Act 3 — SCENE I.
Charles Renauld translation
RAGUENEAU, THE DUENNA, later ROXANE, CYRANO, and two pages.
RAGUENEAU.
.... And then she left with a Musketeer! Deserted and ruined, I hung myself, and I was already off for another world, when enter Monsieur de Bergerac. He unhung me and offered me to his cousin for a steward.
THE DUENNA.
But how were you ruined so?
RAGUENEAU.
Lise had a weakness for the military, and I for poets. Mars ate all the cakes that Apollo left. Oh! they made short work of it!
THE DUENNA (rises and calls toward the window).
Roxane! Are you ready? We'll be late.
VOICE OF ROXANE (through the window).
I'm putting on my cape!
THE DUENNA (to Ragueneau, pointing to the door of the house over the way).
We are expected over there, at Clomire's. She holds her literary assizes. There will be a reading. Subject: The Tender Passion!
RAGUENEAU.
The Tender Passion, indeed!
THE DUENNA (smirking).
The Tender Passion. Why not?
(calling toward the window).
Roxane, come down! Or we shall miss the discourse on The Tender Passion.
VOICE OF ROXANE.
I am coming!
(Sound of string instruments growing gradually nearer.)
VOICE OF CYRANO (singing in the wings).
La, la, la, la!
THE DUENNA (surprised).
Music for us!
CYRANO (followed by two pages each with an archlute).
I say again that it's a demi-semi-quaver, you triple fool!
FIRST PAGE (with irony).
So then, Sir, you have thorough knowledge of quavers?
CYRANO.
I am a musician, as are all the disciples of Gassendi.
THE PAGE (playing and singing).
La, la!
CYRANO (snatching from him the archlute and continuing the music).
I can go on! La, la, la, la!
ROXANE (appearing on the balcony).
So, it is you?
CYRANO (continuing the same air).
Yes, I who come to celebrate the lily, And to extol the glory of the ro....se!
ROXANE.
I'll be down in a moment.
(She leaves the balcony.)
THE DUENNA (to Cyrano, pointing to the two pages).
And who may be these two songsters?
CYRANO.
Oh! they are part of a bet I won. D'Assoucy and I had a discussion on a point of grammar. No! Yes! No! Yes! Of a sudden he points to these two scarecrows here, his constant escort, great in the art of scratching a string with a claw, and he says: "I'll bet you a whole day of music!"—He lost. And now, until to-morrow comes, I must enjoy both the strains and the presence of these two harmonious witnesses of all my acts!.... Pleasant, if you like, in the beginning, but now the pleasure is growing less.
(to the musicians).
Hep!.... Just go and play a pavan—with my compliments—for that actor Montfleury!
(Pages go up. To the Duenna).
I've come this evening—as on previous evenings—
(to the Pages who are leaving).
Play long,—and out of tune!
(to Duenna).
To ask Roxane if the friend of her soul is still as faultless as before.
ROXANE (coming out of the house).
How beautiful, how clever he is! and how I love him!
CYRANO (smiling).
Indeed! And is Christian so very clever?....
ROXANE.
Yes, dear friend, more so even than yourself!
CYRANO.
So be it, then!
ROXANE.
To my mind, it would be impossible for anyone to deliver with more elegance and wit than he does these pretty trifles that are nothing, if you will—and still are everything. At times, it is true, he seems quite absent-minded; but, suddenly, he recovers and says the most charming things!
CYRANO (incredulous).
You surprise me!
ROXANE.
You men are really astonishing! Because Christian is handsome, he must be stupid!
CYRANO.
I doubt if he can speak of hearts and love.
ROXANE.
He does not speak of, he lectures on them, Sir!
CYRANO.
And he writes?
ROXANE.
Still better. Just listen.
(reciting).
"The more you take of what's my heart, the more I've left."
(triumphantly).
What think you of that?
CYRANO.
So! So!
ROXANE.
And of this? (reciting).
"Since I must suffer and, to suffer, have a heart, If you would keep the heart that's mine, then send me yours."
CYRANO.
At first he had too much heart; now he has not enough. It would be interesting to know exactly how much heart would satisfy him.
ROXANE.
You are exasperating! True jealousy!....
CYRANO (moved).
What?....
ROXANE.
An author's jealousy! And is not this just as lovely as possible? Listen!
"T'ward you my heart, I swear, has but a single cry, And, if in written lines fond kisses could be sent, O Madam, you would read this letter with your lips!"
CYRANO (with an unconscious smile of satisfaction).
Ha! ha! the lines are.... hum! hum!....
(recovering and disdainfully).
.... really pretty weak!
ROXANE.
Indeed! And this?
CYRANO.
Why! do you remember all his letters?
ROXANE.
Every one of them!
CYRANO.
Undoubtedly, this is quite a compliment!
ROXANE.
He is a master!
CYRANO (with modesty).
Oh!.... a master!....
ROXANE (with decision).
A master, I say!
CYRANO.
So be it! A master!
THE DUENNA (returning from the rear).
Monsieur de Guiche!
(to Cyrano, pushing him toward the house).
Get into the house. It is better he should not see you here—or else he might suspect....
ROXANE (to Cyrano).
Yes, discover my secret. He loves me; he is powerful, and he must not know of my love. He could destroy it!
CYRANO (entering the house).
Very well, then, very well!
(Enter Guiche.)