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THE CROWD (presses round Cyrano。 Chorus of): Compliments!
Bravo! Let me congratulate!。 。 。Quite unsurpassed!。 。 。
A WOMAN'S VOICE: There is a hero for you!。 。 。
A MUSKETEER (advancing to Cyrano with outstretched hand): Sir;
permit; Naught could be finerI'm a judge I think; I stamped; i'
faith!to show my admiration!
(He goes away。)
CYRANO (to Cuigy): Who is that gentleman?
CUIGY: WhyD'Artagnan!
LE BRET (to Cyrano; taking his arm): A word with you!。 。 。
CYRANO: Wait; let the rabble go!。 。 。 (To Bellerose): May I
stay?
BELLEROSE (respectfully): Without doubt!
(Cries are heard outside。)
JODELET (who has looked out): They hoot Montfleury!
BELLEROSE (solemnly): Sic transit!。 。 。 (To the porters):
Sweepclose all; but leave the lights。 We sup; but later on we must
return; For a rehearsal of to…morrow's farce。
(Jodelet and Bellerose go out; bowing low to Cyrano。)
THE PORTER (to Cyrano): You do not dine; Sir?
CYRANO: No。
(The porter goes out。)
LE BRET: Because?
CYRANO (proudly): Because。 。 。 (Changing his tone as the porter
goes away): I have no money!。 。 。
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LE BRET (with the action of throwing a bag): How! The bag of
crowns?。 。 。
CYRANO: Paternal bounty; in a day; thou'rt sped!
LE BRET: How live the next month?。 。 。
CYRANO: I have nothing left。
LE BRET: Folly!
CYRANO: But what a graceful action! Think!
THE BUFFET…GIRL (coughing; behind her counter): Hum!
(Cyrano and Le Bret turn。 She comes timidly forward): Sir; my heart
mislikes to know you fast。 (Showing the buffet): See; all you need。
Serve yourself!
CYRANO (taking off his hat): Gentle child; Although my
Gascon pride would else forbid To take the least bestowal from your
hands; My fear of wounding you outweighs that pride; And bids
accept。 。 。 (He goes to the buffet): A trifle!。 。 。These few grapes。 (She
offers him the whole bunch。 He takes a few): Nay; but this bunch!。 。 。
(She tries to give him wine; but he stops her): A glass of water fair!。 。 。
And half a macaroon!
(He gives back the other half。)
LE BRET: What foolery!
THE BUFFET…GIRL: Take something else!
CYRANO: I take your hand to kiss。
(He kisses her hand as though she were a princess。)
THE BUFFET…GIRL: Thank you; kind Sir! (She courtesies):
Good…night。
(She goes out。)
SCENE 1。V。
Cyrano; Le Bret。
CYRANO (to Le Bret): Now talkI listen。 (He stands at the buffet;
and placing before him first the macaroon): Dinner!。 。 。 (then the
grapes): Dessert!。 。 。 (then the glass of water): Wine!。 。 。 (he seats
himself): So! And now to table! Ah! I was hungry; friend; nay;
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CYRANO DE BERGERAC
ravenous! (eating): You said?
LE BRET: These fops; would…be belligerent; Will; if you heed
them only; turn your head!。 。 。 Ask people of good sense if you would
know The effect of your fine insolence
CYRANO (finishing his macaroon): Enormous!
LE BRET: The Cardinal。 。 。
CYRANO (radiant): The Cardinalwas there?
LE BRET: Must have thought it。 。 。
CYRANO: Original; i' faith!
LE BRET: But。 。 。
CYRANO: He's an author。 'Twill not fail to please him That I
should mar a brother…author's play。
LE BRET: You make too many enemies by far!
CYRANO (eating his grapes): How many think you I have made
to…night?
LE BRET: Forty; no less; not counting ladies。
CYRANO: Count!
LE BRET: Montfleury first; the bourgeois; then De Guiche; The
Viscount; Baro; the Academy。 。 。
CYRANO: Enough! I am o'erjoyed!
LE BRET: But these strange ways; Where will they lead you; at
the end? Explain Your systemcome!
CYRANO: I in a labyrinth Was losttoo many different paths to
choose; I took。 。 。
LE BRET: Which?
CYRANO: Oh! by far the simplest path。 。 。 Decided to be
admirable in all!
LE BRET (shrugging his shoulders): So be it! But the motive of
your hate To Montfleurycome; tell me!
CYRANO (rising): This Silenus; Big…bellied; coarse; still deems
himself a peril A danger to the love of lovely ladies; And; while he
sputters out his actor's part; Makes sheep's eyes at their boxes
goggling frog! I hate him since the evening he presumed To raise his
eyes to hers。 。 。Meseemed I saw A slug crawl slavering o'er a flower's
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CYRANO DE BERGERAC
petals!
LE BRET (stupefied): How now? What? Can it be。 。 。?
CYRANO (laughing bitterly): That I should love?。 。 。 (Changing his
tone; gravely): I love。
LE BRET: And may I know?。 。 。You never said。 。 。
CYRANO: Come now; bethink you!。 。 。The fond hope to be
Beloved; e'en by some poor graceless lady; Is; by this nose of mine for
aye bereft me; This lengthy nose which; go where'er I will; Pokes
yet a quarter…mile ahead of me; But I may loveand who? 'Tis Fate's
decree I love the fairesthow were't otherwise?
LE BRET: The fairest?。 。 。
CYRANO: Ay; the fairest of the world; Most brilliantmost
refinedmost golden…haired!
LE BRET: Who is this lady?
CYRANO: She's a danger mortal; All unsuspiciousfull of
charms unconscious; Like a sweet perfumed rosea snare of nature;
Within whose petals Cupid lurks in ambush! He who has seen her smile
has known perfection; Instilling into trifles grace's essence;
Divinity in every careless gesture; Not Venus' self can mount her conch
blown sea…ward; As she can step into her chaise a porteurs; Nor
Dian fleet across the woods spring…flowered; Light as my Lady o'er the
stones of Paris!。 。 。
LE BRET: Sapristi! all is clear!
CYRANO: As spiderwebs!
LE BRET: Your cousin; Madeleine Robin?
CYRANO: Roxane!
LE BRET: Well; but so much the better! Tell her so! She saw
your triumph here this very night!
CYRANO: Look well at methen tell me; with what hope This
vile protuberance can inspire my heart! I do not lull me with illusions
yet At times I'm weak: in evening hours dim I enter some fair
pleasance; perfumed sweet; With my poor ugly devil of a nose I
scent spring's essencein the silver rays I see some knighta lady on
his arm; And think 'To saunter thus 'neath the moonshine; I were
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CYRANO DE BERGERAC
fain to have my lady; too; beside!' Thought soars to ecstasy。 。 。O sudden
fall! The shadow of my profile on the wall!
LE BRET (tenderly): My friend!。 。 。
CYRANO: My friend; at times 'tis hard; 'tis bitter; To feel my
lonelinessmy own ill…favor。 。 。
LE BRET (taking his hand): You weep?
CYRANO: No; never! Think; how vilely suited Adown this
nose a tear its passage tracing! I never will; while of myself I'm master;
let the divinity of tearstheir beauty Be wedded to such common ugly
grossness。 Nothing more solemn than a tearsublimer; And I would
not by weeping turn to laughter The grave emotion