Produced by Kent Cooper

THE ROMANCERS
(Les Romanesques)

Comedy in Three Acts
by
EDMOND ROSTAND

Translated by Barrett H. Clark1915

[[ Untitled INTRODUCTORY NOTES from 1915 publication by
Samuel French: Publisher, New York:

EDMOND ROSTAND

Edmond Rostand was born at Marseilles in 1868. Rostand isundoubtedly one of the most brilliant dramatic poets of moderntimes. "Les Romanesques"—"The Romancers"—was performed forthe first time in Paris, at the Comedie Francaise, in 1894, andachieved considerable success. Its delicacy and charm revealedthe true poet, and the deftness with which the plot was handledleft little doubt as to the author's ability to construct aninteresting and moving drama. But not until the production of"Cyrano de Bergerac" in 1897 did Rostand become known to the worldat large. "L'Aiglon" (1900) was something of a disappointmentafter 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 thelate Eighteenth century; the costumes should be Louis XVI. Thestage-directions are sufficiently detailed. ]]

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[Transcriber's note: "The Romancers" is the basis for the plot ofthe 1960 musical "The Fantasticks," with music by Harvey Schmidt,book and lyrics by Tom Jones.]

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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.

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ACT I

SCENE: The stage is divided by an old wall, covered with vinesand 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 otherside 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 immortallovers:

  "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,

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