(_Looks at the bags._) The manuscripts I love! The verses of my friends! All mutilated! Torn! To serve as wrappers for .... such prosy things as cakes! It's Orpheus once again pursued by the Bacchantes! LISE (_harshly_). I use the only thing your friends in payment give; Your sorry scribblers bent on not completing lines! RAGUENEAU. The ant should not insult the magic cricket's song! LISE. Before these crickets thus possessed you wholly, dear, You never said to me: bacchante, or even: ant! RAGUENEAU. Treat verses thus! LISE. Why not? RAGUENEAU. What would you do with prose? [12] Note.--Alexandrines were adopted, instead of pentameter, here and further on, with the poets, for the reason that they seem more pompous and better in keeping with the affectation shown by the personages. _SCENE II._ _The same_, TWO CHILDREN _come in to buy cakes_. RAGUENEAU. What is it, little ones? FIRST CHILD. We want three patties, please. RAGUENEAU (_serving them_). Here they are, well-browned, just out of the oven. SECOND CHILD. Please wrap them up for us. RAGUENEAU (_aside_). Alas! my bags! (_to the children_). Oh! wrap them up, hey?.... (_takes one of the bags to use it, but first reads from it_). "As was Ulysses when he left Penelope...." Not this one!.... (_puts the bag aside, and takes up another, from which also he reads_). "Blond Phoebus...." Not this one! (_Sets the bag aside._) LISE (_out of patience_). Well, what are you waiting for? RAGUENEAU. Coming! Coming! (_takes up a third bag and then with resignation_). The sonnet to Philis!.... pretty hard too! LISE. You were long enough about it! (_shrugging her shoulders_). Goose! (_She climbs upon a chair to arrange dishes and plates on a shelf._) RAGUENEAU (_taking advantage of the fact that her back is turned, calls back the children who were just passing out_). Pst!.... Little ones!.... Return me the bag and instead of three patties I'll give you six. (_The children give him the bag, take the cakes and leave. Ragueneau smoothes the paper and reads_). "Philis!" .... On this sweet name, a grease spot!.... "Philis!" (_Cyrano enters abruptly._) _SCENE III._