DE GUICHE I swear to you ...

ROXANE No! Now I have lost all regard.... Now I will surely not go.... Besides, I think it fun!

CYRANO What? The precieuse contained a heroine?

ROXANE Monsieur de Bergerac, I am a cousin of yours!

ONE OF THE CADETS Never think but that we will take good care -of you!

ROXANE [more and more excited] [more and more excited] I am sure you will, my friends! I am sure you will, my friends!

OTHER CADET The whole camp smells of iris!

ROXANE By good fortune I put on a hat that will look well in battle! [Glancing toward DE GUICHE.] But perhaps it is time the Count should go.-The battle might begin. DE GUICHE.] But perhaps it is time the Count should go.-The battle might begin.

DE GUICHE Ah, it is intolerable!-I am going to inspect my guns, and coming back.-You still have time: think better of it!

ROXANE Never! [Exit DE GUICHE] [Exit DE GUICHE]

SCENE VI.

The Same, without De Guiche

CHRISTIAN [imploring] [imploring] Roxane! Roxane!

ROXANE No!

FIRST CADET She is going to stay!

ALL [hurrying about, pushing one pushing one another, another, s.n.a.t.c.hing things from one another s.n.a.t.c.hing things from one another] A comb!-Soap!-My jacket is torn, a needle!-A ribbon!-Lend me your pocket-mirror!-My cuffs!-Curling-irons!-A razor!

ROXANE [to CYRANO, who is still'pleading still'pleading with her] No! Nothing shall prevail upon me to stir from this spot! with her] No! Nothing shall prevail upon me to stir from this spot!

CARBON [after having, like the others, tightened his belt, dusted himself, brushed his hat, straightened his feather, pulled down his cuffs, approaches ROXANE, ROXANE, and ceremoniously] and ceremoniously] It is, perhaps, proper, since you are going to stay, that I should present to you a few of the gentlemen about to have the honor of dying in your presence ... [ROXANE bows, It is, perhaps, proper, since you are going to stay, that I should present to you a few of the gentlemen about to have the honor of dying in your presence ... [ROXANE bows, and and stands waiting, with her stands waiting, with her arm arm through CHRISTIAN's.] Baron Peyrescous de Colignac! through CHRISTIAN's.] Baron Peyrescous de Colignac!

THE CADET [bowing] Madame!

CARBON [continuing to present the CADETS] Baron de Casterac de Cahuzac,-Vidame do Malgouyre Estressac Lesbas d'Escarabiot, -Chevalier d'Antignac-Juzet,-Baron Hillot de Blagnac-Salechan de Castel Crabioules ... to present the CADETS] Baron de Casterac de Cahuzac,-Vidame do Malgouyre Estressac Lesbas d'Escarabiot, -Chevalier d'Antignac-Juzet,-Baron Hillot de Blagnac-Salechan de Castel Crabioules ...

ROXANE But how many names have you apiece?

BARON HILLOT Innumerable!

CARBON [to ROXANE] Open your hand with the handkerchief!

ROXANE [opens her hand; the handkerchief handkerchief drops] Why? drops] Why? [ The [ The whole company starts forward to pick it up] whole company starts forward to pick it up]

CARBON [instantly catching it] My company had no flag! Now, my word, it will have the prettiest one in the army! catching it] My company had no flag! Now, my word, it will have the prettiest one in the army!

ROXANE [smiling] It is rather small!

CARBON [fastening the the handkerchief handkerchief on the staff of his captain's spear] But it is lace! on the staff of his captain's spear] But it is lace!

ONE OF THE CADETS [to the others] I could die without a murmur, having looked upon that beautiful face, if I had so much as a walnut inside me! ...

CARBON [who has overheard, indignant [who has overheard, indignant] Shame! ... to talk of food when an exquisite woman ...

ROXANE But the air of the camp is searching, and I myself am hungry: Patties, jellied meat, light wine ... are what I should like best! Will you kindly bring me some? [Consternation] [Consternation]

ONE OF THE CADETS Bring you some?

OTHER CADET And where, great G.o.d, shall we get them?

ROXANE [quietly] In my coach.

ALL What?

ROXANE But there is much to be done, carving and boning and serving. Look more closely at my coachman, gentlemen, and you will recognize a precious individual: the sauces, if we wish, can be warmed over ...

THE CADETS [springing toward the coach] It is Ragueneau! [Cheers.] Oh! Oh! toward the coach] It is Ragueneau! [Cheers.] Oh! Oh!

ROXANE [watching them] Poor fellows!

CYRANO [kissing her hand] Kind fairy! her hand] Kind fairy!

RAGUENEAU [standing upon the upon the box-seat like a box-seat like a vendor vendor at a at a public fair] Gentlemen! public fair] Gentlemen! [Enthusiasm] [Enthusiasm]

THE CADETS Bravo! Bravo!

RAGUENEAU How should the Spaniards, when so much beauty pa.s.sed, suspect the repast? [Applause.] [Applause.]

CYRANO [low to CHRISTIAN] Hm! Hm! Christian! CHRISTIAN] Hm! Hm! Christian!

RAGUENEAU Absorbed in gallantry, no heed took they ... [he takes a a dish from the box-seat] ... of galantine ! dish from the box-seat] ... of galantine !64 [Applause. The galantine is pa.s.sed from hand to hand.] [Applause. The galantine is pa.s.sed from hand to hand.]

CYRANO [low to CHRISTIAN] A word with you ...

RAGUENEAU Venus kept their eyes fixed upon herself, while Diana slipped past with the ... [he brandishes a a joint] game! [Enthusiasm. The joint is seized by joint] game! [Enthusiasm. The joint is seized by twenty twenty hands hands at at once.] once.]

CYRANO [low to CHRISTIAN] I must speak with you. to CHRISTIAN] I must speak with you.

ROXANE [to the CADETS who come forward, their arms full arms full of provisions] Spread it all upon the ground! of provisions] Spread it all upon the ground! [a.s.sisted by the two imperturbable footmen who were on the back of the coach, she arranges everything on the gra.s.s.] [a.s.sisted by the two imperturbable footmen who were on the back of the coach, she arranges everything on the gra.s.s.]

ROXANE [to CHRISTIAN whom CYRANO is is trying to draw trying to draw aside aside] Make yourself useful, sir! [CHRISTIAN comes and helps her. CYRANO gives evidence of uneasiness.] [CHRISTIAN comes and helps her. CYRANO gives evidence of uneasiness.]

RAGUENEAU A truffled peac.o.c.k!

FIRST CADET [radiant, comes forward cutting off a large slice of ham] [radiant, comes forward cutting off a large slice of ham] Praise the pigs, we shall not go to our last fight with nothing in our b ... [correcting himself Praise the pigs, we shall not go to our last fight with nothing in our b ... [correcting himself at at sight of ROXANE] hm ... stomachs! sight of ROXANE] hm ... stomachs!

RAGUENEAU [flinging the carriage cushions] The cushions are stuffed with snipe! [Tumult. The cushions the carriage cushions] The cushions are stuffed with snipe! [Tumult. The cushions are are ripped open. ripped open. Laughter. Joy. J Laughter. Joy. J RAGUENEAU [flinging bottles bottles of red wine of red wine] Molten ruby! [Bottles of white wine.] Fluid topaz! Fluid topaz!

ROXANE [throwing a folded tablecloth [throwing a folded tablecloth to CYRANO] Unfold the cloth: Hey! ... be nimble! to CYRANO] Unfold the cloth: Hey! ... be nimble!

RAGUENEAU [waving one one of the of the coach coach lanterns lanterns] Each lantern is a little larder!

CYRANO [low [low to CHRISTIAN, to CHRISTIAN, while together they spread the cloth] while together they spread the cloth] I must speak with you before you speak with her ... I must speak with you before you speak with her ...

RAGUENEAU The handle of my whip, behold, is a sausage!

ROXANE [pouring wine, dispensing it] [pouring wine, dispensing it] Since we are the ones to be killed, Since we are the ones to be killed, morbleu morbleu, we will not fret ourselves about the rest of the army! Everything for the Gascons! ... And if De Guiche comes, n.o.body must invite him! [Going from one to the other.] Gently! You have time ... You must not eat so fast! There, drink. What are you crying about? one to the other.] Gently! You have time ... You must not eat so fast! There, drink. What are you crying about?

FIRST CADET It is too good!

ROXANE Hush! White wine or red?-Bread for Monsieur de Carbon! -A knife!-Pa.s.s your plate!-You prefer crust?-A little more?-Let me help you.-Champagne?-A wing?- CYRANO [following ROXANE, his hands full of dishes, helping her] I adore her! ROXANE, his hands full of dishes, helping her] I adore her!

ROXANE [going to [going to CHRISTIAN] What will you take? CHRISTIAN] What will you take?

CHRISTIAN Nothing!

ROXANE Oh, but you must take something! This biscuit-in a little Muscatel,-just a little?

CHRISTIAN [trying to keep her from going] [trying to keep her from going] Tell me what made you come? Tell me what made you come?

ROXANE I owe myself to those poor fellows.... Be patient, ... By and by ...

LE BRET [who had gone toward the back to pa.s.s a a loaf of bread on the end loaf of bread on the end of a of a pike to the SENTINEL upon the pike to the SENTINEL upon the earthwork earthwork] De Guiche!

CYRANO Presto! Vanish basket, flagon, platter and pan! Hurry! Let us look as if nothing were! [To RAGUENEAU. Take a flying leap on to your box!-Is everything hidden? [In a wink, all the eatables have been pushed into the tents, or hidden under [In a wink, all the eatables have been pushed into the tents, or hidden under clothes, clothes, cloaks, hats. Enter DE GUICHE, hurriedly; he stops short, sniffing the air. Silence.] cloaks, hats. Enter DE GUICHE, hurriedly; he stops short, sniffing the air. Silence.]

SCENE VII.

The Same, De Guiche

DE GUICHE What a good smell!

ONE OF THE CADETS [singing, with effect of mental abstraction] [singing, with effect of mental abstraction] To lo lo lo.... To lo lo lo....

DE GUICHE [stopping and looking at him closely] [stopping and looking at him closely] What is the matter with you-you, there? You are red as a crab. What is the matter with you-you, there? You are red as a crab.

THE CADET I? Nothing ... It is just my blood.... We are going to fight: it tells ...

OTHER CADET Poom ... poom ... poom ...

DE GUICHE [turning] [turning] What is this? What is this?

THE CADET [slightly intoxicated] [slightly intoxicated] Nothing ... A song ... just a little song. Nothing ... A song ... just a little song.

DE GUICHE You look in good spirits, my boy!

THE CADET Danger affects me that way!

DE GUICHE [calling CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUX to give an order] Captain, I ... [ Captain, I ... [He stops stops at at sight sight of his face. of his face. ] ] Pestel Pestel You look in good spirits, too. You look in good spirits, too.

CARBON [flushed, holding holding a a bottle behind bottle behind him; with an evasive gesture] him; with an evasive gesture] Oh! ... Oh! ...

DE GUICHE I had a cannon left over, which I have ordered them to place [he points in the wing] [he points in the wing] there, in that corner, and which your men can use, if necessary ... there, in that corner, and which your men can use, if necessary ...

ONE OF THE CADETS [swaying from one foot [swaying from one foot to the other] Charming attention! to the other] Charming attention!

OTHER CADET [smiling sugarily] Our thanks for your gracious thoughtfulness!

DE GUICHE Have they gone mad? ... [Drily.] As you are not accustomed to handling a cannon, look out for its kicking ...

FIRST CADET Ah, pfft! ...

DE GUICHE [going toward him, furious] him, furious] But ... But ...

THE CADET A cannon knows better than to kick a Gascon!

DE GUICHE [seizing him by the arm and shaking him] [seizing him by the arm and shaking him] You are all tipsy: on what? You are all tipsy: on what?

THE CADET [magnificently] The smell of powder!

DE GUICHE [shrugs his shoulders, pushes aside aside the CADET, the CADET, and and goes rapidly toward ROXANE] Quick, Madame! what have you condescended to decide? goes rapidly toward ROXANE] Quick, Madame! what have you condescended to decide?

ROXANE I remain.

DE GUICHE Retire, I beseech you!

ROXANE No.

DE GUICHE If you are determined, then ... Let me have a musket!

CARBON What do you mean?

DE GUICHE I, too, will remain.

CYRANO At last, Monsieur, an instance of pure and simple bravery!

FIRST CADET Might you be a Gascon, lace collar notwithstanding?