Cyrano de Bergerac | Act I, Scene II - Page 2
- LE BRET:
-
[throwing back his head] True, he keeps it on—and will maim any man who dares to remark on it!
- RAGUENEAU:
-
[proudly] His sword is one half the shears of Fate!
- FIRST MARQUIS:
-
[shrugging his shoulders] He won't come.
- RAGUENEAU:
-
I say he will come! And I'll wager you a chicken à la Ragueneau!
- THE MARQUIS:
-
[laughing] Agreed!
[Murmurs of admiration are heard in the hall. ROXANE has just appeared in her box. She seats herself in front, her DUENNA sits at the back. CHRISTIAN, who is paying the BUFFET-GIRL, does not see her entrance.]
- SECOND MARQUIS:
-
[with little cries of joy] Ah, gentlemen, she is exquisite— adorable—ravishing!
- FIRST MARQUIS:
-
She's as sweet as a peach smiling at a strawberry!
- SECOND MARQUIS:
-
And so fresh and cool! Any man approaching her might catch a chill at the heart!
- CHRISTIAN:
-
[Raising his head, he sees ROXANE and catches LIGNIERE by the arm.] It is she!
- LIGNIERE:
-
Ah! Is it she?
- CHRISTIAN:
-
Yes. Quickly, tell me her name! Oh, I am afraid.
- LIGNIERE:
-
[sipping his wine] Madeleine Robin—called Roxane. She's witty, charming, quite an intellectual.
- CHRISTIAN:
-
Woe is me!
- LIGNIERE:
-
Unmarried, an orphan, the cousin of Cyrano, whom we were just speaking about.
[At this moment, an elegant nobleman, with blue ribbon across his breast, enters the box, and talks with ROXANE, standing.]
- CHRISTIAN:
-
[alarmed] Who is that man?
- LIGNIERE:
-
[who has become tipsy, winking at him] That's Count de Guiche. He's in love with her, but he happens to be married to the niece of Armand de Richelieu. Wants to set Roxane up with a certain sorry fellow by the name of Valvert—a viscount. Why Valvert? Because he's very accommodating, if you get my meaning! She won't agree to it, of course, but de Guiche is powerful, and can persecute a girl like her. I myself have actually composed a song in which I expose his nasty little plan. Oh, he must hate me! The end really hits home! Listen!
[He gets up, staggering, and raises his glass, ready to sing.]
- CHRISTIAN:
-
No. I'm leaving.
- LIGNIERE:
-
Where are you going?
- CHRISTIAN:
-
To find this Monsieur de Valvert!
- LIGNIERE:
-
Don't be so rash! He will kill you before you harm him. [calling his attention to ROXANE with a look] Stay right there—she's looking at you.
- CHRISTIAN:
-
It's true!
[He stands looking at her. The group of PICKPOCKETS see him standing there in an open-mouthed daze. They draw near to him.]
- LIGNIERE:
-
’Tis I who am going. I am thirsty! And they are expecting me in the taverns!
[He goes out, reeling.]
- LE BRET:
-
[who has been all around the hall, coming back to RAGUENEAU with a look of reassurance] No sign of Cyrano.
- RAGUENEAU:
-
[incredulously] But still …
- LE BRET:
-
I'm hoping he hasn't seen the playbill.
- AUDIENCE:
-
Begin, begin!
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- - For teachers, the Cyrano de Bergerac Lesson Plan.
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