Act V: Cyrano’s GazetteScene VI
The same. Le Bret and Ragueneau.
Le Bret
What madness! Here? I knew it well!
Cyrano
Smiling and sitting up
What now?
Le Bret
He has brought his death by coming, Madame.
Roxane
God!Ah, then! that faintness of a moment since…?
Cyrano
Why, true! It interrupted the ‘Gazette:’…Saturday, twenty-sixth, at dinner-time,Assassination of De Bergerac.
He takes off his hat; they see his head bandaged.
Roxane
What says he? Cyrano!—His head all bound!Ah, what has chanced? How?—Who?…
Cyrano
‘To be struck down,Pierced by sword i’ the heart, from a hero’s hand!’That I had dreamed. O mockery of Fate!—Killed, I! of all men—in an ambuscade!Struck from behind, and by a lackey’s hand!’Tis very well. I am foiled, foiled in all,Even in my death.
Ragueneau
Ah, Monsieur!…
Cyrano
Holding out his hand to him
Ragueneau,Weep not so bitterly!…What do you now,Old comrade?
Ragueneau
Amid his tears
Trim the lights for Moliere’s stage.
Cyrano
Moliere!
Ragueneau
Yes; but I shall leave to-morrow.I cannot bear it!—Yesterday, they played‘Scapin’—I saw he’d thieved a scene from you!
Le Bret
What! a whole scene?
Ragueneau
Oh, yes, indeed, Monsieur,The famous one, ‘Que Diable allait-il faire?’
Le Bret
Moliere has stolen that?
Cyrano
Tut! He did well!…
To Ragueneau
How went the scene? It told—I think it told?
Ragueneau
Sobbing
Ah! how they laughed!
Cyrano
Look you, it was my lifeTo be the prompter every one forgets!
To Roxane
That night when ’neath your window Christian spoke—Under your balcony, you remember? Well!There was the allegory of my whole life:I, in the shadow, at the ladder’s foot,While others lightly mount to Love and Fame!Just! very just! Here on the threshold drearOf death, I pay my tribute with the rest,To Moliere’s genius,—Christian’s fair face!
The chapel-bell chimes. The nuns are seen passing down the alley at the back, to say their office
Let them go pray, go pray, when the bell rings!
Roxane
Rising and calling
Sister! Sister!
Cyrano
Holding her fast
Call no one. Leave me not;When you come back, I should be gone for aye.
The nuns have all entered the chapel. The organ sounds
I was somewhat fain for music—hark! ’tis come.
Roxane
Live, for I love you!
Cyrano
No, In fairy talesWhen to the ill-starred Prince the lady says‘I love you!’ all his ugliness fades fast—But I remain the same, up to the last!
Roxane
I have marred your life—I, I!
Cyrano
You blessed my life!Never on me had rested woman’s love.My mother even could not find me fair:I had no sister; and, when grown a man,I feared the mistress who would mock at me.But I have had your friendship—grace to youA woman’s charm has passed across my path.
Le Bret
Pointing to the moon, which is seen between the trees
Your other lady-love is come.
Cyrano
Smiling
I see.
Roxane
I loved but once, yet twice I lose my love!
Cyrano
Hark you, Le Bret! I soon shall reach the moon.To-night, alone, with no projectile’s aid!…
Le Bret
What are you saying?
Cyrano
I tell you, it is there,There, that they send me for my Paradise,There I shall find at last the souls I love,In exile,—Galileo—Socrates!
Le Bret
Rebelliously
No, no! It is too clumsy, too unjust!So great a heart! So great a poet! DieLike this? what, die…?
Cyrano
Hark to Le Bret, who scolds!
Le Bret
Weeping
Dear friend…
Cyrano
Starting up, his eyes wild
What ho! Cadets of Gascony!The elemental mass—ah yes! The hic…
Le Bret
His science still—he raves!
Cyrano
CopernicusSaid…
Roxane
Oh!
Cyrano
Mais que diable allait-il faire,Mais que diable allait-il faire dans cette galere?…Philosopher, metaphysician,Rhymer, brawler, and musician,Famed for his lunar expedition,And the unnumbered duels he fought,—And lover also,—by interposition!—Here lies Hercule SavinienDe Cyrano de Bergerac,Who was everything, yet was naught.I cry you pardon, but I may not stay;See, the moon-ray that comes to call me hence!
He has fallen back in his chair; the sobs of Roxane recall him to reality; he looks long at her, and, touching her veil
I would not bid you mourn less faithfullyThat good, brave Christian: I would only askThat when my body shall be cold in clayYou wear those sable mourning weeds for two,And mourn awhile for me, in mourning him.
Roxane
I swear it you!…
Cyrano
Shivering violently, then suddenly rising
Not there! what, seated?—no!
They spring toward him
Let no one hold me up—
He props himself against the tree
Only the tree!
Silence
It comes. E’en now my feet have turned to stone,My hands are gloved with lead!
He stands erect
But since Death comes,I meet him still afoot,
He draws his sword
And sword in hand!
Le Bret
Cyrano!
Roxane
Half fainting
Cyrano!
All shrink back in terror.
Cyrano
Why, I well believeHe dares to mock my nose? Ho! insolent!
He raises his sword
What say you? It is useless? Ay, I knowBut who fights ever hoping for success?I fought for lost cause, and for fruitless quest!You there, who are you!—You are thousands!Ah!I know you now, old enemies of mine!Falsehood!
He strikes in air with his sword
Have at you! Ha! and Compromise!Prejudice, Treachery!…
Surrender, I?Parley? No, never! You too, Folly,—you?I know that you will lay me low at last;Let be! Yet I fall fighting, fighting still!
He makes passes in the air, and stops, breathless
You strip from me the laurel and the rose!Take all! Despite you there is yet one thingI hold against you all, and when, to-night,I enter Christ’s fair courts, and, lowly bowed,Sweep with doffed casque the heavens’ threshold blue,One thing is left, that, void of stain or smutch,I bear away despite you.
He springs forward, his sword raised; it falls from his hand; he staggers, falls back into the arms of Le Bret and Ragueneau.
Roxane
Bending and kissing his forehead
’Tis?…
Cyrano
Opening his eyes, recognizing her, and smiling
My panache.
Curtain.