Act 4 — SCENE VI.
Charles Renauld translation
The same, except GUICHE.
CHRISTIAN (supplicating).
Roxane!....
ROXANE.
No!
FIRST CADET (to the others).
She remains!
ALL (rushing around hurriedly, and brushing up).
A comb!—Soap!—My doublet is torn: a needle!—A bright bow!—Your looking glass!—My cuffs!—Your curling iron!—A razor!
ROXANE (to Cyrano, who continues begging her to leave).
No! I will not budge from here!
CARBON (after having, like the others, tightened his belt and arranged his cuffs, advances toward Roxane and says ceremoniously:)
Such being the case, it may not seem improper for me to present to you a few of the gentlemen who will have the honour of dying before your eyes.
(Roxane bows, and waits leaning on the arm of Christian. Carbon makes the presentations.)
Baron de Peyrescous de Colignac!
A CADET (bowing).
Madam....
CARBON (continuing).
Baron de Casterac de Cahuzac!—Baron de Malgouyre Estressac Lesbas d'Escarabiot!—Chevalier d'Antignac-Juzet!—Baron Hillot de Blagnac—Salechan de Castel Crabioules!
ROXANE.
But how many names has each of you.
BARON HILLOT.
More than many.
CARBON (to Roxane).
Kindly open the hand that holds your handkerchief.
ROXANE (opens her hand; her handkerchief falls).
What for?
(The whole company darts forward to pick it up.)
CARBON (heading them off and seizing it).
My company had no flag! Now it will have the finest in the camp!
ROXANE (smiling).
It is rather small!
CARBON (tying the handkerchief to his lance).
It is lace.... and yours!
A CADET (to the others).
I would die most willingly for eyes so beautiful, if only I could have a crust of bread or two.
CARBON (indignant).
For shame! How can you think of eating before so exquisite a woman?....
ROXANE.
But he is right. The morning air is sharp, and I myself am famished. Meat-pie,—cold game and jelly, some good wine,—I'll have nothing else, thank you! Suppose we have them now? There is still time.
A CADET.
But where shall we get all these good things?
ROXANE (quietly).
In my coach.
ALL.
What!....
ROXANE.
But somebody must serve and carve. Look at my coachman more attentively, gentlemen, and you will see that he is a very valuable man.
THE CADETS (running up to the coach).
Why! It's Ragueneau!
ROXANE (looking at them).
Poor hungry fellows!
CYRANO (kissing her hand).
What a kind fairy you are!
RAGUENEAU (standing on his seat).
Gentlemen!....
THE CADETS.
Speech! Speech!
RAGUENEAU.
The Spaniards, when so much beauty passed, did not see the repast. (Applause.) They are so bony that they did not notice the boned turkey.
(He takes a dish from under his seat and passes it down.)
CYRANO (aside to Christian).
A word with you for pity's sake!....
RAGUENEAU.
They were so busy with Venus that they allowed Diana's spoils to pass.
(He hands down a stag's leg.)
CYRANO (aside to Christian).
I must speak to you!
ROXANE (to the Cadets who come up loaded with eatables).
Place all that on the ground.
(She spreads a table-cloth on the grass, and, with the assistance of the two lackeys, prepares the cover.)
(to Christian, whom Cyrano is endeavouring to draw aside).
Come, make yourself useful.
(Christian helps her. Cyrano looks anxious.)
RAGUENEAU.
A stuffed peacock!
A CADET (cutting for himself a large slice of ham).
Jupiter's thunder! We'll not die without previously ....stuffing our....(noticing Roxane) your pardon.... feasting!
RAGUENEAU (tossing to them the coach's cushions).
These cushions are stuffed with ortolans!
(Confusion. Cushions ripped open. Laughter. Joy.)
THIRD CADET.
Ah! Viédaze!
RAGUENEAU (handing out bottles of red wine).
Liquid rubies!....
(Bottles of white wine.)
Melted topaz!....
ROXANE (throwing a table-cloth that falls on Cyrano's head).
Attend to this!.... Be nimble!
RAGUENEAU (handing down one of the lanterns).
Each one of the lanterns is a diminutive larder!
CYRANO (unfolds the table-cloth, getting near to Christian, who assists him).
I must speak to you before you speak to her!
RAGUENEAU (growing lyrical).
The handle of my whip is a sausage from Arles!
ROXANE (passing the dishes and filling glasses).
Since we are ordered to die, what care we for the rest of the army?—Yes! all for the Gascons!—and, if Guiche comes, we'll not invite him! (going from one to the other).
Come, you have plenty of time. Do not eat so fast! Drink a little.—Why have you tears in your eyes?
FIRST CADET.
Because it's all too good!....
ROXANE.
Hush!—Red or white?—Bread, Monsieur de Carbon!—A knife?—Your plate!—Meat pie?—Champagne wine?—Chicken?
CYRANO (following her, loaded with eatables, and helping her to serve. Aside).
How I love her!
ROXANE (going up to Christian).
And what will you have?
CHRISTIAN.
Nothing.
ROXANE.
Yes, just a cake and a little Muscatel!
CHRISTIAN (endeavouring to detain her).
Oh! tell me why, why you came?
ROXANE.
Hush! Let me first give these poor starving fellows something to eat.... I'll tell you by and by....
LE BRET (who had gone to the rear, to pass, on the end of a lance, a loaf of bread to the sentinel on the embankment).
Here is Guiche!
CYRANO.
Make haste, hide bottles, dishes, plates, baskets, everything! Be lively there! Let him notice nothing!....
(to Ragueneau).
You, get up to your box again!—Be quick! Everything out of the way!
(It has taken only a few seconds to conceal everything, under tent, doublet, cloak or hat.—Enter Guiche. He stops and sniffs the air.—Silence.)