Cyrano de Bergerac | Act III, Act III

Act III

Roxane's Kiss

A small square in the old Marais. The houses are old and the streets are narrow. On the right is ROXANE'S house and the wall of her garden, which is overhung with thick foliage. There is a window and balcony over the door and a bench in front of the house. By the use of the bench and some stones jutting out of the wall, it is easy to climb to the balcony.

Opposite ROXANE'S house is an old house in the same style of brick and stone. The knocker on the door is bandaged with linen like a sore thumb.

At the rising of the curtain, the duenna is seated on the bench. The window on ROXANE'S balcony is wide open. RAGUENEAU is standing near the door dressed in a sort of livery. He has just finished relating something to the DUENNA, and is wiping his eyes.

Scene I

RAGUENEAU, the DUENNA, Then ROXANE, CYRANO, and two PAGES.

RAGUENEAU:
—and then off she went, with a musketeer! Deserted and financially ruined, I decided to put an end to it all, so I hanged myself. Just as my last breath was drawn, in comes Monsieur de Bergerac! He cuts me down, and gets me a job as his cousin's steward.
DUENNA:
But how did you come to be ruined?
RAGUENEAU:
Oh, Lise loved the warriors and I loved the poets! We gave away too much. Any cakes that were left by Apollo were quickly snapped up by Mars. You can see why financial ruin didn't take very long.
DUENNA:
[rising and calling up to the open window] Roxane, are you ready?
They're waiting for us!
ROXANE'S VOICE:
[from the window] I'm just putting on my cloak!
DUENNA:
[to RAGUENEAU, showing him the door opposite] We're going over there to Clomire's house. She's receiving all the lady intellectuals and the poets today. They'll be reading a paper on “The Tender Passion.”
RAGUENEAU:
“The Tender Passion”?
DUENNA:
[in a mincing voice] Oh, yes! [calling up to the window] Roxane, if you don't come down quickly, we shall miss the talk on “The Tender Passion!”
ROXANE'S VOICE:
I'm coming! I'm coming!

[There is the sound of stringed instruments approaching.]

CYRANO'S VOICE:
[behind the scenes, singing] La la la la!
DUENNA:
[surprised] Are they serenading us?
CYRANO:
[followed by two pages with lutes] I tell you that's a demi-semi-quaver, you demi-semi-fool!
FIRST PAGE:
[ironically] You know, then, Sir, how to distinguish between semi-quavers and demi-semi-quavers?
CYRANO:
Isn't every pupil of Gassendi a musician?
PAGE:
[playing and singing] La la!
CYRANO:
[snatching the lute from him, and going on with the melody] In proof of which, I shall continue! La la la la!
ROXANE:
[appearing on the balcony] Oh! It's you!
CYRANO:
[singing his own words to the melody] I have come to serenade your lilies and pay my devotion to your roses!
ROXANE:
I am coming down!

[She leaves the balcony.]

DUENNA:
[pointing to the pages] How did you find these master musicians?
CYRANO:
I won them in a bet with D'Assoucy. We were arguing forever over a question of grammar. Suddenly he points to these two louts whom he takes around with him as his escorts, and whom he thinks are great musicians. He says, “I will wager you a day's music!” And he lost! So, until the sun rises tomorrow, I'll have these lute-twangers at my heels, seeing all I do, hearing all I say, and accompanying it all with melody. It was pleasant at first, but I'm growing tired of it already. [to the MUSICIANS] Ho there! Go serenade Montfleury for me! Play a dance for him! [The pages go toward the door. CYRANO speaks to the DUENNA.] I have come, as I do every evening, to ask Roxane whether— [to the PAGES, who are going out] Play a long time, and play out of tune! [to the DUENNA] —whether her heart's desire is still as faultless as he is handsome!
ROXANE:
[coming out of the house] Ah! How handsome he is, and how brilliant in wit! Oh, how I love him!
CYRANO:
[smiling] Christian has a brilliant wit?
ROXANE:
Brighter than even your own, cousin!
CYRANO:
I'm happy to hear it!
ROXANE:
I would have thought it impossible that here could be a man on this earth skilled enough to say so sweetly all the pretty nothings that mean so much! At times it seems his mind is far away and his inspiration is fading. But then, all of a sudden, he says such bewitching and enchanting things to me!
CYRANO:
[incredulously] No! It can't be true!
ROXANE:
Why must you think that? Just like a man! Because he's handsome, you assume he must be dull.
CYRANO:
Does he speak well about love?
ROXANE:
Not only does he speak superbly about it, but he teaches it!
CYRANO:
And how does he write?
ROXANE:
Even better! Listen to this! [reciting] “The more of my poor heart you take, the larger my heart grows!” [triumphantly to CYRANO] How do you like those lines?
CYRANO:
Pooh!
ROXANE:
It goes on: “And, since I must show some target for Cupid's cruel dart, if you must keep mine, then give me your heart!”
CYRANO:
Lord! First he has too much of a heart, then not enough! How much heart does the fellow want?
ROXANE:
Oh, you're being terrible! You're just jealous!
CYRANO:
[starting] What do you mean?
ROXANE:
It's your poet's jealousy! You envy that he writes so well! Listen to this, and tell me if it's not the sweetest thing you've ever heard: “My heart to yours gives but one cry: if kisses by letter could fly, then kisses would soar, my love, straight from my fingertips and on to your lovely lips, if kisses by letter could fly!”
CYRANO:
[smiling approvingly in spite of himself] Well! Those last lines are— [correcting himself, and speaking disdainfully] They are trite enough!
ROXANE:
And listen to this—
CYRANO:
[enchanted] Do you know all his letters by heart?
ROXANE:
Every one of them!
CYRANO:
How flattering that is!
ROXANE:
They are the words of a master!
CYRANO:
[modestly] Come, now—a master?
ROXANE:
Yes, a master!
CYRANO:
All right then. He's a master.
DUENNA:
[coming down quickly] Here comes Monsieur de Guiche! [to CYRANO, pushing him toward the house] In with you! It's best he doesn't see you. It might put him on the scent—
ROXANE:
[to CYRANO] The scent of my secret! He loves me, and he's powerful. If he finds out I'm in love with someone else, all is lost! He could ruin everything!
CYRANO:
[entering the house] As you wish.

[DE GUICHE appears.]

Scene II

ROXANE, DE GUICHE, the DUENNA standing a little way off.

ROXANE:
[curtsying to DE GUICHE] I was just going out.
DE GUICHE:
I've come to say goodbye.
ROXANE:
Where are you going?
DE GUICHE:
To the war.
ROXANE:
Ah!
DE GUICHE:
Yes, I leave tonight.
ROXANE:
Oh!
DE GUICHE:
We've gotten our orders. We're to lay siege to Arras.
ROXANE:
Ah, a siege?
DE GUICHE:
It seems that my going away doesn't move you at all.
ROXANE:
[politely] No, no…
DE GUICHE:
I am heartbroken. Will I ever see you again? And if so, when?
Have you heard that I've been named commander?
ROXANE:
[indifferently] Bravo!
DE GUICHE:
In the Guards regiment.
ROXANE:
[startled] What! The Guards?
DE GUICHE:
Yes, where your cousin serves, that swaggering boaster. I'll find a way to revenge myself on him at Arras.
ROXANE:
[choking] The Guards are going to Arras?
DE GUICHE:
[laughing] Yes, it's my regiment.
ROXANE:
[aside, while falling down onto the bench] Christian!
DE GUICHE:
What's the matter?
ROXANE:
[deeply moved] Oh, I am in despair! To think that the man I love will be at war!
DE GUICHE:
[surprised and delighted] You say such sweet words to me! It's the first time! And just when I must leave you!
ROXANE:
[changing her tone and fanning herself] You say you're going to take revenge on my cousin?
DE GUICHE:
Are you on his side?
ROXANE:
Oh, no! I'm against him!
DE GUICHE:
Do you see him often?
ROXANE:
Very rarely.
DE GUICHE:
He is seen all the time with one of the cadets…a young fellow named Newvillen…Neuviller…
ROXANE:
Is he a tall gentleman?
DE GUICHE:
Yes, and fair-haired.
ROXANE:
Yes, reddish-blond hair!
DE GUICHE:
Handsome.
ROXANE:
Not very much.
DE GUICHE:
But rather stupid.
ROXANE:
One would think so, to look at him! [changing her tone] How are you planning to take your revenge on Cyrano? If you're thinking of putting him in the midst of all the shooting, then that plan won't work very well. You see, he loves danger. In the middle of all the terrible action is the place he would want to be. I know a far better way for you to wound his pride.
DE GUICHE:
What is it? Tell me!
ROXANE:
Leave him and his fellow cadets behind when the regiment marches to Arras! Let them spend the whole war powerless and idle! This is the thing that will enrage him! If you cheat Cyrano of his chance to engage in mortal danger, you will be punishing him severely!
DE GUICHE:
[coming nearer] Oh, woman! Only a woman could devise such a subtle trick!
ROXANE:
He'll eat his heart out! And his friends will gnaw angrily at their fingernails from being deprived of battle. See, this is the way you can avenge yourself.
DE GUICHE:
Do you love me a little, then? [ROXANE smiles.] I would almost believe it proves your love, the way you're helping me with my cause.
ROXANE:
It certainly is proof of love!
DE GUICHE:
[showing some sealed papers] Here are the marching orders.
They'll be sent instantly to each company, except…[He takes one paper out.] this one! It's the one for the Cadets. [He puts it in his pocket.] This one I will keep. [laughing] Ha! ha! ha! Cyrano! His love of battle! You really can play tricks on people! You, of all ladies!
ROXANE:
Sometimes!
DE GUICHE:
[coming close to her] Oh, how I love you! You drive me mad!
Listen! I know that I'm supposed to leave tonight, but how can I leave now that I've learned your heart has been touched? Nearby, in the Rue d'Orleans, is a monastery founded by Father Athanasius, the syndic of the Capuchins. While it's true that no laymen may enter, I think I can work it out with the good Fathers. Their sleeves are wide enough to hide me in. ’Tis they who serve Richelieu's private chapel, and out of respect for my uncle, they will do as I tell them. Everyone will think I have left Paris. And then I will come to you, masked. Let me have your permission to delay my departure just one day, sweet lady!
ROXANE:
But if people find out, then your glory—
DE GUICHE:
Bah!
ROXANE:
But the siege at Arras—
DE GUICHE:
It can begin without me. Please, grant me your permission.
ROXANE:
No!
DE GUICHE:
Please say yes!
ROXANE:
[tenderly] It is my duty to forbid you.
DE GUICHE:
Ah!
ROXANE:
You must go! [aside] Christian stays here. [aloud] I want you to be heroic—Antoine!
DE GUICHE:
Oh, heavenly word! You do love, then—
ROXANE:
Yes, the one I tremble for.
DE GUICHE:
[ecstatic] Ah! I shall go then! [He kisses her hand.] Are you content?
ROXANE:
Yes, Antoine!

[He goes out.]

DUENNA:
[making a mocking curtsy behind his back] Yes, Antoine!
ROXANE:
[to the DUENNA] Do not speak a word of what I have done! Cyrano would never pardon me for stealing his fighting from him! [She calls toward the house.] Cousin!
  • a uniform worn by male household servants
  • one who manages a household or property
  • In Roman mythology, Mars was the god of war.
  • In France during the 17th century, literary works were often read and discussed at a noblewoman's house. These gatherings were referred to as salons and were attended by writers, philosophers, and intellectuals. Madeleine Robineau, the woman upon whom Roxane's character is based, frequently attended and hosted salons.
  • a musical term for a particular note and its duration; the literal meaning is one thirty-second of a whole note
  • Pierre Gassendi (1592 – 1655) was a French scientist, philosopher, and mathematician. The actual Cyrano de Bergerac is believed to have been one of his students.
  • unoriginal, commonplace
  • Originally part of the Spanish Netherlands, Arras was captured by the French during the time in which the play is set and remains a French city today. The siege of Arras, which is the setting for Act IV, took place in 1640. The real Cyrano de Bergerac and the real Baron de Neuvillette both fought in the siege, and the real Baron de Neuvillette died during it.
  • an officer of a particular organization who carries out certain duties
  • Franciscan monks belonging to the order of Friars Minor Capuchin, founded in Italy around 1525
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