Part 6 (1/2)

THE DOORKEEPER [admitting the [admitting the DUENNA DUENNA26 to to CYRANO] Monsieur, you are inquired for. CYRANO] Monsieur, you are inquired for.

CYRANO [seeing the duenna] [seeing the duenna] Ah, my G.o.d! ... her duenna! Ah, my G.o.d! ... her duenna!

SCENE VI.

Cyrano, Le Bret, the Duenna

THE DUENNA [with a great curtsey] Somebody wishes to know of her valorous cousin where one may, in private, see him. Somebody wishes to know of her valorous cousin where one may, in private, see him.

CYRANO [upset] [upset] See me? See me?

THE DUENNA [with curtsey] See you. There are things for your ear. See you. There are things for your ear.

CYRANO There are ... ?

THE DUENNA [other curtsey [other curtsey] Things.

CYRANO [staggering] [staggering] Ah, my G.o.d! ... Ah, my G.o.d! ...

THE DUENNA Somebody intends, tomorrow, at the earliest roses of the dawn, to hear Ma.s.s at Saint Roch.

CYRANO [upholds himself by leaning on [upholds himself by leaning on LE BRET] Ah, my G.o.d! LE BRET] Ah, my G.o.d!

THE DUENNA That over, where might one step in a moment, have a little talk?

CYRANO [losing his senses] [losing his senses] Where? ... I ... But ... Ah, my G.o.d! Where? ... I ... But ... Ah, my G.o.d!

THE DUENNA Expedition, if you please.

CYRANO I am casting about ...

THE DUENNA Where?

CYRANO At ... at ... at Ragueneau's ... the pastrycook's. THE DUENNA He lodges?

CYRANO In ... In Rue ... Ah, my G.o.d! my G.o.d! ... St. Honore.

THE DUENNA [retiring] [retiring] We will be there. Do not fail. At seven. We will be there. Do not fail. At seven.

CYRANO I will not fail. [Exit DUENNA.] [Exit DUENNA.]

SCENE VII.

Cyrano, Le Bret, then the Actors and Actresses, Cuigy, Brissaille, Ligniere, the Doorkeeper, the Fiddlers the Doorkeeper, the Fiddlers

CYRANO [falling on LE BRET's LE BRET's neck neck] To me ... from her ... a meeting!

LE BRET Well, your gloom is dispelled?

CYRANO Ah, to whatever end it may be, she is aware of my existence!

LE BRET And now you will be calm?

CYRANO [beside himself] Now, I shall be fulminating and frenetical! I want an army all complete to put to rout! I have ten hearts and twenty arms ... I cannot now be suited with felling dwarfs to earth.... [At the top of his lungs.] [At the top of his lungs.] Giants are what I want! Giants are what I want! [During the last lines, on the stage at the back, shadowy shapes of players have been moving about. The rehearsal has begun; the fiddlers have resumed their places.] [During the last lines, on the stage at the back, shadowy shapes of players have been moving about. The rehearsal has begun; the fiddlers have resumed their places.]

A VOICE [from the stage] Hey! Psst! Over there! A little lower. We are trying to rehea.r.s.e!

CYRANO [laughing] [laughing] We are going! We are going! [He goes toward the back.] [Through the street door, enter CUIGY, BRISSAILLE, several OFFICERS supporting LIGNIERE in a state of complete intoxication.] [He goes toward the back.] [Through the street door, enter CUIGY, BRISSAILLE, several OFFICERS supporting LIGNIERE in a state of complete intoxication.]

CUIGY Cyrano!

CYRANO What is this?

CUIGY A t.u.r.dus vinaticus t.u.r.dus vinaticus27 we are bringing you. we are bringing you.

CYRANO [recognizing him] [recognizing him] Ligniere! Hey, what has happened to you? CUIGY He is looking for you. Ligniere! Hey, what has happened to you? CUIGY He is looking for you.

BRISSAILLE He cannot go home.

CYRANO Why?

LIGNIERE [in a thick voice, showing him a bit of crumpled paper.] [in a thick voice, showing him a bit of crumpled paper.] This note bids me beware ... A hundred men against me ... on account of lampoon.... Grave danger threatening me.... Porte de Nesle ... must pa.s.s it to get home. Let me come and sleep under your roof. This note bids me beware ... A hundred men against me ... on account of lampoon.... Grave danger threatening me.... Porte de Nesle ... must pa.s.s it to get home. Let me come and sleep under your roof.

CYRANO A hundred, did you say?-You shall sleep at home! LIGNIERE [frightened] [frightened] But ... But ...

CYRANO [in a terrible voice, pointing to the lighted lantern which the [in a terrible voice, pointing to the lighted lantern which the DOORKEEPER stands swinging as he listens to this scene] stands swinging as he listens to this scene] Take that lantern (LIGNIERE Take that lantern (LIGNIERE hurriedly takes it] hurriedly takes it] and walk! ... I swear to tuck you in your bed to-night myself. and walk! ... I swear to tuck you in your bed to-night myself. [To the [To the OFFICERS.)You, follow at a distance. You may look on! OFFICERS.)You, follow at a distance. You may look on!

CUIGY But a hundred men ...

CYRANO Are not one man too many for my mood to-night! [The players, in their several costumes, have stepped down from the stage and come nearer.]

LE BRET But why take under your especial care ...

CYRANO Still Le Bret is not satisfied!

LE BRET That most commonplace of sots?

CYRANO [slapping LIGNIERE on the shoulder] Because this sot, this cask of muscatel, this hogshead of rosolio, 28 28 did once upon a time a wholly pretty thing. On leaving Ma.s.s, having seen her whom he loved take holy-water, as the rite prescribes, he, whom the sight of water puts to flight, ran to the holy-water bowl, and stooping over, drank it dry.... did once upon a time a wholly pretty thing. On leaving Ma.s.s, having seen her whom he loved take holy-water, as the rite prescribes, he, whom the sight of water puts to flight, ran to the holy-water bowl, and stooping over, drank it dry....

AN ACTRESS [in the costume of soubrette] Tiens, Tiens, that was nice!. that was nice!.

CYRANO Was it not, soubrette?