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Scene X

ROXANE, CYRANO. Then LE BRET, CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUX, the CADETS, RAGUENEAU, DE GUICHE, etc.

ROXANE:

What is this urgent news?

CYRANO:

[in despair] He's gone! [to ROXANE] Oh, it's nothing! You know how he sees such importance in the most trivial things!

ROXANE:

[warmly] Did he doubt what I said? Ah, yes, I can tell—he doubted.

CYRANO:

[taking her hand] But did you really speak the truth to him?

ROXANE:

Yes, I would love him even if he were…

[She hesitates.]

CYRANO:

Does it embarrass you to say that word in front of me?

ROXANE:

I…

CYRANO:

[smiling sadly] It won't hurt me! Say it! You'd love him if he were ugly!

ROXANE:

Yes!

[A shot is heard outside, but CYRANO keeps talking.]

CYRANO:

[passionately] Even if he were hideous?

ROXANE:

Hideous! Yes!

CYRANO:

Disfigured?

ROXANE:

Yes!

CYRANO:

Grotesque?

ROXANE:

He could never be grotesque to me!

CYRANO:

You'd love him the same way?

ROXANE:

Yes! No—even more!

CYRANO:

[losing command over himself, speaking in an aside] My God! It's true! Maybe love really is within my reach! [to ROXANE] I…Roxane… listen—

LE BRET:

[entering hurriedly] Cyrano!

CYRANO:

[turning around] What?

LE BRET:

Hush!

[He whispers something to him.]

CYRANO:

[letting go of ROXANE'S hand and exclaiming] Oh, God!

ROXANE:

What is it?

CYRANO:

[to himself, stunned] It's all over now.

[More shots are heard.]

ROXANE:

What's the matter? Listen! Another shot!

[She goes up to look outside.]

CYRANO:

It's too late! Now I can never tell!

ROXANE:

[trying to rush out] What's happened?

CYRANO:

[rushing to stop her] Nothing!

[Some CADETS enter, trying to hide something they are carrying. They huddle close around it, preventing ROXANE from seeing what it is.]

ROXANE:

Those men… [CYRANO tries to draw her away.] You were about to tell me something…

CYRANO:

Tell you something? Oh, it was nothing, I swear! [solemnly] I swear that Christian's soul, his nature, was…[quickly correcting himself] is the noblest and the greatest—

ROXANE:

Was? [with a loud scream] Oh!

[She rushes up, pushing everyone aside.]

CYRANO:

It's all over now!

ROXANE:

[seeing CHRISTIAN lying on the ground, wrapped in his cloak.] Oh, Christian!

LE BRET:

[to CYRANO] Struck by the first shot of the enemy!

[ROXANE flings herself down by CHRISTIAN. Sounds of gunfire, clashing of arms, and beating of drums are heard outside.]

CARBON:

[with sword in the air] We're being attacked! Get your muskets!

[He rushes over the embankment, followed by the CADETS.]

ROXANE:

Christian!

VOICE OF CARBON:

[from the other side] Quick! Prepare yourselves!

ROXANE:

Christian!

CARBON:

Fall in line!

ROXANE:

Christian!

CARBON:

Ready your matches!

[RAGUENEAU rushes up, bringing water in a helmet.]

CHRISTIAN:

[in a dying voice] Roxane!

[ROXANE tears a piece of her dress and dips it into the water. She then presses it against CHRISTIAN'S wound, trying to stop the bleeding. CYRANO whispers quickly into CHRISTIAN'S ear while she is distracted.]

CYRANO:

I told her everything. She still loves you.

[CHRISTIAN closes his eyes.]

ROXANE:

Yes, my love?

CARBON:

Draw your ramrods!

ROXANE:

[to CYRANO] He's not dead, is he?

CARBON:

Open your charges with your teeth!

ROXANE:

His cheek is growing cold against my own!

CARBON:

Ready! Aim!

ROXANE:

[seeing a letter in CHRISTIAN'S jacket] A letter! It's for me!

[She opens it.]

CYRANO:

[aside] My letter!

CARBON:

Fire!

[Musket shots ring out, along with shouts and noises of battle.]

CYRANO:

[trying to disengage his hand, which ROXANE is holding on her knees] But Roxane, the battle is raging!

ROXANE:

[detaining him] Please stay with me for a while. He's dead. You were the only one who really knew him. [weeping quietly] He was a wondrous and beautiful man, wasn't he?

CYRANO:

[standing up, with his hat off] Yes, Roxane.

ROXANE:

An inspired poet.

CYRANO:

Yes, Roxane.

ROXANE:

With a pure and brilliant mind.

CYRANO:

Yes.

ROXANE:

A heart too deep for shallow minds to comprehend; a spirit both subtle and charming.

CYRANO:

[firmly] Yes, Roxane.

ROXANE:

[flinging herself on the dead body] He is dead!

CYRANO:

[aside, while drawing his sword] Yes, and let me die today as well. For, unknowing, it is I that she mourns, over his body.

[Trumpets sound in the distance.]

DE GUICHE:

[appearing on the embankment, bareheaded, with a wound on his forehead, in a thunderous voice]
That's the signal! The French are bringing provisions into camp! Hold out a little longer!

ROXANE:

There is blood on the letter, and tears!

A VOICE:

[from outside, shouting] Surrender!

VOICE OF CADETS:

No!

RAGUENEAU:

[standing on the top of his carriage, watching the battle over the edge of the embankment] The danger is at its greatest!

CYRANO:

[to DE GUICHE, pointing to ROXANE] I will join the charge! You take her away!

ROXANE:

[kissing the letter, in a faint and choked voice] Oh, God! His tears! His blood!

RAGUENEAU:

[jumping down from the carriage and rushing toward her] She's fainted!

DE GUICHE:

[on the embankment, to the cadets, with fury] Stand fast!

A VOICE:

[outside] Lay down your arms!

CADETS:

No!

CYRANO:

[to DE GUICHE] You've proved your valor, Sir. [pointing to ROXANE] Now, hurry out of here and save her!

DE GUICHE:

[rushing to ROXANE, and carrying her away in his arms] I will do so! If you can hold out, victory will be ours!

CYRANO:

Good. [calling out to ROXANE, whom DE GUICHE and RAGUENEAU are carrying away in a fainting condition] Farewell, Roxane!

[There is a great tumult, with shouts and screams from all sides. CADETS reappear, wounded and falling. CYRANO, rushing to the battle, is stopped by CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUX, who is streaming with blood.]

CARBON:

We're losing ground! I've been wounded twice!

CYRANO:

[shouting to the CADETS] Gascons! Never turn your backs! [to CARBON, whom he is holding up] Have no fear! I have two deaths to avenge: my friend Christian's and my own happiness! [They come downstage, CYRANO brandishing the lance with ROXANE'S handkerchief attached to it.] Fly proudly, little lace flag embroidered with her name! [He sticks it in the ground and shouts to the CADETS.] Fall on them, Gascons! Crush them! [to the FIFER] Play, fifer!

• Matches were pieces of burning cord that were used to ignite the explosives in a musket.
• rods used for stuffing the charge into a firearm

1. Notes
2. Reading Pointers for Sharper Insights
3. Dedication
4. Dramatis Personae
5. Act I
   1. A Performance at the Hotel de Bourgogne
   2. Scene I
   3. Scene II
   4. Scene III
   5. Scene IV
   6. Scene V
   7. Scene VI
   8. Scene VII
6. Act II
   1. The Poet's Eating-House
   2. Scene I
   3. Scene II
   4. Scene III
   5. Scene IV
   6. Scene V
   7. Scene VI
   8. Scene VII
   9. Scene VIII
   10. Scene IX
   11. Scene X
   12. Scene XI
7. Act III
   1. Roxane's Kiss
   2. Scene I
   3. Scene II
   4. Scene III
   5. Scene IV
   6. Scene V
   7. Scene VI
   8. Scene VII
   9. Scene VIII
   10. Scene IX
   11. Scene X
   12. Scene XI
   13. Scene XII
8. Act IV
   1. The Cadets of Gascony
   2. Scene I
   3. Scene II
   4. Scene III
   5. Scene IV
   6. Scene V
   7. Scene VI
   8. Scene VII
   9. Scene VIII
   10. Scene IX
   11. Scene X
9. Act V
   1. Cyrano's Gazette
   2. Scene I
   3. Scene II
   4. Scene III
   5. Scene IV
   6. Scene V
   7. Scene VI
10. Copyright