Scene 4.IX.
Christian, Cyrano. At back Roxane talking to Carbon and some cadets.
CHRISTIAN (calling toward Cyrano's tent):
Cyrano!
CYRANO (reappearing, fully armed):
What? Why so pale?
CHRISTIAN:
She does not love me!
CYRANO:
What?
CHRISTIAN:
'Tis you she loves!
CYRANO:
No!
CHRISTIAN:
- For she loves me only for my soul!
CYRANO:
Truly?
CHRISTIAN:
Yes! Thus - you see, that soul is you, . . .
Therefore, 'tis you she loves! - And you - love her!
CYRANO:
I?
CHRISTIAN:
Oh, I know it!
CYRANO:
Ay, 'tis true!
CHRISTIAN:
You love
To madness!
CYRANO:
Ay! and worse!
CHRISTIAN:
Then tell her so!
CYRANO:
No!
CHRISTIAN:
And why not?
CYRANO:
Look at my face! - be answered!
CHRISTIAN:
She'd love me - were I ugly.
CYRANO:
Said she so?
CHRISTIAN:
Ay! in those words!
CYRANO:
I'm glad she told you that!
But pooh! - believe it not! I am well pleased
She thought to tell you. Take it not for truth.
Never grow ugly: - she'd reproach me then!
CHRISTIAN:
That I intend discovering!
CYRANO:
No! I beg!
CHRISTIAN:
Ay! she shall choose between us! - Tell her all!
CYRANO:
No! no! I will not have it! Spare me this!
CHRISTIAN:
Because my face is haply fair, shall I
Destroy your happiness? 'Twere too unjust!
CYRANO:
And I, - because by Nature's freak I have
The gift to say - all that perchance you feel.
Shall I be fatal to your happiness?
CHRISTIAN:
Tell all!
CYRANO:
It is ill done to tempt me thus!
CHRISTIAN:
Too long I've borne about within myself
A rival to myself - I'll make an end!
CYRANO:
Christian!
CHRISTIAN:
Or union, without witness - secret -
Clandestine - can be easily dissolved
If we survive.
CYRANO:
My God! - he still persists!
CHRISTIAN:
I will be loved myself - or not at all!
- I'll go see what they do - there, at the end
Of the post: speak to her, and then let her choose
One of us two!
CYRANO:
It will be you.
CHRISTIAN:
Pray God!
(He calls):
Roxane!
CYRANO:
No! no!
ROXANE (coming up quickly):
What?
CHRISTIAN:
Cyrano has things
Important for your ear . . .
(She hastens to Cyrano. Christian goes out.)
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