Cyrano de Bergerac Language and Communication Quotes Page 2

A CUT-PURSE (Gathers around him several evil-looking young fellows)Now then, you picaroons,
Perk up, and hear me mutter. Here’s your bout –
Bustle around some cull, and bite his bung. (I. 23-25)

CYRANO (Closes his eyes for an instant.)
Stop…Let me choose my rimes…Now!
Here we go –
(He suits the action to the word, throughout the following:)
Lightly I toss my hat away,
Languidly over my arm let fall
The cloak that covers my bright array –
Then out swords, and to work withal!
A Launcelot in his Lady’s hall…
A Spartacus, at the Hippodrome!...
I dally awhile with you, dear jackal,
Then, as I end the refrain, thrust home!
(The swords cross – the fight is on.)
Where shall I skewer my peacock?...Nay,
Better for you to have shunned this brawl! –
Here, in the heart, thro’ your ribbons gay?
- In the belly, under your silken shawl?
Hark, how the steel rings musical!
Mark how my point floats, light as the foam,
Ready to drive you back to the wall,
Then, as I end the refrain, thrust home!



Ho, for a rime!..You are white as whey –
You break, you cower, you cringe, you…crawl!
Tac! – and I parry your last essay:
So may the turn of a hand forestall
Life with its honey, death with its gall;
So may the turn of my fancy roam
Free, for a time, till the rimes recall,
Then, as I end the refrain, thrust home!
(He announces solemnly.)
Refrain:
Prince! Pray God, that is Lord of all,
Pardon your soul, for your time has come!
Beat – pass – fling you aslant, asprawl -
Then, as I end the refrain…
(He lunges; Valvert staggers back and falls into the arms of his friends. Cyrano recovers, and salutes.)
Thrust home! (I. 456-484)

RAGUENEAU (Raises his head; returns to mere earth.)
Over the coppers of my kitchen flows
The frosted-silver dawn. Silence awhile
The god who sings within thee, Ragueneau!
Lay down the lute – the oven calls for thee!
(Rises; goes to one of the cooks.)
Here’s a hiatus in your sauce; fill up
The measure.
THE COOK
How much?
RAGUENEAU (Measures on his finger.)
One more dactyl.
THE COOK
Huh?...
FIRST PASTRYCOOK
Rolls!
SECOND PASTRYCOOK
Roulades!
RAGUENEAU (Before the fireplace)
Veil, O Muse, thy virgin eyes
From the lewd gleam of these terrestrial fires!
(To First Pastrycook)
Your rolls lack balance. Here’s the proper form –
An equal hemistich on either side,
And the caesura in between.
(To another, pointing out an unfinished pie)
Your house
Of crust should have a roof upon it.
(To another, who is seated on the hearth, placing poultry on a spit)
And you –
Along the interminable spit, arrange
The modest pullet and the lordly Turk
Alternately, my son – as great Malherbe
Alternates male and female rimes. Remember,
A couplet, or a roast, should be well turned. (II. 3-19)