 | Cyrano de Bergerac: A Play in Five Acts |  |
Scene IX.
Christian, Cyrano. At back Roxane talking to Carbon and some cadets.CHRISTIAN
(calling toward Cyrano's tent)
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!
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!
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!
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.)
| Cyrano de Bergerac: A Play in Five Acts | |