a slightly GASCON accent] I will fight before I eat!

FIRST CADET [exultant] Fight! Eat! ... He spoke with an accent!

DE GUICHE [laughing] I did?

THE CADET He is one of us! [All fall to dancing.]

CARBON [who a moment before disappeared behind the earth-works, reappearing at the top] I have placed my pikemen. They are a determined troop ... [He points at a line of pikes projecting above the bank]

DE GUICHE [to ROXANE, bowing] Will you accept my hand and pass them in review? [She takes his hand; they go toward the bank. Every one uncovers and follows.]

CHRISTIAN [going to CYRANO, quickly] Speak! Be quick! [As ROXANE appears at the top of the bank, the pikes disappear, lowered in a salute, and a cheer goes up; ROXANE bows.]

PIKEMEN [outside] Vivat!

CHRISTIAN What did you want to tell me?

CYRANO In case Roxane ...

CHRISTIAN Well?

CYRANO Should speak to you of the letters ...

CHRISTIAN Yes, the letters. I know!

CYRANO Do not commit the blunder of appearing surprised ...

CHRISTIAN At what?

CYRANO I must tell you! ... It is quite simple, and merely comes into my mind to-day because I see her. You have ...

CHRISTIAN Hurry!

CYRANO You ... you have written to her oftener than you suppose ...

CHRISTIAN Oh, have I?

CYRANO Yes. It was my business, you see. I had undertaken to interpret your passion, and sometimes I wrote without having told you I should write.

CHRISTIAN Ah?

CYRANO It is very simple.

CHRISTIAN But how did you succeed since we have been so closely surrounded, in ... ?

CYRANO Oh, before daybreak I could cross the lines ...

CHRISTIAN [folding his arms] Ah, that is very simple, too? ... And how many times a week have I been writing? Twice? Three times? Four? ...

CYRANO More.

CHRISTIAN Every day?

CYRANO Yes, every day ... twice.

CHRISTIAN [violently] And you cared so much about it that you were willing to brave death....

CYRANO [seeing ROXANE who returns.] Be still ... Not before her! [He goes quickly into his tent.] [CADETS come and go at the back. CARBON and DE GUICHE give orders.]

SCENE VIII

Roxane, Christian, Cadets, Carbon de Castel-Jaloux, De Guiche

ROXANE [running to CHRISTIAN] And now, Christian ...

CHRISTIAN [taking her hands] And now, you shall tell me why, over these fearful roads, through these ranks of rough soldiery, you risked your dear self to join me?

ROXANE Because of the letters!

CHRISTIAN The ... ? ?What did you say?

ROXANE It is through your fault that I have been exposed to such and so many dangers. It is your letters that have gone to my head! Ah, think how many you have written me in a month, each one more beautiful ...

CHRISTIAN What? ... Because of a few little love letters ...

ROXANE Say nothing! You cannot understand! Listen: The truth is that I took to idolizing you one evening, when, below my window, in a voice I did not know before, your soul began to reveal itself.... Think then what the effect should be of your letters, which have been like your voice heard constantly for one month, your voice of that evening, so tender, caressing ... You must bear it as you can, I have come to you! Prudent Penelope would not have stayed at home with her eternal tapestry, if Ulysses, her lord, had written as you write ... but, impulsive as Helen, have tossed aside her yarns, and flown to join him!⁶⁵

CHRISTIAN But ...

ROXANE I read them, I re-read them, in reading I grew faint ... I became your own indeed! Each fluttering leaf was like a petal of your soul wafted to me ... In every word of those letters, love is felt as a flame would be felt,—love, compelling, sincere, profound ...

CHRISTIAN Ah, sincere, profound? ... You say that it can be felt, Roxane?

ROXANE He asks me!

CHRISTIAN And so you came? ...

ROXANE I came—oh Christian, my own, my master! If I were to kneel at your feet you would lift me, I know. It is my soul therefore which kneels, and never can you lift it from that posture!—I came to implore your pardon—as it is fitting, for we are both perhaps about to die!—your pardon for having done you the wrong, at first, in my shallowness, of loving you ... for mere looking!

CHRISTIAN [in alarm] Ah, Roxane! ...

ROXANE Later, dear one, grown less shallow—similar to a bird which flutters before it can fly,—your gallant exterior appealing to me still, but your soul appealing equally, I loved you for both! ...

CHRISTIAN And now?

ROXANE Now at last yourself are vanquished by yourself: I love you for your soul alone ...

CHRISTIAN [drawing away] Ah, Roxane!

ROXANE Rejoice! For to be loved for that wherewith we are clothed so fleetingly must put a noble heart to torture.... Your dear thought at last casts your dear face in shadow: the harmonious lineaments whereby at first you pleased me, I do not see them, now my eyes are open!

CHRISTIAN Oh!

ROXANE You question your own triumph?

CHRISTIAN [sorrowfully] Roxane!

ROXANE I understand, you cannot conceive of such a love in me?

CHRISTIAN I do not wish to be loved like that! I wish to be loved quite simply ...

ROXANE For that which other women till now have loved in you? Ah, let yourself be loved in a better way.

CHRISTIAN No ... I was happier before! ...

ROXANE Ah, you do not understand! It is now that I love you most, that I truly love you. It is that which makes you, you—can you not grasp it?—that I worship ... And did you no longer walk our earth like a young martial Apollo ...

CHRISTIAN Say no more!

ROXANE Still would I love you! ... Yes, though a blight should have fallen upon your face and form ...

CHRISTIAN Do not say it!

ROXANE But I do say it, ... I do!

CHRISTIAN What? If I were ugly, distinctly, offensively?

ROXANE If you were ugly, dear, I swear it!

CHRISTIAN God!

ROXANE And you are glad, profoundly glad?

CHRISTIAN [in a smothered voice] Yes ...

ROXANE What is it?

CHRISTIAN [pushing her gently away] Nothing. I have a word or two to say to some one: your leave, for a second ...

ROXANE But ...

CHRISTIAN [pointing at a group of CADETS at the back] In my selfish love, I have kept you from those poor brothers.... Go, smile on them a little, before they die, dear ... go!

ROXANE [moved] Dear Christian! [She goes toward the GASCONS at the back; they respectfully gather around her.]