Act 2 — SCENE VI.
Charles Renauld translation
CYRANO, ROXANE, and, a moment, THE DUENNA.
CYRANO.
Among all moments be the present blessed, Since, ceasing to forget that I exist,— However humbly—you have come to say.... To say....
ROXANE (who has unmasked).
To say: I thank you heartily. For, know you now, the fop, the brainless wretch You vanquished yesterday in noble strife, Was being forced upon me....
(bashfully)
....As a mate For life, by one who says he loves me....
CYRANO.
Guiche!.... Who's good at scheming thus....
(saluting)
So then I fought, Not for my nose, but for your smiling eyes.
ROXANE.
And then I wished.... but the admission needs That I should find in you.... the brother that You were of yore....when we were children both.
CYRANO.
When Bergerac was our summer ground....
ROXANE.
And reeds made up your goodly stock of swords....
CYRANO.
While waving corn gave flowing hair for dolls.
ROXANE.
What happy days! For you my will was law....
CYRANO.
You're now Roxane; you then were Madeleine.
ROXANE.
And pretty?
CYRANO.
You were not a sorry sight.
ROXANE.
How often, romping, you would get a hurt! Then, motherly, I'd say, in sternest voice: "Another frolic and another scratch!"....
(She stops astonished.)
The same to-day! What's this?
(Cyrano tries to withdraw his hand.)
No, let me see! You're still a boy, it seems.—Say when and how!
CYRANO.
At play just now, around the Porte de Nesle.
ROXANE (taking a seat at one of the tables, and wetting her handkerchief in a glass of water).
Your hand!
CYRANO (taking a seat near her).
How gently thoughtful you've remained!
ROXANE.
How many foes?
CYRANO.
Not quite a hundred.
ROXANE.
Oh! Do tell me all!
CYRANO.
What for? It's better far You tell me what you did not dare to say....
ROXANE.
But now I dare. The memories of yore Assist me. I'm....in love with somebody.
CYRANO.
Indeed!
ROXANE.
Who knows it not....
CYRANO.
Indeed!
ROXANE.
.... Not yet.
CYRANO.
Indeed!
ROXANE.
But he shall know it soon.
CYRANO.
Indeed!
ROXANE.
Poor fellow, he has loved me timidly, And from afar, and never dared to speak!
CYRANO.
Indeed!
ROXANE.
Your hand is feverish.... Oh! I easily could see the truth beneath his bashfulness!
CYRANO.
Indeed!....
ROXANE (as she finished bandaging his hand).
And see what a coincidence, dear cousin! He belongs to your regiment!
CYRANO.
Indeed!....
ROXANE (laughing).
Why, of course, he is a cadet in your Company!....
CYRANO.
Indeed!
ROXANE.
He bears on his brow the mark of intelligence, of genius! He is haughty, noble, young, intrepid, handsome,....
CYRANO (rising, very pale).
Handsome!
ROXANE.
Why! what is the matter?
CYRANO.
The matter? Nothing .... It is .... It is ....
(Showing his hand and smiling). This little scratch.
ROXANE.
Oh! Well, I really love him. I must say, however, that I have seen him only at the Theatre ....
CYRANO.
Then you have not spoken to each other?
ROXANE.
Our eyes alone have done the talking.
CYRANO.
Well, then, how do you know?
ROXANE.
Beneath the linden trees of the Place Royal there is some gossipping .... and information has reached me ....
CYRANO.
He is a cadet, you say?
ROXANE.
Yes, a cadet in the Guards.
CYRANO.
His name?
ROXANE.
Baron Christian de Neuvillette.
CYRANO.
How?.... There is nobody of that name among the cadets.
ROXANE.
Oh! yes, there is, since this morning. His Captain is Carbon of Haughty-Hall.
CYRANO.
And so, quick, quick, we throw away our little heart?.... But my poor child....
THE DUENNA (looking in at the door).
Monsieur de Bergerac, I have finished the cakes!
CYRANO.
Well, then, read the verses that you will find on the bags!
(Duenna disappears.)
.... My poor child, for you who are accustomed to refined language, to subtle thoughts,—suppose he were thoroughly uninitiated, in fact, a savage!
ROXANE.
Oh! no, he has the hair of a hero!
CYRANO.
Suppose he were as poor in speech as rich in hair.
ROXANE.
No, all his words are choice; I can tell by seeing him.
CYRANO.
Of course, all words are choice when they come through a mustache that is well curled.—But suppose he were a dunce!....
ROXANE (striking the floor with her foot, impatiently).
Well, it would kill me! There!
CYRANO (after a pause).
And it is to tell me this that you asked me to meet you here? I fail to see the necessity of the appointment, Madam.
ROXANE.
The fact is that somebody frightened me yesterday by telling me that you are all Gascons in your Company....
CYRANO.
And that we challenge any beardless hero who, through influence, and not being really a Gascon, manages to get assigned to our Gascon Company? That is what you were told.
ROXANE.
And you imagine how I tremble for him?
CYRANO (between his teeth).
Not without good reason!
ROXANE.
But then I was reminded of you, and of your skill and courage, your great achievements; and I thought: if he, Cyrano, whom everyone respects, would....
CYRANO.
'Tis well. I'll answer for your little baron.
ROXANE.
Yes, defend him always, please. And many thanks! You know how fond of you I've always been?
CYRANO.
Oh! yes, I know.
ROXANE.
You'll be his friend?
CYRANO.
I will.
ROXANE.
And he shall have no duels to fight.
CYRANO.
None; you have my promise.
ROXANE.
Ah! you are my dearest friend.—But I must go.
(She puts on her mask again, throws a lace scarf over her head, and then, in an unconcerned way says:)
But you did not relate to me your battle of last night. You must have been grand!.... Tell him to write me.
(Sends him a kiss with her hand.)
Dear, dear friend!
CYRANO.
All is understood.
ROXANE.
One hundred men against one: you!—So, good bye!—We are the best of friends, are we not?
CYRANO.
Assuredly, we are!
ROXANE.
Tell him to write!.... One hundred men!.... You'll tell me all about it later. To-day I cannot listen. One hundred men! How brave!
CYRANO (bowing).
Oh! I have done better since.
(Exit Roxane. Cyrano remains motionless, his eyes on the floor. Silence. The door to the right opens, and Ragueneau passes in his head.)