Produced by Kent Cooper
THE ROMANCERS
(Les Romanesques)
Comedy in Three Acts
by
EDMOND ROSTAND
Translated by Barrett H. Clark
1915
[[ Untitled INTRODUCTORY NOTES from 1915 publication by
Samuel French: Publisher, New York:
EDMOND ROSTAND
Edmond Rostand was born at Marseilles in 1868. Rostand is
undoubtedly one of the most brilliant dramatic poets of modern
times. "Les Romanesques"--"The Romancers"--was performed for
the first time in Paris, at the Comedie Francaise, in 1894, and
achieved considerable success. Its delicacy and charm revealed
the true poet, and the deftness with which the plot was handled
left little doubt as to the author's ability to construct an
interesting and moving drama. But not until the production of
"Cyrano de Bergerac" in 1897 did Rostand become known to the world
at large. "L'Aiglon" (1900) was something of a disappointment
after the brilliant "Cyrano." Ten years later came "Chantecler,"
the poet's deepest and in many ways most masterly play.
"The Romancers" is best played in the romantic atmosphere of the
late Eighteenth century; the costumes should be Louis XVI. The
stage-directions are sufficiently detailed. ]]
* * * * *
[Transcriber's note: "The Romancers" is the basis for the plot of
the 1960 musical "The Fantasticks," with music by Harvey Schmidt,
book and lyrics by Tom Jones.]
* * * * *
THE ROMANCERS
Persons in the Play
SYLVETTE
PERCINET
STRAFOREL
BERGAMIN (Percinet's father)
PASQUINOT (Sylvette's father)
BLAISE (A gardener)
A WALL (Not a speaking part)
Swordsmen, musicians, negroes, torch-bearers, a notary, four
witnesses, and other supernumeraries.
The action takes place anywhere, provided the costumes are pretty.
* * * * *
ACT I
SCENE: The stage is divided by an old wall, covered with vines
and flowers. At the right, a corner of BERGAMIN's private park;
at the left, a corner of PASQUINOT's. On each side of the wall,
and against it, is a rustic bench.
As the curtain rises, PERCINET is seated on the top of the wall.
On his knee is a book, out of which he is reading to SYLVETTE,
who stands attentively listening on the bench which is on the other
side of the wall.
SYLVETTE. Monsieur Percinet, how divinely beautiful!
PERCINET. Is it not? Listen to what Romeo answers: [Reading]
"It was the lark, the herald of the morn,
No nightingale: look, love, what envious streaks
Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east.
Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day
Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops:
I must be gone"--
SYLVETTE. [Interrupts him, as she listens.] Sh!
PERCINET. [Listens a moment, then] No one! And, Mademoiselle,
you must not take fright like a startled bird. Hear the immortal
lovers:
"_Juliet._ Yon light is not the daylight, I know it, I,
It is some meteor that the sun exhales,
To be to thee this night a torch-bearer,
And light thee on thy way to Mantua:
Therefore stay yet, thou need'st not to be gone.
_Romeo._ Let me be ta'en, let me be put to death;
I am content, so thou will have it so.
I'll say, yon gray is not the morning's eye,
'Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia's brow;
Nor that is not the lark, whose notes do beat
The vaulty heaven so high above our heads:
I have more care to stay than will to go:
Come, death and welcome"--
SYLVETTE. No, he must not say such things, or I shall cry.
PERCINET. Then let us stop and read no further until to-morrow.
We shall let Romeo live! [He closes the book and looks about him.]
This charming spot seems expressly made, it seems to me, to
cradle the words of the Divine Will!
SYLVETTE. The verses are divine, and the soft air here is a divine
accompaniment. And see, these green shades! But, Monsieur
Percinet, what makes them divine to me is the way you read!
PERCINET. Flatterer!
SYLVETTE. [Sighing] Poor lovers! Their fate was cruel!
[Another sigh] I think--
PERCINET. What?
SYLVETTE. Nothing!
PERCINET. Something that made you blush red as a rose.
SYLVETTE. Nothing, I say.
PERCINET. Ah, that's too transparent. I see it all: you are
thinking of our fathers!
SYLVETTE. Perhaps--
PERCINET. Of their terrible hatred for each other.
SYLVETTE. The thought often pains me and makes me cry when I am
alone. Last month, when I came home from the convent, my father
pointed out your father's park, and said to me: "My dear child,
you behold there the domain of my mortal enemy, Bergamin. Never
cross the path of those two rascals, Bergamin and his son Percinet.
Mark well my words, and obey me to the letter, or I shall cast you
off as an enemy. Their family has always been at bitter enmity
with our own." And I promised. But you see how I keep my word!
PERCINET. Did I not promise my father to do the same, Sylvette?
Yet I love you!
SYLVETTE. Holy saints!
PERCINET. I love you, my dearest!
SYLVETTE. It's sinful!
PERCINET. Very--but what can we do? The greater the obstacles
to be overcome, the sweeter the reward. Sylvette, kiss me!
SYLVETTE. Never! [She jumps down from the bench and runs off a
few steps.]
PERCINET. But you love me?
SYLVETTE. What?
PERCINET. My dear child: I, too, sometimes think of us and
compare you and me with those other lovers--of Verona.
SYLVETTE. But _I_ didn't compare--!
PERCINET. You and I are Juliet and Romeo; I love you to despair,
and I shall brave the wrath of Pasquinot-Capulet and
Bergamin-Montague!
SYLVETTE. [Coming a little nearer to the wall] Then we love?
But how, Monsieur Percinet, has it happened so soon?
PERCINET. Love is born we know not how, because it must be born.
I often saw you pass my window--
SYLVETTE. I saw you, too!
PERCINET. And our eyes spoke in silence.
SYLVETTE. One day I was gathering nuts in the garden by the wall--
PERCINET. One day I happened to be reading Shakespeare. See
how everything conspired to unite two hearts!
SYLVETTE. And a little gust of wind blew my scarf in your direction.
PERCINET. I climbed to the wall to return it--
SYLVETTE. [Climbing the wall again] I climbed too!
PERCINET. And since that day, my dear, I have waited at the same
hour, here by this wall; and each time my heart beat louder and
faster, until I knew by your soft laugh that you were near!
SYLVETTE. Now since we love, we must be married.
PERCINET. I was just thinking about that.
SYLVETTE. [Solemnly] I, last of the Pasquinots, do solemnly
pledge myself to you, last of the Bergamins.
PERCINET. What noble recklessness!
SYLVETTE. We shall be sung in future ages!
PERCINET. Two tender children of two hard-hearted fathers!
SYLVETTE. But who knows whether the hour is not at hand when our
fathers' hatred may end?
PERCINET. I doubt it.
SYLVETTE. I have heard of stranger things. I can think of half a
dozen--
PERCINET. What, for instance?
SYLVETTE. Imagine that the reigning prince comes riding past some
day--I run to him and kneel, and tell him the story of our love
and of our fathers' hatred. The prince asks to see my father and
Bergamin, and they are reconciled.
PERCINET. And your father gives me your hand!
SYLVETTE. Yes. Or else, you languish, the doctor declares you
cannot live--
PERCINET. And asks: "What ails you?"
SYLVETTE. And you answer: "I must have Sylvette!"
PERCINET. And his pride is then forced to bend.
SYLVETTE. Yes. Or else: an aged duke, having seen my portrait,
falls in love with me, sends a 'squire to sue for my hand, and offers
to make me a duchess.
PERCINET. And you say, "No!"
SYLVETTE. He is offended, and some dark night when I am in the
garden, meditating, he springs forth out of the darkness! I scream!
PERCINET. And I lose not a second in springing over the wall,
dagger in hand. I fight like a tiger, I--
SYLVETTE. You lay low three or four men. Then my father rushes
in and takes me in his arms. You tell him who you are. His heart
softens, he gives me to my savior. Your father consents, for he
is proud of your bravery.
PERCINET. Then we live together for years, happy and content!
SYLVETTE. This is not at all impossible, is it?
PERCINET. Someone's coming!
SYLVETTE. [Forgetting herself] Kiss me!
PERCINET. [Kissing her] This evening, at eight, then? As
usual? You will come?
SYLVETTE. No.
PERCINET. Yes!
SYLVETTE. [Disappearing behind the wall] Your father! [PERCINET
jumps quickly from the wall.]
[Enter BERGAMIN.]
BERGAMIN. Ah, ha, I find you here again, dreaming in this corner
of the park!
PERCINET. Father, I love this old corner! I adore this bench over
which the vines of the wall have so gracefully draped themselves.
See, what graceful arabesques these festoons make! The air is
purer here.
BERGAMIN. By the side of this wall?
PERCINET. I love it!
BERGAMIN. I see nothing lovable about it!
SYLVETTE. [Aside] He can't see why!
PERCINET. But it is charming, all covered with ivy and creeper.
See here, what honeysuckle! This hundred-year-old wall, with its
clinging vines, its constellations of flowers, looking through the
crannies, kissed by the summer sun, makes the bench a throne fit
for kings!
BERGAMIN. Nonsense, you hare-brained youth! Do you mean to tell
me that this wall has eyes?
PERCINET. Ah, what eyes! [Turns toward the wall.] Of soft azure,
yet dazzlingly blue; let but a tear come to dim your brightness,
or a single kiss--
BERGAMIN. But the wall hasn't eyes, you idiot!
PERCINET. See this vine, though! [He plucks part of the vine from
the wall and graciously presents it to his father.]
SYLVETTE. [Aside] How clever!
BERGAMIN. How stupid! But I know now what has turned your silly
head: you come here to read! [SYLVETTE starts as she hears this.
PERCINET also shows signs of fear as his father pulls the book from
the youth's pocket.] Plays! [He drops the book in horror.] And
verse! Verse! That's what has turned your head. Now I see why you
talk about eyes and honeysuckle. I tell you, to be useful, a wall
doesn't have to be beautiful. I am going to have all this green
stuff taken away, and the bricks re-laid and the holes stopped up.
I want a white wall and a high one to keep the neighbors from
looking into our park. I want no vines and honeysuckles. Along
the top I'll sprinkle broken glass--
PERCINET. Pity!
BERGAMIN. No pity! I insist on it! Glass--all along the top of
the wall! [SYLVETTE and PERCINET are in despair. BERGAMIN sits
down on the bench.] And now, I have something to say to you. [He
rises and examines the wall.] If the wall hasn't eyes, it may
possibly have ears? [He is about to stand on the bench, when
PERCINET takes fright and SYLVETTE clings close to her side of the
wall, making herself as small as she can. BERGAMIN decides not
to scale the wall, but motions to his son to do so.] See whether
some curious listener--?
PERCINET. [Climbing to the top and leaning over so that SYLVETTE
can hear him] Till to-night!
SYLVETTE. [Giving him her hand, which he kisses] I'll come as
the clock is striking! I adore you!
BERGAMIN. [To PERCINET] Well?
PERCINET. [Jumping down--to his father] No one!
BERGAMIN. [Re-seating himself] Well, then, my boy, I should like
to see you married.
SYLVETTE. [Aside] Oh!
BERGAMIN. What's that?
PERCINET. Nothing.
BERGAMIN. I thought I heard a cry?
PERCINET. [Looking into the air] Some wounded bird, perhaps.
BERGAMIN. I have given the matter my undivided attention, and have
chosen a wife for you. [PERCINET whistles and walks away.] I tell
you, I am in earnest and I intend to force you, if necessary.
[PERCINET continues whistling.] _Will_ you stop that confounded
whistling! The young woman is rich--she's a jewel!
PERCINET. I want none of your jewels!
BERGAMIN. I'll show you, you young insolent!
PERCINET. [Grasping his father's cane, which is raised as if to
strike him] Spring has filled the bushes with the songs of birds;
the brooklets accompany the love-notes of wild birds.
BERGAMIN. Rascal!
PERCINET. [Still holding the cane] The whole world laughs and
sings farewell to April. The butterflies--
BERGAMIN. Ruffian!
PERCINET. [As before] Wing their way across the meadows, to make
love to the adored flowers! Love--
BERGAMIN. Villain!
PERCINET. Love opens wide the heart of all nature. And you ask
me to consent to a marriage of reason!
BERGAMIN. Of course I do!
PERCINET. [Passionately] No, no, no, Father. I swear by this
wall--which hears me, I hope--that my marriage will be more
romantic than any dreamed of in the most poetic of the world's love
stories! [He runs out.]
BERGAMIN. [Pursuing him] Ah, let me catch you--!
SYLVETTE. I can really understand now why Papa hates that odious
old man!
[Enter PASQUINOT, left.]
PASQUINOT. Well, Mademoiselle, what are you doing here?
SYLVETTE. Nothing. Taking the air.
PASQUINOT. Alone? But, you silly girl, are you not afraid?
SYLVETTE. Not in the least.
PASQUINOT. Near this wall? I forbade you to come near it! You
see that park over there? That belongs to my mortal enemy!
SYLVETTE. I know it, Father dear.
PASQUINOT. Why, here you are exposed to any insult, any--if those
rascals knew that my daughter were walking alone in this park--
Brr! It makes me shiver to think of! I'm going to have the wall
repaired, and erect a huge iron grill on top of it.
SYLVETTE. [Aside] He'll never do it--it would cost too much!
PASQUINOT. Now go into the house--quick! [She goes out, PASQUINOT
glowering at her.]
BERGAMIN. [Heard from the other side of the wall, as he enters]
Take this note at once to Monsieur Straforel.
PASQUINOT. [Running to the wall and climbing to the top of it]
Bergamin!
BERGAMIN. [Doing likewise] Pasquinot! [They embrace.]
PASQUINOT. How are you?
BERGAMIN. Pretty well.
PASQUINOT. How's your gout?
BERGAMIN. Better. And how is your cold?
PASQUINOT. Still troubles me, devil take it!
BERGAMIN. Well, the marriage is arranged!
PASQUINOT. What?
BERGAMIN. I heard everything--I was hidden in the bushes. They
adore each other!
PASQUINOT. Bravo!
BERGAMIN. We must bring matters to a head! [He rubs his hands.]
Ha, ha! Now we can do as we had planned--
PASQUINOT. Yes, and tear down the wall.
BERGAMIN. And live together.
PASQUINOT. Joining our properties.
BERGAMIN. By marrying our children. But I wonder whether they
would be so anxious if they knew we wished it? A marriage arranged
beforehand is not so tempting to two young children so romantic as
ours. That is why we kept our own wishes a secret. I felt sure
that after they had been separated--Sylvette in the convent,
Percinet at school--they would thrive on their secret love. That
is how I came to invent this hatred of ours. And you even doubted
its success! Now all we have to do is to say Yes.
PASQUINOT. But how can it be done? Remember, I've called you a
scoundrel, fool, idiot--
BERGAMIN. Idiot? Scoundrel was sufficient.
PASQUINOT. Now what pretext--?
BERGAMIN. Your daughter herself has given me an inspiration. This
evening they are to meet here at eight. Percinet comes first. At
the moment Sylvette appears, mysterious men in black will emerge
from the shadows and start to carry her off. An abduction! She
screams, then our young hero gives chase, draws his sword--the
ravishers pretend to flee--I arrive on the scene, then you--your
daughter is safe and sound. You bless the couple and drop a few
appropriate tears; my heart is softened. Tableau.
PASQUINOT. A stroke of genius.
BERGAMIN. [Modestly] Yes--I think it really is. Look--see that
man coming? It's Straforel, the bravado whom I wrote to a few
minutes ago. He is to superintend the abduction.
[STRAFOREL, in an elaborate swordsman's costume, appears at the
back of BERGAMIN's park, and swaggers down-stage.]
BERGAMIN. [Descending from the wall and bowing low to STRAFOREL]
Allow me to introduce you to my friend Pasquinot.
STRAFOREL. [Bowing] Monsieur! [He raises his head and sees no
PASQUINOT.]
BERGAMIN. [Pointing to PASQUINOT on the crest of the wall]
There, on the wall!--Now, my dear master, does my plan meet with
your approval?
STRAFOREL. It does. It is most simple.
BERGAMIN. You must act quickly, you understand?
STRAFOREL. And say nothing!
BERGAMIN. A make-believe abduction and stage-fight with swords.
STRAFOREL. I understand perfectly.
BERGAMIN. You must have skilful swordsmen--I can't have my boy
hurt. He is my only child!
STRAFOREL. I will see to that myself.
BERGAMIN. Good. In that case, I shall fear nothing.
PASQUINOT. [Aside to BERGAMIN] Ask him the price?
BERGAMIN. For an abduction, Maestro, how much do you charge?
STRAFOREL. That depends, Monsieur, on the kind you wish; we have
them at all prices. In an affair of this kind, however, nothing
should be spared. If I were in your place, I should have a
first-class abduction.
BERGAMIN. [Surprised] Then you have many classes?
STRAFOREL. Indeed I have. I have the ordinary vulgar abduction
in a cab, with two men dressed in black--that's rarely used; the
daylight abduction, the midnight abduction; the pompous abduction
in a court carriage, with powdered servants--wigs are extra--with
mutes, negroes, brigands, musketeers, anything you like! The
abduction in a post-chaise, with two, three, four, five, horses,
ad lib.; the discreet and quiet abduction, in a small carriage--
that one's rather lugubrious; the rollicking abduction, in which
the victim is carried away in a sack; the romantic abduction in a
boat--but a lake is necessary!--the Venetian abduction, in a
gondola--ah, you have no lagoon! Moonlight abduction, or the
abduction on a dark and starless night--those moonlight abductions
are quite the style, though they are a little dear!--Besides these,
there is the abduction by torch-light, with cries and screams, and
clash and shock of arms; the brutal abduction, the polite
abduction; the classical one with masks; the gallant abduction to
the accompaniment of music; but the latest, most stylish, gayest of
all, is the sedan-chair abduction!
BERGAMIN. [Scratching his head--aside to PASQUINOT] Well, what
do you think?
PASQUINOT. Hm, what do you?
BERGAMIN. I think that we should do everything in the best possible
way, no expense spared. Let us give our young romancers something
they'll not soon forget. Let's have it with masks, dark mantles,
torches, music, and a sedan-chair!
STRAFOREL. [Taking notes] A first-class, then, with all extras.
BERGAMIN. That's it.
STRAFOREL. I shall return soon. [To PASQUINOT] Remember,
Monsieur, to leave open the door of your park to-night.
BERGAMIN. Very well, it shall be done.
STRAFOREL. [Bowing] My compliments. [Turning to go] One
first-class--with extras. [He goes out.]
PASQUINOT. The honest man, he went without telling us the price!
BERGAMIN. Everything is arranged. Now we'll live together, after
demolishing the wall.
PASQUINOT. And in winter we'll have but one hearth and home!
BERGAMIN. Our dearest wishes are about to be realized!
PASQUINOT. And we'll grow old together!
BERGAMIN. Dear old Pasquinot!
PASQUINOT. Dear old Bergamin! [They embrace. SYLVETTE and
PERCINET enter, from each side of the stage and, seeing their
fathers embrace]
SYLVETTE. Oh!
BERGAMIN. [Aside to PASQUINOT] Your daughter!
PERCINET. Oh!
PASQUINOT. [Aside to BERGAMIN] Your son!
BERGAMIN. [Aside to PASQUINOT] We must pretend to fight! [Their
embrace is transformed into a struggle.] Rascal!
PASQUINOT. Fool!
SYLVETTE. [Pulling her father's coat-tails] Papa!
PERCINET. [Doing the same with his father] Papa!
BERGAMIN. Let us be!
PASQUINOT. He insulted me!
BERGAMIN. He struck me!
PASQUINOT. Coward!
SYLVETTE. Papa!
BERGAMIN. Thief!
PERCINET. Papa!
PASQUINOT. Bandit!
SYLVETTE. Papa!! [SYLVETTE and PERCINET finally succeed in
separating the fathers.]
PERCINET. [Dragging his father away] Go in now, it's late.
BERGAMIN. [Trying to go to the wall again] I can't control
myself. Just let me--! [PERCINET takes him out.]
PASQUINOT. [Also trying to return to the wall] I'll kill him!
SYLVETTE. [Dragging PASQUINOT out] The air is so damp! Think
of your rheumatism! [They go out.]
[Little by little it grows dark. For a moment the stage is empty.
Then, in PASQUINOT's park, enter STRAFOREL and swordsmen, musicians,
and torch-bearers.]
STRAFOREL. I see one star already. The day is dying. [He places
his men about the stage.] Stay there--you there--and you there.
The hour is near. You will see, as the clock strikes eight, a
figure in white enter on this side. Then I whistle--[He looks at
the sky again.] The moon? Splendid! Every effect is perfect
to-night! [Examining the costumes of his band] The capes and
mantles are excellent. Look a little more dangerous, over there!
Now, ready? [A sedan-chair is brought in.] The chair over there
in the shade. [Seeing the negroes who carry the chair] The
negroes are good! [Speaking at a distance] Torches, there, you
understand you are not to come until you receive the signal? [The
faint reflection of the torches is seen at the back of the stage,
through the underbrush. Enter the musicians.] Musicians? There--
at the back. Now, a little distinction and life! Vary your poses
from time to time. Stand straight, mandolin! Sit down, alto!
There. [Severely to a swordsman] You, first mask, don't look so
harmless--I want a villainous slouch! Good! Now, instruments,
play softly--tune up! Good--tra la la! [He puts on his mask.]
[PERCINET enters slowly from the other side of the stage. As he
speaks the following lines, the stage becomes darker, until at the
end, it is night.]
PERCINET. My father is calmer now. The day is dying, and the
intoxicating odor of the elders is wafted to me; the flowers close
their petals in the gray of the evening--
STRAFOREL. [Aside to the violins] Music!
[The musicians play softly until the end of the act.]
PERCINET. I tremble like a reed. She is coming!
STRAFOREL. [To the musicians] Amoroso!
PERCINET. My first evening meeting--I can scarcely stand! The
evening breeze sounds like the fluttering of her dress. Now I
can't see the flowers, but I can smell them. Ah, this great tree,
with a star above it--Music? Who--? [A pause.] Night has come.
[After another pause, a clock strikes eight in the distance.
SYLVETTE appears at the back of her park.]
SYLVETTE. The hour has struck. He must be waiting.
[A whistle is heard. STRAFOREL rises in front of SYLVETTE, and
torch-bearers appear in the background. SYLVETTE screams. The
swordsmen seize and put her into the sedan-chair.]
SYLVETTE. Help! Help!
PERCINET. Great Heavens!
SYLVETTE. Percinet, they are carrying me off!
PERCINET. [Leaping to the wall] I come! [When he reaches the
top of the wall, he draws his sword, jumps down on the other side,
and engages four or five swordsmen in combat. They flee before
him.] There, and there, and there!
STRAFOREL. [To the musicians] Tremolo!
[The violins now play a dramatic tremolo.]
STRAFOREL. Per Bacco, he's the devil, that child! [PERCINET now
engages STRAFOREL in a duel. STRAFOREL, after a few thrusts, puts
his hand to his breast.] I--I'm mortally wounded! [He falls.]
PERCINET. [Running to SYLVETTE, who sits in the sedan-chair]
Sylvette! [He kneels to her.]
SYLVETTE. My savior!
PASQUINOT. [Entering] Bergamin's son! Your savior? Your
savior? I give you to him!
SYLVETTE and PERCINET. Heavens!
[BERGAMIN now appears on his side of the wall.]
PASQUINOT. [To BERGAMIN, who is seen on top of the wall]
Bergamin, your son is a hero! Let us forget our quarrels, and make
these children happy!
BERGAMIN. [Solemnly] I hate you no more!
PERCINET. Sylvette, don't speak loud: I know I am dreaming. But
don't wake me!
BERGAMIN. Our hatred is ended in the marriage of our dear ones.
[Indicating the wall] Henceforth let there be no Pyrenees!
PERCINET. Who would have believed that my father could change so!
SYLVETTE. I told you everything would turn out happily! [While
the lovers go up-stage with PASQUINOT, STRAFOREL rises and hands
a folded paper to BERGAMIN.]
BERGAMIN. [Aside] What is it? This paper--your signature? What
is it, if you please?
STRAFOREL. [Bowing] Monsieur, it's my bill! [He falls down
again.]
Curtain
* * * * *