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FIRST CADET: For subtle craft; give me a woman!
DE GUICHE: But how did you pass through their lines?
LE BRET: Faith! that must have been a hard matter!。 。 。
ROXANE: None too hard。 I but drove quietly forward in my carriage; and when some hidalgo of haughty mien would have stayed me; lo! I showed at the window my sweetest smile; and these Senors being (with no disrespect to you) the most gallant gentlemen in the world;I passed on!
CARBON: True; that smile is a passport! But you must have been asked frequently to give an account of where you were going; Madame?
ROXANE: Yes; frequently。 Then I would answer; 'I go to see my lover。' At that word the very fiercest Spaniard of them all would gravely shut the carriage…door; and; with a gesture that a king might envy; make signal to his men to lower the muskets leveled at me;then; with melancholy but withal very graceful dignityhis beaver held to the wind that the plumes might flutter bravely; he would bow low; saying to me; 'Pass on; Senorita!'
CHRISTIAN: But; Roxane。 。 。
ROXANE: Forgive me that I said; 'my lover!' But bethink you; had I said 'my husband;' not one of them had let me pass!
CHRISTIAN: But。 。 。
ROXANE: What ails you?
DE GUICHE: You must leave this place!
ROXANE: I?
CYRANO: And that instantly!
LE BRET: No time to lose。
CHRISTIAN: Indeed; you must。
ROXANE: But wherefore must I?
CHRISTIAN (embarrassed): 'Tis that。 。 。
CYRANO (the same): In three quarters of an hour。 。 。
DE GUICHE (the same): Or for。 。 。
CARBON (the same): It were best。 。 。
LE BRET (the same): You might。 。 。
ROXANE: You are going to fight?I stay here。
ALL: No; no!
ROXANE: He is my husband! (She throws herself into Christian's arms): They shall kill us both together!
CHRISTIAN: Why do you look at me thus?
ROXANE: I will tell you why!
DE GUICHE (in despair): 'Tis a post of mortal danger!
ROXANE (turning round): Mortal danger!
CYRANO: Proof enough; that he has put us here!
ROXANE (to De Guiche): So; Sir; you would have made a widow of me?
DE GUICHE: Nay; on my oath。 。 。
ROXANE: I will not go! I am reckless now; and I shall not stir from here!Besides; 'tis amusing!
CYRANO: Oh…ho! So our precieuse is a heroine!
ROXANE: Monsieur de Bergerac; I am your cousin。
A CADET: We will defend you well!
ROXANE (more and more excited): I have no fear of that; my friends!
ANOTHER (in ecstasy): The whole camp smells sweet of orris…root!
ROXANE: And; by good luck; I have chosen a hat that will suit well with the battlefield! (Looking at De Guiche): But were it not wisest that the Count retire? They may begin the attack。
DE GUICHE: That is not to be brooked! I go to inspect the cannon; and shall return。 You have still timethink better of it!
ROXANE: Never!
(De Guiche goes out。)
Scene 4。VI。
The same; all but De Guiche。
CHRISTIAN (entreatingly): Roxane!
ROXANE: No!
FIRST CADET (to the others): She stays!
ALL (hurrying; hustling each other; tidying themselves): A comb!Soap!My uniform is torn!A needle!A ribbon!Lend your mirror!My cuffs!Your curling…iron!A razor!。 。 。
ROXANE (to Cyrano; who still pleads with her): No! Naught shall make me stir from this spot!
CARBON (who; like the others; has been buckling; dusting; brushing his hat; settling his plume; and drawing on his cuffs; advances to Roxane; and ceremoniously): It is perchance more seemly; since things are thus; that I present to you some of these gentlemen who are about to have the honor of dying before your eyes。 (Roxane bows; and stands leaning on Christian's arm; while Carbon introduces the cadets to her): Baron de Peyrescous de Colignac!
THE CADET (with a low reverence): Madame。 。 。
CARBON (continuing): Baron de Casterac de Cahuzac;Vidame de Malgouyre Estressac Lesbas d'Escarabiot; Chevalier d'Antignac…Juzet; Baron Hillot de Blagnac…Salechan de Castel Crabioules。 。 。
ROXANE: But how many names have you each?
BARON HILLOT: Scores!
CARBON (to Roxane): Pray; upon the hand that holds your kerchief。
ROXANE (opens her hand; and the handkerchief falls): Why?
(The whole company start forward to pick it up。)
CARBON (quickly raising it): My company had no flag。 But now; by my faith; they will have the fairest in all the camp!
ROXANE (smiling): 'Tis somewhat small。
CARBON (tying the handkerchief on the staff of his lance): But'tis of lace!
A CADET (to the rest): I could die happy; having seen so sweet a face; if I had something in my stomachwere it but a nut!
CARBON (who has overheard; indignantly): Shame on you! What; talk of eating when a lovely woman!。 。 。
ROXANE: But your camp air is keen; I myself am famished。 Pasties; cold fricassee; old winesthere is my bill of fare? Pray bring it all here。
(Consternation。)
A CADET: All that?
ANOTHER: But where on earth find it?
ROXANE (quietly): In my carriage。
ALL: How?
ROXANE: Now serve upcarve! Look a little closer at my coachman; gentlemen; and you will recognize a man most welcome。 All the sauces can be sent to table hot; if we will!
THE CADETS (rushing pellmell to the carriage): 'Tis Ragueneau! (Acclamations): Oh; oh!
ROXANE (looking after them): Poor fellows!
CYRANO (kissing her hand): Kind fairy!
RAGUENEAU (standing on the box like a quack doctor at a fair): Gentlemen!。 。 。
(General delight。)
THE CADETS: Bravo! bravo!
RAGUENEAU: 。 。 。The Spaniards; gazing on a lady so dainty fair; overlooked the fare so dainty!。 。 。
(Applause。)
CYRANO (in a whisper to Christian): Hark; Christian!
RAGUENEAU: 。 。 。And; occupied with gallantry; perceived not (His draws a plate from under the seat; and holds it up): The galantine!。 。 。
(Applause。 The galantine passes from hand to hand。)
CYRANO (still whispering to Christian): Prythee; one word!
RAGUENEAU: And Venus so attracted their eyes that Diana could secretly pass by with (He holds up a shoulder of mutton): her fawn!
(Enthusiasm。 Twenty hands are held out to seize the shoulder of mutton。)
CYRANO (in a low whisper to Christian): I must speak to you!
ROXANE (to the cadets; who come down; their arms laden with food): Put it all on the ground!
(She lays all out on the grass; aided by the two imperturbable lackeys who were behind the carriage。)
ROXANE (to Christian; just as Cyrano is drawing him apart): Come; make yourself of use!
(Christian comes to help her。 Cyrano's uneasiness increases。)
RAGUENEAU: Truffled peacock!
FIRST CADET (radiant; coming down; cutting a big slice of ham): By the mass! We shall not brave the last hazard without having had a gullet…full! (quickly correcting himself on seeing Roxane): Pardon! A Balthazar feast!
RAGUENEAU (throwing down the carriage cushions): The cushions are stuffed with ortolans!
(Hubbub。 They tear open and turn out the contents of the cushions。 Bursts of laughtermerriment。)
THIRD CADET: Ah! Viedaze!
RAGUENEAU (throwing down to the cadets bottles of red wine): Flasks of rubies! (and white wine): Flasks of topaz!
ROXANE (throwing a folded tablecloth at Cyrano's head): Unfold me that napkin!Come; come! be nimble!
RAGUENEAU (waving a lantern): Each of the carriage…lamps is a little larder!
CYRANO (in a low voice to Christian; as they arrange the cloth together): I must speak with you ere you speak to her。
RAGUENEAU: My whip…handle is an Arles sausage!
ROXANE (pouring out wine; helping): Since we are to die; let the rest of the army shift for itself。 All for the Gascons! And mark! if De Guiche comes; let no one invite him! (Going from one to the other): There! there! You have time enough! Do not eat too fast!Drink a little。… …Why are you crying?
FIRST CADET: It is all so good!。 。 。
ROXANE: Tut!Red or white?Some bread for Monsieur de Carbon!a knife! Pass your plate!a little of the crust? Some more? Let me help you!Some champagne?… …A wing?
CYRANO (who follows her; his arms laden with dishes; helping her to wait on everybody): How I worship her!
ROXANE (going up to Christian): What will you?
CHRISTIAN: Nothing。
ROXANE: Nay; nay; take this biscuit; steeped in muscat; come!。 。 。but two drops!
CHRISTIAN (trying to detain her): Oh! tell me why you came?
ROXANE: Wait; my first duty is to these poor fellows。Hush! In a few minutes。 。 。
LE BRET (who had gone up to pass a loaf on the end of a lance to the sentry on the rampart): De Guiche!
CYRANO: Quick! hide flasks; plates; pie…dishes; game…baskets! Hurry!Let us all look unconscious! (To Ragueneau): Up on your seat!Is everything covered up?
(In an instant all has been pushed into the tents; or hidden under doublets; cloaks; and beavers。 De Guiche enters hurriedlystops suddenly; sniffing the air。 Silence。)
Scene 4。VII。
The same。 De Guiche。
DE GUICHE: It smells good here。
A CADET (humming): Lo! Lo…lo!
DE GUICHE (looking at him): What is the matter?You are very red。
THE CADET: The matter?Nothing!'Tis my bloodboiling at the thought of the comi