The same, with LE BRET and RAGUENEAU.

[He takes off his hat. They all see that his head is bandaged.]

[Everyone shrinks back in terror.]

Curtain.

LE BRET:

What madness! He's here! I knew it!

CYRANO:

[smiling and sitting up] Of course I am! What is it?

LE BRET:

Madame, he has brought his death by coming here.

ROXANE:

Oh, God! That moment just now, when you fainted—!

CYRANO:

Ah, yes! The moment that so rudely interrupted the “Gazette.” As I was saying, on Saturday, the twenty-sixth, at dinner-time, Monsieur de Bergerac was murdered.

ROXANE:

What is he talking about? Cyrano! Those bandages! What's hap- pened? How? Who?

CYRANO:

To be struck down by a sword in the heart, from a worthy oppo- nent's hand! That's what I had dreamed of! Oh, how Fate mocks me! I, of all men, killed in an ambush! Struck from behind, and by a lackey's hand! ’Tis very fitting. I've failed in everything, even in death.

RAGUENEAU:

Oh, Sir!

CYRANO:

[holding out his hand to him] Ragueneau, don't weep so bitterly! What are you doing for money now, old comrade?

RAGUENEAU:

[amid his tears] I snuff out the lights in the theater. I work for Molière.

CYRANO:

Molière!

RAGUENEAU:

Yes, but I'm quitting tomorrow. I cannot bear it! Yesterday, they played Scapin, and they used a scene stolen from you!

LE BRET:

The whole scene!

RAGUENEAU:

Yes, the famous one: “What the devil is he doing?”

LE BRET:

Molière stole that from you!

CYRANO:

Hush! I'm glad he took it. Tell me, how was the scene?

RAGUENEAU:

[sobbing] Oh! It was wonderful! The audience laughed and laughed!

CYRANO:

It's been my life's role to prompt others to greatness and to be forgotten myself. [to ROXANE] Do you remember that night, when Christian spoke to you from under your balcony? Well, there was the allegory of my whole life: I stand in the shadows, at the foot of the lad- der, while others lightly climb their way up to Love and Fame! Here, on the threshold of death, I see the justice of it—Molière has genius and Christian had beauty! [The chapel-bell chimes. The nuns are seen passing down the alley at the back, to say their prayers.] Let them go pray. Their bell is ringing!

ROXANE:

[rising and calling] Sister! Sister!

CYRANO:

[holding her fast] Don't go after them! If you leave me, I'll be gone for good when you come back. [The nuns have all entered the chapel. The organ sounds.] Ah! I was in need of some music, and here it is!

ROXANE:

Please live! I love you!

CYRANO:

In fairy tales, when the lady says “I love you” to the beast, his ugli- ness disappears. But this is no fairy tale. I remain the same, even after you speak the magic words.

ROXANE:

I am the source of your life's unhappiness! I!

CYRANO:

No. You have blessed my life! Never in my life had I been loved by a woman. Even my mother could not see past my ugliness. I had no sister and, when grown a man, I feared all women would mock me. But I have had your gracious friendship. Because of you, a woman's charm has finally passed across my path.

LE BRET:

[pointing to the moon, which is seen between the trees] Your other lady-love has come.

CYRANO:

[smiling] I see.

ROXANE:

I loved one man, and now I've lost him twice!

CYRANO:

Tonight, Le Bret, I shall reach the moon, without the aid of any projectile!

LE BRET:

What are you saying?

CYRANO:

I tell you, it's there that I'll have my Paradise. There I shall find at last the exiled souls that I love—Galileo, Socrates…

LE BRET:

[rebelliously] No, no! This is too unjust! So great a poet! So great a heart! To die like this?

CYRANO:

Listen to Le Bret, always scolding!

LE BRET:

[weeping] Dear friend…

CYRANO:

[starting up, his eyes wild] The bold cadets of Gascony!…The elemental mass!…Ah, yes!…There's the thing…

LE BRET:

Still speaking science, even in his delirium.

CYRANO:

Copernicus said…

ROXANE:

Oh!

CYRANO:

“But what the devil was he doing there? What the devil was he doing there, on that galley?” [He declaims.] Philosopher, physician, poet, brawler, musician; famed for his lunar expedition and for duels and battles no less; and lover too, to his own distress! Here lies Hercule Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac, who was everything yet was nothing. I beg your pardon, but I cannot stay. See, the moon's rays come to call me up! [He has fallen back in his chair. The sobs of ROXANE call him back to reality. He looks for a long moment at her and touches her veil.] I would not ask you to mourn that good, brave Christian less faithfully. I would only ask that when my body is cold and in the ground, that you wear your mourning clothes for two, and mourn me for a while, as you mourn him.

ROXANE:

I swear I will!

CYRANO:

[shivering violently, then suddenly rising] No! Not seated! [They all spring toward him.] Let no one hold me up! [He props himself up against the tree.] Only this tree! [There is silence.] It comes. Even now my feet have turned to stone. My hands are heavy like lead. [He stands erect.] But since Death comes, I'll meet him standing. [He draws his sword.] And with sword in hand!

LE BRET:

Cyrano!

ROXANE:

[half fainting] Cyrano!

CYRANO:

I see him! He, the noseless one, dares to mock my nose! How insolent! [He raises his sword.] You say it's useless. That I know. But who fights believing that every battle will be a success? I fought for lost causes and fruitless quests! You there! I see you! Thousands of you! All enemies of mine, I know you now! Ah! There's Falsehood! [He strikes the air with his sword.] And Compromise! Prejudice! Treachery! [He strikes.] Will I surrender? Strike an agreement? Never! And there you are, Folly! I know you'll be the one to take me down, at last. Yet I'll fall fighting, fighting still! [He makes passes in the air, and stops, breath- less.] You've stripped me of the laurel and the rose! Of glory and love! Take it all! But there is still one thing I hold against you, and when I enter God's house tonight, I shall wave one thing in salutation, across heaven's blue threshold. For there is one thing I have left, void of smear or stain, and I take it with me despite you. [He springs forward, his sword raised. It falls from his hand. He staggers and falls back into the arms of LE BRET and RAGUENEAU.]

ROXANE:

[bending and kissing his forehead] And that is—?

CYRANO:

[opening his eyes, recognizing her, and smiling] My white plume.