Act IV: The Cadets of GasconyScene V
The same. Roxane.
De Guiche
On the King’s service! You?
Roxane
Ay,—King Love’s! What other king?
Cyrano
Great God!
Christian
Rushing forward
Why have you come?
Roxane
This siege—’tis too long!
Christian
But why?…
Roxane
I will tell you all!
Cyrano
Who, at the sound of her voice, has stood still, rooted to the ground, afraid to raise his eyes
My God! dare I look at her?
De Guiche
You cannot remain here!
Roxane
Merrily
But I say yes! Who will push a drum hither for me?
She seats herself on the drum they roll forward
So! I thank you.
She laughs
My carriage was fired at
Proudly
by the patrol! Look! would you not think ’twas made of a pumpkin, like Cinderella’s chariot in the tale,—and the footmen out of rats?
Sending a kiss with her lips to Christian
Good-morrow!
Examining them all
You look not merry, any of you! Ah! know you that ’tis a long road to get to Arras?
Seeing Cyrano
Cousin, delighted!
Cyrano
Coming up to her
But how, in Heaven’s name?…
Roxane
How found I the way to the army? It was simple enough, for I had but to pass on and on, as far as I saw the country laid waste. Ah, what horrors were there! Had I not seen, then I could never have believed it! Well, gentlemen, if such be the service of your King, I would fainer serve mine!
Cyrano
But ’tis sheer madness! Where in the fiend’s name did you get through?
Roxane
Where? Through the Spanish lines.
First Cadet
—For subtle craft, give me a woman!
De Guiche
But how did you pass through their lines?
Le Bret
Faith! that must have been a hard matter!…
Roxane
None too hard. I but drove quietly forward in my carriage, and when some hidalgo of haughty mien would have stayed me, lo! I showed at the window my sweetest smile, and these Senors being (with no disrespect to you) the most gallant gentlemen in the world,—I passed on!
Carbon
True, that smile is a passport! But you must have been asked frequently to give an account of where you were going, Madame?
Roxane
Yes, frequently. Then I would answer, ‘I go to see my lover.’ At that word the very fiercest Spaniard of them all would gravely shut the carriage-door, and, with a gesture that a king might envy, make signal to his men to lower the muskets leveled at me;—then, with melancholy but withal very graceful dignity—his beaver held to the wind that the plumes might flutter bravely, he would bow low, saying to me, ‘Pass on, Senorita!’
Christian
But, Roxane…
Roxane
Forgive me that I said, ‘my lover!’ But bethink you, had I said ‘my husband,’ not one of them had let me pass!
Christian
But…
Roxane
What ails you?
De Guiche
You must leave this place!
Roxane
I?
Cyrano
And that instantly!
Le Bret
No time to lose.
Christian
Indeed, you must.
Roxane
But wherefore must I?
Christian
Embarrassed
’Tis that…
Cyrano
The same
—In three quarters of an hour…
De Guiche
The same
—Or for…
Carbon
The same
It were best…
Le Bret
The same
You might…
Roxane
You are going to fight?—I stay here.
All
No, no!
Roxane
He is my husband!
She throws herself into Christian’s arms
They shall kill us both together!
Christian
Why do you look at me thus?
Roxane
I will tell you why!
De Guiche
In despair
’Tis a post of mortal danger!
Roxane
Turning round
Mortal danger!
Cyrano
Proof enough, that he has put us here!
Roxane
To De Guiche
So, Sir, you would have made a widow of me?
De Guiche
Nay, on my oath…
Roxane
I will not go! I am reckless now, and I shall not stir from here!—Besides, ’tis amusing!
Cyrano
Oh-ho! So our precieuse is a heroine!
Roxane
Monsieur de Bergerac, I am your cousin.
A Cadet
We will defend you well!
Roxane
More and more excited
I have no fear of that, my friends!
Another
In ecstasy
The whole camp smells sweet of orris-root!
Roxane
And, by good luck, I have chosen a hat that will suit well with the battlefield!
Looking at De Guiche
But were it not wisest that the Count retire?They may begin the attack.
De Guiche
That is not to be brooked! I go to inspect the cannon, and shall return. You have still time—think better of it!
Roxane
Never!
De Guiche goes out.