Scene 1.VII.



Cyrano, Le Bret.  Then actors, actresses, Cuigy, Brissaille, Ligniere, the

porter, the violinists.



CYRANO (falling into Le Bret's arms):

  A rendezvous. . .from her!. . .



LE BRET:

  You're sad no more!



CYRANO:

  Ah!  Let the world go burn!  She knows I live!



LE BRET:

  Now you'll be calm, I hope?



CYRANO (beside himself for joy):

  Calm?  I now calm?

  I'll be frenetic, frantic,--raving mad!

  Oh, for an army to attack!--a host!

  I've ten hearts in my breast; a score of arms;

  No dwarfs to cleave in twain!. . .

(Wildly):

  No!  Giants now!



(For a few moments the shadows of the actors have been moving on the stage,

whispers are heard--the rehearsal is beginning.  The violinists are in their

places.)



A VOICE FROM THE STAGE:

  Hollo there!  Silence!  We rehearse!



CYRANO (laughing):

  We go!



(He moves away.  By the big door enter Cuigy, Brissaille, and some officers,

holding up Ligniere, who is drunk.)



CUIGY:

  Cyrano!



CYRANO:

  Well, what now?



CUIGY:

  A lusty thrush

  They're bringing you!



CYRANO (recognizing him):

  Ligniere!. . .What has chanced?



CUIGY:

  He seeks you!



BRISSAILLE:

  He dare not go home!



CYRANO:

  Why not?



LIGNIERE (in a husky voice, showing him a crumpled letter):

  This letter warns me. . .that a hundred men. . .

  Revenge that threatens me. . .that song, you know--

  At the Porte de Nesle.  To get to my own house

  I must pass there. . .I dare not!. . .Give me leave

  To sleep to-night beneath your roof!  Allow. . .



CYRANO:

  A hundred men?  You'll sleep in your own bed!



LIGNIERE (frightened):

  But--



CYRANO (in a terrible voice, showing him the lighted lantern held by the

porter, who is listening curiously):

  Take the lantern.

(Ligniere seizes it):

  Let us start!  I swear

  That I will make your bed to-night myself!

(To the officers):

  Follow; some stay behind, as witnesses!



CUIGY:

  A hundred!. . .



CYRANO:

  Less, to-night--would be too few!



(The actors and actresses, in their costumes, have come down from the stage,

and are listening.)



LE BRET:

  But why embroil yourself?



CYRANO:

  Le Bret who scolds!



LE BRET:

  That worthless drunkard!--



CYRANO (slapping Ligniere on the shoulder):

  Wherefore?  For this cause;--

  This wine-barrel, this cask of Burgundy,

  Did, on a day, an action full of grace;

  As he was leaving church, he saw his love

  Take holy water--he, who is affeared

  At water's taste, ran quickly to the stoup,

  And drank it all, to the last drop!. . .



AN ACTRESS:

  Indeed, that was a graceful thing!



CYRANO:

  Ay, was it not?



THE ACTRESS (to the others):

  But why a hundred men 'gainst one poor rhymer?



CYRANO:

  March!

(To the officers):

  Gentlemen, when you shall see me charge,

  Bear me no succor, none, whate'er the odds!



ANOTHER ACTRESS (jumping from the stage):

  Oh!  I shall come and see!



CYRANO:

  Come, then!



ANOTHER (jumping down--to an old actor):

  And you?. . .



CYRANO:

  Come all--the Doctor, Isabel, Leander,

  Come, for you shall add, in a motley swarm,

  The farce Italian to this Spanish drama!



ALL THE WOMEN (dancing for joy):

  Bravo!--a mantle, quick!--my hood!



JODELET:

  Come on!



CYRANO:

  Play us a march, gentlemen of the band!

(The violinists join the procession, which is forming.  They take the

footlights, and divide them for torches):

  Brave officers! next, women in costume,

  And, twenty paces on--

(He takes his place):

  I all alone,

  Beneath the plume that Glory lends, herself,

  To deck my beaver--proud as Scipio!. . .

  --You hear me?--I forbid you succor me!--

  One, two three!  Porter, open wide the doors!

(The porter opens the doors; a view of old Paris in the moonlight is seen):

  Ah!. . .Paris wrapped in night! half nebulous:

  The moonlight streams o'er the blue-shadowed roofs;

  A lovely frame for this wild battle-scene;

  Beneath the vapor's floating scarves, the Seine

  Trembles, mysterious, like a magic mirror,

  And, shortly, you shall see what you shall see!



ALL:

  To the Porte de Nesle!



CYRANO (standing on the threshold):

  Ay, to the Porte de Nesle!

(Turning to the actress):

  Did you not ask, young lady, for what cause

  Against this rhymer fivescore men were sent?

(He draws his sword; then, calmly):

  'Twas that they knew him for a friend of mine!



(He goes out.  Ligniere staggers first after him, then the actresses on the

officers' arms--the actors.  The procession starts to the sound of the violins

and in the faint light of the candles.)



Curtain.