Cyrano, Roxane.
CYRANO:
Blessed be the moment when you condescend—
Remembering that humbly I exist—
To come to meet me, and to say. . .to tell?. . .
Blessed be the moment when you condescend—
Remembering that humbly I exist—
To come to meet me, and to say. . .to tell?. . .
ROXANE (who has unmasked):
To thank you first of all. That dandy count,
Whom you checkmated in brave sword-play
Last night,. . .he is the man whom a great lord,
Desirous of my favor. . .
To thank you first of all. That dandy count,
Whom you checkmated in brave sword-play
Last night,. . .he is the man whom a great lord,
Desirous of my favor. . .
CYRANO:
Ha, De Guiche?
Ha, De Guiche?
ROXANE (casting down her eyes):
Sought to impose on me. . .for husband. . .
Sought to impose on me. . .for husband. . .
CYRANO:
Ay! Husband!—dupe-husband!. . .Husband a la mode!
(Bowing):
Then I fought, happy chance! sweet lady, not
For my ill favor—but your favors fair!
Ay! Husband!—dupe-husband!. . .Husband a la mode!
(Bowing):
Then I fought, happy chance! sweet lady, not
For my ill favor—but your favors fair!
ROXANE:
Confession next!. . .But, ere I make my shrift,
You must be once again that brother-friend
With whom I used to play by the lake-side!. . .
Confession next!. . .But, ere I make my shrift,
You must be once again that brother-friend
With whom I used to play by the lake-side!. . .
CYRANO:
Ay, you would come each spring to Bergerac!
Ay, you would come each spring to Bergerac!
ROXANE:
Mind you the reeds you cut to make your swords?. . .
Mind you the reeds you cut to make your swords?. . .
CYRANO:
While you wove corn-straw plaits for your dolls’ hair!
While you wove corn-straw plaits for your dolls’ hair!
ROXANE:
Those were the days of games!. . .
Those were the days of games!. . .
CYRANO:
And blackberries!. . .
And blackberries!. . .
ROXANE:
In those days you did everything I bid!. . .
In those days you did everything I bid!. . .
CYRANO:
Roxane, in her short frock, was Madeleine. . .
Roxane, in her short frock, was Madeleine. . .
ROXANE:
Was I fair then?
Was I fair then?
CYRANO:
You were not ill to see!
You were not ill to see!
ROXANE:
Ofttimes, with hands all bloody from a fall,
You’d run to me! Then—aping mother-ways—
I, in a voice would-be severe, would chide,—
(She takes his hand):
‘What is this scratch, again, that I see here?’
(She starts, surprised):
Oh! ’Tis too much! What’s this?
(Cyrano tries to draw away his hand):
No, let me see!
At your age, fie! Where did you get that scratch?
Ofttimes, with hands all bloody from a fall,
You’d run to me! Then—aping mother-ways—
I, in a voice would-be severe, would chide,—
(She takes his hand):
‘What is this scratch, again, that I see here?’
(She starts, surprised):
Oh! ’Tis too much! What’s this?
(Cyrano tries to draw away his hand):
No, let me see!
At your age, fie! Where did you get that scratch?
CYRANO:
I got it—playing at the Porte de Nesle.
I got it—playing at the Porte de Nesle.
ROXANE (seating herself by the table, and dipping her handkerchief in a glass
of water):
Give here!
Give here!
CYRANO (sitting by her):
So soft! so gay maternal-sweet!
So soft! so gay maternal-sweet!
ROXANE:
And tell me, while I wipe away the blood,
How many ’gainst you?
And tell me, while I wipe away the blood,
How many ’gainst you?
CYRANO:
Oh! A hundred—near.
Oh! A hundred—near.
ROXANE:
Come, tell me!
Come, tell me!
CYRANO:
No, let be. But you, come tell
The thing, just now, you dared not. . .
No, let be. But you, come tell
The thing, just now, you dared not. . .
ROXANE (keeping his hand):
Now, I dare!
The scent of those old days emboldens me!
Yes, now I dare. Listen. I am in love.
Now, I dare!
The scent of those old days emboldens me!
Yes, now I dare. Listen. I am in love.
CYRANO:
Ah!. . .
Ah!. . .
ROXANE:
But with one who knows not.
But with one who knows not.
CYRANO:
Ah!. . .
Ah!. . .
ROXANE:
Not yet.
Not yet.
CYRANO:
Ah!. . .
Ah!. . .
ROXANE:
But who, if he knows not, soon shall learn.
But who, if he knows not, soon shall learn.
CYRANO:
Ah!. . .
Ah!. . .
ROXANE:
A poor youth who all this time has loved
Timidly, from afar, and dares not speak. . .
A poor youth who all this time has loved
Timidly, from afar, and dares not speak. . .
CYRANO:
Ah!. . .
Ah!. . .
ROXANE:
Leave your hand; why, it is fever-hot!—
But I have seen love trembling on his lips.
Leave your hand; why, it is fever-hot!—
But I have seen love trembling on his lips.
CYRANO:
Ah!. . .
Ah!. . .
ROXANE (bandaging his hand with her handkerchief):
And to think of it! that he by chance—
Yes, cousin, he is of your regiment!
And to think of it! that he by chance—
Yes, cousin, he is of your regiment!
CYRANO:
Ah!. . .
Ah!. . .
ROXANE (laughing):
—Is cadet in your own company!
—Is cadet in your own company!
CYRANO:
Ah!. . .
Ah!. . .
ROXANE:
On his brow he bears the genius-stamp;
He is proud, noble, young, intrepid, fair. . .
On his brow he bears the genius-stamp;
He is proud, noble, young, intrepid, fair. . .
CYRANO (rising suddenly, very pale):
Fair!
Fair!
ROXANE:
Why, what ails you?
Why, what ails you?
CYRANO:
Nothing; ’tis. . .
(He shows his hand, smiling):
This scratch!
Nothing; ’tis. . .
(He shows his hand, smiling):
This scratch!
ROXANE:
I love him; all is said. But you must know
I have only seen him at the Comedy. . .
I love him; all is said. But you must know
I have only seen him at the Comedy. . .
CYRANO:
How? You have never spoken?
How? You have never spoken?
ROXANE:
Eyes can speak.
Eyes can speak.
CYRANO:
How know you then that he. . .?
How know you then that he. . .?
ROXANE:
Oh! people talk
’Neath the limes in the Place Royale. . .
Gossip’s chat
Has let me know. . .
Oh! people talk
’Neath the limes in the Place Royale. . .
Gossip’s chat
Has let me know. . .
CYRANO:
He is cadet?
He is cadet?
ROXANE:
In the Guards.
In the Guards.
CYRANO:
His name?
His name?
ROXANE:
Baron Christian de Neuvillette.
Baron Christian de Neuvillette.
CYRANO:
How now?. . .He is not of the Guards!
How now?. . .He is not of the Guards!
ROXANE:
To-day
He is not join your ranks, under Captain
Carbon de Castel-Jaloux.
To-day
He is not join your ranks, under Captain
Carbon de Castel-Jaloux.
CYRANO:
Ah, how quick,
How quick the heart has flown!. . .But, my poor child. . .
Ah, how quick,
How quick the heart has flown!. . .But, my poor child. . .
THE DUENNA (opening the door):
The cakes are eaten, Monsieur Bergerac!
The cakes are eaten, Monsieur Bergerac!
CYRANO:
Then read the verses printed on the bags!
(She goes out):
. . .My poor child, you who love but flowing words,
Bright wit,—what if he be a lout unskilled?
Then read the verses printed on the bags!
(She goes out):
. . .My poor child, you who love but flowing words,
Bright wit,—what if he be a lout unskilled?
ROXANE:
No, his bright locks, like D’Urfe’s heroes. . .
No, his bright locks, like D’Urfe’s heroes. . .
CYRANO:
Ah!
A well-curled pate, and witless tongue, perchance!
Ah!
A well-curled pate, and witless tongue, perchance!
ROXANE:
Ah no! I guess—I feel—his words are fair!
Ah no! I guess—I feel—his words are fair!
CYRANO:
All words are fair that lurk ’neath fair mustache!
—Suppose he were a fool!. . .
All words are fair that lurk ’neath fair mustache!
—Suppose he were a fool!. . .
ROXANE (stamping her foot):
Then bury me!
Then bury me!
CYRANO (after a pause):
Was it to tell me this you brought me here?
I fail to see what use this serves, Madame.
Was it to tell me this you brought me here?
I fail to see what use this serves, Madame.
ROXANE:
Nay, but I felt a terror, here, in the heart,
On learning yesterday you were Gascons
All of your company. . .
Nay, but I felt a terror, here, in the heart,
On learning yesterday you were Gascons
All of your company. . .
CYRANO:
And we provoke
All beardless sprigs that favor dares admit
’Midst us pure Gascons—(pure! Heaven save the mark!
They told you that as well?
And we provoke
All beardless sprigs that favor dares admit
’Midst us pure Gascons—(pure! Heaven save the mark!
They told you that as well?
ROXANE:
Ah! Think how I
Trembled for him!
Ah! Think how I
Trembled for him!
CYRANO (between his teeth):
Not causelessly!
Not causelessly!
ROXANE:
But when
Last night I saw you,—brave, invincible,—
Punish that dandy, fearless hold your own
Against those brutes, I thought—I thought, if he
Whom all fear, all—if he would only. . .
But when
Last night I saw you,—brave, invincible,—
Punish that dandy, fearless hold your own
Against those brutes, I thought—I thought, if he
Whom all fear, all—if he would only. . .
CYRANO:
Good.
I will befriend your little Baron.
Good.
I will befriend your little Baron.
ROXANE:
Ah!
You’ll promise me you will do this for me?
I’ve always held you as a tender friend.
Ah!
You’ll promise me you will do this for me?
I’ve always held you as a tender friend.
CYRANO:
Ay, ay.
Ay, ay.
ROXANE:
Then you will be his friend?
Then you will be his friend?
CYRANO:
I swear!
I swear!
ROXANE:
And he shall fight no duels, promise!
And he shall fight no duels, promise!
CYRANO:
None.
None.
ROXANE:
You are kind, cousin! Now I must be gone.
(She puts on her mask and veil quickly; then, absently):
You have not told me of your last night’s fray.
Ah, but it must have been a hero-fight!. . .
—Bid him to write.
(She sends him a kiss with her fingers):
How good you are!
You are kind, cousin! Now I must be gone.
(She puts on her mask and veil quickly; then, absently):
You have not told me of your last night’s fray.
Ah, but it must have been a hero-fight!. . .
—Bid him to write.
(She sends him a kiss with her fingers):
How good you are!
CYRANO:
Ay! Ay!
Ay! Ay!
ROXANE:
A hundred men against you? Now, farewell.—
We are great friends?
A hundred men against you? Now, farewell.—
We are great friends?
CYRANO:
Ay, ay!
Ay, ay!
ROXANE:
Oh, bid him write!
You’ll tell me all one day—A hundred men!—
Ah, brave!. . .How brave!
Oh, bid him write!
You’ll tell me all one day—A hundred men!—
Ah, brave!. . .How brave!
CYRANO (bowing to her):
I have fought better since.
I have fought better since.
(She goes out. Cyrano stands motionless, with eyes on the ground. A silence.
The door (right) opens. Ragueneau looks in.)
