Act III: Roxane’s KissScene IX
Cyrano, Christian, Roxane.
Roxane
Coming out on the balcony
Still there?We spoke of a…
Cyrano
A kiss! The word is sweet.I see not why your lip should shrink from it;If the word burns it,—what would the kiss do?Oh! let it not your bashfulness affright;Have you not, all this time, insensibly,Left badinage aside, and unalarmedGlided from smile to sigh,—from sigh to weeping?Glide gently, imperceptibly, still onward—From tear to kiss,—a moment’s thrill!—a heartbeat!
Roxane
Hush! hush!
Cyrano
A kiss, when all is said,—what is it?An oath that’s ratified,—a sealed promise,A heart’s avowal claiming confirmation,—A rose-dot on the ‘i’ of ‘adoration,’—A secret that to mouth, not ear, is whispered,—Brush of a bee’s wing, that makes time eternal,—Communion perfumed like the spring’s wild flowers,—The heart’s relieving in the heart’s outbreathing,When to the lips the soul’s flood rises, brimming!
Roxane
Hush! hush!
Cyrano
A kiss, Madame, is honorable:The Queen of France, to a most favored lordDid grant a kiss—the Queen herself!
Roxane
What then?
Cyrano
Speaking more warmly
Buckingham suffered dumbly,—so have I,—Adored his Queen, as loyally as I,—Was sad, but faithful,—so am I…
Roxane
And youAre fair as Buckingham!
Cyrano
Aside—suddenly cooled
True,—I forgot!
Roxane
Must I then bid thee mount to cull this flower?
Cyrano
Pushing Christian toward the balcony
Mount!
Roxane
This heart-breathing!…
Cyrano
Mount!
Roxane
This brush of bee’s wing!…
Cyrano
Mount!
Christian
Hesitating
But I feel now, as though ’twere ill done!
Roxane
This moment infinite!…
Cyrano
Still pushing him
Come, blockhead, mount!
Christian springs forward, and by means of the bench, the branches, and the pillars, climbs to the balcony and strides over it.
Christian
Ah, Roxane!
He takes her in his arms, and bends over her lips.
Cyrano
Aie! Strange pain that wrings my heart!The kiss, love’s feast, so near! I, Lazarus,Lie at the gate in darkness. Yet to meFalls still a crumb or two from the rich man’s board—Ay, ’tis my heart receives thee, Roxane—mine!For on the lips you press you kiss as wellThe words I spoke just now!—my words—my words!
The lutes play
A sad air,—a gay air: the monk!
He begins to run as if he came from a long way off, and cries out
Hola!
Roxane
Who is it?
Cyrano
I—I was but passing by…Is Christian there?
Christian
Astonished
Cyrano!
Roxane
Good-day, cousin!
Cyrano
Cousin, good-day!
Roxane
I’m coming!
She disappears into the house. At the back re-enter the friar.
Christian
Seeing him
Back again!
He follows Roxane.