按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
when； Mounting the terrace steps； by your mourning robe Sweeps in
its train the dying autumn leaves。
ROXANE （ironically）： You are pensive？
THE DUKE： True！ I am！ （As he is going out； suddenly）：
Monsieur Le Bret！ （To Roxane）： A word； with your permission？ （He
goes to Le Bret； and in a low voice）： True； that none Dare to attack
your friend；but many hate him； Yesterday； at the Queen's card…play；
'twas said 'That Cyrano may dieby accident！' Let him stay inbe
prudent！
LE BRET （raising his arms to heaven）： Prudent！ He！。 。 。 He's
coming here。 I'll warn himbut！。 。 。
ROXANE （who has stayed on the steps； to a sister who comes toward
her）： What is it？
THE SISTER： Ragueneau would see you； Madame。
ROXANE： Let him come。 （To the Duke and Le Bret）： He comes
to tell his troubles。 Having been An author （save the mark！）poor
fellownow By turns he's singer。 。 。
LE BRET： Bathing…man。 。 。
ROXANE： Then actor。 。 。
LE BRET： Beadle。 。 。
ROXANE： Wig…maker。 。 。
LE BRET： Teacher of the lute。 。 。
125
… Page 126…
CYRANO DE BERGERAC
ROXANE： What will he be to…day； by chance？
RAGUENEAU （entering hurriedly）： Ah！ Madame！ （He sees Le
Bret）： Ah！ you here； Sir！
ROXANE （smiling）： Tell all your miseries To him； I will return
anon。
RAGUENEAU： But； Madame。 。 。
（Roxane goes out with the Duke。 Ragueneau goes toward Le Bret。）
SCENE 5。III。
Le Bret； Ragueneau。
RAGUENEAU： Since you are here； 'tis best she should not know！
I was going to your friend just nowwas but A few steps from the
house； when I saw him Go out。 I hurried to him。 Saw him turn
The corner。 。 。suddenly； from out a window Where he was passingwas
it chance？。 。 。may be！ A lackey let fall a large piece of wood。
LE BRET： Cowards！ O Cyrano！
RAGUENEAU： I ranI saw。 。 。
LE BRET： 'Tis hideous！
RAGUENEAU： Saw our poet； Sirour friend Struck to the
grounda large wound in his head！
LE BRET： He's dead？
RAGUENEAU： NobutI bore him to his room。 。 。 Ah！ his
room！ What a thing to see！that garret！
LE BRET： He suffers？
RAGUENEAU： No； his consciousness has flown。
LE BRET： Saw you a doctor？
RAGUENEAU： One was kindhe came。
LE BRET： My poor Cyrano！We must not tell this To Roxane
suddenly。What said this leech？
RAGUENEAU： Said；what； I know notfever； meningitis！
Ah！ could you see himall his head bound up！ But let us haste！
There's no one by his bed！ And if he try to rise； Sir； he might die！
LE BRET （dragging him toward the right）： Come！ Through the
126
… Page 127…
CYRANO DE BERGERAC
chapel！ 'Tis the quickest way！
ROXANE （appearing on the steps； and seeing Le Bret go away by the
colonnade leading to the chapel door）： Monsieur le Bret！ （Le Bret and
Ragueneau disappear without answering）： Le Bret goeswhen I call！
'Tis some new trouble of good Ragueneau's。
（She descends the steps。）
SCENE 5。IV。
Roxane alone。 Two sisters； for a moment。
ROXANE： Ah！ what a beauty in September's close！ My
sorrow's eased。 April's joy dazzled it； But autumn wins it with her
dying calm。 （She seats herself at the embroidery frame。 Two sisters
come out of the house； and bring a large armchair under the tree）：
There comes the famous armchair where he sits； Dear faithful friend！
SISTER MARTHA： It is the parlor's best！
ROXANE： Thanks； sister。 （The sisters go）： He'll be here now。
（She seats herself。 A clock strikes）： The hour strikes。 My silks？
Why； now； the hour's struck！ How strange To be behind his time； at
last； to…day！ Perhaps the portresswhere's my thimble？。 。 。 Here！Is
preaching to him。 （A pause）： Yes； she must be preaching！ Surely he
must come soon！Ah； a dead leaf！ （She brushes off the leaf from her
work）： Nothing； besides； couldscissors？In my bag！ Could
hinder him。 。 。
A SISTER （coming to the steps）： Monsieur de Bergerac。
SCENE 5。V。
Roxane； Cyrano and； for a moment； Sister Martha。
ROXANE （without turning round）： What was I saying？。 。 。 （She
embroiders。 Cyrano； very pale； his hat pulled down over his eyes；
appears。 The sister who had announced him retires。 He descends the
steps slowly； with a visible difficulty in holding himself upright； bearing
127
… Page 128…
CYRANO DE BERGERAC
heavily on his cane。 Roxane still works at her tapestry）： Time has
dimmed the tints。 。 。 How harmonize them now？ （To Cyrano； with
playful reproach）： For the first time Late！For the first time； all
these fourteen years！ CYRANO （who has succeeded in reaching the
chair； and has seated himselfin a lively voice； which is in great contrast
with his pale face）： Ay！ It is villainous！ I ragedwas stayed。 。 。
ROXANE： By？。 。 。
CYRANO： By a bold； unwelcome visitor。
ROXANE （absently； working）： Some creditor？
CYRANO： Ay； cousin；the last creditor Who has a debt to claim
from me。
ROXANE： And you Have paid it？
CYRANO： No； not yet！ I put it off； Said； 'Cry you mercy；
this is Saturday； When I have get a standing rendezvous That naught
defers。 Call in an hour's time！'
ROXANE （carelessly）： Oh； well； a creditor can always wait！ I
shall not let you go ere twilight falls。
CYRANO： Haply； perforce； I quit you ere it falls！
（He shuts his