Cyrano, Le Bret. Then actors, actresses, Cuigy, Brissaille, Lignière, the porter, the violinists.
CYRANO
(falling into Le Bret's arms) A rendezvous. . .from her!. . .
LE BRET
You're sad no more!
CYRANO
Ah! Let the world go burn! She knows I live!
LE BRET
Now you'll be calm, I hope?
CYRANO
(beside himself for joy) Calm? I now calm?
I'll be frenetic, frantic,--raving mad!
Oh, for an army to attack!--a host!
I've ten hearts in my breast; a score of arms;
No dwarfs to cleave in twain!. . .
(Wildly):
No! Giants now!
For a few moments the shadows of the actors have been moving on the stage, whispers are heard--the rehearsal is beginning. The violinists are in their places.
A VOICE FROM THE STAGE
Hollo there! Silence! We rehearse!
He moves away. By the big door enter Cuigy, Brissaille, and some officers, holding up Lignière, who is drunk.
CUIGY
A lusty thrush
They're bringing you!
CYRANO
(recognizing him) Lignière!. . .What has chanced?
BRISSAILLE
He dare not go home!
CYRANO
Why not?
LIGNIÈRE (in a husky voice, showing him a crumpled letter):
This letter warns me. . .that a hundred men. . .
Revenge that threatens me. . .that song, you know--
At the Porte de Nesle. To get to my own house
I must pass there. . .I dare not!. . .Give me leave
To sleep to-night beneath your roof! Allow. . .
CYRANO
A hundred men? You'll sleep in your own bed!
LIGNIÈRE (frightened):
But--
CYRANO (in a terrible voice, showing him the lighted lantern held by the
porter, who is listening curiously):
Take the lantern.
(Lignière seizes it):
Let us start! I swear
That I will make your bed to-night myself!
(To the officers):
Follow; some stay behind, as witnesses!
CYRANO
Less, to-night--would be too few!
The actors and actresses, in their costumes, have come down from the stage, and are listening.
LE BRET
But why embroil yourself?
CYRANO
Le Bret who scolds!
LE BRET
That worthless drunkard!--
CYRANO
(slapping Lignière on the shoulder) Wherefore? For this cause;--
This wine-barrel, this cask of Burgundy,
Did, on a day, an action full of grace;
As he was leaving church, he saw his love
Take holy water--he, who is affeared
At water's taste, ran quickly to the stoup,
And drank it all, to the last drop!. . .
AN ACTRESS
Indeed, that was a graceful thing!
THE ACTRESS
(to the others) But why a hundred men 'gainst one poor rhymer?
CYRANO
March!
(To the officers):
Gentlemen, when you shall see me charge,
Bear me no succor, none, whate'er the odds!
ANOTHER ACTRESS
(jumping from the stage) Oh! I shall come and see!
ANOTHER
(jumping down--to an old actor) And you?. . .
CYRANO
Come all--the Doctor, Isabel, Leander,
Come, for you shall add, in a motley swarm,
The farce Italian to this Spanish drama!
ALL THE WOMEN
(dancing for joy) Bravo!--a mantle, quick!--my hood!
CYRANO
Play us a march, gentlemen of the band!
(The violinists join the procession, which is forming. They take the
footlights, and divide them for torches):
Brave officers! next, women in costume,
And, twenty paces on--
(He takes his place):
I all alone,
Beneath the plume that Glory lends, herself,
To deck my beaver--proud as Scipio!. . .
--You hear me?--I forbid you succor me!--
One, two three! Porter, open wide the doors!
(The porter opens the doors; a view of old Paris in the moonlight is seen):
Ah!. . .Paris wrapped in night! half nebulous:
The moonlight streams o'er the blue-shadowed roofs;
A lovely frame for this wild battle-scene;
Beneath the vapor's floating scarves, the Seine
Trembles, mysterious, like a magic mirror,
And, shortly, you shall see what you shall see!
ALL
To the Porte de Nesle!
CYRANO
(standing on the threshold) Ay, to the Porte de Nesle!
(Turning to the actress):
Did you not ask, young lady, for what cause
Against this rhymer fivescore men were sent?
(He draws his sword; then, calmly):
'Twas that they knew him for a friend of mine!
Curtain.
Act II.
The Poet's Eating-House.
Ragueneau's cook and pastry-shop. A large kitchen at the corner of the Rue
St. Honore and the Rue de l'Arbre Sec, which are seen in the background
through the glass door, in the gray dawn.
On the left, in the foreground, a counter, surmounted by a stand in forged
iron, on which are hung geese, ducks, and water peacocks. In great china
vases are tall bouquets of simple flowers, principally yellow sunflowers.
On the same side, farther back, an immense open fireplace, in front of which,
between monster firedogs, on each of which hangs a little saucepan; the roasts
are dripping into the pans.
On the right, foreground with door.
Farther back, staircase leading to a little room under the roof, the entrance
of which is visible through the open shutter. In this room a table is laid.
A small Flemish luster is alight. It is a place for eating and drinking. A
wooden gallery, continuing the staircase, apparently leads to other similar
little rooms.
In the middle of the shop an iron hoop is suspended from the ceiling by a
string with which it can be drawn up and down, and big game is hung around it.
The ovens in the darkness under the stairs give forth a red glow. The copper
pans shine. The spits are turning. Heaps of food formed into pyramids. Hams
suspended. It is the busy hour of the morning. Bustle and hurry of
scullions, fat cooks, and diminutive apprentices, their caps profusely
decorated with cock's feathers and wings of guinea-fowl.
On metal and wicker plates they are bringing in piles of cakes and tarts.
Tables laden with rolls and dishes of food. Other tables surrounded with
chairs are ready for the consumers.
A small table in a corner covered with papers, at which Ragueneau is seated
writing on the rising of the curtain.
He goes out. Lignière staggers first after him, then the actresses on the officers' arms--the actors. The procession starts to the sound of the violins and in the faint light of the candles.