cyrano de bergerac-第22章
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!
(Enthusiasm。 Twenty hands are held out to seize the shoulder of mutton。)
CYRANO (in a low whisper to Christian): I must speak to you!
ROXANE (to the cadets; who come down; their arms laden with food): Put it all on the ground!
(She lays all out on the grass; aided by the two imperturbable lackeys who were behind the carriage。)
ROXANE (to Christian; just as Cyrano is drawing him apart): Come; make yourself of use!
(Christian comes to help her。 Cyrano's uneasiness increases。)
RAGUENEAU: Truffled peacock!
FIRST CADET (radiant; coming down; cutting a big slice of ham): By the mass! We shall not brave the last hazard without having had a gullet…full! (quickly correcting himself on seeing Roxane): Pardon! A Balthazar feast!
RAGUENEAU (throwing down the carriage cushions): The cushions are stuffed with ortolans!
(Hubbub。 They tear open and turn out the contents of the cushions。 Bursts of laughtermerriment。)
THIRD CADET: Ah! Viedaze!
RAGUENEAU (throwing down to the cadets bottles of red wine): Flasks of rubies! (and white wine): Flasks of topaz!
ROXANE (throwing a folded tablecloth at Cyrano's head): Unfold me that napkin!Come; come! be nimble!
RAGUENEAU (waving a lantern): Each of the carriage…lamps is a little larder!
CYRANO (in a low voice to Christian; as they arrange the cloth together): I must speak with you ere you speak to her。
RAGUENEAU: My whip…handle is an Arles sausage!
ROXANE (pouring out wine; helping): Since we are to die; let the rest of the army shift for itself。 All for the Gascons! And mark! if De Guiche comes; let no one invite him! (Going from one to the other): There! there! You have time enough! Do not eat too fast!Drink a little。… …Why are you crying?
FIRST CADET: It is all so good!。 。 。
ROXANE: Tut!Red or white?Some bread for Monsieur de Carbon!a knife! Pass your plate!a little of the crust? Some more? Let me help you!Some champagne?… …A wing?
CYRANO (who follows her; his arms laden with dishes; helping her to wait on everybody): How I worship her!
ROXANE (going up to Christian): What will you?
CHRISTIAN: Nothing。
ROXANE: Nay; nay; take this biscuit; steeped in muscat; come!。 。 。but two drops!
CHRISTIAN (trying to detain her): Oh! tell me why you came?
ROXANE: Wait; my first duty is to these poor fellows。Hush! In a few minutes。 。 。
LE BRET (who had gone up to pass a loaf on the end of a lance to the sentry on the rampart): De Guiche!
CYRANO: Quick! hide flasks; plates; pie…dishes; game…baskets! Hurry!Let us all look unconscious! (To Ragueneau): Up on your seat!Is everything covered up?
(In an instant all has been pushed into the tents; or hidden under doublets; cloaks; and beavers。 De Guiche enters hurriedlystops suddenly; sniffing the air。 Silence。)
Scene 4。VII。
The same。 De Guiche。
DE GUICHE: It smells good here。
A CADET (humming): Lo! Lo…lo!
DE GUICHE (looking at him): What is the matter?You are very red。
THE CADET: The matter?Nothing!'Tis my bloodboiling at the thought of the coming battle!
ANOTHER: Poum; poumpoum。 。 。
DE GUICHE (turning round): What's that?
THE CADET (slightly drunk): Nothing!。 。 。'Tis a song!a little。 。 。
DE GUICHE: You are merry; my friend!
THE CADET: The approach of danger is intoxicating!
DE GUICHE (calling Carbon de Castel…Jaloux; to give him an order): Captain! I。 。 。 (He stops short on seeing him): Plague take me! but you look bravely; too!
CARBON (crimson in the face; hiding a bottle behind his back; with an evasive movement): Oh!。 。 。
DE GUICHE: I have one cannon left; and have had it carried there (he points behind the scenes): in that corner。 。 。Your men can use it in case of need。
A CADET (reeling slightly): Charming attention!
ANOTHER (with a gracious smile): Kind solicitude!
DE GUICHE: How? they are all gone crazy? (Drily): As you are not used to cannon; beware of the recoil。
FIRST CADET: Pooh!
DE GUICHE (furious; going up to him): But。 。 。
THE CADET: Gascon cannons never recoil!
DE GUICHE (taking him by the arm and shaking him): You are tipsy!but what with?
THE CADET (grandiloquently): With the smell of powder!
DE GUICHE (shrugging his shoulders and pushing him away; then going quickly to Roxane): Briefly; Madame; what decision do you deign to take?
ROXANE: I stay here。
DE GUICHE: You must fly!
ROXANE: No! I will stay。
DE GUICHE: Since things are thus; give me a musket; one of you!
CARBON: Wherefore?
DE GUICHE: Because I toomean to remain。
CYRANO: At last! This is true valor; Sir!
FIRST CADET: Then you are Gascon after all; spite of your lace collar?
ROXANE: What is all this?
DE GUICHE: I leave no woman in peril。
SECOND CADET (to the first): Hark you! Think you not we might give him something to eat?
(All the viands reappear as if by magic。)
DE GUICHE (whose eyes sparkle): Victuals!
THE THIRD CADET: Yes; you'll see them coming from under every coat!
DE GUICHE (controlling himself; haughtily): Do you think I will eat your leavings?
CYRANO (saluting him): You make progress。
DE GUICHE (proudly; with a light touch of accent on the word 'breaking'): I will fight without br…r…eaking my fast!
FIRST CADET (with wild delight): Br…r…r…eaking! He has got the accent!
DE GUICHE (laughing): I?
THE CADET: 'Tis a Gascon!
(All begin to dance。)
CARBON DE CASTEL…JALOUX (who had disappeared behind the rampart; reappearing on the ridge): I have drawn my pikemen up in line。 They are a resolute troop。
(He points to a row of pikes; the tops of which are seen over the ridge。)
DE GUICHE (bowing to Roxane): Will you accept my hand; and accompany me while I review them?
(She takes it; and they go up toward the rampart。 All uncover and follow them。)
CHRISTIAN (going to Cyrano; eagerly): Tell me quickly!
(As Roxane appears on the ridge; the tops of the lances disappear; lowered for the salute; and a shout is raised。 She bows。)
THE PIKEMEN (outside): Vivat!
CHRISTIAN: What is this secret?
CYRANO: If Roxane should。 。 。
CHRISTIAN: Should?。 。 。
CYRANO: Speak of the letters?。 。 。
CHRISTIAN: Yes; I know!。 。 。
CYRANO: Do not spoil all by seeming surprised。 。 。
CHRISTIAN: At what?
CYRANO: I must explain to you!。 。 。Oh! 'tis no great matterI but thought of it to… day on seeing her。 You have。 。 。
CHRISTIAN: Tell quickly!
CYRANO: You have。 。 。written to her oftener than you think。 。 。
CHRISTIAN: How so?
CYRANO: Thus; 'faith! I had taken it in hand to express your flame for you!。 。 。At times I wrote without saying; 'I am writing!'
CHRISTIAN: Ah!。 。 。
CYRANO: 'Tis simple enough!
CHRISTIAN: But how did you contrive; since we have been cut off; thus。 。 。to?。 。 。
CYRANO: 。 。 。Oh! before dawn。 。 。I was able to get through。 。 。
CHRISTIAN (folding his arms): That was simple; too? And how oft; pray you; have I written?。 。 。Twice in the week?。 。 。Three times?。 。 。Four?。 。 。
CYRANO: More often still。
CHRISTIAN: What! Every day?
CYRANO: Yes; every day;twice。
CHRISTIAN (violently): And that became so mad a joy for you; that you braved death。 。 。
CYRANO (seeing Roxane returning): Hush! Not before her!
(He goes hurriedly into his tent。)
Scene 4。VIII。
Roxane; Christian。 In the distance cadets coming and going。 Carbon and De Guiche give orders。
ROXANE (running up to Christian): Ah; Christian; at last!。 。 。
CHRISTIAN (taking her hands): Now tell me why Why; by these fearful paths so perilous Across these ranks of ribald soldiery; You have come?
ROXANE: Love; your letters brought me here!
CHRISTIAN: What say you?
ROXANE: 'Tis your fault if I ran risks! Your letters turned my head! Ah! all this month; How many!and the last one ever bettered The one that went before!
CHRISTIAN: What!for a few Inconsequent love…letters!
ROXANE: Hold your peace! Ah! you cannot conceive it! Ever since That night; when; in a voice all new to me; Under my window you revealed