Act 4 — SCENE II.
Charles Renauld translation
The same, less CYRANO.
Day is dawning. Rosy tints in the sky, and golden ones on the distant city. A gun is heard, then drums beat in the distance, to the left. Other drums are heard, successively, nearer, and nearer, until they sound on the stage, the noise then receding gradually, toward the right. Awakening of the Camp. Officers' commands in the distance.
CARBON (sighing).
Reveille!.... Alas!
(the Cadets begin rising.)
Their dream of dinner is finished.... I know what their cry will be now.
A CADET (rising).
I'm hungry!
ANOTHER CADET.
I'm half dead!
OTHER CADETS.
We are dead! quite!
CARBON.
Get up!
SEVERAL CADETS.
Can't!
FIRST CADET (using his breastplate as a looking-glass).
My tongue is yellow. Indigestion!
ANOTHER CADET.
As to me, if my gastric organ gets not wherewith to produce a pint of chyle, I'll retire into my tent—like Achilles.
SEVERAL CADETS.
Bread! Something to eat! Now!
CARBON (going to the tent of Cyrano and speaking low to him).
Cyrano, help! Come with your ready wit, and put some life into them. Give them new courage.
A CADET (to another who is chewing something).
What are you nibbling at?
THE OTHER CADET.
Cannon wad fried in axle grease! There is but little game around Arras.
ANOTHER CADET (entering).
I've been out shooting.
STILL ANOTHER CADET (likewise entering).
And I've been fishing in the Scarpe.
ALL THE CADETS (rushing up to them).
What have you killed? What have you caught?—A pheasant?—A carp?—Quick, quick, show them!
THE FISHERMAN.
A gudgeon!
THE HUNTSMAN.
A sparrow!
ALL THE CADETS (exasperated).
Enough, enough! too much!—let us mutiny!
CARBON.
Help, Cyrano.
(Daylight has come.)