George Bernard Shaw

Name: Arms and the Man — Act I
Author: George Bernard Shaw

Summary

“Arms and the Man — Act I”, published in 1894, is a work by George Bernard Shaw. It explores elements such as Raina, balcony and shutters.

Quotes from Arms and the Man — Act I (George Bernard Shaw)

George Bernard Shaw, Arms and the Man — Act I (1894)

“ Of all the fools ever let loose on a field of battle, that man must be the very maddest. He and his regiment simply committed suicide—only the pistol missed fire, that's all.
RAINA (deeply wounded, but steadfastly loyal to her ideals) . Indeed! Would you know him again if you saw him?
MAN. Shall I ever forget him. (She again goes to the chest of drawers. He watches her with a vague hope that she may have something else for him to eat. She takes the portrait from its stand and brings it to him.)
RAINA. That is a photograph of the gentleman—the patriot and hero—to whom I am betrothed. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Arms and the Man — Act I (1894)

“ MAN (staggering up) . Of course I must do something. (He shakes himself; pulls himself together; and speaks with rallied vigour and courage.) You see, sleep or no sleep, hunger or no hunger, tired or not tired, you can always do a thing when you know it must be done. Well, that pipe must be got down— (He hits himself on the chest, and adds) —Do you hear that, you chocolate cream soldier? (He turns to the window.)
RAINA (anxiously) . But if you fall?
MAN. I shall sleep as if the stones were a feather bed. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Arms and the Man — Act I (1894)

“ RAINA. Don't leave my mother, Louka, whilst the soldiers are here. (Louka glances at Raina, at the ottoman, at the curtain; then purses her lips secretively, laughs to herself, and goes out. Raina follows her to the door, shuts it behind her with a slam, and locks it violently. The man immediately steps out from behind the curtain, sheathing his sabre, and dismissing the danger from his mind in a businesslike way.)
MAN. A narrow shave; but a miss is as good as a mile. Dear young lady, your servant until death. I wish for your sake I had joined the Bulgarian army instead of the Servian. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Arms and the Man — Act I (1894)

“ LOUKA. If you please, madam, all the windows are to be closed and the shutters made fast. They say there may be shooting in the streets. (Raina and Catherine rise together, alarmed.) The Servians are being chased right back through the pass; and they say they may run into the town. Our cavalry will be after them; and our people will be ready for them you may be sure, now that they are running away. (She goes out on the balcony and pulls the outside shutters to; then steps back into the room.)
RAINA. I wish our people were not so cruel. What glory is there in killing wretched fugitives? ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Arms and the Man — Act I (1894)

“ But to face it now in cold blood!— (He sinks on the ottoman.) It's no use: I give up: I'm beaten. Give the alarm. (He drops his head in his hands in the deepest dejection.)
RAINA (disarmed by pity) . Come, don't be disheartened. (She stoops over him almost maternally: he shakes his head.) Oh, you are a very poor soldier—a chocolate cream soldier. Come, cheer up: it takes less courage to climb down than to face capture—remember that.
MAN (dreamily, lulled by her voice) . No, capture only means death; and death is sleep—oh, sleep, sleep, sleep, undisturbed sleep! ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Arms and the Man — Act I (1894)

“ RAINA. Oh, no: I am sorry you will have to go into danger again. (Motioning towards ottoman.) Won't you sit— (She breaks off with an irrepressible cry of alarm as she catches sight of the pistol. The man, all nerves, shies like a frightened horse.) ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Arms and the Man — Act I (1894)

“ There is just half a chance, if you keep your head. Remember: nine soldiers out of ten are born fools. (He hides behind the curtain, looking out for a moment to say, finally) If they find me, I promise you a fight—a devil of a fight! (He disappears. Raina takes of the cloak and throws it across the foot of the bed. Then with a sleepy, disturbed air, she opens the door. Louka enters excitedly.)
LOUKA. A man has been seen climbing up the water-pipe to your balcony—a Servian. The soldiers want to search for him; and they are so wild and drunk and furious. My lady says you are to dress at once. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Arms and the Man — Act I (1894)

“ I'll keep the cloak: and you will take care that nobody comes in and sees you without it. This is a better weapon than the pistol. (He throws the pistol down on the ottoman.)
RAINA (revolted) . It is not the weapon of a gentleman!
MAN. It's good enough for a man with only you to stand between him and death. (As they look at one another for a moment, Raina hardly able to believe that even a Servian officer can be so cynically and selfishly unchivalrous, they are startled by a sharp fusillade in the street. The chill of imminent death hushes the man's voice as he adds) Do you hear? ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Arms and the Man — Act I (1894)

“ Then she sails away scornfully to the chest of drawers, and returns with the box of confectionery in her hand.) RAINA. Allow me. I am sorry I have eaten them all except these. (She offers him the box.)
MAN (ravenously) . You're an angel! (He gobbles the comfits.) Creams! Delicious! (He looks anxiously to see whether there are any more. There are none. He accepts the inevitable with pathetic goodhumor, and says, with grateful emotion) Bless you, dear lady. You can always tell an old soldier by the inside of his holsters and cartridge boxes. The young ones carry pistols and cartridges ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Arms and the Man — Act I (1894)

“ This chest of drawers is also covered by a variegated native cloth, and on it there is a pile of paper backed novels, a box of chocolate creams, and a miniature easel, on which is a large photograph of an extremely handsome officer, whose lofty bearing and magnetic glance can be felt even from the portrait. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Arms and the Man — Act I (1894)

“ Oh, you are a very poor soldier—a chocolate cream soldier. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Arms and the Man — Act I (1894)

“ What use are cartridges in battle? I always carry chocolate instead; ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Bernard Shaw, Arms and the Man — Act I (1894)

“ MAN (cunningly) . Ah; but suppose I don't shoot you, what will happen then? Why, a lot of your cavalry—the greatest blackguards in your army—will burst into this pretty room of yours and slaughter me here like a pig ”

George Bernard Shaw

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Quotes from Arms and the Man — Act I (George Bernard Shaw)

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