Act 5 — SCENE II.
Charles Renauld translation
ROXANE, DUKE DE GRAMMONT (formerly Count de Guiche); later LE BRET and RAGUENEAU.
DUKE.
And so you persist in remaining in this seclusion, uselessly lovely, forever in mourning?
ROXANE.
Forever!
DUKE.
Ever true to his memory?
ROXANE.
Ever!
DUKE.
You have forgiven me?
ROXANE.
Yes! Since I am here.
(A pause.)
DUKE.
And he was truly so?....
ROXANE.
You never really knew him!
DUKE.
Probably!.... And his last letter lies on your heart always?
ROXANE.
Like a blessèd talisman it hangs on this ribbon.
DUKE.
You love him even dead?
ROXANE.
At times it seems as if he'd left me not, As if our hearts still beat as one, as if His love still coiled around me, strong, alive!
(Another pause.)
DUKE.
Does Cyrano ever come to see you?
ROXANE.
Yes, often. He is a very dear old friend, and he brings me all the news. He comes regularly, every Saturday. As the hour strikes, while I am at work on my tapestry, I know, without even turning around to see, that he is here, for I can hear his stick on the stone steps. If the weather is fine, he sits under this tree, where his chair awaits him. He laughs at what he calls my eternal work, relates to me the events of the week, and....
(Le Bret appears on the porch.)
Why! here is Le Bret!
(to Le Bret, who has come down).
And how is our friend?
LE BRET.
Not at all well.
DUKE.
Oh! I'm sorry.
ROXANE (to Duke).
Le Bret exaggerates!
LE BRET.
All as I predicted: desertion and poverty!.... His epistles have made him new enemies! He denounces mock nobility, mock piety, mock bravery, plagiarism,—in fact everybody!
ROXANE.
But the fear of his wonderful sword holds them all in respect. They'll never reach him.
DUKE (shaking his head).
Who knows?
LE BRET.
What I fear for him is not an assault; it is solitude, hunger, winter stealthily entering his poor abode. These are the enemies that may lay him low.—Each morning he buckles his belt a little tighter. His nose has now the sallowness of old ivory. His wardrobe is reduced to one suit of black.
DUKE.
Ah! he at least is not a parvenu. So, do not pity him too much. He has lived free from obligations and humiliating restraint.
LE BRET (smiling sadly).
Duke, Duke!....
DUKE.
Yes, I know: I have everything, and he has nothing.... But I should very much like to shake his hand.
(bowing to Roxane). Farewell.
ROXANE.
I'll see you to the gate.
(The Duke bows to Le Bret, and goes, with Roxane, towards the house.)
DUKE (stopping a moment).
I envy him at times. You see, Roxane, When we have had too much success in life, Although we've done no very wicked act— We feel within a thousand sickly stings Of self-reproach; their total is too small To constitute remorse, but large enough To keep us in a dull uneasiness. Thus ducal mantles sweep, as we ascend The steps of greatness, with their fringe of furs A rustling heap of withered sentiments, As now your sombre train, upon the porch, Draws in its folds a bunch of autumn leaves.
ROXANE (ironically).
You are in a very sentimental mood.
THE DUKE.
Alas! yes.
(as he is about to go out, abruptly).
Monsieur Le Bret!
(to Roxane).
By your permission, one word.
(to Le Bret in a low tone).
It is true; no one would dare to attack your friend. But there are many who hate him, and somebody said to me, yesterday, at the Queen's reception: "This Cyrano is not unlikely to meet some day with an accident." Tell him not to be about too much. To be prudent.
LE BRET (throwing up his arms).
Prudent, he! But he is coming here to-day, and I must warn him, though I doubt if that will do much good.
ROXANE (who has remained on the porch, to a sister coming up to her).
What is it?
THE SISTER.
Ragueneau wishes to see you, Madam.
ROXANE.
Let him in.
(Exit Sister.) (to Duke and to Le Bret).
He comes to tell his woes. He started to be an author, but became in turn a chanter....
LE BRET.
A bath-keeper....
ROXANE.
An actor....
LE BRET.
A beadle....
ROXANE.
A barber....
LE BRET.
An archlute-teacher....
ROXANE.
To-day what can he have become?
RAGUENEAU (entering rapidly).
Oh! Madam!
(noticing Le Bret). Oh! Sir!
ROXANE (smiling).
Tell your misfortunes to Le Bret. I shall be back presently.
(Exit Roxane, with the Duke, without listening to Ragueneau, who comes down toward Le Bret.)