Cyrano De Bergerac Part 20

DE GUICHE I do not leave a woman in danger.

SECOND CADET [to FIRST CADET] Look here! I think he might be given something to eat! [All the food reappears, as if by magic.] [All the food reappears, as if by magic.]

DE GUICHE [his eyes brightening] Provisions? eyes brightening] Provisions?

THIRD CADET Under every waistcoat!

DE GUICHE [mastering himself, haughtily] Do you imagine that I will eat your leavings? himself, haughtily] Do you imagine that I will eat your leavings?

CYRANO [bowing] You are improving!

DE GUICHE [proudly, falling at the last of the sentence into a slightly GASCON accent [proudly, falling at the last of the sentence into a slightly GASCON accent] I will fight before I eat!

FIRST CADET [exultant] Fight! Eat! ... He spoke with an accent!

DE GUICHE [laughing] I did?

THE CADET He is one of us! [All fall to to dancing. dancing.]

CARBON [who a moment before disappeared behind the earth-works, reappearing at the top] [who a moment before disappeared behind the earth-works, reappearing at the top] I have placed my pikemen. They are a determined troop ... [He points I have placed my pikemen. They are a determined troop ... [He points at a at a line of pikes projecting line of pikes projecting above above the the bank] bank]

DE GUICHE [to ROXANE, bowing] Will you accept my hand and pa.s.s them in review? [She takes his hand; they go toward the bank. Every one uncovers and follows.] [She takes his hand; they go toward the bank. Every one uncovers and follows.]

CHRISTIAN [going to CYRANO, quickly quickly] Speak! Be quick! [As ROXANE appears at [As ROXANE appears at the top the top of the of the bank, the pikes disappear, lowered bank, the pikes disappear, lowered in a salute, and a cheer goes up; ROXANE bows.] in a salute, and a cheer goes up; ROXANE bows.]

PIKEMEN [outside] Vivat!

CHRISTIAN What did you want to tell me?

CYRANO In case Roxane ...

CHRISTIAN Well?

CYRANO Should speak to you of the letters ...

CHRISTIAN Yes, the letters. I know!

CYRANO Do not commit the blunder of appearing surprised ...

CHRISTIAN At what?

CYRANO I must tell you! ... It is quite simple, and merely comes into my mind to-day because I see her. You have ...

CHRISTIAN Hurry!

CYRANO You ... you have written to her oftener than you suppose ...

CHRISTIAN Oh, have I?

CYRANO Yes. It was my business, you see. I had undertaken to interpret your pa.s.sion, and sometimes I wrote without having told you I should write.

CHRISTIAN Ah?

CYRANO It is very simple.

CHRISTIAN But how did you succeed since we have been so closely surrounded, in ... ?

CYRANO Oh, before daybreak I could cross the lines ...

CHRISTIAN [folding his his arms arms] Ah, that is very simple, too? ... And how many times a week have I been writing? Twice? Three times? Four? ...

CYRANO More.

CHRISTIAN Every day?

CYRANO Yes, every day ... twice.

CHRISTIAN [violently] And you cared so much about it that you were willing to brave death....

CYRANO [seeing [seeing ROXANE ROXANE who returns.] who returns.] Be still ... Not before her! [He goes quickly into his tent.] [CADETS come Be still ... Not before her! [He goes quickly into his tent.] [CADETS come and and go go at at the back. CARBON the back. CARBON and and DE DE GUICHE GUICHE give give orders.] orders.]

SCENE VIII.

Roxane, Christian, Cadets, Carbon de Castel-Jaloux, De Guiche

ROXANE [running to CHRISTIAN] And now, Christian ...

CHRISTIAN [taking her hands] [taking her hands] And now, you shall tell me why, over these fearful roads, through these ranks of rough soldiery, you risked your dear self to join me? And now, you shall tell me why, over these fearful roads, through these ranks of rough soldiery, you risked your dear self to join me?

ROXANE Because of the letters!

CHRISTIAN The ... ? ?What did you say?

ROXANE It is through your fault that I have been exposed to such and so many dangers. It is your letters that have gone to my head! Ah, think how many you have written me in a month, each one more beautiful ...

CHRISTIAN What? ... Because of a few little love letters ...

ROXANE Say nothing! You cannot understand! Listen: The truth is that I took to idolizing you one evening, when, below my window, in a voice I did not know before, your soul began to reveal itself.... Think then what the effect should be of your letters, which have been like your voice heard constantly for one month, your voice of that evening, so tender, caressing ... You must bear it as you can, I have come to you! Prudent Penelope would not have stayed at home with her eternal tapestry, if Ulysses, her lord, had written as you write ... but, impulsive as Helen, have tossed aside her yarns, and flown to join him!65 CHRISTIAN But ...

ROXANE I read them, I re-read them, in reading I grew faint ... I became your own indeed! Each fluttering leaf was like a petal of your soul wafted to me ... In every word of those letters, love is felt as a flame would be felt,-love, compelling, sincere, profound ...

CHRISTIAN Ah, sincere, profound? ... You say that it can be felt, Roxane?

ROXANE He asks me!

CHRISTIAN And so you came? ...

ROXANE I came-oh Christian, my own, my master! If I were to kneel at your feet you would lift me, I know. It is my soul therefore which kneels, and never can you lift it from that posture!-I came to implore your pardon-as it is fitting, for we are both perhaps about to die!-your pardon for having done you the wrong, at first, in my shallowness, of loving you ... for mere looking!

CHRISTIAN [in alarm] Ah, Roxane! ...

ROXANE Later, dear one, grown less shallow-similar to a bird which flutters before it can fly,-your gallant exterior appealing to me still, but your soul appealing equally, I loved you for both! ...

CHRISTIAN And now?

ROXANE Now at last yourself are vanquished by yourself: I love you for your soul alone ...

CHRISTIAN [drawing away away] Ah, Roxane!

ROXANE Rejoice! For to be loved for that wherewith we are clothed so fleetingly must put a n.o.ble heart to torture.... Your dear thought at last casts your dear face in shadow: the harmonious lineaments whereby at first you pleased me, I do not see them, now my eyes are open!

CHRISTIAN Oh!

ROXANE You question your own triumph?

CHRISTIAN [sorrowfully] Roxane!

ROXANE I understand, you cannot conceive of such a love in me?

CHRISTIAN I do not wish to be loved like that! I wish to be loved quite simply ...

ROXANE For that which other women till now have loved in you? Ah, let yourself be loved in a better way.

CHRISTIAN No ... I was happier before! ...

ROXANE Ah, you do not understand! It is now that I love you most, that I truly love you. It is that which makes you, you-can you not grasp it?-that I wors.h.i.+p ... And did you no longer walk our earth like a young martial Apollo ...

CHRISTIAN Say no more!

ROXANE Still would I love you! ... Yes, though a blight should have fallen upon your face and form ...

CHRISTIAN Do not say it!

ROXANE But I do say it, ... I do!

CHRISTIAN What? If I were ugly, distinctly, offensively?

ROXANE If you were ugly, dear, I swear it!

CHRISTIAN G.o.d!

ROXANE And you are glad, profoundly glad?

CHRISTIAN [in a smothered voice] [in a smothered voice] Yes ... Yes ...

ROXANE What is it?

CHRISTIAN [pus.h.i.+ng her gently away away] Nothing. I have a word or two to say to some one: your leave, for a second ...

ROXANE But ...

CHRISTIAN [pointing at a at a group of CADETS group of CADETS at at the back] In my selfish love, I have kept you from those poor brothers.... Go, smile on them a little, before they die, dear ... go! the back] In my selfish love, I have kept you from those poor brothers.... Go, smile on them a little, before they die, dear ... go!

ROXANE [moved] [moved] Dear Christian! Dear Christian! [She goes toward the GASCONS at the back; they respectfully gather around her.] [She goes toward the GASCONS at the back; they respectfully gather around her.]

SCENE IX.

Christian, Cyrano; in the background, Roxane, talking with Carbon de Castel-Jaloux and some of the Cadets

CHRISTIAN [calling toward CYRANO's CYRANO's tent tent] Cyrano!

CYRANO [appears, armed for battle armed for battle] What is it? ... How pale you are!

CHRISTIAN She does not love me any more!

CYRANO What do you mean?

CHRISTIAN She loves you.

CYRANO No!

CHRISTIAN She only loves my soul!

CYRANO No!

CHRISTIAN Yes! Therefore it is you she loves ... and you love her ...

CYRANO I ...

CHRISTIAN I know it!

CYRANO It is true.

CHRISTIAN To madness!

CYRANO More.

CHRISTIAN Tell her then.

CYRANO No!