Part 17 (1/2)
CYRANO No, I am not certain... You will see!
CARBON What a shameful reversal of the order of things, that the besieger should be starved!
LE BRET Alas! never was more complicated siege than this of Arras: We besiege Arras, and, caught in a trap, are ourselves besieged by the Cardinal-prince of Spain...
CYRANO Someone now ought to come and besiege him.
LE BRET I am not joking!
CYRANO Oh, oh!
LE BRET To think, ungrateful boy, that every day you risk a life precious as yours, solely to carry... [ CYRANO goes toward one of the tents. goes toward one of the tents. ] Where are you going? ] Where are you going?
CYRANO I am going to write another. [He lifts the canvas flap, and disappears in the tent.]
SCENE II.
The Same, without Cyrano [Daybreak has brightened. Rosy flush. The city of Arras at the horizon catches a golden light. The report of a cannon is heard, followed at once by a drum-call, very far away, at the left. Other drums beat, nearer. The drum-calls answer one another, come nearer, come very near, and go off, decreasing, dying in the distance, toward the right, having made the circuit of the camp. Noise of general awakening. Voices of officers in the distance]
CARBON [with a sigh] [with a sigh] The reveille Ah, me! ... The reveille Ah, me! ... [The [The CADETS CADETS stir in their cloaks, stretch.] stir in their cloaks, stretch.] An end to the succulent slumbers! I know but too well what their first word will be! An end to the succulent slumbers! I know but too well what their first word will be!
ONE OF THE CADETS [sitting up] [sitting up] I am famished! I am famished!
OTHER CADET I believe I am dying!
ALL Oh!...
CARBON Get up!
THIRD CADET I cannot go a step!
FOURTH CADET I have not strength to stir!
FIRST CADET [looking at himself in a bit of armor.] [looking at himself in a bit of armor.] My tongue is coated: it must be the weather that is indigestible! My tongue is coated: it must be the weather that is indigestible!
OTHER CADET Any one who wants them, can have all my t.i.tles of n.o.bility for a Chester cheese... or part of one!
OTHER CADET If my stomach does not have something put into it to take up the attention of my gastric juice, I shall retire into my tent before long... like Achilles!
OTHER CADET Yes, they ought to provide us with bread!
CARBON [going to the tent into which CYRANO CYRANO has retired; low has retired; low.] Cyrano!
OTHER CADETS We cannot stand this much longer!
CARBON [as above, at the door of the tent] To the rescue, Cyrano! You who succeed so well always in cheering them, come and make them pluck up spirits! To the rescue, Cyrano! You who succeed so well always in cheering them, come and make them pluck up spirits!
SECOND CADET [falling upon FIRST CADET FIRST CADET who is chewing something] who is chewing something] What are you chewing, man? What are you chewing, man?
FIRST CADET A bit of gun-tow fried in axle-grease.... using a burganet as frying pan. The suburbs of Arras are not precisely rich in game....
OTHER CADET [entering] [entering] I have been hunting! I have been hunting!
OTHER CADET [the same] [the same] I have been fis.h.i.+ng! I have been fis.h.i.+ng!
ALL [rising and falling upon the newcomers] [rising and falling upon the newcomers] What?-what did you catch?-A pheasant?-A carp?-Quick! quick! ... Let us see! What?-what did you catch?-A pheasant?-A carp?-Quick! quick! ... Let us see!
THE HUNTSMAN A sparrow!
THE ANGLER A gudgeon!
ALL [exasperated] Enough of this! Let us revolt!
CARBON To the rescue, Cyrano! [It is now broad daylight.] [It is now broad daylight.]
SCENE III.
The Same, Cyrano
CYRANO [coming out of the tent, tranquil, a pen behind his ear, a book in his hand [coming out of the tent, tranquil, a pen behind his ear, a book in his hand] What is the matter? [Silence. To [Silence. To FIRST CADET.] Why do you go off like that, with that slouching gait? FIRST CADET.] Why do you go off like that, with that slouching gait?
THE CADET I have something away down in my heels which inconveniences me.
CYRANO And what is that?
THE CADET My stomach.
CYRANO That is where mine is, too.
THE CADET Then you too must be inconvenienced.
CYRANO No. The size of the hollow within me merely increases my sense of my size.
SECOND CADET I happen to have teeth, long ones!
CYRANO The better will you bite... in good time!
THIRD CADET I reverberate like a drum!
CYRANO You will be of use... to sound the charge!
OTHER CADET I have a buzzing in my ears!
CYRANO A mistake. Empty belly, no ears. You hear no buzzing.
OTHER CADET Ah, a trifling article to eat... and a little oil upon it!