Part 16 (2/2)
ROXANE To go to war?
DE GUICHE Of course!
ROXANE But the cadets are not going!
DE GUICHE They are! [Taking out the paper which he had put in his pocket.] Here is the order. [To CHRISTIAN.] I beg you will take it to the Captain, baron, yourself. Here is the order. [To CHRISTIAN.] I beg you will take it to the Captain, baron, yourself.
ROXANE [throwing herself in [throwing herself in CHRISTIAN's CHRISTIAN's arms arms] Christian!
DE GUICHE [to [to CYRANO, CYRANO, with a malignant laugh] with a malignant laugh] The wedding night is somewhat far as yet! The wedding night is somewhat far as yet!
CYRANO [aside] [aside] He thinks that he is giving me great pain! He thinks that he is giving me great pain!
CHRISTIAN [to ROXANE] Oh, once more, dear! ... Once more!
CYRANO Be reasonable... Come! ... Enough!
CHRISTIAN [still clasping [still clasping ROXANE] Oh, it is hard to leave her.... You cannot know... ROXANE] Oh, it is hard to leave her.... You cannot know...
CYRANO [trying to draw him away [trying to draw him away] I know. [Drums are heard in the distance sounding a march.] are heard in the distance sounding a march.]
DE GUICHE [at the back] The regiment is on its way! The regiment is on its way!
ROXANE [to [to CYRANO, CYRANO, while she clings to while she clings to CHRISTIAN CHRISTIAN whom he is trying to draw away whom he is trying to draw away] Oh!... I entrust him to your care! Promise that under no circ.u.mstance shall his life be placed in danger! CYRANO I will endeavor... but obviously cannot promise... ROXANE [same business [same business] Promise that he will be careful of himself! CYRANO I will do my best, but...
ROXANE [as above] That during this terrible siege he shall not take harm from the cold!
CYRANO I will try, but...
ROXANE [as above] That he will be true to me!
CYRANO Of course, but yet, you see...
ROXANE [as above] That he will write to me often!
CYRANO [stopping] Ah, that... I promise freely!
[Curtain.]
ACT FOUR.
The Gascony Cadets The post occupied at the siege of Arras57 by the company of CARBON DE CASTEL JALOUX. At the back, across the whole stage, sloping earthwork. Beyond this is seen a plain stretching to the horizon; the country is covered with constructions relating to the siege. In the distance, against the sky, the outlines of the walls and roofs of Arras. Tents; scattered arms; drums, etc. It is shortly before sunrise. The East is yellow. Sentinels at even intervals. Camp-fires. The GASCONY CADETS lie asleep, rolled in their cloaks. CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUX and LE BRET are watching. All are very pale and gaunt. CHRISTIAN lies sleeping among the others, in his military cape, in the foreground, his face lighted by one of the camp-fires. Silence. by the company of CARBON DE CASTEL JALOUX. At the back, across the whole stage, sloping earthwork. Beyond this is seen a plain stretching to the horizon; the country is covered with constructions relating to the siege. In the distance, against the sky, the outlines of the walls and roofs of Arras. Tents; scattered arms; drums, etc. It is shortly before sunrise. The East is yellow. Sentinels at even intervals. Camp-fires. The GASCONY CADETS lie asleep, rolled in their cloaks. CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUX and LE BRET are watching. All are very pale and gaunt. CHRISTIAN lies sleeping among the others, in his military cape, in the foreground, his face lighted by one of the camp-fires. Silence.
SCENE I.
Christian, Carbon de Castel-Jaloux, Le Bret, the Cadets, then Cyrano
LE BRET It is dreadful!
CARBON Yes. Nothing left.
LE BRET Mordious! Mordious!
CARBON [warning him by a gesture to speak lower] [warning him by a gesture to speak lower] Curse in a whisper! You will wake them! ... Curse in a whisper! You will wake them! ... [To the [To the CADETS.] Hus.h.!.+ Go to sleep! CADETS.] Hus.h.!.+ Go to sleep! [To [To LE BRET.] Who sleeps dines. LE BRET.] Who sleeps dines.
LE BRET Who lies awake misses two good things... What a situation! [A few shots are heard in the distance.] [A few shots are heard in the distance.]
CARBON The devil take their popping! They will wake my young ones! ... [To the [To the CADETS CADETS who lift their heads who lift their heads.] Go to sleep! [The CADETS lie down again. Other shots are heard, nearer.] [The CADETS lie down again. Other shots are heard, nearer.]
ONE OF THE CADETS [stirring] The devil! Again?
CARBON It is nothing. It is Cyrano getting home. [The heads which had started up, go down again [The heads which had started up, go down again.]
A SENTINEL [outside] Ventrebleu! Ventrebleu! Who goes there? Who goes there?
CYRANO'S VOICE Bergerac!
THE SENTINEL [upon the embankment [upon the embankment] Ventrebieu! Ventrebieu! Who goes there? Who goes there?
CYRANO [appearing at the top of the embankment] [appearing at the top of the embankment] Bergerac, blockhead! Bergerac, blockhead! [He comes down. LE BRET goes to him, uneasy] [He comes down. LE BRET goes to him, uneasy]
LE BRET Ah, thank G.o.d!
CYRANO [warning him by a sign to wake no one] [warning him by a sign to wake no one] Hus.h.!.+ Hus.h.!.+
LE BRET Wounded?
CYRANO Do you not know that it has become a habit with them to miss me?
LE BRET To me, it seems a little excessive that you should, every morning, for the sake of taking a letter, risk...
CYRANO [stopping in front of [stopping in front of CHRISTIAN] I promised that he would write often. CHRISTIAN] I promised that he would write often. [He looks at [He looks at CHRISTIAN] He sleeps. He has grown pale. If the poor little girl could know that he is starving.... But handsome as ever! CHRISTIAN] He sleeps. He has grown pale. If the poor little girl could know that he is starving.... But handsome as ever!
LE BRET Go at once and sleep.
CYRANO Le Bret, do not grumble! Learn this: I nightly cross the Spanish lines at a point where I know beforehand every one will be drunk.
LE BRET You ought some time to bring us back some victuals!
CYRANO I must be lightly burdened to flit through! ... But I know that there will be events before the evening. The French, unless I am much mistaken, will eat or die.
LE BRET Oh, tell us!
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