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.