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Scene II

The same, with all but CYRANO. The day is breaking in a rosy light. The town of Arras is golden on the horizon. The report of cannon fire is heard in the distance, followed immediately by the beating of drums far away to the left. Other drums are heard much nearer. There are sounds of stirring in the camp and voices of officers in the distance.

CARBON:

[sighing] The reveille! [The CADETS move and stretch themselves.] Nourishing sleep is at an end! I know what their first cry will be!

A CADET:

[sitting up] I'm so hungry!

ANOTHER:

Oh, I'm dying of hunger!

TOGETHER:

Oh!

CARBON:

Up with you!

THIRD CADET:

I cannot move a limb!

FOURTH CADET:

Nor can I!

FIRST:

[looking at himself in a piece of armor] My tongue is yellow. The air we've been living on is not quite in season—it's hard on the digestion.

ANOTHER:

I'd give my coronet for a bit of cheese!

ANOTHER:

If I don't get something for the juices in my stomach to work on, I'll give up and retire to my tent like old Achilles!

ANOTHER:

Oh, something, anything! Even just a crust!

CARBON:

[going to the tent and calling softly] Cyrano!

ALL THE CADETS:

We're dying!

CARBON:

[continuing to speak under his breath at the opening of the tent] Help me, Cyrano. You always know what to say to make them feel better. Come, cheer them up.

SECOND CADET:

[rushing toward another who is munching on something] What are you eating there?

FIRST CADET:

Cannon wadding fried in axle-grease! It's poor game-hunting around here!

A CADET:

[entering] I've been hunting game!

ANOTHER:

[following him] And I've been after fish!

ALL:

[rushing to the two newcomers] Well!—What have you brought?—A pheasant?—A carp?—Come, show us quick!

FISHER:

A minnow.

HUNTER:

One tiny sparrow.

ALL TOGETHER:

[exasperated] It's more than we can bear! We'll mutiny!

CARBON:

Cyrano! Come to my aid!

[The daylight has now come.]

• a signal played on the bugle or the drum in order to awaken soldiers in the morning
• the hero of Homer's epic poem The Iliad, written in the 8^th century BC; the cadet is referring to the part of the story in which Achilles, angry at his leader Agamemnon, withdraws his troops from fighting in the Trojan War and sulks in his tent.
• stuffing or padding
• an open rebellion against those in charge

1. Notes
2. Reading Pointers for Sharper Insights
3. Dedication
4. Dramatis Personae
5. Act I
   1. A Performance at the Hotel de Bourgogne
   2. Scene I
   3. Scene II
   4. Scene III
   5. Scene IV
   6. Scene V
   7. Scene VI
   8. Scene VII
6. Act II
   1. The Poet's Eating-House
   2. Scene I
   3. Scene II
   4. Scene III
   5. Scene IV
   6. Scene V
   7. Scene VI
   8. Scene VII
   9. Scene VIII
   10. Scene IX
   11. Scene X
   12. Scene XI
7. Act III
   1. Roxane's Kiss
   2. Scene I
   3. Scene II
   4. Scene III
   5. Scene IV
   6. Scene V
   7. Scene VI
   8. Scene VII
   9. Scene VIII
   10. Scene IX
   11. Scene X
   12. Scene XI
   13. Scene XII
8. Act IV
   1. The Cadets of Gascony
   2. Scene I
   3. Scene II
   4. Scene III
   5. Scene IV
   6. Scene V
   7. Scene VI
   8. Scene VII
   9. Scene VIII
   10. Scene IX
   11. Scene X
9. Act V
   1. Cyrano's Gazette
   2. Scene I
   3. Scene II
   4. Scene III
   5. Scene IV
   6. Scene V
   7. Scene VI
10. Copyright