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!
CYRANO: No!
ROXANE: The voice that thrilled the nightyou; you!
CYRANO: I swear you err。
ROXANE: The soulit was your soul!
CYRANO: I loved you not。
ROXANE: You loved me not?
CYRANO: 'Twas he!
ROXANE: You loved me!
CYRANO: No!
ROXANE: See! how you falter now!
CYRANO: No; my sweet love; I never loved you!
ROXANE: Ah! Things dead; long dead; see! how they rise again! Why; why keep silence all these fourteen years; When; on this letter; which he never wrote; The tears were your tears?
CYRANO (holding out the letter to her): The bloodstains were his。
ROXANE: Why; then; that noble silence;kept so long Broken to…day for the first timewhy?
CYRANO: Why?。 。 。
(Le Bret and Ragueneau enter running。)
Scene 5。VI。
The same。 Le Bret and Ragueneau。
LE BRET: What madness! Here? I knew it well!
CYRANO (smiling and sitting up): What now?
LE BRET: He has brought his death by coming; Madame。
ROXANE: God! Ah; then! that faintness of a moment since。 。 。?
CYRANO: Why; true! It interrupted the 'Gazette:' 。 。 。Saturday; twenty…sixth; at dinner…time; Assassination of De Bergerac。
(He takes off his hat; they see his head bandaged。)
ROXANE: What says he? Cyrano!His head all bound! Ah; what has chanced? How?Who?。 。 。
CYRANO: 'To be struck down; Pierced by sword i' the heart; from a hero's hand!' That I had dreamed。 O mockery of Fate! Killed; I! of all menin an ambuscade! Struck from behind; and by a lackey's hand! 'Tis very well。 I am foiled; foiled in all; Even in my death。
RAGUENEAU: Ah; Monsieur!。 。 。
CYRANO (holding out his hand to him): Ragueneau; Weep not so bitterly!。 。 。What do you now; Old comrade?
RAGUENEAU (amid his tears): Trim the lights for Moliere's stage。
CYRANO: Moliere!
RAGUENEAU: Yes; but I shall leave to…morrow。 I cannot bear it!Yesterday; they played 'Scapin'I saw he'd thieved a scene from you!
LE BRET: What! a whole scene?
RAGUENEAU: Oh; yes; indeed; Monsieur; The famous one; 'Que Diable allait…il faire?'
LE BRET: Moliere has stolen that?
CYRANO: Tut! He did well!。 。 。 (to Ragueneau): How went the scene? It toldI think it told?
RAGUENEAU (sobbing): Ah! how they laughed!
CYRANO: Look you; it was my life To be the prompter every one forgets! (To Roxane): That night when 'neath your window Christian spoke Under your balcony; you remember? Well! There was the allegory of my whole life: I; in the shadow; at the ladder's foot; While others lightly mount to Love and Fame! Just! very just! Here on the threshold drear Of death; I pay my tribute with the rest; To Moliere's genius;Christian's fair face! (The chapel…bell chimes。 The nuns are seen passing down the alley at the back; to say their office): Let them go pray; go pray; when the bell rings!
ROXANE (rising and calling): Sister! Sister!
CYRANO (holding her fast): Call no one。 Leave me not; When you come back; I should be gone for aye。 (The nuns have all entered the chapel。 The organ sounds): I was somewhat fain for musichark! 'tis come。
ROXANE: Live; for I love you!
CYRANO: No; In fairy tales When to the ill…starred Prince the lady says 'I love you!' all his ugliness fades fast But I remain the same; up to the last!
ROXANE: I have marred your lifeI; I!
CYRANO: You blessed my life! Never on me had rested woman's love。 My mother even could not find me fair: I had no sister; and; when grown a man; I feared the mistress who would mock at me。 But I have had your friendshipgrace to you A woman's charm has passed across my path。
LE BRET (pointing to the moon; which is seen between the trees): Your other lady…love is come。
CYRANO (smiling): I see。
ROXANE: I loved but once; yet twice I lose my love!
CYRANO: Hark you; Le Bret! I soon shall reach the moon。 To…night; alone; with no projectile's aid!。 。 。
LE BRET: What are you saying?
CYRANO: I tell you; it is there; There; that they send me for my Paradise; There I shall find at last the souls I love; In exile;GalileoSocrates!
LE BRET (rebelliously): No; no! It is too clumsy; too unjust! So great a heart! So great a poet! Die Like this? what; die。 。 。?
CYRANO: Hark to Le Bret; who scolds!
LE BRET (weeping): Dear friend。 。 。
CYRANO (starting up; his eyes wild): What ho! Cadets of Gascony! The elemental massah yes! The hic。 。 。
LE BRET: His science stillhe raves!
CYRANO: Copernicus Said。 。 。
ROXANE: Oh!
CYRANO: Mais que diable allait…il faire; Mais que diable allait…il faire dans cette galere?。 。 。 Philosopher; metaphysician; Rhymer; brawler; and musician; Famed for his lunar expedition; And the unnumbered duels he fought; And lover also;by interposition! Here lies Hercule Savinien De Cyrano de Bergerac; Who was everything; yet was naught。 I cry you pardon; but I may not stay; See; the moon…ray that comes to call me hence! (He has fallen back in his chair; the sobs of Roxane recall him to reality; he looks long at her; and; touching her veil): I would not bid you mourn less faithfully That good; brave Christian: I would only ask That when my body shall be cold in clay You wear those sable mourning weeds for two; And mourn awhile for me; in mourning him。
ROXANE: I swear it you!。 。 。
CYRANO (shivering violently; then suddenly rising): Not there! what; seated?no! (They spring toward him): Let no one hold me up (He props himself against the tree): Only the tree! (Silence): It comes。 E'en now my feet have turned to stone; My hands are gloved with lead! (He stands erect): But since Death comes; I meet him still afoot; (He draws his sword): And sword in hand!
LE BRET: Cyrano!
ROXANE (half fainting): Cyrano!
(All shrink back in terror。)
CYRANO: Why; I well believe He dares to mock my nose? Ho! insolent! (He raises his sword): What say you? It is useless? Ay; I know But who fights ever hoping for success? I fought for lost cause; and for fruitless quest! You there; who are you!You are thousands! Ah! I know you now; old enemies of mine! Falsehood! (He strikes in air with his sword): Have at you! Ha! and Compromise! Prejudice; Treachery!。 。 。 (He strikes): Surrender; I? Parley? No; never! You too; Folly;you? I know that you will lay me low at last; Let be! Yet I fall fighting; fighting still! (He makes passes in the air; and stops; breathless): You strip from me the laurel and the rose! Take all! Despite you there is yet one thing I hold against you all; and when; to…night; I enter Christ's fair courts; and; lowly bowed; Sweep with doffed casque the heavens' threshold blue; One thing is left; that; void of stain or smutch; I bear away despite you。
(He springs forward; his sword raised; it falls from his hand; he staggers; falls back into the arms of Le Bret and Ragueneau。)
ROXANE (bending and kissing his forehead): 'Tis?。 。 。
CYRANO (opening his eyes; recognizing her; and smiling): MY PANACHE。
Curtain。
End