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！
shall not let you go ere twilight falls。
CYRANO： Haply； perforce； I quit you ere it falls！
（He shuts his eyes； and is silent for a moment。 Sister Martha crosses
the park from the chapel to the flight of steps。 Roxane； seeing her； signs
to her to approach。）
ROXANE （to Cyrano）： How now？ You have not teased the
Sister？
CYRANO （hastily opening his eyes）： True！ （In a comically loud
voice）： Sister！ come here！ （The sister glides up to him）： Ha！ ha！
What？ Those bright eyes Bent ever on the ground？
SISTER MARTHA （who makes a movement of astonishment on
seeing his face）： Oh！
CYRANO （in a whisper； pointing to Roxane）： Hush！ 'tis naught！
（Loudly； in a blustering voice）： I broke fast yesterday！
SISTER MARTHA （aside）： I know； I know！ That's how he is so
pale！ Come presently To the refectory； I'll make you drink A
famous bowl of soup。 。 。You'll come？
CYRANO： Ay； ay！
128
… Page 129…
CYRANO DE BERGERAC
SISTER MARTHA： There； see！ You are more reasonable to…day！
ROXANE （who hears them whispering）： The Sister would convert
you？
SISTER MARTHA： Nay； not I！
CYRANO： Hold！ but it's true！ You preach to me no more； You；
once so glib with holy words！ I am Astonished！。 。 。 （With burlesque
fury）： Stay； I will surprise you too！ Hark！ I permit you。 。 。 （He
pretends to be seeking for something to tease her with； and to have found
it）： 。 。 。It is something new！ Topray for me； to…night； at chapel…
time！
ROXANE： Oh！ oh！
CYRANO （laughing）： Good Sister Martha is struck dumb！
SISTER MARTHA （gently）： I did not wait your leave to pray for
you。
（She goes out。）
CYRANO （turning to Roxane； who is still bending over her work）：
That tapestry！ Beshrew me if my eyes Will ever see it finished！
ROXANE： I was sure To hear that well…known jest！
（A light breeze causes the leaves to fall。）
CYRANO： The autumn leaves！
ROXANE （lifting her head； and looking down the distant alley）：
Soft golden brown； like a Venetian's hair。 See how they fall！
CYRANO： Ay； see how brave they fall； In their last journey
downward from the bough； To rot within the clay； yet； lovely still；
Hiding the horror of the last decay； With all the wayward grace of
careless flight！
ROXANE： What； melancholyyou？
CYRANO （collecting himself）： Nay； nay； Roxane！
ROXANE： Then let the dead leaves fall the way they will。 。 。
And chat。 What； have you nothing new to tell； My Court Gazette？
CYRANO： Listen。
ROXANE： Ah！
CYRANO （growing whiter and whiter）： Saturday The
nineteenth： having eaten to excess Of pear…conserve； the King felt
129
… Page 130…
CYRANO DE BERGERAC
feverish； The lancet quelled this treasonable revolt； And the august
pulse beats at normal pace。 At the Queen's ball on Sunday thirty score
Of best white waxen tapers were consumed。 Our troops； they say； have
chased the Austrians。 Four sorcerers were hanged。 The little dog
Of Madame d'Athis took a dose。 。 。
ROXANE： I bid You hold your tongue； Monsieur de Bergerac！
CYRANO： Mondaynot muchClaire changed protector。
ROXANE： Oh！
CYRANO （whose face changes more and more）： Tuesday； the
Court repaired to Fontainebleau。 Wednesday； the Montglat said to
Comte de Fiesque。 。 。 No！ ThursdayMancini； Queen of France！
（almost！） Friday； the Monglat to Count Fiesque said'Yes！' And
Saturday the twenty…sixth。 。 。
（He closes his eyes。 His head falls forward。 Silence。）
ROXANE （surprised at his voice ceasing； turns round； looks at him；
and rising； terrified）： He swoons！ （She runs toward him crying）：
Cyrano！
CYRANO （opening his eyes； in an unconcerned voice）： What is
this？ （He sees Roxane bending over him； and； hastily pressing his hat on
his head； and shrinking back in his chair）： Nay； on my word 'Tis
nothing！ Let me be！
ROXANE： But。 。 。
CYRANO： That old wound Of Arras； sometimes；as you
know。 。 。
ROXANE： Dear friend！
CYRANO： 'Tis nothing； 'twill pass soon； （He smiles with an effort）：
See！it has passed！
ROXANE： Each of us has his wound； ay； I have mine； Never
healed upnot healed yet； my old wound！ （She puts her hand on her
breast）： 'Tis here； beneath this letter brown with age； All stained
with tear…drops； and still stained with blood。
（Twilight begins to fall。）
CYRANO： His letter！ Ah！ you promised me one day That I
should read it。
130
… Page 131…
CYRANO DE BERGERAC
ROXANE： What would you？His letter？
CYRANO： Yes； I would fain；to…day。 。 。
ROXANE （giving the bag hung at her neck）： See！ here it is！
CYRANO （taking it）： Have I your leave to open？
ROXANE： Openread！
（She comes back to her tapestry frame； folds it up； sorts her wools。）
CYRANO （reading）： 'Roxane； adieu！ I soon must die！ This
very night； beloved； and I Feel my soul heavy with love untold。 I die！
No more； as in days of old； My loving； longing eyes will feast On
your least gestureay； the least！ I mind me the way you touch your
cheek With your finger； softly； as you speak！ Ah me！ I know that
gesture well！ My heart cries out！I cry 〃Farewell〃！'
ROXANE： But how you read that letter！ One would think。 。 。
CYRANO （continuing to read）： 'My life； my love； my jewel； my
sweet； My heart has been yours in every beat！'
（The shades of evening fal