Читать книгу Cyrano de Bergerac - Edmond Rostand - Страница 8
SCENE I.
ОглавлениеThe audience enters gradually. Gentlemen, tradesmen, lackeys, pages, pickpockets, the janitor, etc. THE MARQUISES, CUIGY, BRISSAILLE, the waiting girl, the violins, etc.
Noise outside the door, then a gentleman bursts in.
THE JANITOR (pursuing him).
Here! Your fifteen sols!
THE GENTLEMAN.
I pay nothing for admission.
THE JANITOR.
Why so?
THE GENTLEMAN.
King's guard!
THE JANITOR (to another gentleman just come in).
You, Sir?
SECOND GENTLEMAN.
Free admission.
THE JANITOR.
But ....
SECOND GENTLEMAN.
Musketeer!
FIRST GENTLEMAN (to second gentleman).
It's not two o'clock yet, and the pit is empty. Suppose we fence a bit?
(They begin fencing with foils they have brought along.)
A LACKEY (entering).
Pst——Flanquin!
ANOTHER LACKEY (just in).
Hallo, Champagne!
FIRST LACKEY (taking cards and dice from out his doublet).
Cards? Dice? Let's play.
(Seats himself on the floor.)
SECOND LACKEY.
Certainly, you rascal.
(Takes a candle out of his pocket, lights it, and after seating himself near first lackey, plants it on the floor.)
GUARD (taking flower-girl by the waist).
How sweet in you to come before the lights do!
ONE OF THE FENCERS.
Touched!
ONE OF THE CARD-PLAYERS.
Clubs!
GUARD (to flower-girl trying to escape).
A kiss!
A MAN (sitting on the floor, with a basket of provisions).
I come early, so as to eat in peace. A knowing fellow, when he is at the Hôtel de Bourgogne, should drink his Burgundy. (Drinks.)
TRADESMAN (to his son).
It's as bad as a low tavern.—(Showing the man drinking): Drunkards!—(One of the fencers backs up against him): Cut throats!—(He is pushed on to the card-players): Gamblers!
GUARD (still pursuing the flower-girl).
A kiss!
TRADESMAN (hearing him).
And worse!—For shame! To think that walls like these, my son, have seen the plays of Rotrou!
THE SON.
And Corneille's!
A TROOP OF PAGES (coming in, dancing and singing, holding each other by the hand, so as to form a string).
Tra la la la la la la la la la la lère!....
JANITOR (to Pages severely).
No practical jokes, mind!
FIRST PAGE (with great dignity).
Sir, your suspicion is an offense!....
SECOND PAGE (to first Page).
I have some string. Haven't you a fish-hook?
FIRST PAGE.
Of course I have! We can do some fine angling from up stairs.
(To the other Pages who are already in the gallery).
We're coming!
THIRD PAGE (in gallery).
We're ready! (Blows dried peas at him through hollow stick.)
A PICKPOCKET (drawing around him some suspicious-looking characters).
Now, youngsters, try to learn something. You see, the first time you steal....
(Driven away by dried peas blown in showers by the Pages above.)
TRADESMAN (to his son).
The play we are going to see: "La Clorise" ....
SON.
The author, please?
TRADESMAN.
Balthazar Baro.
PICKPOCKET (continuing his instructions).
Mind the lace around the knees![2] How you cut it!
TRADESMAN (to his son).
I was at the first performance of "Le Cid,"—(pointing up)—There!
PICKPOCKET.
As to watches.... and kerchiefs....
TRADESMAN.
You are going, my son, to see illustrious actors. (Enumerating) Montfleury!
THE PAGES.
Light the chandeliers!
WAITING-GIRL (offering her refreshments).
Oranges! Milk! Raspberry water! Cedar water!
A MARQUIS (entering).
Make way there, fellows!
A LACKEY.
What! a Marquis in the pit!
MARQUIS (to other Marquises who have followed him in).
The house is empty! Why, we enter like tradesmen, disturbing nobody, treading on nobody's toes! Disgraceful!
(Meeting other noblemen just come in).
Cuigy! Brissaille!
(They salute and embrace each other with great affectation.)
CUIGY.
Patrons of art so faithful, yes, that we get here even before the candles are lighted!
MARQUIS.
Do not mention it! I'm terribly out of humour!
CUIGY (seeing lamplighter enter).
Be consoled! Here is the lamplighter.
ALL THE HOUSE (satisfied).
Ah....
(Groups around the chandeliers while they are being lighted. Lignière enters the pit, leaning on the arm of Christian de Neuvillette. Lignière, somewhat untidy, has the appearance of a gentlemanly drunkard. Christian, dressed with care, but somewhat out of fashion, seems thoughtful, and examines the boxes.)
