Act 1 — SCENE VII.
Charles Renauld translation
CYRANO, LE BRET, THE COMEDIANS and COMEDIENNES, CUIGY, BRISSAILLE, LIGNIÈRE, THE JANITOR, THE VIOLINS.
CYRANO (falling into the arms of Le Bret).
I!.... She.... An appointment!....
LE BRET.
So, now your sadness is no more?
CYRANO.
No! for, whatever the reason, she knows that I exist!
LE BRET.
And now you will be cool?
CYRANO (beside himself).
No, I'll be frantic and invincible! I would I had an army to defeat! I have ten hearts and twenty arms. What are dwarfs to me?.... (He shouts.) I must have giants to vanquish!
(For the last few minutes, on the stage, in the rear, actors and actresses have been going and coming: a rehearsal is on. The violins have taken their seats.)
A VOICE (from the stage).
Silence there, please! We're rehearsing.
CYRANO (laughing).
Very well. We're leaving.
(As Cyrano is about going, enter, by the wide door in the rear, Cuigy, Brissaille, and several officers, supporting Lignière, who is completely intoxicated.)
CUIGY.
Cyrano!
CYRANO.
What is it?
CUIGY.
A friend of yours.
CYRANO (recognising Lignière).
Lignière!.... Why! what is the matter?
CUIGY.
He was looking for you.
BRISSAILLE.
He cannot get home.
CYRANO.
Why not?
LIGNIÈRE (thick-tongued, showing a note soiled and torn).
This note warns me .... a hundred men are posted .... on account of a song .... I'll be murdered .... at the Porte de Nesle .... there I must pass .... to get home .... Offer me shelter .... under your roof!
CYRANO.
One hundred men, you say? You'll sleep under your own roof.
LIGNIÈRE (terrified).
But how can I?....
CYRANO (in fierce tones, showing him the lighted lantern held by the Janitor, who has been listening).
Take that lantern!
(Lignière seizes the lantern.)
And walk on boldly. I swear to you that I to-night will make your bed for you. (To the officers.) You, gentlemen, be good enough to follow .... at a distance. You'll be witnesses.
CUIGY.
Yes, but one hundred men!....
CYRANO.
To-night I would not have them fewer by a single man!
(The comedians and comediennes, who have, in their costumes, come down from the stage into the pit, crowd around Cyrano.)
LE BRET.
But why protect this....
CYRANO.
There's Le Bret grumbling again!
LE BRET.
This commonplace drunkard?....
CYRANO (playfully striking Lignière on the shoulder).
Because this drunkard, this cask of Muscatel, this barrel of Rossoli, once did something exceedingly handsome: his lady-love, as she was leaving church, after mass, having properly dipped her dainty finger into the holy water near the door, he, though he has a horror for water, ran up to the stoup, leaned over it and drank it dry!
COMEDIENNE (in soubrette's dress).
A pretty deed, I think.
CYRANO.
Was it not, soubrette?
COMEDIENNE (to the others).
But why a hundred men against a poor poet?
CYRANO.
Let us on!.... (to the officers) .... and you, gentlemen, when you see me charge, please do not follow; simply look on, whatever danger I may be in!
COMEDIENNE.
But we wish to see too!
CYRANO.
Come along, then!
COMEDIENNE (to the troop).
Let us all go?
CYRANO.
Come, all of you, the Doctor, Isabella, Leander, all! Come as a bevy pleasant and frolicsome! Come, and let the fantasy of Italian farce tinkle through the rumble of to-night's Spanish drama, surrounding it with jingles like a tambourine!
THE WOMEN (jumping for joy).
Bravo! Quick, a wrap! a hood!....
JODELET.
Let us proceed!
CYRANO (to the violins).
Will the violins supply the music?
(The violins join the formation. Candles are taken from the footlights and distributed; and thus a torch-light procession is prepared.)
CYRANO.
Bravo! Officers, gentlemen and women in fancy dress! Now, ten steps ahead .... (he places himself as he speaks) I, alone, beneath the plume that glory itself stuck into this hat .... proud as a Scipion thrice Nasica!.... Understood?.... All assistance to me is forbidden! Ready?.... Open the door!
(Janitor opens the door, through which can be seen a bit of old Paris, picturesque in the moonlight.)
Ah! Paris in the dimness of the night, With moonlight trickling down the bluish roofs. For coming deed how exquisite the frame! 'Neath mist as light as gauze, behold! the Seine, As if it were a magic mirror there, Is trembling .... and you'll see what you shall see!
ALL.
To the Porte de Nesle!
CYRANO (on the threshold).
To the Porte de Nesle!
(Turning, before going out, to the soubrette).
Did you not ask, Madamoiselle, why against this one rimester a hundred men were sent?
(He draws his sword and continues very quietly.)
Because he is known to be a friend of mine!
(Exit Cyrano. The procession—Lignière with unsteady head—the comediennes hanging upon the arms of the officers, then the comedians dancing and capering—moves out into the night, with the violins for music, and with candles for light.)
CURTAIN.
FIRST ACT.
