SparkNotes: Complete Text of Cyrano de Bergerac: Act IV, Scene v

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Act IV, Scene 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:

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.)

Cyrano de Bergerac

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