Scene 4.V.



The same.  Roxane.



DE GUICHE:

  On the King's service!  You?



ROXANE:

  Ay,--King Love's!  What other king?



CYRANO:

  Great God!



CHRISTIAN (rushing forward):

  Why have you come?



ROXANE:

  This siege--'tis too long!



CHRISTIAN:

  But why?. . .



ROXANE:

  I will tell you all!



CYRANO (who, at the sound of her voice, has stood still, rooted to the ground,

afraid to raise his eyes):

  My God! dare I look at her?



DE GUICHE:

  You cannot remain here!



ROXANE (merrily):

  But I say yes!  Who will push a drum hither for me?

(She seats herself on the drum they roll forward):

  So!  I thank you.

(She laughs):

  My carriage was fired at

(proudly):

  by the patrol!  Look! would you not think 'twas made of a pumpkin, like

Cinderella's chariot in the tale,--and the footmen out of rats?

(Sending a kiss with her lips to Christian):

  Good-morrow!

(Examining them all):

  You look not merry, any of you!  Ah! know you that 'tis a long road to get

to Arras?

(Seeing Cyrano):

  Cousin, delighted!



CYRANO (coming up to her):

  But how, in Heaven's name?. . .



ROXANE:

  How found I the way to the army?  It was simple enough, for I had but to

pass on and on, as far as I saw the country laid waste.  Ah, what horrors were

there!  Had I not seen, then I could never have believed it!  Well, gentlemen,

if such be the service of your King, I would fainer serve mine!



CYRANO:

  But 'tis sheer madness!  Where in the fiend's name did you get through?



ROXANE:

  Where?  Through the Spanish lines.



FIRST CADET:

  --For subtle craft, give me a woman!



DE GUICHE:

  But how did you pass through their lines?



LE BRET:

  Faith! that must have been a hard matter!. . .



ROXANE:

  None too hard.  I but drove quietly forward in my carriage, and when some

hidalgo of haughty mien would have stayed me, lo! I showed at the window my

sweetest smile, and these Senors being (with no disrespect to you) the most

gallant gentlemen in the world,--I passed on!



CARBON:

  True, that smile is a passport!  But you must have been asked frequently to

give an account of where you were going, Madame?



ROXANE:

  Yes, frequently.  Then I would answer, 'I go to see my lover.'  At that word

the very fiercest Spaniard of them all would gravely shut the carriage-door,

and, with a gesture that a king might envy, make signal to his men to lower

the muskets leveled at me;--then, with melancholy but withal very graceful

dignity--his beaver held to the wind that the plumes might flutter bravely, he

would bow low, saying to me, 'Pass on, Senorita!'



CHRISTIAN:

  But, Roxane. . .



ROXANE:

  Forgive me that I said, 'my lover!'  But bethink you, had I said 'my

husband,' not one of them had let me pass!



CHRISTIAN:

  But. . .



ROXANE:

  What ails you?



DE GUICHE:

  You must leave this place!



ROXANE:

  I?



CYRANO:

  And that instantly!



LE BRET:

  No time to lose.



CHRISTIAN:

  Indeed, you must.



ROXANE:

  But wherefore must I?



CHRISTIAN (embarrassed):

  'Tis that. . .



CYRANO (the same):

  --In three quarters of an hour. . .



DE GUICHE (the same):

  --Or for. . .



CARBON (the same):

  It were best. . .



LE BRET (the same):

  You might. . .



ROXANE:

  You are going to fight?--I stay here.



ALL:

  No, no!



ROXANE:

  He is my husband!

(She throws herself into Christian's arms):

  They shall kill us both together!



CHRISTIAN:

  Why do you look at me thus?



ROXANE:

  I will tell you why!



DE GUICHE (in despair):

  'Tis a post of mortal danger!



ROXANE (turning round):

  Mortal danger!



CYRANO:

  Proof enough, that he has put us here!



ROXANE (to De Guiche):

  So, Sir, you would have made a widow of me?



DE GUICHE:

  Nay, on my oath. . .



ROXANE:

  I will not go!  I am reckless now, and I shall not stir from here!--Besides,

'tis amusing!



CYRANO:

  Oh-ho!  So our precieuse is a heroine!



ROXANE:

  Monsieur de Bergerac, I am your cousin.



A CADET:

  We will defend you well!



ROXANE (more and more excited):

  I have no fear of that, my friends!



ANOTHER (in ecstasy):

  The whole camp smells sweet of orris-root!



ROXANE:

  And, by good luck, I have chosen a hat that will suit well with the

battlefield!

(Looking at De Guiche):

  But were it not wisest that the Count retire?

  They may begin the attack.



DE GUICHE:

  That is not to be brooked!  I go to inspect the cannon, and shall return.

You have still time--think better of it!



ROXANE:

  Never!



(De Guiche goes out.)