Act II - Scene VI

CYRANO, ROXANE

[She goes out. CYRANO stands motionless, with his eyes to the ground. There is a silence. The door opens and RAGUENEAU looks in.]

CYRANO:
Blessed be this day that you recognize my existence and come to meet me, and to say …
ROXANE:
[who has taken off her mask] I came to say thank you, first of all, for your victory last night. That arrogant man whom you beat in swordplay was the man whom a certain great lord, infatuated with me—
CYRANO:
de Guiche?
ROXANE:
[casting her eyes downward] —tried to force on me as a husband.
CYRANO:
Indeed, a husband! A duped husband! A husband only in form! [bowing] Then I am glad to know that I fought last night not for my ugly nose but for your beautiful virtue!
ROXANE:
I also have a confession to make. But before I do so, I must see you again as that brother-friend with whom I used to play by the lakeside!
CYRANO:
Yes, you would come each spring to Bergerac!
ROXANE:
Remember the reeds you used to cut to make your swords?
CYRANO:
And you wove corn silk to make braids for your dolls’ hair!
ROXANE:
Those were the days of games!
CYRANO:
And eating blackberries!
ROXANE:
In those days, you did everything I asked of you!
CYRANO:
You were called Madeleine then, in your little girl dress!
ROXANE:
Was I pretty then?
CYRANO:
You certainly were not plain!
ROXANE:
I remember many times you would come running to me, hands all cut up from a fall, and I would act as if I were your mother. I would try to sound severe. [She takes his hand.] I'd say sternly, “What happened here? Did you hurt yourself again?” [She looks at his hand, surprised.] Oh! It's too much! What happened to your hand? [CYRANO tries to draw away his hand.] No, let me see! Still injuring yourself, at your age! Where did you get that scratch?
CYRANO:
I got it while playing at the Porte de Nesle.
ROXANE:
[seating herself by the table, and dipping her handkerchief in a glass of water] Give me your hand!
CYRANO:
[sitting by her] So soft! So motherly and sweet!
ROXANE:
Tell me, while I wipe away the blood, how many men were against you?
CYRANO:
Oh, about a hundred.
ROXANE:
Tell me more!
CYRANO:
No, let it be. But I'd like you to tell me what it was you were about to confess.
ROXANE:
[keeping his hand] Yes, now I can tell you! The memory of those old days makes me bolder! Here it is. I am in love with someone.
CYRANO:
Ah!
ROXANE:
But he does not know it.
CYRANO:
Ah!
ROXANE:
Not yet.
CYRANO:
Ah!
ROXANE:
But he shall soon learn.
CYRANO:
Ah!
ROXANE:
A poor young man, who all this time has loved me, timidly, from afar, and dares not speak.
CYRANO:
Ah!
ROXANE:
My, your hand feels feverish! He dares not speak, but I have seen love trembling on his lips.
CYRANO:
Ah!
ROXANE:
[bandaging his hand with her handkerchief] And it just so happens, dear cousin, that he's a member of your regiment!
CYRANO:
Ah!
ROXANE:
[laughing] A cadet in your own company!
CYRANO:
Ah!
ROXANE:
His brow bears the stamp of genius. He is proud, noble, young, intrepid, handsome—
CYRANO:
[rising suddenly, very pale] Handsome!
ROXANE:
What's the matter?
CYRANO:
Nothing. It's … [showing his hand, smiling] It's only a little pain from this scratch!
ROXANE:
I love him. Now I've said it. But I must tell you I've only seen him at the theater.
CYRANO:
You mean you've never spoken to him?
ROXANE:
Eyes can speak.
CYRANO:
But then, how do you know that he …?
ROXANE:
Oh, people talk. Gossip spreads quickly under the linden trees at Place Royale.
CYRANO:
He is a cadet?
ROXANE:
Yes, in the Guards
CYRANO:
What's his name?
ROXANE:
Baron Christian de Neuvillette.
CYRANO:
What? He's not in the Guards.
ROXANE:
He just joined this morning, under Captain Carbon de Castel-Jaloux.
CYRANO:
Oh, how quickly we lose our hearts! But, my poor child—
DUENNA:
[opening the door] I've eaten all the cakes, Monsieur Bergerac!
CYRANO:
Then read the poems printed on the bags! [She goes out.] My poor child, you who love flowing words and sharp wit—what if he turns out to be dull?
ROXANE:
No, his hair is just like the hair of one of d'Urfe's heroes!
CYRANO:
Ah! Nice hair but witless speech, perhaps?
ROXANE:
Oh, no! His words are fair and elegant—I can just feel it!
CYRANO:
All words seem elegant when they lurk beneath an elegant mustache! Suppose he's really a fool!
ROXANE:
[stamping her foot] Then I'll just die!
CYRANO:
[after a pause] Did you bring me here in order to tell me this? I must say I don't understand why.
ROXANE:
It's because I learned just yesterday that all of your company are Gascons and—
CYRANO:
And we always provoke any newcomer who somehow gains favor without being a pure Gascon?
ROXANE:
Yes! Think how I fear for him!
CYRANO:
[aside] And with good reason!
ROXANE:
But when I saw you last night, fighting so bravely and fearlessly, holding your own against all of those brutes, I thought, “If only he, whom everyone fears, if only he would …”
CYRANO:
All right. I will befriend your little Baron.
ROXANE:
Oh! Do you promise you'll do this for me? I've always held you as a tender friend.
CYRANO:
Yes, yes.
ROXANE:
Then you will be his friend?
CYRANO:
I swear!
ROXANE:
And he shall fight no duels?
CYRANO:
None. I promise.
ROXANE:
You are so kind, cousin! Now I must go. [She puts on her mask and veil, and then speaks distractedly.] Oh, but you haven't told me about your battle last night—what a hero you must have been! Please tell him to write to me! [She sends him a kiss with her fingers.] Oh, how good you are!
CYRANO:
Yes, yes.
ROXANE:
A hundred men against you! What a hero! But I must go. You're such a great friend!
CYRANO:
Yes, yes.
ROXANE:
Tell him to write to me. You'll tell me all about the fight one day. A hundred men! Oh, how brave!
CYRANO:
[bowing to her] I have fought better since.

Footnotes

  1. The word "regiment" refers to several battalions or a very large group of soldiers.

    — Lori Steinbach
  2. The phrase "d'Urfe's heroes" refers to the novels of French author Honoré d'Urfé (1567–1625). Heroes in d'Urfé’s stories were considered ideal models of knights.

    — Owl Eyes Reader