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Act III, Scene x | THE FRIAR: |  'Tis here,—I'm sure of it—Madame Madeleine Robin. |
| CYRANO: | | Why, you said Ro-LIN. |
| THE FRIAR: | | No, not I. | | B,I,N,BIN! |
| ROXANE (appearing on the threshold, followed by Ragueneau, who carries a | | lantern, and Christian): | | What is't? |
| THE FRIAR: | | A letter. |
| CHRISTIAN: | | What? |
| THE FRIAR (to Roxane): | | Oh, it can boot but a holy business! | | 'Tis from a worthy lord. . . |
| ROXANE (to Christian): | | De Guiche! |
| CHRISTIAN: | | He dares. . . |
| ROXANE: | | Oh, he will not importune me forever! | | (Unsealing the letter): | | I love you,—therefore— | | (She reads in a low voice by the aid of Ragueneau's lantern): | | 'Lady, | | The drums beat; | | My regiment buckles its harness on | | And starts; but I,—they deem me gone before— | | But I stay. I have dared to disobey | | Your mandate. I am here in convent walls. | | I come to you to-night. By this poor monk— | | A simple fool who knows not what he bears— | | I send this missive to apprise your ear. | | Your lips erewhile have smiled on me, too sweet: | | I go not ere I've seen them once again! | | I would be private; send each soul away, | | Receive alone him,—whose great boldness you | | Have deigned, I hope, to pardon, ere he asks,— | | He who is ever your—et cetera.' | | (To the monk): | | Father, this is the matter of the letter:— | | (All come near her, and she reads aloud): | | 'Lady, | | The Cardinal's wish is law; albeit | | It be to you unwelcome. For this cause | | I send these lines—to your fair ear addressed— | | By a holy man, discreet, intelligent: | | It is our will that you receive from him, | | In your own house, the marriage | | (She turns the page): | | benediction | | Straightway, this night. Unknown to all the world | | Christian becomes your husband. Him we send. | | He is abhorrent to your choice. Let be. | | Resign yourself, and this obedience | | Will be by Heaven well recompensed. Receive, | | Fair lady, all assurance of respect, | | From him who ever was, and still remains, | | Your humble and obliged—et cetera.' |
| THE FRIAR (with great delight): | | O worthy lord! I knew naught was to fear; | | It could be but holy business! |
| ROXANE (to Christian, in a low voice): | | Am I not apt at reading letters? |
| CHRISTIAN: | | Hum! |
| ROXANE (aloud, with despair): | | But this is horrible! |
| THE FRIAR (who has turned his lantern on Cyrano): | | 'Tis you? |
| CHRISTIAN: | | 'Tis I! |
| THE FRIAR (turning the light on to him, and as if a doubt struck him on seeing | | his beauty): | | But. . . |
| ROXANE (quickly): | | I have overlooked the postscript—see:— | | 'Give twenty pistoles for the Convent.' |
| THE FRIAR: | | . . .Oh! | | Most worthy lord! | | (To Roxane): | | Submit you? |
| ROXANE (with a martyr's look): | | I submit! | | (While Ragueneau opens the door, and Christian invites the friar to enter, she | | whispers to Cyrano): | | Oh, keep De Guiche at bay! He will be here! | | Let him not enter till. . . |
| CYRANO: | | I understand! | | (To the friar): | | What time need you to tie the marriage-knot? |
| THE FRIAR: | | A quarter of an hour. |
| CYRANO (pushing them all toward the house): | | Go! I stay. |
| ROXANE (to Christian): | | Come!. . . |
| CYRANO: | | Now, how to detain De Guiche so long? | | (He jumps on the bench, climbs to the balcony by the wall): | | Come!. . .up I go!. . .I have my plan!. . . | | (The lutes begin to play a very sad air): | | What, ho! | | (The tremolo grows more and more weird): | | It is a man! ay! 'tis a man this time! | | (He is on the balcony, pulls his hat over his eyes, takes off his sword, wraps | | himself in his cloak, then leans over): | | 'Tis not too high! | | (He strides across the balcony, and drawing to him a long branch of one of the | | trees that are by the garden wall, he hangs on to it with both hands, ready to | | let himself fall): | | I'll shake this atmosphere! |
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Read the complete texts of Shakespeare's plays along with an easy to understand translation.
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No Fear English Grammar is a step-by-step guide to English grammar presented in a fresh, lively tutorial.
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