they lie drunk.

LE BRET:
You should try to bring us back provision.

CYRANO:
A man must carry no weight who would get by there! But there will be
surprise for us this night. The French will eat or die. . .if I mistake not!

LE BRET:
Oh!. . .tell me!. . .

CYRANO:
Nay, not yet. I am not certain. . .You will see!

CARBON:
It is disgraceful that we should starve while we're besieging!

LE BRET:
Alas, how full of complication is this siege of Arras! To think that while
we are besieging, we should ourselves be caught in a trap and besieged by the
Cardinal Infante of Spain.

CYRANO:
It were well done if he should be besieged in his turn.

LE BRET:
I am in earnest.

CYRANO:
Oh! indeed!

LE BRET:
To think you risk a life so precious. . .for the sake of a letter. .
.Thankless one.
(Seeing him turning to enter the tent):
Where are you going?

CYRANO:
I am going to write another.

(He enters the tent and disappears.)

Scene 4.II.

The same, all but Cyrano. The day is breaking in a rosy light. The town of
Arras is golden in the horizon. The report of cannon is heard in the
distance, followed immediately by the beating of drums far away to the left.
Other drums are heard much nearer. Sounds of stirring in the camp. Voices of
officers in the distance.

CARBON (sighing):
The reveille!
(The cadets move and stretch themselves):
Nourishing sleep! Thou art at an end!. . .I know well what will be their
first cry!

A CADET (sitting up):
I am so hungry!

ANOTHER:
I am dying of hunger.

TOGETHER:
Oh!

CARBON:
Up with you!

THIRD CADET:
--Cannot move a limb.

FOURTH CADET:
Nor can I.

THE FIRST (looking at himself in a bit of armor):
My tongue is yellow. The air at this season of the year is hard to digest.

ANOTHER:
My coronet for a bit of Chester!

ANOTHER:
If none can furnish to my gaster wherewith to make a pint of chyle, I shall
retire to my tent--like Achilles!

ANOTHER:
Oh! something! were it but a crust!

CARBON (going to the tent and calling softly):
Cyrano!

ALL THE CADETS:
We are dying!

CARBON (continuing to speak under his breath at the opening of the tent):
Come to my aid, you, who have the art of quick retort and gay jest. Come,
hearten them up.

SECOND CADET (rushing toward another who is munching something):
What are you crunching there?

FIRST CADET:
Cannon-wads soaked in axle-grease! 'Ti