288
CYRANO DE BERGERAC
Ragueneau.
Oh yes, indeed, Monsieur,
The famous one, 'Que Diable allait-il faire?'
Le Bret.
Molière has stolen that?
Cyrano.
Tut! He did well!…
[To Ragueneau.]
How went the scene? It told—I think it told?
Ragueneau
[sobbing].
Ah! how they laughed!
Cyrano.
Look you, it was my life
To be the prompter every one forgets!
[To Roxane.]
That night when 'neath your window Christian spoke
—Under your balcony, you remember? Well!
There was the allegory of my whole life:
I, in the shadow, at the ladder's foot,
While others lightly mount to Love and Fame!
Just! very just! Here on the threshold drear
Of death, I pay my tribute with the rest,
To Molière's genius, Christian's fair face!
[The chapel-bell chimes. The Nuns are seen passing down the alley at the back, to say their office.]
Let them go pray, go pray, when the bell rings…
