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。e'en so; You would not have been let to utter one Nay; not the half or quarter of such jest! I take them from myself all in good part; But not from any other man that breathes!
DE GUICHE (trying to draw away the dismayed viscount): Come away; Viscount!
THE VISCOUNT (choking with rage): Hear his arrogance! A country lout who。 。 。who。 。 。has got no gloves! Who goes out without sleeve…knots; ribbons; lace!
CYRANO: True; all my elegances are within。 I do not prank myself out; puppy…like; My toilet is more thorough; if less gay; I would not sally fortha half…washed…out Affront upon my cheeka conscience Yellow…eyed; bilious; from its sodden sleep; A ruffled honor;。 。 。scruples grimed and dull! I show no bravery of shining gems。 Truth; Independence; are my fluttering plumes。 'Tis not my form I lace to make me slim; But brace my soul with efforts as with stays; Covered with exploits; not with ribbon…knots; My spirit bristling high like your mustaches; I; traversing the crowds and chattering groups Make Truth ring bravely out like clash of spurs!
THE VISCOUNT: But; Sir。 。 。
CYRANO: I wear no gloves? And what of that? I had one;。 。 。remnant of an old worn pair; And; knowing not what else to do with it; I threw it in the face of。 。 。some young fool。
THE VISCOUNT: Base scoundrel! Rascally flat…footed lout!
CYRANO (taking off his hat; and bowing as if the viscount had introduced himself): Ah?。 。 。and I; Cyrano Savinien Hercule de Bergerac
(Laughter。)
THE VISCOUNT (angrily): Buffoon!
CYRANO (calling out as if he had been seized with the cramp): Aie! Aie!
THE VISCOUNT (who was going away; turns back): What on earth is the fellow saying now?
CYRANO (with grimaces of pain): It must be movedit's getting stiff; I vow; This comes of leaving it in idleness! Aie!。 。 。
THE VISCOUNT: What ails you?
CYRANO: The cramp! cramp in my sword!
THE VISCOUNT (drawing his sword): Good!
CYRANO: You shall feel a charming little stroke!
THE VISCOUNT (contemptuously): Poet!。 。 。
CYRANO: Ay; poet; Sir! In proof of which; While we fence; presto! all extempore I will compose a ballade。
THE VISCOUNT: A ballade?
CYRANO: Belike you know not what a ballade is。
THE VISCOUNT: But。 。 。
CYRANO (reciting; as if repeating a lesson): Know then that the ballade should contain Three eight…versed couplets。 。 。
THE VISCOUNT (stamping): Oh!
CYRANO (still reciting): And an envoi Of four lines。 。 。
THE VISCOUNT: You。 。 。
CYRANO: I'll make one while we fight; And touch you at the final line。
THE VISCOUNT: No!
CYRANO: No? (declaiming): The duel in Hotel of Burgundyfought By De Bergerac and a good…for…naught!
THE VISCOUNT: What may that be; an if you please?
CYRANO: The title。
THE HOUSE (in great excitement): Give room!Good sport!Make place!Fair play!No noise!
(Tableau。 A circle of curious spectators in the pit; the marquises and officers mingled with the common people; the pages climbing on each other's shoulders to see better。 All the women standing up in the boxes。 To the right; De Guiche and his retinue。 Left; Le Bret; Ragueneau; Cyrano; etc。)
CYRANO (shutting his eyes for a second): Wait while I choose my rhymes。 。 。I have them now! (He suits the action to each word): I gayly doff my beaver low; And; freeing hand and heel; My heavy mantle off I throw; And I draw my polished steel; Graceful as Phoebus; round I wheel; Alert as Scaramouch; A word in your ear; Sir Spark; I steal At the envoi's end; I touch! (They engage): Better for you had you lain low; Where skewer my cock? In the heel? In the heart; your ribbon blue below? In the hip; and make you kneel? Ho for the music of clashing steel! What now?A hit? Not much! 'Twill be in the paunch the stroke I steal; When; at the envoi; I touch。
Oh; for a rhyme; a rhyme in o? You wriggle; starch…white; my eel? A rhyme! a rhyme! The white feather you SHOW! Tac! I parry the point of your steel; The point you hoped to make me feel; I open the line; now clutch Your spit; Sir Scullionslow your zeal! At the envoi's end; I touch。 (He declaims solemnly): Envoi。 Prince; pray Heaven for your soul's weal! I move a pacelo; such! and such! Cut overfeint! (Thrusting): What ho! You reel? (The viscount staggers。 Cyrano salutes): At the envoi's end; I touch!
(Acclamations。 Applause in the boxes。 Flowers and handkerchiefs are thrown down。 The officers surround Cyrano; congratulating him。 Ragueneau dances for joy。 Le Bret is happy; but anxious。 The viscount's friends hold him up and bear him away。)
THE CROWD (with one long shout): Ah!
A TROOPER: 'Tis superb!
A WOMAN: A pretty stroke!
RAGUENEAU: A marvel!
A MARQUIS: A novelty!
LE BRET: O madman!
THE CROWD (presses round Cyrano。 Chorus of): Compliments! Bravo! Let me congratulate!。 。 。Quite unsurpassed!。 。 。
A WOMAN'S VOICE: There is a hero for you!。 。 。
A MUSKETEER (advancing to Cyrano with outstretched hand): Sir; permit; Naught could be finerI'm a judge I think; I stamped; i' faith!to show my admiration!
(He goes away。)
CYRANO (to Cuigy): Who is that gentleman?
CUIGY: WhyD'Artagnan!
LE BRET (to Cyrano; taking his arm): A word with you!。 。 。
CYRANO: Wait; let the rabble go!。 。 。 (To Bellerose): May I stay?
BELLEROSE (respectfully): Without doubt!
(Cries are heard outside。)
JODELET (who has looked out): They hoot Montfleury!
BELLEROSE (solemnly): Sic transit!。 。 。 (To the porters): Sweepclose all; but leave the lights。 We sup; but later on we must return; For a rehearsal of to…morrow's farce。
(Jodelet and Bellerose go out; bowing low to Cyrano。)
THE PORTER (to Cyrano): You do not dine; Sir?
CYRANO: No。
(The porter goes out。)
LE BRET: Because?
CYRANO (proudly): Because。 。 。 (Changing his tone as the porter goes away): I have no money!。 。 。
LE BRET (with the action of throwing a bag): How! The bag of crowns?。 。 。
CYRANO: Paternal bounty; in a day; thou'rt sped!
LE BRET: How live the next month?。 。 。
CYRANO: I have nothing left。
LE BRET: Folly!
CYRANO: But what a graceful action! Think!
THE BUFFET…GIRL (coughing; behind her counter): Hum! (Cyrano and Le Bret turn。 She comes timidly forward): Sir; my heart mislikes to know you fast。 (Showing the buffet): See; all you need。 Serve yourself!
CYRANO (taking off his hat): Gentle child; Although my Gascon pride would else forbid To take the least bestowal from your hands; My fear of wounding you outweighs that pride; And bids accept。 。 。 (He goes to the buffet): A trifle!。 。 。These few grapes。 (She offers him the whole bunch。 He takes a few): Nay; but this bunch!。 。 。 (She tries to give him wine; but he stops her): A glass of water fair!。 。 。 And half a macaroon!
(He gives back the other half。)
LE BRET: What foolery!
THE BUFFET…GIRL: Take something else!
CYRANO: I take your hand to kiss。
(He kisses her hand as though she were a princess。)
THE BUFFET…G