Part 5 (1/2)

[They begin fencing.]

You should have been politer; Where had you best be gored?

The left side or the right-ah?

Or next your azure cord?

Or where the spleen is stored?

Or in the stomach pit?

Come we to quick accord ...

At the last line, I hit!

You falter, you turn whiter?

You do so to afford Your foe a rhyme in ”iter”? ...

You thrust at me-I ward- And balance is restored.

Laridon!21 Look to your spit! ... Look to your spit! ...

No, you shall not be floored Before my cue to hit!

[He announces solemnly.J ENVOI.

Prince, call upon the Lord! ...

I skirmish ... feint a bit ...

I lunge! ... I keep my word!

[The VICOMTE staggers; CYRANO bows.]

At the last line, I hit!

[Acclamations. Applause from the boxes. Flowers and handkerchiefs are thrown. The OFFICERS surround and congratulate CYRANO. RAGUENEAU dances with delight. LE BRET is tearfully joyous and at the same time highly troubled. The friends of the VICOMTE support him off the stage.]

THE CROWD [in a long shout] [in a long shout] Ah! ... Ah! ...

A LIGHT-CAVALRY MAN Superb!

A WOMAN Sweet!

RAGUENEAU Astounding!

A MARQUIS Novel!

LE BRET Insensate!

THE CROWD [pressing around [pressing around CYRANO] Congratulations! ... Well done! ... Bravo! ... CYRANO] Congratulations! ... Well done! ... Bravo! ...

A WOMAN' S VOICE He is a hero!

A MOUSQUETAIRE [striding swiftly toward [striding swiftly toward CYRANO, CYRANO, with outstretched hand] with outstretched hand] Monsieur, will you allow me? It was quite, quite excellently done, and I think I know whereof I speak. But, as a fact, I expressed my mind before, by making a huge noise.... Monsieur, will you allow me? It was quite, quite excellently done, and I think I know whereof I speak. But, as a fact, I expressed my mind before, by making a huge noise.... [He retires. [He retires. ] ]

CYRANO [to [to CUIGY] Who may the gentleman be? CUIGY] Who may the gentleman be?

CUIGY D'Artagnan.22 LE BRET [to CYRANO, taking his arm] taking his arm] Come, I wish to talk with you. Come, I wish to talk with you.

CYRANO Wait till the crowd has thinned. [To [To BELLEROSE]. I may remain? BELLEROSE]. I may remain?

BELLEROSE [deferentially] [deferentially] Why, certainly! ... Why, certainly! ... [Shouts are heard outside. J [Shouts are heard outside. J JODELET [after looking] [after looking] They are hooting Montfleury. BELLEROSE They are hooting Montfleury. BELLEROSE [solemnly] Sic transit! [solemnly] Sic transit!23 ... ... [In a different tone, to the doorkeeper and the candle snuffer.] [In a different tone, to the doorkeeper and the candle snuffer.] Sweep and close. Leave the lights. We shall come back, after eating, to rehea.r.s.e a new farce for to-morrow. Sweep and close. Leave the lights. We shall come back, after eating, to rehea.r.s.e a new farce for to-morrow. [Exeunt [Exeunt JODELET JODELET and and BELLEROSE, BELLEROSE, after bowing very low to after bowing very low to CYRANO.] CYRANO.]

THE DOORKEEPER [to [to CYRANO] Monsieur will not be going to dinner? CYRANO] Monsieur will not be going to dinner?

CYRANO I? ... No.

[The doorkeeper withdraws.]

LE BRET [to CYRANO] And this, because? ...

CYRANO [proudly] Because ... [in a different tone, having seen that the doorkeeper is too far to overhear] [in a different tone, having seen that the doorkeeper is too far to overhear] I have not a penny! I have not a penny!

LE BRET [making the motion of flinging a bag] [making the motion of flinging a bag] How is this? The bag of crowns.... How is this? The bag of crowns....

CYRANO Monthly remittance, thou lastedst but a day!

LE BRET And to keep you the remainder of the month? ... CYRANO Nothing is left!

LE BRET But then, flinging that bag, what a child's prank!

CYRANO But what a gesture! ...

THE SWEETMEAT VENDER [coughing behind her little counter] [coughing behind her little counter] Hm! ... [CYRANO Hm! ... [CYRANO and and LE BRET LE BRET turn toward her. She comes timidly forward.] turn toward her. She comes timidly forward.] ] Monsieur, to know you have not eaten ... makes my heart ache. ] Monsieur, to know you have not eaten ... makes my heart ache. [Pointing to the sweetmeat-stand. [Pointing to the sweetmeat-stand. I have there all that is needed.... I have there all that is needed.... (impulsively] (impulsively] Help yourself! Help yourself!

CYRANO [taking off his hat] [taking off his hat] Dear child, despite my Gascon pride, which forbids that I should profit at your hand by the most inconsiderable of dainties, I fear too much lest a denial should grieve you: I will accept therefore ... Dear child, despite my Gascon pride, which forbids that I should profit at your hand by the most inconsiderable of dainties, I fear too much lest a denial should grieve you: I will accept therefore ... [He goes to the stand and selects] [He goes to the stand and selects] Oh, a trifle! ... A grape off this ... Oh, a trifle! ... A grape off this ... [She proffers the bunch, he takes a single grape.] [She proffers the bunch, he takes a single grape.] No ... one! This gla.s.s of water ... No ... one! This gla.s.s of water ... [She starts to pour wine into it, he stops her.] [She starts to pour wine into it, he stops her.] No ... clear! And half a macaroon. No ... clear! And half a macaroon. [He breaks in two the macaroon, and returns half [He breaks in two the macaroon, and returns half.]

LE BRET This comes near being silly!

SWEETMEAT VENDER Oh, you will take something more! ...

CYRANO Yes. Your hand to kiss. [He kisses the hand she holds out to him, as if it were that of a princess. ] [He kisses the hand she holds out to him, as if it were that of a princess. ]