Act III - Scene V
CHRISTIAN, ROXANE, the DUENNA
[She goes into ROXANE'S house.]
[She goes toward her house.]
[She shuts the door in his face.]
- ROXANE:
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[coming out of Clomire's house with a group of friends, bowing and saying goodbye to them] Goodbye, Barthenoide! Alcandre! Gremione!
- DUENNA:
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[bitterly disappointed] We missed the speech on “The Tender Passion.”
- ROXANE:
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[still bowing to her friends] Goodbye, Urimedonte! [They all bow to ROXANE and to each other, and then separate, going up different streets. ROXANE suddenly sees CHRISTIAN] It's you! [She goes to him.] Night is falling and no one is around. Let's sit. Please speak, and I will listen.
- CHRISTIAN:
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[sits by her on the bench; there is a silence.] Oh! I love you!
- ROXANE:
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[shutting her eyes] Yes, speak to me of love.
- CHRISTIAN:
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I love you!
- ROXANE:
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Yes, that's the theme, but elaborate on it.
- CHRISTIAN:
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I…
- ROXANE:
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Go on, elaborate!
- CHRISTIAN:
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I love you so!
- ROXANE:
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Oh, without a doubt! But what else?
- CHRISTIAN:
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And I would be—Oh!—I would be so glad—so glad—if you would love me! Oh, Roxane, tell me so!
- ROXANE:
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[with a little grimace] I hoped for cream, but you're giving me water! Explain to me how you love me!
- CHRISTIAN:
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Oh, utterly!
- ROXANE:
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Come, come! Untangle those knotted thoughts!
- CHRISTIAN:
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I'd love to kiss your throat!
- ROXANE:
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Christian!
- CHRISTIAN:
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I love you!
- ROXANE:
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[half-rising] You've already said that!
- CHRISTIAN:
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[eagerly, trying to detain her] No, no! I don't love you!
- ROXANE:
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[reseating herself] Well, at least that's a change.
- CHRISTIAN:
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I adore you!
- ROXANE:
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[rising and going further away] Oh!
- CHRISTIAN:
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Oh, I'm growing foolish!
- ROXANE:
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[dryly] And that displeases me—almost as much as it would displease me if you grew ugly.
- CHRISTIAN:
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But—
- ROXANE:
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Find your eloquence that seems to have flown away!
- CHRISTIAN:
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I…
- ROXANE:
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Yes, you love me. I already know that. Good night!
- CHRISTIAN:
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Oh, don't go yet! I shall tell you—
- ROXANE:
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[opening the door] That you adore me? I've heard that enough. Go away!
- CHRISTIAN:
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But I—
- CYRANO:
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[who has re-entered unseen] Well, what a success that was!