Scene 2.VI.



Cyrano, Roxane.



CYRANO:

  Blessed be the moment when you condescend--

  Remembering that humbly I exist--

  To come to meet me, and to say. . .to tell?. . .



ROXANE (who has unmasked):

  To thank you first of all.  That dandy count,

  Whom you checkmated in brave sword-play

  Last night,. . .he is the man whom a great lord,

  Desirous of my favor. . .



CYRANO:

  Ha, De Guiche?



ROXANE (casting down her eyes):

  Sought to impose on me. . .for husband. . .



CYRANO:

  Ay!  Husband!--dupe-husband!. . .Husband a la mode!

(Bowing):

  Then I fought, happy chance! sweet lady, not

  For my ill favor--but your favors fair!



ROXANE:

  Confession next!. . .But, ere I make my shrift,

  You must be once again that brother-friend

  With whom I used to play by the lake-side!. . .



CYRANO:

  Ay, you would come each spring to Bergerac!



ROXANE:

  Mind you the reeds you cut to make your swords?. . .



CYRANO:

  While you wove corn-straw plaits for your dolls' hair!



ROXANE:

  Those were the days of games!. . .



CYRANO:

  And blackberries!. . .



ROXANE:

  In those days you did everything I bid!. . .



CYRANO:

  Roxane, in her short frock, was Madeleine. . .



ROXANE:

  Was I fair then?



CYRANO:

  You were not ill to see!



ROXANE:

  Ofttimes, with hands all bloody from a fall,

  You'd run to me!  Then--aping mother-ways--

  I, in a voice would-be severe, would chide,--

(She takes his hand):

  'What is this scratch, again, that I see here?'

(She starts, surprised):

  Oh!  'Tis too much!  What's this?

(Cyrano tries to draw away his hand):

  No, let me see!

  At your age, fie!  Where did you get that scratch?



CYRANO:

  I got it--playing at the Porte de Nesle.



ROXANE (seating herself by the table, and dipping her handkerchief in a glass

of water):

  Give here!



CYRANO (sitting by her):

  So soft! so gay maternal-sweet!



ROXANE:

  And tell me, while I wipe away the blood,

  How many 'gainst you?



CYRANO:

  Oh!  A hundred--near.



ROXANE:

  Come, tell me!



CYRANO:

  No, let be.  But you, come tell

  The thing, just now, you dared not. . .



ROXANE (keeping his hand):

  Now, I dare!

  The scent of those old days emboldens me!

  Yes, now I dare.  Listen.  I am in love.



CYRANO:

  Ah!. . .



ROXANE:

  But with one who knows not.



CYRANO:

  Ah!. . .



ROXANE:

  Not yet.



CYRANO:

  Ah!. . .



ROXANE:

  But who, if he knows not, soon shall learn.



CYRANO:

  Ah!. . .



ROXANE:

  A poor youth who all this time has loved

  Timidly, from afar, and dares not speak. . .



CYRANO:

  Ah!. . .



ROXANE:

  Leave your hand; why, it is fever-hot!--

  But I have seen love trembling on his lips.



CYRANO:

  Ah!. . .



ROXANE (bandaging his hand with her handkerchief):

  And to think of it! that he by chance--

  Yes, cousin, he is of your regiment!



CYRANO:

  Ah!. . .



ROXANE (laughing):

  --Is cadet in your own company!



CYRANO:

  Ah!. . .



ROXANE:

  On his brow he bears the genius-stamp;

  He is proud, noble, young, intrepid, fair. . .



CYRANO (rising suddenly, very pale):

  Fair!



ROXANE:

  Why, what ails you?



CYRANO:

  Nothing; 'tis. . .

(He shows his hand, smiling):

  This scratch!



ROXANE:

  I love him; all is said.  But you must know

  I have only seen him at the Comedy. . .



CYRANO:

  How?  You have never spoken?



ROXANE:

  Eyes can speak.



CYRANO:

  How know you then that he. . .?



ROXANE:

  Oh! people talk

  'Neath the limes in the Place Royale. . .

  Gossip's chat

  Has let me know. . .



CYRANO:

  He is cadet?



ROXANE:

  In the Guards.



CYRANO:

  His name?



ROXANE:

  Baron Christian de Neuvillette.



CYRANO:

  How now?. . .He is not of the Guards!



ROXANE:

  To-day

  He is not join your ranks, under Captain

  Carbon de Castel-Jaloux.



CYRANO:

  Ah, how quick,

  How quick the heart has flown!. . .But, my poor child. . .



THE DUENNA (opening the door):

  The cakes are eaten, Monsieur Bergerac!



CYRANO:

  Then read the verses printed on the bags!

(She goes out):

  . . .My poor child, you who love but flowing words,

  Bright wit,--what if he be a lout unskilled?



ROXANE:

  No, his bright locks, like D'Urfe's heroes. . .



CYRANO:

  Ah!

  A well-curled pate, and witless tongue, perchance!



ROXANE:

  Ah no!  I guess--I feel--his words are fair!



CYRANO:

  All words are fair that lurk 'neath fair mustache!

  --Suppose he were a fool!. . .



ROXANE (stamping her foot):

  Then bury me!



CYRANO (after a pause):

  Was it to tell me this you brought me here?

  I fail to see what use this serves, Madame.



ROXANE:

  Nay, but I felt a terror, here, in the heart,

  On learning yesterday you were Gascons

  All of your company. . .



CYRANO:

  And we provoke

  All beardless sprigs that favor dares admit

  'Midst us pure Gascons--(pure!  Heaven save the mark!

  They told you that as well?



ROXANE:

  Ah!  Think how I

  Trembled for him!



CYRANO (between his teeth):

  Not causelessly!



ROXANE:

  But when

  Last night I saw you,--brave, invincible,--

  Punish that dandy, fearless hold your own

  Against those brutes, I thought--I thought, if he

  Whom all fear, all--if he would only. . .



CYRANO:

  Good.

  I will befriend your little Baron.



ROXANE:

  Ah!

  You'll promise me you will do this for me?

  I've always held you as a tender friend.



CYRANO:

  Ay, ay. 



ROXANE:

  Then you will be his friend?



CYRANO:

  I swear!



ROXANE:

  And he shall fight no duels, promise!



CYRANO:

  None.



ROXANE:

  You are kind, cousin!  Now I must be gone.

(She puts on her mask and veil quickly; then, absently):

  You have not told me of your last night's fray.

  Ah, but it must have been a hero-fight!. . .

  --Bid him to write.  

(She sends him a kiss with her fingers):

  How good you are!



CYRANO:

  Ay!  Ay!



ROXANE:

  A hundred men against you?  Now, farewell.--

  We are great friends?



CYRANO:

  Ay, ay!



ROXANE:

  Oh, bid him write!

  You'll tell me all one day--A hundred men!--

  Ah, brave!. . .How brave!



CYRANO (bowing to her):

  I have fought better since.



(She goes out.  Cyrano stands motionless, with eyes on the ground.  A silence. 

The door (right) opens.  Ragueneau looks in.)