Cyrano de Bergerac | Act I, Scene IV - Page 3

CYRANO:
True, all my elegances are within. I do not dress up like a pretentious dandy when I go out. But I'll tell you this: I groom myself more thoroughly than you. I would never venture out in public with a soiled conscience, a tarnished honor, or scruples grimy and dull. I do not adorn myself with gems and ribbons, like you. Instead, I decorate myself with truth, independence and a clean soul. I am not ornamented with tassels and lace but with proud and brave exploits instead. My spirit is sharper than your stiff mustache. When I walk among the crowds and chattering groups, I make Truth ring bravely out like a clash of spurs!
DE VALVERT:
But, Sir—
CYRANO:
I wear no gloves? And what of that? I had one, the remaining one of an old pair. And, not having any other use for it, I threw it in the face of some young fool.
DE VALVERT:
Base scoundrel! Stupid lout!
CYRANO:
[taking off his hat, and bowing as if the VISCOUNT had introduced himself] Oh, delighted to meet you! And I am Cyrano Savinien Hercule de Bergerac.

[Laughter erupts throughout the CROWD.]

DE VALVERT:
[angrily] Buffoon!
CYRANO:
[crying out as if in pain] Aie! Aie!
DE VALVERT:
[who was going away, turns back] What on earth is the fellow saying now?
CYRANO:
[with grimaces of pain] It must be moved—it's getting stiff! This is what happens when it's been unused for too long! Aie!
DE VALVERT:
What is the matter with you?
CYRANO:
The cramp! I have a cramp in my sword!
DE VALVERT:
[drawing his own sword] So be it!
CYRANO:
You shall feel a charming little stroke!
DE VALVERT:
[contemptuously] Poet!
CYRANO:
Yes, a poet, Sir! And to demonstrate my skills as such, I will compose a ballade as we fight.
DE VALVERT:
A ballade?
CYRANO:
Do you not know what a ballade is?
DE VALVERT:
But—
CYRANO:
[reciting, as if repeating a lesson] Know then that the ballade should contain three eight-versed couplets …
DE VALVERT:
[stamping his foot] Oh!
CYRANO:
[still reciting] And an envoi of four lines …
DE VALVERT:
You—
CYRANO:
I'll make one as we fight, and on the last line, I shall thrust my sword home.
DE VALVERT:
No!
CYRANO:
No? [declaiming loudly] Ballade of the duel between de Bergerac and a fool—here in the Hotel Burgundy!
DE VALVERT:
What's all that?
CYRANO:
That is the title.
AUDIENCE:
[greatly excited] Quiet!—Make room!—Fair play!—What sport!

[A circle of curious spectators forms in the pit. The MARQUISES and OFFICERS mingle with the common people. The PAGES climb on each other's shoulders to see better. All the WOMEN stand up in the boxes. To the right stand DE GUICHE and his retinue. To the left are LE BRET, RAGUENEAU CYRANO, etc.]

CYRANO:
[shutting his eyes for a second] Wait while I choose my lines. Ah, now I have them!

[He matches each action to each word.]

I lightly doff my hat down low,
And, freeing hand and heel,
My heavy cloak away I throw,
And I draw my polished steel.
Graceful as Phoebus, round I wheel,
With swiftness and skill alike,
“Careful now,” I say with zeal,
For at the end of the refrain I shall strike!

[They begin fencing.]

Better for you had you lain low.
Where shall I hit you? In the heel?
Or how about the heart, my worthless foe?
Or in the hip, and make you kneel?
Oh, for the music of clashing steel!
Where shall I land my spike?
’Twill be in the belly the stroke I steal,
When, at the end of the refrain I shall strike!
Oh, for a word that rhymes with “o”!
You wriggle, so white, my eel!
Your face is as pale as fresh snow, As I parry the point of your steel.
Oh there, a thrust you hoped I'd feel!
But alas, you missed, little tyke!
Now we're nearing the close of this deal. Watch out! At the end of the refrain I strike!

[He declaims solemnly.]

Refrain:
And now I shall make you kneel.
Pray for your soul if you like!
I thrust [He thrusts.] and your fate I seal,
As at the end of the refrain—[DE VALVERT staggers; CYRANO salutes.]
I strike!

[Acclamations and applause rise from the boxes. Flowers and handkerchiefs are thrown down. The OFFICERS surround CYRANO, congratulating him. RAGUENEAU dances for joy. LE BRET is happy, but anxious. DE VALVERT'S friends hold him up and bear him away.]

AUDIENCE:
[with one long shout] Ah!
A TROOPER:
’Tis superb!
A WOMAN:
A pretty stroke!
RAGUENEAU:
A marvel!
LE BRET:
Oh, madman!
AUDIENCE:
[presses around CYRANO, shouting] Compliments!—Bravo!— Quite unsurpassed!
A WOMAN'S VOICE:
There's a hero for you!
A MUSKETEER:
[advancing to CYRANO with outstretched hand] Sir, permit me to say that you are a fine swordsman—and I am a good judge of such things. I stamped my feet to show my admiration!

[He goes away.]

CYRANO:
[to CUIGY] Who is that gentleman?
CUIGY:
Why, that's D'Artagnan!
LE BRET:
[to CYRANO, taking his arm] I need a word with you!
CYRANO:
Wait—let the crowd go. [to BELLEROSE] May I stay?
BELLEROSE
[respectfully] Of course!

[Cries are heard outside]

JODELET:
[who has looked out] They're hooting Montfleury!
BELLEROSE:
[solemnly] Sic transit! [to the porters] Sweep up and close everything down, but leave the lights on. We'll take dinner, but later we must return to rehearse tomorrow's farce.

[JODELET and BELLEROSE go out, bowing low to CYRANO]

PORTER:
[to CYRANO] You do not dine, Sir?
CYRANO:
No.

[The PORTER goes out.]

LE BRET:
Because?
CYRANO:
[proudly] Because…[changing his tone as the PORTER goes away] I have no money!
LE BRET:
[with the action of throwing a bag] But how's that? What about that bag of money?
CYRANO:
My inheritance—all spent in one day!
LE BRET:
How are you going to live for the next month?
CYRANO:
I have nothing left.
LE BRET:
How foolish of you to throw it all away like that!
CYRANO:
But what a graceful action! Just think of it!
BUFFET-GIRL:
[coughing, behind her counter] Ahem! [CYRANO and LE BRET turn. She comes timidly forward.] Sir, my heart cannot stand to hear that you are not eating. [showing the buffet] Please take what you like!
CYRANO:
[taking off his hat] Gentle child, although my Gascon pride forbids me to take the least bit of food from you, my fear of offending you outweighs that pride. I will accept [He goes over to the buffet.]…one of these grapes. [She offers him the whole bunch. He takes one.] No, just one! [She tries to give him wine, but he stops her.] No, a glass of water will be just fine, and half a macaroon!

[He puts back the other half.]

LE BRET:
What foolery!
BUFFET-GIRL:
Please take something else!
CYRANO:
I take your hand to kiss.

[He kisses her hand as though she were a princess.]

BUFFET-GIRL:
Thank you, kind Sir! [curtsying] Good-night.

[She goes out.]

  • a short passage at the end of a poem
  • one of the names, along with Apollo, for the ancient Greek god of the sun
  • to deflect; to sidestep
  • Note how Cyrano literally fights his opponent with words as well as with a sword. Cyrano's prowess as a swordsman and a poet testifies to both his physical and intellectual skills.
  • Charles de Batz-Castelmore d'Artagnan (c.1611 – 1673) was a heroic French soldier under King Louis XIV. Alexandre Dumas (1802 – 1870) immortalized d'Artagnan in his 1844 novel The Three Musketeers. Cyrano de Bergerac both parodies and pays tribute to this book. Look for more references to The Three Musketeers throughout the play.
  • [Latin] a shortening of the phrase sic transit gloria mundi, which translates to “thus passes the glory of the world.” With this phrase, Bellerose uses sarcasm to make fun of Montfleury.
  • a comedic play containing much slapstick and a far-fetched plot
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