Roxane, Cyrano. Then Le Bret, Carbon de Castel-Jaloux, the cadets, Ragueneau, De Guiche, etc.
CYRANO
(in despair. to Roxane) He's gone! 'Tis naught!--Oh, you know how he sees
Importance in a trifle!
ROXANE
(warmly) Did he doubt
Of what I said?--Ah, yes, I saw he doubted!
CYRANO
(taking her hand) But are you sure you told him all the truth?
ROXANE
Yes, I would love him were he. . .
She hesitates.
CYRANO
Does that word
Embarrass you before my face, Roxane?
CYRANO
(smiling sadly) 'Twill not hurt me! Say it! If he were
Ugly!. . .
ROXANE
Yes, ugly!
(Musket report outside):
Hark! I hear a shot!
CYRANO
(ardently) Hideous!
ROXANE
He could not be grotesque to me!
CYRANO
You'd love the same?. . .
ROXANE
The same--nay, even more!
CYRANO
(losing command over himself--aside) My God! it's true, perchance, love waits me there!
(To Roxane):
I. . .Roxane. . .listen. . .
LE BRET
(entering hurriedly--to Cyrano) Cyrano!
CYRANO
(turning round) What?
He whispers something to him.
CYRANO
(letting go Roxane's hand and exclaiming) Ah, God!
CYRANO
(to himself--stunned) All is over now.
Renewed reports.
ROXANE
What is the matter? Hark! another shot!
She goes up to look outside.
CYRANO
It is too late, now I can never tell!
ROXANE
(trying to rush out) What has chanced?
CYRANO
(rushing to stop her) Nothing!
Some cadets enter, trying to hide something they are carrying, and close round it to prevent Roxane approaching.
ROXANE
And those men?
(Cyrano draws her away):
What were you just about to say before. . .?
CYRANO
What was I saying? Nothing now, I swear!
(Solemnly):
I swear that Christian's soul, his nature, were. . .
(Hastily correcting himself):
Nay, that they are, the noblest, greatest. . .
ROXANE
Were?
(With a loud scream):
Oh!
She rushes up, pushing every one aside.
ROXANE
(seeing Christian lying on the ground, wrapped in his cloak) O Christian!
LE BRET
(to Cyrano) Struck by first shot of the enemy!
Roxane flings herself down by Christian. Fresh reports of cannon--clash of arms--clamor--beating of drums.
CARBON
(with sword in the air) O come! Your muskets.
Followed by the cadets, he passes to the other side of the ramparts.
THE VOICE OF CARBON
(from the other side) Ho! make haste!
Ragueneau rushes up, bringing water in a helmet.
CHRISTIAN
(in a dying voice) Roxane!
CYRANO (quickly, whispering into Christian's ear, while Roxane distractedly
tears a piece of linen from his breast, which she dips into the water, trying
to stanch the bleeding):
I told her all. She loves you still.
Christian closes his eyes.
ROXANE
How, my sweet love?
ROXANE
(to Cyrano) He is not dead?
CARBON
OPEN YOUR CHARGES WITH YOUR TEETH!
ROXANE
His cheek
Grows cold against my own!
ROXANE
(seeing a letter in Christian's doublet) A letter!. . .
'Tis for me!
She opens it.
Musket reports--shouts--noise of battle.
CYRANO
(trying to disengage his hand, which Roxane on her knees is holding) But, Roxane, hark, they fight!
ROXANE
(detaining him) Stay yet awhile.
For he is dead. You knew him, you alone.
(Weeping quietly):
Ah, was not his a beauteous soul, a soul
Wondrous!
CYRANO
(standing up--bareheaded) Ay, Roxane.
ROXANE
And a mind sublime?
ROXANE
A heart too deep for common minds to plumb,
A spirit subtle, charming?
CYRANO
(firmly) Ay, Roxane.
ROXANE
(flinging herself on the dead body) Dead, my love!
CYRANO
(aside--drawing his sword) Ay, and let me die to-day,
Since, all unconscious, she mourns me--in him!
DE GUICHE (appearing on the ramparts--bareheaded--with a wound on his
forehead--in a voice of thunder):
It is the signal! Trumpet flourishes!
The French bring the provisions into camp!
Hold but the place awhile!
Sounds of trumpets in the distance.
ROXANE
See, there is blood
Upon the letter--tears!
A VOICE
(outside--shouting) Surrender!
VOICE OF CADETS
No!
RAGUENEAU (standing on the top of his carriage, watches the battle over the
edge of the ramparts):
The danger's ever greater!
CYRANO
(to De Guiche--pointing to Roxane) I will charge!
Take her away!
ROXANE
(kissing the letter--in a half-extinguished voice) O God! his tears! his blood!. . .
RAGUENEAU
(jumping down from the carriage and rushing toward her) She's swooned away!
DE GUICHE
(on the rampart--to the cadets--with fury) Stand fast!
A VOICE
(outside) Lay down your arms!
CYRANO
(to De Guiche) Now that you have proved your valor, Sir,
(Pointing to Roxane):
Fly, and save her!
DE GUICHE
(rushing to Roxane, and carrying her away in his arms) So be it! Gain but time,
The victory's ours!
CYRANO
Good.
(Calling out to Roxane, whom De Guiche, aided by Ragueneau, is bearing away in
a fainting condition):
Farewell, Roxane!
Tumult. Shouts. Cadets reappear, wounded, falling on the scene. Cyrano, rushing to the battle, is stopped by Carbon de Castel-Jaloux, who is streaming with blood.
CARBON
We are breaking! I am wounded--wounded twice!
CYRANO
(shouting to the Gascons) GASCONS! HO, GASCONS! NEVER TURN YOUR BACKS!
(To Carbon, whom he is supporting):
Have no fear! I have two deaths to avenge:
My friend who's slain;--and my dead happiness!
(They come down, Cyrano brandishing the lance to which is attached Roxane's
handkerchief):
Float there! laced kerchief broidered with her name!
(He sticks it in the ground and shouts to the cadets):
FALL ON THEM, GASCONS! CRUSH THEM!
(To the fifer):
Fifer, play!
The fife plays. The wounded try to rise. Some cadets, falling one over the other down the slope, group themselves round Cyrano and the little flag. The carriage is crowded with men inside and outside, and, bristling with arquebuses, is turned into a fortress.
A CADET
(appearing on the crest, beaten backward, but still fighting, cries) They're climbing the redoubt!
(and falls dead.)
CYRANO
Let us salute them!
(The rampart is covered instantly by a formidable row of enemies. The
standards of the Imperialists are raised):
Fire!
General discharge.
A CRY IN THE ENEMY'S RANKS
Fire!
A deadly answering volley. The cadets fall on all sides.
A SPANISH OFFICER
(uncovering) Who are these men who rush on death?
CYRANO
(reciting, erect, amid a storm of bullets) The bold Cadets of Gascony,
Of Carbon of Castel-Jaloux!
Brawling, swaggering boastfully,
(He rushes forward, followed by a few survivors):
The bold Cadets. . .
Curtain.
Act V.
Cyrano's Gazette.
Fifteen years later, in 1655. Park of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in Paris.
Magnificent trees. On the left the house: broad steps on to which open
several doors. An enormous plane tree in the middle of the stage, standing
alone. On the right, among big boxwood trees, a semicircular stone bench.
The whole background of the stage is crossed by an alley of chestnut trees
leading on the right hand to the door of a chapel seen through the branches.
Through the double row of trees of this alley are seen lawns, other alleys,
clusters of trees, winding of the park, the sky.
The chapel opens by a little side door on to a colonnade which is wreathed
with autumn leaves, and is lost to view a little farther on in the right-hand
foreground behind the boxwood.
It is autumn. All the foliage is red against the fresh green of the lawns.
The green boxwood and yews stand out dark.
Under each tree a patch of yellow leaves.
The stage is strewn with dead leaves, which rustle under foot in the alleys,
and half cover the steps and benches.
Between the benches on the right hand and the tree a large embroidery frame,
in front of which a little chair has been set.
Baskets full of skeins and balls of wool. A tapestry begun.
At the rising of the curtains nuns are walking to and fro in the park; some
are seated on the bench around an older Sister.
The leaves are falling.
His voice is drowned in the battle.