按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
(He puffs as if to blow it away。)
DE GUICHE (beside himself): Sir!。 。 。
CYRANO (just as he is about to pass; holds out his leg as if to show him something and stops him): In my legthe calfthere is a tooth Of the Great Bear; and; passing Neptune close; I would avoid his trident's point; and fell; Thus sitting; plump; right in the Scales! My weight Is marked; still registered; up there in heaven! (Hurriedly preventing De Guiche from passing; and detaining him by the button of his doublet): I swear to you that if you squeezed my nose It would spout milk!
DE GUICHE: Milk?
CYRANO: From the Milky Way!
DE GUICHE: Oh; go to hell!
CYRANO (crossing his arms): I fall; Sir; out of heaven! Now; would you credit it; that as I fell I saw that Sirius wears a nightcap? True! (Confidentially): The other Bear is still too small to bite。 (Laughing): I went through the Lyre; but I snapped a cord; (Grandiloquent): I mean to write the whole thing in a book; The small gold stars; that; wrapped up in my cloak; I carried safe away at no small risks; Will serve for asterisks i' the printed page!
DE GUICHE: Come; make an end! I want。 。 。
CYRANO: Oh…ho! You are sly!
DE GUICHE: Sir!
CYRANO: You would worm all out of me!the way The moon is made; and if men breathe and live In its rotund cucurbita?
DE GUICHE (angrily): No; no! I want。 。 。
CYRANO: Ha; ha!to know how I got up? Hark; it was by a method all my own。
DE GUICHE (wearied): He's mad!
CYRANO(contemptuously): No! not for me the stupid eagle Of Regiomontanus; nor the timid Pigeon of Archytasneither of those!
DE GUICHE: Ay; 'tis a fool! But 'tis a learned fool!
CYRANO: No imitator I of other men! (De Guiche has succeeded in getting by; and goes toward Roxane's door。 Cyrano follows him; ready to stop him by force): Six novel methods; all; this brain invented!
DE GUICHE (turning round): Six?
CYRANO (volubly): First; with body naked as your hand; Festooned about with crystal flacons; full O' th' tears the early morning dew distils; My body to the sun's fierce rays exposed To let it suck me up; as 't sucks the dew! DE GUICHE (surprised; making one step toward Cyrano): Ah! that makes one!
CYRANO (stepping back; and enticing him further away): And then; the second way; To generate windfor my impetus To rarefy air; in a cedar case; By mirrors placed icosahedron…wise。
DE GUICHE (making another step): Two!
CYRANO (still stepping backward): Orfor I have some mechanic skill To make a grasshopper; with springs of steel; And launch myself by quick succeeding fires Saltpeter…fed to the stars' pastures blue!
DE GUICHE (unconsciously following him and counting on his fingers): Three!
CYRANO: Or (since fumes have property to mount) To charge a globe with fumes; sufficiently To carry me aloft!
DE GUICHE (same play; more and more astonished): Well; that makes four!
CYRANO: Or smear myself with marrow from a bull; Since; at the lowest point of Zodiac; Phoebus well loves to suck that marrow up!
DE GUICHE (amazed): Five!
CYRANO (who; while speaking; had drawn him to the other side of the square near a bench): Sitting on an iron platformthence To throw a magnet in the air。 This is A method well conceivedthe magnet flown; Infallibly the iron will pursue: Then quick! relaunch your magnet; and you thus Can mount and mount unmeasured distances!
DE GUICHE: Here are six excellent expedients! Which of the six chose you?
CYRANO: Why; none!a seventh!
DE GUICHE: Astonishing! What was it?
CYRANO: I'll recount。
DE GUICHE: This wild eccentric becomes interesting!
CYRANO (making a noise like the waves; with weird gestures): Houuh! Houuh!
DE GUICHE: Well。
CYRANO: You have guessed?
DE GUICHE: Not I!
CYRANO: The tide! I' th' witching hour when the moon woos the wave; I laid me; fresh from a sea…bath; on the shore And; failing not to put head foremostfor The hair holds the sea…water in its mesh I rose in air; straight! straight! like angel's flight; And mounted; mounted; gently; effortless;。 。 。 When lo! a sudden shock! Then。 。 。
DE GUICHE (overcome by curiosity; sitting down on the bench): Then?
CYRANO: Oh! then。 。 。 (Suddenly returning to his natural voice): The quarter's goneI'll hinder you no more: The marriage…vows are made。
DE GUICHE (springing up): What? Am I mad? That voice? (The house…door opens。 Lackeys appear carrying lighted candelabra。 Light。 Cyrano gracefully uncovers): That noseCyrano?
CYRANO (bowing): Cyrano。 While we were chatting; they have plighted troth。
DE GUICHE: Who? (He turns round。 Tableau。 Behind the lackeys appear Roxane and Christian; holding each other by the hand。 The friar follows them; smiling。 Ragueneau also holds a candlestick。 The duenna closes the rear; bewildered; having made a hasty toilet): Heavens!
Scene 3。XII。
The same。 Roxane; Christian; the friar; Ragueneau; lackeys; the duenna。
DE GUICHE (to Roxane): You? (Recognizing Christian; in amazement): He? (Bowing; with admiration; to Roxane): Cunningly contrived! (To Cyrano): My complimentsSir Apparatus…maker! Your story would arrest at Peter's gate Saints eager for their Paradise! Note well The details。 'Faith! They'd make a stirring book!
CYRANO (bowing): I shall not fail to follow your advice。
THE FRIAR (showing with satisfaction the two lovers to De Guiche): A handsome couple; son; made one by you!
DE GUICHE (with a freezing look): Ay! (To Roxane): Bid your bridegroom; Madame; fond farewell。
ROXANE: Why so?
DE GUICHE (to Christian): Even now the regiment departs。 Join it!
ROXANE: It goes to battle?
DE GUICHE: Without doubt。
ROXANE: But the Cadets go not?
DE GUICHE: Oh ay! they go。 (Drawing out the paper he had put in his pocket): Here is the order。 (To Christian): Baron; bear it; quick! ROXANE (throwing herself in Christian's arms): Christian!
DE GUICHE (sneeringly to Cyrano): The wedding…night is far; methinks!
CYRANO (aside): He thinks to give me pain of death by this!
CHRISTIAN (to Roxane): Oh! once again! Your lips!
CYRANO: Come; come; enough!
CHRISTIAN (still kissing Roxane): 'Tis hard to leave her; you know not。 。 。
CYRANO (trying to draw him away): I know。
(Sound of drums beating a march in the distance。)
DE GUICHE: The regiment starts!
ROXANE (To Cyrano; holding back Christian; whom Cyrano is drawing away): Oh!I trust him you! Promise me that no risks shall put his life In danger!
CYRANO: I will try my best; but promise。 。 。 That I cannot!
ROXANE: But swear he shall be prudent?
CYRANO: Again; I'll do my best; but。 。 。
ROXANE: In the siege Let him not suffer!
CYRANO: All that man can do; I。 。 。
ROXANE: That he shall be faithful!
CYRANO: Doubtless; but。 。 。
ROXANE: That he will write oft?
CYRANO (pausing): That; I promise you!
Curtain。
ACT IV。
The Cadets of Gascony。
Post occupied by company of Carbon de Castel…Jaloux at the siege of Arras。
In the background an embankment across the whole stage。 Beyond; view of plain extending to the horizon。 The country covered with intrenchments。 The walls of Arras and the outlines of its roofs against the sky in the distance。 Tents。 Arms strewn about; drums; etc。 Day is breaking with a faint glimmer of yellow sunrise in the east。 Sentinels at different points。 Watch…fires。 The cadets of Gascony; wrapped in their mantles; are sleeping。 Carbon de Castel…Jaloux and Le Bret are keeping watch。 They are very pale and thin。 Christian sleeps among the others in his cloak in the foreground; his face illuminated by the fire。 Silence。
Scene 4。I。
Christian; Carbon de Castel…Jaloux; Le Bret; the cadets; then Cyrano。
LE BRET: 'Tis terrible。
CARBON: Not a morsel left。
LE BRET: Mordioux!
CARBON (making a sign that he should speak lower): Curse under your breath。 You will awake them。 (To the cadets): Hush! Sleep on。 (To Le Bret): He who sleeps; dines!
LE BRET: But that is sorry comfort for the sleepless!。 。 。 What starvation!
(Firing is heard in the distance。)
CARBON: Oh; plague take their firing! 'Twill wake my sons。 (To the cadets; who lift up their heads): Sleep on!
(Firing is again heard; nearer this time。)
A CADET (moving): The devil!。 。 。Again。
CARBON: 'Tis nothing! 'Tis Cyrano coming back!
(Those who have lifted up their heads prepare to sleep again。)
A SENTINEL (from without): Ventrebieu! Who goes there?
THE VOICE Of CYRANO: Bergerac。
The SENTINEL (who is on the redoubt): Ventrebieu! Who goes there?
CYRANO (appearing at the top): Bergerac; idiot!
(He comes down; Le Bret advances anxiously to meet him。)
LE BRET: Heavens!
CYRANO (making signs that he should not awake the others): Hush!
LE BRET: Wounded?
CYRANO: Oh! you know it has become their custom to shoot at me every morning and to miss me。
LE BRET: This passes all! To take letters at each day's dawn。 To ris