Act IV: The Cadets of GasconyScene X
Roxane, Cyrano. Then Le Bret, Carbon de Castel-Jaloux, the cadets, Ragueneau, De Guiche, etc.
Roxane
Important, how?
Cyrano
In despair. to Roxane
He’s gone! ’Tis naught!—Oh, you know how he seesImportance in a trifle!
Roxane
Warmly
Did he doubtOf 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 wordEmbarrass you before my face, Roxane?
Roxane
I…
Cyrano
Smiling sadly
’Twill not hurt me! Say it! If he wereUgly!…
Roxane
Yes, ugly!
Musket report outside
Hark! I hear a shot!
Cyrano
Ardently
Hideous!
Roxane
Hideous! yes!
Cyrano
Disfigured.
Roxane
Ay!
Cyrano
Grotesque?
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?
Le Bret
Hush!
He whispers something to him.
Cyrano
Letting go Roxane’s hand and exclaiming
Ah, God!
Roxane
What is it?
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.
Cyrano
All is over now!
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.
Roxane
Christian!
The Voice of Carbon
From the other side
Ho! make haste!
Roxane
Christian!
Carbon
FORM LINE!
Roxane
Christian!
Carbon
HANDLE YOUR MATCH!
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?
Carbon
DRAW RAMRODS!
Roxane
To Cyrano
He is not dead?
Carbon
OPEN YOUR CHARGES WITH YOUR TEETH!
Roxane
His cheekGrows cold against my own!
Carbon
READY! PRESENT!
Roxane
Seeing a letter in Christian’s doublet
A letter!…’Tis for me!
She opens it.
Cyrano
Aside
My letter!
Carbon
FIRE!
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 soulWondrous!
Cyrano
Standing up—bareheaded
Ay, Roxane.
Roxane
An inspired poet?
Cyrano
Ay, Roxane.
Roxane
And a mind sublime?
Cyrano
Oh, yes!
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!
Sounds of trumpets in the distance.
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!
Roxane
See, there is bloodUpon 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!
The Cadets
No!
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…
His voice is drowned in the battle.
Curtain.