Cyrano de Bergerac

by Edmond Rostand

  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.]

  SCENE IX

  Christian, Cyrano; in the background, Roxane, talking with Carbon de Castel-Jaloux and some of the Cadets

  CHRISTIAN [calling toward CYRANO’s tent] Cyrano!

  CYRANO [appears, armed for battle] What is it? ... How pale you are!

  CHRISTIAN She does not love me any more!

  CYRANO What do you mean?

  CHRISTIAN She loves you.

  CYRANO No!

  CHRISTIAN She only loves my soul!

  CYRANO No!

  CHRISTIAN Yes! Therefore it is you she loves ... and you love her ...

  CYRANO I ...

  CHRISTIAN I know it!

  CYRANO It is true.

  CHRISTIAN To madness!

  CYRANO More.

  CHRISTIAN Tell her then.

  CYRANO No!

  CHRISTIAN Why not?

  CYRANO Look at me!

  CHRISTIAN She would love me grown ugly.

  CYRANO She told you so?

  CHRISTIAN With the utmost frankness!

  CYRANO Ah! I am glad she should have told you that! But, believe me, believe me, place no faith in such a mad asseveration! Dear God, I am glad such a thought should have come to her, and that she should have spoken it,—but believe me, do not take her at her word: Never cease to be the handsome fellow you are.... She would not forgive me!

  CHRISTIAN That is what I wish to discover.

  CYRANO No! no!

  CHRISTIAN Let her choose between us! You shall tell her everything.

  CYRANO No ... No ... I refuse the ordeal!

  CHRISTIAN Shall I stand in the way of your happi
ness because my outside is not so much amiss?

  CYRANO And I? shall I destroy yours, because, thanks to the hazard that sets us upon earth, I have the gift of expressing ... what you perhaps feel?

  CHRISTIAN You shall tell her everything!

  CYRANO He persists in tempting me ... It is a mistake ... and cruel!

  CHRISTIAN I am weary of carrying about, in my own self, a rival!

  CYRANO Christian!

  CHRISTIAN Our marriage ... contracted without witnesses ... can be annulled ... if we survive!

  CYRANO He persists! ...

  CHRISTIAN Yes. I will be loved for my sole self, or not at all!—I

  am going to see what they are about. Look! I will walk to the end of the line and back ... Tell her, and let her pronounce between us.

  CYRANO She will pronounce for you.

  CHRISTIAN I can but hope she will! [calling] Roxane!

  CYRANO No! No!

  ROXANE [coming forward] What is it?

  CHRISTIAN Cyrano has something to tell you ... something important! [ROXANE goes hurriedly to CYRANO. Exit CHRISTIAN]

  SCENE X

  Roxane, Cyrano, then Le Bret, Carbon de Castel-Jaloux, the Cadets, Raqueneau, De Guiche, etc.

  ROXANE Something important?

  CYRANO [distracted] He is gone! ... [To ROXANE.] Nothing whatever! He attaches—but you must know him of old!—he attaches importance to trifles ...

  ROXANE [quickly] He did not believe what I told him a moment ago? ... I saw that he did not believe ...

  CYRANO [taking her hand] But did you in very truth tell him the truth?

  ROXANE Yes. Yes. I should love him even ... [She hesitates a second. ]

  CYRANO [smiling sadly] You do not like to say it before me?

  ROXANE But ...

  CYRANO I shall not mind! ... Even if he were ugly?

  ROXANE Yes ... Ugly. [Musket shots outside.] They are firing!

  CYRANO [ardently] Dreadfully ugly?

  ROXANE Dreadfully.

  CYRANO Disfigured?

  ROXANE Disfigured!

  CYRANO Grotesque?

  ROXANE Nothing could make him grotesque ... to me.

  CYRANO You would love him still?